Melissa Manwill is headed for greatness.

If you want your pretty little socks blown off, you need to see Melissa Manwill’s work. As some of my favorite people to learn from and study, students embody so much of what it means to be an artist. Now I don’t mean the crippling debt, the abundance of ramen packets or the stanky drama of who Chelsea saw Chad with the other night. What students embody is energy. Young, reckless and abundantly creative energy straining to break out of its novice tethers and run wild in the professional world. It’s intake of breath as one teeters on the cusp of accomplishment. Melissa is crossing this cusp.

I came upon Melissa Manwill’s work only recently when long standing visual development artist and online educator Chris Oatley gave her a glowing recommendation as someone to watch out for in the entertainment world. As I visited her website it became abundantly clear why. Though most students teeter on the ridgeline between school and the professional world, Melissa, though only recently graduated, is already off the cliff face and running her way through professional fields. Not only is she a talented illustrator that could easily illuminate any children’s story this side or any side of the Mississippi, Melissa is also incredibly talented as a visual development and concept artist. Developing characters and environments to her own animated version of the classic board game Candyland, it’s very obvious how ready she is for the professional world. The thorough exploration of gesture, the personality and excitement of each character and the masterful painting in which she renders all of these are evidence enough of over qualification. Any studio anywhere will be lucky to have her. I can only imagine she has a basket full of options she’s gathered in her run across the field.

Keep an eye out for this one. She’s already great, but things are headed up and I can only imagine the prestige she’ll command within the next few years.

To follow her, or just to have your pretty little socks blown off again, visit one of her sights below. Despite the cold, your toes and eyes will be glad you did.

http://melissamanwill.com/

http://melissamanwill.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/melissamanwillart

https://twitter.com/melissamanwill

http://instagram.com/melissamanwill

Mark Weaver everday.

With New Years resolutions rolling off everyone’s tongues like fibbery from an 11 year old arsonist claiming he didn’t know how mother’s prized magnolias were reduced to ash, I feel it appropriate to feature an artist that sets the bar so high some would claim he was telling whoppers himself. But I assure you, he isn’t.

Mark Weaver is an artist that combines whatever he so chooses into eclectic and amazing design centered collages. Not so far from gluing dinosaur heads into older sisters teen magazines, Mark seems to have a similar impulse for bringing together what society deems strange and creative minds deem genius. Here’s the real deal though; back in 2009 Mark challenged himself to “Create Something Cool Everyday.” And with such an adequate title, how could one go wrong? For all but two months of the year, Mark created something cool. Everyday. For real’s. So as a great toast to his awesomeness, and to the hopeless train wreck of motivation we are with our resolutions, I invite you all to follow Mark Weaver’s incredible example and make the world a way better place by creating something cool everyday. Cheers!

To see more of Mark’s work or to see what flits through his mind in the tweeting world, visit one of these links below:

https://www.behance.net/mrkwvr

https://twitter.com/markweaver

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Weaver-Design/58803336117

Nico Delort: Just a Scratch

“It’s just a scratch.” The words your father said to you after you toppled off of your bike for the first time. The words you said to your crush with blood pumping out your arm after trying so hard to impress them…and failing. The words your friend said to you when they opened the door of your first car right into the car next to you. The same words you spoke to your child, as had your father, when they toppled off their bike for the first time. And somewhere, for someone, it’s the same words being delivered as a last tender lie to the person they care about.

“It’s just a scratch?” I’ve wondered many a time as I’ve analyzed the artwork of Nicolas Delort. Though formed as a question, it held every bit of emotion as it has in other parts of my life. Sometimes alone, sometimes all of them at once, but there nonetheless. Using scratchboard as a medium, specifically clayboard, each piece is literally just scratches along an ink-covered surface, exposing the lighter values beneath.

Nicholas Delort has been one of my most tender artist crushes of all time. Discovering his work several years back, I gawked at the delicacy and the deliberateness of each mark, working so perfectly with the ones next to it to create such dramatic and moving pieces of art. I honestly cannot tell you how many hours I’ve spent mulling over his lines, traipsing along on an incredible adventure in some and moved to the moment of grief and empathy for human loss in others. Nicolas connects people like few others can. Perhaps it’s because of his incredible compositions and his dramatic Caravaggio-esque lighting. Or, perhaps it’s something deeper. One event endured in mortality may quite be “just a scratch.” But a series of scratches all together…now that is a moment, a story, and a life.

I urge you all to connect with him as I have through one of his sites below.

http://www.nicolasdelort.com/

https://twitter.com/nicodelort

http://nicolasdelort.tumblr.com/

https://www.behance.net/ndelort

Cory Godbey weaves artwork lore.

   Something ancient must have been planted deep within the creatively fertile soil of Cory Godbey’s heart many moons ago.  Fed by the life giving light of inspiration and hard work, his illustrations seem to grow organically, each line curling and twisting its way up until it is deeply rooted in the world of the fantastic. Each illustration has an ebb and flow to its design that leads you along an incredible story, whispering and giggling the rich lore into your ear until your eyes light up and your mouth just opens as if realizing once again that magic is real. It would seem my friends, that once again, we have a master among us.

   Cory Godbey’s art is some of the most inspiring that I have found. I get completely lost in his lines; entranced into the stories he weaves. Breathing deeply the intoxicating lore my mind is empowered to run away on exciting adventures filled with the creatures and mysticism that only the fantastic can provide. Cory Godbey is a fantastical master among men.

   I urge you all to see more of his work at the sites below and embark on your own adventures with the inspiration that it will undeniably give you.

http://corygodbey.com/

https://www.facebook.com/corygodbeyart

https://twitter.com/corygodbey

http://instagram.com/corygodbey

Peter Goode and his guides to other worlds.

Our world is a confusing place. In our great searches for enlightenment, black and white have a tendency to turn grey. We search for what makes the world go round, what makes others act the way they do, and work to understand what any of us are doing here at all. Though there are many things we learn on our own, we require others to teach us some of what we don’t. Beings of higher understanding, whoever they may be.

   The artwork of Peter Goode portrays just such beings. “These stoic Bodhisattvas are alive with a mystical force…” as Peter told us in an interview, “…and are 4th dimensional creatures intended to activate the viewer to participate in self reflection, add their own narrative and personal meaning, and to explore their own beingness.” Essentially, the denizens of this world he’s created are enlightened guides peacefully helping those found along their path to achieve enlightenment for themselves. The constant mix of pastels, earth tones and contrasting saturations give Peter’s work a mystical dreaminess and an inherent oddity that beckons mystery and adventure. But these dreamscapes, filled almost entirely by these stoic bodhisattvas, have a familiarity to them that make me truly wonder, how often have I visited these places? How many times have I been guided through the fan of flames by one of these magnificent beasts to a plane of greater understanding? And the real answer is…I don’t know. But in order to receive a visitation from another one of these celestial guides, maybe that’s all that needs to be admitted.

Explore these epic dreamscapes and follow the beautiful Bodhisattvas in Peter Goode’s work by heading to one of the following links:

http://www.petergoodeart.com/

https://www.facebook.com/petergoodeart

Eusong Lee is dangerous with color.

I checked out Eusong Lee’s work on a recommendation from Alexia Tryfon down at CTN. I expressed in a previous feature my love of Alexia’s color work so I don’t take recommendations from her very lightly. After “ooing” and “awing” at her work she urged me to go check out Eusong’s work as well. “He’s a big inspiration for me right now. But he takes a lot more risks with color than I do!” After moseying over and ogling his work I must say, those were risks well taken.

Eusong Lee creates dynamic and cinematic compositions that in themselves are incredibly well designed, but his color takes things to a whole other level. I can definitely see why some would hesitate using the bold colors that Eusong uses on a regular basis. They’re bright, loud and at first glance seem to contradict the rest of the pallete. But its working. As a color theorist myself I can tell you how complicated Eusong’s pallet really is and how masterfully he manages it. One principle I see repeated in his work that really pushes conventional dynamics is the concept of “Warm Light, Cool Shadow” and vice versa. You’ll notice in his pieces how he’ll shift the temperature of the shadows to be opposite of the light source. This is a realistic occurrence that our eyes pick up, but Eusong is pushing the envelope and saturating these colors up to par with the rest of his delightfully dangerous color decisions. So I urge you all, as Alexia did me, to check out Eusong Lee’s incredible work and see what makes the danger in his color choices so endearing.

Chase down the danger at one of his sites here:

http://eusong.com/

http://eusong.blogspot.com/

Also see his award winning short, “Will.” But be warned, it’s really really good.

https://vimeo.com/41369274#at=3

Natalie Hall draws with smoke.

Natalie Hall loves lines. But its not your typical line. Somehow she’s bred an unholy hybrid of water and smoke, capturing it within a pen she can work with. And man is it working for her. For Natalie, this mysterious organic compound pours out with such ferocity that it takes on the wild forms of the beasts caught in the collective conscience of all creatives, subject only to the bending will of their creator and restrained only by the shapes they are placed in. The first time I saw Natalie’s work I was afraid to breathe, fearing that the slightest puff would send the mesmerizing swirls away in the same way a stray breeze whisks away the warmth from your breath on a cold day. Fortunately, the wind did not betray me and I was allowed to savor the smoke a little longer. Since that first encounter I’ve had the privilege of following the trail of smoke to an onslaught of visual prowess and artistry. Though I still find it hard to breathe when I see her work, it’s no longer out of fear of ruining creation, but out of reverence, awe and recognition for what she is; a master draftswomen.

I highly urge you all to check out more of her work and follow her on:

https://www.facebook.com/NHallArt

http://nataliehall.tumblr.com/

http://instagram.com/ohnonatalie

You can also purchase some of her incredible work at:

http://society6.com/nataliehall

WINDING WHEEL SUPPLY CO.

Handmade. From birth and bane to drumming bandit and believer, Kenny Bozich, owner of the indie business Winding Wheel Supply Company, has been working with his hands every single day. Originally, and continually, a touring and studio drummer by trade (The Almost, Metro Station, and fill in for Underoath, Anberlin, and Sleeping With Sirens) Kenny uses drumming as a major creative outlet in his life. After a few hard knocks as a young teenager, he made some serious decisions and landed a solid role as drummer for The Almost. I can only imagine how incredible it must have felt just to hold sticks in his hands at that time; like two paint covered brushes with the world before him an empty canvas and the world within him an adventure story waiting to burst forth. But those hands, blistered and raw from the passion he poured into his drumming found themselves craving attention in the long hours of an Underoath tour bus. So, Kenny did what any human with hands should do; he used them. “I feel like God puts passion in us to create.” Kenny said as a golden token of wisdom in an interview with Small Monsterz Leader-in-Chief Makana Hansen. “He puts passion in us to create…so lead a quiet life and work with your hands.” With that mandate in heart and the talented hands to pull it off, Kenny found some leather and started into something simple; a wallet.

That simple wallet started something as consistent and powerful as the intricate beat he would be drumming to thousands of people that night. Friends from the band and others took immediate interest in Kenny’s creations and requested more. With a single post, and almost one hundred orders later, Kenny had found himself with another creative output that people responded to. And it just took off from there. Starting with a simple wallet, and turning into a leather goods company that leads by silent and humble example in its high quality goods, Winding Wheel Supply Co. is setting the standard for passionate projects. Such as the project that pays homage to his drumming nightlife in the form of a leather stick bag that rolls up, and securely stores, an entire brick of drum sticks. Winding Wheel is as passionate and dedicated a company as the experienced drummer behind it. We urge you all to check out their products and find something leather and handmade that resonates with you as well as that first bass nuked wave from the kick drum.

You can find all Winding Wheel Supply Co. products at their website. Please go there now!

http://windingwheelsupply.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/windingwheelsup

And share some love on Kenny Bozich’s facebook page as well at:

https://www.facebook.com/kennyrbozich

Alexia Tryfon makes magic.

I’m pretty sure Alexia Tryfon is being followed by a pack of pixies. I don’t want to alarm anyone, but it seems that there are sparkles and prisms reflecting colors everywhere she goes. Everything around her is brilliant and beautiful, but then again, so is the artwork she creates. I had the privilege of meeting Alexia and her husband at the CTN Animation Expo a few weeks back. I kind of stumbled into her booth because something kept reflecting brilliant lights and colors into my eyes. Naturally, I assumed it was pixies and immediately went over to face the perpetrators for disrupting the cool aura I was putting off as I walked wide eyed around the convention for the seventh time. Super cool. But instead of facing the magical creatures I expected, I was faced with Alexia’s incredible artwork. It must have been where the pixies were hiding because the colors still shone bright and beautiful through each of her prints. I had the pleasure of talking with her and picking her brain a little bit about her inspirations and how she develops such stunning landscapes and creations; all the while keeping an out for the pesky pixies. Originally working as an industrial designer, she decided to pursue a career in visual development and has been creating magic ever since. She’s worked primarily doing backgrounds and layouts, inspired heavily by nature and the aura it gives, and has been slowly breaking into more character design. All of which had me thoroughly engaged and feasting on the dynamic color schemes and slightly geometric forms that make up her world, forcing myself to blink a few times just to make sure this was real. The pixies still had to be around somewhere because something mystical was going on. I noticed the same effect on her husband who was just as charming as she. Now, even though I never could find those pixies or prove who had brought me there, I must give them credit for luring me to know the work of Alexia Tryfon. And even though I still remain pixie-less, I still found the bits of magic I was looking for.

Check out her work now at:

http://alexiatryfon.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tryfon.alexia

https://twitter.com/AlexiaTryfon

Pascal Campion: Inspiring The Human Condition

Pascal Campion’s work is something between an inspirational poster, a love story and that still moment after a conversation you wish could last forever. As artists we place a little part of ourselves into each creation, so it makes sense that after posting over 3,000 images, one a day for quite a few years now, we get an intimate look at the man behind the incredible art. He’s a good man, an inspiring example, a hopeless romantic, and a man with an incredible sensitivity to those intimate moments of human interaction. The ones that we often realize too late were some of the most beautiful. Pascal draws inspiration from many places, including his wife and children, who become subjects to many of his daily illustrations along with all of the humorous, face palming and sometimes difficult but intimate moments that describe the human condition. This is a beautiful life we lead, and Pascal Campion describes it perfectly.

I urge you all to join his over 100,000 organically grown followers by visiting one of his sites below. And keep an eye out for his recently Kickstarted book “3,000 Moments.”

https://www.facebook.com/pascalcampionart

http://pascalcampion.tumblr.com/

http://pascalcampion.blogspot.com/

Ty Carter: Master of Light

If dropped in a Greco Roman setting and given the opportunity to paint, Ty Carter would be revered as a god of light. Now that may seem heavy handed and over zealous, but when a spiritual connection is made with another’s art, it seems sacrilege to spend time anywhere that’s apart from their work. I had this experience this past weekend as I ogled over Ty Carter’s work at the CTN Animation Expo in Burbank California. In a setting so visually stimulating and overwhelming, many artists drown out amongst the colorful waves of the industry while gods like Ty emerge. His work is not overcomplicated, but it is certainly not minimal. His color combinations and finesse communicate a saturated realists approach to art that’s relieving and exciting. Just as the sun catches a mountain tip in that violent color catch of neon sunshine in the calm, cool morning, Ty Carter’s work will catch your attention in an equally majestic and awe-inspiring way. I could go on about how inspiring and powerful his workshops were, how personal and charismatic he is, or how funny he can be when he gets into a comfortable rhythm of speech, but really…you should all experience the divine yourself by heading to one of these links and connecting with Ty Carter, the god of light and color, yourself.

http://www.tycarter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TyCarterArt

https://twitter.com/@tycarterart

http://instagram.com/tycarterart

Kirk Pesigan's creatures are incredible.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at concept art. Whether it’s for movies, books, or even just for visualizing personal ideas. There’s something raw about concept art that really interests me. Now I’m not sure when I started following Kirk Pesigan’s work, but it’s been quite awhile now. Something about it caught my eye as I skimmed over countless pieces of art and I’ve ended up keeping tabs on him for over a year. I think where he excels is his creature design. They’re fun. Now this is an area I’m not super familiar with, but his creatures seem to have a life to them that many others do not. Much of this, I’m sure, can be attributed to his painting style. It’s expressive, full of textures, fairly loose but he still tightens it up where it needs to be, bringing his illustrations closer to a sense of realism than many other concept artists i’ve seen. Yet he somehow does it without loosing the magic that comes naturally with creating the unreal. But one other thing that really draws me in is his openness about his process. With nearly every project he includes a few images about how he came to produce the finished piece. In a world where many people are so closed about their trade, afraid someone is going to steal their ideas and run off with them, it’s refreshing to see such openness in art. Kirk Pesigan has kept my attention for over a year now, entertaining me with creatures that would make our already incredible world that much better. And I’m sure he’ll continue to do so for many years to come.

Check out more of his stuff here:

https://www.behance.net/kirkpesigan

Tim Probert leads us on adventures.

Tim Probert is a man whose caught the magic of wide-eyed wonder and childhood adventure. Even in themes that are not intrinsically child based, such as his piece “Everybody comes to Rick’s,” there’s still an inquisitive nature to it that is reminiscent of being a kid again and trying to understand situations that are far bigger than us. We’re all really just kids at heart, trying to figure out how to handle the world we live in. Thats part of the reason I love Tim Probert’s work. I want to go on an adventure. And Tim is taking me there. I’m kind of a sucker for good line-work which may be a theme you all are picking up on, but Tim’s line work is solid. And juicy. But I appreciate that he doesn’t let the line segment things or contain them. His painting allows lines to show up where they’re needed and fade away when they’re not. It’s a beautiful technique. One I need to study more to use effectively. I also get caught up in his color. It’s almost reverently adventurous. Or respectfully powerful. I appreciate the subtlety. In any regards, i’m headed out to face a hoard of dragon endowed gator guards, and Tim Probert is leading the way.

Check out more of his work at the following links. Seriously though. Go.

http://www.timprobert.com/

https://www.behance.net/timprobert

Duo

Today I wanted to do something a little different. For almost a year now i’ve been developing ideas for my own animated short. So I know how much goes into these things and really how impactful they can be. As such, instead of featuring an artist exclusively this week, I’ve decided to feature an animated short produced by several students out of the French school, Gobelins. It’s stunning how impactful such a short narrative can be. And this is certainly one that grabs you. I can’t tell you how many times i’ve watched and re-watched this. If i’m not careful I may just start drooling again just talking about it. DUO tells the story of two acrobats on their last performance. The last of anything can be emotional for those involved, but for these two, emotions may be running high for other reasons. Two things I want to point out in this short are first, the pacing. The cutting between the lead up and the performance is masterful. These people know how to tell a story. Secondly, pay close attention to the background elements. If you can catch it, they’re more real than you think. My hat is off to these brilliant animators and to their impending illustrative careers. Bravo!

Jeremy Geddes: What If Gravity Gave Up?

We live in an incredibly sophisticated world that seems to spin more and more rapidly out of our control. But there’s a mystery and an energy to it that’s very compelling, and even dangerous. Who knows when some unknown force is going to snap? How can we be so sure that gravity will continue to hold us down? Life itself seems to be hanging precariously balanced in the universe. But upon that fulcrum sways a terrifying beauty. And none portray this better, or more beautifully, than the Australian photorealistic painter Jeremy Geddes. I mean, talk about intrigue! I chanced upon his work while doing research for a painting of my own and was astounded at the world he’d created. A world quite familiar to our own, but perhaps a few more years out. Or not. A true master in his technique, gesture and concept, I find anyone hard pressed to locate another artist so acutely aware of our own universal balance than he, in the little time it would seem we have left.

I strongly suggest visiting the following links and even purchasing a print if they’re not already sold out. And keep in mind that a napkin may be needed to wipe away the awe-drawn drool pooling across your keyboard.

http://www.jeremygeddesart.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremy-Geddes/211873458844831

Teagan White: The Visceral Beauty of Nature

A melancholy beauty. That’s how I would describe the work of Teagan White. In a whimsical mix of flora and fauna, she overlaps beautiful organic shapes with personal intricacy that provokes a pensive ponder out of the most mature of children, and the most childlike of adults. Perhaps it’s her use of muted colors or perhaps it’s the subtle contrast of life and death that causes each piece to resonate so violently true with personal character. Either way it’s delightfully provoking. But without drifting too far into the metaphysical, her works remain whimsical and innocent and fun! Now, there are just a few examples of her work here but her talents don’t stop with ink and gauche. Teagan boasts some big clientele for both her illustrative work and immaculate typography. And apart from all that you’ll find at the links below, I’d keep my eyes out for a new piece inspired by the leafy blizzard of a Minnesota fall. For a master of fauna and flora like she is, and the kind of inspiration the changing seasons provide, I’m willing to bet she cranks out something even more awe-inspiring than normal. It’s a good time of year right now so enjoy it! If not physically, then vicariously through the incredible artwork of Teagan White.

http://www.teaganwhite.com/

https://www.behance.net/teaganwhite

https://www.facebook.com/TeaganWhiteIllustration

Clint Reid is a master of soul.

I’ve been keeping tabs on incredible artists for several years now. But few others have held my attention as consistently and as intimately as Clint Reid. There is a kind of kinship that the bearded brother has forged with me through his tightly controlled artwork that makes him feel more like a personal friend than a man I’ve never, but hope to someday, meet. He’s proven time and time again his mastery of design and illustration, while combining techniques you don’t typically see together. Clean lines, stippling, watercolor, and the occasional screen print on paper, wood or cloth are all tools in his arsenal of awesome. But in addition to this weaponry the intimate assault continues with the titles he gives to each piece, providing an insight to the human psyche with all its subtle joys and haunting frailties. When all is over, Clint Reid is a master at portraying the human soul.

I urge you all to check out his work on the following sites. Your soul will be so glad you did.

http://tillmanproject.com/

https://www.behance.net/beardedbrother

https://www.facebook.com/tillmanproject

"Perseverance"

"Submission/Deliverance"

"Europa"

"The verdict: I need more grace than I thought."

Rafael Varona makes impossible bottles.

Rafael Varona’s project “Impossible Bottles” is the shape of a Wes Anderson feeling stuffed inside a self-contained ship in a bottle. There’s magic inside every rhythmic rotation, every sway, every bubble. As an animator myself, I’m easily entertained by things that move. There’s a life and an excitement in movement. But there’s a subtlety to the motion Rafael creates here that captivates me beyond the blinking lights and acid trip cartoons that usually hold my attention. That subtlety lends itself far beyond the confines of these tiny bottles that house impossible ecosystems. Pushing further back in space than borders will allow before pulling us back into the bottle with it. We don’t know how these figures ended up in the bottles. But then again, we don’t know how we got there either.

Rafael Varona is a talented designer, illustrator and animator from Berlin Germany with many more places to take us. Keep an eye out for more of his work in the future and go check out his already impressive portfolio here:

http://www.rafael-varona.com/

https://www.behance.net/rafaelvarona

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Gediminas Pranckevicius creates real places.

Art is many things. But perhaps more than others, art is an idea. Floating around the mind of Gediminas Pranckevicius are places where physics are optional, gravity is turned around and light mixes with shadow to create awe and inspiration. As far as lighting goes, Gediminas is perfect. At first glance I thought he had made miniature models of each environment in his studio and set up lighting rigs to capture all of the beautifully sensitive and realistic lights and shadows. But the more I’ve studied them, the more I’ve recognized the nuances of a master painter. His textures, combined with that lighting, have sent many people traveling, searching for what they’re sure exists. But in the end they come back to his work; better people for having experienced the world and better prepared to appreciate his mastery in art.

With that I encourage you all to go on a journey yourself. Whether you embark on a grand epic or just head into the woods for the afternoon, get out and experience the world. It just might happen that you stumble upon something as breathtaking and real as the work of Gediminas Pranckevicius.

To travel through more of his work, please visit the following sites:

http://www.gedomenas.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/GedoMenas/173486866003011

https://twitter.com/gedomenas

https://www.behance.net/gedomenas