When fantasy and politcs collide

I did this illustration recently for an article that included several jokes to inspire holiday cheer. One of the jokes was about George Bush choosing between different rooms in Hell, and the other joke involved a gay genie. I hope my illustration sums up the content while adding a new twist in the form of a political cartoon. What do you think? Does it make sense? Does it stand on it's own?

I Hope you're spending time with friends during this week between Christmas and New Year's. This is the time for merriment and good cheer!

That's the spirit!

This truck was driving through Chinatown blaring Christmas music, forcefully spreading holiday cheer to all.


These Asian carolers were spotted near the truck singing all the Christmas standards: "Jingle Bells", etc.

I particularly enjoyed their accents on the "fa la la la la's".


I don't know about you, but the sight of a plush Frosty and Santa crucified on the back of a black SUV really makes my Christmas.

Okay, that's all for now...I've been too busy visiting with friends, opening presents, and stuffing my face with gingerbread men to post more. Plus, this season's shopping has really wiped me out! Whew, thank goodness it's over!

I hope you're all having a great holiday...

Hot

He's hot...

A Christmas card

I thought I'd post one of my 2006 Christmas card designs, just to get ya'll in the mood.

The inside reads: "Merry Thin-ness!"

That's right, Santa's lost that weight, and he's looking fabulous. Did you hear the news? He divorced Mrs. Claus and is planning an appearance at the Golden Globes. Word on the street is that he's been seen partying with the newly single Britney Spears at various trendy nightclubs in LA. It's also alleged that he's filling out paperwork with two or three African nations in order to adopt!

I didn't post the other card designs because they were deemed too risque by the North Pole Elvish Board of Censors...

RED

hula seventy and her visual love affair with all things red has inspired me yet again.

Over at selfportraitchallenge, they announced this month's theme was the color RED. Seems fitting, considering Christmas is right around the corner. But beyond that, I think red is MY new favorite color. It used to be blue for it's calming quality, then I switched to green to match my eyes, but now...I dig red.

I staged a little scene of favorite red things above. There I am, smiling like some sort of evil, impish Christmas elf, gazing at the camera from my pile of accumulated red knick-knacks. (I think I need separate rooms for knick-knacks of every different color.)

But lets go back to Red. It's so vibrant! So urgent! So fiesty and fun! Firetrucks! Fireworks! Flamenco dancers!

Red means STOP!
Red means danger!
Red means emergency!

Did you know:
The eye is most sensitive to the color red.
Women can differentiate more shades of red than men.
Red light has a wavelength range of roughly 625–760 nm. Frequencies lower than this are called infrared, or below red and cannot be seen by human eyes, although some infrared frequencies can be felt as heat.

Is there any wonder why I love it so? What living, flesh and blood creature wouldn't respond to red?

The Dating Game

I'll let you guess what this illustration is about.

I like how silly it turned out, despite the subject matter.

Lost in Transition

Thanksgiving is already here, and this year I'm thankful that my recent transition from the upper west side to the lower east side went relatively smoothly. I've been in my new apartment for almost a month so far and I'm finally beginning to feel settled. However, once I step foot outside the apartment, I find myself entering an exotic new world...one that includes lots of dead animals strewn about and hanging from things and lots of signage in a foreign language I don't understand.


Check out some of the pics, even though some of them came out a little blurry and poorly composed (I'm still adjusting to my new digital camera). I thought I'd give my friends and family a peek into my world, since they're always asking. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)


As strange as it is some days, living in Chinatown is very convenient because it borders on so many other cool neighborhoods. It's amazing to me how mere blocks can mark the difference between living in "regular Manhattan" verses living in a "virtual China". It's true about Little Italy as well. It lies just a few blocks west of my apartment, and it's lined with dozens of Italian restaurants and shops. Although, it looks like Chinatown is rapidly devouring it!


As you can see, Chinatown is lined with dozens of restaurants, shops, and markets of it's own. In particular, it's hard to escape the sight and smell of raw fish and other various seafood. As you enter Chinatown, written English disappears, and Chinese (and Japanese?) characters take over every window, sign, package, and marquee. It basically feels like another country.


Nestled off the main drive is my block, with my apartment entrance (pictured above). Above the door is a funny little sign advertising our neighborhood shoe store "Girls Love Shoes". Talk about lost in translation...


Inside our apartment, you'd never know that my roommate and I were nestled within a community that speaks mostly Chinese. The layout is similar to our old apartment, although the living room space is slightly smaller. But that's okay, because the bedrooms are BIGGER, which makes a HUGE difference in New York. We tried to merge our style sensibilities in the common areas, and I think it's worked well. For example, I think Jimmy's letter/number wall art goes quite well with my retro couch.


Here's another view of the living room, this time looking toward the bedrooms (that's my room through the door).


Check it out...I managed to cram every square inch of every surface with all of my "inspirational" knick-knacks and toys. I tried to downsize when I moved to New York, but what can I say, I gotta' have my STUFF!


Finally, here's my work space, where all the freelance magic (or shall I say procrastinating?) happens. Note: every square foot of this wall houses a different piece of art. I gotta' have my "inspiration-wall".

Now come visit!

soulMAID

I recently finished a project for my friend, Jeff Maccubbin. He asked me to animate a short story within the independent film he was working on. It's called "soulMAID", and it's a joint effort between four different filmmakers telling one story. My animated segment will appear within the third chapter of the film, directed by Dan Mohr.


This was a lot of fun to make! Dan provided me with a bizarre little tale that needed a look and feel that would set it apart from the rest of the film, yet provide a back story for several main characters. Originally, the segment was told using filmed slide projection graphics, but the directors felt it needed to be animated instead.


That's when Jeff recommended me to Dan. Jeff showed him my website and Dan agreed that my style would fit the bizarre and campy tone of the film. It's a truly wacky tale of love, lust, destiny, and...sponges.


One article summed it up as, "a comedy about a gay house cleaner's attempt to save the world from a vengeful goddess."


I worked on the project during a brief break between freelance gigs, so it was a tight turn-around. Dan created the musical score and one of the main characters in the film narrates the story. I tried my best to stylize the art in such a way that limited animation would suffice, since I am not a traditional cel animator. I think the final product came together pretty well, considering time and bugetary limitations.


I'd love to hear what you think.
You can see the finished animation here:
The Clean Demon

Check out the soulMAID movie trailer here:
SplitPillow

Here's a write-up on the film:
ReelChicago.com

Random Noise Bursts

Once again, the eloquent hulaseventy, wife of the visionary Ward-O-Matic, has inspired me to complete another meme post...I hope you can make some sense of it...and feel free to complete your own soundtrack meme if the inspiration/boredom hits you.

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here's how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that's playing
5. new question-- press the next button
6. don't lie and try to pretend you're cool


opening credits:
"You Spin Me Round" Dead or Alive
(seems fitting enough)

waking up:
"What do You do with a Drunken Sailor " from a VERY GAY, cabaret music compilation from the 50's called "He's a Queen"
(this is hilarious...there's even a line that goes, "do what you will with a drunken sailor early in the mornnnniiiiiiiinnnnng" - I promise this is what came up!)

first day at school:
"2 Wicky" Hooverphonic
(yeeeaaaah...fuuunk-ay)

falling in love:
"C'est La Mort" Stereo Total
(I'm starting to realize that my itunes music might be a bit too weird and obscure for this meme...but oh well. This little ditty is cheerful and happy, so I guess it's good falling-in-love music. Although, I believe "Mort" means "death" or "the dead" in French...I think)

breaking up:
"Aéro Dynamik" Kraftwerk
(breaking up can be as cold and chilly as how a Kraftwerk song SOUNDS. Those harsh Germans!)

prom:
"How About the Boys?" Arling & Cameron
(haha...fitting)

life's okay:
"Yeah" LCD Soundsystem
(this seems right on)

mental breakdown:
"Sunshowers" M.I.A.
(I guess having a mental breakdown sounds like a Sri Lanka-raised electro-reggae-funk rapper)

driving:
"Take Me With U" Prince and the Revolution
(I'd go on a road trip with Prince, sure)

flashback:
"Money" Human League
(haha...I don't like what this implies. I guess there's no money in my FUTURE)

getting back together:
"The Love Cats" Tricky
(well, Tricky's one sexy guy, so this seems perfect)

wedding:
"Love Action (I Believe in Love)" Human League
(The Human League AGAIN? I guess I have a certain nerdy, new wave quality to my life. Appropriate title, don't you think?)

birth of child:
"Flicking Your Switch" Ladytron
(Ladytron's neo-electro-sound seems ALL WRONG for an environment involving the birth of any living creature)

final battle:
"Window Display" Enon
(Hey...here we go...Enon's guitars have enough angst for a fight scene! Although, I can't imagine a fight scene taking place in a window display. That definitely seems pretty queer)

death scene:
"Diy" Robots In Disguise
(a song titled "Do it yourself" for a death scene...hmmmmm...yikes)

funeral song:
"Emotions & Photons" Freezepop
(this band's happy-poppy-bubbly sound would be so silly for a funeral...but y'know, I like it!)

end credits:
"Why You Wanna Treat Me so Bad?" Prince
(ha...perfect. That'll be the final, closing question!)

So, in conclusion, I see now that my itunes music library doesn't know a thing about DJ-ing a soundtrack for my life, unless of course, my life IS best comunicated through an absurdist, DADA-like film score, where irony plays a big part in the retelling of my life story.

What's scarier than a politician?

Getting ready for Halloween, everyone?

I did this drawing recently for the New York Press, and it reminded me of what scares me more than anything (especially around voting time): extremist, right-wing, religious fundamentalists. Add Republican to the description, and I'm running for cover. And these folks really get scary when they get a hold of a little power. The current state of the nation frightens me. The only thing offering relief is the growing disapproval of Bush. Sure, I've always hated him, my friends have always hated him, and many many other New Yorkers hate him...but what about outside of New York and the big cities? It's so easy to forget that there are still so many Americans out there who are rallying behind that man. It's unbelievable!

Anyone willing to alter the Constitution forever in favor of prejudice should be STOPPED.

If you are still on the fence about gay marriage, then I recommend a really informative documentary to help you make your decision:
Tying the Knot

Alright, now that I got that out of my system, I thought it would be cool to post the "before" and "after" of my recent illustration assignment. It's about politicians using the internet as their podium, if you will. I did the black and white sketch first, and really loved the energy of the scratchy pencil lines, so I was going to use it as is with color. However, the art director opted to soften the image a bit, which I can understand. I suppose my early version is a bit "fire and brimstone" whereas the art director wanted "enthusiastic". I guess I'm happy with the final result, but it could've had so much more impact and emotion!

As queer as queer can be

Inbetween working on various freelance jobs, I've been doing little illustrations for an advice column in a gay weekly. Here's a recent chunk of all the cartoony hunks...

There's a topic for everyone!

STDs:


tops and bottoms:


cleanliness:


risky behavior:


and...excessive sweating:


Wouldn't Mamma be proud!

Another reason why I love my Mom

My Mom's going to be on TV in South Carolina promoting Gay and Lesbian rights! She and other P-Flag (Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays) members are opposing Bush's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. (I hope you are, too.)

Watch her by clicking on the link below:

South Carolina Equality Coalition

This November, initiatives banning same-sex marriages are expected to be on the ballot in Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 2004, 13 states approved initiatives prohibiting gay marriage or civil unions, with 11 states casting votes on Election Day.

One of my favorite pieces of animation

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and when they catch you, they will kill you... but first they must catch you."

- from the beginning of the film, Watership Down

When I read Watership Down as a child I was deeply moved, but I was especially taken by this animated introduction to the movie version of the story. Stylistically, it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the (traditionally animated) film, with the exception of a few lyrical moments scattered throughout that exhibit the same stylistic flourishes.

I still get goosebumps watching this as an adult, and it reinforces in my mind the profound messages that can be relayed through simple, pared down, conceptual animation. I believe it was inspired by the UPA animation style of the fifties and sixties, and I'm not sure if we'll ever see animation as simple yet so profound again. It also reminds me of the Hubley family's animated works, which also have a deceptively simple looking visual style. However, there is nothing simple about the design and themes within this animation.

Thematically, it cuts so deep on so many ethereal levels that you can flip to nearly any page in a history book and see a parallel. Its Native American motifs, Inuit forms, and African stylings suggest the abuse, eradication, or attempted genocide of several more innocent societies that populate Earth.

It's even relatable to Art Speigelman's Maus series of graphic novels, which depict the Jews of WWII as vulnerable mice in a world of Nazi predators.

I also can't resist giving El-ahrairah (the rabbit prince) a homosexual slant, comparing him to how our culture has treated gays in the past and present. It comforts me, because in this animated myth, Frith blesses El-ahrairah with his own tools and tricks for survival, proving that all the world's creatures have a place on this Earth.

And now for a little break...

All this work on Betty Boop makes me tired. I worry that all this work is putting circles under my eyes. Click on the link below to see what products I'm considering to aid the situation. (Haha...not really, but click on it, you'll be glad you did...)

Reversa

Working hard for the money

Something smells moldy in here...

My blog has fallen into decay recently. I apologize. I've been so bad, I haven't found enough time to write (i.e. post self indulgent illustration samples). But, how's this for an excuse...I've been too busy with work! Since I've been working so hard, I've also needed to PLAY hard as well! That's why my blog has been neglected. a month ago I dove head first into the freelance lifestyle, and now I'm getting too much work! (Which is a more desirable problem to have) but I'm having to learn to PRIORITIZE and manage my time. I'm also learning how to say "no" to undesirable projects, which is hard, because usually the crappy (advertising) jobs pay more than the FUN (indie) jobs. This is my dilemma. Sooner or later, I hope to get to the point where I'm only taking the cool jobs. In the meantime, check out my reel on my website, and hire me to make something snazzy.

Justin Winslow

I might continue my break from my blog for a while...I have a new apartment to hunt for, since they're making my current building into a hotel (and I'm afraid the hotel will be nicer). Got any leads?

A Bawdy Joke!

Four Catholic ladies are having coffee together. The first one tells her friends, "My son is a Priest. When he walks into a room, everyone says, 'father'."

The second one chirps up, "My son is a Bishop. Whenever he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Grace'."

The third Catholic lady says smugly, "My son is a Cardinal. When he walks into a room, everyone says 'Your Eminence'."

The fourth Catholic lady sips her coffee in silence. The first three ladies all ask, “Well...?"

She replies, "My son is a 6' 2", hard-bodied stripper. When he walks into a room, everyone says, "Oh, my God…”

Ba-doom badda badda, Ba!

Faith

I always liked George Michael, from the boytoy days of Wham! all the way through his self-reflective, mature solo career, so it's sort of disappointing to hear that he got caught having sex in a public toilet again...and apparently, he was also caught with drugs recently as well. It's so disturbing to see someone with talent start to spiral out of control. Hopefully, he'll catch himself before falling too far.

Loneliness

Here's an illustration I did for an article about lonely gay men. In our youth-obsessed culture, sometimes older gay gentlemen feel ostracized, and even some younger people feel alienated from time to time if they're having difficulty socially, or with dating. I hope this silly little illustration captures the sadness of the situation, despite all its cartooniness.

Andrea and her Memes

Lately, all this blog's focused on is "illustration, illustration, illustration", so I thought I'd throw a few words out there unrelated to my art-making. I stumbled across another one of hula seventy's great meme challenges, loved her responses, and just couldn't resist. It seemed a lot easier than just randomly pontificating about my life right now...

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says:

"Freedom from ressentiment, enlightenment over ressentiment – who knows the extent to which I ultimately owe thanks to my protracted sickness for this too!". – from "Why I am so Wise" by Friedrich Nietzsche (why not?)


2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first?

I can't totally stretch out my left arm without it hitting the cd shelves that live RIGHT NEXT to my computer in my small, cramped bedroom.


3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?

I stayed up until 4am this morning watching Project Runway (season 2, disc 3). Since I don't have cable, I'm behind on my Project Runway viewing, but once a new disc arrives, I immediately tie off my arm, search for a vein, and inject – then it's hours of PURE Project Runway bliss. It's one of the most creatively challenging shows I've seen in long time. I CAN"T wait until season 3 comes out.


4. WITHOUT LOOKING, what time is it?

12:30 p.m.


5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

12:59 pm


6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Peaches' new album (I guess I really like it) blarring over the sound of my LOUD, temperamental, grumpy, window unit air-conditioner


7. When did you last step outside?

yesterday. I reclined on a rock in Central Park for what seemed like a heavenly eternity with a handsome Brazilian man. I can't wait to see him again!

8. What are you wearing?

a old Stereolab t-shirt, comfy khaki pants, and flip flops


9. When did you last laugh?

a year ago, when...(just kidding). Actually, I laughed really hard last night when Michael Corrs (Project Runway) described a contestant's menswear jacket as looking like a Golden Girls frock tied with a sash around the middle. The contestant was mortified.


10. Seen anything weird lately?

I saw two birds yesterday in Central Park flirt and land strangely close to where I was sitting. It was like Snow White...I swear if I had held out my arm, they would have perched themselves on my finger and sang me a song. Later, I saw an elderly chinese woman with ONE, single, three-inch, white hair growing from her chin. Also, the Brazilian told me about an instance where he saw a drunk man fall on the subway rails. The drunk man touched the third rail and was immediately electrocuted. I couldn't help but wonder what that was like to witness.


11. What did you dream last night?

sadly, I don't remember.


12. What's on the walls of the room you're in?

various art and illustrations I've done. There's a painting I did from high school, and stuff I did less than a year ago. There's also several art-toys perched on cubes mounted on the wall.


14. What do you think of this survey?

fun! I just wish I had remembered my dreams from last night.


15. What's the last film you saw?

Little Miss Sunshine, which I only saw because my Brazilian's Brazilian Film Festival film was sold-out. I thought it would be another cloying, Hollywood feel-good product, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was really funny, and the beauty pageant at the end was a real eye-opener. I also saw The Descent recently, which I also really enjoyed. A movie hasn't made me whimper/yelp/jump/squirm in my seat in a long time.

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?

A large penthouse-style loft apartment in a grand old building by Central Park, or possibly an entire brownstone house in soho or the west village. I'd also be tempted to buy/create my own production company. All this would be followed by me parceling out gifts and checks to my Mom, Dad, brothers (and possibly close friends).


17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.

I have a slightly larger than pea-sized bump on my head beneath my hair. I worried about it years ago, but several doctors convinced me it is nothing but a harmless calcium deposit. They say these things can run in families.


18. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?

I immediatley thought: I'd make sure the Bush administration hadn't entered office, but, after more thought, I'd also take a go at eliminating that damn war that keeps eating up people in the middle east. I also played with the idea of turning Bush, Mel Gibson, and other public haters into African American, Jewish, gay women, just to see how their views would change.


19. Do you like to dance?

Yeah. There's something so primitive and satisfying about it.


20. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

Holly maybe? Portia? Cloe? Zoey?


21. Boy?

I think Jared sounds cool. Joey sounds fun, and Troy sounds regal.


22. Would you ever consider living abroad?

certainly!

The Latest Craze

AHHHHHHHHHH!!! EEEEEE!!! OOOOMMMMIGODDDDDD!!! (read like a crazed, screaming, teenage Beatles fan)

I found a new group I totally dig. The Pipettes! I'd just about turn straight for them, they're that dreamy.

After listening to the new Peaches album all month (and loving it), I needed a break from the tough, bad-ass act. (don't we all sometimes?) It was then that I chanced upon the Pipettes. They're a girl group from the UK, who sound like they've been brought to the future from the sunny, wholesome, 60's girl-group era.

Don't let their retro stylings fool you though – I think they should be considered post-retro. They're more spunky and individually unique than those smiling "fem-bot-esque" do-wop singers from the past.

Fun with Clips

I've been spending the last few months learning how to use Dreamweaver, and I think I finally got the "attach movie" coding figured out. It was actually a lot easier than I thought. No big deal really, I was just too lazy to look it up! In any case, check out the movie here of my broadcast/animation reel. It's a mix of different tv spots and show intros I've art directed/worked on/slaved over during the last six years working at Primal Screen. (Hopefully, it will work!)

Click here to see my broadcast design reel!

Just go to the section titled "motion".

Happy Pills

It's been a week since I last posted. But I have lots of excuses:

a. I wrapped up the LAST backgrounds for the LAST episode of the kid's show I've been freelancing for...

b. ...therefore, I'm back on the street, busy looking for work.

c. However, that didn't seem to last too long, because I got thrown onto a stressful job designing and creating an animated promo for MTV earlier this week...and it's DUE on Monday!!! (There's goes my weekend!) I'm both excited and stressed working for MTV. It's so cool to do work for that network, but at the same time, their deadlines are RIDICULOUS!

d. I also did this little illo, above, for an article on antidepressants and their side-effects (specifically in the bedroom).

e. So see? I've been busy, and besides, it's TOO DAMN HOT to sit at my computer for any length of time, expending energy to lift my fingers and type. That burns calories, thus heating up my body a few extra degrees, thus making me sweaty and crazy.

As soon as I stop sweating from just sitting stationary in one place, I'll resume my normal cheeriness.

Oh by the way, thanks to all you guys that came out to the "Shady Characters" show! It was a great turn-out! It made my Summer!

"Shady Characters" Opening Reception

Hey everybody!
It's Friday...and tonight from 6 to 9 is the "Shady Characters" art opening! I've got three pieces in the show (including the one above), so come on out!!! Below is all the info:

The exhibit is displayed at the "Live With Animals" gallery at 210 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. 11211 (Entrance on Metropolitan).

In addition to fantastic art they've also signed up a few really great djs to play your favorite rock, punk & metal jams! "Shady Characters" will feature rotating sets by Miss Chip, Damien Rod Steez, and Walletboy!!! Also... there will be an after party at Savalas 285 Bedford Ave. (between South1st & Grand)

The show is titled "Shady Characters" & will pretty much be just an explosion of incredible character design! Shady Characters are everywhere in every city & suburb. Whether it be the nutjob on the subway, or that weirdo guy w/ the front-butt at the office, shady characters always manage to find their way in to our every day lives. "Shady Characters" is simply a tribute to all of the creepers and tweakers, outcasts and outlaws, and freaks and geeks, we encounter daily. As much as they creep us out, they equally fascinate us... but don't make eye contact... you don't want to stare!

Warning Signs

An illustration about relationship road hazards for gay gentlemen. I've never seen a construction worker like that...but hey, it could happen, right? I have, however, weathered the other dangers, with a mixture of success and failure.

Shady Characters

Hey everybody, I got three drawings accepted into my first New York art show! The painting above, titled "Masks", is one of the three pieces. I created this in Atlanta before moving here, but my new friend, Jason, thinks this piece is ALL New York. I guess he would know. He's been here 10 (12?) years. Once a Parson's fashion student, he's now head designer for 2xist Men's Underwear! Not bad for someone who's just over thirty – he's completely living the Project Runway lifestyle! Not only that, but he's a super nice guy, too. It must be interesting designing Men's underwear for a living...maybe I can convince him to buy this piece!

Getting back to the topic at hand, check out the official event info. The show is titled "Shady Characters", and you can read more about it here: Good Deal. The curator, Jared Deal, was gracious enough to allow me to submit work, which he added to the exhibit! Several big names in the animation industry from NY, LA, and Toronto are included in the show, so come on out and show your support! The opening reception is Friday, July 28th, from 6 to 9 pm at the "Live with Animals" gallery in Williamsburg. Hope to see ya there!

Bad kitty!

Hey people, I put up yet another illustration. Geez...this is becoming less and less a traditional "blog", and more of a digital bulletin board for my drawings. Too many illustration assignments, too little time to write anything!

In any case, this was another NYPress assignment, and I tried to have fun with it. Overall, I think it came out a bit too stereotypically "stock-illustration-esque", but I guess it works. The article was about reading the news, and how newer forms of technology are driving newspapers and other print-media out of existence. It's sad but true. Hopefully, there are enough people out there who still like to curl up with a weekly paper on a Sunday afternoon, to keep it from going out of fashion.

Also, I added a whole bunch more illustrations from the kid's show to my website. I'd love opinions on the site navigation...and does anyone know how to upload movies to a webpage? I'm trying to upload my reel and a few short animations...

Click here!

Doormat

Here's an illo I did for an article about bad boyfriends. Have you ever been treated like a doormat before? Ever date someone who liked to walk in the door and immediately wipe their feet on you? Ever fall for someone who treated you like dirt stuck to the bottom of their shoe? Ever been infatuated with someone who slowly sucked you into a world of lies and delusion? Or who just ignored you?

I have once. My first-ever boyfriend was pretty lousy. Luckily, the relationship didn't last long, because I was in high school and he was in college, and eventually he had to return to Indiana for his Sophomore year. I like to think I got my first disasterous relationship over pretty quickly.

The key is not to repeat it, and luckily, I learned quickly the first time it happened. I wised up and learned how to avoid the "bad boyfriend". Thankfully, I feel I can say most of my boyfriends since then have been pretty good guys.

You know what they say:
"You have to lie down to be walked on."

The Great Yokai War and "Super-snore"

I saw Superman over the weekend, and it was a bit of a let down after all the hype. Thankfully, Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey (as the villians) kept it somewhat enjoyable. Brandon Routh definitely wasn't to blame, because his performance was eerily spot-on. I guess the trouble for me lies with Kate Bosworth. Her overly serious, joyless Lois Lane fell flat for me. Not to mention my suspension of disbelief was shattered everytime I saw her flung around a plane/beaten by henchmen/knocked unconscious by metal doors, only to emerge bruise-free, and looking as if she just starred in a Revlon commercial. By hey, that's Hollywood!

On the other hand, the most fun I've had at the movies recently was when I went to see "The Great Yokai War". Check out the still (above) from the film! Doesn't that look like fun??? The hilarious part is, it's a kid's movie, yet it was the weirdest, most twisted thing I've seen all year.

Here's a blurb about it, just to pique your interest:
"The flick kicks off in true family film fashion with a nightmare vision of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, a slinky female demoness (played by Chiaki Kuriyama of KILL BILL VOL. 1 and BATTLE ROYALE) in a short skirt and wielding a whip, and then the birth of a goo-covered, flayed, screeching cow fetus who prophesizes the apocalypse. It's a miracle kids in Japan can sleep at all."

Here, read some more:
The Great Yokai War

New & Improved

Hello friends, Happy 4th of July!

I spent the weekend relaxing, taking in a Madonna concert, watching fireworks, and creating a new identity for my website. Check it out. I'm still tweaking it a bit, but I'm liking where I've arrived so far. My old idea-pen logo still exists in my masthead above, but I think this reworked version is more progressive. What do you think?

Also, check out my portfolio website: www.justinwinslow.com
I've added a bunch of new illustrations to the gallery.

Hope you had a great holiday!

Coming to America

I'm slowly getting more freelance illustration work with local papers. Here's a recent assignment I did for the NY Press about gay asylum seekers (for their Gay Pride issue). Check it out: Out Via JFK

I want to send a thank you out to Jerry, of lo admito, who hooked me up with this.

Behold, The Incredible, Ingenious, Glittering Jeff

Where does one start when describing Jeff? I've been meaning to post about him for well over a month now, and haven't found the proper words (and kept making excuses). He can't be fully described or appreciated through a measly blog post, but here's a beginning...

Jeff breezed into town at the beginning of April and stayed with me for a looong getaway weekend. It's truly a testament to our friendship that we have remained on the same page all this time since art school. We're still best buds, ex-roommate survivors, colleagues in art, and partners in crime. Besides two other people I've posted about on this blog, he's my longest running best friend. He knows me inside and out, and totally gets me. He knows my strengths and my weaknesses. He knows all my neurotic insanity, my quirks, and funny ticks. Even though he's lived in Chicago for the past (seven?) years, and I've been in Atlanta (and now NY), we still get along just like old times. This was proven to me last Fall when he visited me in Atlanta, and this Spring when he visited me here. I can't express how badly I wish he would move to this city! (Hint, hint, c'mon Jeff)


We met freshman year of college, and we've been as thick as thieves ever since. From the very beginning, I've been dazzled by his electric personality, acerbic wit, and rebelious stance on life. He's the kind of badass friend you want to skip classes with, sneak over to the mall with, try on ridiculous clothes, have a few drinks, make fun of people, take in an obscure foreign film, discuss philosophy, and then possibly end the evening enjoying raunchy performances at your local male strip club while rehashing the arthouse fare you took in earlier. I've learned so much from Jeff. He was the spice I desperately needed in my life at eighteen, when I first arrived at art school. I was SUCH a goody-two-shoes back then! Jeff helped bring me out of my shell, and draw out my fun-loving, mischievious side. I only hope I've entertained, inspired, and possibly guided him as much as he has for me, as a friend, an artist, and a fellow thirty-year old (GASP!)

What's really remarkable about Jeff is his duality. He's like the bad kid in the neighborhood, always getting you into trouble, only Jeff also has a highly responsible, driven, and ambitious side as well. He's an amazing artist and filmmaker. I admire him for sticking to his guns, and not compromising his vision with his artmaking. He recently finished a feature length independant film titled "Into It", and is busy shopping it around to film festivals and the like. I think he's going to break out BIGTIME any year now, and I plan to go to the opening screenings of his films. I consider him a modern John Waters, multiplied by Gregg Araki, divided by Gus Van Sant in the making! I adore the dark, twisted, ironic humor in his work.

You can even IMDb him: just click here!
Jeff amazes me, and I can't wait to see what he does next.


Here's yet another pic. This one depicts his softer, sweeter side.
(right?) He's practically a gay male Cindy Sherman, capable of slipping into whatever role necessary to create a stirring film still or photograph. Here's to Jeff: a magnificent actor, performer, artist, and filmmaker...

...and of course, one helluva friend!
"CHRISTINA, GET OUT OF THAT BED!!!"

The Young

Younger guys are trouble. Wouldn't you agree?

Has anyone out there dated a younger guy, only to find out they were dating a male version of "Lolita?"

I wanted this illustration to sum up the cute, but dangerous allure of the budding young homo. Ha ha!