American Designer- Jon Contino

Stock and Barrel Logo

The first design I saw by Jon Contino was the logo above made for a company called Stock and Barrel.  I was immediately taken by the anvil, negative space and typeface.  I had to do a little digging after seeing this logo to find out who designed it but once I did, and found his site, I was blown away by his designs and artwork.  

Contino has blown up over the last year and been hired by some seriously big companies as well as notable names: Nike, Keebler, The Brooklyn Nets, Stephen King, Dockers, The Washingtonian, Ford and many others are all in his portfolio. 

He is a master typographer and hand draws all his typeface and logo designs.  Although everything is digitalized so it can be printed for advertisement it still feels as if it were personally hand drawn for each particular publication. Everything he creates feels nostalgically American as if he could have been designing revolutionary pamphlets for Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty.  This is not the only reason I love his work but it plays a big part.  Maybe it's the fact that I have blacksmith blood in me but the use of anvils in a lot of his work just makes me happy and I never get sick of them.

Here is a sampling of some of the designs I love but there are plenty more at his website http://joncontino.com/

Nike

Nike

One of my favorites

Makes you want to keep the tag on the tie

Washingtonian

Brooklyn Nets

Handkerchief

-Brian

Artist of the Week: Diane Savona

Domestic Armor 

Diane Savona is a textile and fiber artist who uncovers and exalts the domestic handiwork of the past in her own soft sculpture and 2 dimensional work. People don't mend things anymore, they don't learn complicated embroidery techniques from their mothers, or lacemaking at their grandmothers' knees. Diane exhumes these forgotten practices and artifacts,  garments that were made to last and be passed down from generation to generation, and reemphasizes their worth by deconstructing and repurposing the pieces into something that a new generation can relate to. You can see her hand in every scrap she sews together, and the hands of every woman who darned before her, as if she is holding a magnifying glass up to each French knot and split stitch detail. I especially appreciate the idea of pot holders and aprons as protection and armor. She takes these kitchen garments and tools and elevates them to the level of self-defense for women in the face of their always challenging everyday battles.

Overgrown Fossil, 68"x 49"

Domestic Markings, 32.5"x 20"

Preserved corsets and girdles from Soft-Bodied Specimens

First Apron Excavation, 50"x 33"

Exhibition photograph from her solo show Closet Archeology at The Hermitage Museum in 2010

All images courtesy of the artist's website: www.dianesavonaart.com

- Cathleen 

Oliver Jeffers- Renaissance Man?

Until this week, I only knew of Oliver Jeffers as a childrens’ book author. And I’m not using “only" as a pejorative here, his books are charming and thoughtful and generally wonderful.

An extra sweet Oliver Jeffers book

But the other day, I came across this interview with him and I was totally intrigued. I had no idea he worked in any other medium but the introductory photo was so compelling that I was instantly wanted to see everything he has ever done. 

“Without a Doubt Part 2”, oil on canvas, 2012

Apparently, he works in all kinds of media and all his work is interesting. He is a talented painter with a serious sense of humor and he also works in video, found objects, typography, and more.

"Fathom Painting No. 1”, oil and letraset on canvas, 2010

“Clocks on Wood"

The Vader Project

“Still Life with Logic and a Choice of Beverage” oil

Seriously, if you want to lose and entire afternoon, check out his website and just try not to get sucked in. I still haven’t looked at everything but I’ve been loving everything that I have seen. Check it out for a quirky, inspiring end to your week.

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

Artwork of the Week: Spotty Banana Peel

Spotty Banana Peel by Aubrey Levinthal

Oil painting on masonite panel, 5 x 8 in

I love the idea of elevating a cast off fruit rind to fine art status.

You can see more of Aubrey's work on her website: www.aubreylevinthal.com

And purchase some of her small original paintings from her Etsy shop: Tastycakeartist 

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Aimee Baldwin

Scarlet Ibis -- Eudocimus ruber 2011

Aimee Baldwin is the wonder woman responsible for these fine feathered friends. Sculpted from white pellet foam, paper clay, crepe paper, paint, wire, resin, and glass taxidermy eyes, every bird is individually hand-crafted and unique. She creates lovely framed botany specimens as well. You can read more about her construction technique and see photos of all of her work on her website vegantaxidermy.com, where no plants or animals are harmed in the making of her beautiful art. Brava!

Belted Kingfisher -- Megaceryle alcyon 2011

Detail of Acorn Woodpecker -- Melanerpes formicivorus 2010

Detail of Cedar Waxwing -- Bombycilla cedrorum 2010

- Cathleen


[All photos courtesy of the artist's website & Etsy shop]

Artist of the Week: Julia Harrison

Blue Belle, 2006, 2.5 x 1.5 x 5"

maple wood, gouache, lacquer, wax, nickel, magnet, epoxy

This exquisitely hand-carved wearable art is made by Seattle-based artist and jewelry maker Julia Harrison. Creating in wood and metal primarily, Julia also teaches jewelry and wood-carving classes. I'm amazed that she can pull these animated shapes forth from a dull block of wood, reducing the lifeless material to produce such a vibrant form. You can see more examples of her work on her website: www.juliaharrison.net

The Dozen Rosebuds, 2005

various woods, gouache broaches, also wall-mountable

Mirabella, 2005, 2.5 x 2.5 x 5"

maple wood, pearls, gouache, varnish, wax, nickel, magnet

Daikoku, 2006, 2 x 1.5 x 1"

pear wood, gouache, wax, nickel, magnet

- Cathleen 

[Images courtesy of the artist's website.]

Taking Custody: The Double Life of the Artist Mother

Rachel Papo, Homework, 2012

Taking Custody: The Double Life of the Artist Mother

Next Tuesday night (October 16th, 2012) at 7pm in the SVA Theater (333 W 23rd St, NYC) there will be a never before seen (or heard!) panel discussion made of seven incredible visual artists who are also mothers. 

Sharon L. Butler 

Renee Cox

Suzanne McClelland

Katherine Bernhardt

Rachel Papo

Amy Stein

Danica Phelps

These women are coming together to talk about their experiences juggling their ambitious careers with the demands of motherhood. 

Sharon L. Butler, Chute, 2012, 24 x 36"

pigment, binder, pencil, dirt on unstretched canvas stapled to the wall

Amy Stein, photograph from her Domesticated series

Several recent articles, most prominently a feature in the July/August 2012 issue of The Atlantic, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” by Ann-Marie Slaughter, have brought to light the difficulties of balancing motherhood with a highly-demanding career. But an aspect of this topic that has yet to be thoroughly addressed is how working artists manage their creative calling (often without a steady income) while tending to the daily demands of raising children.

Suzanne McClelland, Spot, Supine, Blind Contour, 2009

72 x 72’’, pastel, acrylic and oil on canvas

• Katherine Bernhardt, Stars and Diamonds, 2010, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60"

Many women artists feel that they have to choose between pursuing their passion and having a family, but the artists on this panel will discuss how they are able to successfully accomplish both; what they sacrifice, what they struggle with, when they find time to go to the studio, how they manage childcare, and how they cultivate relationships with their children while remaining committed to their artistic practice.

Renee Cox, Baby Back, 2001

Danica Phelps, Stripebook 7th Generation, 23 x 30.5 x 1.125″

This is a topic that I am super passionate about, gobbling up every article I can find on the subject (despite the surprising lack of coverage I've found), and am so excited and proud to see this event come together after the last few months of work I've put into it. I really hope the night is a huge success! These women and what they do deserve our support! If you or anyone you know might be interested, please PLEASE PLEASE spread the word! 

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Elisa Werbler

I spied these prints pinned up in the hallowed halls of school last week and they literally stopped me in my tracks. Yes, I mean quite literally. I passed them, stopped, double-backed and took a good long look. I really wished I had my phone with me to take a picture. It would have lasted longer. But I committed the name posted next to the cluster of colorful images to memory and looked it up as soon as I got back to my desk: Elisa Werbler. The layered translucent colors and sharp edges of her prints are what really impressed me most—all effects rather difficult for any novice printmaker to achieve. Turns out Elisa also makes paintings, sculpture, furniture and—wait for it—Anthropologie window installations!! Her window displays are the stuff of repurposed material dreams! And her constructions have definitely made me stop to admire her handiwork on my walks around the city. You can see more of what she does on her website www.elisawerbler.com

Materials used: coffee filters, Cling Wrap, Q-tips, 

plastic spoons, cotton candy cones, wax, dye

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Elsa Mora

Paper Sculpture Miniature Bee 

$150 from elsita on Etsy

Elsa Mora is a Cuban artist who creates in multi medias. Drawing, painting, miniature books, animation, collage, assemblage, and jewelry, but her papercut and porcelain work are my favorite. She lives and works in Los Angeles, and sells some of her most delicate papercuts under Elsita on Etsy. The rest of her work, along with her occasional musings, can be found on her personal blog: elsita.typepad.com

- Cathleen

[All images from the artist's webstie: elsita.typepad.com]