3x3 Annual!

I got something into the 3x3 Illustration Annual! It's the Anatomy of a Richmond Murder piece I did for Richmond Magazine several months ago. The annual should be available sometime in the Fall. Click herefor a list of everyone who got in this year.

Galvanized Monstrocities

A three person exhibition of works by James Callahan, Matt Deans and Bizhan Khodabandeh. These illustrators have been highly influenced by sequential art, an art form beginning to receive recognition through long standing institutions such as the Eisner Awards, established in 1988. Galvanized Monstrosities moves sequential art and illustration from their origins on newsprint to the art print and installation.

7-10pm Friday, April 9th
At Black Hand Coffee Shop
606 North Sheppard Street
Richmond, VA 23221-1712

Artist BIOS

El Aquador

James Callahan, creator of Barf Comics, is an artist and writer for a host of international publications including his own graphic novel "Rotting in Dirtville", and the comics Booyah the Oblitorator, and the Barf Comics annual. In addition, he is art director of the skate magazine Born Ugly, owner of Nowhere Skateboards, and lends his skills to a bevy of commisioned illustration projects. Known as a connoisseur of cookouts, purveyor of comedy, and antiquarian of wasted time, the man known as Barf is currently on the "no entry" list to multiple countries and nation states.




Gills And Wings

Matt Deans is a full-time digital printer, part-time screenprinter and part-part-time illustrator. When the world was young in 2004, he started a screenprinting art club with some like-minded friends and it was called Team 8. Under the monicker of Team 8, he has contributed art for several t-shirts, album covers, poster, websites and public restroom stalls. Team 8 currently exists as an independent small business specializing in hand-printed gig posters and art prints. In 2008, Team 8 and Velocity Comics published a series of minicomics, one of those said minicomics being Tom Batten and Matt's La Viande est Mauvaise, which received outstanding critical praise from Matt's mom.




Nong Toom

Bizhan Khodabandeh is a visual communicator who moves freely across the professional boundaries as a designer, illustrator, artist and activist. His works vary from small graphic art projects to major public campaigns such as the internationally recognized, "I Dream of a Richmond . . ." project. Khodabandeh is particularly facinated by how art and design can be a catalyst for social change.

He was recently honored as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" Class of 2009 by Style Weekly Magazine. The descriptive article included....."In a town filled with noteworthy visual designers, Khodabandeh is one of the most influential — and prolific."

The work included in Galvanized Monstrosities, exhibits some of his illustrations and fine art prints. These prints exhibit frustration as dissent and surrealistic environments as escape. Most of the work is a combination of traditional and digital media, walking the fine line between commercial and fine art.

Khodabandeh is currently working on a graphic adaptation of Samad Behranghi's, The Little Black Fish, a children's story about questioning authority and finding the answers through exploration.

He teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University and Appomattox Regional Governors School. He is also the Design Director of Gallery5 and freelances under the name, Mended Arrow Design.

Prints at Park

A collection of Team Eight’s work is adorning the walls of Richmond’s Park Group this month. Special thanks to Dawn for inviting us in and helping us set up! But, unless you are a client, the show is unfortunately not open to the public. (Womp Womp) If you feel as if you too need to stare at the great works of this groups screen printed genius, then contact Spencer to get the details of how to make this dream a reality.

Anatomy of a Richmond Murder

Hey everyone, I just finished two illos for Richmond Magazine. The story they accompany was a series of noir-esque, first hand events that took place in the familiar setting of Richmond. A body is found on the shore of the James River, the police seem disinterested, so the writer takes upon himself to find out what happened. Interesting stuff.

I based the image off of Saul Bass's classic poster for "Anatomy of a Murder." I realize he (when he was alive) got very testy when his style was emulated, especially in the case of the poster for "Clockers." So I think to myself, "Maybe I can join the ranks of Saul Bass rip off artists!" I don't know, but I feel like his style has become so iconic that it's entered into our visual lexicon, so I had no qualms borrowing imagery. I separated the hand from the arm b/c allegedly the body was found wearing only one glove on his right hand which is important later on in the story.

Also the body isn't centered b/c the the left hand side falls across the gutter of the magazine.






The second image is a spot that depicts the protagonist discovering evidence and the place of the crime.

Lots of Little People!

I just did a portrait of Meredith Whitney for Globe and Mail's Report on Business, a Canadian publication. Think of it like the USA Today of Canada. Mrs. Whitney is a stock analyst who regularly appears on TV news speaking her mind about the state of the economy and and the the stock market. She's known for being very outspoken and having a much more dire outlook than many of her colleagues. So I decided to draw her confidently walking through a sea of her peers. Drawing all the little people was a challenge and a lot of fun.





Here are some details:

3x3

I totally forgot to mention that I got piece into the 3x3 juried annual that is currently on sale at bookstores. There's a lot of good work in this year's annual, so I definitely recommend taking a look. Enjoy!

Also the call for entries for the next annual is coming up on March 15th. Click here if you're interested.



Thanks,

Barry

www.barrybruner.com
http://barrybruner.blogspot.com/

Loose Limbs - share, discuss, and collect local RVA poster art

Check out Loose Limbs, a new site built to showcase show poster art in the Richmond and surrounding areas. They're just starting out, but they're beginning to gather an impressive collection of local show poster art that you can peruse. You're invited to help the effort by adding your comments and critiques to the posters as well as share your stories about the bands and the shows depicted therein. And more importantly they need your posters.

If you've collected many, a few, or even just one of your favorite show posters from the area, send it in with your comments, so they can add it to the site.

Oh, and they've got a show calendar that is ambitiously attempting to provide most, if not all of the local show dates, times, and places. You can contribute to that, too.

loose-limbs.com