One of the best things about The Black Keys is that Aziz Ansari always introduces the Black Eyed Peas. Then he says that the Black Eyed Peas cancelled and some band was able to fill in last minute.
Funny thing, I was about to illustrate the BEP. But I don’t like them, so here’s this image of The Black Keys instead!
I remember two years ago I was obsessed with Aziz Ansari, and now two years later, he’s starring in movies, gracing the covers of magazines, and becoming an art critic. Complex Magazine scoured the internet and came back with their top 5 most interesting pieces, and mine made it into #4. Check it out at minute 0:54! (you can even see it right there on the video image preview!)
I’m glad that he actually responded positively to my illustration. But I was hoping to make him cry over it.
Here’s the process to that piece! (Update: Oh no! I lost the final image artwork! It must have happened when I redesigned my website. Thank god I updated my website before Complex did their search.)
CASE STUDY: The Last Nerve: A High Tea Poetry Brawl
I took on a project recently through my good friend Katelan, talented writer and art director who I will work on any project with forever. She’s got a great sense of design, knows me and my work really well, and can cultivate the best out of me. And speaking as an illustrator, that’s really what you want in an art director.
OBJECTIVE
Provide illustration of a punk-Victorian lady to accompany press materials for a poetry tour. Materials include press releases, brochures, etc.
CASTING THE RIGHT GIRL
In a similar fashion with Accomplice Wine, I had to find the perfect girl for this campaign. I was a lot more free with finding a look, and experimented with so many different girls. Haircuts, clothing, bone structure, etc. I looked for classy, punk, Victorian, Circus-tones, modern yet vintage. These were adjectives that seemed to conflict with each other and needed to be married.
I was stuck on certain girls and certain haircuts, as you can see in the sketches. I don’t consider myself a fashion illustrator, but I love drawing clothes a lot, especially on girls. So it was tough for me to settle on one look when there were so many possibilities (I guess that’s why girls take so long to get dressed before a date!). I pulled looks from people I know personally, friends from college, girls I was too intimidated by to talk to. When you go to a school with very fashionable women, there’s a ton of possible looks to choose from.
Are you a fan of Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast? Did this piece a little while back for a very vague and ambiguous project. When I illustrate, I listen to podcasts a majority of the time. Without people like Marc Maron, I wouldn’t have gotten through so many hours of drawing without their entertaining interviews and chats with actors and comedians.
Some notable episodes include Conan O’Brien, Dan Harmon, Louis CK (part 1 and 2), Nick Kroll’s El Chupacabra, Judd Apatow, Bob Odenkirk, Dave Attell, and so many more. Marc has also gotten a lot of attention for interviewing Carlos Mencia and Dane Cooke, calling them both out on their joke-stealing. I am a big fan of the podcast and I am so happy with his success, because he’s put in so many years trying to make it. Much love, Maron.
I am graduating soon! I created these postcards to send out to my family. I also sent out copies of “Luke Holds Off”, too, which I hope were well-received. In other news, the impromptu gallery show went well! A lot of friends and comedians came out to show their support. For such a last-minute show, it was a huge success. Everyone drank my beer.
