Sunday, November 14, 2010

Marshall Arisman

Marshall Arisman is an illustrator and painter.  And he sometimes dabbles in sculpture.  What is unique about Arisman's work is his connection to the metaphysical.  Many of his paintings (in fact a great majority of them) combine spiritual animals or figures with colorful depictions of energies and auras.  For example, his "Black Elk" series portrays his connection with Native American spirits.  Nearly all of his figures and animals have auras.  Some in gold.  His "Sacred Monkies" were on view at the Guang Dong Museum of Art in China in 1999.  He was the first American invited to exhibit his artwork in mainland China, for this exhibition.  He also has work in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum, National Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian Institute.  He is Director of the "Illustration as Visual Essay" Graduate Program at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.  I looked into the program but it was not for me (SVA.edu).  As a Reiki Master, much of his spiritual art resonates with me.  It is interest to observe his depiction of energies.  I find a lot of his earlier work, like his "Frozen Images" series but especially his magazine illustration work to be difficult to look at because it is gnarlier and more violent.  But I appreciate his process and use of planar construction and texture.  (Note the inspiration of painter Francis Bacon in his work.)  But artwork aside, Marshall Arisman is a really interesting man to talk to.  If you get the chance to sit down and talk with him, DO IT!  He has a lot to say.
Illustration:
From "Black Elk" Series:
 From "Ayahuasca" Series

 "Healer" 1995 from "Light Runners" Series
From "Buffaloes" Series:
From "Sacred Cats" Series:
From "Sacred Monkies" Series:
From "Divine Elvis" Series:
(some of my favorite of his pieces)

Henry Selick

What a delightful man...I can't stop looking at him.
LOOK AT HIM!
He's just the coolest!
Henry Selick is a directorial and stop motion genius.  GENIUS!  There, I said it.  Tim Burton may be cool in terms of design, but Henry Selick friggin directed and animated "The Nightmare Before Christmas."  And "James and the Giant Peach."  And "Coraline."  And a film called "Monkeybone" that I've never seen (but it's in my Netflix queue so that will change soon).  Please, please go watch and admire and revel in the beauty and magic of these films!

Sally & Jack
This actually looks like a video game image or something.
It's CGI-ish.
Tim Burton totally appreciating how awesome Henry Selick is.
One more fun Tim Burton image, for good measure.



Just take a moment to appreciate how awesome this illustration is.

For the record, "CORALINE" WAS NOT DIRECTED BY TIM BURTON!!!
Everyone thinks so because it's animated by HENRY SELICK.  Since it was advertised as with the "Nightmare Before Christmas" title, it was assumed Tim Burton was all over it.  And the story is by NEIL GAIMAN.  And I am in love with him.  No, really.
 Some of the best promotional artwork I have seen for a film in a long time:
 I'm not going to even pretend that I don't have the Coraline sneakers,
because I'm a dweeeeeb!