“Norman Rockwell was a 20th-century American illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States, where Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening Post magazine over more than four decades. Among the best-known of Rockwell’s works are the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter, Saying Grace (1951), and the Four Freedoms series.” – Wiki

Based in New York Tomer Hanuka is an illustrator and a cartoonist. He works on a range of projects for magazines, book publishers, ad agencies and film studios. In 2008 he won the British Desgin Museum award as part of the Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions. Currently he teaches at the School of Visual Arts and is working on a graphic novel with his twin brother Asaf.

On his blog he shows his illustration process from sketch to final artwork: www.tropicaltoxic.blogspot.com. Find below a selection of his work:

On my way to work this morning, at around 8, I came across Nathan Bowen who had been illustrating for at least 1 hour. Now that’s dedication for you! As per Eddy’s comment Nathan has got work dotted around london incl Brick Lane.

In this instance had painted the strips white and then created the set of super urban characters you see below. He said his motivation was simply to make the temporary building wall more attractive. I thought it was great.  (He would pop by here later this week).

The author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson, gave birth to Gonzo journalism which is a type of ‘fictional’ journalism. It often includes the reporter in the story and is in the first person. By blending fiction and fact the journalist is able to engage the reader whiles expressing certain facts about a situation. Gonzo journalism tends to favor style over accuracy and often uses personal experiences and emotions to provide context for the topic.

Hunter S. Thomas was good friends with a british artist called Ralph Steadman who provided visual representaiton for Gonzo journalism.  Ralph Steadman has won multiple awards and is renowned for his political illustrations, social caricatures, cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books.

Below is a collection of Ralph Steadman illustrations:

Hunter S. Thompson with Ralph Steadman Illustrations: A good collection of Hunter’s life

Found this today. Absolutely love it. So so fun, it’s great.

I am very excited to finally post the work of this brilliantly talented local artist; from my very own beautiful, South Africa. I have been following this illustrator for the past two years and am a big big fan. At the crazy young age of 24 Louis Minnaar creates illustrations that are not only expertly executed but portray an imagination like no other. A darkness runs through Minnaar’s mysterious worlds of human eyed birds, beaked flowers and disjointed figures. Louis’ highly conceptual approach can be seen in an illustration he created for the South African pop culture magazine “One Small Seed”. Louis explains, “The guy in the seed is chasing his own tail. He is searching for truth in the world and does not find it because ultimately, without God, he is alone.”

How much influence did art, the politicians brand and exposure thereof have in the 2008 American elections?

Is there an integral role between art and politics which can guide us in discovering truth or does art and design in politics walk dangerously close to propaganda?

How much does art and design influence the way people think and act? Or is art an embodiment of people’s perceptions implying that the art is in-fact preordained? The logo of a political brand is then a personification of a symbol or in other words the embodiment of the person it represents – similar comments in the video at the end of this post.

To what degree has art and design influenced the way Americans voted in 2008?

With these questions in mind please take a look at the collection of illustrations, caricatures, logos and video’s relating to the 2008 American Elections. You will notice there is more material on Obama which has nothing to do with my personal views. There was simply more of it. For example there were no real variations of the McCain logo like there was for Obama nor where there video’s talking about McCains brand development.

Enjoy: (Click on the images to see fully)

Obama Brand & Logo Development:
An interview with Sol Sender about the Obama logo and the brand that was built.

Sol Sender – Obama Logo Design Part 1 of 2

Sol Sender – Obama Logo Design Part 1 of 2

Other Videos:

This is a video compilation of varies political expressions

Obama And Pop Culture – CBS News

HipHop Scratching Video

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed!

I have been following Sean Galloway’s work for a while now and I am a massive FAN!

He has worked as lead character designer on animated features such as Hellboy and the new animated Spiderman series.

You have got to love this guys amazing simplicity of form and line, it’s enough to make any line junky squirm with delight (you know what I am talking about).

Sean is a 34 year old freelance illustrator, currently living in Los Angeles California.

For more info please visit his blog : http://gotcheeks.blogspot.com

He has a real command of human anatomy which he then likes to distorts. Chris Scarborough likes to add a lot of detail to hands and feet which draws your attention to them – I wonder if it has some meaning or just for effect. Either way I like the extra detail. He also gives his characters these big eyes (Seems to be quite the popular effect to give more emotion to characters). His characters generally have quite a macabre feeling. Ohh and then the spaceship is great I want one just like that!

I cannot believe I haven’t posted Chris Riddell yet. He is my absolute favorite. His stories are so so charming and his drawings are magical masterpieces.

Then Click Here

$32,500 not quite in your price range then? Me neither…

Boris Vallejo 1978 Tarzan Calendar
5500 USD (maybe at the end of the month.)

Frank Frazetta Devil Rider Painting Original Art (circa 1970)
19 000 USD

Hal Foster Prince Valiant Sunday Comic Strip
11 000 USD

Illustrator unknown. Great little animation even though it is quite violent. Enjoy!

Paul Terry-toons – Dingbat and Sylvester the fox

Paul Terry-toons Sourpuss and Gandy Goose

Paul Terry-toons – Heckle And Jeckle

Paul Terry-toons – Oil Can Harry and Pearl PureHeart

Paul Terry-toons – Mighty Mouse

Paul Terry-toons – Terry Bears

Paul Terry-toons -Dinky

Paul Terry-toons -Little Roquefort

Shepard Fairey has a whole range of subject but I posted these portraits because I think they work wonderfully together. There is something very prolific about them – Perhaps the colors (red and black) and/or the strong cultural and social references which gives these art works such weight.

Shepard Fairey – Malcolm X

Shepard Fairey – Mujer Fatal

Shepard Fairey – Arab Woman

Shepard Fairey – Peace Goddess

Shepard Fairey – Peace Mujer

Computer games often produce some amazing illustrations. Blizzard games have just released Diablo 3. I remember when they brought out Diablo 1 – I was glued for hours as I explored the labyrinths looking for new weapons and spells. You have to find and kill Diablo. Here are some illustrations from the game. Check Out The Website – pretty impressive.

Click on them:

Los Angeles based artist James Jean has produced some of the most amazing artworks I have even seen. The viewer is captured by the mythical stories each artwork tells. James Jean has won countless awards for his work. His clients include Time Magazine, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Spin, ESPN, Atlantic Records, Target, Playboy, Knopf, Prada among others.

James Jean Supertron

James Jean Didleybo

James Jean Maze

James Jean Prada bloom1

James Jean prada bloom3

James Jean Prwave

James Jean’s drawing process with “Fables-76″

www.jamesjean.com

This post marks the beginning of a new category – Comics. In truth I have never really been an avid comic reader. I did once collect Ghost Rider, about 10 comic books in total. However there is defiantly something to be said for the artistic skill that goes into these comics. Here are a couple images from varies comics and publishers.

Above: This illustration is a snip it from the Marvel Superhero Team “Thunderbolts“.

For those of you not familiar with the world of comics, me being one, there is a whole universe that has been created around these superhuman characters. With political faction and superheroes joining each other to form teams and rally against other heroes. Much like Tolkien and his imaginary world of Orks, Hobbits and speaking trees.

Above: Achebe from Marvel Comics: “Reverend Doctor Michael Ibn al-Hajj Achebe’s true identity remains unknown. Stories persist that he was originally a Ghudazian farmer until Ujankan guerillas took refuge in his home, repaying his hospitality by stabbing him repeatedly, burning his farm, and stealing his unfaithful wife. Refusing to die, the farmer sold his soul to the devil for revenge, hunting down and slaying everyone associated with his wife, from close family to casual acquaintances.” Read More…

Above: “A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is an organization of brilliant scientists and their hirelings dedicated to the acquisition of power and the overthrow of all government by technological means.” Read More…

The stories are rather elaborate. If you go to the site there is a publishers rating for thing like power and intelligence. There is also a user rating. Then you have a full profile breakdown. What color hair, occupation (E.G.: Revolutionary, minister; former farmer, co-regent of Wakanda), Education (E.G: Ph.D. in Law (Yale)), Relatives (E.G: Unidentified alleged wife (deceased)) etc…

There you have it.