the technological mammal

John Stamos Portfolio

2011-07-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Jimi Hendrix for the Anna Goodson Coaster Promotional 2009!

2009-11-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the coaster design I did for this years coaster mailer that Anna Goodson Management puts out each year. You can head on over to www.agoodson.com to see the rest of the coasters. I think everyone did a bang up job.

A Much Needed Update!

2009-10-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Well I'll be the first to admit that I've been a little neglectful of this blog, but here we go with tons of new stuff. This one was done for Barnhart USA for the Denver School District. They wanted a comic book villain vibe and I gave it my best shot.

This is my first job for Globe and Mail. The story was about how airport dining has always been a drag and how certain restaurants are attempting to change all of that by creating more fine dining experience in airports.

This is an illustration that I did awhile back for Alternative Press that I somehow had forgotten about. Rediscovered it the other day and thought I would show it to you all. The story was a top ten of the worst things that can happen on a band tour.

Today is my b-day and I'm celebrating with a ton of updates!!

2009-07-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Just wrappeed up this little bad boy for the Las Vegas Weekly before I absconded to a beach in Connecticut for a week. I guess Gallagher and Carrot Top have always been bitter rivals and the LVW managed to get them both in a room together to bury the hatchet. This one was a blast to work on. Bright colors and crazy looking people.

Another fun piece i did for first time clients "The Capitol". I've been getting a lot more jobs where I'm required to draw likenesses and that makes me very happy. I enjoy the challenge and hope to do more of them soon.

This one was for the Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, also first time clients, where I had the pleasure to work with the art director Benjamin Purvis. I remember reading an interview with him at Illustration Mundo awhile back and have always wanted to work with him ever since. This was a small illustration about how doctors and people in the medical field might take advantage of a universal healthcare system for their own personal gain. I've really been pushing the old cartoon cell look of late.

Also, the cover design I did for the new Modest Mouse Black Vinyl limited edition EP can be seen fully animated at their website. I need to figure out how I can photograph the actual album so everyone can see it, but if you can't wait you can always visit your local music shop and pick one up.

Bullfight?

2009-06-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

This was another image for Las Vegas Weekly about a new form of bovine friendly bullfighting. Apparently, true bullfighters are up in arms about the bastardization of their sport and think that velcro padding and nerf spears should be kept on the playground. I think the image is pretty self explanatory. I dig the background most of all. It was a last minute detail that ended up tying the whole thing together. Also on another note, I am now officially represented by the good people of Anna Goodson Management. I'm honored to be a part of their team and am looking forward to our growing relationship as professionals. Go check out the other illustrators they represent over at www.agoodson.com.

Bob Dylan For Paste Magazine

2009-04-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

Paste Magazine wanted me to do this illustration for a book review they were doing about musicians whose lyrics have doomsday undertones. Using the Dr. Strangelove imagery was requested and I went full steam ahead to create the likeness of Dylan in all of his big haired glory. It is amazing how often this Kubrick icon is used in modern day illustration. This was a very small illustration and was only a couple inches in print. I had a great time working on it and I hope to do more for them in the future. Making portraits is a blast.

New Posts For A Lonely Blog

2009-04-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well it's been awhile since I've updated and I'm here with new work to liven this blog up a bit.

This was something I did for Las Vegas Weekly about an old gun club that is threatened of being shut down by the encroaching suburbs surrounding it that are complaining about the noise. Again, my style is continuing its evolution towards more cartoony and less serious. It's fun to draw and is a nice change of pace from my more serious work. I worry at times that my portfolio is too diverse and might confuse potential clients as to what my style actually is. In the end I tell myself that I got into this line of work to have fun and to grow as an artist.

This was my first job with Forbes and is probably one of the best and most fluid experiences I have had yet in my short career as an illustrator. The art director was delightful and the ideas from sketch to finish came out without a hitch. I look forward to working with these guys again real soon.

Santa Fe Reporter

2009-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

The Santa Fe Reporter asked me to design a cover for their next issue for a story about John Allen, the creator of the Biosphere 2 project. He is a true visionary and the concept above came about pretty fast. At first I wasn't sure about it. It is different from how I compose most of my pieces and I was worried that his likeness wouldn't come across with half of his face cut off like that. As I was refining the sketch I realized that it wasn't his likeness that was important. His ideas are what define him and I would wager that very few people actually know what this man looks like.

Here is the final and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of it. I like how quickly it reads and I'm also happy with how the landscape in the dome turned out. If there was anything I was nervous about turning out well it was that. I am also pleased as punch with the play on words. The man really does have a biodome.

Nevada For Sale

2009-02-11T05:11:00.001-08:00

This was another illustration for Las Vegas Weekly and this time a portrait of Nevada's governor was involved. I don't get the opportunity to do portraits very often, but I love doing them. Here was the rough. I actually had a better sketch before this one, however Photoshop shut down unexpectedly before I was able to save it. I invented some new curse words that morning. This one was an attempt to capture the qualities I liked in the first sketch, but anyone whose ever done this line of work will tell you that rarely happens.

Here is the final. It's usually not until this stage that I really start to focus on capturing the likeness of the person being portrayed. I really nailed him though. Too bad people outside of Nevada probably don't know what he looks like.

Las Vegas Weekly

2009-02-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas Weekly contacted me about doing this illustration a day before I was to leave for Miami. I really wanted to do it and decided to punch it into overdrive to get it done. I completed this sketch in about an hour and had it approved so I could move onto final. Keep in mind that the concept was pretty much given to me. Having to work out an idea from scratch probably would have tacked on a couple more hours.

Here is how the final turned out. I'm most proud of the background. I've always struggled with trying to keep backgrounds simple without looking to unfinished. This one strikes a nice balance.

The art director was kind enough to send me a pdf of the final layout.

Mountain Bike Magazine

2008-12-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

Mountain Bike magazine asked me to do a spot for their opinion section. This one was about how environmental organizations are making it more and more difficult for bikers to experience certain trails since a lot of forests have been turned into nature sanctuaries thus barring human beings from ever stepping foot in them. The writer of the piece believes that these preserves should be opened up for recreational purposes. Here are two sketches that I presented to them. I really liked the one with the hands, but they chose the chain sketch. Looking at it now it probably does read a little faster. I'm always looking for opportunities to draw hands.

Here is how the final turned out. The image was going to print pretty small so I tried to make the final design as simple and clear as possible. I also used a pretty stark contrast between the warm and cool colors to create depth. I'm pretty happy with how the biker turned out.

Break Away

2008-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

This is my first illustration for Break Away magazine. Break Away is a christian youth magazine and this story was about a group of youth missionaries that were held up at gun point by the most wanted thief in Africa. He and his cronies all wore African tribal masks to hide their identity which immediately made this image a fun one to work on. I was a little nervous that this image might be offensive when taken out of context.

Here is a sketchbook page where you can see some of my original concepts. The most obvious change from the original sketch is the machine gun. The art director also asked that the African Mask be made to look less menacing. I still kind of like the gun sketch better. I really wanted to paint a machine gun.

Witches

2008-10-20T07:49:00.001-07:00

I finished up this image this morning for an art event later this week that my friend, Barry Fitzgerald, is organizing. It will be in Lawrence, Kansas at Blue Plate Dinners from October 21 - November 22. Tons of illustrators are participating so be sure to check it out. The only requirement for the show was that it involved food in some way and that it could fit in a freezer bag in which it will be displayed. I am very happy with how this one turned out. These are actually characters that I want to use in a comic book that I'm attempting to develop at the moment.

New Business Week Illustration

2008-09-02T10:31:00.001-07:00

This was a full two page spread for the latest issue of Business Week. The story was about companies who gather information on their employees by mining data from their computers, telephones and anything else that might leave a trail. This then gives the company better means at using their employees in the most efficient way. I also did several spot illustrations that ran along the top of the story.

Here is an example of my favorite spot I did for them. All of the spots were connected to each other through the numbered ticker tape. This was a huge project and was a lot of fun to work on. I have decided to never draw a tiny business man for the rest of my career. I must of drawn over a hundred of these suckers by the end of it all.

New Illustrations!!!

2008-08-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Okay. It's been awhile since I last updated. This first image was for New Angeles Monthly. The story was about a new library being built in Silver Lake, California. The story itself didn't really have much conflict in it so I decided to create an image that was pleasant an welcoming. This illustration was also done 100% digitally. I'm not sure if it was easier or more difficult to do it this way. It was fun however.

This is my latest illustration for Nexos magazine. This was for a story about how children are better at learning multiple languages than full grown adults. This is my third spot for this magazine and it is a lot of fun trying to break down my ideas into simple, clear designs. They also take about half the time. I really need to start making all of my illustrations like this.

Business Week

2008-07-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

Business Week was writing a story about college students being lured into signing up for credit cards by college alumni associations. These Alumni groups later receive a profit cut from the whatever the big credit card companies make off the student. So these universities are basically selling their students into debt. This was the rough sketch I sent along for approval. They liked it and told me to move along to final.

Here is the final drawing in all of its glory. One thing the art directors realized after I had painted on it for awhile was that the image was strangely cropped on the right side. They asked if I could extend it to include the rest of the man in the corner and also the entirety of the pit of debt. I agreed that the image would greatly be improved with the change and went to work on a pretty complex patch.

This is how the final turned out. I'm pretty happy with it. I really like the guys in the foreground. I think the fine folks over at Business Week were happy as well.

Canadian Punk

2008-07-09T14:25:00.001-07:00

I finished this one up for Alternative Press last week. This is for the same section that I did the Mexican Punk illustration for a few months ago. I like that it is a quick read and I also like the neck. It's way over the top and most people that look at it get a little grossed out. That, in my mind, is a success.

New Angeles

2008-06-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

I recently finished up a job for the July edition of the New Angeles Monthly. The story is about South Central and how the cops are cleaning up the streets and kicking out the homeless and the drug users. The story is told from the perspective of an ex heroin user who misses the realness of how it used to be. He also thinks the original inhabitants are being mistreated and that South Central belongs to the homeless. This is the rough sketch that I sent in for approval. The author of the story definately takes the side of the people who live in South Central so the cops developed into a more ominous presence. I liked the idea of have the cops using syringes to fumigate the city with money.

This is how the final turned out. I didn't realize how much was really going on in this illustration until I began painting it. Everything for awhile was screaming on the same level and it took a lot to create a clear hierarchy. The radioactive green helped to center the illustration around the cop while the rest of the piece was painted with more muted colors. The homeless at the bottom of the page or more of an afterthought rather than the main focus as they could have easily become.

Here is what the final layout looked like.

New Content Soon

2008-06-06T06:39:00.001-07:00

Thought I would let everyone now that my website is being tricked out so that I can finally update it on the fly without my web programmers assistance. It is something that needed to happen a long time ago and now that it has expect to see regular updates on my main website from here on in. Above is a pianting I worked on just for fun. His name is Blake and he is addicted to creation and destruction.

Music Showcase 2008

2008-06-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show a little of my process for this one. This was for the Pitch Music Showcase that happens every year and I was asked to submit some ideas for it. The Pitch asked a few other illustrators to submit as well and they decided to go with my idea. The sketch on the left was what I sent them originally. My concept was to create a music goddess in the stylings of Vishnu. I wanted every aspect of her to have something to do with music like her piano skirt and the bells in her head dress. They liked the concept and asked to see another with her facing forward instead, hence the sketch on the right.

After being given the go ahead I went ahead and refined the drawing and blew it up to its full 18x24 and got to work on drawing the final. All color and effects were done in Photoshop. This was a very elaborate piece with a lot of detail requiring me to take extra care in making sure that everything worked as a whole and that no elements seemed distracting or unneccessary. I'm very please with how the final turned out and I can't wait to see it as a full sized poster. Click to enlarge the image to see a more detailed version.

The Village Voice

2008-05-07T09:28:00.001-07:00

This was the other project I took on last week. It's my first cover for the Village Voice and it was a lot of fun to work on. The story was very sad about a girl who was kidnapped and murdered and how the police didn't do their part in trying to find her. Since the story was already very graphic and depressing the art director wanted an image that wasn't too dark. The story was titled "Missing In Action" and I think the image works well with that.

Here is what the final layout looks like. The art director was Ivylise Simones and I think she did a bang up job.

Rhino Bowl

2008-05-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first illustration for the RiverFront Times. It was for their Night&Day section and it was about a charity event that will raise money for Rhinos through bowling. It was a quick turn around with another project going on at the same time. It was fun to work on and I hope to do more for them soon.

Nexos

2008-04-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

Nexos is a Spanish magazine published by American Airways. They asked me to do an illustration for an article about words that get lost in translation from Portuguese to Spanish. The art director and I both liked the idea of people looking for something lost in the woods so conceptually this was an easy one to develop. I wanted the image to work more as a spot than a full illustration and I'm really happy with how it ended up.

Don Quixote

2008-04-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Miami New Times was doing a story about a street musician who travels around playing his piano in random parts of the city for everyone to enjoy. He considers himself a modern day Don Quixote and that was the theme we decided to take for this illustration. Horses are tough to draw as anyone who has ever tried to draw one can tell you, so I ended up actually going to the library this time for reference which I need to be doing more often than just using the internet. If you don't know, the library is an ancient form of Google that is still used even today mostly by children learning how to use it and homeless people. Anyhoo, I think this one turned out and I had some fun working on it.

SPECTRUM 15!

2008-04-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

I found out yesterday that this illustration which was done for The Pitch Weekly will be published in Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. I've always been a big fan of this annual and it is an honor to be involved with it. I used to flip through this book when I was just a kid so it has been with me for quite some time.

Hi Doc

2008-04-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

A german children's health magazine called "Hi Doc" contacted me a week ago to do a cover and spread illustration for a story about a boy with such large ears he can hear everything in the world. The cover was a simple design and was finished pretty quickly. The spread however . . .

. . . took a little bit more time. I wanted to fit in as many things as I could to create a sense of sound and music in nature and the world around him. It was a lot of fun to make and I always love the chance to sneak my dog into my illustrations.

New Lawrence.com Illustration

2008-03-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Just finished this up for Lawrence.com. The story was about transgender people and their ability to see the world through the perspective of both male and female. It was a pretty quick turn around and I ended up having to do the drawing and painting in a single day. I always like to have at least two days for painting to allow for time to get away from it and come back with a fresh set of eyes. The short deadlines due force me to quit fussing about and make some executive decisions that I wouldn't make with extra time. Sometimes that is a very good thing.

Cougar!

2008-03-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Lawrence.com was doing a story on peoples irrational fear of cougars here in Kansas. Not that you shouldn't avoid a cougar if you see one, but generally they don't attack people and keep to themselves. They wanted the illustration to look like a vintage horror movie poster and this is what I came up with. The most challenging part were the people running away in the corner. I swear that woman in the corner made me want to throw myself out the window, which wouldn't accomplish much since I live in a one story house. I think everything turned out though. The cop was the most fun to draw.

Bargain Auction

2008-03-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

Lawrence.com asked me to do a color spot for a story about an art auction that happens here in Lawrence where people bid on local artist's work at bargain bin prices. I think it turned out. It has a simple, quick read.

Mexican Punk

2008-02-26T17:25:00.001-08:00

I just finished this illustration for Alternative Press on a story about Mexican punk. You know, it's when you get a chance to paint skulls and mohawks that makes it all worth it.

LA CityBeat

2008-02-22T10:50:00.001-08:00

Here is another recent image I made for LA CityBeat. The story was about teenage sex offenders whose lives are ruined by laws meant to keep true criminals in line like rapists and pedophiles. I had a completely different sketch in mind for this story that was approved and then later altered last minute due to editorial changes. These things happen and the art director was very helpful. In the end, I think we both created something very cool under the gun.

Here it is with the final layout. I really like their main header. Very dynamic.

Preparing For Spring

2008-02-22T06:44:00.001-08:00

The Good Life, a Jersey based magazine, asked me to create an image for their gardening section. They liked the quality of some of my lighter images and were looking for something in that vein. I'm always happy to work this way in that the layout and design usually consist of basic shapes to create a simple yet dynamic drawing. Most of the detailing is saved for painting in photoshop. The flowers were probably the most difficult aspect to figure out. I had something far more complex in mind before I decided to go the simple route. I'll have a ton of new updates soon, however I have to wait a little while until some of those see print.

Online Privacy

2008-02-07T06:50:00.001-08:00

This image was done for Lawrence.com on a story about ways to protect your personal information online. The idea for the person wielding an encrypted sword and shield came pretty quickly. I came up with several variations for what would be attacking from the computer screen until I realized the obvious and most clear solution with the iconic hand.

Uptown

2008-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

I wrapped up this piece for the Pitch earlier this morning. The art director wanted a stylized painting of the Uptown Theatre in downtown Kansas City and told me to have fun with it. I was inspired by the neon in the sign and decided to go for a BladeRunner kind of vibe. I think it turned out well. I still get a little nervous when I have to draw buildings.

Eulogy for an Oak

2008-01-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Chronicle called me a few weeks ago to do a spot illustration for a story about a woman's relationship with an old Oak tree that was cut down in Golden Gate Park. In her story she describes the tree as a warrior that can never truly die and how it will live on in her memories and in the trees that it produced while it thrived.

Happy New Years!

2007-12-21T13:25:00.001-08:00

Burlesque in Kansas

2007-12-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

This illustration was done for the Pitch Weekly for their Night & Day section. This was one of those experiences where everything seemed to line up. The sketch process was quick and painless, the final drawing came out without a hitch, and the time spent on the computer was brief. The only challenge I had was figuring out how to approach the feathers. I ended up painting them on a separate piece of bristol and combining the two drawings in photoshop.

The People Under the Bridge

2007-12-12T06:07:00.001-08:00

This illustraton was done for the Miami New Times. The story was on how the city has made it impossible for sexual offenders to legally live anywhere in Miami and have been forced to live underneath a bridge that fits within the guidelines of how close they can be to a school. The art director liked some of the fairy tale elements from my portfolio and wanted me to use that style for this particular piece. I most worried about drawing the bridge and making that look interesting, but not fussy. I kept its design very basic and added textural elements in photoshop. I had a ton of fun drawing the faces underneath the bridge. That's the place in the illustration where I allowed myself the freedom to be as detailed as I wanted.

Best & Worst of 2007

2007-11-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

I worked out the final kinks on this image this morning and got it off to Alternative Press Magazine for their Year in Review issue coming out next month. This concept had a lot going on with it and took lots of time in the planning stages to really get it off the ground. I think the most difficult aspect of this image was getting the cards right. They needed a sense of direction and shape without looking to flimsy or fluttery. I am really happy with the final outcome and I think it fits the look and feel of the magazine as well. I had a great time working on this piece and I hope to do more for Alternative Press in the future.

Happy Holidays!

2007-11-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

I just finished up this image for Lawrence.com on a story about crazy gift ideas for Christmas. Happy Holidays all! Also, just found out that my illustration, Elton and the Tree Giant, which you can see a few posts down will be featured in this years Society of Illustrators West Coast. It's been a great month.

Troubled in Iraq

2007-10-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

This painting was for Lawrence.com for an article about strained marriages and relationships with soldiers in Iraq and their families back in the states. Again, this illustration was an exercise in simplicity. During the initial sketches I was trying to come up with concepts that would work both as spots and as full sized painting. I also had a lot of fun playing with different scanned in textures to create unexpected variations in the final image like the dripping oil clouds in the background.

Elton Eats His Lunch

2007-10-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to make a picture that evokes calm. Creating an image like this is very refreshing and is a nice change of pace from my regular style. This is Elton and he's enjoying his sandwich on a sunny afternoon. For those of you who like my darker stuff better don't worry. There is a mysterious creature behind those hills who has been hunting Elton his entire life.

Wetlands Threat

2007-09-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

This illustration was created for the cover of Lawrence.com. The story is about how the city of Lawrence plans on building a highway through the Baker Wetlands thus destroying the ecosystem and also some sacred Native American sites. There are several environmental and historical groups that are protesting the build, however the city seems very determined to see this thing built. I've been focusing more on keeping the message of my images as clear and simple as possible. I tried with this one to make a final image that could work as both a large, full color illustration, but also be easily reduced into a black and white spot. It helps me to think in these terms so that I keep things economical and don't get carried away with unnecessary details.

White Stripes

2007-09-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

The second I saw the outfits worn by Jack and Meg on their new album "Icky Thump" I knew that I wanted to do an image of them. I went through a lot of different sketches to come up with the final design and finally decided on one that put Meg in the foreground. I think that Jack is a big enough symbol to read without much detail in the background. The image was drawn with pencil on bristol and then scanned and painted in photoshop. I also experimented with scanning in different paper textures to create a more old parchment feel to the final illustration.

Elton and the Tree Giant

2007-08-12T12:40:00.001-07:00

This image is for a children's book idea that I have been working on. The image is based on a sketchbook drawing that I decided to take to a finished illustration. I went through several variations of the giant, some ranging from more menacing to just down right strange. I finally decided on a more simple design that is actually closer to the original sketch. The image was drawn on tinted paper with graphite and white colored pencil and later colored in Photoshop.

sketchbook

2007-08-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

My sketchbook section on my website is in need of updating, so I have been focusing a lot more on drawing in my little black book. For me the sketchbook is a place to create without planning ahead and getting caught up in the final outcome. Things need to evolve naturally without fear of destroying the final image. This sketch was on the brink of disaster many times forcing me to involve new strategies and mediums to bring it back to life. There are plenty of pages in my sketchbook that are beyond saving, however these images are more important than the one above.

American Illustration 26!

2007-04-26T05:14:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that the spot illustration above will be featured in the next American Illustration annual. I am overwhelmed with glee and warm feelings throughout my incredibly sculpted body. I honestly could not be happier about being chosen for my first big contest. Let us all pray that this is not the last.

Punk Ballerina

2007-03-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

Just finished this image for The Pitch weekly. The piece was done for the calendar section announcing the ballet performance of Karole Armitage who was dubbed the "Punk Ballerina" by Vanity Fair. As you can see I decided to put the punk dancers in a dark and whimsical forest. If you look at my portfolio you will see that this is a rarity for me.

SUPERBOWL PARTIES!

2007-02-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

This illustration was done for the Pitch's calendar section. It was a challenge for me in that there was no opportunity for me to utilize any creepy, dark elements that I like to play with. This one had to be straight up fun and bright. Seriously, if you can't have a sense of humor about a Superbowl illustration than you should rethink your agenda in life. For me this was an excellent exercise in learning to be light and provide a fun and stylized image that still looks like one of my own.

KJHK

2007-01-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

This image was done for the local college radio station. I like to fit as much narrative as possible into my illustrations and with this one I really had a lot of fun fitting in the various details in an attempt to tell a layered story in a single image.

wolf!

2006-12-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

This was an image for Little Red Riding Hood that was part of an entire Fairy Tale series. I was lucky enough to have it featured in issue number five of the Creative Quarterly magazine. I was honored to be included in a very talented line up of illustrators.

Sonic Spectrum

2006-12-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is another piece for Lawrence.com about Robert Moore, the host of the radio show Sonic Spectrum. This is the first portrait I've done in quite some time and I had forgotten how much fun they are to do. I'm planning on doing several more in the near future.

The Nutcracker

2006-12-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

This was a piece I did for The Pitch to announce a perfomance of the Nutcracker in Kansas City. I was asked to keep things light and fun which can at times be a challenge for me. The color palette is different for me as well as the layout.

Welcome!!

2006-12-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog. I will be posting all of my most recent works here as well as recent news and upcoming events. Please visit my online portfolio at www.jalexstamos.com.