PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTLIGHT: Louisa Marie Summer

Louisa Marie Summer is a photographer with a strong awareness of socio-political issues, and we happen to love her style.  Shooting mainly portraiture and social documentary, she captures people in motion in a rare and fine way that makes you think she must have been a ghost in the room.  As you can see from her work it is important for her to be as close as possible to her subjects, yet she captures the essence of human behavior in a surprising voyeuristic fashion that only a true artist could achieve.  Originally from Germany and now living in New York City, her work has been exhibited internationally, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea.  She has won numerous awards, and was nominated (not surprisingly) this year for the Prix Pictet 2010.

Here is what she had to say about one of her recent projects, Jennifer's Family:

Upon arriving from Germany to live and work in the United States almost two years ago, I was shocked to find the America of my imagination—a place where everyone is well-educated and privileged—to be instead a place with a great deal of poverty and despair. Building on my long-term interest in social documentary photography, I set out to find subjects that allowed me to reflect on these issues.

Jennifer and David having a last look in the mirror before they leave for a doctor appointment.

The series "Jennifer’s Family" focuses on Jennifer, a second-generation Puerto Rican woman, her Native American life partner David, and their four children, who live in South Providence, Rhode Island.  

Their kids getting punishment - they have to stand still on the wall with hands up.

South Providence is an urban neighborhood with a large African-American and Hispanic population.  Many families here live well below the poverty line.  Unemployment is rampant and foreclosure rates are among the highest in the United States.  

Jennifer is brushing her daughters hair before going to church on a Saturday morning.

My photographs and video, captured over more than a year, represent intimate moments in the everyday lives of Jennifer and her family.  They illustrate how a twenty-five-year-old mother, in spite of difficult living conditions, poverty, desolation, and illness, manages to maintain an optimistic disposition while thoroughly caring for her children.  Though on the margins of capitalist prosperity, she lives in pursuit of her American Dream, hosting birthday parties and maintaining hope that one day she will own a home and achieve a better, richer, and happier life. 

Birthday party and all children from the neighborhood are invited.

With my personal photographs I intend that viewers will become engaged in what they see, questioning their stereotypes about poverty and disadvantaged families. As viewers discover the human side in Jennifer and her family, my hope is that they will finally internalize that investing in the poor is good for society as a whole, not just for the poor. 

Portrait of Keana in front of kitchen window.

Visit Louisa's Site: http://www.louisasummer.com/

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Grady McFerrin

Grady McFerrin designs everything from wine labels to editorials to dioramas, which are truly amazing in their detail and creativity.  Born in Long Beach, now living in Brooklyn, Grady's work seems to get to the soul of the matter he's dealing with, which is not something we can say about every artist.  He has a style that is not only unique, but genuinely, authentically soul-driven.  I mean, check out the dioramas!

Dioramas

Albarino Wine Label

Doctor with the Blues

Clay Ross Matuto Album Art

Visit Grady's Site: http://gmillustration.com/

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jen Hill

Jen Hill is a doodler who happens to let her characters evolve into interesting, clever and ultimately fantastical stories that drive the narratives of her work.  It's no wonder she is a freelance animator for Sesame Street, as her work brings a visual education to anyone who views it, particularly children.  Jen seems to have a knack for capturing the essence of of story in her pieces.  She also does incredibly cool projects such as designing a symbol language for a tech company that makes communication devices for nonverbal populations, predominantly children.  She is presently shopping a children's book she has written and illustrated.  Here is what Jen had to say about some of her work:

These ladies are in some kind of eastern European village. Whoever they are waiting for is late. (Gouache, 9 x 12)

This tree is outside a castle where an aging princess sits strumming a mandolin.  There are companion pieces to this series, which is inspired by a picture I had on the wall of my bedroom as a child in which a 60's style large-eyed girl strums a guitar. (Gouache, 9 x 12)

A depiction of a favorite tween pastime: the occult. This shows my best friend Eva and me toying with dark forces. I doodled it absentmindedly one day and discovered later that it bore quite a resemblance to her, which inspired me to create a finished piece. (Gouache, 9 x12)

Part of a 10-part series I may turn into a book. Here is a woodsman with his coterie. He is trying to convince the deer to follow them. Why does the bear look apprehensive? (Gouache, 16 x 20)

Maybe this is why. (Gouache, 8 x 10)

Later at the cabin they dance under his spell. (Gouache, 9 x 12)

A picture I painted for a spring promo card. (Gouache, 10 x 14)

A picture I painted for a summer promo. (Gouache, 10 x 14)

Website: www.jen-hill.com

Blog: http://jenhillustration.blogspot.com/

twitter: http://twitter.com/jenhillustrator

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Mary Lynn Blasutta

Mary Lynn Blasutta's art provides the perfect escape for anyone wanting to feel good about themselves!  Her style is reminiscent of the Mad Men era, with a flair for style and class.  Since one of her many clients is Neiman Marcus, we can see why!  Mary Lynn is an extremely accomplished artist, with permanent collections in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Trattoria Dell'arte in New York City.  We are big fans of Mary Lynn.  Here is what she had to say about some of her work:

All the pieces below are cut paper except the piece from The Bravern.  That piece is painted; I ventured off and got out the paint brushes because I felt the cut paper was too rigid for what they were looking for so I opted for something different.  The client loved the results!

Neiman Marcus Cover

Cover for the Spring Catalog for Neiman Marcus

The Bravern Campaign

The Bravern is a new Mall in Seattle Washington with Neiman marcus as their flagship store along with high end designer stores.  This piece used in the promotion of the opening this fall being used as billboards, full page ad in Vogue, transit banners, shopping bags etc.

Prestige Cosmetics

This piece of the girl lounging was for the cover of an eyeshadow case in all beige tones.

Iridesse Pearls

This piece was for the Iridesse shops which are owned by Tiffany's.  They sell only high grade pearls.  They were looking for a 30 something shopper upscale, I always like to add a dog if I can.

Bathing Beauty

This is a series I have on 50's ish Bathing beauty poses all in cut paper.

Visit Mary Lynn's site

Children Today Charitable Trust

Children Today is a charity in the UK that helps provide aid and special equipment to children with disabilities who would not otherwise be able to afford the help they need.  An incredible organization that is breaking new ground in terms of helping children in the UK and Ireland, Children Today is at once educational and inspiring.  I spoke with Regional Fundraising Manager Emma Fawcett to learn more about them.


Love + Water- How did Children Today Charitable Trust begin? 


Emma Fawcett- Our founder was Mr. Hugh McCaw. Hugh spent many years working in the voluntary sector, primarily for children's charities.  Around 16 years ago he identified that there was a gap in provision for disabled children and young people in the UK and established Children Today to meet that need.  Specialist equipment and aids enable disabled children and young people to experience the everyday things that we all do, often for the first time in their lives.  Whether it's a walking frame to help them take their first steps outside or a powered wheelchair enabling them to join their family on a walk, it can literally change their life overnight.  

Holly has a genetic disorder that affects her development causing malformed hands, feet and head, and needed special safe play equipment for her to exercise and develop.

L+W- It is amazing that children in need would have a hard time acquiring the equipment they need.


EF- Yes, and it is easy to assume that a child with a disability would automatically get the equipment they need.  Sadly, this is not the case.  This is where Children Today can help.  We provide grants for specialised equipment to improve, assist and enhance the lives of children and young people with disabilities.  Many families are unable to get the help they need from health and local authorities for major items related to their child's disabilities such as equipment or home adaptations.  This means that many families have no alternative but to purchase the items themselves, if they can afford it, and if not they can come to us for help.

This is Luke who has severe cerebral palsy and only has very limited motor control of one hand.  We joined with other organisations to fund this amazing wheelchair that allows him to get around the house and outside, take himself to school, and even stand up, all controlled by a small lever he can manage.

L+W- What role do you play in the organization? 


EF- I am a Regional Fundraising Manager.  As we are such a small charity we only have two RFM's so I have responsibility for fundraising across the southern half of the UK and N. Ireland.  This mostly involves running fundraising events around the country, managing relationships with corporate supporters and community organisations and encouraging our supporters to take on fundraising challenges for us such as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or running the London Marathon.  However, because we are so small it also means that I am not removed from the service provision side of the organisation.  I often meet the children and their families and get to see first hand the difference that the right equipment can make to a child.

Joe is autistic and has very limited vision. He needed a special safe trike that can be managed by his parents but still give him exercise. He was so excited when it arrived he wouldn't even wait to put on his shoes before running out to try it

L+W- What are some of the programs Children Today offers?

EF- We offer guidance and support for families through the process of identifying the need for specialised equipment for their child, choosing the correct equipment and then provide grants to fund the purchase.  We provide ongoing support as families can come back to us every year with new requests as their child's needs change.

Gabriella has cerebral palsy and needs very specific support and safety mechanisms in her car seat. It also swivels so she can be easily lifted in and out which will become more and more important as she grows.

L+W- What is the most moving moment you've had so far with Children Today? 


EF- There have been many as you can imagine.  Seeing the difference that we can make to a child and their family is often very moving.  One that I particularly treasure was meeting a little girl called Nasreen.  Nasreen was a happy healthy 8 yr old when she suddenly had a stroke.  Two years on, she had recovered fairly well but has been left hemiplegic, paralysed down one side.  One day at the beginning of the summer, Nasreen was watching her brother and sisters playing outside and she asked her mother if she could ride her bike with them again.  Of course, she couldn't and she just had to sit and watch.  So her mother asked us for help and we funded a specialised tricycle with supportive seating, safety braking and other features.  I have never seen a smile quite like Nasreen's when she rode her new tricycle and could play with her brother and sisters again.

Nasreen

L+W- Is there anything else people should know about this organization?

EF- We welcome anyone who is interested in getting involved with our organization.  People can help either by getting involved in our events or by directly donating.  We receive no statutory funding and are entirely reliant on voluntary donations.  There are 390,000 disabled people under the age of 16 in the UK with 100,000 of them having more than one disability.  There is no statutory right for young people with disabilities to be provided with the equipment they need by the Government or the NHS, so the work we do is an extremely powerful aid for children in need.

Tomas is a 14yr old with cerebral diplegia confining him to a wheelchair. Tomas needed a very lightweight wheelchair to be able to independently get himself around at his school which covers a large campus area and also to travel with his friends.

To find out more, contact Emma directly: emma@childrentoday.org.uk 
Visit Children Today's site: www.childrentoday.org.uk 
Follow Children Today on Twitter: @childrentoday
Join Children Today's Facebook Page

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Amy Schimler

Viewing Amy Schimler's art is a little like eating pie on a hot summer night- a homemade pie, that is, with all the right stuff inside.  It is light, colorful, refined with an undertone of the guiltiest of pleasures that still somehow feels good for you.  Her work is definitely good for the soul, in our opinion, because while she illustrates for children and greeting cards, which is in itself a delight, she speaks to people of all ages through her mastery of her craft and her whimsical way of capturing truth in the world around her.  Amy's clients include Target, Baby Gap and American Greetings, to name a few.  Here is what she had to say about some of her work:

Clover

This was an illustration for “Highlights High Five Magazine” about the change of season from Winter to Spring. It was a page in a mini book that the young readers could assemble themselves. 

Blue Bird Garden

Portfolio Piece that was illustrated for the greeting card market.

Cupcakes

This is one of my favorite textile designs that is licensed by a fabric company. It is so much fun to see projects on websites such as Etsy that have been sewn with the fabrics.

Book Spreads

These are a couple of spreads from a children’s book, titled “Why is the Sky Blue?” that I illustrated for Ladybird Books.  This book was chosen by booktime.org to be distributed to students starting school for the first time this fall in the UK.

Self Promo Card

This was an illustration that I used for a recent self promotional postcard.

Visit Amy's Site

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Sandra Dieckmann

Sandra Dieckmann is an illustrator we love for her way of incorporating animals into her work in way that is at once humorous and thought-provoking.  She has a wide range of talent, this one, and we're honored to feature her work.  Here is what she had to say about some of her work:


I enjoy observing the world, creating creatures and anything else that involves creative play.

Moist Lips Records 

 'Counterexample' package illustration & design for tape box released by Moist Lips Records London.

 

If I Was You 

Narrative illustration project that was devised by me to create an illustrated chain reaction between the participants. 
This projects is by invitation only. www.ifiwasyouproject.com

Kafka's Metamorphosis

Financial News editorial piece and previous experimentation.

Amelias Magazine

Editorial illustration for Amelias Magazine.

Mountain Goats

Self initiated illustration. Read about it on my blog or see it on www.illustrationmundo.com.

Visit Sandra's Site: http://www.sandradieckmann.com/

Visit Sandra's Blog: http://sandradieckmann.blogspot.com/

Shop Sandra's Art: http://www.society6.com/studio/sandradieckmann/store

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jacqueline Wagner

Jacqueline Wagner is a London based freelance designer specialising in hand-made 3D illustrations, and boy do we LOVE her work!  Her work is refreshingly unique and bold, with a conscience.  Here is what she had to say about her wonderful approach to creativity:

 I mainly create small-scale sets in a variety of materials, which I then photograph.  In the past I have also turned my creativity to the production of a costume for a short film and a life-size installationI am originally from Germany, where I worked for four years as a graphic designer, before coming to England to study illustration. 

Editorial for the German Magazine Emotion. The article 'Hurrah we are alive!' discusses our fear of looming catastrophies and disasters, while highlighting the benefits of living in an affluent society. I love those jobs where you do everything from concept, over set design to taking the actual photograph.

One of five illustrations for the Dutch magazine Opzij. The images accompany the findings of an extensive survey in “The Big Mens’ Issue” which discusses how men see themselves, women and their relationships. 

I really enjoy working with different materials and for different media. This is a freelance job for Wind and Foster, commissioned by First Light to design and create a Russian cosmonaut costume for use in a short film. Details of the creative process can be seen on my blog.

The Radio Tank was created for promotional materials for a new play about psychological warfare, set in a radio broadcasting station. IsoProductions commissioned the illustration and the play was performed in the Old Red Lion Theatre, London. Many thanks to photographer Alena Jascanka.

Occasionally I also work as freelance set designer for other people. This was a freelance job for ContainerPlus, commissioned by Iris. I worked together with other set-makers in a team to create objects for the Showtime Sony brochure.  I especially enjoyed creating the lamp shade, blind and rainbow for the cover and a 3D cheese and paper parrot for the inside of the brochure.  

Visit Jacqueline's Site: http://www.wagner.de.com/

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Steve Mack

Steve Mack's illustrations are simply delightful.  He loves to illustrate for children's books and greeting cards- how much more endearing can you get?  What's best is that he is extremely talented, so his work appeals to everyone on many different levels.  Steve lives in Canada with his lovely family, and loves to fish.  Another huge plus in our book.  Here is what he had to say about some of his work:

Who's Smart Owl 

This owl was an experiment in texture and super bold primary color. When I illustrate I keep in mind scale, color, texture and composition. The images I like the best are deceptively simple. I reduce, add, shift and scale. My illustration process has almost become more like sculpting the total image I want rather than drawing it directly one time. That's the power of digital illustration software! It's tough to tell when to stop but if I get close to a balance I like in an image it will feel finished to me.

Dog Pirates Image

This illustration is for my most popular kids greeting card. This was commissioned for American Greetings and I did it about 5 years ago now but I can still walk into just about any place that has American Greetings Cards and find it in their juvenile birthday section. I am still pleased with how it turned out and happy that it has been so popular for a number of years.

Whale in the Storm

I am currently developing a new children's book around this image. I try to tell little stories in my illustration and this one has prompted me to write a whole book around it.



Visit Steve's Site: http://illustrationfarm.com/

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Jane Coleman

One of the reasons we are enamored by the art of Sarah J. Coleman has something to do with the following: she arrived at a full-time career in illustration and typography via extra time served in the bizarre and magical worlds of pirate radio, lecturing, youth work, theatre and local newspapers.  And she is referred to as Inky Mole!  The heart of creativity doesn't get much cooler than that- oh wait, but it does!  She also "cut her teeth" at the Royal Shakespeare Company, using the small dark hours to catch up on mounting illustration briefs.  Inspired by the penmanship of "a more elegant era" and with "a muscular, if pedantic, grasp of the English language," she has "wrapped her perma-stained fingers around words and pictures for advertising, identities, packaging, record sleeves and a trillion book covers."  Now into her second decade of creating words and pictures for an international client base, she has held solo exhibitions in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Manhattan and Rhode Island.  

Being an actor myself in NYC, with a heart-driven love for Shakespeare, this truly speaks to my soul.  Sarah's touring show 'If A Girl Writes Off The World', inspired by the words of spoken word poet/Sage Francis, opened at the Truman Brewery, London and toured to Chelsea, NYC and Rhode Island in 2007.

I'm in a state of euphoria over this artist.  Here is what Sarah had to say about her work:

'Nibs and ink are my thing. I draw on paper and ink-heavy, word-soaked imagery is my trademark. Though I creep into fashion and beauty, the worlds of advertising, fiction, packaging and music are where my work seems to fit most snugly. If 'snug' is the right word...' 

This was created for Sage Francis, for his tour "Hoodies" in 1998.  It also became a 15' banner at my show 'If A Girl Writes Off the World,' which toured in London, New York and Rhode Island in 2006/7.  The images are inspired by the words to his album Human The Death Dance.

For the same show, I made a 4-tier wedding cake with real icing, colouring, vodka, Tylo powder and polystyrene. The words 'forever only lasts four years' are again by Sage Francis, on whose words the entire show was based. The cake deteriorates from fresh, pretty creation on the top layer to dying roses and sad faces at the bottom. It was 3ft tall.

A recent commercial piece for Target, USA.  I've thoroughly enjoyed doing this project, capturing the personality of each figurehead in vivid illustrations full of movement!  The client is Little&Co. - who've been brilliant clients to work for.

The other thing I do with my partner is music-led projects. We're called Factoryroad, and our record label is Blunt Force Trauma: http://www.factoryroad.net/

This is our latest t-shirt - we make the 45rpm adapters to our design - and in five different colours - right here in the Midlands.  We sell loads in Japan, but you can buy them on the site!

This was an unexpected pleasure - it wasn't used in the end, but drawing this was very absorbing!  It was for the snowboard brand Atomic, and this snowboard was called Hatchet.

Visit inkymole.com