Culture? introducing Michael Howard...

MICHAEL HOWARD

..We have entered a new week, and february is almost et an end. Here in culture? I have the great pleasure of introducing the very talented Michael Howard. Michael`s work is very modern, it has lots of great consepts and it is very well made. Michael is telling us a little bit about himself and his art today, so happy looking and happy reading...

..Here it is, your shot of art with Michael Howard:

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?
My name is Michael Howard, 22 years old living in the UK. Studying Illustration with animation at Manchester Metropolitan University.

-What inspired you to start being creative?
Trying to understand the world I guess. Recording anything and everything to try and understand how they function. Start seems like such a harsh word, without trying to make it sound like a generic ideology, it's more of a growth than a start or stop.

Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do?
My time is split between a fair few things, working, studying just like anyone else. A lot of my work is done as a spur of the moment, just when the crave or idea arrives. So it takes priority you could say. Everything else can wait.

Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?
As I said earlier I'm studying at MMU as for prior to that I studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Carmel College which is a fantastic institution.

Where do you find inspiration?
The complexities of people you could say. People are a lot more interesting than myself, I'm just lucky that they let me observe and listen.

Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?What I love about what I do is that I'm constantly being impressed and inspired. The work people are producing now and creating now. Artists like Mina Milk, M.Lewandowski and Guim Tio spring to mind.

-Where can my readers see you`re work?You can see my work at my flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/est88/ For the more interactive I also have a tumblr - http://nvm88.tumblr.com/

culture? Michael Howard!

Culture? introducing Mike Creighton...

MIKE CREIGHTON

..On this great saturday-morning culture? is introducing the very talented Mike Creighton. Mike`s work is very organic and "strechy" in a way that makes it become a bit surreal. Culture? is a huge fan, and Mike is telling us a little about himself and his work for us today, so; enjoy...

..Here it is, your culture?- art with Mike Creighton:

..NaNoDrawMo..

..NaNoDrawMo..

..Selfportrait sketch..

..Selfportrait sketch..

..Struggling..

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?My name is Mike Creighton, and I'm a 31-year-old artist and computer programmer living and working in Portland, Oregon, United States. I just moved up here from San Francisco in the middle of 2010.

What inspired you to start being creative?I feel like I've been creative all my life, beginning with drawing at age 4. I remember starting with obsessively drawing Transformers and Voltron. I've got an itch that prevents me from sitting still for too long, or sticking with a single medium. I don't know exactly where it comes from, but I'm compelled to simply make stuff.

Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do?It's not my full time job. I don't make any money from it. I earn my living as a "creative technologist". I do a lot of interactive development, where I bring designs to life, making them respond to human input. I figure out how to make things work using any and all available technologies. And this bleeds into the digital art that I make – which is largely interactive or realtime – and leans toward abstractions of form, color, and rhythm.

Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?I earned a BFA in Computer Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). I focused on interactive design, but I briefly double-majored in traditional graphic design as well.

Where do you find inspiration?Most of my inspiration comes from one of three places:
(1) Music. Music is huge for me. It's this intangible, elusive thing that conjures up unique imagery and memories – a realtime composite of everything I've known and experienced.
(2) A simple, compelling image. I've been capturing and cataloging every image that jumps out at me for one reason or another for the past five years. I review them periodically, especially when I'm starting something new. Recently I started posting them to a Tumblelog at http://inspiration.mikecreighton.com.
(3) Concepts. Oftentimes I find myself caught up in a desire to act on concepts that roll around in my head. Themes. They're the things that surface that help each of us make sense of the world around us, and they're our unique way of seeing things. This is pretty general, but it gets me stirred up enough to want to create.

Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?I'm always inspired by figurative artists. Egon Schiele will forever wow me through his efficient use of line and texture to capture the essence of his sitters, while still tending towards judicious use of abstraction.
I'm in awe of Jenny Saville and Mark Demsteader. Some other contemporary artists tend to be illustrators or concept artists. Folks like James Jean (http://ww.jamesjean.com), Joao Ruas (http://www.feral-kid.com), Jeff Simpson (http://surrealsushi.com), Melissa Cooke (http://melissacookeart.com), and Michael Ciervo (http://www.michaelciervo.com). They all bring you into this alternate reality – a view unique to them and them alone. There seems to be this embedded narrative behind each character and scene they portray, and that makes each piece infinitely more interesting to me. Not to mention the sheer skill these artists possess.

Where can my readers see you`re work?A more formal collection of my work exists at http://mikecreighton.com. But I'm always posting in-progress works as well. You can find the more traditional in-progress work (drawings and such) on my Flickr stream: http://flickr.com/photos/mikecreighton. And you can find digital experiments along with analogue ones on my blog called TODAY, CREATE (http://www.todaycreate.com).

culture? Mike Creighton!

Culture? introducing Ana María López..

ANA MARIA LOPEZ

..Today`s feature is the one and only Ana Maria Lopez. Ana has a very contemporary style, spiced with humor and rawness. This is a very succsessful recipe. Ana Maria is telling us a little about herself and her work today, so I wish you all a happy look and read..

..Here it is, your (almost) daily shot of art with Ana Maria Lopez:

ABOUT MY SELF:

My Name is Ana María López
I'm from Medellín - Colombia in South america.
I'm 30 years old.
I love dogs.
My father was my first art teacher since I was a little girl.
I love to draw.
I love music.
I still live with my mother, my sister and my dog.
I draw everyday.

MY INSPIRATION:
As an illustrator I have many styles of drawing, but I create a spetial character that is maybe the most important in my work, is my alter ego, her name is CABIZBAJA.
I create "cabizbaja" (wich means sad, downcast, crestfallen) in a heartbreak. Cabizbaja is a little girl that feels like a big woman, she smokes cigarrettes, sometimes hates men, sometimes loves them. And sometimes is the opposite: a woman with feelings of a little girl, is a big woman that enjoys eating icecream forever.
what inspires me is what i feel in my heart, what i think about somethings in life like relationship, love, hate, being happy. My work has always tenderness, childish, fun, sarcasm, angry and the game between little girl and big woman feelings.

ABOUT MY JOB:
I work in a global advertising agency: TBWA. I work fulltime as an art director and graphic designer of many colombian female brands. All my work has always the woman as central theme. (a sanitary napkins brand, makeup, female fashion apparel, etc.)
When I am in home i start to draw.

STUDIES
I began to draw because my father was a publicist and illustrator too and he teached me, but i studied graphic design in Colegiatura Colombiana de Diseño here in Medellín.

FAVORITE ARTISTS
I love Yoshitomo Nara, mark Ryden and Gary Baseman, their works has all the things that i identify myself and my work with: Childish, tenderness, irony, dissapointment, fun, madness, etc.

WHERE MY WORK IS:
Readers can find my work in my flickr.
Soon in my web
And in the Books below:
"The garden of eye candy" Gingko press.
" The Little Book of kawaii".

Culture? introducing mini-feature..

..Culture? is going to have some mini-features in between the large ones. This is for the singel pics I have just fallen in love with. I hope you all like it...First up is the young and talented:

ELIJAH MAJESKI

-Can you tell the readers a little bit about you, name, age, where do you live etc?I'm Elijah Majeski and I am a sixteen year old boy who is growing up in the suburbs of Detroit. I like looking at and taking pictures, as well as reading and writing, running and walking, adventuring and the like.

Can you tell us a little bit about how this picture came to be?This particular picture was incredibly spontaneous. Eccentricity has always been really inspiring and intriguing to me, so I thought I might attempt to make something that reflected that. I rummaged around my basement and ended up finding this cottony material and some gloves and old, old glasses. I then just sort of jumbled the cotton on top of my sister's head (a common victim/model for my art) and had her run with it. She's a hyper little thing, so she always comes up with interesting expressions and stories of her own, they're of an honesty that only nine year olds can come up with, really... and I think that fact was crucial to the photo itself.

-What makes you happy?Oh um. haha. I really like people and watching people's faces. That may sound really creepy but, it's true I really like watching people interact and talk and it makes me feel really happy to see people smile and interact with each other and the world around them. Nostalgia also really makes me real happy. I love memories.

Culture? introducing Arvida Byström..

ARVIDA BYSTRÖM

..Todays feature is the young and talented Arvida Byström. Arvida has a very interesting outlook on the world and she is trowing this raw realism at the audience. Arvida is telling us a little bit about herself and her art today, so open up and take it in..

..Here it is, your daily shot of art with Arvida Byström:

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?My name is Arvida Byström. I currently live in Stockholm of sweden, am 19 yeas old and a little bit lost in life.

-What inspired you to start being creative?Well, I always been. So I can't say what inspired me to start. Though what inspire me keep on going is everything and nothing.

-Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do? No, but I hope to someday soon.

-Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?  No, it's not. I wish it was or going to be someday. I work as a substitute teacher right now, and it's a nice job. So I'm pretty satisfied.

-Where do you find inspiration? Everywhere and nowhere.


-Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why? Well, everyone and no one. Trying to be my own favorite artist. Haha well, no not really but I prefer not answering this one, I tend to get too obsessed with certain people sometimes.

-Where can my readers see you`re work? at touristmagazine.co.uk/arvidabystrom

culture? Arvida Bergström!

Culture? introducing Jesse Lenz..

JESSE LENZ

..Today I have the great pleasure of introducing the very talented artist named Jesse Lenz. In fact I like Jesse`s work so much that today we are doing a big feature. Lots of works, lots of inspiration. Jesse is telling us a little bit about himself and his art, so enjoy..

..Here it is, your daily shot of art with Jesse Lenz..

..boomers..

..coquetry..

..couvade..

..habitueu..

..kvetch..

..lacuna..

..medicare..

-Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?

I am a 22 year old artist living with my wife and dog in Frederick, Maryland USA.

-What inspired you to start being creative?

I guess even in high school I had a lot of things on my mind that I wanted to say, but didn’t feel like I could. Art was what brought those ideas / statements out of me and showed me it was alight to say them. Plus I found that people seem to listen better when you don’t speak.

-Is making art your full-time job, and if not, what else do you do?

Yep, I am a full-time freelance illustrator, and I love it! Best job in the world. -Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?

-Where do you find inspiration?

Not to be a jerk or anything, but as Chuck Close said, “Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work”. Ha ha I found this very true. I personally find inspirations in old magazines and movies. I really love seeing what people 50 years ago thought the future was going to look like because we are living in thier future and it’s nothing like they thought it would be.

-Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?

Wow...I have a lot of favorite artists....but here are a few

Banksy-he puts the concept first...his work is so well thought out and clever. He never does anything because “it looks cool” everything has a meaning.

Peter Beard-his diaries are works of genius! Plus I love africa.

Richard Hamilton-I love how he works modern architecture into collages.

-Where can my readers see you`re work?

www.jesselenz.com

www.flickr.com/photos/jesselenz

 

Culture? introducing Julia..

JULIA

..Today we are taking a look at the talented Julia`s work. The work is dreamy and euforic, in other words a perfect match. Julia is telling us about her work today, so I wish you all a wonderfull look and read...

..Here it is, your daily shot of art with Julia..

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?

Hello, my name is julia, im from buenos aires, argentina. Im 22 years old, i live in a very nice house with my parents, my brother, a friend of mine and two lazy and cute cats.

-What inspired you to start being creative?

I dont know, i dont even know if i am being creative or not, i just enjoy taking photographs of things and people, moments or places. It is the best way i've found for comunicating things with others.

-Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do?

I dont think of me as an artist, i feel im just learning all the time, and i like that. I do not do this as a job, its more a personal thing, i do it for myself.

-Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?

I go to design school, and i study textile design. Also, im stuying embroidery

-Where do you find inspiration?

In all the things that surround me, in the little things of everyday life

-Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?

i think my friends are my favorite artists, to see that someone just like me can create beauty makes me feel happy.

-Where can my readers see you`re work?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/variationsonthewordsleep/

or

http://araucarias.tumblr.com/

culture? Julia!

Culture? introducing Kelly Tunstall..

..On this fine february day, we have the fine artist by the name Kelly Tunstall. Kelly`s quirky art is simply an energy-boost, and I love it. Kelly is answering some questions for us today, and I wish you all a happy look and read..
..So here it is, your daily shot of art with Kelly Tunstall:

..

..color guard..

..mcallister..

..my walrus..

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?i am kelly tunstall, age 31, i live in san francisco, california, usa. i also collaborate on artwork sometimes with my husband, ferris plock, who may just be a better painter than me. we have a son and two cats and love coffee. seriously. i love traditional girly stuff but am also a huge huge nerd. i like having my fingers in lots of pies. painting for me is some kind of church mixed with a diary/to do list mixed with a dream. dirty and clean! i started drawing things, mostly clothes, that i wanted. still do. public wishlist.

-What inspired you to start being creative?i just always was, but encouragement and reinforcement helped

-Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do?no, i also am a graphic designer. i illustrate and do moving things as well.

-Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?yes, california college of the arts for graphic design.

-Where do you find inspiration?fashion and color.

 -Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?no, i don't think so.....
-Where can my readers see you`re work?kefeinc.com and kellytunstall.com. more casually (work in progress and the like) http://www.facebook.com/kellytunstall also twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/kellyleigh

Culture? introducing Guim Tio..

..On this fine thuesday-morning I have the great pleasure of introducing Guim Tio. The work is very intense, and I do love the use of colour. Guim is telling us a little about his work and thoughts around it today, so I hope you all enjoy..
..Here it is, your (almost) daily shot of art with Guim Tio:

..

..annie..

..boy..

..olin..

..porcelana..

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, name, what country you live in, age etc?Hello, my name Guim, I am 23 years and I'm from Barcelona. I love ice cream.-What inspired you to start being creative?I think we are all creative, in fact human beings are by nature creative.
I guess my inspiration to start painting were my grandparents, two painters and very good! They have a strong influence on my work .. -Is making art your fulltime job, and if not, what else do you do? Right now I am a high school teacher in an institute of Barcelona, is a bit difficult to live of the art you do, but I try ... The truth is that with the Internet, the world will open,for example I just created my humble shop (www.guimtioshop.blogspot.com), take the opportunity to do some publicity ..
-Have you gone to art school, if yes where did you go and what did you study?I studied at the University of Arts in Barcelona, I majored in painting. Now I would like to study in another country, I think travel and seeing the world is essential for learning.

-Where do you find inspiration?In this latest project entitled Magazine, there is a clear influence of fashion and the concept of beauty. In my studio I have lots of fashion magazines that I work with to do my work, the beauty that deforms sold there and so I think ..

-Do you have a favorite artist and if so who and why?I like many artists, including Basquiat classic, Kupka, Bacon .. But the truth is I feel much more identified with the artists of today, are much closer to my concerns aboutits historical context and have similar concerns to mine in how contemporary they are ..Some of them are Conrad Roset, Irene Bou, Andrew Hem, Jennifer Davis, EdwardKinsella, ... the list could be endless nowadays there are very talented.

Where can my readers see you`re work?You can find my works in www.guimtio.blogspot.com, http://www.flickr.com/photos/guimtio/
or my Facebook page that goes very well to keep up with what I created ..
Right now I have works on display at the Gallery Artevistas of Barcelona, if you pass by Barcelona do not hesitate to visit the gallery.

culture? Guim Tio!