NYC

hey, just got back from ny.

above are some of my sketchbook pages, a few of which i'd like to share with you in the next few posts. i've been sort of absent from the blog for a little while, but i'd like to jump right back into it--there have been a lot of exciting projects on the go around here, and i'm looking forward to posting about them in the near future. check back soon!

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old, old, old

Joseph Mitchell

I was recently invited to make an illustration of my favourite author for Hey Oscar Wilde! It's Clobberin' Time! and here it is! 

Joseph Mitchell was a newspaper reporter early in his career and a New Yorker contributor from 1938 until his death in 1996 (although mysteriously, though he kept his office and would show up to work every day, he never published another word after 1964).

Mitchell wrote the most incredibly intimate portraits of people about town and was able to evoke, somehow, all the delicate specificities of life in Manhattan and its environs. In his rambling and untiring prose he strings you along, with hardly any idea of what you're reading about or where it's going, and you find yourself laughing out loud and devouring tens of pages and growing curious about our little histories, here, and all the telling, wonderful, meaningful things around us, were we just to look around.

His work reads romantically about a time and a place now forgotten--some America more naive, more hopeful, newly built, already old, with sawdust on the floors and gypsy's packed in old cars and wild grapes on Staten Island and good old men always by the river--rich, vibrant, lively communities of regular people passing the time. Read him if you get a chance; and look around, I guess.

Epilogue

May 8th, 2008
RCR Bike Posse, San Francisco

Chapter One

April 2nd, 2008
Emeryville, California

Prologue

November 6th, 2007
Ritual Coffee Roasters

Katie Lares

My friend Katie showed her collection last night at the Academy of Art University Graduation Fashion Show. It was steely and elegant and exciting--with gigantic flopsy bows, a mix of shimmery fabrics and complex wraps, wings and collars. Really beautiful work!

I think that hers was one of the standout collections; it was sort of futuristic, crumply cold and soft evening gown elegant all at the same time; it was forward and classic. Overall there was a lot of play with textiles and styling: huge silver jewelry and tight structured knitting, giant sock puppet balaclavas and even a collection of wooden dresses. I'm very glad I went. Great work Katie!





Photo Credit: Bob Toy, Academy of Art University

Story At Sea.

I can't believe it's already been almost a month since my last post--a lot has happened, obviously, including, I'm happy to say, a little bout of painting. As Ronnie mentions here, our Story department had a little art auction, which took place this afternoon. Nearly everyone contributed, and it was very well attended. A lot of fun, surprising and exciting. Here are two of my three:

These were based on a character of Justin Wright's--an old salty dog, who he used to sketch while we were on Ratatouille.

Justin

Justin Wright 1981-2008

As you may already have heard, Justin Wright, friend, CalArtian, and Pixar Story Artist, passed away last night due to heart complications.

I sit in front of him at work, and it's definitely going to be hard to adjust to not having his great big laugh behind me. I really like the guy, you know? And seeing him on a daily basis necessitates a relationship based, in many ways, in little things that I'll miss: the crac! of his diet cokes, short emails, incessant "YEEEAH!"'s and "DUDE!"'s, guitar playing, iphone fiddling, and drawn out, passionate, enthusiastic, humble and totally earnest talk.

His drawings were to be envied, but also, I have a hard time imagining a person more in love with life, and more capable of showing it; he was certainly an inspiration for that too. I am glad beyond words that his last days and moments were bright, full of laughter, friends and HAPPINESS--he thoroughly deserved it. He was a really nice guy, in the TRUEST sense of those words--I was very privileged to have met and worked with him.

But I have to tell you that I HATE to write like this, like everything is past and over and like I am telling you the REAL deal, the TRUTH! about Justin Wright, a fellow who, I am sorry to say, two projects later, I only knew a little. I wish I had known him BETTER, and I am so frustrated at not being able to more clearly, simply and convincingly say that he was truly A GREAT YOUNG MAN, who I will really miss. I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry. I am sad I am sad I am sad.

My heart sincerely goes out to Ashlee and Justin's family and Justin's large contingent of friends; if there is any testament to the kind of fellow he was, it's that, perhaps, tonight the whole west coast is mourning.



Please see this CartoonBrew post for more links from friends.

Keflavik