Jody Rogac

Has it really been nearly a year since I last posted to this blog? I seem to have turned into Cookie Monster who has recently learned that cookies are only a "sometimes food." Apparently, this is my "sometimes blog." Anyway, here is a post that I began in May. My apologies to Ms. Rogac.

Jody Rogac's photographs don't feel as such, but recall paintings, carefully crafted over days, weeks, even months. Her work bridges the gap that often occurs between fashion photography and portraiture. The results are images that are decidedly in neither genre.

Anthony Zinonos

Artist Anthony Zinonos' collages are an exercise in restraint. Physically, his oft-published collages consist of little more than a few snips of construction paper, found images, and a scribble or two. Visually, Zinonos limits himself to bold, primary colors, chunky polygons, and thin slivers of paper. These minimalist works are direct without being simplistic.

Sam Bosma

To say that illustrator Sam Bosma is meticulous would be a gross understatement. While his work often tackles epic narratives, Bosma's panels are loaded with an exceptional amount of detail, making each scene more intimate. and even private.  Such intricacy requires a process involving nearly obsessive attention to the minutia of each image, which the artist carefully details on his blog, Slam Blogsma. Technically, Bosma's many-stepped image construction combines both digital and analog forms into one, harmonious output. His technique in both areas is expert. Though stylized, his work never feels wacky, as he perfectly balances the dramatic with the humerous. Bosma's characters are always lovingly rendered.

Matt Keers

Graphic designer and art director, Matt Keers's work is comprised of striking imagery, created through simple shapes. Keers demonstrates his acute sense of form and color, though strong work in the fields of print, packaging and branding.

ALL/ Annie Larson

Fashion designer and fiber artist, Annie Larson, working under the moniker ALL, crafts joyously handmade, knitwear and textile pieces. Her prolific output (she creates each piece by herself, save a few collaborative efforts) includes sweaters, hats, bags, pants and leggings. Her work also extends to sculptural, non-wearable pieces. She has a keen design aesthetic in all that she makes, playing with simple, geometric patterns, and clever color stories. As she becomes increasingly masterful in personal branding, this includes packaging, promotional materials, blog, and other ALL paraphernalia, which she designs with studiomate, Eric Carlson.

I spent hours looking through her body of work on her multiple sites, fascinated by what I found, and drawn to sincerity of her work and writing. Though meticulously considered, her designs never appear sterile or uncomfortable. Ms. Larson's exuberance permeates all that she creates, allowing for pieces that are visually engaging, but also warm, and unaffected.

In addition to her site, take a look at the ALL store, as well as Ms. Larson's blog, Swank Dollar. Be sure to take note of her costumes for the performance art/ gallery show, New Land of Milk and Honey.

Stefanie Augustine + Adam Gault

Although I try not to post things that I immediately find on other blogs, I was so enthralled by illustrator Stefanie Augustine, and animator Adam Gault's nearly transcendent Gettysburg Address video, that I am breaking with tradition. Here, Augustine and Gault present the Lincoln's speech as a form of poetry, their sparse images acting as illuminations to the text. The elements of the video are not subversive; there is no agenda. These two have wisely chosen expertly rendered images that are as timeless as Lincoln's original words have become. Chris Villepigue's sound design couples with the imagery perfectly. Additional animation is by Carlo Vega. You can find more on the video at Motiongrapher.

Also check out the individual artist's websites, as their work there is equally as masterful. Another highlight is Augustine and Gault's exceptionally poetic video, "Off the Course" (seen below.)

Gina Triplett and Matt Curtius

I first came across Gina Triplett's swirling, flowering work in high school, when I purchased Ramsey Lewis' album "Time Flies." The cover featured Triplett's signature, intricate, ink patterns, over paint-dripping, textural backgrounds. I immediately went to the internet to find more of her work, where I found that not only did she work alone, but also collaborated with her husband, Matt Curtius. When working together, two combine seemingly disparate styles- Matt's realistically rendered imagery, and Gina's bold detailed patterns- into cohesive, often floral images. I have made the two's site one of my regularly visited destinations, and am always excited by what I find there. Every image is a miniature world unto itself, bursting with lovingly-created detail. In addition to the floral motifs, both Triplett and Curtius are skilled hand-drawn typographers, often incorporating text into their images. You can see more of their work on Gina's blog.

Jan Postma

A longtime Flickr contact, I have consistently been fascinated by Jan Postma's work, and his seemingly effortless ability to capture small moments in cinematic detail. His photographs are ruled by wistful simplicity, yet are rarely sterile. Mr. Postma carefully considers the quality of light in his images, making even his most mundane subjects take on a new importance. Be sure to take a look at both his website, and his Flickr photostream.

A Friend of Mine/ Suzy Tuxen

Although led by designer Suzy Tuxen, the Melbourne-based firm, A Friend of Mine operates under the ideal of artistic collaboration. According to her site, Tuxen sees collaboration with specialized artists as essential to achieving a high standard of quality throughout her design work. She obviously is on to something. Her international clients are as diverse as bespoke wedding invitations, to restaurant branding and design. A Friend of Mine regularly creates print, branding, and art direction work that is consistently thoughtfully considered, and beautifully executed.

Newth

Yesterday marked the beginning of a new month, a new year, and a new decade. And although things have been quiet here at TTWF for some time, this is also marks our return to the web, and of all sorts of new things happening here. We will be back soon, with more regular posts, a fresh layout, artist interviews, videos, and some other swell stuff. Stay tuned!
-G&F

Brandi Stickland

Brandi Sticklandcreates mixed media collages, using fanciful, found imagery. glorious color and sumptuous texture. Many of these works are grouped together, giving each series a narrative quality. Rich in sunny optimism, and fantastical wonder, Ms. Strickland's collages are essential rainy day viewing (or any day, for that matter).

Also, Brandi Stickland on flickr.

Damien Correll

Damien Correll is a regular fixture in the art and design blogosphere, and with good reason. His work is bold and colorful, reinterpreting many forms and styles from 1960s and 70s illustration. As with many of the designers and illustrators featured on this blog, Mr. Correll mixes found imagery and drawing, computer graphics and hand-executed imagery. His excellent work has gained him such clients as Nike, Zoo York, and New York Magazine. Be ready to spend hours perusing his site, blog, and collection of links.

Kathryn Parker Almanas

Photographer Kathryn Parker Almanas culls from a wide variety of sources, including Renaissance religious art, medical imagery, dissection, and food still lifes to create darkly alluring, macabre juxtapositions. When one image might feature a beautifully-lit, cherry-filled pastry, the next might be a revolting Renaissance-era wax cadaver model. Others blur the lines between the two, for example, a pastry, cut open with surgical precision, and oozing red filling. The exact meaning of these associations is enigmatic and a little unnerving. However, the photography is absolutely stunning and brings to mind dark oil paintings.

Julia Guther

Using an eclectic mix of cut paper, watercolor, pencil and computer-aided drawing tools Julia Guther has created a diverse and accomplished body of work. She uses simple shapes, clean lines and delicate colors to create distinctive images, regardless of the medium. Her style and creative process raise her imagery above the commercial nature of many of her projects.

Boo Ritson

I very rarely choose to feature artists whom I have found via a recent entry on another blog. Usually, I like to let them gestate in my bookmarks before choosing them at what I feel is the appropriate time. Boo Ritson is an exception to that rule. Ms. Ritson has taken a rather innovative approach to portrait photography, combining it with painting and performance art. Her subjects become the canvas, as she covers them in layers of thick paint, being sure to include details of shading and highlights. Her colors are bright, and her execution innovative. Not only are her subjects rendered nearly anonymous underneath coats of paint, but they are transformed into various kitschy archetypes. Huzzah for rule breaking!

See more of her work here:
Poppy Sebire Gallery
Saatchi Gallery

Gneborg

Gneborg is an art collective that uses ordinary, household items to create various sculptures and costumes, to ingenious effect. Suddenly, blankets, pillows and cardboard boxes become mountains, elephants, and giant squirrels. It would seem that various companies have noticed the advertising potential of Gneborg's work, as their portfolio includes more commercial applications among their newer works. This, however, does not diminish the brilliance of their work. Whether or not you created blanket forts on your living room, on rainy days, when you were a kid, a visit to Gneborg's site will not go unrewarded.

Aurèle Sack

Aurèle Sack presents some bold, crisp, simple typographic work on his site. Mr. Sack has a keen sense of elegant form and practical function, as he successfully marries the two in his impressive work samples. He also employs an innovative, yet intuitive and functional site navigation. Be sure to give his work a look, and then a second.

Levan Kakabadze

levankakabadze.com

I feel as though I have known Levan for a while, although we are merely flickr friends. Mr. Kakabadze, or tabu as I know him on flickr, approaches his work with such a sensitivity and intimacy, that one might feel as though he and they were lifelong friends as well. Definitely give his work a look.

Emmanuel Polanco

emmanuelpolanco.net

Emmanuel Polanco has a well-crafted body of work full of intriguing, mysterious images. His work covers a wide range of styles, but the technique of assembling tactile materials digitally remains the same. His pieces are all about layers and textures, all the while balancing elements of the past with modern composition.

Laurie Rosenwald

rosenworld.com

With an astounding teaching resume, fantastic client list, and keen sense of reality of the design world, Laurie Rosenwald is quite the formidable character. She is an accomplished professor, author, designer, painter, mixed-media artist, typographer, animator, humorist and actress (she once had a small speaking role on the Sopranos). She also directs an acclaimed workshop titled How to Make Mistakes on Purpose.

Ms. Rosenwald brings a unique design aesthetic and rational messiness to her work, all tempered by a great dose of humor. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while vising her site. To say that she is seriously impressive and magnificently inspiring would be an understatement. Take a look at her site, and be ready for some surprises!

Take that, YCN!