Discover: Dan May - Artist

Stay Off The Grass © Dan May

Dan May is an American artist originally from Rochester, New York. I really enjoy his versatility in his style where he can use very solid strokes as he does in Stay Off The Grass (above) but also is capable of creating soft images like the piece shown below.

Pulled From The Heavens © Dan May

His piece entitled Henry's Burden (below) is based on David Lynch's film Eraserhead and will be a part of David Lynch's tribute show at Alcove Arts in Atlanta Georgia on July 10th.

Henry's Burden © Dan May

+ Dan May Interview [The Little Chimp Society]

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Brandt Peters - Artist

© Brandt Peters

Our eye candy today is brought to you by Brandt Peters, an American artist. He has a unique style which I would describe as if Disney cartoons were more demented and done in graffiti.

© Brandt Peters

He is another artist whose work translates very well to toys and sculptures. Make sure you take a look at the toys section on his site.

© Brandt Peters

I think it would be awesome if they made an animated film using his artwork, but that's just me. Check out Brandt's site here, and more links at Gelaskins.

© Brandt Peters

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Tara McPherson - Artist

Unicorn Girl © Tara McPherson

[BIO] Tara McPherson is an artist based out of New York City. Creating art about people and their odd ways, her characters seem to exude an idealized innocence with a glimpse of hard earned wisdom in their eyes. Recalling many issues from childhood and good old life experience, she creates images that are thought provoking and seductive. People and their relationships are a central theme throughout her work. (taken from www.taramcpherson.com)

Adventures of Ace and Ion © Tara McPherson

I just wish I had money and space for all the great art out there. I would need a wall full of toys made by Tara McPherson along with some paintings and prints. I think I am going to order some stickers though to decorate one of my guitars. More artist should have sticker for sale damnit! Follow the link below to read her interview at Format Mag, and check out more of her work.

Playing With Fire - The Lover © Tara McPherson

+ Tara McPherson Interview [Format Magazine]

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Audrey Kawasaki - Artist

Watching You © Audrey Kawasaki

I actually have a lot in common with Audrey Kawasaki. We are the same age, we are both 2nd generation, we both went to Japanese school every Saturday when we were younger, we both grew up reading Manga and we both did not finish college. Audrey though is an amazing artists, and her innocent yet erotic paintings are one of a kind and a great treat for your eyes.

Overlap © Audrey Kawasaki

Her canvas of choice is wood panels as most of her paintings are drawn on them, often cut and treated to her liking. As always there are a ton more great stuff at her website so go check that out.

Not The Only One © Audrey Kawasaki

+ Audrey Kawasaki Interview
+ Audrey Kawasaki's Official Website

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Northside Festival

People at The L Magazine have teamed up with local music businesses to put together the first annual Northside Festival taking place in Greenpoint and Williamsburg Brooklyn from Thursday June 11th to Sunday June 14th. It will showcase bands and artists of the independent music and art scene in the NYC area.

Some of the bands playing include The Hold Steady, Bishop Allen, O'Death and Aa. The Williamsburg Gallery Association will be helping out featuring artists throughout the art spaces in the area. Tickets are $45 passes for all 4 days and they are not doing single day tickets apparently. It is cheap considering but it is only available for all of us 21 and older. I think you can get tickets for the individual shows through the venues though. My friends O'Death are playing at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and I'm pretty sure you can get tickets for that specific show online.

It's pretty much an uber hipster festival I'm assuming, but I can totally be wrong and on the flipside it's a music and art festival what can go wrong? Check out their website for complete line-ups and schedules. www.northsidefestival.com

+ The Northside Festival - Snooze [Lucid Culture]
+ The Northside Festival is coming to Brooklyn [Brooklyn Vegan]

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Discover: Maurits Cornelis Escher - Artist / Mathematician

Reptiles by M.C. Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher often referred simply as M.C. Escher was a Dutch artist born in 1898. You may recognize the Drawing Hands piece but he is known for his mathematically-inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints. These feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture, and tessellations.

Concave and Convex by M.C. Escher

Escher's interest in symmetry and polygons led to his unique style characterized by a mathematical approach to art. It is definitely an unorthodox way of tackling art, but as you can see from his work it is rather intriguing. His "math-art" can often be conceptually and artistically simple like the Fish below, but often got more complex and detailed in works like Concave and Convex (shown above).

Fish by M.C. Escher

In a way Escher is more a mathematician and a philosopher than an artist. He just happened to express his ideas with art instead of text. Take a look at Escher's Wikipedia entry to learn more about his life and how his art directly reflects mathematical theories and concepts.

Drawing Hands by M.C. Escher

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Featured Artist: Danica Novgorodoff

The Ghosts of Sailors © Danica Novgorodoff

Hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend, but now it's back to work and let's kick it off with some awesome art.

Danica Novgorodoff is an artist from Kentucky, and is a great painter as well as an illustrator. She may not be as detail oriented as some of the other artists we have featured but her slightly messy style is aesthetically pleasing and has a lot of character.

I am dead / I am drunk © Danica Novgorodoff

Danica has also published several graphic novels which you guys should definitely check out. Read the interview linked below and browse through her site for more information.

Astroland Illustration: Baptism © Danica Novgorodoff

+ Danica Novgorodoff Interview [Graphic Language]

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Featured Artist: Damon Soule

© Damon Soule

Awesome. That is what comes to mind when I look at Damon Soule's artwork. The creativity, the colors, everything is really cool to look at. He is a versatile artist that can do amazing things with pretty much any medium and style. The three pics I have here are only a very small portion of what Soule is capable of.

© Damon Soule

Soule is an artist from San Francisco, and one of the reasons I need to get out to Cali. There is such a great art scene throughout that state and all the cool galleries and showcases are happening out there. Check out his website to see more of Soule's work and don't forget to follow the link below and read his interview!

© Damon Soule

+ Damon Soule Interview [Fecal Face]

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Browse Worthy: Juxtapoz

Juxtapoz: Art & Culture Magazine

Juxtapoz is the don of art magazines as it boasts the title of having the largest circulation out of all the art magazines in the U.S. The website for Juxtapoz of course features artists but functions as a blog covering all the news in the arts world whether its clothes, videos, galleries or photos. The best feature they have online is the gallery guide that list a ton of art galleries, shops and museums in NYC (also California and other locations). I know Cali has a big art scene but I didn't realize there were that many spots in the NYC area. Another site that you should bookmark just to be on top of all the great art out in our world.

+ Juxtapoz: Art & Culture Magazine Online

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Featured Artist: Natalia Fabia

Glamour Pot © Natalia Fabia

Natalia Fabia's bio says it all "Inspired by light, color, punk rock music, hot chicks and sparkles, Fabia is fascinated with 'hookers', which fuels her paintings of sultry women." Aside from the subjects she paints which are fascinating enough, the detail and realism in her paintings are astounding. When I was browsing her work, I encountered few paintings which I could have sworn were photos.

Peacock Dancer © Natalia Fabia

She is definitely a talented and highly skilled artist but she also extends her interest in "hookers" with her jewelry/clothing line HookerFeathers. It features necklaces, bracelets, sexy tops and skirts all inspired from hot punk rock chicks and their life style. So follow the links and take a look at more of her work, especially the interview she did with Hi-Fructose Magazine (linked below).

Jungle Hooker © Natalia Fabia

+ "Hooker Insight" an Interview with Natalia Fabia [Hi-Fructose]

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Featured Artist: Brandi Milne

Sugar Head In The Sky © Brandi Milne

Brandi Milne is another artist influenced by Japanese culture and products, but her 1970s upbringing may possibly be the main inspiration. Whether it's the cartoons she watched or the warmth of her mother giving her cupcakes and treats, it comes through beautifully with her art nouveau-ish style. Her paintings are obviously pretty to look at but they also stir up a sense of nostalgia.

Let's Eat Cake © Brandi Milne

Being a self-taught artist, this California native is able to paint freely without convention and express herself in her own unique style. Make sure you visit her site for more great paintings it will definitely be worth your while. www.brandimilne.com

Tea Party © Brandi Milne

+ Brandi Milne Interview [Format]

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Discover: Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was born on July 14th 1862 in Baumgarten, a town near Vienna in Austria. He was the second child out of seven and spent most of his youth in poverty. At the age of 14 he received a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts where he was trained as an architectural painter. His professional career began as he was commissioned to paint interior murals and ceiling in large public buildings.


In 1897 Klimt became a founding member and president of the Vienna Secession, an organization of artists during the Vienna Art Nouveau period. The government supported them and commissioned many projects but as Klimt began to use women as his primary subject and portray a frank eroticism, he became a target of public outcry from political and religious groups. Although he stopped accepting public commissions after the incident, he kept painting and would eventually receive critical acclaim and success around 1907 during his 'golden phase' which derived from his prominent use of gold.


Klimt died in 1918 having suffered a stroke and pneumonia, but his paintings have brought some of the highest prices recorded for individual works of art. In 2006 a portrait Klimt painted in 1907 sold for $135 million which surpassed Picasso's Boy with a Pipe by almost $31 million.

+ Gustav Klimt at art.com

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Featured Artist: Dave Cooper

Tree Helix © Dave Cooper

As you might be able to tell, Dave Cooper used to be a cartoonist. He now focuses on being an oil painter and his work is awesome. His style is fun and freaky all at once and his self proclaimed love for "fat ladies who roll around on the ground and bite or squeeze one another" shines through in many of his paintings. Cooper has many of his current works in progress posted on his Flickr page so you should definitely check that out. It's really cool to be able to see an artist's process, watching a sketch turn into a finished painting.

Flock of Girlies © Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper also made a line of toys with a company called Critterbox which I would love to own, but I believe they are all sold out at the moment. He should be having a gallery showcase real soon so keep an eye out for that, but in the meantime check him out in the internet world!

On The Ceiling © Dave Cooper

+ Dave Cooper on Flickr

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Featured Artist: Doug Boehm

Stereo Friends in Tandem with the Central Nervous System by Doug Boehm

Hopefully some of you got to catch a little show of our featured artist Doug Boehm at Charmingwall in NYC few weeks ago. I did and I was really wishing I had a thousand bucks lying around to pick up some of his work. I really love his style and that touch of creepy always works for me. He uses simple shapes and lines but creates highly imaginative pieces that are truly one of a kind and are unique to his style.

Munroe Effect's interior album art by Doug Boehm

The Pennsylvania native uses wood as his canvas and it definitely adds a nice texture to the paintings. The piece above was done for UK band Munroe Effect's album, and they made an awesome choice in the artist I would have to say. Check out the links below for more Boehm, enjoy!

Death of Nerve by Doug Boehm

+ Doug Boehm's Official Website
+ Doug Boehm's Blog
+ Doug Boehm Interview [Charming Blog]

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Browse Worthy: Gelaskins

Gelaskins.com

Customization is always a popular thing, especially with all the gadgets out right now. People always want cool graphics on their phones, iPods, laptops, and whatever device they might have. What better way to protect your device from some everyday wear and tear than to do it in style? That's what the folks at Gelaskins.com had in mind. Gelaskins provide skins for everything from your iPhones, Blackberries, Mac laptops, PC laptops, PSPs and iPods with artwork from great artists old and new from across the world.

Gelaskins.com

Sure skins are cool, but what I go to this site for are the prints. As you may have read I started my little art collection, and this is another site I spend hours at picking out my next art print purchase. It's no secret I pull many of the featured artists at Highlark from this site, but this is an exciting site for me where I can discover some great artists. So browse away and pick up a skin, or just take a look at the all the awesome artwork!

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Featured Artist: Jeremiah Ketner

The Petite Grove by Jeremiah Ketner

Jeremiah Ketner is a Chicago based artist who draws influence from Japanese pop art. He mostly uses acrylic paint on wood, and if you look closely at his work the texture of the wood plays a big role in his style. He beautifully uses pastel colors and creates images that are so pleasant to look at.

Small Whisper by Jeremiah Ketner

I think the best way to describe Ketner's work is 'dreamy' as everything kind of floats and sways harmoniously. I would love to have one of his paintings hanging on my wall, but for now I will have to settle with some prints. Make sure you guys check out the links I added below to see more from this amazing artist.

Bathing in Starlight by Jeremiah Ketner

+ Small and Round [Official Website of Jeremiah Ketner]
+ Jeremiah Ketner on Flickr

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The Spot: New York Adorned

The Tattoo Artists at New York Adorned photo by Worship Worthy

Tattoos are much more commonplace nowadays, but this also means an abundance of bad, sometimes really bad ink jobs. Especially in NYC where there are tattoo shops everywhere, how do you pick out your spot? My answer is easy, just go to New York Adorned. This shop features some of the best tattoo artists in the world and don't just take my word for it, the press and anyone who is involved in tattoo culture will tell you that you can't go wrong at NY Adorned. I get all my work done here.

Aside from the obvious artistic talent that all of the artists at NY Adorned have, their workmanship is incredible. That means every spot will be colored in evenly, the shading is perfect and the lines are straight and fluid.

What I also love about this shop is that they charge you hourly whether it's just black or color. They're not going to come up with some bullshit price they pulled out of their ass, you pay as long as it takes and they're very good at estimating. It isn't cheap, but I'd much rather have something permanent on my body that is quality.

Don't think you're just going to waltz in this place and leave with new ink either, these artists are booked weeks or often months in advance even for a simple consultation. Even if you have the greatest idea, if they believe it will not look good they won't do it. You won't leave the shop with a tattoo that they're not happy with, and that to me is a great peace of mind.

They also sell really cool handmade one of a kind jewelry in the shop, so if you want to pick up some stuff no one else will have definitely stop in.

+ NYAdorned.com
+ New York Adorned is located on 2nd Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Street in NYC.
+ New Brooklyn Location! Brooklyn Adorned: 376 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

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Featured Artist: Nanami Cowdroy

Cable Cranes by Nanami Cowdroy

Nanami Cowdroy is an artist from Sydney Australia with a mixed Japanese and European lineage. She signs off her art with a signature but also with a red stamp that includes two Japanese characters which happen to read Nanami or Seven Seas. These two signatures are representative of her style which combines iconic Japanese elements with familiar subjects and environments.

Blow Fish by Nanami Cowdroy

Her creativity is limitless, but yet rather simple in concept. Blow Fish as seen above for example is kind of genius. Her details are just amazing, and in a piece like Ink Pond (seen below), you really start to wonder where the drawing starts. I would love to see a time lapse clip of Cowdroy at work. She is definitely one of my favorite artists right now, so be sure to check out her website for more amazing art.

Ink Pond by Nanami Cowdroy

+ Interview with Nanami Cowdroy [Noise Floor]

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The Spot: Charmingwall

photo by Charmingwall

Some of you might remember me writing about picking up some prints of our Featured Artist Evan B. Harris over the weekend, and Charmingwall is where I made the purchase. When I hear art gallery I usually think of big bucks, but at Charmingwall you can purchase high quality prints for only $20 a piece. They showcase many of the best artists in recent years and have a nice collection to choose from. You can also pick up the prints matted (for $40) or framed ($80) which get's a little pricey, but its still reasonable to have a beautiful piece of art hanging on your wall.

I will definitely be in here from time to time working on my collection, but you should stop in even if it's just to discover some amazing artists.

- Charmingwall is located at 191 West 4th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in NYC.

+ To Illustrate Your Point [Daily Candy]

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