Neiman's bold color style captured all the emotion, vitality, and excitement of boxing, and he was the only artist I felt whose style truly captured the essence of Ali. If I was a painter I'd want to paint like Neiman.
See more of Neimans work here http://www.alicenter.org/visit/ExhibitsGalleries/Pages/LeRoyNeimanGallery.aspx
For those of us who lucky enough to be alive back then to see this we got an opportunity to see something you dont see too much of today.CHAMPIONS who fought with heart, who fought with dignity, and who inspired us to be better than we were. Joe handed Ali his first lost in this closely fought fight, hitting him with a crushing left hook in the 15th round, that Ali claims in his autobiography, "The Greatest" was "timed to perfection". That punch dropped Ali to the canvis and swelled his jaw/cheek area to the size of a grapefruit.
This fight was about styles, and on THIS night, Joes unrelentingly , aggressive forward pressure cooker style caught up with Ali in that historic 15th round.
I recall seeing a sports commentary show where the video editor cleverly synched Elton John's song, "DONT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME" with film footage of Ali being struck by Joes Left Hook. Whenever I hear that particular Elton John Song I always think of this fight.
Im always up for some subwaysurfin' but THIS is extreme! I think I'll just stick to drawing on the INSIDE of the trains! LOL!! Fascinating story behind this guy, Alexander here. I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!!! Truth be told, this guy has his "ART" down to just as much as a science as I do!! Pretty ingenious device he created that enabled him to subwaysurf without injury..... so far.
A lot can be said about this on the side of safety and kids trying to imitate him, but instead of focusing on that, I want to applaud him for taking precausions before doing this. In the interview video he explains how he built up to surfing on the faster trains by starting out on slower ones first, this building experience and courage. He also commented on how he wwould research his route before attempting his surf so that he wouldnt encounter any unexpected obstacles. That's a very intelligent way of going about attempting a stupid thing! LOL!! Finally, as said earlier, he developed a device that would enable him to hang onto the train, which is remarkable considering that this device can support his weight while the train is in motion. Im sure that somewhere down the line I'd be curious to know how he came up with THIS idea , and can bet that he'd make a bundle if he sold it(maybe he already has) Even with all this, the sheer nerves of steel this guy must have to even attempt this. At one point, he was hanging on by one hand not unlike a water skier! LOL! This guy's an adrenalin junkie for sure! maybe someday they'll be some type of sporting event involving this. Crazier things have happened after all...I bet they laughed at snowbaorders and extreme bike riders.....
Like most Americans these days, my cell phone has become my primary phone and I pay my lan line bill so I can access the internet. Once upon a time if you paid your BASIC service agreement it included internet as well... NOW Verizon had gotten smart and requires you MUST PAY THE FULLLLLLLLL BILL or they will not turn on your internet... As I was on the phone playing "LETS MAKE A DEAL" I was getting angrier, and angrier and all the while drawing aimlessly. I looked down and these were the hilarious results.
Yeah, yeah, I KNOW this blog is about SUBWAYSURFING, but some faces are too good to pass up!!! Take this old man for instance I saw riding the Q22 Bus here, I mean, he looks like the stereotypical "Cranky old man" out of central casting! Dont know what he was mad at, but his eyes were narrowed to literal slits! LOL. He had a brilliant "old man" profile, complete with the stereotypical "hook nose" and a chin that jutted out so far he could jab you with it, and leave a mark! LOL!! No "stereotypical old dude" would be complete unless he had a cane too, and you betcha, he had one! LOL!!
I felt so inspired by his face, I did another memory sketch of him later that captured his essence even better than the first.
Ah Fatherhood!!! In an age when so many men are irresponsible ib "manning up" and taking care and responsibility for their children, it's always refreshing , inspiring , and sometimes even frightening to see a new proud dad with his kid....
Take THIS guy for instance in this picture. I caught him riding the Manhattan bound A train one afternoon, eyepod headphones in ears, wearing one of those familiar devices that I call a reversable backpack, which seems to be specifically designed... probably by a WOMAN... to give men a taste of what it feels like to carry a 12 bound baby on their stomach. This dad had his child wrapped up so tightly in a blanket as well that the kid was barely visible beneath the blanket, pressed up tightly against his dads chest in that ridiculous backpack thingee, while the dad was staring aimlessly into space grooving on Hall and oates or whatever he was listening to on his ipod.
IS THAT KID GETTING AIR????? I wondered to myself.... WAKE UP DUM DUM, YOU MAY BE SUFFOCATING YA KIDD!
I found this great cheapie 99cents spiral notebook that has this fantastic recylcled paper that has the consistantcy and feel of newsprint, but just a tad stronger. I LOVE it! Its has 100's of pages, it fits neatly into a knapsack, or under in my heand, it's big enough to get a good sketch with, it takes to pen and pencil fabulously, and it makes me feel like Im back in Junior Hish school "drawing on the sneak" while in class... PERFECT for subwaysketching!
Ive been riding the "R" and "B" Trains lately, and have noticed that folks are a littttttle more suspicious and agitated on this line than others. Most Manhattan commuters almost expect to see something out of the ordinary when they ride, but commuters on these trains, especially when going back to Brooklyn seem genuinely surprised to see the stange man staring at them while moving his pencil furiously in his notebook......
Stick him with a fork! He's DONE!!! This Governor's Goose is Cooked! Latest Editorial Cartoon for THE WAVE Newspaper Far Rockaway NYC Paterson's face..... MAN! What can I say??? He was MADE for CARICATURE!!! for the purposes of the paper, I stick a little more closely to a more realistic rendering, but you can really have fun with his face which, I plan on having later...heh...
After hearing the recent news of Gov Paterson's political woes this week, I, like many artists literally ran to to my drawing board anxious to get in on the cartooning/caricature feeding frenzy surrounding his recent political decisions, and you folks here can look forward to an Editorial cartoon that will soon be appearing in THE WAVE Nwspaper.
But before I lampoon him, I think it's important to highlight his accomplishments. He is truely a remarkable man for achieving a high level of success in spire of an visual disability combined with the Glass ceiling effect so many people of color bump into when reaching for the stars.
This Youtube serves as a reminder that what we see about a person at present doesnt represent all who they ARE.
While sketching the Latino dude, he caught me drawing him and tried his BEST to "look tough " and intimidating. All he really did was stickk his lip out to the point of looking more like a spoiled child who was told he couldnt have candy! LOL!! The Asian Dude just reminded me of a squid or some sea creature who somehow miraculously morphed into a myopic human. Faces on da train are STILLL FUNNNNNNYYYYY!!!!!
Why must Eye Chase da Katt?? to give him back his wallet, of course!!! Dogs seem to get such a "bad rap" against felines when they're sometimes they're only tryin' to HELP!!! Even if it means HELPING themselves to a few Feline Dollars! Heh, heh! I see my Looney tunes Tex Avery Influence coming out in this toon. On one did it better than Tex!
Pharlament Funkadelic asked this eternal question decades ago in their mega hit, "Atomic Dog" and the question to this day remains unanswered... It really must be the dogg in me....
This is a sneak peek of a panel from a comic project that I am working on... stay tuned for the unvailing....
ATOMIC DOG
GEORGE CLINTON
Yeah, this is a story of a famous dog
For the dog that chases its tail will be dizzy
These are clapping dogs, rhythmic dogs
Harmonic dogs, house dogs, street dogs
Dog of the world unite
Dancin' dogs
Yeah
Countin' dogs, funky dogs
Nasty dogs (Dog)
Atomic dog
Atomic dog
Like the boys
When they're out there walkin' the streets
May compete
Nothin' but the dog in ya
Just when I thought Id seen everything on the subject of racism/coonism in comics I ran into these old Australian Adverts,and comic You dont get any more explicit than this, and what makes it WORSE is that its in a book aimed at KIDS, thus setting the stage for more advanced racial studies when they got older.
This cartoon, and other like it show the power of images.
February is Black History Month, and so for this entire month I find myself investigating and featuring on this blog African American Artists of color who have influenced my cartooning caricature style that I use gleefully on the un suspectly subway commuters of NYC. A major source of influence in my style has always been cartooning particularly of the zanier sort associated with Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, which seemed more than any other studio to embrace caricature as a whole and incorporate it into their artwork.
Caricature, by it's very nature seeks to amplify a subjects facial features for startling comic effect. The art form can also be used to make a statement about the artists' attitude toward the subject. Caricature artist, Dion Socia, of the ISCA lectured on this very subject numerous times at various ISCA Conventions that I attended, and pointed out one should instantly know the artist's point of view by looking at their caricature. With this view in mind, I find myself asking, "what were the cartoonists/caricature artists "back in the good old days" circa, 1940- 50 saying about Negroes (we werent "African Americans " then) as a whole?Ive heard the argument that the art reflected the attitude of the country at the time, that it wasnt meant to hurt or downgrade a group of people, etc. etc. But you tend to wonder what went on in the mind of the artists as they created these images shown in these films Ive have here.
To be objective for a moment, the cartooning is brilliant and so is the animation. Imaginative, well drawn, and very entertaining, even with the racial charged undertones. You can even say that the artists are depicting jazz musicians and the cultural attitude, as they saw it, of black people at the time. I know Im raising more questions than making a point here, but as I said earlier, Im wondering about all this.... After all, I AM a caricature artist, I DO lampoon people and JUMP UP distinctive facial characteristics as a matter of policy. Is it RACIST to draw Jay Z, WITH GIANTIC LIPS? is it RACIST to draw so called "nappy hair" on a black person if they have it? Is it RACIST to draw a black person as dark as the midnight sky if they LOOK that way? I personally know and have seen in my community numerous people who REALLY resemble these "racist cartoon/caricatures" depicted in these and several other youtube clips.
IS it RACIST to depict black people like this or not? If not, WHY? If so, WHY? when does "innocent caricature" cross the line into "divisive racism?" Let's talk more about this, or at least think about it this month.
Here's a link that talks about The use of the "N" word and how it is used in caricature in art and comedy http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/caricature/
I will always remember the day that I got off the train at Union Street on the R line en route to an appointment, and knowing me, in a rush to get to my destination. I remember stopping dead in my tracks , in front ot the Union Street sign, where I came face to face with Emmet WIgglesworth's subwaymural. I was familiar with his work and recognized the style instantly. Wigglesworth;s famaliar theme of figures juxtaposed together in a maze of afrocentric faces invoked images of ancient African tribal masks and woocarvings, elongated fingers and arms covered with mesmerizing black and white patterns.... It was classic Wigglesworth, and I could only stand there reminiscing our meeting years ago. Back in the day, I lived for a time in the Bushwich section of Brooklyn, and although I cant for the life of me remember how I found this out, but I discovered that Wmmet Wigglesworth lived within walking distance of my house, so with the impeturousness that only a young person could have, I called his home, and within minutes was seated there in his living room discussing his career, and my art. I was very inexperienced back then, was newly married, and had a passion for art, but didnt know where or how to channel it. I will always be grateful for Mr. Wigglesworth opening up his HOME to a young artist who was a total stranger, and sharing his time with me. For a while I even imitated his bold black and white afrocentric abstract stylings, until I discovered my "own voice" . I guess you can say in a sense, Wigglesworth was instrumental in teaching me how to walk.
I look forward to the day that I can be just as gratious to a young artist.
Go to UNION STREET on the R Line in Brooklyn to see his work. You wont be dissapointed.
Check out this youtube clip of Wigglesworth "droppin' some serious science" on The Advertising Industry and how it affects self esteem.
Jacob Lawrence, is an unsung hero of the sequential art form we've come to know as Comics. Before I continue, let's look at the dictionary's definition of the word...
AComics (from the Greek κωμικός, kōmikos "of or pertaining to comedy" from κῶμος - kōmos "revel, komos",[1] via the Latin cōmicus) is a graphic medium in which images are utilized in order to convey a sequential narrative;
Lawrences' epic work, THE MIGRATION, consists of 60 paintings combined with words that tell the story of the American Negro's migration from the south to the North. I am currently doing more reading on this fascinating subject, but dont let me stop you from checking out the video.
Oh By the way, Jacob Lawrence was the first African-American to be represented by a New York City gallery.
In hearing George recall the "old days" of illustration, I couldnt help but be thankful for the computer age I live in and how it streamlines jobs that are non existent now. "In the old days, we did paste up with type using literal tweezers, peices of cut out paper and rubber cement!" I also became sort of wistful that many of the jobs available to illustrators back then are not as available now. Photography was expensive, and companies used illustrators to help them advertize their products in print and tv, recalled George. There were also, a couple of "B List" companies, that artists starting out could cut their teeth on. " I did greeting card work for Hawthorne Summerfield, and Williamsburg Publishing, which no longer exist"." In those days, Hallmark Geetings was the best, and one of the first companies that really used the power of branding. They KNEW they were the best, and used it in their tag line, "Hallmark, when you care to send the very best". Ford also considered his illustration work with Harper's Magazine to be his first major illustration job. " It was an article on African American author, Ralph Ellison". While on the subject of illustration, George took care to point out that illustrators need NOT fear art directors/editors when interviewing for a freelance position. "believe it or not, they are NOT looking to eliminate you, on the contrary, art directors/editors WANT you to succeed, to be "good" because they want someone who is capapble to help illustrate their product or idea"."Frequently after having your work reviewed you may hear the comment, "this is not what we're looking for, right now". "dont take this PERSONALLY" "It's not a reflection on your talent or work, it's just that it doesnt fit the companies niche at that time""It's important that every artist find their OWN niche". Having said that, I showed him work that I'd done recently for The Wave Newspaper, and other caricature work I'd done for Rocketshark Ringtones a while back. He commented on loving the line quality of the work, being reminiscent of Hirschfield, to which I smiled, Hirschfield being an influsence. "The rest, of course, is YOU" he added, with a smile, before going on to instruct me of how caricature could be used in publishing. "Caricature CAN be used, he began, but It's important, HOW subjects are depicted. The caricature must be used to enhance what is being spoken about and not used simply as an object of out and out ridicule." In Ford's view, the caricature should show just enough visual information to indentify the subject whichout making them look ridiculous for it's own sake. I was happy for the critique, and looked up to see that three hours had passed and I really had taken up much of his time. I thanked him for an interesting afternoon, and we left out table much to the delight of a stranded yuppie desperately looking for a place to sit.
There's such a wealth of information the man had that I didnt even manage to scratch the surface with. I encouraged him to start his OWN blog just so that the information he obtained in over 50 years in business would not be lost. He assured me that he had been newly inspired to do so and would get started on it immediately. I smiled in anticipation. I cant wait to see what he writes down.
I came to the interview with high hopes of getting the ultimate secrets to becoming a successful illustrator. If George Ford could make it in the racially discriminatory period he did the bulk of his work, than surely I would have an easier time in the new millenium, I reasoned. George quickly took the wind out of my sales with the simple statement; "You cannot DUPLICATE my success". He went on to explain the circumstances of his time, the people he met, the places he found himself were all contributing factors that couldnt possibly be duplicated because it was HIS LIFE. The mistake most young illustrators make is in THINKING there's a "duplicatable 10 point plan " for success.
"There isnt" He reasoned. "each artist must find his own way" Continuing on, he added that No art school is able to "give the plan" either. "You dont LEARN to be an artist, in ANY school," "art schools take the best people who are"good" (meaning they already have potential that serves as raw material) and the art teachers, if they are good ones, act as COACHES to guide a student in a direction, and help him develop his potential."
As Far as Potential goes, George had a lot of it. He was one of Three students who studied at Pratt Institute in the late forties, before continuing his education at highly competitive, Cooper Union. "There were 1000 people competiting for 90 spots in the school and I was the only black one." Not bad for a kid who attended Boys High School in Brooklyn. Art was a challenging profession to make a living at to begin with, and being a Black man in the forties, attending art school made it a little tougther."the art teachers, knowing how tough the industry was, wondered how YOU were going to make a living", he added. The social political climate of the day werent esactly the stuff "dreams were made of" for black youth, back in Georges' day either. The constant bombardment of negative black images, and stereotypes, ie. seeing blacks ONLY pictured as domestics, made you, "accept, on some level, a lower standard, based on what you're seeing. what you see becomes acceptable" When asked how he WAS able to achieve his dreams inspite of the racism he encountered, he responded instantly that his Father gave him the confidence to continue. Unlike today, there was always an underlining push in the conciousness of a black person to "carry the hopes and apirations of the race with you" as you went about whatever you were involved in, including art. Since much of Ford's work involved illustrating prominent African Americans like Ray Charles, and Paul Roberson, I asked him did he feel it was neccessary to draw, quote, "black themes" "We need good men(in terms of technical ability) who have talent, to use it for the people." With so much art today being ego centered, such altruism seems almost laughable.But it is precisely this mindset that not only inspired Ford's work, but other black illustrators who drew during the same period, including the late Tom Feelings, a personal friend. I remarked how I had been inspired by Tom Feelings as a child when I, along with a group of other children had been drawn by him personally, at "THE MUSE" Children's Museum in Brooklyn New York. George Laughed as he recalled he'd probably "seen me" as he was drawing there also that same day! Small world eh?
John THE BAPTIST, is one of the most interesteing characters in Scripture. The son of a priest,Zechariah, he was the last in the line of Old Testament type Prophets, and the "official God appointed announcer" of Jesus, The Messiah( In case you dont know, "Christ" aint Jesus' Last name, it's Greek for Messiah) John was a rugged dude to say in the least, he lived off the land, wore camel skin coats and ate a non fat diet of locusts and honey. In my upcoming comic I take a step backwards and illustrate Johns preaching up until he baptises Jesus in the Jordan. It sure is big fun drawing this guy!
Theres a saying that goes, "there's Eight Million Stories in the naked city" Most of em sad ones,.... well, I got a chance to witness one of 'em, and I'll tell ya folks, Aint nothin' quite as heart breaking as seeing a loney yuppie in starbucks, trying to find a seat....
I was having my meeting with Illustrator George Ford, and looked up and there he was, this poor yuppie, hot latte in hand, desperately scanning the room with big sad eyes looking for an empty seat and finding none....
To Mr. Ford's delight, I temporarily interrupted our discussion just to capture that sad sack look on that Yuppie's face....
Poor guy had to drink his Latte standing UP! GASPPPP!!!!!
If you're sayin' to yourself, "I see a little Peter Bagg" Influence, in this picture... give yourself a gold star!!!
Posts
Why must Eye Chase da Katt?? to give him back his wallet, of course!!! Dogs seem to get such a "bad rap" against felines when they're sometimes they're only tryin' to HELP!!! Even if it means HELPING themselves to a few Feline Dollars! Heh, heh! I see my Looney tunes Tex Avery Influence coming out in this toon. On one did it better than Tex!
I will always remember the day that I got off the train at Union Street on the R line en route to an appointment, and knowing me, in a rush to get to my destination. I remember stopping dead in my tracks , in front ot the Union Street sign, where I came face to face with Emmet WIgglesworth's subwaymural. I was familiar with his work and recognized the style instantly. Wigglesworth;s famaliar theme of figures juxtaposed together in a maze of afrocentric faces invoked images of ancient African tribal masks and woocarvings, elongated fingers and arms covered with mesmerizing black and white patterns.... It was classic Wigglesworth, and I could only stand there reminiscing our meeting years ago. Back in the day, I lived for a time in the Bushwich section of Brooklyn, and although I cant for the life of me remember how I found this out, but I discovered that Wmmet Wigglesworth lived within walking distance of my house, so with the impeturousness that only a young person could have, I called his home, and within minutes was seated there in his living room discussing his career, and my art. I was very inexperienced back then, was newly married, and had a passion for art, but didnt know where or how to channel it. I will always be grateful for Mr. Wigglesworth opening up his HOME to a young artist who was a total stranger, and sharing his time with me. For a while I even imitated his bold black and white afrocentric abstract stylings, until I discovered my "own voice" . I guess you can say in a sense, Wigglesworth was instrumental in teaching me how to walk. 
