(Original photo here.)

Painting of me by Karen Schmidt
Send Me Your Head project.

Tags: art

First Look Inside My New Book: Draw Star Wars: Clone Wars

When you draw R2-D2, does he look more like a watermelon on roller skates than a cool droid? Does the Yoda you see in your head look nothing like the green blob that ends up on paper? Don't go to the dark side yet! Learn to draw like a Jedi Master with this hands-on workbook -- Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- from Klutz.

Written by the editors of Klutz and Lucasfilm's Bonnie Burton, and illustrated by Star Wars artist Grant Gould, Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars is packed with tips and techniques, practice space to draw right in the book, and translucent overlays that make tracing a snap.

Master the art of drawing from within -- beginning with stick figures, then on to basic shapes, and finishing with details. Learn to draw 20 different Clone Wars characters, including C-3PO, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, General Grievous, Asajj Ventress, and others.

The book comes with everything you need, including a black marker, double-tipped metallic colored pencils, and an always-sharp mechanical pencil. Of course, we also include perhaps the most essential tool for any artist -- an eraser; because sometimes even a Jedi Master could use a do-over.

Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars hits stores in October 2009.

Here's a sneak peek inside the Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars.






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SOURCE: Starwars.com

Tags: art, books, draw, star wars, writing

Art by Randy Martinez
Heads: Bonnie Burton, Steve Sansweet, Matt Busch, Mary Franklin

The Headless Horseman Has My Noggin
Words: Bonnie Burton

It's not every day that my severed head ends up in a piece of art work. Luckily for me, Star Wars artist Randy Martinez also put my noggin in the company of well-known heads that belong to Lucasfilm Events Manager and Bantha Tracks Editor Mary Franklin, Lucasfilm Director of Fan Relations Steve Sansweet, and You Can Draw: Star Wars artist Matt Busch.

I chatted with Randy about the Headless Horseman tribute which is featured in his upcoming book Creature Features: Draw Amazing Monsters & Aliens, published by Impact and due to hit stores in March 2009.

( Read more... )

Tags: art, draw

Check out the Stephen Hawking Black Velvet Painting here.

Nichole "The Toy Baroness" Lindsay from Kid Robot
commissioned this "Tijuana Velvet" painting of
Stephen Hawking that anyone would be proud to
place above their mantle.

Tags: art

The Vader Project in Japan
Photos and words: Bonnie Burton

The Vader Project, an exhibit featuring the reimagined visions of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today's hottest pop and underground artists, is currently on display July 19-21, 2008 at Star Wars Celebration Japan -- at Makuhari-Messe in Chiba just outside Tokyo to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars.

The Vader Project is curated by Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys. Kelemer and Marks gathered close to 100 of the hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists and toy designers to participate. Each artist was given a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet used in the Star Wars films. Each helmet served as a blank canvas for each artist to paint, design, mash up, and customize.

To kick off Celebration Japan's display of The Vader Project, I chatted with curator Dov Kelemer about the new additions to the lineup.

Why did you decide to bring The Vader Project to Celebration Japan?
Another Celebration was planned in Japan and based on its past popularity Lucasfilm and the show promoters asked Sarah Jo and I to take the show over to Japan.

( Read more... )

Tags: art, star wars

Sleestack Velvet Painting by Velezquez of Tijuana
from Velvetpaintings.com

Tags: art

Photo by Bonnie Burton.
Art by Sylvia Ji
Opening Reception
White Walls Gallery, San Francisco
June 14, 2008

The latest solo art show by Sylvia Ji shows off her talent for painting breathtakingly gorgeous women, as well as paying tribute to Mexican art in particular with El Día de los Muertos. Her primary muse for this show seems to be Calaveras Ladies -- beautiful women adorning skull face paint. They are truly works of art, almost akin to Olivia De Berardinis's pinups, only darker and more mysteriously seductive.

I had a great time looking at her work up close for a change -- since I've only just seen it online or in magazines. Plus I ran into and met other artists/tattoo celebs -- Henry Lewis, Norm and one of my favorite artists -- Shawn Barber.

Check out all my photos of the reception here:
Sylvia Ji Art Show

Learn more about Sylvia Ji and her art on her site here.

Here's a great video interview with Sylvia about her work from her 2007 White Walls show:

Tags: art

Photo by Bonnie Burton.
Art by Greg Gossel
"Make Believe" solo show
Opening Reception
The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco
June 14, 2008

When I first saw Minneapolis-based artist Greg Gossel's mixed media paintings that mashup vintage comics, pulp-like cover girls and graffiti, I got fairly giddy. I'm a big fan of collage and mixed-media art, and especially when it looks like a big tribute to Teen Confessions Silver Age comics -- which I've been collecting for over a decade. His work reminds me of Roy Lichtenstein meets Bansky -- which means of course that I love it!

But unless my next book makes the bestsellers' list or I manage to get a screenplay optioned, I won't be seeing his awesome work on my walls at home. So I guess I'll just have settle for admiring my photos of his art.

Be sure to check out his "Make Believe" show -- which runs from now until July 7 -- at San Francisco's art gallery The Shooting Gallery.

Check out the full set of photos from his opening reception here:
"Make Believe" Art Show Photos (Flickr)
See more art on Greg Gossel's site here.

Tags: art

Indignico Inc. pays tribute to Hillary Clinton busy on the campaign trail with this new velvet portrait. No word on Obama paintings, but they also sell plenty of velvet tributes to Pres. Bush, Carl Rove, Phil Spector and the Govenator.

More velvet paintings here.

Tags: art, weird

More info here.

Check out my photos of Liz's art here.

Tags: art