Shawn Barber Tatooes You

Shawn Barber is a portrait artist in the most classic sense of the phrase, whether he's painting tattoo artists and their subjects, dolls, or celebrities for any one of his dozens of magazine clients. His portraits are essays in paint, saying so much more about the subject than just what they look like. And the classic, masterly style of the brushstrokes elevates his subjects from mere people to myths, akin to Caravaggio's biblical victims of violence or Boticelli's Greek gods and goddesses.

Much of his recent portraiture and painting has focused on tattoo artists and their art, and in fact Mr. Barber is training to become a tattoo artist himself. Meanwhile, he is opening another outstanding show of gorgeous portraits set in the world of inkers and ink this Saturday at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City. The subjects range from artists such as Kat Von D to the hands and tools of the artists themselves. Maybe someday art scholars will study Mr. Barber's work and wonder about the myths of the illustrated gods and goddesses lovingly set to canvas.



"Tattooed Portraits" at Billy Shire Fine Arts

Shawn Barber's Official Site

Two New Group Shows at Sloan Fine Art

Marion Peck

Alix Sloan and her amazing gallery New York Sloan Fine Art opens not one great group show this Wednesday, but TWO great group shows. You get two for the price of one!

In the main room is "Love is a Cannibal," curated by Becky Smith, owner of Bellwether, New York. The show will feature works by Tyler Coburn, Jesse Finley Reed, and David Benjamin Sherry. Each of these artists will present photographic works.

Meanwhile, in the gallery's two other rooms, a Summer Salon will begin, with a rotating show in four parts with works by over twenty artists. Each mini-exhibition will be on display for two weeks. The first part will feature work by Jud Bergeron, Peter Drake, Caitlin Masley, Marion Peck, Kristen Schiele, Aaron Smith and Trevor Young. And later in the summer, participating artists will include Eric White, Jean-Pierre Roy, and others. Sounds like the summer of love in NYC.

Tyler Coburn

Sloan Fine Art

Gorgeous New Audrey Kawasaki Prints to Go On Sale Soon

"If Only You Were Here"

Two lovely new prints from Audrey Kawasaki are heading our way. The first, "If Only You Were Here" arrives at Ms. Kawasaki's web store this Saturday, July 19th, at 1:00 PM Pacific. It comes in at a large size, 22" x 22", in a signed and numbered edition of 150. Price? $220. And now Ms. Kawasaki is also offering the option of framing. She's hand-picked a perfect white frame that you can add on for an additional $230. Remember that her prints sell out lightning fast, so sign up in her store so that when the time comes all you have to do is log in.

And sometime after "If Only You Were Here," the print "Tear Me" will be released. Another beauty.


"Tear Me"

Audrey Kawasaki's Web Store

HELP! PopDrawer Needs You

Selfish request time. We planned to go to the San Diego Comic-Con and report back, with lots of pics, for our loyal readers. but now, OY, the event is SOLD-OUT! If anyone (down on our knees) ANYONE! knows how we can buy a Thursday pass, please email us immediately. If someone comes through, we will personally sing "Holding Out for a Hero" in gratitude, AND we will pick up a little Comic-Con goodie for our savior as a thank you.

You, dear readers, can be, in the words of Bette Midler, the wind beneath our wings.

Gary Baseman's New Book and Comic-Con Schedule

Gary Baseman carried 200 catalogues back from his show in Barcelona (and boy are his arms tired) and he's pre-selling them on his site now. The 44 page hard-cover full-color book, available exclusively on GaryBaseman.com features all new work from Gary's Barcelona exhibition, "Knowledge Comes From Gas Release." If you buy one during the first week of sale (which begins THIS THURSDAY the 17th), at 10 PM Pacific, Gary will personally sign the book for you. Cost? A very reasonable $40 plus $10 S&H.

Meanwhile, can't get enough Baseman? Head on down to San Diego next week for the Comic-Con, where Gary will be in attendance. He will be signing his other new book, Dying of Thirst, at the Last Gasp Booth on Friday, July 25th at 3pm.  Booth #1616, and will be signing his new Mimobot design at the Mimobot booth on Saturday, July 26th at 2pm.  Booth #4938.

Gary Baseman's Official Site

New Sketches from Ana Bagayan!

Hurry, hurry step right up. Ana Bagayan has some new sketches for sale on her site now. But they won't be there for long. They're downright lovely, too.



Ana Bagayan's Online Store

Good Stuff at San Diego Comic-Con, Part 1 - Amanda Visell

Over the years, the San Diego Comic-Con (this year from July 24-27) has become a must-visit for artists and art-fans alike. Over the years we've seen many of our favorite artists there, including Mark Ryden, Joe Sorren, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Seonna Hong, Bwana Spoons, and so many more. This year is sure to be no exception. And the descriptions of exclusive Comic-Con goods are starting to roll in. Today, we focus on some great swag from Amanda Visell.

Ms. Visell will have three new items available at the Comic-Con. The Good Poopicorn hand-painted resin figure is a hand-painted horse 6.5 inches long and comes with boy, girl, with bonus poop and ice cream! Retail $400. And it comes with a limited-edition print. Available at SDCC at the DKE booth #4732 Friday 11am. The Pistol Pedro belt buckle is Michelle Valigura's belt buckle with real spinning mustache action! First 50 available with limited edition print during SDCC at the DKE toys booth #4732. Retail $60. Finally, a lamp designed by Ms. Visell, limited edition of 25, 18 inches high, 30 inches radius. This is a really small edition and comes with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. $200 at Fully Visual.

So much more to come. Don't forget your cash, ATM card, credit card, and any valuable jewels to pawn.





San Diego Comic-Con

Roq La Rue Gallery's 10th Anniversary

Shag

Boing Boing has a nice post about the 10th Anniversary of the excellent Seattle Gallery Roq La Rue, owned by Pop Surrealism author Kristen Anderson. And The Roq La Rue blog has an online preview. Artists include Mark Ryden, Glenn Barr, Shag, Marion Peck, Liz McGrath, Travis Louie, Lisa Petrucci, Scott Musgrove, Femke Hiemstra, Ronald Kurniawan, and a number of other greats. It's a great show at a great gallery.


Liz McGrath


Ronald Kurniawan

Online Preview at Roq La Rue

Boing Boing Post

It's Only Rock and Roll

Typically PopDrawer focuses on the painted image rather than photographs. And when we cover photography, we usually focus on photography with a surreal or narrative bent. But how can we possibly ignore both photographic royalty and rock royalty all wrapped up together?

This Saturday, July 12th, is the opening of “Beggars To Exiles: Unseen Photographs Of The Rolling Stones, 1966-1971” at the San Francisco Art Exchange. These are never-before-seen photos taken by Dominique Tarle and the late Michael Cooper, who were both well-ensconsed in the Stones' inner circle. According to the press release, the title "Beggars to Exiles" refers to "two of the Stones’ album masterpieces, 1968’s Beggars Banquet, released during the group’s Chelsea heyday as emperors of mod London, and 1971’s Exile On Main Street, recorded on the French Riviera one infamous summer when the band and their entourage were holed up at Villa Nellcôte."

The show will feature sixty limited edition photos, and will be hosted by actor Jake Weber of Medium who at the age of seven was hanging with the Stones at the Villa Nellcote (their father was another Stones insider).



Beggars To Exiles: Unseen Photographs Of The Rolling Stones, 1966-1971 at the San Francisco Art Exchange

Nate Frizzell Print from A Paper Tiger

Yesterday, A Paper Tiger, the awesome print publisher about whom we've written before, released a beautiful Nate Frizzell print entitled "Nest." (PopDrawer has featured this very image in an earlier post about project:gallery. It's a small edition of 25, and at 12" x 20" this lovely giclee is a good deal at $100.

But maybe a more interesting option is an ever more limited "artist edition." A Paper Tiger offers Artist Editions of a few of their prints, including "Nest," in even more limited qualities and hand-embellished by the artists. The Artist Edition of "Nest" is larger at 12" x 24", a tiny edition of 5, and is hand embellished with ink, paint and pencil. This very special edition goes for $350.

We own an edition from A Paper Tiger and are very very impressed with the quality. You can't go wrong.

"Nest" at A Paper Tiger

The Little Book Company That Could

Gustaf Tenggren

Once upon a time there was a little president of a little publishing company (called Artists and Writers Guild) that was actually a joint venture of two very big (but not very scary) publishing companies. The president, George Duplaix, thought really really hard and came up with the idea for Little Golden Books. At the time, most books for children cost $2 to $3, but nice Mr. Duplaix thought that was very bad, and he decided that books should be affordable for all kinds of children. So Little Golden Books would sell their durable books for just 25 cents.

Little Golden Books found wonderful artists from all over the world, including Mary Blair (the artist behind It's a Small World), Tibor Gergely, Gustaf Tenggren and Margaret Wise Brown. Even though the Soviet Union wouldn't sell the books (too capitalistic), many of the artists and writers that made Little Golden Books came from Eastern Europe. That's called irony, boys and girls.

Many years later, in 2008, the Children's Museum of Manhattan, in a big beautiful city called New York City, decided to have an art show celebrating 65 years of Little Golden Books. The show opened July 4th, and made everyone very happy. The end.


Mary Blair

Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books at CMOM

Link to story at Boing Boing

T-Shirt from House Industries

House Industries, creators of the most awesome collection of typefaces and fonts ever, is selling some extraordinarily cool, gorgeously simple t-shirts on their site to celebrate the release of their new Studio Lettering series.

And...?

That's just it. And. Or rather, &. The unassuming yet utilitarian ampersand, done in perfect color combos, & available for just $26 smackeroos, for the ladies & the gents.

& Shirts at House Industries

HI-Fructose Magazine's 3rd Anniversary Show

Jeff Soto

The fantastic Hi-Fructose Magazine, founded by artists Attaboy and Annie Owens, is turning three. And to celebrate they are having what is shaping up to be one of the best group shows in a long time. The opening, at Copro-Nason Gallery, is this Saturday, June 12th, from 8 to 11:30 PM, will feature live music by Cabinet of Curiousities, and an amazing line-up of artists, including Amy Sol, Anthony Ausgang, Dave Cooper, Jeff Soto, Jim Woodring, Josh Keyes, Lola, Luke Chueh, Noferin, Oksana Badrak, Ray Caesar, Shag, Stella Im Hultberg, Travis Louie, and many others. But you can get a glimpse of some it right now at the online preview. The items are already selling, so if you're interested, better move fast.


Josh Keyes


Ray Caesar


Hi-Fructose 3rd Anniversary Show at Copro Nason Gallery

Call Guinness -- The Largest Balloon Animals Ever

New York Magazine posts a video of artist Joshua Allen Harris' public art project - garbage bag animals brought to life by the rushing air of passing subways under the street. Pretty amazing...

Joshua Allen Harris at NY Mag

Bob Dob and Thumbtack Press Do Good

In 1987 artist Bob Dob was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Thankfully he recovered. Thumbtack Press owner Tony Bailey lost his brother to Leukemia in 1985. Bob Dob and Thumbtack are teaming up to try to bring better news to children diagnosed with cancer and other catastrophic diseases by dedicating a new print by Bob Dob to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, a hospital and research center where doctors around the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients. Where no one pays for treatment beyond what is covered by insurance, and those without insurance are never asked to pay.

Bob and Thumbtack Press will be donating every penny earned form the sale of the new print "Lonely Day" to St. Jude. "Lonely Day" is a limited edition of 50, size 12" x 15", for just $75. Thumbtack Press will also frame the print for just $119 extra. Bob is a successful illustrator and fine artist, having recently completed a solo show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery and a group show that was a collaboration of artists seen at Billy Shire Fine Arts, La Luz, and Chicago's DVA GAllery. If "Lonely Day" doesn't satisfy your Bob Dob needs alone, his website is currently selling great t-shirts, hoodies, prints, books, and a few versions of the awesome Luey vinyl toy.

"Lonely Day" by Bob Dob at Thumbtack Press

Bob Dob's Official Website

James Jean's AIDES Poster - UPDATE (with Print for Sale)

The remarkable James Jean details the process he used to create the award-winning AIDES poster about which we blogged a few weeks ago. Included in the write-up is an early concept image he created for the poster that was never used. It's stunning. And he's now offering it as a print. $80 on his website, alongside a number of other gorgeous prints.

James Jean Blog Entry about AIDES Poster

AIDES Print for Sale

Mark Brown - One to Watch

It's always a thrill to "find" an artist while they are in the beginning stages of their inevitable rise to the top. The minute we saw Mark Brown's work, we knew - he's gonna be big. His paintings feature wild collections of pop culture references, original creations, fantastical creatures, all interacting in rural settings - a forest clearing, a dirt road. There's a Folk Art or Outsider Art feel to the subject matter, but Mr. Brown's technique is so much more detailed and precise than most folk art.

Mr. Brown has been showing in group shows at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles quite a bit, and is scheduled to be in their next two group shows as well, including Crazy4Cult opening on August 22nd. Meet us there and try to beat us to his paintings. If you're not quick, we'll buy them right out from under your nose.



Mark's Brown's Official Site

Yo Gabba Gabba Video of the Week

Okay, I know this is stretching the focus of PopDrawer, but it's from Yo Gabba Gabba, and it's The Shins. Yeah, The Shins, performing on a kids' show. And it's a great song. If this doesn't cement Yo Gabba Gabba's status as the coolest kids' show since Sesame Street, I don't know what will.

Link courtesy of Zooglobble.com.

The Shins perform "It's Okay, Try Again" on Yo Gabba Gabba

Andrew Brandou's New Show

Boing Boing has a story about Andrew Brandou's latest show "Mind Manors" opening July 8th in Bern, Switzerland at Milieu Gallery. From Milieu:

"In the Nineties, the LA based artist Andrew Brandou a.k.a. Howdypartner used to belong to the cartoon industries creatively working as animator, production designer and Art Director for the successful TV series The Simpsons and Spongebob.

At the turn of the millennium Brandou chose to forge ahead as an independent artist despite his dream career in cartoons. Remaining true to the figurative representation he now uses religious animal imagery to illustrate the ugly, demonic and bawdy aspects of of real life.

After successful gallery shows in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco Andrew Brandou debutes on European soil with a solo exhibition called „Mind Manors“ at MILIEU Galerie / Artspace in Bern."

From PopDrawer"

"Righteous!"



Andrew Brandou's "Mind Manors" at Milieu Gallery

Andrew Brandou's Official Site

Boing Boing "Mind Manors" Link

Edwin Ushiro Preview Online Now

Edwin Ushiro has an amazing resume in film in animation. But don't let that prejudice you against him. He's also a fantastic fine artist. He has worked as a storyboard artist, character designer, concept designer, art director, and visual effects consultant for the likes of NBC/Universal ("Life"), Sony ("I Dream of Jeannie", the movie), Disney Publishing ("The Incredible"), and many others. But it's his fine art, mixed media on paper and plexiglas, that slays us here at PopDrawer.

His art seems influenced by his production work (or maybe vice-versa), showing elements of anime/manga character design, concept and scenery art, and cinema. His subjects evoke childhood delight and sadness, urban myth and reality, often intertwining them seamlessly. His new show, "while tides guide you back home", opens at project:gallery in Culver City, California next Saturday, June 12th, but the preview can be viewed NOW online. The prices are very reasonable for original art, and we believe now is the time to buy Mr. Ushiro's work, as he is destined for art world stardom. Don't say we didn't warn you.



Edwin Ushiro's "while tides guide you back home" at project:gallery

Edwin Ushiro's Official Site