Wow! Someone over at Turner Classic Movies must have liked the interview with me so that much that they put a link to it on the main TCM page!
Fire, bad--promotion, good!
Fire, bad--promotion, good!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monster PSAs: Elsa Lanchester
I really have the wind at my back, regarding these Monster PSA posters--they're quickly becoming my most popular set of pieces, and I've been coming up with ideas for them so fast I can barely get them all down.
For these PSAs, I've been toggling back and forth between the message being related more to the actor or to the character--in this case, of course, the sentiment is more from the Bride of Frankenstein's experience, not Lanchester's.
There'll be a new Monster PSA poster every Monday here on the blog for at least the next few months, so keeping checking back to see the newest one!
For these PSAs, I've been toggling back and forth between the message being related more to the actor or to the character--in this case, of course, the sentiment is more from the Bride of Frankenstein's experience, not Lanchester's.
There'll be a new Monster PSA poster every Monday here on the blog for at least the next few months, so keeping checking back to see the newest one!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Namtab on the Web!
In lieu of a "From The Vault" installment, today I'm highlighting an interview I did with Richard Harland Smith, over at MovieMorlocks.com, the official blog for Turner Classic Movies.
This was the first interview I've ever done about my work, and I'm really happy how it turned out--it was a lot of fun and Richard's a great interviewer. Plus--over there you'll see a brand new "Monster PSA" poster that will only be seen at Movie Morlocks! Hi-keeba!
Check it out, I hope you like it, and thanks Richard!
This was the first interview I've ever done about my work, and I'm really happy how it turned out--it was a lot of fun and Richard's a great interviewer. Plus--over there you'll see a brand new "Monster PSA" poster that will only be seen at Movie Morlocks! Hi-keeba!
Check it out, I hope you like it, and thanks Richard!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Time Out New York: Michael C. Hall
This week's "Hot Seat" portrait for Time Out New York is Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall!
Being a regular viewer of Dexter, it was fun getting to do this portrait. Having first seen Michael C. Hall as the neurotic brother on Six Feet Under, I was amazed how he could play this very different role, and do it so effectively.
Obviously, given what kind of character Dexter is, it made sense to use lots of red for this portrait. But I didn't want it to look like blood necessarily, so I went for this more painterly look.
Being a regular viewer of Dexter, it was fun getting to do this portrait. Having first seen Michael C. Hall as the neurotic brother on Six Feet Under, I was amazed how he could play this very different role, and do it so effectively.
Obviously, given what kind of character Dexter is, it made sense to use lots of red for this portrait. But I didn't want it to look like blood necessarily, so I went for this more painterly look.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Namtab on the Web!
Wow, this was exciting!
Last Friday, one of my Monster PSA pieces appeared on MovieMorlocks.com, the official blog for Turner Classic Movies.
The article was written by Richard Harland Smith, and my mention was part of a bigger piece about Frankenstein in general. Richard was very complimentary towards the piece and my work, which of course I really appreciate.
Turner Classic Movies is, also of course, the channel for movie fans, so I'm thrilled that one of my pieces appears in any connection to it. Thanks Richard!
Last Friday, one of my Monster PSA pieces appeared on MovieMorlocks.com, the official blog for Turner Classic Movies.
The article was written by Richard Harland Smith, and my mention was part of a bigger piece about Frankenstein in general. Richard was very complimentary towards the piece and my work, which of course I really appreciate.
Turner Classic Movies is, also of course, the channel for movie fans, so I'm thrilled that one of my pieces appears in any connection to it. Thanks Richard!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monster PSAs: Lon Chaney Sr.
These Monster PSA posters are turning out to be nearly the most popular set of pieces I've done, second only to the Universal Monster posters (a coincidence, surely).
For this one, I had a couple of ideas for taglines that I thought matched an image of Lon Chaney Sr., but for whatever reason this one seemed to make the most sense to me--from everything I've read, Chaney Sr. went to such extremes to create the monster make-ups he was famous for (subjecting himself through grueling physical demands in the process) that I can only assume he was utterly, completely obsessed with what he was doing.
In any case, I liked the contrast of the cheery text and the ghoulish image, which seems to the engine that drives these Monster PSAs in the first place.
For this one, I had a couple of ideas for taglines that I thought matched an image of Lon Chaney Sr., but for whatever reason this one seemed to make the most sense to me--from everything I've read, Chaney Sr. went to such extremes to create the monster make-ups he was famous for (subjecting himself through grueling physical demands in the process) that I can only assume he was utterly, completely obsessed with what he was doing.
In any case, I liked the contrast of the cheery text and the ghoulish image, which seems to the engine that drives these Monster PSAs in the first place.
Friday, September 18, 2009
From The Vault: Blue/Orange - 2005
Another piece done solely as an experiment; this time with two contrary colors and some odd shapes.
I like how the hair almost completely fills the frame, and looks sorta like big puffy clouds; yet another visual approach I haven't followed up on much but should...
I like how the hair almost completely fills the frame, and looks sorta like big puffy clouds; yet another visual approach I haven't followed up on much but should...
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Time Out New York: John Kraskinski
This week's "Hot Seat" portrait for Time Out New York is John Krasinski!
Most famous, of course, from his role as Jim on The Office, he's also now a director, having directed the new film Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, adapted from the book.
Since he was promoting the film and not the show, I stayed away from any Office references, although I never have done that for any of the other show's cast members I've had the opportunity to do portraits of for TONY:
Most famous, of course, from his role as Jim on The Office, he's also now a director, having directed the new film Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, adapted from the book.
Since he was promoting the film and not the show, I stayed away from any Office references, although I never have done that for any of the other show's cast members I've had the opportunity to do portraits of for TONY:
...I wonder who's next? I hope it's Creed!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monster PSAs: Claude Rains
In the middle of a very busy couple of weeks, I managed to work up another one of my Monster PSA posters, this time features Claude Rains as The Invisible Man, making a very self-aware statement.
Friday, September 11, 2009
From The Vault: On The Spot - 2004
This piece was nothing more than me wanting to do a very slick, fashion-y type of image, not tied to a specific face.
I think its kinda cool, actually, I should try and do more of these...
I think its kinda cool, actually, I should try and do more of these...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time Out New York: Trey Anastasio
This week's "Hot Seat" portrait for Time Out New York is musician Trey Anastasio.
For some reason, when I illustrate people with red hair, the black tones I usually have look very wrong to me--they stick out like a sort thumb, even more so than with blondes. So I took all of the heavy dark shadows out of Mr. Anastasio's hair and beard, and kept the blacks on his face to a minimum, which, along with the background, gives the piece a light, airy look, that I think works well for the subject.
For some reason, when I illustrate people with red hair, the black tones I usually have look very wrong to me--they stick out like a sort thumb, even more so than with blondes. So I took all of the heavy dark shadows out of Mr. Anastasio's hair and beard, and kept the blacks on his face to a minimum, which, along with the background, gives the piece a light, airy look, that I think works well for the subject.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monster PSAs: Boris Karloff
My latest addition to my "Monster PSA" series, this one took a little longer to come up with: not because the joke is so clever, but because Boris Karloff is such an iconic figure of 1930s movie horror that I had trouble deciding which image to go with!
Friday, September 4, 2009
From The Vault: Spencer Tracy - 1993
One of the earliest attempts at illustrating in this cut-paper style--a portrait of a particularly haggard Spencer Tracy.
I was--and still am--a big fan of the actor, and around this time I was renting every movie with him in it I could get my hands on. Later in his career, he seemed to specialize in roles where he was made to look weathered, beaten, down and out--or some combo of all three.
While it's not that great a likeness, I do like the cartoony looseness of it, something I haven't been able to pull of that much as the style developed.
I was--and still am--a big fan of the actor, and around this time I was renting every movie with him in it I could get my hands on. Later in his career, he seemed to specialize in roles where he was made to look weathered, beaten, down and out--or some combo of all three.
While it's not that great a likeness, I do like the cartoony looseness of it, something I haven't been able to pull of that much as the style developed.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Time Out New York: Juliette Binoche
This week's "Hot Seat" portrait for Time Out New York is actress Juliette Binoche.
Any time I have a big time movie actress as a subject, I try for an old Hollywood glamour-type of shot, which is why I tend to go for black and white. When I do this, I usually have an old-timey glamour photo background, but this time I wanted something a little different, a little more ornate.
Any time I have a big time movie actress as a subject, I try for an old Hollywood glamour-type of shot, which is why I tend to go for black and white. When I do this, I usually have an old-timey glamour photo background, but this time I wanted something a little different, a little more ornate.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
This American Life
This is a piece I've wanted to get to for a long time!
A year or so ago, I did a portrait of This American Life host Ira Glass when he was interviewed for Time Out New York's "Hot Seat" feature. I was really happy how it came out, and I knew I wanted to use it as the basis for a full-on TAL poster. When I finally sat down to work on it, it was a huge amount of fun, finding the right balance of old-timey and modern design elements.
I think my favorite element is the last thing I put on there--the scratchy Chicago postmark, which I thought gave the whole thing a feeling like the show is a big postcard, sent from Chicago--via the radio--to the rest of the world.
A year or so ago, I did a portrait of This American Life host Ira Glass when he was interviewed for Time Out New York's "Hot Seat" feature. I was really happy how it came out, and I knew I wanted to use it as the basis for a full-on TAL poster. When I finally sat down to work on it, it was a huge amount of fun, finding the right balance of old-timey and modern design elements.
I think my favorite element is the last thing I put on there--the scratchy Chicago postmark, which I thought gave the whole thing a feeling like the show is a big postcard, sent from Chicago--via the radio--to the rest of the world.
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