portrait
I’m excited to announce that more of my “Dead Masters” series of work will be part of the group portrait show, “Onward”, opening Friday, May 3rd at La Luz De Jesus art gallery in Los Angeles. This show is in conjunction with artist, Matthew Couper’s solo exhibition, “In Memory of Water” opening on the same night in the main gallery.
“Princess in Pearls”, by Michele Melcher
Years ago at an old place of work, a co-worker who had gotten to know me and my fascination with morbid science gave me a book that they had read titled, "Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers". The author, Mary Roach, spun an informed and enthralling account of all of the different and sometimes interesting "adventures" that can happen to your body when you die and donate it to science. I won't go into detail (read the book!) but I will tell you that some of those things go far beyond your regular old medical student anatomy class dissection.
When I was asked to draw Mary Roach for this week's Printers Row Journal, I finally got to put a face with the woman who has written so many great scientific non fiction titles including, "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife", "Gulp: Adventure on the Alimentary Canal" and other methodical tales that answer all of those questions in the back of your mind that you were always afraid to ask.
Her new book called, "Grunt, the Science of Humans at War", is featured in this week's Printers Row Magazine. I have not read the book but National Geographic Journalist, Simon Worrall describes, "War is Hell. Mary Roach met the folks who make it less so. These "white hat military scientists" try to keep soldiers alive and comfortable."
Printers Row Magazine cover featuring illustrated portrait of Mary Roach.
I try to send out email campaigns to existing and prospective clients twice a month (more or less depending on my schedule) and then follow up with a print campaign once or twice a quarter. I think it's really important to reach people with print because email can so easily go straight to the trash or spam folder and then quickly be forgotten. Many prospective clients are so busy that they don't want to receive emails at all. Getting a physical printed piece in the mail is different than getting an email, it gives an art director something to hang on to and if they really like it they might file it away and contact you for a future assignment. I usually get at least one or two jobs after I send out a printed piece so it is worth the time,money energy that I put into it.
A few weeks back I put together an email and coinciding print campaign with my "Good Bad and Ugly" presidential portraits. I usually send out a postcard but this was a much larger and more expensive mailer. The mailer consisted of four over sized double-sided presidential postcards, a note, a business card and my very own "presidential" Melcher 2016 campaign sticker. All inside a brown grocery bag stock envelope with my crossed stylus logo sticker on the back. It was a lot of work and money but I've gotten a great response from it so far. Several art directors even emailed me kudos - which was really nice. I know how freaking busy they are and taking the time out of their schedules to say that the cards brightened their days was totally worth it for me.
I created a small gallery of snapshots from the whole process. Click through it to see all of the photos and the GIGANTIC (and heavy) boxes of envelopes at the end!
Enjoy!
A few months back when I illustrated "Trump, Trump and Awaaaay!", I said that I wasn't going to talk about any more political stuff. I dislike political discussion mostly because it tends to bring out the inner ugliness in people that you don't normally see. That, and we still have to endure a whole friggin' summer and fall hearing about it everywhere, blah.
This is my pictorial answer to it all! Yep folks, no matter who is your favorite please remember that there are 2 sides to every story. *And I know that Ted Cruz dropped out of the race RIGHT AFTER I finished his portrait but it's still a good illustration (and quite funny with his mouth crusties) so I'm still posting it. I didn't even bother drawing John Kasich, because the poor fella never really had a chance with all of the attention that the orange fool gets. So without further adieu, scroll down to see the details of the good, the bad and the ugly!
Be careful what you wish for.
Feelin' the heartburn.
I hope that you already ate your lunch. If you didn't , well then I'm sorry!
Below is another portrait illustration for the cover of Chicago Tribune's Printers Row Journal. This time it is of author, Jami Attenberg.
