Category Archives: Inspiration

Illustration Professor, Nora Krug, releases book: Belonging/Heimat

Belonging (US title) / Heimat (foreign title)

A 280-page illustrated and hand-lettered visual memoir on a German family’s memory of WWII.

Belonging wrestles with the idea of Heimat, the German word for the place that first forms us, where the sensibilities and identity of one generation pass on to the next. In this highly inventive visual memoir—equal parts graphic novel, family scrapbook, and investigative narrative—Nora Krug draws on letters, archival material, flea market finds, and photographs to attempt to understand what it means to belong. A wholly original record of a German woman’s struggle with the weight of catastrophic history, Belonging is also a reflection on the responsibility that we all have as inheritors of our countries’ pasts.

Fall 2018 release in the following countries: USA (Scribner), UK (Particular Books), Germany (Penguin Hardcover), Holland (Balans), France (Gallimard). 2019 and 2020 release in the following countries: Norway (Spartacus), Sweden (Norstedts), Spain (Salamandra), Brazil (Companhia das Letras), Italy (Stile Libero), and Denmark (Gads).

 

Invitation to Adrian Tomine – 92Y

“Adrian Tomine has more ideas in twenty panels than novelists have in a lifetime,” wrote Zadie Smith.

The artist behind the comic-book series Optic Nerve, which he began self-publishing at the age of 16, is known for his New Yorker covers and the graphic novels 32 Stories, Sleepwalk and Summer Blonde. His new book, Killing and Dying, is a stunning showcase of the possibilities of the medium and a wry exploration of loss, creative ambition, identity and family dynamics.

Adrian Tomine will sign copies of Killing and Dying and his prints following the event. Books and prints will be available for purchase.

Purchase a ticket and be automatically entered to win a signed print (size 18’”x 24”) of his illustration “Missed Connection,” one of his most popular New Yorker covers!

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Student of the Week: Fernando Sarmiento

Fernando Sarmiento, originally from Venezuela is a senior studying Illustration. He enjoys exploring fantasy and sci-fi through narrative, symbolism and character design, with an inclination for children’s illustration.His mediums of preference include but is not limited to: Graphite and color pencils, microns, oil and acrylic paints, polymer clays, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

You can find his work at http://fernando-sarmiento.tumblr.com/ and contact him at sarmf237@newschool.edu
Screen Shot 2015-02-16 at 12.37.34 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-16 at 12.38.07 PM Screen Shot 2015-02-16 at 12.38.30 PM

NY COMICS & PICTURE-STORY SYMPOSIUM: ANYA ULINICH IN CONVERSATION WITH OLGA GERSHENSON

In 2014, Anya Ulinich abandons the world of prose with her new graphic novel, “Lena Finkle’s Magic Barrel,” in which she deploys her competence as both a writer and an illustrator. This book is based on “Lena Finkle’s Magic Barrel,” by Bernard Malamund, which narrates the story of a man who consults a marriage broker in search for a wife. In Anya Ulinich’s version, the magic barrel is a world of online dating, portrayed as a chaotic and intricate world many of us are familiar with. Anya was classically trained in art, but switched to writing upon her arrival in the States, as she stated having “no place to paint.” However, after her first book “Petropolis,” Anya found herself stuck, she felt like she was “impersonating a novelist.” After the rejection of her second book from her publisher, her agent asked her, “What else do you have,” and Anya showed her an assortment of doodles, sketches, diary-like pages; that was all she had. This was the beginning of a great and entirely new project. Even though Ulinich graduated from the University of California with an MFA in painting and had previously written a novel (non-graphic), she maintains having known very little about comic books prior to this project. Nonetheless, this book brings Ulinich’s work to a whole other level of notability, creating a new visual and written language all of her own.

Essentially the book tells the story of a woman, Lena, (also the narrator), who much like Anya herself, is a late 30s divorced mother and novelist from Moscow, teaching and living in Brooklyn with her two daughters. It recounts Lena’s attempts to mend her views of love and sex, through social media platforms such as OKCupid, but there is much more complexity to the plot that Ulinich had in mind. The work appears as a sort of revealing, sequence of journals, which uncover and examine the main characters, and thus indirectly the author’s life and psyche from within. Through subtle details, we come to learn much about the reality of Ulinich’s life and upbringing.

“Lena Finkle’s Magic Barrel” successfully and deeply captivates its viewers as we are both told and shown a story simultaneously. Her drawing style is rather ostentatious, thrilling, powerful, and witty, yet it is somehow always dark, or cloudy or night-time. Moreover, Anya’s drawing technique of combining quick sketches and more finalized illustrations into a style which is naturalistic, impressionistic and at times, cartoony, parallel the protagonist’s constant efforts to make sense of the diverse pieces of her life.

In her book, Anya Ulinich does not attempt to hide anything. We follow the protagonists’s most mundane actions and watch her in all her imperfect and tremendous humanity, resulting in a stronger bond and connection between character and reader. Anya Ulinich is both witty and serious, kind and straightforward, ruffled and unapologetic. The pages mostly dominated with words take a bit of getting used to, yet the experience is truly rewarding. I personally believe that books such as this one, gorgeously created, cleverly recounted and fancifully illustrated are such masterpieces and treasures.

-Noe Paparella

Illustration Inspiration!

No, this doesn’t really have to do with the Parsons Illustration Program, per say; only that this woman, Carolita Johnson, sent us a message on our Facebook page about her illustration in the NYT Sunday Book Review. She’s actually a Parsons School of Fashion alum, now working as a cartoonist at The New Yorker. 

0609-bks-FORTINI-popup

Carolita Johnson for nytimes.com

Her charming message was thus:

“I’m a Parsons alum, doing illustration and cartooning even though I graduated from the Fashion Department (I never pursued Fashion, though my “day job” is fit modeling with technical designers). Anyway, I just had an illustration in the New York Sunday Times Book Review, and I’m just so proud of it, and having no Parson’s art department to claim me, I thought I’d tell you about it. Here it is! (If Foundation Year could claim me, I’d love it. Best year of my life!)”

In the Parsons spirit of cross-program and cross-school exchange, I was happy to just give her illustration a shout out, but then I started to get curious about her work, and found this illustrated article: How To Become A Cartoonist in About 20 Jobs. If you want to read a real “New York” story, this is it. Live and learn readers!

Image from the hairpin.com

Carolita Johnson for thehairpin.com

08-jobs_mrfingerton-640x582

Carolita Johnson for thehairpin.com

carolita-johnson-it-says-there-are-people-waiting-for-your-table-new-yorker-cartoon

Carolita Johnson for The New Yorker

8 Parsons Students Selected for the 3×3 Illustration Annual

Parsons Illustration students Kristen DavisKatie GrossMasuko JoRachel LevitMonica RamosMeghann Stephenson, Janet Sung, and Linnea Gad were selected by a distinguished jury to be included in the 3×3 Illustration Annual. It will be printed and distributed worldwide in hardcover this fall. Congratulations to them and their teachers!

Scroll down to view the 11 Selected works:

 

Kristen Davis, Go to the Devil, Junior Concepts, Sergio Ruzzier (faculty)

davis_kristen_devil_web

 

Katie GrossPlay Ball Part 1, Silkscreen, Scott Nobles (faculty)

gross_play_ball_01_web

 

Masuko JoOdori, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

jo_masuko_odori_web

 

Rachel Levit,  Sad Girls, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

Levit_Rachel_sadgirls_web

 

Monica RamosHuman Hairstyles, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

ramos_monica_hairstyles_web

 

Meghann StephensonWet and Dry, Junior Concepts, Sergio Ruzzier (faculty)

stephenson_wet_web

 

Janet SungCity Murder, Junior Concepts, Guy Billout (faculty)

sung_janet_citymurder_web

 

Linnea Gad, Series of four (clockwise from top left): Gentlemen of the Press Set, Celotex OfficeStasi ClosetMGM Property Department,  Senior Thesis, Jordin Isip (faculty)

gad_linnea_4interiors_web

 

 

Illustration’s 2013 Senior Thesis Book!

After months of hard work all the student’s pieces have been culminated into this interactive and print form book. Down below is the link to download your own copy of the book. Simply ‘right click’ the navigate to ‘save link as’ and presto! You’ve got your own interactive copy of the Illustration Annual.

Enjoy! And happy summer everyone!

ParsonsIllustrationAnnual_Final_LR

Reading Paintings one-night-only group show in DUMBO tonight

Reading Paintings showcases a group of (mostly) recent Parsons Illustration graduates with works that address literature and the collaborations between image and text. It is a one night only event. “It’s going to be a really fun time with booze, music and cool art by cool people.”

Featuring: Charlie Carroll, Leigh CunninghamJohn GarciaJordin IsipMasuko JoSo Yoon KimSu-kyung LeeRachel LevitRay Masaki, Luna Medina, Monica RamosHazel Lee SantinoPaula SearingJulee Yoo

Date: Friday, April 26, 2013, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Location: 135 Plymouth Street, suite 411, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY

reading_paintings_web

6 Parsons Students with 10 Images Selected to Appear in American Illustration 32 Annual Book

Parsons Illustration seniors Franca Barone, Leigh Cunningham, Kristen Davis, and Meghann Stephenson, and recent graduates Monica Ramos and Hazel Lee Santino (class of 2012) were selected by a distinguished jury to be included in the American Illustration 32 annual book. This year’s distinguished jury included Jordan Awan, The New Yorker; Sergio Baradat, United Nations Postal Administration; Chad W. Beckerman, Abrams; Joele Cuyler, Real Simple; Jennifer Daniel, Bloomberg Businessweek; Grace Lee, Priest + Grace; and Alexandra Zsigmond, The New York Times.

From 8,742 pieces entered by over 1,282 illustrators, magazines, agencies, publishers, and schools, the jury selected only 369 images to appear in the book and represent the best pictures from 2011. It will be printed and distributed worldwide in hardcover this fall. Congratulations to them and their teachers!

Scroll down to view the 1o Selected works:

 

Franca BaroneMaremaid Dinner, Printmaking Studio, Paul Marcus (faculty)

web_barone_franca_06_lr

 

Franca BaronePattern 2, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

web_barone_franca_12_lr

 

Leigh Cunningham, Penitent IV (left); Penitent IX (right), Sr. Thesis 1, Lauren Redniss (faculty)

Cunningham_Leigh_22_27_web

 

Kristen Davis, The Wastes, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

web_davis_kristen_02_lr

 

Monica RamosMake Your Own Orgy Kit, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

web_ramos_monica_10

 

Monica RamosNaked Ladies 2, Senior Thesis 2, Jordin Isip (faculty)

web_ramos_monica_02

 

Monica Ramos, Pet Peeve: Selfies, commissioned for Oh Comely magazine

web_ramos_pet_peeve

 

Hazel Lee SantinoFlower Face, personal work

web_santino_flowerface

 

Meghann Stevenson, January, personal work

web_stephenson_meghann_january

6 Parsons Students Awarded Scholarships from the Society of Illustrators; Masuko Jo gets top prize!

Six Parsons Illustration students were awarded scholarships in the 2013 Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition. Only 33 works from the 271 selected by the jury for the show from the initial 8,595 submissions received scholarships. Congratualtions to them for this incredible achievement.

Masuko Jo, $5,000 Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts Scholarship  for OdoriJordin Isip (faculty)

Monica Ramos, $2,000 MicroVisions Scholarship for Naked Ladies 2Jordin Isip (faculty)

Julee Yoo, $1,500 In Memory of Les Kanturek Scholarship for Offering, Nora Krug (faculty)

Annie Seo, $1,000 in Memory of Lila Dryer Scholarship for Meeting,  Steven Guarnaccia (faculty)

Rachel Levit, $500 in Memory of Harry Rosenbaum Scholarship for Pool, Jordin Isip (faculty)

Chelsey Pettyjohn, $250 Leo & Diane Dillon Scholarship for To Covet, Jordin Isip (faculty)

 

 

images: Masuko Jo, Monica Ramos, Julee Yoo, Annie Seo, Rachel Levit, Chelsey Pettyjohn

parsons_soissc_web