Sunday, March 31, 2013

Why So Serious?

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.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Pope Francis for Der Spiegel

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!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Britney Shakes!

Today's warm up sketch . . . Britney Howard, Alabama Shakes.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Levon Helm Sketch

25 minute sketch of Levon Helm!

Bio for United States Post Office!

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!!!!
All artwork © JasonSeiler 2006 unless otherwise stated. All characters are copyright to their respective owners