Category Archives: Illustration Industry

The Global Artistry of Leo and Diane Dillon

Exhibitions, Illustration Alumni, Illustration Industry, ,

If you’re near Abilene, TX, stop by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature to catch a retrospective of Leo and Diane Dillon.  Both are respected artists and alumni of Parsons Illustration.  Here’s an excerpt from the exhibition description:

Leo Dillon and Diane Sorber were born eleven days apart in 1933-Leo in Brooklyn, New York, and Diane near Los Angeles, California. When they met at Parsons School of Design in New York City in 1954, each already aspired to a life of art. Meeting first through one another’s artwork, they immediately recognized the talent and mastery of the other. Over the years, their competitive friendship evolved into a lasting marriage and artistic partnership. “We’ve worked together for 40 years. In 1997 we celebrated our 40th anniversary and we completed our 40th book, To Every Thing There Is a Season.”

Versatility, diversity, research, and integrity have remained characteristics of the Dillons’ work, which ranges from African folktales to Scandinavian epics, from fantasy to science fiction. In addition to two Caldecott Medals (for Ashanti to Zulu and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears), the Dillons have received four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, four Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, two Coretta Scott King Awards, and the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal.

Congratulations to Leo and Diane on their continuing success and artistic inspiration!

The Global Artistry of Leo and Diane Dillon
Through October 25, 2008
National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature
102 Cedar
Abilene, Texas
(325) 673-4586
info@nccil.org.
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m–Free Admission

Abby Denson on comics, dessert, and life

Illustration Alumni, Illustration Industry, Interviews, Publications, , ,

Parsons Illustration Alum Abby Denson was recently written up in the New York Daily News.  She talked about her own work, as well as the education value of comics.  Here’s an excerpt:

Daily News: When did you get into comic art and comic writing?

Abby Denson: Well, I’ve been reading comics ever since I was a kid. The early comics I would read were the “X-Men,” and “Alpha Flight”, also “Uncle Scrooge” comics and things like that. When I got into college or when I was in high school getting into college I was more into “Love and Rockets” and reading “Ranma 1/2” by Rumiko Takahashi. Those were some pretty big influences. When I was in college, I pretty much ended up strictly reading black and white comics, whether it was indie comics or manga. I also liked Andy Watson, whose stuff is always great.

At first, I didn’t think I would be into drawing [comics]. I mean, I went to Parsons School of Design for illustration but I really wasn’t into the idea of doing my own comic until I had a concept for a comic that kind of drove me through it. [Creating a] comic is a lot of work since you have to write it and then draw it. It’s double the work of just being a novelist or just being an artist, and usually not as well compensated (laughs). You have to have an idea to propel you to do the work; you really have to be passionate about the concept.

Read the rest of Abby’s great interview here.  Currently, Abby is hard at work, writing a dessert column for L Magazine, illustrating, and getting ready to teach a class here at the New School.  Way to go, Abby!

[art from Abby Denson’s Dolltopia]

Repost and Reminder: Beautiful Losers tonight!

Current Students, Events, Illustration Dept. Events, Illustration Industry, News, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parsons Illustration Faculty Noel Claro has gotten Sidetrack Films to arrange for a special, FREE screening of the fantastic movie, Beautiful Losers for Parsons Illustration, CDT, Photo, and Fine Arts students. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!  Here’s the official description and trailer:

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation.

In the early 1990’s a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the “establishment” art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.

Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes “in” as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today’s youth.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.680661&w=425&h=350&fv=clip_id%3D1324674%26server%3Dvimeo.com%26autoplay%3D0%26fullscreen%3D1%26md5%3D%26show_portrait%3D0%26show_title%3D0%26show_byline%3D0%26context%3D%26context_id%3D]

There are still tickets left–this screening is open to all Illustration, Photo, CDT, and Fine Arts students at Parsons. So drop by and pick up your pass!

Beautiful Losers
T. Lang Center
55 W. 13th, 2nd Floor
7 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9th
Free tickets available in the Illustration Office (806, 2 W. 13th)

Submit your work to The Best American Comics!

Call for Entries, Illustration Industry, Publications, , ,

What is The Best American Comics?
It’s an annual anthology of the best comics short stories and (excerpts of) graphic novels by North American authors each year, published by Houghton Mifflin. It is part of the prestigious Best American series, which also includes The Best American Short Stories, Essays, Non-Required Reading, and so on.

Eligibility
The author must be North American (i.e. from Canada, United States, or Mexico). Work published between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008 is eligible for the 2009 volume. The 2010 volume will cover work published from 9/1/08 * 8/31/09, and so on. Individual issues, collections, original graphic novels, and self-published comics (including mini-comics) are eligible for consideration. We must see your comics in order to consider them! Please send one copy of each book you publish to us at the address on the left. Please clearly label each book submitted with contact information and date of publication. Comics published on-line must be submitted in the form of print-outs.

How does it work?
The series editors (that’s us) are responsible for collecting, reviewing, and selecting semi-finalists from all comics published by North American authors in a given year. Each year the editorial team (ourselves and Houghton Mifflin in-house editor Anjali Singh) select an established comics author to act as guest editor. The guest editor is responsible for choosing among the semi-finalists (and adding to the list if he or she sees fit) to create the list of works for inclusion in the book. If your work is on the final list, you will be contacted by us in October or November for permission.

Send Us Your Comics!
We hope you will put the Best American Comics on your finished book mailing list and automatically send in anything that might be eligible. Keep in mind that even if you miss one year’s deadline a book will be eligible for the following year’s volume.

Note that the publishing deadline for the 2009 volume is coming up at the end of this month.  We will only accept books for this volume until mid-September so send your books in sooner rather than later!

Please send your books to us at the address below. If you have questions don’t hesitate to e-mail us at either jabel@jessicaabel.com or matt@mattmadden.com.

Mail all your eligible comics to:
Jessica Abel & Matt Madden
Series Editors
The Best American Comics
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003

Good luck!

Hanoch Piven at Society of Illustrators

Events, Illustration Industry, News, , , ,

Hanoch Piven, renowned illustrator and creative force will be presenting a lecture at the Society of Illustrators next week.  Piven uses found objects to create three-dimensional artworks and is known for his educational workshops.

Hear him speak:

Wednesday, September 10th
6:30 – 9:00pm
Society of Illustrators
128 East 63 Street, NYC

Mr. Piven will also be conducting a workshop called FOUND OBJECTS PORTRAITS at Materials for the Arts, NY’s premier reuse center on September 11, 2008, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Beautiful Losers screening at Parsons!

Current Students, Events, Illustration Dept. Events, Illustration Industry, News, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parsons Illustration Faculty Noel Claro has gotten Sidetrack Films to arrange for a special, FREE screening of the fantastic movie, Beautiful Losers. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!  Here’s the official description and trailer:

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation.

In the early 1990’s a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the “establishment” art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.

Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes “in” as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today’s youth.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.680661&w=425&h=350&fv=clip_id%3D1324674%26server%3Dvimeo.com%26autoplay%3D0%26fullscreen%3D1%26md5%3D%26show_portrait%3D0%26show_title%3D0%26show_byline%3D0%26context%3D%26context_id%3D]

There are still tickets left–this screening is open to all Illustration, Photo, CDT, and Fine Arts students at Parsons. So drop by and pick up your pass!

Beautiful Losers
T. Lang Center
55 W. 13th, 2nd Floor
7 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9th
Free
Tickets available in the Illustration Office

Illustration Alums in Dark Pop show

Events, Exhibitions, Illustration Alumni, Illustration Industry, , , ,

Dark Pop: a guest-curated show by Andrew Michael Ford goes up at Last Rites Gallery this week.  Here’s the official description:

Last Rites Gallery and guest curator Andrew Michael Ford (director of Ad Hoc Art, curator of Deep Pop) have decided to find out what several of today’s brightest art stars are capable of when asked to create ONE piece of what could be considered truly ‘dark art’. Many artists find themselves in a nice groove of creating a certain mood or emotion through their work and have, understandably, become quite comfortable following this path in their art-making. We were curious, however, what would happen if things were to get a little uncomfortable, as the artist challenged themselves to search through new or buried feelings and emotions, the kind which might find their place on the ‘darker’ side of the artistic spectrum. With that in mind, Last Rites Gallery and guest curator Andrew Michael Ford proudly present “Dark Pop”: A collection of truly ‘dark art’ from an incredibly talented and diverse group of artists who would normally never get anywhere near this stuff! The results, we believe, are nothing short of astounding!

Artists include: Ron English, Isabel Samaras (Illustration Alum), Gary Taxali, Esao Andrews, Nicole Steen, Yoko D’holbachie, Nathan Lee Picket (Illustration Alum) and more.  Go check out it out!

Dark Pop
Opening Reception: Saturday, 9/6/08, 7:00pm-11:00pm.
Show runs September 6th thru October 11th.
Last Rites Gallery
511 W. 33rd Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues (3 blocks from Penn Station), 3rd floor
212.529.0666


1st Sundays featuring R. Sikoryak

Events, Illustration Alumni, Illustration Faculty, Illustration Industry, , ,

1st SUNDAYS COMEDY FILM FESTIVAL
Special Howl Festival Show
featuring Arts of the East Village and the Lower East Side

“Videos by Dale Goodson”
written and directed by Dale Goodson
East Village poet, comedian and filmmaker Dale Goodson
presents works from days gone by, as well as a world premiere.

“Masterpiece Comics”
written & directed by R. Sikoryak (Parsons Illustration Alum & Faculty member!)
Literary masterpieces and comics as you’ve never seen them before.
(In glorious Powerpoint!)

“Masters of the Universe”
written and directed by Kevin Maher
Kevin Maher bares a bit of his soul.  And plays the bongos.

“Why, Grandma?”
written and directed by Chandler Simms
Part of the “Wanna Be a Star” contest, starring audience member Polina Roytman!

Sunday, September 7th, 6:00pm
at the BOWERY POETRY CLUB
308 Bowery (between Houston and Bleecker)
$10 ($7.00 for students)

Last Minute: Hobnobbing Zmirkies

Exhibitions, Illustration Industry, Randomly Intriguing, , , ,

The McCaig-Welles & Rosenthal Gallery presents an exhibition of new works by the artist Roman Klonek titled “Hobnobbing Zmirkies.” In the 1970s the Kloneks moved from Poland to Germany, where he quickly became addicted to comics and cartoons. In the 1990’s he studied Graphic Arts in Duesseldorf and earned his diploma with 12 huge woodcut printings that showed the inner-workings of the human brain. In 2001 he founded the Gallery Revolver with friends in Düsseldorf/Flingern, bought a printing press and started a never ending range of woodcut printings.

Roman Klonek likes to draw heros, mostly half animal/half human, in hair-raising situations.

You may ask: How could this have happened? For heavens sake, how will this move on?

You will see snapshots full of adventure, thrill and fateful encounters captured by one of the oldest graphic techniques. Woodcut printing is based on the principle of a stamp. The reduced forms remind you of the first days of comics and cartoons. The hybrids are forced to a tragicomical chord between tradition and subculture. In general: The basic principles of the woodcut printings are rough drafts of Roman’s drawing books. These books are sort of diaries, just with drawings instead of stories. The subjects are always inspired by his personal present. So one can say the images are autobiographically encrypted.

The exhibition will be on display through September 8th, 2008, so check it out while you can!

McCaig-Welles & Rosenthal Gallery
129 Roebling Street, Suite B
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Bonus footage: Here’s a recent SoyJoy commercial animated by Roman:

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.679516&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

[woodcuts by Roman Klonek]

Andy Kehoe included in Annual Blab! exhibition

Events, Exhibitions, Illustration Alumni, Illustration Industry, News, , ,

THE 4th ANNUAL BLAB! SHOW
September 6th-27th, 2008
OPENING RECEPTION: September 6th, 8:00-11:30 pm

COPRO/NASON GALLERY and Monte Beauchamp proudly present “THE BLAB! SHOW,” the fourth Group Art Exhibition featuring original paintings and illustrations from the forthcoming issue of BLAB! magazine – Monte Beauchamp’s periodic anthology of sequential and comic art, illustration, painting, and printmaking.

Artists include: SHAG, TRAVIS LOUIE, RYAN HESHKA, GARY BASEMAN, RON ENGLISH, LUKE CHEUH, GARY TAXALI, FRED STONEHOUSE, ANDY KEHOE (Parsons Illustration Alum!), TRAVIS LAMPE, LAURA LEVINE, MARC BURCKHARDT, CJ PYLE, MARK TODD, TOM HUCK, and MANY MORE.

Check out all the artwork for sale here.  And our congrats to Andy on his inclusion!