Green Sauce
msnbc aired a funny segment about the grumpy cat hedcut I drew for the WSJ, but ... what's a big deal? I did grumpy hedcuts before!;-)
MY YEAR IN REVIEW: Looking back on 2012
I have a lot to be grateful and humble about. In May, I celebrated my
25th anniversary as a staff illustrator at one of the most
prestigious news dailies in the world, The Wall Street Journal at
a time when publishing industry has suffered a great decline. Also, as
hard as many illustrators have it these days, I was consistently
busy with freelance work throughout the year.
I have been a telecommuter since the 9/11 disaster forced my company out of the WFC building in NYC, but I championed it in May after a move to my new home in Florida. By also establishing an illustration studio in my summer cottage overseas, I am now well on my way of becoming a global citizen of my dreams, something I will hopefully be writing about in next year's review!
Speaking of our overseas cottage, it has been the highlight of our lives since it was built and I'm glad it's becoming a favorite summer stop for our friends and relatives from all over the world. What can beat a remote Adriatic island and its crystal clear, cool water in dry, Mediterranean heat? Self sustained, off the grid, solar powered, rain water collecting, built from stone found on the land itself, with skies untouched by city lights, a perfect stargazing show every night, surrounded by an olive orchard which provides the purest and tastiest olive oil imaginable ... yes, I can go on forever.
But, the biggest highlight of 2012 was being part of something wonderful called CoRK in Jacksonville, Florida.
After 25 years fine tuning our careers in music and art, we decided to
stretch our wings beyond New York City, the place we were lucky to
experience at the time when culture and creativity spewed out of the
underground scenes and onto its gritty streets in the 80's and 90's. We
have decided today's Disney New York City flooded with commercial
tourist traps, doesn't need us anymore. As much as it'll always be home,
the NYC we grew to love has moved to Brooklyn, so for that matter ...
we could pick any other place.
So, Jacksonville it is. A city with beautiful weather year round and a strange mix of southern and northern cultures, mostly suburban but with a sizzling urban center. We found ourselves in the hipster part of town, the only walkable neighborhood with a lively street life, all essential to our lifestyle.
Early on, we realized that, while the local art
community was surprisingly large and talented, it lacked a cohesive
center. And then, like a reincarnation of the early DUMBO arts center of
yesteryear, comes a visionary not unlike Wynwood's Tony Goldman,
creating the opportunity we immediately recognized as our own grass
roots art movement.
Becoming one of the first tenants, we eagerly shared
our excitement of working, creating and sharing ideas in close
proximity. Being surrounded by artists of all walks of life and all
ages, we're more than elated to be influenced and influence at the same
time.
We are painters, illustrators, muralists, film makers, potters, glass artists, photographers, sculptors, and so on. George has a wonderful, large fine art print studio, and I finally have a place to venture into fine art myself. Rapidly expanding to adjacent 5 buildings, CoRK arts district is transforming the neighborhood and the city in general faster than anybody expected.
The most valuable aspect of the past year were the many great friends we
made and to whom we became close. We never felt as much as a community
as we do now. The love and support was especially felt in the last weeks
after George's mother's passing, which was the saddest and lowest part
of the past year, one in which we're still grappling.
Honorable mentions of the year:
- becoming art fair addicts
- becoming landlords
- doing more street art
- doing more traveling
- doing the band again
 |
| Drawings appeared in The Wall Street Journal and Man's Journal |
I have been a telecommuter since the 9/11 disaster forced my company out of the WFC building in NYC, but I championed it in May after a move to my new home in Florida. By also establishing an illustration studio in my summer cottage overseas, I am now well on my way of becoming a global citizen of my dreams, something I will hopefully be writing about in next year's review!
Speaking of our overseas cottage, it has been the highlight of our lives since it was built and I'm glad it's becoming a favorite summer stop for our friends and relatives from all over the world. What can beat a remote Adriatic island and its crystal clear, cool water in dry, Mediterranean heat? Self sustained, off the grid, solar powered, rain water collecting, built from stone found on the land itself, with skies untouched by city lights, a perfect stargazing show every night, surrounded by an olive orchard which provides the purest and tastiest olive oil imaginable ... yes, I can go on forever.
 | |
| Korčula Island, Croatia |
 |
| CoRK Arts District in Jacksonville, Florida |
So, Jacksonville it is. A city with beautiful weather year round and a strange mix of southern and northern cultures, mostly suburban but with a sizzling urban center. We found ourselves in the hipster part of town, the only walkable neighborhood with a lively street life, all essential to our lifestyle.
 |
| Riverside in Jacksonville, Florida |
 |
| Our studio at CoRK, Photos by Jensen Hande |
We are painters, illustrators, muralists, film makers, potters, glass artists, photographers, sculptors, and so on. George has a wonderful, large fine art print studio, and I finally have a place to venture into fine art myself. Rapidly expanding to adjacent 5 buildings, CoRK arts district is transforming the neighborhood and the city in general faster than anybody expected.
 |
| My illustration art at "Paint Paper Stencil" group show at CoRK in June 2012 |
 |
| Jax Laridae, Tommy Armageddon and George Cornwell and Morrison Pierce collab, "Paint Paper Stencil" show |
 |
| PorgG05, Darger Girls |
 |
| Say C-O-R-K! |
 |
| My felons wheat paste street art at CoRK |
 |
| Chip Southworth, Liz Gibson, Rikki Southworth, George Cornwell and me, Photo by Jeff Whipple |
 |
| Tom Pennington, Shaum Thurston and George Cornwell |
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| Chip Southworth, Jack Twachtman, Olivia Leigh and Corey Colb |
Honorable mentions of the year:
- becoming art fair addicts
- becoming landlords
- doing more street art
- doing more traveling
- doing the band again
 |
| At Armory art fair in NY and Art Basel Miami Beach |
Hedcuts Still Going Strong
I picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal Europe edition a couple of days ago in Germany. There was only one hedcut drawing in the entire issue, that of the columnist Gerald Seib I drew a while back.
As I remembered our concerns over hedcuts' future in the paper with the introduction of color and photographs on Journal's pages, I was somehow struck by how this sole, b&w drawing stood out and held it's own in the sea of colorful graphics and images.
I'm glad to know many at the paper still recognize the value in hand drawn illustration.
As I remembered our concerns over hedcuts' future in the paper with the introduction of color and photographs on Journal's pages, I was somehow struck by how this sole, b&w drawing stood out and held it's own in the sea of colorful graphics and images.
I'm glad to know many at the paper still recognize the value in hand drawn illustration.
Queen Elizabeth hedcut
This weekend marks the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This is a hedcut portrait of Her Majesty, I made for the Wall Street Journal in 2005.
Goodbye Hitch!
Christopher Hitchens
1949 – 2011
English author and journalist, a columnist and literary critic, top public intellectual, atheist ... Hitchens was all that and much more. Someone who I deeply admired.
This hedcut was done for the Wall Street Journal in 2007.
1949 – 2011
English author and journalist, a columnist and literary critic, top public intellectual, atheist ... Hitchens was all that and much more. Someone who I deeply admired.
This hedcut was done for the Wall Street Journal in 2007.
MATISYAHUdid this to you?!
As Jewish reggae star Matisyahu shocks fans with his new look, I remember how much fun I had drawing his likeness for the TV promos of MTV's "Define Yourself" series.
Then:
Now:
Photo taken from https://twitter.com/#!/matisyahu
Then:
Now:
Photo taken from https://twitter.com/#!/matisyahu
Thank you, Steve!
Steve Jobs at D8 Conference and my hedcut drawing used in the background. I lost count of how many times I drew Steve's portrait. This was the last one. More pictures from D8 conference here: http://hedcuts.blogspot.com/2010/06/hedcuts-at-d8-conference.html
"Top of the Hill" brews illustrations
Years after I completed some illustrations for "Top Of The Hill" brewery and restaurant's beer logos, I finally come across some images of the final product. I don't even know if they still make this beer, but I never got the chance to see the final product. I think they look pretty nifty, ... if I may say so!
Nutro Natural Choice pet food packaging illustrations
These are the latest two illustrations I made for the Nutro pet food company. Check them out at a pet store near you.
Kelly Ripa Hedcut
My hedcut drawing of Kelly Ripa, presented to her as a gift from a WSJ reporter. She showed it off and talked about it on air, 1/25/2011.
HEDCUTS at the D8 Conference
A wonderful use of hedcuts at the D8 Conference, held earlier this month in California. From the program booklet and the website, to the large screen displays throughout the conference.
Read and see more at: http://photos.allthingsd.com/
All photos: Asa Mathat/AllThingsD.com
Steve Jobs
From top, l to r:
Rupert Murdoch, Less Hinton, Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs, Vivian Schiller, Steve Chase, Steve Bellmer and Ray Ozzie, Paul Steiger and Richard Rosenblatt
Hedcuts in color
A brand new section in the Wall Street Journal called Greater New York, launched a new era for hedcuts: color!
Prefer the b&w version? Not to worry. They continue to appear in the rest of the paper.
So, how about them apples?!
Prefer the b&w version? Not to worry. They continue to appear in the rest of the paper.
So, how about them apples?!
Hedcuts recognized
Click to read and see a video: A History of Wall Street Journal Hedcuts
Article by Brian Aguilar.
My colleagues and I are humbled and honored for this nice article about the hedcut art in today's online edition of the WSJ. Recognizing our hard work and efforts is more than appreciated. Thank you all!
Article by Brian Aguilar.
My colleagues and I are humbled and honored for this nice article about the hedcut art in today's online edition of the WSJ. Recognizing our hard work and efforts is more than appreciated. Thank you all!
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