No, this is not gibberish and don’t worry, we haven’t lost our minds over here at Sharpie either.  These words are in fact a work of Sharpie art and the newest permanent fixture at Jbar, a well-known Chicago hotspot neighboring The James Hotel. 

“Everything inspires me.  Some artists paint pictures and shapes, I paint using words.  Words create images in my head, but I like the way words look when they are placed next to and on top of each other, taking on a form of its own.”  “My technique allows the viewer to think simple letters form complex words, serving to create language as a form of art.”

-Brian Graves

Local Chicago artist, Brian Graves made his Sharpie mark on the bar’s walls with Jgrooves I & II and Jposition I & II, installations from the Jbar Project.  For this project, Graves drew inspiration from different areas, including famous one-liners from popular club songs that have been fixated into his own mind.  The words above are from a portion of the installation, stating the precise location of Jbar itself; beginning with outer space progressing to its exact coordinates on Earth.

*I would like to take this moment to thank you, Mr. Graves, for cursing me with the musical mash-up that is repeating in my head, consisting of Madonna’s Hey Mr Dj, U2’s She Moves in Mysterious Ways, Tina Turner’s Proud Mary and P!nk’s intellectually stimulating, Get this Party Started.*

Graves focuses on the development of self-taught expression of both feeling and emotion in his own form of abstract painting. Letters, words, everyday expressions and emotion combine and collide with color and texture through layers of acrylics, oils, pastels and yes, Sharpie markers!

Artist Brian Graves (second from left) and friends at Jbar

Trust me when I say that you need to see more of Brian Graves’ artwork. Absolutely incredible!  BigArtChicago <— Check it out

Hey, why not see his work up close and personal?!  Grab a cab and jet on over to the JBar at The James.

*A BIG thanks goes out to Raul Ruiz, Sharpie Highlighters Brand Manager for suggesting Brian’s Jbar project for the Sharpie Blog.  Follow Raul on Twitter! (He has a great profile pic)

Urbane Apartments celebrated the grand opening of their new Michigan location in a unique way.  On October 22^nd, owner Eric Brown hosted the Sharpie “Draw on the Walls” contest by opening up the space to the public and inviting 12 local artists to create innovative and eccentric designs on the walls of the building’s Co-Work space’s meeting rooms.

*The Co-Work space is designed for small to medium sized companies needing a trendy office space, as well as for Urbane residents’ use of office machines and desk space.

 The winner of the Sharpie “Draw On the Walls” contest and $750 was Urbane resident, Ryan Gardner.  I think that the best way to describe Gardner’s creation (this pun just happens to fit perfectly) would be this:  Uncapping What’s Inside of an imaginative mind. Now, I know that you think I’m just plugging the Sharpie campaign, but seriously, look at the pics and tell me that’s not a pretty accurate description!

1st place Winner, Ryan Gardner

Gardner, Writing on the Walls with Sharpie!

Spotlight on the Winner!

With about 100 attendees, the event was a success.  Taking place in the Co-Work space, the 12 artists drew live on the walls with an assortment of Sharpie markers.  The outcomes are pretty amazing! (See pictures below.) I don’t know about you but I get nervous writing my name on a nametag with 1 person watching, let alone 99 people watching me draw on a wall –Talk about pressure.  I have to give big props to the artists.  Great work guys; you’ve made Sharpie proud!

In addition to live art, Urbane Apts. also provided drinks & appetizers, gave property tours, hosted a live raffle, all the while, moving to the beats of DJ Terry Hall, with photographer Rachel Wade capturing every Sharpie moment!

Here are some pics of the artists drawing at the Urbane Apt. event!

For more on the event check out Urbane on Facebook and their blog.  Of course get the scoop about Urbane Aprtments at www.urbaneapts.com

Sharpie? Yes, please! www.sharpie.com

Now crank up ”Thriller” and let’s put those Sharpies to work!

Jack of All Trades This year, think beyond your traditional Jack O’ Lantern! Take it a step further and use Sharpie markers as your #1 pumpkin decorating tool.  After picking the perfect pumpkin, draw Halloween images, spooky sceneries and creative designs with all different Sharpie markers.  Stencils are also a fun and easy way to copy your favorite images.  Take a look at Stencil1 for cool Halloween stencils and tips. While you’re there take a peek at other stencils for more holiday craft ideas!  In the mean time, here are some ideas to get you started…

images from: Random Ramblings, House of Thrill and Homes & Gardens

It’s Tricky to Rock a Rhyme That’s Right on Time It’s Tricky… It’s tricky tricky tricky (or TREAT!) A fun activity for kids is to customize and decorate their own Trick or Treat bags!  Pillow cases, paper bags, and buckets are all great options.  Supply them with Sharpie markers to decorate their “loot sacks” in any way they please!  Decorate to match a costume or stencil names in a spooky font, either way your little goblin will be ready to rock n’ roll and make the rounds on Halloween night!

Are You Afraid of the Dark? Don’t get caught wandering in the dark on Halloween night; you never know what could be lurking past midnight! Light the way with these ghostly Sharpie lights and lanterns.   Use recycled milk jugs and buckets, like these, to brighten the pathway for Trick or Treaters, or get plastic flashlights to carry around with you. 

images from: Family Corner and BrokenSteps.com

How about a faux lantern for day time? Image from Country Living

Think Outside of the Box The budget is a little tight this year and I don’t have a ton of cash to throw out for a Halloween costume.  No way, not another ghost costume again this year (I can’t spare anymore white bed sheets)…   With a few Sharpies you can easily cook up great Halloween costume and save a bundle! After looking at pictures of costumes, I came to this conclusion: Sharpie + Cardboard Box = Endless possibilites!  In literally seconds I thought up all sorts of costumes to make with a box and Sharpie markers: Robot, Phone Booth, Zack Morris’ Cell Phone :) , Skateboard, iPod, Movie Theatre Box of Candy, Go-Kart, Dart Board, Refrigerator, Rocket Ship, a SmartCar.  (Look at me getting all creative!)  Here are some pics that I like of “Lego people” costumes.  Round up friends and you could be an entire group of Lego people!!

images from: FamilyGo and DavidBau.com

Know Your INS and OUTS Can’t last all night wearing a bulky box? I hear ya partner!  Plus, I’m pretty sure that wearing a box, my “Thriller” dance would look more like a scene from “March of the Penguins!”   Well here’s a clever idea that I thought up to get a 2 for 1 deal out of a Halloween costume and a sure fire way to be the life (or death) of the party!

Choose a costume theme, such as a Race Car or Computer, design your box accordingly.  Next, on a solid colored onesie or a t-shirt and pants, draw your “insides” with Sharpie markers (Race Car: driver’s suit/Computer: inner wiring)!  Let me explain: Say you are a Refrigerator - Draw items that are found inside of a refrigerator all over your shirt and pants.  Or how about you are a Casket or Grave site- draw a full skeleton on a onesie with Sharpie.  *Don’t stick to black and white either – the 80’s are back baby and I want to be a hot pink skeleton this year!) By wearing both, if you want to take off the box you are still sporting a killer costume that will knock those zombies right off their feet!

(Final Thought) *4 out of 5 Dentists Approve: Instead of handing out candy, give Sharpie markers to your trick or treaters this year!

Send in pictures of how you incorporate Sharpie markers this year and they will get posted on the Sharpie Blog and Facebook page!

…Take a tip from Karen Edwards, a wife, mother, and full-time college administrator who has taken her hobby to a whole new level! Making old things new again, Edwards is the chief operator of SHARPWOOD, a line of re-worked home décor, musical instruments, utensils and more, all of which are designed by hand!  Her very first designs can be found on basement pipes, switch plate covers, old dresser drawers, however since then Edwards has graduated to front doors, table settings, even guitars! Check out how Karen Edwards uses Sharpie Permanent Markers to turn drab into fab!

“SHARPWOOD products have been salvaged from their misguided fate because of their inherent beauty and potential for re-design!”

Where does the name SHARPWOOD come from? SHARP refers to the Sharpie markers that I draw with, and WOOD refers to the medium I usually work on.  In our household, “SHARPWOOD” has become a verb!  The other day, I was wearing a dress with a lot of detailed designs in the fabric and my 6 year old asked me, “Mama – did you SHARPWOOD your dress?”

Where do you salvage these items from? Do you stick to your hometown? Stumble upon them?  Travel to find pieces?  Most pieces were found at second-hand shops or garage sales. I have a hard time driving by either without making a quick stop. My extended family is also in the habit of noticing treasures when they second hand shop. Sometimes when walking into a 2nd hand shop I feel like a kid in a candy store, how do you decide among pieces that you want to re-design? I’m picky about the pieces I buy. I look for unique shapes and features. If the piece doesn’t inspire me, it just sits in the basement and gets passed by as I pick the next thing to work on.

How long have you been “re-designing” items? I’ve only been doing this for a couple years. I picked it up when I was between jobs. I’ve done at least 60 pieces… I started with a pair of candle sticks – I just looked at them and thought “I could make those look better!” The next thing I knew, I wanted to draw on everything in the house!

You mentioned that SHARPWOOD is your hobby, what other things are you interested in? I’m a wife and the mother of two active boys. I’m also a full time administrator at a selective liberal arts college, working to support our international student population. I love culture and travel and my art is inspired by my interest in ethnic arts, designs and colors.

What is your favorite piece that you have worked on? A number of favorites are in my home – chairs, light switch covers, even my front door. My favorite piece on my site is the Masai Chalis – my father-in-law found this very unique piece at a sale in Minnesota. In the end, though, my absolute favorite project was a guitar that I decorated for a friend.

I LOVE the SHARPWOOD Treasure cup! What kind of treasure would you fill this vessel up with?! I like that one too. I imagine it holding unique stones or coins from someone’s travels…

 Your designs are beautiful, so detailed! Where do you draw inspiration from – A certain culture or era, perhaps? I notice designs and patterns in things – fabric, wrapping paper, stationery… I love ethnic food, clothing, art, and culture – especially with South Asian or African origins, so some patterns come from that. I can’t really trace a specific source.

What is the design process like? Give us the play-by-play! I don’t usually plan a piece, I just start working it and the design develops. Sometimes I find myself working with the wood grain, to trace a line in the wood or in the workmanship, but usually it is very random. I like to leave negative space so the color of the wood comes through, but that doesn’t always happen either. One design or color determines the next. I like to cover the surface, and then add texture and layers with dots and metallics.

Where do Sharpie Markers come into play? What kinds do you use? Favorite Sharpie? I’ve used a variety of permanent ink pens, but Sharpies are the most vibrant, last longer, maintain the tips, and offer great color variety. I tend to use deep colors, metallics, and a lot of black. I mainly use fine point markers, though the ‘big boy’ version works well on larger pieces (like my front door). I also like to use brush tip pens – but they are very hard to find.

At a dinner party, let’s say, do you ever find yourself having to hold your hand back from snatching up the salad bowl? YES! I’ve actually snagged a few pieces that way! One day I was in a meeting with a colleague and actually asked him if I could SHARPWOOD his lamp. It was an old ugly thing, heavy wood, and I was just sitting there distracted thinking “That is an ugly lamp that COULD be made really funky!” He didn’t let me take it, and I was bummed and slightly embarrassed. I also find myself wanting to do more inside my home, which was built in 1904. I would LOVE to SHARPWOOD our old oak banister!

 Is there any item that you haven’t been able to find or would love to work on? The guitar turned out really well – I’d love to do another.  It would need to come as a custom request, though, so I suppose that isn’t too likely. I also love to tuck words into the designs, so I enjoy custom pieces that can have meaning for people. 

Are you working on anything new at the moment? I usually have several pieces going at once. My front door is a work in progress, and I’m also working on a drum shell, a pair of book ends, and a headboard right now. Yesterday, I ran across a figurine of a mother pig with 2 baby pigs – I might start working on that one tonight (it will be very fun)!

You can Find & Purchase SHARPWOOD at etsy.com The full internet address is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6051638

These pieces will not only liven up your own space but this is a great gift idea too! 

 Head on over to your local second-hand shop to see what you can find.  Better yet, take a look around your house – go back into your crawl space, climb up to the attic and pull out a piece that can be given a new life! 

For more DIY check out www.sharpieuncapped.com

“A lot of people didn’t believe me that the dress and suit were done in Sharpie, I guess the idea sounded a little crazy to some people. Others thought we bought them, but little did they know both the dress and the suit started out completely white.”

HEY guys and girls! With the new school season about to start… who says it’s too early to start planning PROM!?? You only have one right? Well, see how Amy decked out her prom outfit… and she probably saved a fortune doing it.

Q: How did you come up with the idea to make outfits for prom?

Ekbom: It was actually my boyfriend who made me think of it. He wanted to wear a suit that looked absolutely ridiculous, and we already owned a white suit and a white dress, so I figured we could save some money and look extra unique by having matching outfits. 

Q: How big is your Sharpie collection?

Ekbom: I have a good sized box full of Sharpie markers, and Sharpie products only. During the process of making the dress & suit I was constantly running out of black markers, so over the period of time that I was making them, I probably bought a pack of black markers every other week.  Sharpie was the only product I would trust with a project like this. The colors are bold and vibrant, and from my experience of using them they never run.  I wanted to use something that I knew I could trust to look good, and last long. There was really no second guessing myself with what I was going to use.

Q: What specific Sharpie tools do you use? Markers, pens, etc.
Ekbom: I use the standard fine point permanent markers, ultra-fine point markers, retractable markers, water based (and a few oil based) paint markers, and my personal favorite Sharpie Accent highlighter liquid pens. 

Before and After

What a date!

Q:How long does it take you to make an outfit (on average)?
Ekbom: For this particular project, I worked on and off from the time I found out the date of prom. Overall it took about 2 or 3 months to complete. Although it could have been a shorter amount of time if I wasn’t also busy with school work.

Q: What’s your favorite outfit/piece of the outfit?
Ekbom: My favorite piece out of the whole set was the dress, not only because I got to wear it but it was a bigger canvas and the material was a lot easier to draw on.

Q: What were people’s reactions after seeing your Sharpie prom outfits? 
Ekbom: A lot of people didn’t believe me that the dress and suit were done in Sharpie, I guess the idea of that sounded a little crazy to some people. Others thought we bought them, but little did they know both the dress and the suit started out completely white.

Q: Have you had any requests from friends or family to make their prom outfits?
Ekbom: I have actually had no requests for another prom outfit, but people ask me all the time if I will draw on other articles of clothing, or just draw them a picture.

Q: Do you draw on other “everyday clothing” or was this a one time thing?
Ekbom: I suppose this all started when I drew on a hat (worn in the picture) for my boyfriend. Since then I’ve used Sharpie to draw on 4 different hats, the prom outfits, and pair of pants and 2 shirts. I’m hoping to get a pair of white Converse and draw on them as well.

Learn more about Amy! www.myspace.com/cool_kid_with_amyspace 

Amy’s Contact: xoamyox38@yahoo.com

This is no ordinary 17-year-old. This man's got skills...

Garcia: I’ve been drawing since I was 13. I was influenced by a graffiti drawing my sister brought home from school one of her friends did for her. Since then I’ve taught myself new techniques and forms of art there was to be learned. I would really like to explore the different types of art and things there are to be offered, but then again…money isn’t always around to help out. 

Dragon Ball Z

Q: What are the main types of shoes you draw on?

Garcia: Plain white canvas Vans and High top Converse are the shoes I focus on the most for their material. High top converse and Vans are very useful for all the space they provide me with to draw. It’s so easy to draw on and works great with the sharpies. No smears or smudges except for water. That’s a big problem I have right now. Protecting the art. It would be nice if I could experiment with the different types of paints and art supplies to better my designs though. Other colored shoes aren’t great with multi colored sharpie art which is why I stick with white.

Q: Why are Sharpie products a good fit for this?

Garcia: Well I have tried pens and other plain school markers, map colors and pencils. No other writing utensils match up to the great sharpie. If only there were a greater variety of colors to choose from. I’m sure there is or maybe I just haven’t heard of them. But I love the easy glide sharpie gives when drawing on the shoe. It makes it so much easier than having to constantly go over the same spots again and again. Thin sharpies don’t bleed as much as thick sharpies do on the canvas that’s why I prefer them most. And sharpie also keeps its thick bold color on any surface.

Q: What specific Sharpie tools do you use? Markers, pens, etc.

Garcia: Since I discovered my talent for drawing on shoes from the beginning I’ve only been using thin sharpies. Once in a while I’ll use thick

Got my vans on but they look like sneakers...

 sharpies to save time for bigger spaces to be filled on the shoes. Everything I do is done free hand. I don’t use any stencils. As for measurements and shape placements, I just wing it and hope it comes out as I plan.

Q: How long does it take for you to complete a design on a pair of shoes?

Garcia: My last design took me three hours. And I believe that was the longest time than I took on any pair before. FYI my last pair was the pair with the Looney Toons and Cars on separate shoes that I just posted on the sharpie website. I have so many ideas and people’s opinions to help me out all I need is a great supply of materials to get the job done. Not only do I get to spend days and possibly my lifetime doing something I love but I also get paid for it.

Q: What’s your favorite design you have made? Why?

Garcia's favorite... I think it's mine too!

Garcia:The Looney tunes design is my favorite. Since I came up with that idea I knew it was gonna be a seller. I loved the challenge and the different characters it involved. So unique. That shoe itself took me about an hour and a half. The first day I advertised them I got so many compliments, requests and phone numbers. It was amazing to me and flattering at how many people admired my shoes. It was definitely worth the time and always will be.

Q: Do you wear the shoes? Sell them?

Garcia: I wear the shoes every day. I only have a pair for myself but I wish I had the money to have a different pair everyday. I do sell them as well. Right now for very cheap as a matter of fact. 40 dollars isn’t much in my pocket. Especially when I have to keep providing myself with more supplies. I’ve been told by so many people though that I’m under-charging and that I could be charging near the hundreds and possibly more.

Q: Have friends or family asked you to draw designs for them?

Garcia: Everyday. I do do my family’s shoes for free

Q: Anything else you’d like to share that I didn’t ask?

Garcia: Yes. Well, I’ve recently been offered a job in Corpus Christi for an underground clothing line. I don’t really trust the owners and my family knows how long I’ve been waiting for my time to be noticed. I’ve looked around so much and as far as this interview, this seems the closest I’ve gotten to being in that limelight. And even if this doesn’t go as I planned I’d like to thank you for requesting this interview and helping me out any way you can. Thank you.

See more of Aj’s Work  http://www.myspace.com/ajgarcia19

Hit him up for shoes!  snbntaurelio@hotmail.com

Visit www.sharpieuncapped.com for more ideas on how to get creative with Sharpie.

 

Now this is what I call HOT WHEELS! As a kid you were probablly told never draw on anything with a Sharpie.  Heck, you probablly tell yourself that even as an adult!  Well, leave it to two young guys in Jacksonville, North Carolina to break the rules and go to town on a $10,000 Honda sportbike! 

Spending over 50 hours tagging this bike, Jesse Lockhart, 25, and  Nick Schuman, 27, went by their own rules, took out their Sharpies and simultaneously began drawing on opposite sides of Schuman’s brother-in-law’s sportbike.  The duo decided to name it Shiyonin, meaning “Servant of God,” reflecting their Oriental backgrounds.  And with no professional background, Schuman and Lockhart, with a total of only 4 Sharpies,  uncapped their creativity and drew whatever came to mind!

You may want to take a second, third, even a fourth look at Shiyonin because every time you look, you are sure to find something new!  And no Sharpie fans, you are not seeing things- I asked and yes, that is the Michelin Man and Woody the Woodpecker!  Check out these pictures and learn about how Lockhart and Schuman used their talent to create one AMAZING piece of work.

Tell me a little about yourself and everyone who contributed!  My name is Jesse Lockhart, I’m a 25 yr old male and  Nick Schuman is a 27 yr old male.  Our wives definitely had a big role in contributing to this bike because.  Alongside our 9-5 work week, we had to work on the bike after hours, LATE into the night.   One of our biggest contributors, we would both have to say is Jesus, for giving us the talent to do it.

How long have you been riding?  I started when I was 8 on dirtbikes, so for 17 years I have been riding.  Nick has been riding for 15 years, starting when he was 12, on a minibike.

Do you have an art background?  Professional artists?  We both have had artistic talent since we were young.  Our minds have always seen things differently that most people don’t usually see – Curves, Colors, Shapes, Texture!  We are not professional yet, but we are well on our way to becoming full-time custom painters. 

What made you decide to Sharpie up this HOT bike? We are in the process of opening our own custom paint shop and we wanted to do something that would definitely stand out amongst the crowd and shine some light on our business.  This bike was actually done for Nick’s brother in-law, who was more than willing to lend a bike to get tagged when he heard the idea of a “Sharpie bike.”

Why Sharpie? Why did you go with Black & White?  Nick and I have always been big fanS of white vehicles ( Both of us and our wives all have white vehicles).  White is very clean and the bike itself is mostly black, so it was kind of a no-brainer that we would both want to do black over white.  All our lives we were told to never to write on anything with a Sharpie because it was PERMANENT, so when we had the chance to use a Sharpie on something big and important like a $10,000 machine, we were all over it!

About how many Sharpies went into this? What kinds did you use? Believe it or not, I had 2 markers and Nick had 2 markers and neither of them ran out!  We both had 1 fine tip for outlining and 1 fat chisel tipped for filling in.

Did you have a plan? Tell me about the process!  NO PLAN!!! We both stepped back with a blank stare, he took one side and I took the other and we met in the middle.  Whatever popped into our heads went on the bike. Total improv.

I would be terrified to mess up…Who made the first mark?  How nervous were you?    We both started at the same exact time with both of us laughing at what we had gotten ourselves into!  We knew it was going to be a long process.   Then about 10 minutes later we started cracking up at the “squeeekie,squeeekie” sound that came from the tips of the markers- that never stopped.  It was hilarious...we weren’t nervous!

How many bikes do you own? Kinds?  I have a 2008 Suzuki GSXR 600. Nick traded his beloved Honda “Nicky Hayden Edition” RC51 in for his son’s new dirtbike.

Does anyone actually ride it or is it just for show?  Yes!  It is driven daily, we haven’t even been able to finish it.  He (Nick’s brother-in-law) was told to bring the bike back the next day for touchups and here it is a month later and it still hasn’t made it back (he just likes the attention)!

Any other designs in the works?  Yes, but it’s a secret for now.

What’s next for the bike?  Lowering it, extending it, finish custom exhaust, and Sharpie the wheels.

***

Be sure to visit Lockhart’s myspace page to see more photos of Shiyonin and the hard work that was put into creating the design. 

Also, look forward to their new website and new updates on http://www.shiyonin.com/

By Mike Giant, a giant in urban art

You’ve got to hear about this AMAZING art show coming to L.A.   But first, we pause for a word from Judge Sharpie Susan of the People’s Court:

Graffiti has been around since the dawn of mankind.  Wikipedia describes it as “images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property… sometimes regarded as a form of  art and other times regarded as unsightly damage or unwanted.”  Well, before I let you in on one of the most exciting art projects to happen to L.A. – the world, for that matter — know that the graffiti I’m about to talk about is art and has nothing to do with anything harmful or illegal.  The gallery where the show is being held backs me up on this all the way.

By craola

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program. 

Crewest gallery is the master behind the madness. The gallery, in a show curated by renown graffiti artist Man One, is presenting The Sharpie Show.  It’s a first-of-its kind round-up of graffiti artists who will show their Sharpie-created work.  It kicks off with an opening reception on February 7 from 6-9 p.m. at the gallery on Winston Street.  Here’s your invite:

Here’s a little background from Crewest:  In the Graffiti subculture, practitioners are known as “writers” because graffiti is about writing your name on as many surfaces as possible.
Although many writers elevate their art form to the level of creating huge and beautiful murals, they all began their journey as an artist by first learning to write and perfect their name.  The Sharpie marker is often the first tool a writer acquires in his lifelong journey to hone his craft and in becoming an artist.

By King157

The Sharpie Show will feature original pieces created using Sharpies by some of the best known graffiti artists in the country (and beyond). Aside from graffiti artists, work by tattoo artists and known illustrators Lalo Alcaraz and Overton Loyd will be on display. From stylized hand signatures, to throw ups, piecebooks, stickers, and any other possible object that can be marked upon, this exhibit will demonstrate the level of creativity that can be achieved between an artist and his/her most basic tool – The Sharpie.

Here’s a list and links to the participating artists, a plethora of serious talent now available for one-stop shopping right here on the Sharpie Blog. 

20MG
AFEXONE
AUKS ONE
BRANDED
BROOKS B. GOLDEN
CACHE
CATCULT
COPE2
DASH”2000″FIDEL
DEB (AUSTRAILIA)
DENZONE®
DRILONE
DYTCH66
EGR
ERIBERTO ORIOL
ERIK DEBAT “RISK”
ERICK SCARECROW
EVAN SKREDERSTU 
FLYCAT(ITALY)
GIMIKS
GREG “CRAOLA” SIMKINS
GWEN MERCADO ­REYES
INDIE 184
JAMES “CASPER” JANKOWIAK
JOSE REYES
KING157
LALO ALCARAZ
MAD
MANDOE MaK
MAN ONE
MARKA27
MAX NEUTRA
MOE RADKE
MR “PUPPET” 201
OVERTON LOYD
PEAP (NEW ZEALAND)
PHOENIXARTNOW
PHONETICONTROL
PROJECT RABBIT
RANDY KONO
RELAX
ROA (BELGIUM)
ROME (CHICAGO)
SERGIO D. ROBLETO
SHERM
SLOKE ONE
TRAVIS MOORE
THOR
VYAL
WANE ONE
ZEN ONE

Also want to give a shout out to DJ.Phyz Ed who will be responsible for the music vibe at the opening.

 
For more info, contact:  Luna George  .  818-235-4598  .  luna@crewest.com  .  213-627-8272

Mike GIANT at work

Turns out the rebel idea goes over big in lots of genres, including clothing design.   Meet REBEL8 owners Mike Giant and Joshy D.  REBEL8 is a San Francisco-based lifestyle brand with deep roots in skateboard, graffiti, and tattoo cultures.  Joshy runs the business and Mike sees to the art.

Joshy and Mike met in the late 1990’s in San Francisco’s then bustling graffiti scene.  Josh ran the popular graffiti website, HiFiArt, and Mike was one of the city’s most notorious writers. Years later, and having had some experience with a previous clothing venture, Josh approached Mike about creating a handful of t-shirt graphics. Mike agreed, and a small batch of shirts was made. Josh sold those shirts out of a messenger bag around the city, and REBEL8 was born.

Today, Joshy D. runs the business and Mike Giant sees to the art.   REBEL8 makes it clear that despite its success, it is still committed to the communities from which it comes, and strives to reinforce its unique lifestyle with every product.

Every REBEL8 graphic by Mike Giant is hand-illustrated.  Unlike most clothing graphics, which are created by digitizing the original artwork into vector format, Mike’s graphics are exact reproductions of his original art.  No part of the original inked line is compromised in this process.  The end result is a product with an edge of authenticity seldom seen in today’s mass-produced market.

Below, MIke talks about his REBEL8 work:

Q:  How did you get started as an artist?

A:  The first time I made a mark on something is really when it started. I didn’t start working professionally until 1993.

Q:  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?

A:  Well, these days I mostly work in black and white. My work gets out to the world through t-shirts, books, and gallery shows. My skills with Sharpies have been highly regarded among my peers for over 15 years.

Q:  How would you describe your style?

A:  Bold, simplistic, graceful…

Q:  How did you come to use Sharpie markers in your work?

A:  I began using Sharpies as a graffiti artist in the late 80s. They were the pen of choice for inking our graffiti sketches in our sketchbooks, and they were readily available (and easy to steal). From then on, I’ve used Sharpies almost exclusively in rendering my final drawings.

Q:  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.

A:  I usually keep a few Sharpies handy when I’m inking a drawing. I like to use one brand new Ultra Fine Point, a brand new Fine Point, and a somewhat worn Fine Point, switching from one to the other as need be. I also use Chisel Tips and Super Sharpies for filling in large black areas.

Q:  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?

A:  My tattoo’d pin-up girls are the most popular. My favorite work is the most personal. On a technical level, the casual observer won’t notice much of a difference between a piece I’ve put a lot of personal emotion into and one that I made for the sake of making a beautiful image, but it’s an important difference in my experience.

Q:  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?

A:  Most of my drawings start with research. I like to use archetypal image as a base, so I spend a lot of time pouring through books. If I’m inspired by something I find, I’ll spend some time working out sketches in pencil on layers of tracing paper. Once I have a sketch ready for inking, I attach it to the back of a clean sheet of paper, and ink the illustration with the help of a light table.  I also put ink right to paper, without any sketching, something I’m quite well known for actually.

Q:  What are your inspirations?

A:  The totality of experience. All of it.

Mike's personalized Sharpies

Q:  What statement are you trying to make, if any? What do you want people take from your art?

A:  Fundamentally, I hope to inspire the faith that we can all overcome our base suffering through connecting with the present moment, but you won’t get that from looking at one or two of my drawings. Primarily, I hope to inspire people to think for themselves, and to educate people about the symbols around us and the historical threads that tie us all together.

Q:  Sharpie’s tagline is “Write Out Loud!” Does this apply to your work and if so, how?
A:  Just have a look. I’d say it gets pretty Loud sometimes.

Q:  Please list the types of Sharpie markers you use to create your work.
A:  All of ‘em (editor’s note:  including Personalized Sharpies as calling cards).

A Rebel8 Store (click for all locations)

Mike GIANT at work

Turns out the rebel idea goes over big in lots of genres, including clothing design.   Meet REBEL8 owners Mike Giant and Joshy D.  REBEL8 is a San Francisco-based lifestyle brand with deep roots in skateboard, graffiti, and tattoo cultures.  Joshy runs the business and Mike sees to the art.

Joshy and Mike met in the late 1990’s in San Francisco’s then bustling graffiti scene.  Josh ran the popular graffiti website, HiFiArt, and Mike was one of the city’s most notorious writers. Years later, and having had some experience with a previous clothing venture, Josh approached Mike about creating a handful of t-shirt graphics. Mike agreed, and a small batch of shirts was made. Josh sold those shirts out of a messenger bag around the city, and REBEL8 was born.

Today, Joshy D. runs the business and Mike Giant sees to the art.   REBEL8 makes it clear that despite its success, it is still committed to the communities from which it comes, and strives to reinforce its unique lifestyle with every product.

Every REBEL8 graphic by Mike Giant is hand-illustrated.  Unlike most clothing graphics, which are created by digitizing the original artwork into vector format, Mike’s graphics are exact reproductions of his original art.  No part of the original inked line is compromised in this process.  The end result is a product with an edge of authenticity seldom seen in today’s mass-produced market.

Below, MIke talks about his REBEL8 work:

Q:  How did you get started as an artist?

A:  The first time I made a mark on something is really when it started. I didn’t start working professionally until 1993.

Q:  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?

A:  Well, these days I mostly work in black and white. My work gets out to the world through t-shirts, books, and gallery shows. My skills with Sharpies have been highly regarded among my peers for over 15 years.

Q:  How would you describe your style?

A:  Bold, simplistic, graceful…

Q:  How did you come to use Sharpie markers in your work?

A:  I began using Sharpies as a graffiti artist in the late 80s. They were the pen of choice for inking our graffiti sketches in our sketchbooks, and they were readily available (and easy to steal). From then on, I’ve used Sharpies almost exclusively in rendering my final drawings.

Q:  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.

A:  I usually keep a few Sharpies handy when I’m inking a drawing. I like to use one brand new Ultra Fine Point, a brand new Fine Point, and a somewhat worn Fine Point, switching from one to the other as need be. I also use Chisel Tips and Super Sharpies for filling in large black areas.

Q:  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?

A:  My tattoo’d pin-up girls are the most popular. My favorite work is the most personal. On a technical level, the casual observer won’t notice much of a difference between a piece I’ve put a lot of personal emotion into and one that I made for the sake of making a beautiful image, but it’s an important difference in my experience.

Q:  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?

A:  Most of my drawings start with research. I like to use archetypal image as a base, so I spend a lot of time pouring through books. If I’m inspired by something I find, I’ll spend some time working out sketches in pencil on layers of tracing paper. Once I have a sketch ready for inking, I attach it to the back of a clean sheet of paper, and ink the illustration with the help of a light table.  I also put ink right to paper, without any sketching, something I’m quite well known for actually.

Q:  What are your inspirations?

A:  The totality of experience. All of it.

Mike's personalized Sharpies

Q:  What statement are you trying to make, if any? What do you want people take from your art?

A:  Fundamentally, I hope to inspire the faith that we can all overcome our base suffering through connecting with the present moment, but you won’t get that from looking at one or two of my drawings. Primarily, I hope to inspire people to think for themselves, and to educate people about the symbols around us and the historical threads that tie us all together.

Q:  Sharpie’s tagline is “Write Out Loud!” Does this apply to your work and if so, how?
A:  Just have a look. I’d say it gets pretty Loud sometimes.

Q:  Please list the types of Sharpie markers you use to create your work.
A:  All of ‘em (editor’s note:  including Personalized Sharpies as calling cards).

A Rebel8 Store (click for all locations)