I loved the graphic novel Houdini, The Handcuff King written by Jason Lutes, drawn by Nick Bertozzi. My only criticism: I wanted the story to go on longer! I was thankful for the introduction and the fascinating and detailed end notes. The added text helped flesh out the historical and social context of Houdini’s enduringContinue reading “Lewis and Clark and Houdini”
Author Archives: illustrationclass
Jan de Vos: In the flesh.
Update: July 25, 2011, Jan de Vos died yesterday morning in Mexico City. Below is my sketch from last month in Chiapas, Mexico. We met a holy man in Chiapas. Jan de Vos is 75 years old. He was born and educated in Belgium, He studied philosophy and theology with Prof. Ratzinger, who is nowContinue reading “Jan de Vos: In the flesh.”
Yachitlan
An hour from Bonampak we reach the frontier town, Frontera Corozal. We descend across two springy, cablebound causeways to the banks of the Umumacinta River. The Umumacinta has been called the River of Ruins. According to Dr. Alfonso Morales one of our guides, and one of Mexico’s great archaeologists, Umumacinta can be translated as RiverContinue reading “Yachitlan”
Maya Murals at Bonampak
Above is a photo I took yesterday of the Maya murals at Bonampak. Picture a small vaulted room atop a great stone structure in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, not far from the border with Guatemala. This detail is from a section called The Musicians. It was painted close to the year 800 A.D. TheseContinue reading “Maya Murals at Bonampak”
In the Maya World
I’m off campus at the moment, far off-campus, on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. I am participating in an NEH Institute along with 23 other professors of various topics from across the U.S. The NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) and CCHA (Community College Humanities Association) are co-sponsoring a five-week study tour of the MayaContinue reading “In the Maya World”
Get Creative: Try a Cool-Off!
It might sound like a refreshing summer drink, but a Cool-Off is summertime institution at the Cyberpunk Apocalypse in Pittsburgh. This is something you and your illustrator artists friends might try. You know how you get more artwork done when you have a real publication date? The Cool-Off acts as a pre-publication debut, a chanceContinue reading “Get Creative: Try a Cool-Off!”
artnoose & her Underground Press
In the “letterpress/zine” circle artnoose is a superstar. Admittedly, this is a smallish orbit, but lately interest in zines and letterpress is exploding. I ran into her the other day when she was printing in the damp basement of the Cyberpunk Apocalypse. Cyberpunk Apocalypse is a two-house writer’s colony in Pittsburgh. It is where myContinue reading “artnoose & her Underground Press”
Call for Entries KUTZTOWN B’day logo.
The Borough of Kutztown is gearing up for its bicentennial. There is a $200 prize for a logo to commemorate the town’s 200th birthday. Deadline: July 23, 2011. Prof. Emeritus John Landis made the flyer below which contains all the details. He purposely designed a typographic flyer so as not to suggest a particular visualContinue reading “Call for Entries KUTZTOWN B’day logo.”
Opportunities Knock.
Mara Rockliff, is a talented and prolific children’s book author who lives here in Kutztown, PA. She sent me a note to share with illustration students about a scholarship opportunity from SCBWI. That is the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. They have grants for students to attend their NYC or L.A. conferences. DetailsContinue reading “Opportunities Knock.”
Illustration Biz: Billing for Beginners
Let people know you are an illustrator. Do not be shy. Somebody you know will ask you to create a picture for their business, band, or website. When it happens for the first time students often contact me with this seemingly simple question: How much should I charge? Here are my thoughts: First ask the client:Continue reading “Illustration Biz: Billing for Beginners”
