It's new work time! Ch-ch-ch-eck it out!

when music was an artform

LADYTRON

I mean c'mon, can I build that time machine and get back to this exact moment?

NEW ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW entry!!! Jim Avignon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 I've been a big ole fan of German Illustrator/Multi-Media artist Jim Avignon since about 1999 I think now, though he was around even farther back than that. His wacky trip-tastic style I would describe as being influenced by a number of sources; part 60's retro design ala REX RAY or SHAG, part cartoon induced combined with the chaos and absurdity of a Gary Panter painting...but who knows, that's just my take on his work. While today, in a post-hipster modernist kind of way, his style might seem almost cliche or not all too impressive, just a doodlish illustration, you gotta remember, this cat has been doing this since 1993!! Unfortunately, not too many people seem to be familiar with him, here in the states, either way, if you're not familiar with his work I highly recommend you become learned immediately.
                           
   http://www.jimavignon.com/

LINDA in the flesh!!!

As you may or may not know, one major illustration job I did manage to squeeze in this past year while I also handled my graduate school workload was 'LINDA' a serial novel by the multi-talented Karinne Kiethly Syers that was posted on HiLobrow.com, and is currently contained within their archive, but can also be viewed at fancystitchmachine.com . Well, yesterday I received a package in the main courtesy of Mrs.Syers and it was not only filled to the brim with LINDA patches, but also included the published hard copy and boy is LINDA beautiful. Check her out for your self.

In the studio, making all my T-shirt dreams come true

Sarah- Gay Animations!!!

My friend, peer, and MAT colleague/co-hort Animator/Illustrator Sarah Gay is one talented artist. Here is one of my favorites of hers, titled 'We Traversed in a Hearse'.

Feeling the work of SPECTER, smart social street art. Recommended.


http://specterart.com/

New work in the works

Classic Salvador Dali on "What's My Line?"

A Taste.

Truth is, this semester is looking good for creating some new work. Please stay tuned, I have been working on some comics for mature readers only, here are a few samples;

                                New limited edition 3 color silkscreen print.

New T-Shirts in the works!!!

 

 (c) copyright Jace Smith

New Work!!

LINDA @ Hilobrow

Head on over to Hilobrow.com to view Karinne Keithley Syer's amazing serial novella illustrated by me. http://hilobrow.com/

One awesome piece of artwork I did manage to produce while in graduate school is this painting/installation in John Crowe's class. It was probably the most ambitious and funnest thing I've ever produced and I hope to have an opportunity to create it again someday but larger scale, and with plywood instead of cardboard. This was the prototype.

Golden Days

My life is hell. I am sad to say my illustration and comic career has been on a back burner the last year and a half. The reality of this weighs down on me daily. It is beyond my control as this lack of productivity is mostly due to my being ridiculously busy with my graduate studies at Mass Art here in Boston.

My infrequency of posts and updates to my blog and website in recent days frustrates me beyond belief.  I rarely get to make art these days which kills me. It really really really kills me because creating art is what I do, its what I've always done. It's part of my core. It's a major part of my identity. I've always referred to it as my superhero power, because I've always been able to draw and be creative with ease, and as such always interpreted it as a blessing, a gift of sorts. For example, I really envy friends who really understand math on a profound level, like almost as if they see the world through a mathematical lens because my brain just doesn't grasp things that way. We all have that special something that we know we're good at and hold close to our hearts. For me, its always been art.

The transition from occupying this constant space of creativity and productivity to virtually producing nothing but writing papers and designing lessons and learning curriculum constantly from morning to night has been very difficult for me to handle.

While I am really excited to eventually get certified to teach art, and combine my love of art with my love for kids together, boy let me just say, this has been bumpy ride.
The good news is that I am almost done with my program and am hoping some of my time can be freed back up to remind myself of who I am; artist on fire! Nevertheless y'all should stay tuned, there will always be more to come, I can promise that. But more importantly, I found this full page advertisement in a 1930 newspaper I found in my parent's attic. I think its a pretty beautiful representation of the caliber of work during the golden age of illustration. So beautiful.

                                                    My rolling Betty Boop arm wheel.

new in-between time work

Well, my struggle to create work while I am a graduate student continues...If it wasn't for 'Linda', Karinne's serial, I would be creating close to no work whatsoever except for the occasional sketchbook page I am able to fill during classes. While I should be paying attention entirely to the professor, I do tend to doodle. Going to art school kinda excuses this behavior, and I find most professors don't seem to actually mind as long as you are engaged in the class discussion, they are willing to let it slide, it is art school after all, and I'm like, furthering my skills...But as luck would have it, I actually managed to have two weeks off before the fall semester begins, and I was not only able to crank out a few LINDA drawings, I also managed to start this guy. Watercolor, ink, aerosol, and gesso on wood.