I haven’t had time to make some new drawings, so for now you’ll have to do with this old drawing. It’s the first page of a story, and if I can find the rest of it, I’ll post it here too.

Feet

Expect to see a few new posters soon as I have been very busy. I had the pleasure of doing one of my dream gigs recently for The Get Up Kids. I also had the opportunity to catch them live at the show that I produced the poster for.

The new poster is 18×24 printed on 100lb white Cougar paper and is limited to only 100 prints with 50 available to the public. I also have a set of art prints available with the same image that is limited to only 50 prints with only 30 available to the public.

These will both be available to purchase on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at midnight (Tuesday night) on Nakatomi along with two other prints for a total release of a set of four new posters. Stay tuned for that…anyways, back to the matter at hand:

Leftover ink from silkscreening, being washed down the drain.

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It started as one poster, based on one sketch done in my kitchen, from an idea that occurred to me while helping my 5 year-old make a Mardi Gras mask for school. What better metaphor for a seductively beautiful—but socially incompatible—relationship than a gorgeous, fat, pretentious, pink cat luring a little birdie with her feathered party mask? It’s so Baroque and so aggressively immediate at the same time. I tried to follow the rule that posters should be made quickly. While the drawing took just 5 minutes with my Pentel brush pen, the finished art for the silkscreened poster took a full (but electric) day. This is what started it all:

D&L Screenprinting in Seattle printed the final 5-color piece (on red paper) from a multichannel Photoshop file I made from various tissue layers, all made with the brush pen. Even the type is rendered this way.

This project led me to make a series of sketches of this relationship between cat and bird. In some, I wanted to let the bird take the dominant role. In others, I wanted the viewer to question who was in control. I allowed them to take on human characteristics—both physical and emotional. The look in the cat’s eye could be either lustful or suspicious, depending on the context and point-of-view. 

When an opportunity arose to give a presentation about poster design at an upcoming student design conference, I decided to make use of these sketches to create two additional posters—each for the same subject as the first, but for different theater groups. The three unique “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” posters, in my mind, would allow me to demonstrate that while there are numerous “right” answers when it comes to realizing an idea, the actual “act of making” is crucially linked to the ultimate success of the poster. 

My second poster was the result of some sketches I had already done for ceramic bowl paintings.

The bird became the whiskers and mouth of the cat. Is the bird really there or is it made manifest by the cat’s inner desire? If it is really there, is it in danger or living in a symbiotic relationship with its host? It seemed to me, this was as iconic an example of a dangerous liaison as I could make.

The third poster was my effort to give the bird the upper hand. Stylistically, I also wanted to harken back to the ornate setting of the movie I remembered and loved. While I think I had some drawings that were more elegant and “refined” than the final poster drawing, I deferred to my first drawing in the series. It felt more honest for me to do it that way. Too often, I take too many steps. I don’t trust my gut the way I should.

The first and final sketch for the third poster in the series. I followed my instinct.

Other attempts at the main character, using two different pens.

And then, the final poster (made for silkscreen printing, of course).

Is the cat afraid, angry, nervous…? Is the bird wary or relaxed? Confident or cautious? That’s the fun part… allowing you to decide. -Lance

Wall drawings are an interesting addition to art practice, they offer a different surface to work on.

The main reason I am choosing to use wall drawings as a way of conveying my art is to suggest it being impossible to sell them. Of course its not impossible, as we know with banksy, but it is very improbable.

This first piece is a cover version of damien hirst’s dot paintings. I have chosen to use the stereotypical art “sold” stickers in place of the dots to maybe suggest what is art truly is. This does not mean I don’t admire him though, as I was thinking that maybe he’s the reason I am an artist.

The drawing of Minnie Mouse on the wall makes it impossible for disney to sell it, a complete comparison to the cel.

The drawing of fountain on the wall makes it impossible for the item to be sold. Therefore making it art that is completely against the market.

The silkscreen prints direct onto the wall suggest several concepts. The first being of disney being unable to be sold on the wall. The second is a repetitive nature of commerciaism. The final being the oxymoron of silkscreen printing onto a wall; the point of silkscreen printing (according to warhol) to produce multiple prints which can then be sold for lots and lots of money seperately.

SCREEN FIENDS L.A.  premiered on Saturday night and it was siiiiiiick!

Good turn out, good times, and everything fell together just in time for the exhibit.

We were very proud to present the work on our home turf.

HUGE thanks to everyone who helped bring Screen Fiends to Hollywood and DOUBLE thanks for all the lovely people that came to support!  THANK YOU + THANK YOU!!!!

Here’s a FEW pics from the show, but more are coming soon in the next couple days!

As I mentioned below, I just picked up a pile of silkscreened prints of my Redbird Pattern, courtesy of Nick Kuepfer (Daygristle). This is my first time having work printed in this way and I’m very happy with the results. Whereas most my work comes through best with a digital print, I know this particular image was meant to be silkscreened!

Limited edition of 100, printed in red, black and gold (and combinations of all three) on gorgeous 13×19″ paper samples that range from transparent to leathery, from silky white to black & blue. A selection will be at Expozine this weekend (see post below).

Julio trajo estas dos ilustraciones para nuestra jornada de serigrafías.
Julio came with these two illustrations for the silkscreening day.

It must really be November because this weekend Montreal = Expozine, one of North America’s largest small press (etc) fairs. I’ll be there, in the “etc” section, selling prints including a brand new silkscreened version of my red bird pattern (thanks to Nick at Daygristle), and the crazy night boat illustration I put together for the HQ Wild Things show.

Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2009, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 5035 St-Dominique (Église Saint-Enfant Jésus, between St-Joseph and Laurier, near Laurier Métro). Free admission.

In other news, I haven’t posted lately because I’ve been busy moving into a brand new studio with my friend/collaborator Caroline Desilets. It’s in a big building full of people and textiles and music and art. My favourite thing is that every time I enter the building the radio station they pipe in is playing Phil Collins. Also working in the warm sun all winter long is going to be amazing.

And what have I been working on lately? A super fun illustration for Maisonneuve. I’ll see if I can post a teaser image or two once they’re done.

Big thanks to Ray from Promotions Plus Printing for hooking me up with a new Phone Pad so I can use it when I review phones during video shoots. Ray is an extremely talented printer/silkscreen master and told me about some of his usual printing projects he is currently working on at this time.

If you need a good deal on some printing services, please give Ray a call. He has extremely reasonable prices and does quality work. This is the same place that will be printing the FoneFrenzy T-Shirts that I will be giving away in the next week or so.

PROMOTIONS PLUS PRINTING 6380 Arcadia Avenue, Loomis, California 95650

Phone: 916-626-2599

Email: wheeler48@gmail.com

Muchísimas gracias a Lola, Elena, FR y sobretodo a Rosa. / Thanks so much to Lola, Elena, FR and mostly to Rosa.

So here is the result of the 3 Color Litho Hometown Hero; some registration problems on the violet plate I used to print with, but overall a semi-decent print.  I am also posting the watercolor monoprint experiments I am currently silkscreening that are going to be the background for a Japanese Garden print. These background washes are inspired by a trip I took to Portland, OR that I photographed over the summer.  I am planning on overlaying a hand drawn aerial map depicting the gardens on top.  You can create a watercolor monoprint on your screen by simply painting on watercolors or using watercolor pencils, allowing them to dry, and using transparent base to push the color through.  Really cool technique for some interesting effects.

Hometown Hero

Today I met a really cool artist who graduated from MICA, check out her work-  http://mollycolleenoconnell.com/ - She has some really amazing prints and handmade books and zines that I desperately want in my possession. 

Beasts

I’ve been hounding my local photgraphers for some of the pics from the gold medal plates, and have only come up with a few.  Until that few changes to many I will wait to post the madness from that day.

Lets just say I had ALOT of fun, thanks to the team.

i new those wieghts were for something...

SO, where am I in this big custom screening universe?  Well I’m getting together an actual site right now, calmly showering I.T. guys with plesent hurry-the-f**k-up spam, and have a bunch of badass premium 22′ bandannas in the mail via New York.   The colors enroute are (all solid): black, red, white, olive, dark grey, lite grey, and Ivory.  Should be in my hands in the next week or so – and in anticipation i threw together a new screen.

My only prob now is I still don’t have something to screen onto!

Enter my favourite photographer/model/fiance.

N asked politely if I could screen the   “service shuffle” onto one of her babytees – after mentioning the black glittler paint I had, she burst into action with the camera and went to work taking pics of the process.

the many uses of sour cream, like paint mixing..

the set up

I love that she got to take the in betweens my hands are usually to busy to capture.

sparkle time

be easy, cooks aren't hand models

Mix the paint, figure out where I want the screen to print onto, apply the paint and the squegee it on – and yes thats a plastic pastry scraper (ftw).

The final product after applying the logo and some iron chef style ironing came out like this:

the service shuffle on a bebetee.

The service shuffle is hard enough for any cook, but applying that kind of dual tension near the beginning and end on this bebetee  - for me at least –  makes it well worth it.

Thanks again N.

And for the gold medal plates enthusiasts… heres a teaser from an amazing photgrapher I met at Octoberfest….

http://www.picsellsinternational.com/FoodMODE/Gold-Medal-Plates-09/10113235_i9yQV#698417530_9motq

My good friend T.K. is in that pic with me, who just moved to turks and caicos, (hope you love it man!)

out for now,

j.

Halloween is for adults – but we ask for shooters.

Another highlight of our trip to Aruba was the discovery of silkscreen artist, Elisa Lejuez. Born and raised in Holland, Elisa’s work is hot among the art scene in Aruba. Her works are displayed at several island resorts as well other local venues as like restaurants and retail stores. She also produces work on textiles and clothing, which turned into a job where she designed more than 200 different fabrics for clothing manufacturers throughout Europe and Asia. Her style is contemporary – a collage of bold colors and lots of feeling. And her work is big, all oversized with lots of room for expression. We would love, love, love to have a piece of Elisa’s work but it seems she works only on commission, which typically translates into big $$. And since those are not in my current vocabulary, that will have to be a long term goal.

Sigh.

I have to share our photos from our day at BIG on Bloor. It decided to rain that day… but we were prepared.

In the end I still managed well, the crowds were still out despite the weather. = )

Amigo, pues habíamos estado un tanto ausentes y no se había actualizado nuestro blog, pero ya estamos de regreso.

Primero que nada agregaremos algunas fotos del proceso de los murales que hicimos para La Galería Café y como fue que termino la intervención. La verdad fue un excelente proyecto y creo que todos terminamos contentos con el mismo. Agradecimiento especial a Marcela por haber hecho esto posible. Ademas de un buen trabajo documental que nos hicieron en video y foto.

Ahí les van….

Sakennn…plomada y nivel.

Today my Brand New poster drops and will be available for the public to purchase by simply following this link to NAKATOMI. It is a three color screenprint on 100 lb. French Speckletone paper in an edition of 115 and at the size of 18×24 so it is ready to pop right into a standard size frame.

The fine folks at C3 presents and Brand New’s aweseome management team were really great and I owe them a big thanks. I’ve got a few treats here for you guys as well, including some pics of the concert and some process pics of how the poster printing went down. First off, here is the poster:

Following are a few pics from Brand New’s live performance at La Zona Rosa in Austin, Texas:

And finally, for your pleasure, I present to you some process pics of me printing the posters:

I had a choice to either buy yellow paper or print the background yellow. Ultimately I had to choose to print the yellow because of the time crunch.

The yellow went down nice and smooth, no problems.

Second color down and only one more to go.

Third screen up on the press and ready to be set up.

The final color is finished and the poster is cut down to 18x24.

I hope you have enjoyed. Swing on over to Nakatomi and pick one up for yourself. I will be continuing to update with new posters and videos and all sorts of goodies for everyone to enjoy. Take care…until next time.

Posibilidades para este fin de semana de serigrafiado.
Possibilities for this silkscreening weekend.

Anterior / Previous: Cless & Rubén B
Siguiente / Next: Rubén B

Anterior / Previous: Cless & Rubén B
Siguiente / Next: Cless

I’ve come across a lovely Sydney based artist named Kate Banazi that works mostly in silk screen.

I LOVE silk screened art as it is one of the first times I really got involved in design and discovered how much i love it. It’s something I’d like to get into again once I have the money to invest in quality inks and screens.

Her prints are beautiful and dizzying combination of graphic, color and shape. There is so much fine texture overlapping they feel like they’re in motion.

I also like the way she combines photographic images with a vintage feel, with boldly colored graphic patterns.

It’s not as though I’ve found one I don’t like yet but I really love this one:

"Sunscreen Screenprint" by Kate Banazi

You can check out Kate Banazi’s work for sale on Etsy at Alyoisiusspyker’s Shop. She has additional work for sale on her website at katebonazi.bigcartel.com. Don’t forget to check out her blog too!

I’d like to send out a thank you to pretty*swell at prettyswell.wordpress.com. She took the time to make a lovely post about my etsy store. Please take the time to stop by her blog and see what creative work she’s been up to!

Här är silkscreenramen monterad, strax ska färgen hällas ut och tryckningen påbörjas. Upplagan blev 50 ex, av fyra olika teckningar. Det var hur roligt som helst att vara med i processen. Nu sitter jag och övar på att signera bilderna. Kråkfötterna får ju gärna vara likadana på alla 200 bilder som det faktiskt handlar om. Jag befinner mig i ett glädjerus, det är så himla kul att testa idéer och se dem förverkligas!

Color one of a two color silkscreen job I was working on. And some of those are test prints. I do appreciate the mistakes that happen with silkscreen but try to do at least a presentable job. I could always print these out to a nice color printer if I wanted them to be perfect, but that wouldn’t be any fun.

For those of you using silk screens and interested in stencils, here’s a list of some resources.

Check out my previous post on Photoshop Resources and specifically the link for the stencil tutorial.

source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/3045255243_ee12fb79b8.jpg

Now here are some collections:

• Here are some free stencils from the same site that had the tutorial.
• The Beginners Bible to Stencil Graffiti
• Stencil Revolution – is a forum where street artists talk about their latest works and post them as well. There’s some great ideas and tutorials on this site.
• Some ideas from the Stencil Library
• Stencil tutorials specifically for making t-shirts
• How to use a silk screen. Another good tutorial here and here.
• Laser Stencil Postcard Tutorial and Stencil Post Card Ideas.
• How to photograph silhouettes (and then make them into stencils)
• Huge collection of vector silhouettes (free) also more here
• Graffletopia has a pretty good collection of stencils
• A collection of cool stencil street art (a lot of Banksy)