Gavin Potenza is a designer and illustrator working in Brooklyn, NY at the Pencil Factory. He also co-runs a new design studio, Script & Seal. Gavin’s work is playful and clarifies the information he is presenting. Several of his info-graphics highlight issues worth taking a closer look at, such as “Worst Oil Spills,” “Investing in Alternative Energy,” and a comparison of “Old/Young Drivers.”
“You spend so much time trying to figure out what your doing, and you become closer to admitting who you are.”
- Jess Sluder
Jess Sluder is an artist and the owner of Deadringer Productions in Venice, California. Jess caught my attention because of his “you can just be weird” attitude towards art, design and life. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing him, and he explained that being “weird” didn’t mean being an outcast or a strange person, but rather that it meant that you can participate in many different social circles. Being an artist makes it easy for him to share ideas with many different types of people, and have opinions about a lot of different things. As an artist he is always learning, thinking and creating. He doesn’t feel bound to a particular sect of society and therefore feels more free and well rounded as person.
“Camera Eyes” Acrylic on canvas.
Jess first started to create art at a very young age. Some of his first memories of creating art are of him telling his mom to teach him how to draw. He had the desire to create and wanted to take what was in his head and make it a real picture. I thought this was very cool because creation should come naturally to the creator, and he is a perfect example of this. Jess had some very insightful advice for aspiring artists when it came to creating art.
“My advice to aspiring artists would be to do what you feel makes you the happiest. Don’t get hung up on what is cool right now. Don’t follow trends. Allow your brain and body to function. Draw what you feel and think. Don’t worry about what other people think because it’s about what you think, and like, and what you know.” -Jess Sluder
“The Matador” Acrylic on canvas.
Some of Jess’s inspiration for his art comes from experiences he has had in his life which resonate with him for a long period of time. Then one day the picture just pops into his head and he paints it.
“My Morning Brush With Death” Acrylic on canvas.
Jess has been living and working in Venice, California for about five years now. Living there has had a tremendous influence on his art. He didn’t even realize he was an artist until he moved to Venice and was really exposed to the art world for the first time in his life. He is constantly surrounded by an extremely creative community consisting of every type of artistic person coupled with every class of person you could imagine. It is almost like living a grown up version of his childhood. He is always having fun, making new friends, riding his bike, playing in the sun, and creating. It is a real positive atmosphere for aspiring artists.
“Swimen n’ Women” Acrylic on canvas.
It has not all been fun for Jess though. Being a full time artist is a struggle. Before Jess started his own Production company he was holding down four jobs and barely making it in the “real world.” If you didn’t know, Venice is a very expensive place to live. For all of you aspiring artists out there; just know that it will be a journey and a struggle to get to where you want to be, but if you stick to the path you will prevail.
“Wolf Pack” Acrylic on canvas.
Although most of Jess’s art is done very meticulously and takes on a cartoony coloring book feel; he prefers to create what he calls “barf art,” which is a sketch or painting that is done on the spot without really thinking about where the painting is going to go. The painting “Beard Guy” is a perfect example of Jess’s “barf art.”
“Beard Guy” Sketched and illustrated.
Deadringer Productions (Deadringer Productions website is currently under development) is Jess Sluder’s brainchild. He started it to continue his creativity and to expand his potential as an artist and designer. Jess works with artists to help them produce their art and see their full potential for their art. He also manufactures apparel for Airblaster, Redbull, R and R art gallery, Michael Jordan Flight School, and BL33N. He also has a line of awesomely funky pillows for sale with his art printed on them. His current goals for Deadringer Productions are to collaborate on more projects and make bigger ideas happen. He enjoys the concept of “I contributed to this, we all together made this.” It is very rewarding when you can create something you’re proud of with other peoples input and ideas.
When the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan recently, Jess was compelled to help in whatever way he could. He started the Japan Project and began producing and selling shirts which read “I Love Japan.” ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE RED CROSS AND WORLDWIDE DISASTER RELIEF. BUY A SHIRT HERE.
All of Jess’s prints are for sale! Just shoot him an email @ jess@jesssluder.com
Also check out Deadringer Productions on Facebook.
Follow Jess Sluder on Twitter.
Click here to see the location of Deadringer Productions.
Pursue your dreams, work hard, and enjoy success.
Mateusz Kolek is a freelance illustrator/digital artist from Cracow, Poland. His graphic illustrations are strange and playful – often capturing a dreamlike quality. There is little information about Kolek on his website, but pay it a visit and you will see that his work does the talking.
You’ve seen his work in over 30 years worth of Hollywood poster designs, and I bet on at least one or two occasions he got you to see a film. Perhaps this happened via sneaking in, begging your parents for money, or doing extra chores to earn your way into the film (if you’re a 20 or 30 something today.)
Drew Struzan is from an era where the poster design was depended on (sometimes solely) to catch your eye and make you see a flick. Before Itunes trailers, YouTube, Moviefone, IMDb, etc… this guy probably made you spend your hard earned bucks seeing such stars as Brooke Shields, John Lithgow, Sean Astin, and Harrison Ford. And, obviously, movies by Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. Ah memories, right?
Well, as I sat perusing books at a local cafe, I stumbled upon a book containing an amazing collection of this man’s paintings, and a flow of nostalgia (yes, I’m a sucker for nostalgia) swept over me. I suppose I looked somewhat like a middle-aged woman watching Lifetime; gently tearing up and slowly flipping pages, wanting to remember every image I saw. So, I borrowed it, scanned it, and am sharing it with you. Enjoy.
