May 152008
 

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.

thunderbolts Marvel Comics

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.

Achebe Marvel Comics

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…

a.i.m

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.

May 142008
 

Woodcut is a artistic technique in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level while the non-printing parts are removed. The block is cut along the grain of the wood. In Europe beechwood was commonly used and in Japan cherry wood was used.

woodblock-cuttingThe surface is covered with ink by rolling over the surface with an ink covered roller. Multiple colors can be printed using this technique – a different block is used for each color.

It did not originate in Japan as some people believe. It came originally from China and was later adopted by the West and Japan.

The most popularized form of woodcut Art is called Ukiyo-e. It originated in Japan and it is probably what you have seen. Ukiyo-e means: “pictures of the floating world”. More specifically Ukiyo-e is woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings. They where popular between the 17th and the 20th centuries. Ukiyo-e were affordable because they could be mass-produced. They were, therefore, meant for people who were not wealthy enough to afford an original painting. The original subject of ukiyo-e was city life, in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district.

The Great Wave At Kanagawa

This is probably one of the most famous Ukiyo-e’s. It is called “The Great Wave”. (Why do you look surprised?). Artist is Hokusai and it is part of his subscription series, “Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji,” completed between 1826 and 1833.

Kobayakawa Kiyoshi Nationality - Eyes, Hitomi

Artist: Kobayakawa Kiyoshi Nationality: Japanese, 1896-1948 Title: Eyes, Hitomi, from the series Modern Styles of Makeup Date: 1931.

woodblock-cutting-unkown

Evening Snow at Kanbara, Edo period (1615–1868), 1834

Evening Snow at Kanbara, Ando Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858)

woodcut-ukiyoe

May 122008
 

Kamrooz Aram Profile PicAram was born in Shiraz, Iran in 1978. He has had solo exhibitions at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA; Wilkinson Gallery, London; and Oliver Kamm Gallery, New York as well as being included in varies other exhibitions.

Kamrooz Aram is a contemporary artist whose paintings and drawings bring together traditional and contemporary cultural references to create scenes reflecting magical and weird present day.

Kamrooz Aram - Enduring Continuing Eternal
Kamrooz Aram – Enduring Continuing Eternal
(Oil on canvas)

Kamrooz Aram - Phosphorus Visions
Kamrooz Aram – Phosphorus Visions
(Oil on canvas)

Kamrooz Aram - Revolutionary Dreams
Kamrooz Aram – Revolutionary Dreams
(Pen on Paper)

Kamrooz Aram - The Gleam Of The Mornings First Beam
Kamrooz Aram – The Gleam Of The Mornings First Beam
(Oil and collage on canvas)