illustrationclass

Lapiztola Stencil Collective, Spray for Us.

Lapiz = pencil. Pistola = pistol. Lapiztola is a stencil collective in Oaxaca. The pun suggests the pencil is as mighty as the pistol. Their artwork has been described a visual poetry. In October, one of Lapiztola’s crew, Yankel, was on a conference panel in Oaxaca about the city’s street art collectives. Yankel had spentContinue reading “Lapiztola Stencil Collective, Spray for Us.”

Kate Santee, Illustrator and Roller Girl!

Speaking of curious networking, another KU grad, Kate Santee, tells me she got to illustrate a book through folks she met in her role as roller derby racer! Kate recently illustrated a chapter book for young readers. First in a series, Silly Nomads From Palmerston Close is written by Jan L. Lewis and Marcus Mohalland. Kate’sContinue reading “Kate Santee, Illustrator and Roller Girl!”

Networking Pays Off for Maddie O’Neil, Cowboy & Illustrator

Maddy O’Neil won the Don Breter Illustration Award when he graduated from Kutztown in May. The honor student attended KU on a full scholarship. For his honor’s thesis he did a great job illustrating a children’s picture book. Oddly enough, his first job after graduation with his BFA was as a ranch hand at aContinue reading “Networking Pays Off for Maddie O’Neil, Cowboy & Illustrator”

BIG SNOW in Kutztown, PA -Dec.6

Jonathan Bean now lives in Harrisburg, PA, but he grew up in Fleetwood and so, of course, he has often been in Kutztown. The gifted illustrator and author is returning Kutztown to share his new picture book Big Snow at Firefly Bookstore, Friday, Dec 6th from 6-8pm. Big Snow has wonderful reviews. Publisher’s Weekly writes “anotherContinue reading “BIG SNOW in Kutztown, PA -Dec.6”

Daniel McCloskey, Smiling Artist Missing Teeth.

UPDATE: Dan’s Kickstarter got funded. Thanks. Julie Sokolow wrote a fine article at MichaelMoore.com that really helped. Full disclosure: That’s my boy! Daniel McCloskey is a cartoonist and founder of Pittsburgh’s Cyberpunk Apocalypse Writer’s Project. On Oct 22, Dan was riding his bike when his front wheel fell into a deep, narrow pothole. Dan flewContinue reading “Daniel McCloskey, Smiling Artist Missing Teeth.”

Bak’s Book: Island of Memory

The adventurous graphic novelist T. Edward Bak is coming to Kutztown University to speak about another adventurous explorer from the 18th century. Bak’s ‘Wild Man’ tour includes stops at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, SAW in Gainesville as well as KU. The KU event is Free. Boehm, Lecture Room 261, Tues. Nov. 19Continue reading “Bak’s Book: Island of Memory”

Paul Pope’s Battling Boy

Battlling Boy arrives to an earth-like place with some baggage, literally. He finds 12 T-shirts packed in his suitcase each bearing the image of a different animal. A smart kid, he realizes, “these were painted with inks made of pulverized moonblood! I am supposed to wear these into battle.” Each T-shirt imbues him with theContinue reading “Paul Pope’s Battling Boy”

Nils Balls and The Ship of Soiled Doves.

“Soiled Doves” is Civil War slang for prostitutes. Hold that thought. We’ll get back to the prostitutes shortly. Meet Nils Balls. He is the guy wearing a tin foil helmet in the Carnegie Library on Pittsburgh’s Northside. He’s seated with a fairy princess and a teen zombie who has a knife through his head, drawingContinue reading “Nils Balls and The Ship of Soiled Doves.”

Irving Herrera, the Artist and his Models

Irving Herrera creates wonderful images of beautiful woman. What is so remarkable about his artwork is that he appreciates the beauty of the indigenous and mixed-race woman of Oaxaca. Throughout Mexico the leggy newscasters you see on T.V. and the models on billboards, calendars, and magazines often look like pure-blooded Europeans. I took a walkContinue reading “Irving Herrera, the Artist and his Models”

Art Oasis in Mexico City

Maestro Gerardo Torres Gonzalez (center) tends an oasis in one of the world’s largest cities. Mexico City’s Bosque de Chapultepec is home to many wonders including Emperor Maximilian’s castle. Below the castle in a grove of eucalyptus trees you will find a house called Quinta Colorado. In the patio every Saturday and Sunday there are art classes.Continue reading “Art Oasis in Mexico City”