casa decor/ART BASEL MIAMI
Billy the Artist. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. His name is Billy. He’s an artist. But as simple as the name sounds, the work is anything but. It’s in your face. It knocks you back. It’s a kaleidescope of color and puzzle-like images that celebrate the human spirit. And Billy creates a lot of it using Sharpie markers.
“Create your own reality” is Billy’s mantra. Billy captures the energy and power of the city around him, creating what he calls “Urban Primitive” art. He has been embraced by both the fine and commercial art worlds, with openings at such prestigious venues as the Forbes Gallery in New York, Casa Decor Miami, Art Basel Miami, openings in Chelsea, Chicago, Cleveland, Austin, Orlando, and internationally at The Carib Fine Art Gallery on the island of Curacao. His commercial clients include designs for MTV, Suzuki and Hyundai,. He’s been featured at (don’t hold your breath here – the list is a long one) The NY International Auto Show, LA & Chicago Auto Shows, Microsoft, The New Now Next Awards, Chock Full o Nuts Coffee, The New York Mets, The Sony Music and Film Studios, Woodstock 99, Delaguarda, The Rio Casino in Las Vegas, murals for The Broadway and London productions of RENT, Ducati Motorcycles and a special limited edition bottle design for Mountain Dew.
Billy’s Public Art projects have been sponsored by (exhale here) such clients as Entertainment Weekly, The American Kennel Club, Imodium, The Shubert Organization, Epic Records, Starbucks, Spike Lee/Pizza Hut, BR Guest Restaurants, Bike Nashbar, and Columbia Pictures. Billy has been featured internationally in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, New York Post, Juxtapose Magazine, and appearances on Fox and Friends, MTV, VH-1, CNN, Discovery, Japan TV, and 60 Minutes to name a few.
He’s has also done artwork for several philanthropic organizations such as The Fresh Air Fund, Covenant House, The Harvey Milk High School, JCC of Manhattan, and his work has been auctioned at Sothebys and Christies.
Okay, just breathe…
It’s amazing to see what Sharpie can create in the hands of a master. Read on to learn (and see) more about Billy and his work:
How did you get started as an artist?
I started painting and selling my work on the streets and in clubs in NYC. It was when I was hired to paint 60 feet of black and white murals for the Broadway production of RENT that my life completely changed and catapulted my career to galleries, public art projects, and commercial gigs around the world.
Tell us a little about your genre. Are there lots of artists who do what you do? Where are they concentrated? What makes your work stand out from the rest?
I call my work “Urban Primitive Pop”—people say if Keith Haring, Picasso, and Peter Max got together and had some drinks, you would have my style. I’m self-taught and believe my work stands out because it represents who I am and how I look at life. My work is colorful and black and white. It may look complicated, but is simple. It is positive and energetic. It makes people happy.
How would you describe your style?
As I said, I call my work “Urban Primitive Pop,” a kaleidoscope of puzzle-like images that get in your face and celebrate the diversity of the human spirit.
Billy's work for the "New Now Next" Awards at MTV Studios
How did you come to use Sharpie markers in your work?
I’ve had various sketchbooks for the last 25 years and used Sharpies to create a diary of my life through drawings.
What about Sharpie markers makes them your medium of choice? Is it the variety of tip sizes, colors, other? Please describe how you use Sharpie as an art tool.
I love the variety of tip sizes—I use primarily black Sharpies – my work is either in black and white or the color is always black outlined. In doing projects on the computer I first sketch out the designs with Sharpie, take a digital photo of it, put it in the computer, and then use the computer to fill in the color. All my design concepts always begin with a black Sharpie.
Tell us about some of your own favorite work. What seems to get the most attention or is most coveted by others? Why do you think people are drawn to your work?
I’ve enjoyed working on some of my custom car designs for Hyundai and Suzuki–both those projects, which were for the International Auto Shows, were sketched out, freehand, on the cars with black Sharpie—no mistakes could be made–I liked that challenge and they turned out awesome. The custom design for Mountain Dew also got a lot of attention and was real exciting to do. I think people are drawn to my work because of the energy it gives. They are vibrant, they usually tell a story and they tend to make people happy. I like that.
Can you describe the process you go through to create your work? How many hours does it take? Is it a free-hand approach or do you create a template in advance?
In my color paintings and designs I sketch out the design free hand with Sharpie and then add the color and then go back and outline the painting in black paint. The black and white paintings are done freehand with black paint. My initial design work is always sketched out with black Sharpie—I tend to design and paint fast–it just flows and I like to work straight through with no breaks-it makes the finish more rewarding.
What inspires you?
My inspirations come from people, music, and the vibe and feel of New York City.
Billy Bottle - Mountain Dew
What statement are you trying to make, if any? What do you want people take from your art?
I want my work to make people happy and not take life too seriously. Life is too short to be unhappy. Live life for today and have fun. I have two big philosophies — Create Your Own Reality and No Plan B.
Sharpie’s tagline is “Write Out Loud!” Does this apply to your work and if so, how?
Yes, this does apply to my work—I’m all about getting my work out to more and more people. Be bold and not afraid to share your vision and who you are with more people. “Write Out Loud” means to me that you don’t have to shout out loud for people to be inspired, sometimes inspiration can come from a sketch or a design and that can be more powerful than anything. “Write Out Loud” your vision and you can change people’s lives or simply make them smile and be happy.
See and learn more about Billy the Artist here.
Hyundai Tiburon
Band in a Bubble, MTV
Orlando Guitar Town
Jeffrey Fulvimari serves up some of his Sharpie art
Now, this is some cool stuff…
The work of Jeffrey Fulvimari, known for his illustrations of pretty young women with irresistible eyes, can be seen virtually everywhere — from mannequins featured in TV commercials to illustrations for Madonna’s children’s books, The English Roses. His work has also adorned all different types of products, including wallets, pouches, towels, schedule organizers, and bags. In celebration of his 10-year anniversary since launching his career in Japan, CWC is opening a store dedicated to all things Jeffrey, allowing his fans access to all of his products under one roof. You can check it out here. And his gallery here.
And here’s the amazing thing – Jeffrey uses Sharpies to create a lot of his work. To think that Sharpie had a hand in these creations is humbling.
One thing Jeffrey has done over the years to help give back is his Fashion Plate solo exhibitions. He held one held recently to benefit the Los Angles County Department of Child and Family Services. Jeffrey explains how his Fashion Plates came to be:
The show was in part inspired by something that my friend, the illustrator Tobie Giddio, said to me a long time ago. She said that illustration is always a service, and what we do is service to someone’s vision, whether it be a designer or a writer, etc. So, the plates are a perfect metaphor for ‘a serving.’ And also the title Fashion Plates was too good to pass up. So I drew on paper plates. I also like taking something really overlooked and disregarded and turning it into art, in a pop kind of way, or inspired by the readymades of Marcel Duchamp. I also use file folders.
Jeffrey has won numerous awards including a Grammy for his work with Ella Fitzgerald. He has worked with fashion designers Anna Sui and Marc Jacobs, and singer Tori Amos, among others. Below he answers some questions about his work:
A wall of Fulvimari work
How did you get started as an artist?
I started coloring like everyone else when I was two years old, and just never stopped. I basically get paid to “color”.
Tell us a little about your genre. Are there lots of artists who do what you do? Where are they concentrated? What makes your work stand out from the rest?
I’m basically a commercial artist. When I started I drew many different things, but my drawings of girls became popular and became the most in demand subject that I drew. It’s not like I am even really particularly interested in fashion or “girly” things, it’s just that illustration in the market place has the most applications with a female customer than with a male customer. Women respond better to illustration than men do. A woman is more likely to warm up to a product that has cartoon representations of women around it than a man is to the similar usage of a cartoon of a man.
How would you describe your style?
Girl in Yellow
I was influenced by the artists Ben Shahn the most, and Andy Warhol’s early illustration style, but he was also influenced by Ben Shahn. I actually became obsessed with Ben Shahn’s work in high school, well before I even knew that Andy Warhol had been an illustrator. This is my line style. I also try to draw things that are uplifting and happy. But I try to make it not boring. Hopefully I succeed most of the time.
How did you come to use Sharpie markers in your work?
I have always used Sharpies since high school. They are just the most solid ink pens around. The ink does not smear and it’s permanent. The classic Sharpie pen also has the sturdiest pen nib with the best shape.
What seems to get the most attention or is most coveted by others? Why do you think people are drawn to your work?
I think people like my work because it doesn’t really “talk down” to them. I have really attempted to create a style that technically is not intimidating, or seems hard to do, because I am trying to speak to young people out there who are talented in drawing or painting and have the entire world telling them to give it up because “they will never make any money at it”. I am trying to show these kids that illustration and drawing are a very viable way to make a living. I grew up working class and had a lot of discouragement, even though I was a bit of a prodigy with drawing.
Girl in Green
I draw with pen and ink, and then scan it in and do finishing work in Photoshop. Sometimes it takes a few minutes and sometimes it takes weeks. It depends on my state of mind at the time, how much of a workload I have, or how long my deadline is. Or how complicated the drawing is.
What are your inspirations?
I love artists like Dr. Seuss and Charles Shultz. Keith Haring is pretty cool too, and Jean Michel Basquiat.
What statement are you trying to make, if any? What do you want people take from your art?
What I said about showing young people that creativity is a viable way to make a living in this world.
Sharpie’s tagline is “Write Out Loud!” Does this apply to your work and if so, how?
Well, drawing involves a certain amount of confidence. You have to make your mark with skill and ease….so in a way this is like a proclamation.
Fulvimari and friends at grand opening
Fulvimari fans
Serving up some Sharpie art
Plate full of Fulvimari
Radio 4, a hot pop band out of NYC, gets a big Beckham break with “Give It To Me,” the cool new remix heard in the Sharpie TV commercial featuring David Beckham that aired earlier this year.
Sharpie has a two-year partnership with the soccer superstar that includes TV and print ads, in-store promotions, personal appearances and more. In fact, go to sharpie.com right now and you can enter to win a chance to meet David Beckham in person.
Sharpie brand managers love the song and it’s been getting plenty of playtime at Sharpie’s Oak Brook, Illinois headquarters.
How about a Sharpie-Radio 4 concert in Central Park? Give it to me, I want it!!
Read on for more about the band…
