DANIEL FISHEL
Interview with the US artist

Posted on 03/10/2011 by gael

Daniel Fishel is a talented US artist.

More precisely, Daniel Fishel is an illustrator and a hand letterer/designer.
Living is New York, his work has been featured in countless medias and galleries. No, he is not related to Danielle Fishel.
More about the multi-talented artist Daniel Fishel.
Buy his artworks.

Winners And Losers painting by Daniel Fishel

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
My name is Daniel Fishel and I am an illustrator/designer living in Queens, NY. After attending undergrad at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, I moved to New York to pursue a graduate studies degree at School of Visual Arts and a career in illustration. Clients I’ve work for include the Los Angeles Times, Nylon Guys Magazine and No Sleep Records. When I am not working I am usually biking around my neighborhood, listening to records, looking up youtube videos of Boston Terriers or occasionally answering emails by people who think I am “Danielle Fishel”. You know the actress that played Topanga in Boy Meets World.

Daniel Fishel draws an empty street beautifully

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
The work that I create, I consider to be conceptual illustration. Not so much in the purest form where I am drawing puzzle pieces and rubix cubes all day for business magazines, but its more on an emotional level. Typically the work I create is about a character that is being confronted by another character or it’s interacting with something in the space. I use metaphor, color, the placement of the figures on the page and sometimes lighting to better tell the story being told.

Lifeguard Observations by Daniel Fishel

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR WORKING PROCESS
It doesn’t matter if the piece I am working on is for a magazine or for the gallery wall. Often times the process for me is the same. If I am working with a magazine, I am taking the content they provide and distilling the content into a sentence. From that sentence I try to take the subject matter and a personal frame of reference that I can bring into the piece. The same thing goes with a painting I would do for a gallery. Instead of taking the content from a magazine, I have to build my own conceptual narrative to build an image. The difference here though is for a gallery piece I am making a physical painting, where as for an illustration, I am compositing linework overtop of swatches of paint, lino block/silk screen textures, and ink washes in photoshop. The difference is six to eight hours for an illustration versus twenty to thirty hours for a painting. I guess it takes longer to make a painting for me because I am more conservative about how I lay down colors because theres no command + Z in real life.

Daniel Fishel artwork

HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR ART?
Living in New York is some what of a wanderlust. I am constantly engaging with a large variety of people, eating lots of different foods, and hearing tons of different music from all over the world. It all adds to my visual vocabulary that I wouldn’t have if I had continued living in a small town in Pennsylvania.

Daniel Fishel drawing for Allison Weiss

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
Cy Twombly, Raymond Pettibon, Mia Christopher, Cristy Road, Rene Magritte, Cuban Poster Art, 80’s/90’s Skate Decks, and hundreds of gig posters I’ve seen over the years.

ANY LAST WORD?
Unguard, I will let you try my Wu Tang Style.

EAMO
Interview with the Australian artist

Posted on 02/10/2011 by gael

Eamo is an inspiring Australian artist.

Coming from an industrial city down south of Oz called Geelong (or ‘Geebanger’ as the local’s call it), Eamo grew up down there and drew his way through school, got out and studied design in Melbourne in 2000.
He then worked at various fashion houses around Melbourne until leaving the game early on and giving illustration and art a crack. It has been for four years now that Eamo start killing it, developing a personal and shinny style with this je ne sais quoi of aussie flavor.
Interview originally published in Acclaim magazine.
More about the Australian artist Eamo.

WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND YOUR APPROACH OF A NEW PROJECT?
Often my first thoughts are “how can I add some Australian flavor into this piece?” These days I get approached by clients or collectives for the fact that my work has this style to it; clients are really receptive to it, which is a bonus. But it’s purely a coincidence that aussie stuff is in vogue right now. I’ve always had this weird obsession with it since my childhood. Fingers crossed when the trend dies I’ll still be able to get away with chucking a gum leaf or a prawn into an artwork. And Hopefully my work won’t end up in the same bracket as Yahoo Serious, Koala Blue or Crocodile Dundee, all of which I respect but they where unfortunately casualties of the international ‘Australiana’ fad of the 80s. Good times.

Artwork by Eamo

DO YOU RECKON THAT THE RECOGNITION OVERSEAS OF PEOPLE LIKE JEREMYVILLE OR BEN FROST IS OPENING SOME DOORS FOR A WHOLE GENERATION OF AUSSIES ARTIST?
No doubt about it. Those two are killing it around the globe; I agree with picking Jeremyville and Ben Frost as examples of aussie’s getting recognition overseas – can’t get any better than those blokes. Ben has been a huge supporter of young up and coming aussie artists, you just have to look at stupidkrap.com – being next to guys like him, Jeremyville, Lister (etc.) on the site is a huge boost for other guys like myself in getting seen by the same international audience as they are.

My interview of Eamo published in Acclaim magazine

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE ART SCENE IN MELBOURNE… HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER AUSTRALIAN CITIES?
The Melbourne scene is a tough nut to crack, in the four years I’ve been doing this caper, the last two I’ve managed to notch up six or so shows in Sydney as opposed to one in Melbourne. It’s a classic, when I meet people from Melbourne they always think I’m from Sydney, they look at my art and instantly think “yep, he’s a Bondi bloke” I’ve been told those exact words. And the Sydney folk thought I was a local up until recently. It stems back to my up bringing, I didn’t grow up in the city, I’m practically from the south coast so my art has a distinct aussie feel which is stereotypically more Sydney, whereas Melbourne has a very European culture without that tradition of an outdoor lifestyle.

Fair Suck Of The Pineapple is a detailed artwork by Eamo

WHAT DO YOU USUALLY DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
Chill at the beach, go to movies, a pub beer and a parma, go for a cruise in the 74 XB Fairmont, barbies.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
I just finished three new prints for the SemiPermanent exhibition ‘Kids Today’ and a black and white wall installation at the Annadale Hotel in Sydney. Soon I’ll be starting a custom wallet for a new Poketo Australiana series, painting three decks for the No Comply show later this year and another deck, where the artwork is laser burned into the wood, for a group show at China Heights gallery in Sydney. Hooroo!

ANGELIQUE HOUTKAMP
Interview with the Dutch tattoo artist

Posted on 01/10/2011 by gael

Angelique Houtkamp is a Dutch tattoo artist I interviewed.

From swallows to knives, from pin-ups to broken hearts, all the traditional tattoo flash imagery finds a new breath in the romantic and feminine style of Dutch artist Angelique Houtkamp.
Angelique’s work has expanded to an international audience using media like canvas, clothing and sculpture. She has a real love for Australia and she plans to return before the end of the year. Anticipating the pleasure to welcome her, we exchanged some words about her journey and vision of art.
Published in Acclaim magazine.

Georgette print by the Duch tattoo artist Angelique Houtkamp

HOW DOES A DUTCH GIRL IN HER 30s COME TO TATTOO?
When I turned 19, I figured out there were two career options for me, tattoo or music. I was a musician for about 10 years but wasn’t any good. Around that time, we had maybe three tattoo shops in Amsterdam, so I tried to get an apprenticeship but couldn’t get in. I was pretty shy and didn’t really like the people involved, so I got kind of discouraged. However, I always had local and global tattooist friends, and I went to nearly every big European tattoo convention. So throughout the years, I got a better understanding about the way things worked. At one point, I left my job and didn’t know what to do next. I asked a really good friend to teach me, and he did. By this time I was 30, and I wouldn’t want it any different though. I got a lot more wise and confident in those 11 years, and when I started tattooing I was more my own person and knew what I wanted.

Angelique Houtkamp interview published in Acclaim magazine

YOUR ART IS REALLY OLD SCHOOL INFLUENCED, HOW WAS TATTOOING DIFFERENT BACK IN DAYS?
I like to think it was way more romantic, more about basic feelings, like love, pride, fear and death. Especially for men, it was a way to show you were tough and not to be messed with. In England and Germany, around the ‘40s, a lot of guys got their neck and hands tattooed… and that was it! They’d be wearing their jacket, and everybody would think they were covered in tattoos. If they had more cash, they’ll do their forearms, so they could roll up their sleeves. Nowadays, it’s more about conveying that you have a good taste. People spend a lot of time and thought on their tattoos and what they want them to mean. I like working in street shops because some guy comes in and wants his girlfriend’s name tattooed on his arm, just because he walked past the shop and thought it would be a good idea. Somehow for me impulsiveness is the essence of tattooing.

Angelique Houtkamp various tattoo artworks

HOW DOES WORKING ON YOUR OWN CANVAS DIFFER FROM INKING SOMEBODY’S SKIN?
A couple of years ago, after an article in Juxtapoz magazine, Outré gallery asked me if they could sell my prints. So when I participated in a group show at their gallery last September, I came in Melbourne for three weeks. It’s the best city ever. Paris, London, New York, Tokyo, they got nothing on Melbourne. Great people, loads of bars and restaurants, good shopping, and cockatoos galore, like we have pigeons. Since then, we’ve been working on a book about my work, which will be published next October on top of a solo show at the gallery. So I’ll have to come over again. I also just designed the new poster for the Perth independent film festival Revelation. Otherwise, Kate at Chapel Tattoo in Melbourne tattooed me a Koala on my leg. Australians were making fun of me, while I tried to explain that back home I really would be crazy cool. And I am! I have gotten laid over this koala tattoo… No, that’s a lie, but that is how cool it is. I think me and Australia like each other.

Aryz
STREET ART OF THE WEEK

Posted on 30/09/2011 by gael

Aryz is one of the best street artist from the new generation.

For some reasons, Spain tend to produce the best street artists in the world.
This young artist is another example with his personal and powerful work. I love it. What about you?
More about the Spanish street artist Aryz.

Character design by the Spanish street artist

Building graffiti by Aryz

The graffiti characters are really inspiring

Aryz paint huge characters on the city walls

Massive street art painting

ALEX TROCHUT
Interview with the Spanish artist

Posted on 29/09/2011 by gael

Alex Trochut is an inspiring Spanish illustrator and type designer I interviewed.

Alex Trochut was in Bali recently.
Unfortunately I wasn’t there when the artist came on the island where I am currently based.
Too bad.
Alex is a designer who lives in Barcelona.
Yes for those who learned geography by watching Eat, Pray , Love, Barcelona is in Spain… 😉
The artist combines amazing self-made types and sharp illustration in an experimental and superb way.
His artwork has been featured in international art magazines, and he has work for many big clients around the world.
In this exclusive interview, Alex tells us more about his artworks, his working process, and his design influences.
See you next time when you come back on my island bro.
Learn more about the Spanish artist Alex Trochut and visit his portfolio.

New York artwork by Alex Trochut

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
Geometric and fluid.

Alex is a master of new school type design

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR WORKING PROCESS
Trying to get lost in the process and try to get something good and new out of it.

Artwork for the cover of Creative Review, a compilation of the 20 best logos of all time

HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR ART?
If your envoirment makes your head see things differently, and that always something good.

Design In Spain artwork

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
So many, on the top of my list, Joan Trochut, Herb Lubalin, Milton Glasser, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Vasarely, M.C. Escher, Jim Phillips, Rick Griffin, and more.

Alex Trochut type design Aniversari

ANY LAST WORD?
Word!

MIKE RUBENDALL
Tattoo Age by Vice video

Posted on 28/09/2011 by gael

Full series of the video about US tattoo artist Mike Rubendall by Vice for the Tattoo Age series.

Video about the famous American tattoo artist called Mike Rubendall.
Vice Tattoo Age video series introduce Mike Rubendall from Massapequa, New York. In the series we learns about his unique work, visits his tattoo shop, Kings Avenue Tattoo, and meets his mentors and friends, including Danish tattoo legend, Henning Jorgensen, Frank Romano, and acclaimed actor Steve Guttenberg.
More about the US tattoo artist Mike Rubendall.
More about Vice

Huge black and white back tattoo by Mike Rubendall tattoo age

Huge black and white back tattoo by Mike Rubendall, the artist presented in the tattoo age series.

Vice Tattoo Age Part. 1 video about Mike Rubendall.

Here comes the first part of Mike Rubendall presentation for the Vice Tattoo Age series from Vice video.
The talented US tattoo artist takes us with him in a tour inside his neighborhood.
In this video Mike Rubendall shows us the little town where he spent his childhood.
This video his a great opportunity to discover the artist in his working environment.
Mike Rubendall also brings us in his tattoo shop called Kings Ave Tattoo.
Get inspired and get inked!

Amazing tattoo by Mike Rubendall

Mike Rubendall video for Vice Part.2.

Here comes the second part of the Tattoo Age series directed by Vice video.
In this new video, Mike Rubendall talks about his beginings as a tattoo artist.
He told us how he was guided by the tattoo veteran and his close friend Frank Romano.
You will also see exclusive footage of Mike getting inked by the legendary Filip Leu.

Front tattoo by Mike

Mike Rubendall final video by Vice.

Here comes the final part of the Tattoo Age series from Vice video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aant0OILlA

In this video you will learn more about the inspiring American tattoo artist.
Mike owes two shops and has three children.
The artist also has to face a high demand and must organize a hectic tattoo schedule.
Watch the video to discover how Mike is able to meet the deadlines and make it works.

Tattoo by the US artist Mike Rubendall

Serge Birault
SEXY GIRLS OF THE WEEK

Posted on 28/09/2011 by gael

Serge Birault produces sharp illustrations of really sexy girls.

I like girls.
Every Wednesday, your favorite collection of illustrated babes. This week, French artist Serge Birault.
Discover more sexy drawings by Serge Birault.
All Sexy Girls.

Sexy girl drawing by the French illustrator Serge Birault

Cute superhero girl by the illustator

Serge Birrault sexy cowgirl illustration

Vampire pin-up artwork

Illustration of a zomibie girl with big boobs

DAVID ZACHARIAS
Interview with the French photographer

Posted on 26/09/2011 by gael

David Zacharias is not an artist.

David Zacharias is more like two, three, or four talented artists trapped in a human body at the same time.
He is an awesome photographer, drawer, furniture and product designer, and painter. Somehow he manages to infuse the same creative and poetic vibe in all his works, making them easy to identify and love. He is also a great person with an heart as big as his soul, humble and clever. He is a friend.
More about the artist, photographer, and furniture designer David Zacharias.

The artist’s signature on a furniture design

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
I am David Zacharias, born in France in 1973.

David Zacharias photography

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
Touching a bit of everything, trying to make the “bit” look like something, or anything else.

Photography for an album cover by David

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR WORKING PROCESS

Sometimes, I do drawings which remain drawings.
Sometimes I do drawings of objects, and then make the objects of my drawings.
Sometimes I kiss trees.
And someday I will be a very famous painter.

Jean-Carotte is a plush art project by David Zacharias

HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR ART?
I’ve been living and working in Italy for a year now and I feel ok with my Italian environment.

Furniture design by the French artist

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
Jean Tinguely, Jean Prouvé, Jean Carotte, some Jean Doe and Le facteur Cheval.
I’m also influenced by the weather, the time, and my way through this time.

Handmade drawing by David Zacharias

ANY LAST WORD?
Why not…

indonesian artist SETIAWAN TANGSEK
Street life

Posted on 25/09/2011 by gael

Indonesian artist Setiawan Tangsek answer my interview and tell us more about the art scene in Indonesia.

I met Setiawan thanks to my friend Hatemachine666.
The guy is a talented indonesian artist and a real person. When I meet someone like Tangsek, I’m happy to hang out with indonesian people, and not with the stupid expats who lives around. Bali is a soulful island, and this heritage of talent and creativity keep being alive in a modern way with the art of people like Tangsek or Hatemachine666. You guys are the future, the talent, the reality. Thank you for sharing your art with me.
More about Setiawan Tangsek.

Artwork by the indonesian artist Setiawan Tangsek

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Hello, my name is Setiawan Tangsek. I live in Bali, Indonesia. I fell in love with drawing, graffiti and skateboarding since I was a teenager. I’ve got drop out from school and street life is my choice. Now I work as a freelance Illustrator, do T-shirt graphic, posters, sticker art, etc.

Devil drawing by Artwork by Setiawan Tangsek

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
It’s an expression of my emotion, I just draw every stuff that comes out from of my head. I love black and white, and I’m obsessed with scales.

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR WORKING PROCESS
I basically do all my works with my pencils and marker pens, no computer.

Illustration by the indonesian artist

HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR ART?
I’ve been spending a lot of my time in the street, skateboarding, tagging the walls, making murals, so it has a great influence on my work. So do my fellow artists I hang out with. They inspire me a lot.

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
My friends. I feel very lucky to have great friends involved in art who support and motivate me.

Skull drawing by the talented illustrator from Indonesia

ANY LAST WORD?
Skate hard Party Hard.

Sang Noir studio
Interview with KOA

Posted on 24/09/2011 by gael

Sang Noir is the art studio from the talented French artist Koa, which I interviewed for this blog.

Koa and I share the same French illustration representative.
I have been knowing Koa for a while since he invited me to collaborate on his illustration book called War Of Monstars book.
I invited him back to do an illustration collaboration when I was working as an art director for WAD magazine.
It’s all about collaborations baby…
In this interview the illustrator and artist tell us more about his working process and his art influences.

Koa draw his own version of Spongebob for Sang Noir

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Illustrator, Graphic designer and cook lover 🙂

Character design by the artist

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
my work is a world were monsters are not dark or negative. it s a world between pop surrealism and cartoon.

Black and white drawing by Koa from Sang Noir

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR WORKING PROCESS
I write ideas on a black book. Making a quick sketch or starting directly with ink. After i scan the black and white artwork and i colorize it in photoshop if the image need colors.

Colorful letter design

HOW DOES YOUR ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCE YOUR ART
Like everybody i think. When you are in a bad humor you don t have ideas or good feeling. When you move you have more ideas. Don t stay static 🙂

Detailed artwork by Koa from Sang Noir studio

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
Old cartoon, Durer, Bosch, Bruegel, and Escher.

ANY LAST WORD?
My forthcoming book Sang Noir should be released later this year so stay tuned. 🙂

Mega art

Artist Mega awesome artworks