Jeffro's ArtUnleashed 2012 Submission - "How Deep is the Ocean?"

If you were to do a search of the word "Mermaid" on this blog, you would see that I have done several variations on this theme and image. This actual image is a recreation of an envelope I drew for Joannie back in 2009, except much much larger. This piece is 14"x11". I used different colored inks, markers, and colored pencils on 98lb Mix Media paper.

Initially, the seed of this idea came from a sketchbook drawing by one of my favorite artists - Heinrich Kley. I can't find a good version of the image online, but click here to see a small one. The idea of the deep sea diver fascinates me. Something about walking the floor of the murky depths, being alone out there, but still being tied to home. It's romantic to me.

Once again, music has played a part in my work here. This piece is entitled, "How Deep is the Ocean", named after an Irving Berlin song. I love Billie Holiday's version. But lately, I have been loving the version by Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton. I am pretty sure that album was Doc Cheatham's last. He was so awesome.

Anyway, this piece will be on display and for sale at this year's ArtUnleashed event, a fundraiser for the University of the Arts. I have been teaching at UArts in different capacities for several years now. I have also been working full-time for the past year in the Advancement office, working to raise funds for the school. It was an honor to be asked to be in the show. My work will hang on the walls with Arnie Roth. There will also bee a nice group of friends participating in the show, like Chris Patchell, Kyle Margiotta, Christine Larsen, and Paul Palcko. I am really looking forward to the event.

Fables prints

Hey all, i've got two new pieces in the Fables show at Acid Free online gallery. limited run prints, and SUPER limited run canvas prints for sale starting tomorrow!

there are some really great artists in this show, including the mighty Tom Whalen and Dave Perillo!

check out the show and pick up some prints HERE

Jeffro's "Chemistry is Fun" to be the first shirt on TeeBusters.com

Tomorrow, a new t-shirt site called "TeeBusters" is launching. I am happy to report that my shirt will be the first one for sale. "Chemistry is Fun" is a design inspired by the show "Breaking Bad". I think the show is really well-written and has awesome character development.

Anyways, it'll be up on the site tomorrow. Feel free to check out the site if you like: TeeBusters!

Hey all,

This is my submission for the upcoming "Mint Condition: A Comic Book Inspired Art Show" which begins this Friday, March 30th at the LTD Art Gallery at 307 E. Pike Street, Seattle Washington. This show is sponsored by, and being held in conjunction with the Emerald City Comic-con which is also going on this weekend from 3/30-4/1. If you happen to be in Seattle this weekend, and looking for some extra nerdy things to do, look no further!

My piece is entitled "Hard Day's Work", and is a 16" x 20" Giclée print on archival paper, and is limited to an edition of 30. I've just been told that a small amount will be offered for pre-order starting Thursday March 29th, specifically for those not in the local Seattle area. For more info, go to http://LTDartgallery.com

Thanks for looking!

S-

Hey all,
Just a quick post to let you all know about an exciting show that I am a part of that starts this week. It's called "Fables and Fairytale", taking place at the Acid Free Gallery at http://www.acidfreegallery.com/, with a preview of the show starting tomorrow, and the pieces becoming available for sale starting on March 30th. There are 15 artists from all over the globe taking part in the inaugural virtual showing from Acid Free Gallery.

My piece is entitled "Late", and I'm sure you can figure out the rest...
Enjoy!
S-

Famine's Shadow

This winter I was contacted by horror writer Rachel Deering (Anathema) to do work on a graphic novel. That is still in the works, but in the meantime, I did a short story for a future anthology called Monstrology. Rachel wrote a great 12 page script for me, and being the fan of short stories that I am, I gladly tried my hand at it...

MOAR at my blog!

Mythology and the Forgotten Gods Show - Tonight at Phantom Hand

TONIGHT and the next few weeks, Phantom Hand (located at 6th & South in Philly) will be hosting "Mythology and the Forgotten Gods", a group art show curated by Anthony Pedro. It's a great show with an awesome group of local artists. Please see the showcard below.


Here is my (Jeffro's) Minotaur piece for the show. I drew it with a borrowed pencil at Bob & Barbara's listening to Kelvin, Rich, and Lucky during Wednesday's jam session. I was lucky to sit alongside fellow cartoonists James Kaminski and Michelle Miller with the legendary Bob Dix behind the bar. I finished the inks at the bar, but a swarm of Wharton students came in around 10:45 and grossed the place up. So I had to finish the colors on my lunch hour yesterday at Paolo's Pizza on Pine Street.


Tonight's show will be especially celebratory, because we found out this week that Phantom Hand has been granted an extension in the gallery space for being an 'exemplary member' of the Arts on South program. We will now be in our current location regaling you with art and assorted hand-made sundries and occasional free beer and baked-goods until mid-August.

30-day Drawing Challenge Cont-d

I'm continuing with the challenge with mixed results, but I'm afraid my work lacks consistency (a fever impeded some progress last week). Because I want to think of myself as an artist, I tell myself that I have to do a polished piece of work every time, which leads me to overthink each assignment and become overly ambitious. It's also difficult to squeeze in "drawing time"; the girls require a LOT of attention. But I won't give up.

As usual, there are write-ups about each image on my Studio Ed tumblr account.

Day 8: Favorite Animated Character


Day 9: Favorite TV Show [I include this as an example of FAIL.]


Day 10: Favorite Candy


Day 11: Turning Point in My Life [Moving Day]


Day 12: Most Recent Accomplishment [Weight Loss]


Day 14: Favorite Fairy Tale


Day 15: Family Picture [including a do-over]



Day 16: Inspiration


Day 17: Favorite Plant


Day 18: Just a Doodle

A Drizzle of Pizzle.

YES! Its a tongue having a romantic drink with the chef who shall roast it and chop it to pieces. A murderous dinner setting, to the tone of "Lady and the Tramp". I have heard that this one caused a few hands to wring, over uneasy mumbles and "herm"s "errr"s and "hawww"s...which bring me pride. To romance!

Visit the pebble beach of bathroom walls for more works.

Jeffro's Norris Street MixTape Show in June

On June 16, I have an opening for an art show based entirely on some of my favorite songs and song lyrics. Music is a huge part of my cartooning. I would have to admit that I get a lot more inspiration from music than I do visual art - because I can draw and listen to music at the same time. It gives my hand a rhythm. I hope to have at least 30 pieces in the show.

There will also be limited edition screen print and giclee prints for sale. Plus I will be giving away free crazy mixed CDs with each purchase. I want to keep the originals fairly small in size, so the art is affordable to working class people.

The working title of the show is called "Norris Street MixTape". My Dad always had music on in our house when I was a kid. So I figure this all starts there on Norris Street. This is the first piece I started for it, but I am going to add color, and I will probably turn it into a large screen print to sell at the show. I drew it in my Moleskine. It's based on Nick Lowe's awesome song, "The Beast In Me", which he wrote for his then father-in-law Johnny Cash. Cash recorded it on his first album with Rick Rubin, "American Recordings". That is hands-down the best version of the song. It's my favorite Johnny Cash song.

This one is kind of a dedication to my lady Joannie and her family. I drew most of it at the kitchen table when hanging out with her and her sister and their friend. I finished the inks and colors in McGlinchy's Bar. It's based on Little River Band's "Lady".

I don't know what it is about this song, but they must have played it when they were kids at a really happy time in their lives. Every time it comes on at a party, everyone in their family stops what they're doing and sings along - Joannie's Mom, her Dad, all of her sisters. They LOVE this song. I didn't really know this when I was growing up, but I like it. It makes me realize how you can tie music to certain memories. It also makes me realize how important music can be in affecting people's emotions.

Masthead is an awesome gallery and print studio, run by Shawn Hilemen. It's a really great space located at 340 Brown Street (near the corner of 4th & Brown) in Northern Liberties. http://mastheadprintstudio.com/

30-day Drawing Challenge

My attempt to recapture the habit of daily drawing (by doing the 30-day challenge) is meeting with mixed results. Here are days one through seven; there are notes associated with each on my tumblr, which coincidentally serves as a temporary replacement for my on-hiatus 'studioed.net' site. Hope you find something you like, and I'll post more in a week.

Cheers!

(P.S. Still really missing you guys!)

Joannie's Valentine - 2012

Joannie's 2012 valentine. She wanted Tomer Hanuka's Valentine's Day print, but he was all sold out. She asked me to redraw it, and I said, "No way! but I will do something similar." The final is an 18” x 24” color, archival giclee print that will hang in our kitchen. I had it printed by my man Chris at Gicleetoday. Dude does awesome work! Apologies to fellow Meathauser Tomer for biting the concept. To see Tomer's prints (including the one I ripped off), please CLICK HERE.

Ron Hextall - Happy Birthday, "Famous" Nick!

Drawing for my nephew, "Famous" Nick's 13th birthday - his all-time hero, Ron Hextall. Nick wears Hextall's number. A couple years back I had the privilege of designing the logo for his hockey team's jersey:


Happy birthday, brother!