Category Archives: Art

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Sharpie Show, Fort Wayne Edition

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Joseph Siler, Garuda Variations, Sharpie

It’s hard to believe that Sharpie, once a simple labeling tool, now shows up as an art form in serious art galleries. One look at the work and it’s clear Sharpie markers have come a long way since their humble beginnings in 1964.  While Sharpie has proven itself ”artist friendly” (so many colors and tip sizes!), the really great thing is that they are accessible to almost everyone given their modest price – about a buck a Sharpie.  Who needs expensive paints, pens and pencils when you can create amazing art with Sharpie markers?

Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery in Fort Wayne, Indiana is hosting what I believe is only the second Sharpie Show to take place, the first attributed to Crewest Gallery in L.A. which we first wrote about here in 2009 (the show was repeated in 2010). Already the Fort Wayne edition is getting its share of attention. 

Here’s one excerpt from an article that appeared in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel headlined, “Sharpie:  More Than Doodles”:
Who doesn’t love a Sharpie? Whether you’re labeling files, addressing a birthday card or doodling, the permanent markers available in a rainbow of colors are so much more fun than a basic ballpoint pen. With their various tips and myriad colors, Sharpies provide endless creative possibilities. The artists panel at Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery recognized this and put out a call for entries for an exhibit in which each piece has an element of Sharpie design. “There’s something fun about Sharpies,” said Artlink executive director Deb Washler. Although artists have been using markers for years – including brands other than Sharpie – “Sharpie kind of has its own culture,” she said.  “I like all the colors they come out with,” she added. Some people in the arts field now use Sharpies when taking notes, Washler said.  About 70 pieces will be in this show, which was an open call, meaning it’s not juried. “That’s how we meet new artists,” Washler said. 
The show runs through July 6. If you happen to be in the Fort Wayne area, be sure to check it out. Details and a sneak peak below:
Sharpie Show

What: Artwork created with Sharpie markers.  

Where: Artlink Contemporary Art Gallery, 437 E. Berry St.  

When: Through July 6. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; noon-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday.  

Admission: Suggested $2 donation.   

David Carpenter, Mummy, Sharpie

Jason Swicher, “SWPSH” Script, Sharpie

Patrick Gainer, User Friendly, Sharpie/silk-screen/wax

Suzanne Galazka, Pamela Robinson and Josef Zimmerman

Dennis Hettler, chaos flower, Sharpie markers/acrylic paint

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Inktern Interview with Jessica Hill

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We are lucky to have Caitlin Ursini join our team as our summer “inktern.” Looking to gain first-hand knowledge on what it takes to build and run a brand, we’re putting Caitlin to work across several projects to give her the chance to experience several parts of our brands. Caitlin is currently a junior at Indiana University, studying to earn her degree in journalism with a minor in history and marketing. She loves Chicago sports, country music and I quote, “I enjoy telling my co-workers about my weird habits.” Caitlin’s favorite Sharpie is a custom Blackhawks Stanley Cup marker and in case you were wondering, the best thing she’s ever done was attending Wimbledon last summer.

One of Caitlin’s projects is to conduct interviews with various Sharpie artists to feature on the blog. One of the firsts: Jessica Hill.

Art: Anytime. Anywhere.

For years Jessica Hill kept work under her bed, in her closets, in the family’s shed, but not anymore. Now it’s on her blog, in charity auctions, for sale at galleries and even on TV. Each of her pieces has dozens of different figures and creatures within it. They are her creations, but it is everyone else’s interpretations that make these unique creatures in her drawings what they are.

Today’s featured artist may live a normal life as a graphic designer in Nashville, TN., but there is way more to it than a good cup of coffee and a great husband. Jessica spends her days outside of work creating art and designs on just about anything and everything she can find with her Sharpie Paint Markers.

Jessica has been at this for a long time. Since she was a kid, her parents and teachers encouraged her to creative outlets.  Clearly all the art, music and creative writing classes paid off. Her unconventional art work features characters and figures that take on a life of their own. Each one is individual and each has potential to have its own meaning to the audience. For Jessica though it isn’t always what she draws, but where. Old calendars, chairs, used canvases, you name it Jessica will find a way to use it for her work. Using different materials makes the sky the limit. It helps Jessica get out her urge to create. When you are willing to use anything as your canvas there is nothing to hold you back.

Here are some other things that Jessica had to say:

Personal Style: I think my personal style is just fun and amusing, really. I don’t think about it too much. My work is usually associated with “street art”, which is cool with me. However, the word “obsessed” might describe my personal style, too. I tend to paint things over and over again. I draw all the lines freehand. I have to paint layers and layers of the same color to get a flat, bright image.

Where did these creatures come from: It just sort of evolved over time. Contrary to what some might think, I actually can draw more traditionally, but I always loved street art and skateboard designs. I did silk screening for a while and I loved the bright, flat colors. Also, being a graphic designer, I tend to like minimal things. But I am always thinking about color and layout, too. And again, I just keep myself amused. I think that’s also a large part of it. As for the monsters having one big eye and one little eye… I don’t know why I do that. I just like how it looks.  

What are these guys’ personalities: I have never given any character a specific personality, but other people do. People are always naming them or telling me how they see them. I think that’s part of the fun for me… I just make characters that I personally find amusing. I like that they seem to appeal to a wide range of people from adults to kids.

What did you feel when you got these guys on TV: It was very flattering and slightly embarrassing. I am always proud of my work, but I can feel my cheeks getting red whenever I get a little bit of the spotlight. Honestly, it’s just amazing to me how kind people have been and how much they’ve embraced my work. It’s just amazing and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

Why Sharpie: Well, I found that Sharpie markers let me draw on pretty much any surface. Also, I don’t have to worry about anything dripping, like I would with paint. All my characters have a black outline on them and I found that with Sharpie markers I have a lot more control over those lines. I don’t have to worry about dipping the brush in more paint and I know I can use it on any surface and it won’t chip or flake away when it’s finished. They are just awesome to use and they have such a wide range of sizes, so it just makes the pieces really look polished in the end.                                                                                                                                                                                      

Favorite Sharpie: Right now I am loving the Sharpie Paint Markers. They give me really smooth lines and consistent black ink. It sounds a little silly, but lots of markers don’t always give you a smooth, dark line. They lose ink along the way and that can be frustrating. The Sharpie paint marker has served me well. I also use the extra fine markers for detail work, which is great. I would be lost without them.

Are you an environmentalist or is all this supplies another creative outlet: I would love to say that I am an environmentalist, but it was really kind of accidental. Canvas can be expensive and you don’t always have access to one when you get an idea that you want to work on right away. So I started using things I had around the house and I liked how the different materials gave you different results. They all hold paint or ink differently, and I like that. Plus, sometimes I don’t have a lot of time to work on a project but I want to do some doodles. I will just grab magazines or old calendars and doodle for a while. It’s a really fun outlet for me and I find it really relaxing. 

What’s your favorite recycled piece: It’s so hard for me to say… I really enjoyed filling in my old calendar with doodles. I also did a coffee can label for a local coffee shop here in Nashville and that was actually done on the back of a cereal box. I enjoyed that one!
My husband also brings home scraps pieces of wood for me that he will trim down into little squares and I can’t get enough of them!

Most spontaneous piece you’ve ever created: I think that being able to use what’s around does allow me to get my ideas out quickly. Sometimes I get the urge to draw all over photos that my friends will post on-line or email me. It’s like this urge that I just can’t resist and I have to deface it for some reason! It seems I have a problem with impulse control at times… so lots of the things I make are spontaneous. One day I started drawing my favorites movies on scraps of cardboard. Before I knew it, I had a whole pile of them!

Why do you think it’s important to give back: You know, I just think I am so lucky that people like my work. I don’t have a ton of money and I don’t have a lot of other skills. I am glad I can pitch in this way and help out some good causes. It’s just win-win. My favorite experience with volunteering is just meeting so many great people! I’ve met so many wonderful people through charity events. I also get to team up with other local artists and it’s nice to have a sense of community with all of them. It’s not competitive and I really enjoy that.

What’s on your to-do list right now: Well, I have a show coming up in June that I am working on and some commission work to do after that. There is a festival in August that I have work in and I am booked for another show in December. I try not to get too much on my plate so I don’t get overwhelmed, but I stay busy!

If there was one place your art could take you, think DREAM job, where would it be: I gotta say, I LOVE my current job. It’s challenging and creative and I work with great people. I don’t know what my dream job would be, honestly. I just thank my lucky stars that I can make a living doing what I love. I know that there are lots of people who are not as lucky. I don’t know what else I would do if I wasn’t doing creative work. My mind couldn’t do anything else

If you’re interested in Jessica’s work you can view her blog or tweet at her @jessicahillart

Tweet Caitlin at @Inktern and be sure to check out her Inktern blog.

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Featured Artist: Joseph Carpenter

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Joseph Carpenter is a UK based Sharpie artist with a wide array of interests from extreme sports, to music, to art. It is his interest in self-expression and creativity, however that brings him to the Sharpie Blog as our featured artist of the day. Incorporating Sharpie markers allows Carpenter to capture thick lines, smooth lines and pay attention to detail. Mixing traditional with digital tools, this artist creates brilliant images for various U.K. bands, brands and agencies alike. Get to know Joseph and have a look at some of his work below.  

Tell me about yourself:  Well, my name is Joseph Carpenter and my day job is an assistant printer but I spent three years at the University of Bath studying Illustration. These days I spend most of my spare time within illustration creating new pieces or generally doodling ideas for new bits of work. I’m a massive fan of extreme sports and surround myself with people who share similar interests; this passion extends into music which is where the majority of my work has been commissioned from. I don’t really get on with over opinionated people although I’ll always make the effort – the same applies for overly aggressive people! I also dislike money because I never have enough. 

  

How would you describe your personal style?  Proper tough question…… my style is sort of all over the place, I guess its origins are in my childhood like most artists but in some respects I never really grew up, I have become more experienced in my understandings of how to use light and the difference between thicknesses in line and how much that can bring things to life. If I was going to pin point it, I suppose it’s a cross over between Graphic novel art and 80’s Cartoons. It’s never been a conscious thing just ended up that way! 

You Me At SIX

 Scrolling through your site, it seems you have an affinity for posters. Where does this interest come from? Who do you create them for? Poster art, haha… My “passion” (as its been previously described) for posters, has never been a passion as such I fell into it. While I was at University I started producing posters for the manager of my band at the time for the venue he was promoting for, it was something that me and my house mate spent a lot of time on together under the name ZEDISDEAD, Chris (Rowland) and myself had a really great start in the industry producing posters for band such as ACROSS FIVE APRILS, O.P.M and ZEBRAHEAD. After a while we started getting labels and bands personally interested in one off posters for shows. We then went our own separate ways and its really from then on I started getting more involved. I ended up doing posters for WHEATUS, BLEEDING THROUGH and doing album art work for WE ARE THE OCEAN and more recently T-shirts for YOU ME AT SIX.  

What is your creation & design process like?  This part varies from time to time. As I’ve grown up I’ve started to actually map ideas out before I ink anything and I’ll always pitch mood boards to clients, consisting of work I like and work that I hope they like! From there, the ideas go back and forth until the client is happy. I’ll ink it, do a rough colour, and then get it checked… then I go ahead and finish it off. It’s pretty basic but it works for me .  

Where do Sharpie markers come into your work?  Sharpie markers are an essential part of my inking process. I’ll use them to boarder the image using the marker as a thick edge and then I’ll use the finer point to fill in the detail. It’s the middle point of my work but without it the line work would look shabby and blotchy. I find that Sharpie markers draw a consistent line and don’t fade out as I follow my pencil line, this is essential in creating a smooth line which is a must my mind.  

  

Favorite Sharpie?  Why?  I suppose I’m a bit basic but I love the classic Fine Point just because it delivers so much from one style of nib, and I can ink most of the sections of my work with one pen instead of a selection. I also mainly use black ink as most of my work is digitally coloured.  

I also reeeaaallllyyy want a Stainless Steel Marker but I haven’t found one yet!  

What’s your favorite drawing/design that you’ve ever created?  My favorite (see below) is a personal piece of work that was sketched up in my first year of University. It was the start of me finding myself as an illustrator… No one else got it but it just combined everything I loved and I used all my favorite processes to create it. I even have it on my business card now!  

 

If you could only draw one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?  This is easy, I’d draw birds! Birds are awesome, actually awesome. They all look different, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. You can be super intricate or really simple and they still look awesome. Always loved drawing them and they drop in and out of my work, but I literally doodle birds faces all day at work.  

Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten:  “Don’t expect to get rich.” This is a daft comment out of context but it has helped me to not be disillusioned about how the industry works. All I care about is that I can be as expressive as I like and I’m consistently creative - which if I were in an office job, I would be unhappy – on more money, but not happy.  

Motto to live by:  

    Do or do not, there is no try.

- Yoda (Star Wars movie)  

Are you currently working on anything that you can tell us about?  Right now, I’m working on a set of animal drawings for the summer. I asked a bunch of friends to help me out with ideas and I’m putting together a set that will be gifts for everyone but also a personal project that I’ve tried to but together for ages.  

Anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?Big shout out to my friends Iain Macarthur and Chris Rowland, with out them I wouldn’t be where I am now. Please check their work out too:  

Cheeeeeerrss!!!  

Big thanks to the Carpenter for taking time to Uncap What’s Inside on the Sharpie Blog! You can find more on Joe at Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

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JESS3 Strikes Black

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Black and white mural by JESS3 made w/ Sharpie!

At SXSW, I discovered a new designer, JESS3. I kept finding different creative designs posted all over Austin which made me want to find out more about the person behind such detail. I was able to track down the culprit via twitter and found that he too has a love for Sharpie! Above is a picture of a mural that @JESS3 tweeted me, which was made with black Sharpie markers.

JESS3 is a creative agency, specializing in visual data, founded by Jesse Thomas. See more of JESS3 at http://jess3.com/.

You should follow his tweets too: @JESS3 . While you’re at it, check ‘em out on your favorite book of faces.

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Black is Beautiful

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Many Sharpie fans pride themselves on their vast markers collections, however I have yet to see a fan who prides himself/herself in owning one type of marker. Allister Lee, operator of Studio B.I.B, a Toronto based creative studio, is working on just that - building the most extensive collection of black markers in the world, and drawing each one to scale, according to Design Milk. Lee has titled his collection the Black Marker B.I.B.L.E.

Allister Lee

“What began as a handful of drawing supplies in a shoebox has steadily grown over the past decade into what may already be the world’s largest collection of black markers and marking devices.” -Studio B.I.B.

To commemorate the 500th marker, Studio B.I.B released this print, which you too can own to fulfill your marker obsession. At 523 markers and growing, Lee aims to collect 1,000 markers and own the Guinness Book of World Record title of the largest collection of black markers. I wonder how they will commemorate that triumphant day?!

Own the Studio B.I.B. 500 Marker Poster

“I started the collection in 2002. London was expensive. Drawing was free. I spent a lot of spare time drawing. I needed a bunch of different black markers to get certain effects in my illustrations and to mark on different surfaces so I stockpiled an assortment in a shoebox. You get to know and appreciate the things you use on a daily basis. And I guess I got to know and appreciate black markers. I only collect black because that’s what I think looks right when I put nib to surface.” – A. Lee

Can you spot the Sharpie Paint Marker?

Find out more about Allister Lee, Studio B.I.B., and read a Q&A with the artist at Design Milk.

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Sharpie Squad Guest Blogger: Tali Buchler

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Tali Buchler brings something fresh to the Sharpie blog today as she demonstrates her favorite way to uncap directly onto and into the pages of the encyclopedia. 

The Sharpie Squad’s own Tali Buchler, creative genius behind Growing Up Creative, adds her own twist to the powerhouse of all publications- the collection of text containing every piece of information one could want/need to know.  Clearly though, Tali has found something that the editors have left out and she intends to correct them… 

A new reason to open an encyclopedia…

Used objects and discarded items (or what some may call -trash), always spark my imagination. Transforming an object – giving it a new life and purpose is something I like to do. In the past, I have used discarded magazines in designing a temporary space for a fashion show in an installation called – Read. 

My new “thing” is collecting encyclopedia books that people have been throwing away.  I started folding the books and turning them into sculptural objects.  I’m not sure where this will end, still a work in progress…

In my blogs I have started a series of tutorials called “Eco kids craft” where I use design ideas and craft techniques to encourage recycling creativity and creating with “whatever you have”.

Recently, I had my family over (my brother calls it/ us “the tribe”); a total of 8 kids – enough to start a preschool!  It was so hot that day, we couldn’t go outside. After a while, I started hearing the “I am bored” song coming from all different directions… Quick thinking made me pull out some of the many encyclopedia books I have been accumulating, one per child, and our big box of Sharpie Markers.

My instructions where very clear: DO AS YOU LIKE!

Before I knew it and without any planning, something magnificent happened:  the kids were absorbed, looking through the pages of an encyclopedia, reading and admiring the black and white images.

I gave them the OK to cut and draw as much as they wanted. So they did. And so did I. :)

We used all kinds of Sharpie Markers! Sometimes we drew together, and sometimes each one on his own.  My favorite thing to do was using the Fine Point Sharpie Marker to layer different colors in across hatch pattern.  These Sharpie markers were perfect for that because of their translucent yet brilliant quality.

To do this at home, you will need:

  • An old encyclopedia (you can find it at your parents house or at a second hand store)
  • Sharpie Markers
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

How to:

  1. Flip through the pages
  2. Find an image you like
  3. Start to color the image
  4. Work in layers, it helps create depth and richness to the drawing (try and think like an impressionist)
  5. Add details to transform the image into something new. Even add notes!

Ready, set, go!!!

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Sharpie & PS-I Made This… on ReadyMade.com

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I am so excited to report that one of our stellar 2010 Sharpie Squad members, Erica Domesek and the design, DIY & style expert behind P.S.- I Made This… is currently featured on ReadyMade.com  with a DIY to die for post entitled, “Create Summer Stripes in a Sharpie Snap”  Here, she demonstrates how easy it is to re-purpose empty cartons with Sharpie Twin-Tip markers to make a bold-expression in any room!

 

“I was inspired by pottery genius Jonathan Adler and fashion designer Paul Smith’s famous colorful and vivid stripes”

                           -Erica Domesek, PS-I Made This…

 

What you'll need...

"Re-use milk or cream cardboard containers you have at home. After emptying, clean the inside and let dry. Use a sharp pair of scissors and cut off the top of the container."

"Wrap container with white masking or paper tape. Trim any excess tape and cardboard to even out the top."

To make your designer-inspired stripes, pick a color palate from Sharpie Twin Tip markers. I suggest using 3-4 colors that work well together. Start at the bottom using the thicker marker tip to make the heavier lines. Use a ruler to help keep your lines super straight."

"Get creative and vary the stripe designs."

"When clustered together, DIY-striped Sharpie vases in different size heights in like color palates will help spruce up any nook in your home and enhance any summer fete!"

 Be sure to go to ReadyMade.com to see Erica’s DIY project in all it’s glory!

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Made with Sharpie, This Was.

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I came across this blast from the past while cleaning up my computer desktop this morning…

Created by Jon Burgerman, this custom helmet derives from aaaall the way back to 2007 and made with a  Metallic Sharpie Marker for The Vader Project for the ’07 Star Wars Celebration Europe exhibition held in London at Excel.

"Armed with a silver Sharpie, I scrawled and colored my way over the helmet, dropping in little Star Wars references as I went…." - Jon Burgerman

Recently,  Jon has been traveling the world creating murals for AOL.  Here’s a time-lapse video of him creating a mural at the AOL headquarters in Manhattan, New York.  Check out Jon’s London agents, Debut Art for more of his designs and photos from his “mural travels.”

(That is one awesome sweater! The fact that he turns it around so that we can see it’s awesomeness, wow…what a guy!)

Be sure to take a tour of Jon’s work at on his own website: www.jonburgerman.com !!

Inside, Uncap What Is

 

 

 

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Well I’ll be a Sharpie’s Uncle!

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Artists have all different quirks, types of personalities and styles, hence such creativity and self-expression!  For instance, maybe you’re  the shy-pensive photographer, or perhaps you know a  moody- heart broken sculptor, how about those out-of-the-box, off the wall painters (Warhol anyone?).  The list can go on and on… but by chance, have you heard of The Gross Uncle?  In short, The Gross Uncle encompasses all sorts of personality and talent beyond compare (see question 3 for an accurate formula).  Unfortunately for you, Fortunately for him, there is and can be only ONE “Gross Uncle.”  Let me introduce you to him.. 

Grant Gilliland, artist, uncle and super model

Grant Gilliland: Artist, Uncle, Super Model

 

 Grant Gilliland aka “The Gross Uncle” is a cartoonist and illustrator with a style COMPLETELY his own.  One cool aspect about this artist is that at your request he will put his Sharpie marker to work, sketching anything you wish and ship it out to you for a measly 20 bucks!! (One-of-a-kind art? Yes please!  Placing my order as we stare at monitors) Turning a cool hobby into a career, Gilliland strives to enjoy life, have fun and create work that he loves, while being confident in all that he does.  Combining big talent with an even bigger personality, this young artist has a long and successful road ahead of him.  Let’s dive right into it and find out more about this Sharpie artist…   

sharpie fine pt   

 Tell me about yourself!    Hello! My name is Grant Gilliland; I have a blog called “The Gross Uncle” and I love to draw and make things.  I spend the majority of my time drawing cartoons and illustrations for all sorts of reasons…sometimes for clients, sometimes just for fun.  I am based in San Francisco, originally from Ohio, a place where I spent a great deal of time playing and being creative.  As I recall, I also went to high school there, but really all I remember is skateboarding and making funny home movies with my friends.  I also enjoy coffee, bike riding, daydreaming about absurd images, scouring the web for inspiration, and meeting new people.  How did you get started as an artist?  What kind of experience do you have?   I started my artistic career in my high chair, cranking out crayon-styled depictions of geometric cars, amorphous birds, and freakishly proportioned people. I would probably stop a minute to spit up or scream some gibberish towards the sky, then after wiping my face and getting something to drink, it was back to work… Come to think of it, not much has changed since then…besides the fact that I use a regular chair now. 

 When I was a little older, I took art classes after school and then once I got too cool (air quotes) for those, I started making comics with some of my friends.  I went to The Columbus College of Art & Design in 2001 and got super-inspired there - It’s when I started to take art a bit more seriously. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Illustration, I balanced a part-time job as a barista with freelance work.  I started getting my feet wet and figuring out my style and eventually met up with my agent, Scott Hull in 2007.  I am still pretty new to the world of freelance illustration and am looking forward to what things I am inspired to make in the future.    

 

Gilliland's work displayed at an art show

Gilliland's work displayed at an art show

 How would you describe your personal style?  This personal style recipe yields one to two editorial illustrations, one overworked 4×4 painting and about half a dozen blog posts with too much writing, it serves an infinite number of portions if rationed correctly. 

  • 1/2 cup of season 1 Ren & Stimpy mix
  • 4 tsp of Surrealism
  • 1 page of The Maxx comic book, shredded
  • 2 small vinyl figures from Kid Robot (under $40), massaged in oil
  • 1 Sonic the Hedgehog cartridge (Sega Genesis), quartered and cut into large pieces
  • Pictoplasma to taste
  • 1 pot strong black coffee
  • sarcasm to taste

Directions:  Mix in a blender. Pour over a 4 year art-school education, slowly adding strong black coffee to the batter, while playing a post-punk mixtape in the background. Sprinkle sarcasm over the condensed result. Let bake in the California sun for four years, and enjoy.  

SharpiemanWhere do you draw inspiration from?  I spend a lot of time absorbing podcasts, YouTube videos, music, comedy albums, you name it… I just like hearing creative material from people.  If there is a sense that they know what they’re doing and have their own voice, usually I’m game to listen.  I get in these modes where I get into a certain podcast and just listen to it nonstop…even if I don’t really like it all that much or wouldn’t want someone to walk in on me listening to it.  I will go into the archives and listen to the whole thing – sometimes I will listen to the same episode several times.  I guess I’m sort of sponge-like when it comes to most things…sometimes vaguely loofa-like, but rarely.  How do you use Sharpie markers in your work?  What is your favorite Sharpie?!   I like the way Sharpie markers make a nice strong line.  I have used other pens in the past, but I always ended up coming back to Sharpie for their consistent quality.  I love the way they draw on laser jet photo paper…so smooth!  I like the regular fine-point Sharpie marker…I have about two dozen lying around at any given time. 

 Where did you come up with the idea to sell $20 Sharpie drawings?  How does this work?  I wanted to sell something on my blog that was affordable and fun for me to make.  The cool thing about doing these drawings is that I get to post them on the blog and say who they are for and where they are being mailed.  People seem to like the idea, and each drawing is made just for them. Also, it’s really helped me loosen up…the more people that order the drawings, the better they will get because of all the great drawing practice I’m getting. All you need to do to get your own is email me at seegrantdraw@yahoo.com and ask! I am open to creative suggestions and I will gladly draw your dog. 

What children’s books have you illustrated for?   Just one.  The book is called “Theo” and there is a blog where you can check the whole thing out (http://theobook.blogspot.com).  The book was conceived and written by the talented author Kentucky Lim.  We are planning a whole series of books together.    

Theo

So tell me, do you have a gross uncle or are you the Gross Uncle?  Maybe I should just ask this: Where did you come up with the name for your blog? 

 I him!  He me!  We be me!

…Actually, the whole alias came about one summer when I was thinking about how great and sneaky it would be to have this “alter ego” that I could get extra illustration work as.  So there’s Grant with his cute little round style and then there’s The Gross Uncle with his bizarre, awkward, hairy drawings…and all the time it’s just one guy.  I basically scrapped the idea when I decided to use the name for my blog, so I just ended up mixing elements from the two styles over time.  Nowadays, The Gross Uncle moniker gets used the most when I participate in gallery shows…seems to fit…and it’s easier to say than my last name.   

GrossUnclebanner 

If you could design for any one person who would it be? Why?  I would design for the auto-tune machine because that’s the most popular singer these days.  Other than that, I have made a character design for my friend Donny Papermaker…he’s pretty famous on the YouTube nation. 

 I’m curious…What do you think is the “funniest looking appendage” and why?  Great question! I like the nose. That’s an appendage, right?  There are just so many great ways to make a nose…you can abstract it and add all sorts of funny joints and angles and planes that shouldn’t be there and it can really add a lot in terms of visual punch.  If your drawing is looking real good, then you could put a blue nose on a guy and it could work. 

Laser Portrait

Hippie Style

Tattoos

Are you currently working on anything that you can tell us about?  I’m finally getting back around to working on a cartoon show called “Touch Base with Gregg Sween.”  The show is basically a cartoon version of a daytime talk show…it started out as a puppet show that my friend Patrick Kouse and I did last summer.  We performed the whole show live at Fivepoints Arthouse in San Francisco – we only did it twice. We haven’t touched it for a year and now I think it’s time for us to get back in touch with our inner thespians (cue laughter here).   

Anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?  Yes. Can you direct me to the Instant Sharpie Replacement Hotline?  That would be nice.  I’d put it on speed dial and then a Sharpie representative can send new pens to my house in 2-3 business days. You accept drawings as payment, right?  (Grant, you can reach me (the Sharpie Rep) at 1-800 illlosemyjob) -cue sarcasm here : )   

 

 Do you have any advice for other young artists? It’s always important to be into what you’re doing for the fun of it.  No matter what circumstances you are under in life, fun plays a major role.  Just being in a good mood can really negate and remove (even permanently) any real or perceived obstacles in life.  Also just keep the world up to date on what you’re doing…post blog entries about it, take progress pictures, share…being active is more important than being really good.What do you hope for in 2010?  There are some major projects that I hope to finish either this year or next…patience can be tough.  Honestly, just to be happy and satisfied with life sounds nice…to be happy with whatever I am working on without doubting it and to spend the rest of my time playing.  

He desgins shoes too!

 

  

Find out more about how Grant Uncaps What’s Inside on his website: www.seegrantdraw.com

Check out Grant’s blog: www.thegrossuncle.com!

Want more? Follow him on Twitter and take a look at more of his art on Flickr