illustrationclass

The Man from The Thought Cloud Factory

We are all different, but Theo Ellsworth is more different. I met the artist at Pittsburgh’s Toonseum where his enchanting one-man show hangs through April 30. He calls his studio The Thought Cloud Factory. He came to Pittsburgh from his home in Montana to participate in PIX, the Pittsburgh indy press expo. Big Sky countryContinue reading “The Man from The Thought Cloud Factory”

AdHouse at PIX

Went to the PIX 2014 this weekend. PIX is Pittsburgh’s indy press expo of creator-owned, self-published, small-press, and handmade comics. Not the biggest expo I’ve seen, but I had a blast. One of the first people I met at PIX was graphic designer and publisher Chris Pitzer of AdHouse Books. Chris told me he launchedContinue reading “AdHouse at PIX”

Illustration of a Black WWI Doughboy.

My last post was on the Afro-Mexicano experience. Here is something about a little-known African American experience. The wonderful thing about being an illustrator is researching fascinating new things. -K.Mc Chad Williams is coming to Kutztown to talk about African American soldiers in World War I. I got to illustrate the poster. First thing IContinue reading “Illustration of a Black WWI Doughboy.”

Baltazar C. Melo: Afro-Mexicano Renaissance Man

Baltazar Castellano Melo is a tall handsome fellow with long curly hair. I asked to take his picture. He then picked up a number of magical items: a donkey’s jawbone and his bote, a musical instrument made of a jaguar skin stretched over a gourd. He donned a wooden mask decorated with goat horns, diamondbackContinue reading “Baltazar C. Melo: Afro-Mexicano Renaissance Man”

Taking the Plunge! Trending: Social Media Design Jobs

“Taking the Plunge” is an annual event at Kutztown U’s Communication Design Dept. where (very) recent grads share with current students their experiences after graduation. Prof. Karen Kresge runs the show. Someday, KUCD is supposed have its own social media campaign, meanwhile Prof. Kresge’s personal Facebook page serves as the resource for recent grads toContinue reading “Taking the Plunge! Trending: Social Media Design Jobs”

SCOM: Man & Monsters in Mexico

SCOM stood in a doorway in Oaxaca and told us some hairy stories of his life as a graffiti artist. He grew up in L.A. His mother came from a remote village in Oaxaca. As a kid, he was George. Sometimes his Mom would bring him to visit family in Oaxaca. One day, his L.A.Continue reading “SCOM: Man & Monsters in Mexico”

Visit Printeresting for more on Maya Woman Printers.

Sometimes I get to write for Printeresting.org. It is a very cool site. In 2011 Printeresting won the Warhol Foundation’s Writers Grant in the blog category. I feel lucky when I get 100 visitors on a day to this blog, so I am delighted to write for the online journal, Printeresting. Jason Urban, one ofContinue reading “Visit Printeresting for more on Maya Woman Printers.”

Viva Letterpress!

The Chandler and Price Letterpress was first built in Cleveland, Ohio in 1881. The factory shut down in 1964. Today the Chandler and Price press is having something of a revival in the U.S. In Mexico, however, it never died. Last week I chanced upon Maestro Eduardo Sergio Sanchez Lopez working at his shop, TipografiaContinue reading “Viva Letterpress!”

Covarubbias, more than a Caricaturist.

You never know where you might find an illustrator. Museo Textil de Oaxaca is a jewel of a museum in the center of Oaxaca. The current exhibition, Gráfica textil de Miguel Covarrubias, focuses on the work of the influential Mexican caricaturist. Born in Mexico City in 1905, Covarubbias journeyed to New York City at ageContinue reading “Covarubbias, more than a Caricaturist.”

Rocha Channels Posada. Dos Maestros de Caricatura

Jose Guadalupe Posada and Catrina by Rocha Jose Guadalupe Posada died 100 years ago. He is best known for his skeleton images such as Catrina. A working illustrator for Mexico City’s penny papers, Posada may not have thought of himself as an artist. Only after his death was he lionized by the great Mexican artistsContinue reading “Rocha Channels Posada. Dos Maestros de Caricatura”