Mark Murphy : Scribble 08

Anthony Lister : Quit your sobbing...

2008-04-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

New Image Art is currently featuring Australian artist, Anthony Lister and his solo exhibition entitled, "Quit your sobbing and call me in the morning." If you are into collecting fine art and love emerging artists, Anthony is a sure bet. His graphic narrative embodies a street sense while capturing his humorous points of view. Oversized super heroes and their villains intermingle with fallen pop icons and cartoon heroes of days gone past. Anthony's exhibit featured a live performance of a female version of Captain America, outfitted in stiletto heels, large sucker and a tall neck beer. The performance was isolated in one of the viewing rooms, where the majority of the show was on view through a narrow slit through wood that was nailed into the door, permitting no escape.

Anthony's message is further illuminated in his homage to the late Heath Ledger depicted as the "Joker" while addressing the less glamorous aspects of pop culture. "Quit your sobbing..." is presented on many artistic levels including: performance, sculpture, paintings and drawings--which all together help define the fallen hero. No one is safe, including the once " Thriller King," Michael Jackson.

Lister hails from Brisbane, Australia. He's shown throughout Australia and has exhibited in NYC and London. He's prolific and tours often with his 2 children and wife from one major city location to the next. Anthony is returning to his second home, Brooklyn after his short stint in Los Angeles where he will be collaborating on a new book project with Murphy Art Books. Anthony is a great guy and delivers a "Rad" exhibit in Los Angles that everyone should check out.

Fortunately, I was able to acquire four drawings at the show to add into the Mark Murphy Art Collection. Kind thanks to Marsea Goldberg owner of New Image Art Gallery. And super thanks to Anthony for hangin out over lunch to chat it up about collaborating on a new book project. More soon.

Comic-Con + SuperHero Exhibit

2008-04-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Comic-Con, San Diego will be held July 23 through July 27 and will feature Murphy Art Books and Jeff Soto at booth No. 4833. The booth will feature new zines, prints, toys and artworks by Jeff Soto, along with a new art book. Other art books will be released for Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters, “Ghosts and Martyrs;” Ray Casesar’s first art collection; SILA, “No. 45 Art Collection;” along with new tShirts and zines.

Comic-Con, San Diego will also serve as a backdrop to celebrate art and culture in an exhibition entitled, “SuperHero.” “SuperHero,” curated by Mark Murphy, will feature artistic works by Jeff Soto, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Alexei Vella, Joel Nakamura, and 25 other emerging artists.

Joel Nakamura : Cryogenics : 24" x 36"

More information soon, mark it down in your calendars and travel on down to San Diego, as Comic-Con is a not to miss event. More soon.

Kathie Olivas + Brandt Peters Exhibit

2008-04-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters have put together a great collaborative show together and featured at ThinkSpace Gallery entitled, “Mergers and Acquisitions.” The show features 20 new paintings and 10 inspired custom sculpts. One of the great stand out pieces, is “Hysteria,” which features one of Kathie’s “Misery Kids” and Brandt’s curious devil creatures. And if you look closely, you will find a new rabbit character featured in Kathie and Brandt’s upcoming book “Ghosts and Martyrs” or “Martyrs and Ghosts” depending on which side of the book you start off with.

What is cool about Kathie and Brandt’s book, to be released in June 2008, is that you get a collection of paintings painted by each artist individually and collaboratively. This is the premier collection of their works and it is sure to sell out, so get your copy soon.

You can check out Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters collaborative paintings at Thinkspace Art Gallery located at 4210 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. You can check them out at www.sourharvest.com/thinkspace/

Brandon Boyd and Jeff Soto Winners

2008-04-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Before this entry begins, please note: "Awards and accolades for accomplishments are moments of realization that I can do better than this."

On Friday night, April 4, 2008, The San Diego Ad Club hosted the Addys Creative Show : It was a fun event, as my partners in crime, Ninthlink, were on hand to rebel rouse and stir the goodness : There were many non traditional pieces that earned awards for their clever copy writing and innovative creative. The "best piece in show," in my opinion, was the animation and production work of SHILO, check them out at www.shilodesign.com, they did a series of inspirational television spots for SCION, and they are one of the best studios in San Diego :

Murphy Design was honored with a few rewards/awards and the prized bronze Addy statue : Congratulations goes out to Brandon Boyd, "From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss," who has continued to believe in me, the design process and has continued to push his art. The second Brandon Boyd book earned a Gold Addy and a special Judges Choice award--pretty rocking :

Special congratulations goes out to Jeff Soto, for the "Lucky 13" Calendar and Zine package, as this handsome gift set earned a "People's Choice" Award and a Silver Addy : This was a cool honor, as the Ad people selected this package as an innovative example for self-promotion in the arts category :

And then there were Mark Murphy/Murphy Design projects that are all about spreading the good word, promoting and developing non-traditional creative works : The first was the "OIL" zine, which received a "People's Choice" Award and a Silver Addy : The "OIL" zine was featured in "Newsweek" Magazine in July of 2007, and was described as a "HOT" tip of the week, letting the "Newsweek" faithful know that oil and monsters do make sense on a national scale :

The second Silver Addy received by Murphy Design was for the Murphy Books catalogue that promotes great artists: Ray Caesar, Jeff Soto, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Cathie Bleck, Martha Rich, Brandon Boyd, Joe Sorren and so many others : This catalogue was handed out at last year's San Diego Comic Con and Art Basel in Miami : If you are interested in receiving one, just send me an email with your address and I will make it happen :

Award shows are cool, as it rewards clients willing to take a chance to promote their business, visually define their brand and make a statement : The San Diego Addys has been a great form over the past 6 years, as Murphy Design has acquired 2 Best of Shows (back-to-back), 3 People's Choice Awards, 12 Gold Addys, 8 Silver Addys and 2 Bronze Addys : Special thanks to the culturally aware, an amazing army of artists, great friends and partners--Ninthlink, Tim Mantoani, P-Jay Fidler, and so many other talented folks : Super thanks :

Jeff Soto Book No. 2 News

2008-04-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

Jeff Soto and Mark Murphy will be teaming up to work a new art book, the follow up to the sold out “Potato Stamp Dreams.” This book has not been titled as of yet, but will feature paintings from 2005 through 2008 and the successful exhibitions, “Super Nova,” “Cold Ice Age,” “Storm Clouds” and will feature all of his paintings featured in national exhibitions.

The second Jeff Soto book will be a featured at at Comic-Con, held in San Diego, July 24 through July 27 -- Booth No. 4833. Comic-Con will also feature a shared booth between Jeff and Mark Murphy at the Murphy Art Books booth. If you attend, every purchase comes with a free Jeff Soto calendar and we will have mini zines, specialty prints, and a few of the Potato Stamp Dreams books available. Jeff will be on hand to custom draw and autograph one-of-a-kind products.

Jeff Soto will also be featured in his first solo museum exhibition at the Riverside Art Museum (Riverside, California) in December of 2008. Jeff will be creating all new work, as well as a dimensional wall and ceiling installation. All work will be carefully archived including concept sketches, preliminary drawings and paintings and dimensional studies. Murphy Design, Jeff Soto and the Riverside Art Museum will be collaborating on an exhibition catalog that will document the entire exhibition, as well as review the development of Jeff’s latest creative output.

More information to be posted about all of the events listed above. Until then, feel free to check out www.comic-con.org and www.riversideartmuseum.org

In the Land of Retinal Delights

2008-03-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

In the Land of Retinal Delights, the Juxtapoz School logo design

In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz School is a summer exhibition organized and featured at the LAGUNA ART MUSEUM. The show is curated by Meg Linton and Mark Murphy has been chosen to design and produce the catalogue along with Ginko Press featuring essays created by Michael McManus.

In the Land of Retinal Delights, the Juxtapoz School Book Cover featuring Robert Williams

Exhibition Overview :
In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz School is an exhibition that presents the work of 150 artists and posits that there has been a huge, but unacknowledged art movement taking place in this country for the last 40 years. Since 1994, this ground swelling of lowbrow, surrealistic, pop, figurative, narrative work has coalesced and found a voice in the pages of Juxtapoz magazine published in San Francisco. This rag has become the most widely read art magazine in the US. It is an influencing force on the aspiring artists of Generation Y and the Millenials, who are now enrolling in art schools in numbers never seen before.

In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz School on exhibition in Summer 2008 and will available for travel to other museums. Exhibition opens June 21, 2008. The following artist feature is only a partial listing :

Camille Rose Garcia grew up in the “vanilla” land of Orange County where she discovered her rebellious roots and love for Disneyland and old film noir cartoons. Camille paints from self published manifestos, that report her critical analysis of failed capitalistic enterprise and fallen utopia. Her characters occupy creepy, yet enchanted, dreamlands that capture creative inspiration from Phillip K. Dick, William Burroughs, Henry Darger, Walt Disney and Punk music. Camille actively exhibits, so check her out at www.camillerosegarcia.com

Andrew Shoultz currently resides in San Francisco, after traveling the United States to find a suitable home. Andrew practices a tireless exploration of “Man vs. Nature” themes, constructing modern day icons that service the art viewer with large-scale mythology that communicate social and political issues. SF Weekly reports “It's true that many so-called experts -- including curators at SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and owners of major galleries in San Francisco and Los Angeles -- believe he may be the next artist to make the crossover from the streets to the gallery in a big way.” Andrew’s work is complex and layered, check it out at www.andrewschoultz.com

Anthony Ausgang attended custom car shows and demolition derbies, in kind thanks to his Welsh Father who was looking for creative ways to assimilate into American culture. It was at this time when Anthony discovered Ed Roth and his infamous “Rat Fink.” Anthony’s Dutch Mother introduced her son to opera, fine art museums and orchestras. Fortunately, Anthony met Robert Williams who introduced him to “Low Brow” where it was possible to sell art work and develop a consistent voice for his work. Anthony has been featured in many museums exhibitions and collections. Check out one of the major contributors to the “Low Brow” art movement at www.ausgangart.com

Chris Mars was an integral part of the famed indie band, the Replacements, that is the past. Today, Minneapolis, Minnesota based artist, Chris Mars is a surrealist painter who captures the spirit of the mentally challenged, the disregarded, the oppressed and the persecuted. Religious and politically inspired themes captivate us, as an uncomfortable collection of portraits look back to you, inviting you in to analyze their unfortunate circumstance. More and more you look within the painting and discover castle walls, that enclose you in this hauntingly beautiful collection. For more information on Chris Mars and his book “Tolerance,” please visit www.chrismarspublishing.com

Moira Hahn, once worked for New York’s famed artist collaborative and design company, the Pushpin group who featured the illustrative talents of Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast. Moira illustrated books and animations for the group before moving on to study Japanese art in Hawaii and Japan. Moira is inspired by Persian miniatures, Tibetan Thanka paintings, Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, Indian animal drawings and the guardian figures of China. Once all of these interests are mixed along with animae, sci-fi, and Tokyo pop icons, you end up with a colorful mix of god meets monster packed with supreme being surprise. Enjoy Moira’s inspired paintings at www.moirahahn.com

More soon, as there are many amazing artists featured at this exhibition :

Tim Mantoani Photo Web Site

2008-03-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

Murphy Design was chosen to design Tim Mantoani's web site. Tim is a talented photographer who has an amazing eye for creative composition, especially when it comes to making professional athletes and celebrities look their best. Tim has helped me with all of my promotional images and image making for clients including Hanna-Barbera, Brandon Boyd, Chris Roberts and many other artists. Tim loves to photograph moments in culture that do not readily appear on the radar. He is a great talent and does a great job making photography look easy.

Featured below are some of Tim Mantoani's photographic images: Cuba, Lucha Libre of Mexico, Superman Festival and African American Rodeo. Enjoy. http://www.mantoani.com/

EXPO : Poster and Zine Exhibition 2

2008-03-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

EXPO : Poster and Zine Exhibition, held this past Tuesday was a huge success displaying over 68 designed multi-page zines and posters. EXPO celebrated one quarter of inspired work created by thirty-four students who noted, “the class was challenging, a lot of hard work, but completely worth it, as the end product is probably one of my best portfolio pieces.”

Professionals from the local San Diego communications industry visited EXPO in the hopes of discovering new talent and inspired works. Jeromy Stallings, Ninthlink Inc., stopped by with some of his team and was impressed by the variety and scope of the exhibition. “I overheard many of the students celebrating their work and their creative energy really filled the room. It was a great event and I was happy to be a part of the event, I wish my wife could have been here tonight, she would have loved it.”

EXPO: Poster and Zine Exhibition was held in two rooms, the Art Institute’s main conference room and the computer lab. Mark believed that it would not matter if the schedule did not allow for use of the main gallery and felt that it would be more of a design challenge to create a gallery vibe in an every day class. Once the computer lab was transformed and all of the home-made goodies and food catering was laid out in the conference room, the school was transformed into a major gallery space. “Everyone really worked hard, elevated their work, and contributed something to the final exhibition. I was proud of everyone, and believe they realized the essence of the class, once they were able to see how EXPO all came together,” mentioned Creative Layout instructor Mark Murphy.

EXPO was the first “ever” class exhibition held at the Art Institute in San Diego. And when discussing the idea of the exhibition with students at AI and other schools, many of them thought that the idea was a great concept that should be implemented in all art-based institutions. “Every student should understand the essence of sharing their individual style and creative work with the community,” said Mark Murphy, the night of the event. Jeromy Stallings proclaimed—“Make it bleed! It is always amazing to see great work come from mentoring and teaching in the community when Mark Murphy gets involved. From web to creative art events, we have all experienced it first hand.”

Special thanks to all of you who made it out to the event.

EXPO : Poster and Zine Exhibition 1

2008-03-17T15:13:00.001-07:00

The following is an exhibition of sorts to assist in the promotion of 34 students in a course that I am currently teaching, Creative Layout or Layout Concepts : My intention is to teach students how to self promote and get themselves aclamated into Public Relations Release for Fans of Culture and Graphic Design

EXPO : Poster and Zine Exhibition at the Art Institute San Diego.

Please join 34 emerging designers, Tuesday, March 18 from 5:00 PM to 8:30PM at the Art Institute in Mission Valley, as they exhibit innovative posters and mini zines in the first annual “EXPO: Poster and Zine Exhibition.” All posters and zines will display personal expression and self-promotional concepts originally created for this exhibit.

All 34 designers will be on hand to answer questions and talk about their work. Work will be presented in a gallery, room 267 and the conference room, both located on the second floor of the Art Institute of San Diego.

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Event Date and Time
EXPO : Poster and Zine Exhibition
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Room 267
Instructor : Mark Murphy

Pamela Jaeger : Surrealistic Siren

2008-02-29T17:48:00.000-08:00

Pamela Jaeger is a San Diego fine artist who instinctively paints dreamy, surrealistic female portraits who occupy a world filled with otherworldly delights.And often, the dreamy portraits often personify the artist.

Pamela’s characters are drawn from the memories of childhood—happy and painful times that represent the hopes and desires of a young girl searching for love, independence, sweet candies, poca dotted elephants and pillowy shaped clouds made of cotton candy. Pamela describes her worlds as, “…a fantasy or a perfect world. The characters I create are usually women, but the paintings are almost always about men.”

At times, Pamela Jaeger’s development process begins as written scrawl in personal diaries that trap remnants of personal times. If you were to collect Pamela’s work you would find this scrawl, along with the development of her paintings and passionate angst on the reverse side of the wood canvases she paints on. There are times when the local library services Pamela an immediate way to get close to times passed by. “I’m interested in costumes from many time periods especially Georgian, Elizabethan, Renaissance and Gothic. I love to research the traditions of beauty throughout history.”

Pamela has always enjoyed painting and drawing and studied the arts all of her life and through college. Initially, Pamela embarked on exhibiting her paintings by approaching local coffee shops. It did not take much time for Pamela to exhibit at local and nationally based galleries.

Pamela Jaeger continues to explore other worldly places and journey along with her painted subjects. Passionate moments will continue to unfold as sultry faces gaze back upon you with a zeal for life.

—Mark Murphy : Cultural Instigator, Collector, Publisher

Please note : This article was created for the San Diego Visual Arts Network as Pamela Jaeger was awarded the SD Art Prize for 2007 : Pretty exciting and congratulations to all winners :

Hanna-Barbera Treasure Book

2008-01-14T03:30:00.000-08:00

Back in January of 2007, I was chosen to archive a large portion of the Warner Brothers owned, Hanna-Barbera collection. Fortunately, I was allowed the kind opportunity to work as a curator, designer, assistant to the author (Jerry Beck), and production guru. Now you might think, "Oh, what a lucky ass kid." And yes, I would agree, however, there was one client, Palace Press International and a licensing deal extended by Warner Brothers. Good times, I can assure you. Months of scanning in a secret vault with piles and piles of storyboards and decaying color cells, along with boxed toys (recently acquired from a collector in NY). Once inside of the vault, complete with Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers, all of the Bat Mobiles, Gremlin Puppets and boxes of filed away animations of ole.

I enjoyed my stay at the Warner Brothers warehouse, and promptly scanned through a few hundred artifacts. My buddy, Tim Mantoani, helped me out with photographing all of the discarded toys that only you and I would enjoy. The toys were cool, and it was fun to handle first hand. Barney Rubble appeared in a variety of different styles beginning with a fig leaf for a hat, and Fred resembled a earlier Jackie Gleason. Top Cat seemed to dominate the scene with tons and tons of artifacts in his name, along with his sidekick cats. The Jetsons appeared in games and toys, but not as much as you would have thought. Maybe because it was too way out, and only appeared for less than one year and 24 episodes between the years 1962 and 1963.

Over the next few entries, I will share with you the ups and downs of design in regards to this project. It was a fun opportunity, but ended with 6 months of work and a complete redesign of the final book submitted by me. This happens, as there are many hands in the corporate decision making process, and it was said that the book I had put together could not be used to further license the Hanna-Barbera characters. In short, the characters utilized did not represent where "they" were and were not up-to-date enough. Hmmm, I thought, as the book was created to archive the artists of the past. Protect disregarded art works and to preserve the memories of the elder animators that were passing away while the book was being produced.

And so, to wrap up this entry, please find sample spreads from the original, Mark Murphy concept and layout for the ultimate of all Hanna-Barbera collections. Enjoy.

Art Now Fair 2007 Recap

2007-12-12T11:54:00.001-08:00

The Art Now Fair, at this year’s Art Basel collection of events in Miami was an amazing experience. I was not able to get out and away from my booth as much as I would have liked, but a lot of great artists and collectors stopped on by to say hello. More than 40 paintings were sold, all of the limited edition books that were on hand were sold and Murphy Design catalogs were passed out by street teams throughout Art Basel.

The Murphy “Know” show was a huge hit with art patrons. I received a lot of amazing feedback that congratulated the artistic diversity of the show, the size of the pieces featured in the show and the quality of the books offered.

The following comment was received in an email and a kind reminder that hard work, collaboration and customer service add up to be a memorable experience.

"Mr. Murphy, I got a chance to see your booth during Art Basil and to briefly speak to you. The word refreshing comes to mind. Your collection and your publishing efforts are impressive, daring and real.

I did not enjoy much of the convention center show. There was so much BIG art, really BIG, and there did not seem to be much else going for it. Certainly, I must have missed the point of it, certainly it was more than big art for the big dollars, but if there was...it escaped me.

The antithesis of that was your show and particularly, your booth. I guess it is all a matter of taste...you have taste and most of the big guys... not so much.

Ray Caesar and Jeff Soto are two of my favorite artists. The others in your collection [including your own work] fit neatly into a wonderful alternative world. It takes vision and chutzpa to assemble and so creatively publish and promote the cutting edge. Bravo!!! Have a great 2008!--William Wagenaar "

Many thanks to James Jean, Jason D’Aquino, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Sas Christian, Collin Christian, Jeff Soto, Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup for including me in all of the openings, parties, fine dining and good times. Many thanks to Jeff Soto for hanging out in the booth and spending so much time with art patrons and collectors. 2008 will be great and more information will be available soon.

James Jean

Barry McGee : Twist :

Know Artists : Part Five

2007-11-26T02:14:00.000-08:00

The following is the fifth installment to the upcoming “Know” art exhibition to be held at this year’s Art Now Fair in Miami. “Know” will be an eclectic collection and a great opportunity for collectors to review artists who have all created customized art pieces specifically for this show. Hope to see you there.

Through striking visual imagery, Jeff Soto communicates profound visions and fears, nostalgia of his youth, and themes of love, lust, and hope. Soto’s distinct color palette, subject matter, technique and bold themes resonate with a growing audience. Inspired by childhood toys, the colorful lifestyle of skateboarding and graffiti, hip-hop and popular culture, Soto’s work is simultaneously accessible and stimulating. Check out his latest painting, entitled "Five Stars." For more information about Jeff and all of his goodness, check out www.jeffsoto.com

Ryan Heshka pays homage to the “Golden” era Scifi Pulp on a prolific scale. Being born into a low-tech era, Ryan often explores narrative themes of man vs. nature, or woman vs. man. Ryan’s latest acrylic and collage painting entitled, “Up Yours,” compliments his thematic stance nicely. You can see Ryan on the latest cover of “BLAB,” or at www.ryanheshka.com

AJ Fosik”s, “untitled were head,” is an enamel on wood sculpture— one part cryptic puzzle and one part ingenious assemblage. AJ is a master assembler of bits of wood, color and glass to create beasts of war, enraged by life’s unfortunate circumstance. AJ’s work is sculptural in nature, as geometric shapes, and flowing line patterns entrance the viewer. Check AJ out on the web, just Google his name, and presto, there he is.

Gordon Wiebe’s conceptual style strikes an emotional chord, connecting with the viewer in layered levels of understanding. Humor, drama, joy and the melancholic all make an appearance in his work. Gordon’s painterly style, fragmented with collage, incorporates distinctly expressive figures into richly colored, spare landscapes, as seen in his latest, “hesitant bather.” Visit www. gordonwiebe.com to see more of Gordon Wiebe’s colorful mixed media paintings.

Greg “Craola” Simkins’ artistic career started when he was introduced to spray paint in 1993. Greg’s stylized approach became immediately recognizable, thus “Craola” was born. Greg soon transitioned his talents and focused on painting with acrylics . His unique color usage and blending techniques became another signature trait. Greg Simkins’ graffiti lettering style is seen in the way his characters twist and morph, forming into beastly creatures. You can check out more of Greg’s work at www.imscared.com

Gary Taxali has created two paintings, “French” and “Fry” for the “Know” exhibition. Gary describes, “These are personal paintings which are an extension of a series of shows over the last few years about the theme of lunch counters and diners. I see them as icons of the fast food industry.” For a peek at more of Gary’s sculpts, paintings and mixed media pieces look to www.garytaxali.com

Erik Mark Sandberg is a Los Angeles based artist who constructs complex narratives out of bits of digital bytes, painted surface, print making techniques and geometric scrawl. Erik’s unique style and oversized canvas has earned him multiple opportunities to exhibit his work. Erik’s cyanotype with acrylic, silkscreen and India ink is entitled, “Just Leaving Evansville.” For more information on Erik, please check out www.eriksandberg.net

The “Fallen Series : Acquisition,” by Kathie Olivas is a oil on wood painting that continues her celebration of a post apocalyptic universe filled with her mutant children. Kathie draws you in with her rich, seductive color and chillike tropes only to leave you mystified and perturbed by her disturbing fantasies. Visit www.miserychildren.com and enjoy more of Kathie’s paintings and her upcoming book release, “Ghosts and Martyrs.”

Jonathan Viner is a Brooklyn, based artist, who lends his brush to the sinister. Jonathan paints mysteries, and like a savory piece of fiction, his paintings plunge the viewer into the center of a conspiracy in process. Jonathan’s piece is a sketch that will be offered in concert with his book, “A Tranquil Aftermath.” To see more of Jonathan’s work visit, www.viner.biz

Cynthia von Buhler’s enigmatic paintings impart their meaning through symbol, design, and narrative. Her surreal three-dimensional works blend Renaissance portraiture and messianic figures with natural objects. In von Buhler’s art, butterflies, snakes, birds, and plants are set into cages, boxes, and peepholes to serve as metaphors for the human condition. The layered gouache paintings and their performance accoutrements are both poignant and mischievous. Her website, www.cynthiavonbuhler.com is akin to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. "My Friend Dora Gray Has Mona Lisa Eyes" on display in the KNOW exhibit, although 2-D, is also interactive—“No matter how you look at ‘Dora Gray’ her eyes will move and look away from you.”

Tommii Lim’s paintings capture the Urban American mythic through the eyes of a “minority” race dealing with social, cultural and political challenges. Tommii often uses figures with masks or unidentifiable faces as a symbol of the silent majority in America. Tommii Lim’s latest mixed media piece, “Make Hype, Not Love,” is about personal frustrations when exposed to the overwhelming importance of commercialized “hype” over “substance” in our society. You can check updates for Tommii Lim’s work and events at www.tommiilim.blogspot.com

Luke Chueh's (pronounced CHU), “Shit Ball” is a 8” x 8” acrylic and ink painting that is a continuation of his animal character series. Employing minimal color schemes, simple animal characters, and a seemingly endless list of ill-fated situations, Chueh stylistically balances cute with brute, walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy. You can see more of Luke’s work at www.lukechueh.com

Tim Hussey’s mixed media on paper painting is entitled “Intent.” Tim describes, “Progressively my imagery is pairing down, editing and editing, knowing that nothing will be the perfect ending. Faces, postures and objects become less recognizable as the need for answers dissipates. To capture the truth is an endless swim against the river without a limb in sight, and endlessly I’ll work to display my own.” You can see more of Tim’s painted works at www.zeitgeist-art.com

Know Artists : Part Four

2007-11-24T00:44:00.001-08:00

The following is the fourth installment for the upcoming “Know” art exhibition to be held in Miami this December. The exhibition celebrates emerging artists from around the country and Canada. Check out the complete listing in earlier posts. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in any of the pieces or would like to obtain more information on any of the featured artists.

Painter, illustrator and author Mark Todd took his first creative cues from comic books and Star Wars: worlds of inventive fantasy that still inform his art. His latest work involves intense scrutiny and alteration of classic comic covers from “Fantastic Four,” “X-Men,” “Iron Man,” “Spiderman” and other series, including the work of legendary illustrators like Jack Kirby. “I love the type, the heavy shadows, the colors and the way they seemed to use very inch of the page,” says Todd. “I sit and study them, and my brush reconstructs them.” Todd is referencing the past, waxing nostalgic about it and simultaneously lending his own post-modern sensibility to it, employing a limited palette, repetition, distortion and mixed media materials including spray paint, cel-vinyl, glossy varnishes and dusty stains. The pieces appear as prized objects; tablets encoded with civilization’s most iconic collective wisdom. Check out "Power Spider-Man" and all of Mark's imaginative works at www.marktoddillustration.com

Esther Pearl Watson grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Her family moved often, since her father's hobby of building huge flying saucers out of scrap metal and car engines didn't always sit well with the neighbors. Esther's pieces are often overtly narrative, clear but mysterious scenes of houses or figures ornamented with snippets of prose telling just enough to get the viewer's own imagination engaged, wanting to know more. Some are about family, some about places, all have a rich interior life. Her works without words are just as suggestive of story, also exerting a deep emotional pull. Esther's painted works, including her latest,"Comanche, TX," can be seen at www.estherwatson.com

At first glance, Jordin Isip’s “Know” painting looks as if he utilized thread or colored string in the central figure. Jordin reports, “It’s not thread, these “tangles,” (as I call them), are made of tiny pieces of cut paper, glued together using tweezers, with a semi-steady hand and half-bottle of patience. Sometimes it’s therapeutic—like meditation, other times—just frustrating, maddening...” Jordin is a great promoter of a huge range of artistic talent. Check out his work at www.jordinisip.com

Daniel Hyun Lim is a New York based artist who looks to television pop culture, the curiosity of children and the smiles of good friends for inspiration. Daniel’s latest color pencil, pastel, acrylic and gouache painting entitled, “Secret Snow,” is part of his ongoing portrait series. You can experience the prolific painting talents of Daniel at www.daniel-lim.com

Jody Hewgill enjoys creating paintings that celebrates the heroine. “My aim is to create narrative images that express elements of theatric mystery that often focus on female characters: femme fatales, superheroes from comic books, archetypal goddesses, and even the Bride of Frankenstein. Jody’s "Notorious" reveals a darker side to the fairy-tale character Little Red Riding Hood, depicting her as an emboldened, fearless heroine. Check out more of Jody’s paintings at www.jodyhewgillart.com

“Red Line” by Amanda Wachob is 8” x 8” oil on canvas painting that expands her continued interest in gender roles, body language and issues of racial identity. Amanda sifts through mid 20th century Americana for inspiration and draws on the public by day as a tattoo artist. Visit www.amandawachob.com and check out Amanda’s nostalgic mix of fashion, advertising and sexuality.

Brent Harada typically celebrates images like angry drunken wolves, frustrated batmen, concrete shoes and talking pyramids, only the most stoic and troubled individuals will be able to resist chuckling. Brent’s latest ink on paper drawing is entitled, “My Future Portrait,” which captures his likeness at the core. Check out more of Brent’s work at www.tenderlovingempire.com

Jason D’Aquino is a graphite pencil wizard who loves to create fairy-tale and nursery rhyme inspired images. Jason’s latest drawing is entitled, “Education,” captures his dialogue—juxtaposing old surfaces with icons of ole and added illustrative musings. You can see more of Jason’s works at www.jasondaquino.com

"Spanish Town," by Brandt Peters, celebrates his love of character development and vintage animation. Peters' influences are derived from early depression era cartoons, pin ups, spirit photography, circus side show performers and smiley, yet deviant skeletons. Check out more of Brandt's characters and paintings at www.brandtpeters.com

Keith Warren Greiman is an artist who lives in Philadelphia, Keith’s latest mixed media painting, “Mean Streets,”
celebrates his love of fantastical beasts and other worldly animals with human qualities. Keith celebrates the human condition through images of mystical lands, walking cats, and sword play.

Know Artists : Part Three

2007-11-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

This is your third installment and preview for the “Know” art exhibition at the Art Now Fair to be held at this year’s Art Basel Art Fair in Miami Beach, Florida. As you have noticed, there is an eclectic mix of style, subject matter and technique represented among the 45 featured artists. All of the featured artworks are 8” x 8” and will be hung, salon style, on one large wall. The “Know” exhibition will be featured in booth No. 215 at the Claremont Hotel from Thursday December 6th through Sunday December 9th. Enjoy another preview.

Luke Ramsey’s mixed media collage entitled, “Wizared and the Dessert Leopard,” is comprised of India inks, water colors on paper and found materials. Luke is a constant collaborator and continuously exhibits his work with other members of the “Islands Fold” independent publishing collective. Luke has exhibited his work in California, New York, Canada and Sweden. You can collect Luke’s limited edition zines and comics by visiting www.islandsfold.com

Matt Haber celebrates the narrative tradition of cartons and comic books. Matt’s character-driven works and doll-like characters are small pawns in his constantly evolving storybook. Mr. Haber has worked as a Disney animator in the past and currently works for Fox animation studios, working experiences that has evolved his love for rich storytelling. You can see his latest painting, entitled, “Mask,” at www.glassesareshields.com

Robert Bellm works hard to produce art that responds to subject matter that calls out to him. Robert often looks to nature for his inspiration, especially orchids and birds. “Birds to me represent beauty and freedom. Freedom to soar…” Robert’s latest painting, entitled “It’s all I know,” is a direct compliment to his quote. See more of Robert’s work at www.scrambledmilk.com

Lola, is a Los Angeles based artist who has been exhibiting unconventional characters who celebrate whimsical oddity, often hidden behind masks. Lola’s paintings possess a cute, child-like quality at first glance. At closer inspection the characters seem to whisper back and forth to each other, exchanging a polite, yet sinister confrontation. Or maybe “sweet nothings?” Lola is an artist who constantly challenges her subject matter before each exhibition, looking to further her love for narrative and storytelling. Learn more about Lola and her latest painting, “The most amazing find” at www.lolastrangeart.com

Jen Lobo has an affinity for all things feathered, furry or full of scales. Jen’s paintings further her personal relationship with the natural and how it parallels back to human kind. Jen works hard to document natural history and entomology and celebrates both in her latest oil on panel painting entitled, “Peace.” You can see more of Jen’s nature series at www.jenlobo.com

Warren Dykeman is one part graphic narrative and one part typographic enthusiast. Warren’s paintings combine the urban landscape and look to capture industrial textures, street and graph painting and components of advertising. Warren is trained as a graphic artist and finds his sketchbook as his personal release for his creative inspiration. To learn more about Warren Dykeman’s work, check out www.warrendykeman.com and see his latest “Chainsaw Brandish.”

Travis Lampe’s lates acrylic on wood painting entitled, “Surprise Paralysis Ray Hatch,” is a celebration of his love for dark comics and old cartoons. Travis continually conjures up his own blend of 30s cartoon boom with a creepy crawly twist. Learn more about Travis Lampe’s innovative characters at www.travislampe.com

Jason Murphy is part of the Art Dorks Collective, a group of artists who work together to actively define the visual narrative arts movement. Jason’s latest mixed media painting, entitled, “Job Site,” is a celebration of the harmonic balance between horror and serenity. Check out more of Jason’s work at www.artdorks.com

Pamela Jaeger’s latest acrylic on wood panel painting, entitled “Intuition,” celebrates the pages of her personal journal. Based in San Diego, Pamela often looks to her journal entries and fashion books of old to assist in the development of her characters. Her painting process begins with a lyrical assortment of words and phrases, until finally they lyrically define Pamela’s secrets of the past. If you search Pamela Jaeger’s name on google you will see more of her lifestory unfold.

Know Artists : Part Two

2007-11-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

The following is the second introduction of artists featured in an art exhibition entitled, “Know,” to be held at this year’s Art Now Fair. I (Mark Murphy) hope to introduce you to emerging artists you should take a close look at, as well as furthering my personal mission of archiving living artists. More will be posted soon, see you December 6 – 9 at Art Basel in Miami. Please contact murphy@murphydesign.com if you wish to be added to the acquisitions list or have any questions. Thank you for reading.

James Kirkpatrick, aka Thesis, is a modern day painter who scratches and carves away at the built up surfaces he creates out of paper, encaustic and acrylic paints. James often describes his work as being born out of the collision of street and fine art scenes. James is an emerging artist who works in the “Character-based” art movement, as seen in his latest painting entitled, “the secret two together.” Check out more of James/Thesis at www.studio21.ca

Cathie Bleck works on clayboard, building up the surface with a thick coating of Kaolin clay, gold leaf and ink pigments. Once Cathie’s image making surface is prepared, she scratches at her organic canvas with razor sharp tools with a fluid motion. The result can be seen in her latest scratchboard painting, entitled “Caring for the Phoenix.” Cathie’s composition exposes small moments that move you through the final piece, allowing a chance to decode the overall meaning of her artwork. Learn more about Cathie at www.cathiebleck.com

Chris Pyle created a acrylic on wood panel painting entitled, “Ring Toss.” Chris is an editorial artist who delivers a whimsical social commentary in his brightly colored world of distinct characters. Chris has exhibited in traveling shows for Blab Magazine, Heaven and Hell and Dialogue. To see more of Chris’s work please check out www.chrispyleillustration.com

Peter Taylor’s graphic lines move you through his paintings in a fluid direction. Peter is a virtuoso when it comes to drawing circular forms that dispel ancient secrets of the Budha and tranquil lifestyle. Peter’s latest mixed media drawing, “Magic Man,” invites you in with a friendly “ohm.” See more of Peter’s stylized works and patterns at www.handmadefeat.com

Chris Ryniak has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US including: Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Germany. Chris sculpts objects, as well as paints other worldly creatures that may have been inspired by late night horror and Sci-Fi movie theatre. Chris’s latest painting, “Two Great Houses,” acrylic on wood, can be seen in Miami and his website www.bigistudio.com

Johnny Yanok is one part character designer, on part toy designer and one part packager. Johnny’s creative output is colorful and fun, a careful balance of Mary Blaire and Jim Flora paintings from the 40s through 60s. Johnny’s latest painting is entitled, “Tab is the Best Soda of All Time, acrylic on panel. Check out all of Johnny Yanok’s work at www.johnnyyanok.com

Keith Shore’s latest painting, “An Autumn Scrimmage,” is a companion piece to “summer in the Pumpkin Fields” featured in the Green Art Exhibition in Santa Monica this November. Keith continually produces pieces for McSweeny’s, MTV and Listen Skateboards while prolifically producing inspired art work for group shows and exhibitions. Check out more of Keith’s work at www.keithshore.com

Matt Stallings created, “First in Flight,” is a look into the opportunity to know more about the unknown. How was it that we decided a monkey should be the first in space, after all? Matt continues his exploration of the human condition, often allowing his subjects to answer to the oddities of life. To see more of Matt’s work, please visit www.mattstallings.com

Dave Chung, aka “the Chung” has been painting an ongoing series about the design, modern, yet spacey, look about women’s sex toys. “the Chung” describes them as “Nubs and flippers coming out of every which way! They’re nuts to the balls! So then I started thinking, What if these really were little alien dudes? What sort of crazy adventures would they have? I’m sure they would have fun. To see his latest, “The Tickle Police: Goo Gun,” please visit www.thechung.com