MoPo: Kyle Webster

This week I want to introduce you to local artist and illustrator, Kyle Webster.

I remember meeting Kyle when he worked for Shapiro Walker. The company I worked for at the time was looking for a design firm to revamp our company web site. I recognized his work from city event banners hanging downtown. Kyle talked to me about digital art and you could tell he just loved to draw. He was even thoughtful enough to connect me with a life drawing group that was meeting in a sister city.

Since then, Kyle has made the full transition from working for someone to being a successful freelance artist. His work has appeared in Paste, The Stranger, and The New Yorker and, most recently, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal. Congratulations, Kyle.

The distinctive feature of Kyle's work is line. While I admire and marvel at work that is about color because it's not what I do well, I love line because I connect with it. And what he does with line - wonderful.

His web site features blog postings about his work as well as his portfolio. In addition, as if he weren't busy enough, check out The Daily Figure blog and his first issue of the Light Children comic book.

MoPo: Brian Dettmer

Brian Dettmer takes altering books to, well, an art form by actually carving into the books to reveal the art inside. It's really amazing and you just have to see it.

Per his wiki, Dettmer takes media whose content has ceased to be relevant and looks at turning it into new, relevant content.

This is such a beautiful idea because I love books. Although I do a lot of reading on-line, I can't ever imagine living somewhere without a library or physical books. Although MyGeek thinks altering a book is sacrilege, this technique of Dettmer's puts books in the category of beauty that I see them.

At the Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL.

MoPo: Jen Stark

I love paper. A disturbing thrill comes over me whenever I enter an office supply store. Even as a kid I remember flipping through those marvelously blank pads of paper, any kind, and not understanding the uncontrollable desire to buy them all. I have the hardest time throwing away even the smallest scrap. Maybe this is why I'm drawn to the scuptures of American artist Jen Stark. She works with paper. Stacks and stacks of colored paper.

Her inspiration comes from scientific subjects (fractals, worm holes, anatomy) and her tool of choice? An x-acto knife. How wonderful. I love my x-acto knife. The sculptures are beautiful and scientific looking at the same time even though she does it all from sketches and by hand.

Stark was also featured in Wired magazine.

MoPo: Ferry Staverman

I was escending* through some blogs one day this week and ran across several artists I want to introduce you to.

Ferry Staverman is a Finish artist who does wonderful things with cardboard and string. Most of my research only turned up dozens of blogs pointing to his work and web site so I have very little info on the artist. If you happen to read Dutch, you'll enjoy more than the impressive portfolio.

Once again, I'm drawn to artists who use everyday, found materials to create amazing visual interest. It seems they see beauty in everything. The idea of keeping things simple and being creative with what exists is a personal goal so these types of artists are very inspiring.


*escend - The process of following a link from one web site and/or blog to another repeatedly. A form of electronic rabbit chasing. (ex. Sam escends for hours resulting in his cache of obscure trivia.)

MoPo: Jan von Hollenben, photographer

I love the photography by Jan von Holleben. He uses perspective to compose the most unique photos.

In The Great Masters he uses nothing but hands and arms to recreate works from art masters like Picasso and Mondrian.

Using depth, perspective, and some retro furnishings see what kind of superheroes he invents.

But my favorite is the group called Dreams of Flying. These look like so much fun. Using everyday objects, he creates the most amazing special effects. It's fun to come up with your own Dreams of Flying. Be sure and see the creativity von Holleben has inspired.

MoPo: Coffee & Foam Art

Some might say that artists can be characterized by their addictions (caffeine, nicotine, or, um, others). But I never thought about making my addiction the art - two of my favorite things in the world. See what these creative individuals can do with the foam on the top of their cup of joe.

Enjoy!

I'm sorry, I don't remember where I found this original link. I like to give credit and also hook you up with other good resources, but all I recorded was this link.

MoPo: Woodrow Wilson High Seniors

I love seeing art encouraged in kids - especially in the 9th-12th grade years. Studio arts are rare at the grade level. Probably budget cuts.

Anyway, check out the wonderfully creative art project at Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas. (MyGeek found the link from FrontBurner, a great Dallas area blog.) As a fundraiser, Seniors could pay to paint their parking spots. Lots of creative work. Although some of them look like they've maybe had graffiti experience before. Hmm.

At least the young are being raised on good quality rock music.

MoPo: Sam Winston

I love type! I've always been a font junky. Seeing letters as an art medium is just another way of proving I'm a geek.

Check out the 2-D type sculptures/collage of Sam Winston. For me, they are absolutely thrilling and exciting.

As my friend, the pharma rep says, "It makes me happy."

MoPo: Jennifer Maestre

After spending a great deal of time in a certain field, you tend to develop a keen eye for things that others don't even notice. As the result of studying art, design, and illustration for several years, I've developed an eye for the small print. Mostly in magazines. Any time there's a photo or illustration, I look for the teeny tiny type that gives the name of the photographer or artist who created it. I'm a regular reader of WIRED magazine and am thrilled at their high quality of illustrators and photographers and their interest in hi-tech art. Besides marking interesting web sites and memorable quotes as I read, I'll also highlight any photographers or illustrators so I can find their portfolios on-line.

Every Monday I will feature the portfolio (MoPo or Monday Portfolio) of a current artist, illustrator, and/or designer I've found.

Today's featured artist is Jennifer Maestre. You can also check out the WIRED blurb here.

Jennifer does some amazing sculptures with pencils. That's right, folks, pencils. You have to see it to believe it. I love the creative take she has on such an everyday object.

(I have a personal rule that I will include at least one picture with my posts, but, since these are currently working artists and I value their copyright, I will not be including pictures of their work. I will, however, provide direct links.)