Help, I'm a rock!

Wow, man, it's a drag being a rock. I wish I was anything but a rock. Heck, I'd even like to be a policeman...


Er, sorry...momentary freak out. This is my other contribution to the HIPnotize show. I wanted to focus on the geological history of the region where belly dancing originated---the Middle East. The dancer's belt features a pattern of oil drills while her skirt design turns into layers of rock...complete with Babylonian artifacts and fossils from the early Oligocene and late Cretaceous.

We're gonna need a bigger veil...

One of my pieces for the show I mentioned in my last post. And also my submission for Illustration Friday!

The show is entitled HIPnotize and will be featuring work inspired by belly dancing, as well as live belly dance performances. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 16th from 6 to 9pm at the Truspace Gallery in Desotorow, 2427 De Soto Ave. If you're in Savannah, please come by! There will be artwork by the talented Mary Larsen, and Christa Rosenkranz (who will be dancing, as well).

Mural Painting, a Call for Entries, and other news

I know it has been far too long since my last post, and I apologize. I've been very busy. I designed and sent out a new, more focused set of promotional mailers, and have also been working on new illustrations as well as getting a show together with some friends (details to come). But it hasn't been all work and no play--I've also been excitedly planning my graduation trip (compliments of my mother and a great family friend) to the UK! I promise pictures and travel sketches.

This week has been particularly engaging as I helped paint a large mural in Savannah's Jepson Center for the Arts in preparation for their upcoming Dutch Utopia exhibition. It's looking to be a really fantastic show and everyone at the museum is very excited about it. We used paintings featured in the exhibition as inspiration for the mural. The painting is on the top floor of the Jepson Center and can be seen from the bottom of the stairs, as well as from Telfair Square. The work was fun, but exhausting. I've spent 31 hours working on it since last Friday and am very glad to have it finished!








Also, Creative Quarterly is holding another call for entries for their next CQ issue. Details can be found on their site.

Psychedelia, Typography, and Human Rights (oh my?)

It's been a while since I've posted---I've been a bit preoccupied with the post-grad job search, as well as trying to have a bit of fun. I recently got a chance to visit the Denver Art Museum and see their temporary Psychedelic Experience exhibition. It. Was. Amaaaaazing. I've been to some pretty nice exhibits before, but never one that nearly melted my face off with its awesomeness (those are very technical art terms, if you couldn't tell). Between the typography, colors, and actual drawings/graphics, I went into sensory overload. Especially taking into account that all of the posters were created before the advent of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and daFont.com. Back in the day, illustrators had to do all of that stuff freehand (while walking 12 miles to school in the snow, and it was up hill both ways!). I think the great use of typography in the exhibition lent itself a bit in my newest piece...


All hand-lettered text in acrylic, with the orange background added in Photoshop. I think the message speaks for itself.

I dreamed there was no war...

This was an idea I had for my promotional mailer, but I ended up not using it. Partly because one of my professors felt that nuclear weapons "weren't a big news story anymore". I completely disagree, but the image isn't really about nuclear weapons, anyway. It's more about how while it takes the effort of so many in order to maintain peace, it only take one person to start a war.

The Iranian Protester

Graduation, Website Launch, & a call for entries

Well, I did it...I graduated from college. About 2 and a half weeks ago. Hey, give me a break on the announcement, I needed a bit of a vacation! Anyway, I graduated and sent out my first batch of promo cards, so I feel like a "real" illustrator now. Though I think I'll feel more like one when I get my first job.

Though speaking of promo, I got my official portfolio site up and running, and although I'm not a web design guru, I'm pretty happy with it. Feel free to visit and link to me if you wish:

www.anna-cooper.com

I also wanted to give my fellow artists a heads up and announce that Creative Quarterly (sister publication to 3x3 Magazine) is having a call for entries. The deadline is July 31st and there's only a $10 per entry fee. There's no maximum limit for the number of entries, and it isn't limited to just illustration. You can also submit fine art, graphic design, and photography. There are also separate sections for student and professional work. You can get more information from their website.