I tell myself, that I wish painting for me was effortless but the truth is, I want to struggle when I paint. In fact I believe I thrive off of that struggle, and if it weren't for the fight, I'd be bored out of my mind. The struggle and challenge is a pressure which enables me to create artwork which hopefully continues to grow as well as being of quality that I can live with.
posted by SEILER at 11:06 AM
44 comments
Last Thursday I was asked to do my second cover for Der Spiegel which is already out. The first cover I painted for them won't be out until the last week of March. I was asked to do a drawing of the new Pope and had one day to do it . . . this is the result.
I think the editor wasn't quite sure if I could actually finish in the short amount of time that I had so they developed another cover to fall back on in case I couldn't finish. I of course finished on time but unfortunately the staff got used to seeing different layouts with a pop-arty-look on a photograph and decided to go with that instead of my drawing.
I don't take it personally and I am grateful to work with them and know I will work with them more. They were very happy with this drawing but like I said, they were used to seeing the other version and decided to go in that direction.
My cover debut for Der Spiegel will be in a couple weeks and I will be sure to share my final painting here!
posted by SEILER at 10:10 AM
33 comments
Today's warm up sketch . . . Britney Howard, Alabama Shakes.
posted by SEILER at 11:19 AM
68 comments
Jason Seiler grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where a simple teenage prank launched
his artistic career. After getting caught drawing parodies of his high school history
teacher, Seiler’s principal gave him a job creating caricatures of other faculty members,
and he never looked back.
In 1996, Seiler moved to Chicago and spent several years touring with bands as a
guitarist and singer, torn between a life as an artist or as a musician. He ultimately chose
art and went on to study fine art illustration at the American Academy of Art before
becoming a full-time artist. Though he does not consider himself strictly a caricaturist,
his paintings and illustrations often include elements of caricature, used to exaggerate and
create humor and depth in his subjects.
His work, both humorous and serious, has been featured in numerous publications,
including Rolling Stone, TIME, Der Spiegel, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business
Week, MAD magazine, and The New Yorker. Seiler’s client list has also included Disney,
Universal Pictures, Penguin Group, Sony Image, and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland,
for which he worked as a character designer. In 2010, Seiler won a silver award from the
Society of Illustrators West for his portrait of Elvis Costello.
For several years, Seiler has taught painting and drawing for the online art school
Schoolism. Aside from drawing, he loves to skydive and dreams of one day cage diving
with great white sharks. Until that day comes, he will spend his time not devoted to art
with his two daughters, Isabeau and Ava.
Seiler lives in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Celebrity Chefs (2014) is his
first project for the U.S. Postal Service.
I'm excited to say that it is official that I will be doing a series of paintings for the United States Postal Service! My official bio and pic have been approved! Let the painting begin!!!!
posted by SEILER at 2:28 PM
55 comments
SEILER (Syler) is an award winning artist (who cares?), specializing in portraits, character design, and humorous illustration. Some of his clients include Rolling Stone, TIME magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Penguin Group, GOLF magazine, Guitar Player, The Weekly Standard, Business Week, MAD magazine and the Village Voice, among many others. SEILER also teaches drawing and painting high end caricature illustration at Schoolism.com When not drawing or painting, SEILER spends the rest of his time with his two gorgeous girls, Isabeau and Ava!
