Here's a new poster design I just completed for our friends at Thingamajigs. This should be a fun event. There's a great video about this event here. See you there. WOOSH! xxm
Wow. I'm stunned. Chris Rathman has taken the cover art I created for Camper Van Beethoven's La Costa Perdida and has done stop-motion animation with plastic beads to create this super-groovy video. There's lots of great CVB in-jokes that whiz by. You'll have to see for yourself. Behold:
Peaches In The Summertime - Camper Van Beethoven (Full Bead-A-Mation) from Chris Rathman on Vimeo.
Apparently, this took Chris six months to complete. Stunning.
By the way, have you checked out the artwork I did for the new record? Here's a taste.
xm
Friendlies, our good friends at Bay Woof have awarded the Wertzateria the "Best Pet Artist" as part of the Beast of the Bay Awards. Arf!
"You’ll recognize Oakland-based illustrator and printer, Michael’s work from last year’s Beast of the Bay Awards logo and winners’ issue cover, if not from his other high-visibility projects all across the Bay Area, including logos and posters for the Oakland Museum, SF MOMA, and the de Young. Perhaps inspired by his “vicious beast” Olive, animals appear in lots of his work. Visit the website to view many dazzling samples of his work and buy posters and picture books. Be sure to check out his fun and fabulous downloadable e-book, Dog Dreams. Michael uses silkscreen, computer graphics, whatever it takes to create his distinctive, bright, graphic art. Amazing!"
xm
Hey friendlies, we celebrate 25 years of the Argyll Adventure Tree TONIGHT! We're dragging out the crates and dusting off the vinyl.
You can bet your LAST CASH this will be a STONE GAS!
Listen: Thursday February 6, from 5-7 PM PST by pointing your glowing boxes towards 9th Floor Radio.
JAM
[update: you can listen to the archived show here, and see the playlist here. it was a beautiful night. thank you for listening!]
xm
The kind folks from ALO have hired me to do their "Tour D'Amour" poster for a few years now. Here's the 2014 offering: say hello to Saint Valentine! He was martyred (at least one of several Saint Valentines was) for illegally marrying Christian couples against Roman law. Hey, people. Love is love is love. xm
.. magotes. I had to say it. Apologies. The Rickshaw Bagworks totes I've been designing are showing up at Bay Area Whole Foods Markets (and they're still for sale at both Rickshaw in Dogpatch and the Ferry Plaza kiosk). More designs (Sutro Tower? Golden Gate Bridge?) are on the way. Go getcherself one! You deserve it.
xm
Friendlies, the 2014 calendars are here & up for sale in the shop. This calendar is a collection of screenprints I've made since 2003. Also in the shop you'll find both the winter tour posters I just completed for the CVB/Cracker family. Enjoy!
Thank you and hugs: Carolee, Wayne, Isabel, Kristy, Nat Swope at Bloom Press. Big thanks to my sister Julie Wertz for making this happen every year, and to the fine folks at Lee Wood Press in San Francisco for the amazing printing job (as usual).
xm
Just finished an [ocean guardian] poster (and variant) for Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven's end-of-year and winter tours. Hey, if they come your way, go see 'em play. You'll be glad you did. xm
A new design for Rickshaw Bags! I believe these are available at the Ferry Plaza in SF. They won't be animated, though.
Happy Happiness, everyone. Bright moments. xm
Friendlies,
the kind folks at Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids asked me to show the original letterpress prints for Dog Dreams, so I've installed those prints plus a few extra in their front room. The show will be up through January 2014, so visit the Mission, grab some gifties, and check the shop out. It's a goody-goody. The framed prints (yes, the framed Dog Dreams prints are for sale) are priced to move! Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids is located at 766 Valencia Street in lovely San Francisco, California.
Thank yous due to Carolee Wheeler for framing and Jim Winters for helping me hang the show.
Friends: here's a series of icons for Watermark Press in San Francisco:
Painted Ladies. Beach Blanket Babylon. (The Balclutha!) at Fisherman's Wharf. Alcatraz.
I hope you enjoy.
xm
Friends, you know that "art cult" thing I've been going on (and on and on) about? You can see the documentary about it via iTunes. It's a fun watch. Yours truly appears in the film for a minute. Associate-produced by our friend Phil Benson.
Check it out by going here. Down the rabbit hole you go...
xm
Two bass players are gettin' hitched. It's in the air. Design & illustration by yours truly.
xm
Dear friendlies: here's an image I worked up for a baby's room for a friend. xx,m
Hello Friendlies, Campout 9 is upon us. Here's the poster I just finished. Stay tuned for the printed version. This was a meditation on an upcoming birthday, on the death of the glaciers, on the old traditions and religions. Remember when rock and roll used to be dangerous? Apparently a 9 enneagram is "the peacemaker". That sounds good to me.
xxm
There's a new print up in the shop entitled Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It's 18 inches by 24 inches of eye-popping, dice-rolling goodness. Printed by Bloom Press in Oakland. Inspired (somewhat) by the Games of Nonchalance. Best viewed under blacklight whilst reclining on 1,000 velvety pillows. Get yours.
xm
Hi there friendlies, I just finished signing and numbering a small stack of these for Friday night. See you then?
xm
Dear Friendlies, Jim Winters and myself are having a show of screenprints at the Dolores Park Cafe, and we’d love it if you could come down for the opening. The opening party is Friday, August 2, from 6-8 pm, at the ever-lovely Dolores Park Cafe (501 Dolores St x 18th St) in ever-lovin' San Francisco.
There will be prints for sale, a set of music by the Argyll Adventure Tree, and snacks. Snacks.
You will see: vanitas, op art, cityscapes, bulls, dogs, our limited edition collaborative book entitled ‘Queen For Two Weeks’, and a few portraits.
See you there? The show runs through August.
xm
