Political Issue

OOPS!

(Wrong Election!!)

This illustration was commissioned by The New York Daily News, on the eve of the 2004 election. In my humble opinion, this is the illustration that should have graced the world by its publication on the day following the election.

So, aside from the candidates, I also feel robbed! My illustration is published for the first time here.

Of interest to you conspiracy theorists out there, I offer this well-overlooked news item (it is the Political Issue blog, after all!): http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/death_of_republican_computer_s.html

I am so looking forward to getting past the dark days of President (or should I say King) George! It has felt like living in “Bizaare-O World” to me the last eight years. I have had many personal setbacks I can justifiably lay at the feet this man and his coterie. This administration will be considered by historians to be the worst in our history, mark my words, Dear Reader.

Thanks, I trust, to a God who hears the pleas of his people (and to rational citizens motivated by understandable outrage!), we now have coming into our midst, a “real” President:

A New Year

all images, copyright Kevin Sprouls

Well, one thing you can count on in this life is that, like a finely tuned watch, time continues on in its inexorable march, ever into the future.

With the passing of another (eventful!) year, we all prepare to observe the transition from ‘08 to 2009. There are different ways to celebrate…

Some folks actually get a bit carried away…

Hotel Ad, late 80’s, “Unwanted Guests”

If you are going to imbibe in celebration, please remember to watch it, and no drinking and driving, please.

New Yorker, ca. early 90’s, “Long Time Companions”

OUT WITH THE OLD!  IN WITH THE NEW!

Happy New year to you all!

Christmas, 2008

all illustrations, sound, copyright Kevin Sprouls

You Better Watch Out, You Better not Cry, You Better not Pout, I’m Tellin’ You why…

Because if you don’t get with the Program, the Big Guy might just leave you something flinty and black in your stocking! It actually did happen to someone I know. So please, throughout the year, be mindful of all the good things you are capable of doing, support all those you encounter, and give up those piggy ways!

He’s coming to town, and SOON! All the good boys and girls know that they simply must be in bed (and preferably asleep) in order to receive a visit from the Bearded Man of the Hearth. It would be terrible to imagine what would happen if they were not!

                             The Raven League, front cover illustration for Penguin Books, 2006.

I’m not suggesting anything sinister, of course, but you can’t be too careful. Best not to take chances. Early Christmas Morning (Blessed time!), isn’t it delicious to discover that the tree has been surrounded by glittering prizes, reminding us of the Reason for the Season! The birth of One so great is a Gift, indeed.

1986, Wall Street Journal

I used to wake up, as a young lad, at around 5:00 am on Christmas morning. One memorable occasion found me tearing apart wrappings, and exploring the various treasures they concealed. That Christmas, one of my brothers had decided to give me a nifty lighter fluid-fired handwarmer. Naturally, I had to try it out. I had this chrome wonder going strong when I smelled something good coming from the kitchen. I thought, “strange to have the oven on at this time of night…”, and went off to investigate. Sure enough, someone had forgotten to turn off the oven! I then performed the act I am domestically so well known for today: I switched it off. Around this time, my Dad came downstairs to see what was going on. It was still well before dawn. After safely depositing the now red-hot handwarmer in the bathtub, he sent me back to bed. Because of my fastidiousness over proper oven protocol, we sat down to Christmas Dinner about three hours late that day!

Christmas card design, 1988. B&W Photostat affixed to Mie-Tints paper, with inserted color print of tree illustration, complete with rubber stamp impression. What a production!

I also used the stamp impression above to adorn the cover of a small booklet accompanying a print I produced illustrating the Dickens short story, “A Child’s Dream of a Star”.

A somewhat unusual style of work for me, mainly colored pencil over watercolor, ca. 1987.

That story is a favorite of mine, very atmospheric, tragic, tender and otherworldly. Quintessentially Dickens. And, speaking of old-fashioned Christmases, here is an image of just such a one, produced in the 90’s for the Home Insurance Company:

When my daughter was studying music at the Conservatoire de Quebec, many miles from home, I endeavored to make her a recording of one of her favorite authors’ books. In our family that year, we decided that we were tired of the crass commercialism of Christmas. We resolved to give only personally- handmade gifts to each other— big mistake! But, it was, for all the effort, worthwhile in retrospect. I spent a pretty good month of afternoons leading up to Christmas reading aloud to her through the microphone into pro-tools. As my wise Wife predicted, she greeted the gift with tears on Christmas morning!

Click below for an audio exerpt…

chapt-3-abridged1

I’ll have to close, as I’m being swept up, myself, in the maelstrom of the Season! I leave you all with a parting image:

another rare image of mine, acrylic on panel, ca. 1987.

Finally, I’ll say that, in my humble opinion, the Spirit of Christmas will never die on the face of this good earth, until, at least, the following pictorial concept is realized…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!GOOD CHEER TO ALL MANKIND!!HAIL NEW CREATION!!DARKNESS INTO LIGHT!!

The Art of Architecture, part 2

(all illustrations, copyright Kevin Sprouls. Photos, copyright G.Intili, K.Sprouls)

While I was transiting between sophomore and junior years in art school, my Dad managed to find employment for me at a local architect’s office for a month or so in the summer of 1975. Being one of those people who’d been through the depression, he was a trifle concerned that a career in art wouldn’t quite cut it in the bill-paying department! I learned a lot in those 5 or 6 weeks.

In addition to servicing the office machines, I learned how to produce an architectural rendering from blueprints. My illustration of the public amenities building at Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Beach Island in New Jersey was distributed to the state press. I am sorry to relate, that drawing is not in my collection… I wish I could show it to you! The firm was called, “Flatt and Poole, Architects” and located in Bloomfield NJ, if I recall correctly. Those fine people also employed me in painting a “Supergraphic” on a wall of their space. They were most generous to this struggling artist.

I didn’t let my Pop down, though. Later on, he asked if I would produce an advertisement for his company, New Jersey Realty Title Insurance Co., of which he ultimately became Chairman. He wrote the copy, I created the ad. The image above ran in the NJ Law Review, ca. 1982.

(”Good” architecture, illustration ca. early 90’s)

I am always struck by “bad” architecture. I know, I know, architects are expensive. I don’t think I have ever hired an architect, although I am friends with a few good ones. I have a small cottage in North Wildwood, NJ, where things are pretty much laid back and as you please. The level of improvisational landscape augmentation with regard to domicile structures is evident on every block. It is sometimes quaint and charming, but mostly downright insulting!

As I said, I have architect Buddies. One of them is Gianni Intili, of GIDesign. Based in the NY metro area, Gianni works on projects all over the world. A native Roman, he is a genius in the kitchen as well as in studio. Many an enjoyable night have the Sprouls’ spent in the house he built known as “Domus 1″.                                

(below: Domus 1. right, self-portrait, G. Intili)

 Gianni is a generous friend. He and I killed some time one summer Sunday designing and constructing an overhead element for the outdoor shower enclosure I had built at the  North Wildwood abode. I put the finishing touches on when the weekend was over:

The message I’d like to close this post with is, whenever possible, go to the professionals!

The Art of Architecture, part 1

all illustrations by Kevin Sprouls

I was first introduced to the civilization of ancient Greece in Grade 2 of the local catholic school I attended. It was the Golden Age of my educational experience! A very kindly and intelligent teacher by the name of Mrs. Grady, who we all thought the world of, presided over our class. At the knee of Mrs. Grady, we (all 30 of us) learned about peace-loving Athens, the Spartans, and the various styles of Columns— ok, not strictly Greek! Drawing all my life-long, I particularly enjoyed creating images of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian styles of column capitals as a very young grade school kid.

 Untitled, ca.1975

I still carry a love and vision of the classical world with me to this day, thanks to that exemplary teacher. Surely, early education is a profound formative force in each life. I hope that, with the philosophical shift our country is now experiencing, more emphasis will be placed on arts and cultural education at all levels.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2006

New Yorker, 1990, announcing Met exhibit, “Pompeii”

book cover illustration, young person’s fiction, ca. 2005

My next love, after the golden Age of Greece, was All Things Gothic. I love the romance of the Middle Ages, having been heavily influenced by loiterings with C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Aside from these literary stalwarts, I was drawn to a film I happened upon in the teen years, a silent one called “The Beloved Rogue”, starring John Barrymore, which glories in the adventures of Medieval French Poet Francois Villon. This is a truly well done flick, sadly unavailable in any kind of restored quality. I have also been a fan of the films “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, and, particularly (for its graphic realism) “The Name of the Rose”. My love of this era has attracted me, and occasioned many excursions to the fair isle of Ireland, beginning in 1974. Although she has recently succumbed to modernity, and is on par with all so-called first world nations, Ireland still holds fast to her deep spiritual and historical roots.

The abbey ruin and fountain is located in the small town of Quin, County Clare, female visage is of Maureen O’Hara, taken from a still of, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.  ca. late 80’s

Making Maps

I’ve always enjoyed taking on map projects. Constructing a map requires a combination of skills and aptitudes. Involved are patience, craft, graphic design, lettering and often, illustration. So, this is one practice that includes a lot of my favorite things.

An early, commercial map, ca. 1990, announcing opening of American Airlines’ service to Stansted.

                                Africa, for British Airways, circa mid 1990’s

There is something meditative about methodically applying details to a map design… if you squint hard enough, you can just make out the stippling that pervades this map. Coastline and sea are full of line-work. Back in those days, I had a production camera in my studio, an old agfa. I had a most laborious procedure for producing works in color: a black-and-white image would first be created, then be made into a transparency, usually at 100% of original size. I would also make a standard b&w photostat, same size, with which to transfer the image onto a new, blank illustration board. This board would get the color, usually in watercolors and colored pencils. The transparency would be fitted over the colored art background to form the finished piece. If I could, I would convince the production people to treat these two elements separately, printing the transparency as line art— dizzying even to think about now!! Yet, the final product could be very effective.

In 2008, I was commissioned by Maria Carrella, at Random House, to create a whimsical end-paper map for their new imprint, “Lost on Planet China”. I was pleased with the outcome, though we had to sweat many details for accuracy! Here it is (right page):

apparently, the author got beat up in Ningbo! (Or is that Hangzhou?)

I created this map of Cuba for the Chicago Tribune, in 2004. Verdant coloring, with a nautical compass rose— very “Yaaah”.

Another b&w map from the vault, for a cruise line, early ’90’s…

You can tell I was enjoying the lettering work whilst producing this map…

Next up was also for American Airlines, circa 1991. Something of a world route map. It was a real BEAR! The original was oversized, maybe 24″ wide. It had a drop-dead due date, and I not only stayed up all night finishing it, but had to drive it to the airport for counter-to-counter delivery the following morning. I had given up caffeine at the time, and found myself starting to fall asleep behind the wheel on the drive back from the drop. I thought it prudent to pull over for a cup of Joe, and, dear reader, I haven’t turned back since! (I now indulge in a Doppio every morning… that seems enough.) The story may be more interesting than the map!:

One day, a total stranger called me on the phone, asking me to do a full-blown, color illustration of an illustrated map with an iguana incorporated into the image, all for $500. Now, I’m not being uppity, but it seemed to me kind of a paltry sum. Then, the kicker: “$500. plus 50 t-shirts” (with my image imprinted on the back) “Money and Prizes, Kevin!”, intoned the voice on the line. So How could I refuse? This illustrated map was produced for a company called “Our World”, and became part of a collection of Tee-shirts that were marketed in schools to raise money for environmental causes… maybe someday I’ll auction some of those T’s for charity:

…another one from the cruise ship line

             … I think I’m getting wanderlust at this point.

I long for the days when booking a flight was a matter of walking into a travel agent’s office, sitting in a comfortable chair, and being advised by the lovely person behind the console. Well, well: the days of personal responsibility are upon us.

Money Issue

It’s all about the money… this posting, anyway. I received a suggestion recently that, in view of the dim economic outlook, I might roll out some of the many numismatically-themed (and other assorted) artworks I have produced.  (all illustrations by Kevin Sprouls, oil painting by Timothy Barr.)

(Faux-currency design for real estate offering, 2006)

Let’s face it: these are hard times. Since the markets have gone wobbly, everybody’s business seems to be off. Having been through a few rough patches myself, I can relate to the suffering. Nothing’s more paralyzing than being out of work with mounting debts. I’m sure it’s been the cause of many marital problems, not to mention break-ups. People are losing their homes, for Pete’s sake.                                                                                                                  

 …Heartbreaking.

I spoke on the telephone recently to my old college room-mate (and celebrated Luminist painter), Tim Barr. This guy can paint!

                                                  Tim had a very successful show in September, and I believe made his nut for the year. His philosophy: “I just jump from stone to stone, if I don’t make it one year, I can work out of a trailer. We were all poor art students once, and we were happy.” Now there is wisdom for you.

from the Chicago Tribune

April, 2004

I don’t envy (or admire) the guys at the top right now who are trying to keep the lid on things. You’ve got to feel a little sad for these struggling politicos.Mr. Bernenke then (Forbes Magazine, 12/2006) and now (Satirical Portrait for Radar Magazine, 9/2008— unpublished, due to bankruptcy)… what a difference a year makes!

Say, speaking of “then”, remember that fabulous, plush, luxurious tax-stimulus package of a few years back?

I think my household scored a whopping $600! Man, we lived off of that check for what seemed like a lifetime (ok, ok, I’m taking my tongue out of my cheek now). Something tells me this maneuver didn’t quite cut it. I imagine that, as those checks were being cut, the sub-prime mortgages were being sliced, diced and “bundled” into the worldwide economic markets. So, now we’re in “bailout” mode.

It would be nice to have a little justice, and see some heads roll in this good old U.S.A. For too long, the robber-barons and their associates in D.C. have colluded to strip the wealth out of the middle and working classes.

     (Wall Street Journal, mid-1980’s)

My neighbor, Tony, at the Jersey Shore, where I go off to in the summertime, told me this story: “Listen, Kevin. My father used to tell me: ‘Tony, there’s this pie… ‘ (makes round shape with extended arms) ‘the (fill in blank here, plural) want to give you and me a little slice of the pie. The (fill in blank here, plural) don’t even want to give you the crumbs!’ (here giving a flick of the fingers)”. I like those really clearcut explanations. Memorable because true. Lots of pain is being shared, I am sorry to say. I just found out about massive layoffs at Citigroup…

 It’s what comes of having too much faith in money I suppose…

(currency detail “Omnicient Eye” from the back of the U.S. greenback. Applied as a super-graphic to the top of the pyramidal Luxor casino, Las Vegas 3/2008)

The mythical, Wall Street beasts are contending for supremacy!

(left, illustration for NRDC fundraising dinner, mid-1980’s)

I think the author Ravi Batra has a good handle on it. I’m halfway through his book on The Coming Golden Age, and it makes eminent sense to me. Apparently, Ravi’s not a big fan of Mr. Greenspan. As for me, this is mostly inside baseball, as I find that trying to understand economic principles is a Sisyphean task, so I don’t often fever my brow with it. My key principal, however, concerns the so-called “trickle down” economic theory: whatever its logic, it is an utterly unfair proposition, rewarding the wealthy at the expense of everyone else— totally Un-American!

            (for Sports Illustrated, 2004)

I try not to worry about money too much. My wife says that, on one of our first dates, I told her, “It’s made round to go around.” That put in the hook!

           (Meijer Stores, Dollar Deals sale, late 1990’s)

Occasionally, we play with money. The Mrs. and I will go to Atlantic City, if we are really bored and suffering from cabin-fever. The deal is we each get twenty bucks and see how long we can go with it. Usually an hour and it’s all over at the one-armed bandits.

         (for a not used Newsweek Magazine cover)  Sorry, George! Not my idea… (I believe the concept was ‘Arab influence over the American economy’, circa. 11/01)

The above images of Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington, were produced as part of a billboard ad and otherwise general promotional vehicle for a Las Vegas casino corporation. Abe doesn’t look too happy about it.

In closing, let me wish us all a good financial outcome. I hope, expect, and pray that President-elect Obama will have the wisdom to orchestrate a way for us into a new “Golden Age”.

Searching… “WSJ stipple portrait.”

On the quest to make my services more accessible, I routinely ask persons making contact just how they came to find me. In other words, which search words were googled? There are many and varied responses, predictably enough. It’s interesting to gather up the feedback and take a look into another’s logic. Here are the assembled search words I’ve collected, illustrated (of course!). I will include the names of public figures, but if a few “private” individuals find their way into the parade, I will not name names. A forewarning— they are not all heroes who appear on this otherwise (I hope) worthy posting:

l. to r., Saddam Hussein (in livelier days), Fauvist painter Vasily Kandinsky, Actor George Clooney, F.D.R. wall street journal photo illustration … stippling art ……. wsj hedcut  ……………..

Progenitor Prescott Bush, Bernie Sanders, Hardhat Worker, George Soros wall street journal headcut ….. wall street journal portrait …  wall street journal photos … wsj pointillism … wsj line art 

John Lee Hooker, Mies van der Rohe, George Schultz, Chief Justice Rehnquist … wsj engravings … hedcut

… WSJ Illustrations … wall street journal style portrait … stipple portraits … Wall Street Journal +artist +portrait …

Infamous dictator Idi Amin, G.K. Chesterton, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Pope John Paul II 

wall street journal illustration … WSJ artwork … Hedcut Pen and Ink Drawings … Stipple Portraits …

Stipple Dot and Hedcut Drawing … Wall Street Journal Style drawings … wall street journal portrait

Mario Cuomo, Yasser Arafat, P.W. Botha, Lowell Weicker, Jr.

wall street journal sketch artist … WSJ illustrations … WSJ stipple portrait.

and finally, ……… WSJ pictures.

An idea: If you have suggestions as to how you would google if you were looking for one of these dot drawings, why not add them here in a comment. I would be glad to hear from you, and you might advance me on my quest!

Nautical Life

  

life preserver created for Hilfigger promo piece

 (all illustrations produced by Kevin Sprouls)

I’ve always enjoyed being on board a boat. My wise spouse is of the opinion that I was not rocked enough as a child. Maybe so.

Book cover illustration for "The Shadow in the North" by Philip Pullman (Random House)

Recently, I had the pleasure of being a passenger on the A. J. Meerwald, an oyster schooner hailing from Bivalve, NJ, built in 1928. My son, Brendan, and I joined the ship for the first leg of a trip which was occasioned by The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race, an annual event which is run from Baltimore to Norfolk, VA. We made the transit from Bivalve to Baltimore, getting our good ship to the starting line.

Boarding at around 9 pm, we got our bunk assignments, and joined most everyone for a snooze, in anticipation of weighing anchor at 2:30 am, taking advantage of the favorable current which was expected at that time. I know you might be disappointed, dear reader, that I was not on deck for that nocturnal departure, but I was managing to sleep (lightly) despite the din of the big old diesel which powered us. Yet, rest assured, I didn’t miss breakfast at 6 am! At 6:30, the near-full moon was sinking below the horizon, and the saffron veils of dawn began to dispell the darkness. Brendan and I took our stations at 7 o’clock watch, along with the crew.

The crew of the Meerwald, composed mainly of young women, were a wonder to behold. These 20-somethings were totally adept and intelligent, and besides maintaining the vessel and her course, had the charge of directing us lubbers in our chores. All meals were vegetarian, and delicious. Coffee and tea was available on demand pretty much ’round the clock.

Mate Brendan Sprouls

We made passage up the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeake/Delaware Canal, and into the Chesapeake, arriving at Baltmore, on schedule, at 6 pm. Along the way, we learned communication signaling from bow to helm, took charge at the wheel, and participated in hoisting the massive sails, with the associated task of coiling lines on deck. I had never even heard of a ballantine (excepting the ale), which is a 3-ringed coil designed not to tangle as the gaff is lowered and the line travels aloft.

Baltimore was a load of fun. It seems there is a bar every twenty paces. My wife joined us in the evening, as she was kind enough to drive down from Jersey to give us our lift home after the race preparations and festivities. We had our dinner at Bertha’s, a fine establishment serving a grand assortment of seafood. One receives a free bumper-sticker with the check. After dinner, we settled into barstools at on of the ubiquitous taverns aforementioned, and shared many toasts. Although I’ve never been to N’awlins, I imagined this place to be pretty close in atmosphere. The barkeep was tossing rocks glasses around like a seasoned juggler, and aside from having a drink or two himself, even bought us a couple of rounds.

Upon our return to the ship, we found that the night continued to be sultry, so I elected to sleep on the cabin-top on deck. The air was fresh, and I had occasion to hear the entertaining late-night stragglers returning from a night on the town. Next day witnessed the Parade of Tall Ships, in the late afternoon.

This was a feast for the senses, complete with canon firings and dueling pirates. The captain, Jesse Briggs, considered it an appropriate occasion for bagpipe music, so I contributed a few tunes.

My son, who is an awesome player, also performed. Later, in the evening, a grand reception was held for the various and sundry denizens of the tall ships, to kick off the race on the following day. At the event, we met an extraordinary individual by the name of William Pinkney. He commands the tall ship “Amistad”, of slaving history. Captain Pinkney is also a solo circumnavigator, and his book, “As Long as it Takes: Meeting the Challenge” tells the tale of his adventures.

We met many fine people in our three-day tour, and I hope to continue relationships that were created during our sojourn. At some point in the course of this blog, I’ll fill out with more tales of life on the water, but, for now, “Smooth Sailing!”

Lighthouse of Alexandria, illustration for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. 2004 Annual Report

Tyler and Temple Abroad

Last week, I went back to my old school.

The occasion resulted from a series of events leading up to the signing of a limited edition of prints that were produced from my rendering of the Temple Abroad school in Rome.

A while back, my wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary by going to Italy for three weeks. It put a big smile on her face!! Our first day there, in Rome, I led her to the Temple Abroad school, and we were lucky enough to find the Dean in. I attended this school in my Senior year, Fall 1976. Kim Strommen was gracious enough to drop everything and take us to lunch (after we toured the building with many fond recollections). It was a great day, despite the jetlag, and Dean Strommen introduced us to a wonderful new museum dedicated to the sculpture of a certain Hendrik Christian Andersen, situated directly behind the school.

 ~ in the H.C. Andersen museum

When we returned from our trip, I found an email from Kim, who had a terrific idea! In honor of the 40th anniversary of the opening of the school, he suggested I produce an illustration of the Villa Caproni, home of the institution. I gladly launched into the project, and the image was published in the Temple Abroad newsletter. Apparently, it caught the attention of the International Office at Temple, and a limited edition print series was proposed. After many months of arrangements, the prints were produced. I was on press for the run to make sure things were looking right…

The rendering:

The following week, I was invited to visit Temple, in Philadelphia, for a signing ceremony, a tour of the new Tyler School (almost completed), lunch with Asst. Dean Greg Murphy, and dinner with Dean Strommen and a couple of Tyler Prof’s, Dallmann and Moore. My wife attended with me. It was a big day, and I was afforded more than my due of accolades. It took forever to sign those prints! Here I am doing the deed with Dean Strommen providing oversight:

The real treat, though, was getting a tour of the new Tyler School. When I first learned of the plan to move Tyler into the main campus, I admit to feeling let down. The Elkins Park campus of Tyler was pleasantly appointed in a fairly verdant suburb of Philadelphia. So many memories! Yet, I was blown away by the scale and expanse of the new facility, and I have been impressed, over the years, at how the Temple main campus has grown into a vibrant commons. So, now, I’m all about the school! It really is an impressive piece of architecture, with tons of studio space awaiting lots and lots of new equipment. Makes one long for the student days. Architects are Carlos Jimenez, and H2L2 Architects. Here is their rendering:

They will open the new building this winter. Exciting!