Tuesday, March 31, 2009

One for the kids, Tim Raglin




Artist: Timothy C. Raglin
Link: Website

Bio: Tim Raglin was born and raised in Independence, Kansas, where he lives today. Starting at age eight, he received private art instruction and quickly developed a fascination for illustrative art that continues to this day. He earned a degree from Washington University's School of Fine Arts in St. Louis and immediately launched into the world of freelance illustration, first in St. Louis, and then for many years in New York.

Raglin has illustrated numerous children's picturebooks, the most popular being Deputy Dan (Random House) and The Five Funny Frights series (Scholastic). These two series have to date sold over two million copies. He also created a series of greeting cards for Sunrise Publications that are still in print after 15+ years.

In the 80's, Tim became involved with Rabbit Ears Productions, a children's video company. He illustrated several of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories for Rabbit Ears, including the Grammy Award-winning The Elephant's Child, narrated by Jack Nicholson.

Tim then realized a longtime dream by illustrating and directing his own version of Pecos Bill for Rabbit Ears. Narrated by Robin Williams, this video also won a Grammy Award for Best Children's Recording, as well as a Parent's Choice Classic Award. Tim directed several other award-winning videos and served as a Creative Director for the company until 1991, writing scripts and working closely with numerous top illustrators.

Raglin has since then illustrated a number of children's picturebooks, including The Thirteen Days of Halloween (Scholastic), The Wolf Who Cried Boy (Putnam), Twelfth Night (Dial), Go Track a Yak! (Simon and Schuster), Bill In a China Shop (Bloomsbury), Cowboy Jose (Putnam) and Dinner in the Lion's Den (Putnam). He also produced a series of illustrations for the Disney Cruise Line, entitled A Nautical Alphabet.

But his chief focus has been as the publisher of sever of his own picturebooks, including Uncle Mugsy and the Terrible Twins of Christmas and The Birthday ABCs, which was chosen as an American Library Association "Pick of the List" in 1995. Raglin is currently working on several new picturebooks which he plans to publish under his own imprint. The Curse of Catunkhamun is the first of these.

Raglin's Mugsy illustrations received a Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. Uncle Mugsy, The Birthday ABCs, and Bill In a China Shop were chosen to appear in The Original Art Show: The Best in Children's Books. The Wolf Who Cried Boy received a Reader's Choice Award, and Twelfth Night and Bill In a China Shop received Parent's Choice Awards.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Characters from Kyle Kesterson





Artist: Kyle Kesterson
Link: Website

Short
Message: "I love collaborating with like-minded and equally passionate individuals. I'm always exploring new realms in which I can present my characters and doodlees. If you have any suggestions, crits or connections and would like to collaborate, please feel free to drop me a line."

Sunday, March 29, 2009

A Doodle by Alex Chiu

Artist: Alex Chiu
Link: Website

Short Bio: (From Alex) "I am currently wandering San Diego trying to make art as often and as much as possible. I believe that art has the power to speak to the heart, challenge the mind, and depict the soul. My dream is to unite, inspire, and bring hope to people through my artwork. 

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in my work. I am also open to any form of collaboration and/or group shows. If you would like me to teach you how to draw cartoons and comic-strips, let me know as well. thanks." 

Melaina's Comics

Artist: Melaina
Link: Website

Short BioMelaina’s comics are autobiographical. Given her day-job profession, working with people who are dying, this subject-matter appears relatively frequently in her work. She has always had a leaning towards the morbid, laying in bed, contemplating the existence of ghosts for hours during her childhood. Melaina's mother had a seemingly psychic connection with the other side and would awake in a panic from dreams that predicted family members' deaths. Her mother's premonitions may have contributed to Melaina's growing fascination with that final stage of life.

Melaina is currently beginning a new series, entitled “The Bewildered Bisexual.” Melaina was married to a woman for 10 years and had been living as a lesbian for 14 years.  Since her divorce in 2006, she has been exclusively dating men. This shift in sexual orientation has taken some getting used to. So like she does with everything else – she has been using comics to figure it all out. So keep an eye out for those new comics.  More will be revealed!

Two Paintings from Sean McCaffrey



Artist: Sean McCaffrey
Link: Myspace

Short Bio: Sean is currently studying cinematography in Sacramento, CA. He expresses himself through painting, photography, filmmaking, and special effects (film).

Assimilation



Synopsis: Jewish immigrants are acculturated into American society.

Edited by M. Kesterson
Music mixed by M. Kesterson
Footage from Public Domain