Action Jackson

I guess I forgot to post my final piece for the Michael Jackson group show that took place at the Emerson Space Case in July. Well here it is, folks! I was also working on a scratchboard version of this that I'm more excited about but I never did get a chance to finish it up. Maybe on some rainy day I'll get around to finishing it, but for the moment let's enjoy summer while it's still here.

And speaking of enjoying Summer, check out the Emerson Space Case blog to find out how you can take part in the BEST SUMMER EVER! Events are happening at the space every Saturday for the next two weeks. This Saturday is a bake sale/swap. See you guys there?

Of Mermaids and Greeting Cards

And here's what I promise will be the very last post related to my installation. This was the final sketch of the mermaid centerpiece before I made a giant version. I'm hoping to turn it into a greeting card.

At Long Last : Window Installation at Tender Loving Empire

I know I'm about a month late on this one but I finally got around to editing the photos from my window installation at Tender Loving Empire which is STILL UP in downtown Portland and available to be viewed.

For those of you who don't live here or are just too lazy to go down there here are some pictures of the whole shebang.


The scene from the sidewalk.


Figure one: SEA CREATURE


Figure Two: Mermaid


Figure Three : Ship


Base Detail 1


Base Detail 2


Base Detail 3


Part of the purpose of the art is to help sell their locally made merchandise, so Stephanie and I picked out as many nautical themed pieces as we could find. This treasure box worked perfectly.


As did this creature.


Close up of the Sea Creature. I really wanted there to be 4 tentacles, but time only allowed for 3. The detail in his mouth nearly killed me.


Definitely the most difficult one to cut out.


What map is complete without a compass?


And of course a friendly greeting.


This was one of my favorites.


Some more of the merch we're hawking.



And that's it! I think it's going to be up for a few more weeks so make sure to head down to Tender Loving Empire at 412 Southwest 10th Avenue, just a block and a half south of Powell's!

Bushy Browed Mermaids

Here's the second to last sketch I did for the center piece in my installation at Tender Loving Empire. It's pretty much there, but just a tad too realistic.

I know I've been neglecting my blog recently, but only because the circus that is my life recently has been putting on daily shows and I haven't had the time to get away. I do have some drawings stored up, so once I get around to scanning them it'll be smooth sailing all the way. Stay with me, my friends!

Sketchbook Swoops

I really want to post drawings from my upcoming installation, but I don't want to spoil it before it's up! So for now here's one from the sketchbook. This was drawn after a delicious Thai dinner before seeing The Sandwitches, Calvin Johnson, and Sonny and the Sunsets at Cherry Sprout Produce. Now THAT'S a summer day.

Art show at Cherry Sprout!

"J. Titus Bloemkamp and his trusty sidekick Mr. Marvelous first met on the transoceanic ship, the "Bellerophon," where they spent a choppy winter stowing away below decks beneath sacks of potatoes . . ."

Come out to Cherry Sprout to see the opening of my new show "Family Portraits" featuring work from the last year as well as stories by myself and Aaron Greyson of San Diego.

This event is in conjunction with Cherry Sprout's "Celebration of Love" in the park next door featuring the musical stylings of

The J.E. Love Company
The Original Duke of Hominy
Alan Singley
Pillow Fight
Larry Yes and the Tangled Mess
and Blake the Singing Sensation.

Music, art, sun, fruit, drinks, and anthropomorphized characters. What more could you want?

Cherry Sprout is located at 722 N. Sumner St., Portland, OR 97217. Right off Albina between N. Killingsworth and N. Alberta St.

Askewed Likenesses

And another one from last week's session. I wish this pose had lasted longer because I really would have liked to render it further. Sometimes 25 minutes can really race by. This model had a really interesting face so I focused more attention on trying to get her features right, but I don't think I quite got it. It definitely looks like somebody, but who? Suggestions are welcome in the comments section.

Foreshortened

Last week I finally made it back to PNCA for the last Wednesday night figure drawing session. I was about an hour late, so I didn't get to warm up with the short poses, but I eventually got into a groove. Here's one of the ones that I don't mind showing to you.



I realized that I love doing drawings of people in foreshortened angles and contorted poses. It just makes for a much more interesting composition and even hints of a narrative.

Dangerous Art Show

I helped Stephanie put together this flyer for a group art show we're putting on at the Emerson Space Case. We're looking for all kinds of art so please submit if you can! If you live in a different city there's still plenty of time to mail your art to us. Inquire for address via email please.

For more information as to WHY? we're putting a Michael Jackson inspired art show check out the Emerson Space Case blog.

ALSO there's a few new things to share with you. A Sketch A Day is now more technologically friendly! It has been optimized for maximum viewing on the mobile device of your choice, and it now has it's very own facebook page. Search for "A Sketch A Day: Art by Ilan Schraer" on facebook or click the LIKE button in the column to the right of the screen! I'll be posting updates, photos, and links to all the projects I'm working on right now, as well as links to other cool art blogs and things of interest.

20,000 Illustrations Under the Sea

I recently finished an illustration fundamentals course taught at PNCA by local artist Ryan Bubnis. We were given many options for our final project and after much deliberation I decided to go with designing a cover for a classic novel. Curiously I decided to do 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. Curious because I've never read the book. I decided that this was to my advantage, recalling Eastern European film posters for American movies that I've seen. You know, the ones where it's obvious that the artist has never seen the film? These often yield spectacular results, so I thought the same could be true for mine.

Part of my reason for taking this class was to push myself to think about art and illustration in different ways. To get out of my comfort zone a bit. Having always loved the simplicity of mid-century book covers I decided that I wanted to take a stab at it for myself. This really forced me to boil down the plot of the book to it's core elements, and play with those to maximum effect. Below is my final piece:



There are a few different incarnations that I'll post in the coming days, but ultimately this is the design I settled on. If I had more time I would have liked to play around with rendering it in more traditional media, but for now this is what I have. What do you guys think? Would YOU buy this book?

Arty Party

Here's a little doodle I did at the Wednesday night "Arty Party" at Project Grow, on N. Williams. People getting together and working on creative projects, sharing resources, and listening to music. Not too shabby.

As you can see I'm not too great at drawing from my mind.

Apples and Nuts

I had to take my computer into the Apple store last week for some minor repairs and was completely overcome by how bustling it was in there. Have you experienced this before? It's wild. Anyways, I managed to find time to sketch this customer as he was being enlightened by a Mac "Genius."

This is what a typical Portland man looks like, age 60.

Dino Map

He's coming to North West Portland and he's going to ruin all of you.

*sigh*

Home Sweet Home

Steph and I moved into a new place this month. This is what it would look like if there were nothing behind or next to it. Cutout snowflakes on the windows courtesy of Swoops' birthday shindig.

I'm leaving, on an X-Wing, don't know when I'll be back again..

I'll do my best to keep with posts well I'm away. Good bye PNW!

Everything is not proportionate

I think this is probably the best one from that session. I call it "How Ilan got his groove back."

Let's Dance

Check out Robert Tyree in "Culture Machine" tonight at Disjecta if you get the chance. "Culture Machine" is a modern dance performance orchestrated by Tahni Holt that comments on pop culture, dance, narcissism, and our role within it. Stephanie and I saw it on Thursday night and it was a good time.

Swifting the Night Away

Every September the Vaux's Swifts roost in the chimney of the Chapman Elementary School in NW Portland on their way south for the fall. At sunset thousands of them gather and spiral down the chimney swaying and pulsing with all the elegance of a firework display or a ballet.

I went last week and made this drawing. Enjoy!

I ain't bluffin'

Okay, maybe a little bit. Here's a quick drawing of the sunset at the Skidmore Bluffs here in N. Portland. Definitely one of my favorite things about this town.

Opening Act

Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes fame opened up for Joanna Newsom on this tour which was a nice surprise. He played almost all new songs which I can only assume will be on the new Fleet Foxes album, unless he's planning a solo release. Either way I'm looking forward to it.