HIJACKED!

Hello Friends-

So my email is totally, totally messed up due to Spammer Hijacking (my term). Ugh. So if you have sent me an email in the last day, I didn't get it. I had to erase my inbox (the post-millennial version of a personal apocalypse). Should be okay now. Or try jntamaki (AT) Shaw (dot) com.

Fan Art Results!

That was my response every time someone sent me a piece of fan art. I was totally floored by the effort you guys put into your pieces and I think I am now addicted to getting "presents" in my email. So, THANK-YOU! It was so freaking difficult picking "winners". But here they are:



Jeremy Sorese, the creator of this particularly hilarious piece (I've dubbed it "Window of Indecision (in Grey)", will get Skim, some buttons, and a Gilded Lilies book.



Annie Wu (above) will receive Skim, buttons, and a small print, as will Thomas Pitilli:



Oof, it was so hard to choose. Please view ALL the entries here. Thank-you to all participats. If you'd like to contribute fan art, even if it's sans prizes, I'd love to add it to the gallery.

Wow!

I am getting some AMAZING entries to the Skim Fan Art contest! Details a few posts down.

I am now throwing in some additional prizes. Top three will get the Skim book and Skim buttons. One will get a Gilded Lilies book, and the other two will get a small giclée print.

Tomorrow is the last day to enter.

WIN SKIM!

So I have three copies of Skim to give away. We couldn't sell them at MoCCA due to a tiny bit of cover scuffing, the odd bent cover, or other minor imperfection. So let's have a little contest!

I'm ripping off Hope Larson's Fan Art contest she held a few weeks ago for her new book. Send you SKIM-INSPIRED art in to me by Wednesday and I will post the winners (plus a link to your site) on Thursday. I'll make a little section in the "Books" area of my site where I'll post ALL entries. I hope you send me something! Email me at jill (AT) jilliantamaki.com .... please?

Here is a preview link, for character reference.

P.S. Everyone's welcome to send me stuff, but unfortunately I can only send books to North Americans. There IS a recession on, y'all.

What It Is, Lynda Barry

So I started tucking into my MoCCA stash. Fun! Like a lot of you that attended the con, I bought Lynda Barry's new book What It Is. It's sort of a manifesto, memoir, workbook type thing. It's very inspirational. It's about breaking down mental blocks and connecting with our imagination and memories. And tapping into that lucid space of just CREATING already... without the self-consciousness and "need to please" hang-ups we all have.

As working illustrators, I think we really lose that lucidity and sense of play. How can we not? Our job literally commodifies what we love. "How lucky! You get to sit around and just draw all day!" Snort. However, I think that child-like sense of play is really important. That's where the sketchbook and personal work comes in, I suppose.

Lynda Barry audio slideshow (featuring pages from book and author commentary) and NYTimes article.

What It Is on Amazon.

P.S. Also check out Hope Larson's new book Chiggers, if only for amazingly sensitive character gestures (luckily, you'll find much more to love in addition... I promise).

Thank-You!

Hi guys,

Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here... I've been totally wiped from MoCCA last weekend! Here's a picture of Mariko showing off our table (obviously before the crowds hit and the room rose to dangerously hot temps!).

If you came out to visit us, THANK-YOU! A lot of you mentioned this blog, which absolutely thrills me. And lastly, it was great to talk about Skim and finally be able to show it to people! Yay!

Okay, this post is completely unrelated to illustration, but I wanted to draw your attention to a very important issue in our city. I don't want to get all political, but I cannot support this cause strongly enough and feel moved to recognize the heroic men and women keeping us safe on our streets.

Comics, Comics, Everywhere!

If you are even a tiny bit interested in alternative comics and are anywhere near New York City this weekend, you must check out MoCCA Festival in Soho. Mariko and I will be there selling our book Skim plus some other goodies. Come and say hi to us! We will be on the Skylight room, table S8.

Here's all the info, including a list of exhibitors.

Lunch: Mom's Salad

This is a salad thing that I learned from my mom who, along with my sister-in-law, is probably the best home cook I know. It's also one of those things you can make when you need to clean out your fridge.

Chop up vegetables. This can include, but is not limited to: red onions, peppers, cucumbers, hearts of palm, steamed green beans and artichokes. Add a vinaigrette of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Squeeze a lemon over top. Maybe let it sit for a little bit.

I put it on couscous or, in this case, polenta. It really doesn't take long! I also added some feta on top. Yum.

SPD

Hey, I won this thing(!):*



*A Society of Publication Designers Gold Medal! For this piece. Thanks to Leo and Arem at the New York Times Magazine.

NYTimes Health Illustration

Speaking of colour, here's a piece I did for this week's Health section of the NYTimes. It printed fabulously, probably due to the very saturated and bright colour scheme (images on newsprint are automatically dulled down quite a bit). Something to remember for next time.

Contractual Ne'er-do-wells

There is a lot of buzz in the comics blogs about the evil Tokyopop contract. Contracts and business stuff are the boring, unglamorous side of commercial art-making and, frankly, sort of exists as a grey area when it comes to some illustration stuff. But I think linking to some of the commentaries surrounding this particular case is useful, especially since I know a lot of you are probably art students. Maintaining high standards for your work not only benefits you, but the entire community.

Carrie for Entertainment Weekly

Here are sketches and the finished illustration I did for Entertainment Weekly's Sex and the City issue (out tomorrow). I did four, but this is the lede illustration. Here's John Hendrix's contribution to the mag.

The sketches started out as depicting a SATC writer, but eventually they requested that it be Carrie herself.

AD William Hooks.

Would Skim have blogged?

Here is a Slate slideshow about the idea of technology in children's books. Most of it concerns technology depicted through illustration. Personally I kind of hate drawing computers and cell phones (I find laptops the least obnoxious). I think it probably comes down to simple nostalgia, but I also think that there's a weird "micro-dating" thing that goes on with the newer technology... in my mind a clunky cell with an antenna looks more dated than a rotary dial telephone.

P.S. Sorry for the occasional crappy grammar on this blog.

Mother's Day Comic

New Yorkers: Mariko and I have a one-page comic running on the Times Op-Ed page this Sunday. It's a Mother's Day comic about our grandmother, Nana Tamaki. Although, Relatives, PLEASE be aware that I have made little effort to make any of the characters look like you in any way. So please no hate mail.

I'll post the comic here on Sunday.

Orphan Works Bill

I've gotten an email 3 times now concerning the Orphan Works Bill. Might as well post it here: if you are an image-maker (and I'm assuming you are), this legislation involves you and your creative rights.

Here is an easy way to send a pre-written statement to your representatives. Non-US citizens can take action here.

Here is a podcast of Brad Holland talking about the bill. Even if you discount half of it as alarmism, it's still some scary shit.

Yoshitaka Amano and Pingmag

This dude I know is really obsessed with Amano and so he's grown on me too. Here's an interview with him at Pingmag (if only to look at the pretty pictures). This is a good Amano book, if you're interested.

Pingmag posts some pretty cool stuff so poke around. I like Pingmag MAKE, which profiles Japanese craftsmen and artisans.

El Mirage

I'm illustrating an article by Michael Musto, Village Voice columnist, for Entertainment Weekly right now. It reminded me of this old illustration I did for his column a while back. It's about El Mirage, which he deems the dullest sex club in New York. I enjoy the boy in the sling.

It's crazy looking back at old work and seeing how things change (and how you come back to some things too!).

Risk

Here's an illustration for Planadviser magazine, AD SooJin Buzelli.

The concept is "great risk for great gain". I prefer the last sketch, but we agreed it might be a bit obtuse. I'll have to finish it on my own (or find an assignment for it).

NYC Thoughts

I just flipped through this slideshow of photographer Jill Freedman's work on the NYTimes site. I love these old photos of the city and it makes me wonder, as a relative newcomer, if I would have been able to hack the NYC of the 70s and 80s.



Accompanying article.

Reference Folders

(which hold reference photos for current projects on my desktop)

Mariah Carey

Test your knowledge of Mariah Carey.

My job is awesome. Where else does "research" involve watching dirty ol' Mimi and her various breast slings bounce around in youtube videos? I was minorly obsessed for a few hours. 'Love this cheese.

Bon Appetit Spots

Here are some spots I recently did for Bon Appetit's current Travel Issue. They accompany an article about foodie travel in France. AD, Robert Festino.

I actually really like these little drawings. They are simple and the monochrome feels really classic. Like old-school magazine illustration. I am trying to integrate this more into my work these days, but it actually takes guts to present stuff that's so restrained.

Check out Today's Inspiration for a huge catalogue of classic publication illustration.

Back in NYC!

Wheww. Back. Back for good!

So Berlin was awesome despite being way too cold and rainy. We also spent some time in the Austrian countryside. I think I need to go on a bread, cheese, butter and chocolate detox.

Part of our trip included a visit to the German Art Directors Club convention where one of my favourite art directors, Antonio De Luca, gave a small talk on illustration. He even included some images from this very blog in his presentation! Above, a slide from Antonio's talk.

Above, a German.

Hey hey, so I know I was just away and not posting, but guess what! I'm going away AGAIN. But on a real vacation this time! To Berlin! 

I will be back on April 20th. Maybe by that point I will have some drawings of more factually accurate Germans. 

Enjoy springtime!

Lunch: Honey and Apples

This is a budget version of something they make at the Roebling Tea Room in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Cut up green apples. Toss with raisins (dried cherries if you're fancy). Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. At the Tea Room they also put fresh mint leaves in the mix, and that's really good too.

Eat it when you need a light lunch and are feeling virtuous. And don't get up in my face about the sugars in honey and the carbs in apples, please. People who claim fruit are a dessert item are sorely, sorely mistaken and should avoided at all costs.

Toronto Rules

The above pic is from the Skim Launch last week... a full house at the Gladstone! THANK-YOU everyone who came to that event and the OCAD talk.

(P.S. The girl in green? My sister, Lauren.)

++++

A few leftover Skim links, before I resume regular posting:

-National Post feature (which hilariously featured the subhead "Nepotism at Work" in the print version)

-FFWD (Calgary weekly) Interview

- A CBC podcast inteview of Mariko and me on "Q"!!

- If you are interested in viewing ORIGINAL Skim art, visit The Beguiling on Markham St (around the corner from Honest Ed's). A small collection of original sketches, pencils, and inked work will be on view of a few weeks.

SKIM BONANZA

Hey guys,

This will be last post for about a week. I will be up in Toronto promoting our book. I thought this would be a good time to do a megapost about the latest and future goings-ons in Skimland.

First: an excerpt! This is a little cut from Part 1 of Skim. You can also download a .pdf version if it's too big for your browser or you'd like to zoom in on the art.



If you are in Toronto, come to The Launch. Mariko and I will be doing a small presentation where I will be showing sketches and other process stuff. And, of course, yammering about our experience. And partying. Details:

This Is Not A Reading Series, Skim Launch
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 7:30pm
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON


Also on Wednesday, you can listen to Mariko and I on CBC's entertainment radio show "Q". I think that comes on around midday. Check local listings. I was actually on Q once before with the lovely Hope Larson. But that time we had a guest interviewer... this time I will actually meet celebu-host Jian Ghomeshi. I am terrified.



If you are an OCAD student, you can also come to a talk next Friday. It will be more in-depth and illustration-focussed. Mariko will also be there to talk about Skim. We'll probably bring some copies to hawk.

Friday, March 28, 2008
10am-12pm
Ontario College of Art & Design
Auditorium (room 190)
100 McCaul St



Lastly, I thought I'd post some media tidbits, including a review from last weekend's Globe & Mail and this month's BUST Magazine. Read a small online article about my comics-making soundtrack at Drawn (thanks, Matt!). And, lastly, a feature in the National Post is due to run on Wednesday. I archive all this stuff on my website under the "books" section.




THAT. IS. IT!

Thank-you for your patience. I thought I'd blast all this info at you at once, instead of stringing it along over multiple posts. Maybe I'll meet some of you in Toronto!

-J

ESPN Fantasy Sports

Here's a recent project done for ESPN's 10th Anniversary Issue. The concept: "Fantasy Sports are Fun"! The editors actually came up with the idea of the pinata party, which was initially a bit daunting. How exactly does one draw a group of kids grabbing at 10 specified athletes flying out of a pinata? But actually, I think the challenge did me good.







There's something that makes me think the image actually looks better in the layout than by itself. I'm not sure why. Maybe the "JACKPOT" extends the line of the girl's arm or something. Anyway. You'll notice the asian girl got a bit of a haircut and became a boy for the magazine version! I suppose girls aren't that into fantasy sports, but I do like the black of her hair in the original. AD Siung Tija.

The FAQs of Life

Isaac Klunk, a student at SCAD, posted this Q&A we did a few weeks ago for his class presentation. I wish I had a drawing of Tootie to accompany this post.

Lunch: Deconstructed Sushi Salad

I used to make sushi rolls for lunch. At the end, I'd gather up all the leftover scraps of vegetables, rice, nori, etc. and dump them in a bowl and eat that too. Eventually I cut out the "roll" part and now just make this rather strange salad.

First, make "sushi rice". I put that in quotations because my technique is pretty much an affront to all of Japanese culture. But anyway, "sushi rice" involves washing 3/4 c rice, then adding 3/4 c water, then turning on the rice cooker. After it's done (not long... 10-15 min?), mix in about a tbspn each of mirin and rice vinegar. That's it.

Cut up cucumbers, carrots, and avocados. That's my own trifecta, but you can put whatever you want in it. If I have kimchi or lettuce, I will also add those.

Put everything in a bowl. Season with soy sauce. Cut up a nori sheet if you have one and/or sprinkle with sesame seeds. [Gong]

You've seen the James Jean Prada stuff. The SoHo store is basically a giant, fabulous shrine to him. James, you are truly a champion! Read Chris Butcher's rundown on the whole Prada deal. It's an exhaustive little post.

I've noticed a growing trend of illustration colliding with high fashion. I collected some pictures for you.

(I don't know how to do the "behind the jump" thing.)

People Dancing

More mechanical pencil drawings.

I thought this was appropriate because we just watched Footloose with Jessica tonight. To reiterate a post from a few days ago: I like my entertainment light. EXTREMELY light.

Face to Face

Yesterday during our class at Parsons, we spoke about "Visual Language" (which I think is a less oppressive word than "Style"). And how it is our duty (and fate!) to explore our own languages thoroughly throughout our entire lives, not just as students.

Also, there is the problem of always drawing the same face (usually a variant of our own? I for example, actually have a problem drawing eyelids, not being a proprietor of any myself). I try to break away, as the above illustrates: usually with only minimal success.

On Crappy Graphic Novels

Chris Butcher ponders the 3300+ graphic novels released last year (that represents almost a 20% increase from 2006). He knows of what he speaks: Chris is the manager at The Beguiling, in Toronto.

Lunch: Brie Sandwich with Apple and Beets

Ok, this sandwich is amazing. Firstly, peel a beet. Slice it thinly then put the pieces in a pan with a pinch of salt and a bit of water. Cover, and steam until tender-crisp (or softer if you like). Meanwhile, slice green apple and pieces of brie. Spread some dijon mustard on some bread, then assemble the beets, apple, and brie. Fini.

Yes, that sandwich is huge. Yes, I ate it all. What of it?

I Only Watch Horrible 1980s Movies

Yeah, this is 80s-kid pap. But we watched The Wizard yesterday and it was pretty awesome. Or was it awesome because I remembered it to be awesome when I was 9? Who can say.

And then I got depressed when I realized most of the students in my class at Parsons were born the same year The Wizard was released.

Also, Mecha Bart Simpson:

"Color Chart"

I just spent the last 12 hours painstaking choosing a colour palette and manipulating balances. So it was strangely liberating to read about this new show at the MoMa about Found Colour. Here's the slideshow.

Usually I shy away from the idea of "straight out of the bottle" colour in my own work. However, at this moment, "colour as a ready-made" seems like a shot of fresh air. MODERNISM!

Skim Social Networking!

One of the things that was cool about doing Skim, which is set in 1993, is that I didn't have to draw computers, computer mice, chat rooms, cellphones, and so on. So it amuses me to announce that Skim has a Facebook page! Be her friend (or is it fan?). She could use a few.

Matching Gold Medals

Our hardware from this year's 50th Annual Society of Illustrators annual (editorial category). Neat!

Skim Redux!

A fun piece of Skim Fan Art from Simon Häußle! It is wonderful (and really really weird) to see little ol' Skim re-imagined.

Some press is starting to trickle in, including this Quill and Quire starred review. (pdf)

I will have more information about Skim and promotional events in Toronto within the next few weeks. So stay tuned.

Panther

I had my class at Parsons do a silhouette project. I think it's a great exercise; "the silhouette" should be considered in every illustration, even those in full colour.

Snowy Friday

This has got to be the most disgustingly charming thing I've drawn in a long time. Oh well. If you're in NY now, you'll understand.

ARE you in NY? Are you going to the Society of Illustrators opening tonight? I might see you there.

Between the Sexes

(Elliott Erwitt / Magnum Photos)

A Slate slideshow on the theme of "the differences and similarities between the sexes."

Photography really fascinates me, although I'm not a great photographer myself. I love Slate's Magnum daily photo feature... I check it every day. The albums are themed: thinkers, telephones, Poe-inspired, etc. When something strikes me, I squirrel it away in my big reference folder. I go there for help: for colour, faces, composition, objects, animals, and concepts (what a great concept in the photo above–look closely).

Maniac, Maniac

Test your knowledge of Dance Movies. Then watch the clip below (kinda NSFW!). Yay Friday!