Steve Streisguth Illustration

New blog etc

2010-09-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

So...for anybody still following this through Blogger, I have recently switched to Wordpress.

URL is still blog.streisguth.com

New Site!

2010-06-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to rebuilding my website with Indexhibit (in the middle of the night, of course). The link to blog.streisguth.com is a bit out of whack, but the main URL (streisguth.com) is working fine and dandy. I posted photos from my show over at TrickGo, and will be posting more content more easily than before. Please check back in the next few days to see what's up. I'll make a point to announce the grand re-release on Facebook when it's all up to par.

Solo Show

2010-05-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Get excited for this show; I sure as hell am.

Eye Chart on Broad Street

2010-05-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned by my friend Justin Rubich to help out with a sculpture that he was to produce for the front of our school. Soon, I found myself responsible for producing a clean, vectorized image that could be blown up to 22 feet tall. The large 'E' should be visible from around 1000 or so feet away. Images are courtesy of Justin's blog, where you can read more about his piece here and the production. I believe it comes down at the end of May, so take a look at it while you can!

435 Photo Project

2010-03-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had a personal photo project going since around November, and I thought I'd like to share some of the photos on here to entice you all to follow that as well. I started using my camera phone to capture compositions, colors, etc that I could use as fodder for later work. No editing is done, compositions are cropped in the viewfinder, and because I text it immediately to a post on the site, I don't have to ever think about uploading at a computer. Some of these were sent while driving (not safe!), others while in the middle of the woods, and one or two from the top of a mountain. I opted for a clean layout, and let the images say whatever they had to. The quality is interesting, and may not always be the best, but I see it as an evolution of instant low-fi photography. Also, if anyone else is on Tumblr, please let me know! I'd love to follow you as well.

435.tumblr.com

Manifest Equality

2010-02-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Just submitted this piece for a contest to hang in the Manifest Equality show in LA. If I won, I'd be hanging alongside Swoon, Gary Baseman, Jessica Hische, and Jude Buffum. Fingers crossed!

Society of Illustrators

2010-02-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Proud to say I finally got into Society of Illustrators! I love the work that I've seen in those catalogs; there were always a ton of them hangin around the studio. Tim O'Brien was on the inside cover of most of them, sometimes with a fishing hat on. Tim also told me just in time that I could still enter. Thanks again buddy!

Check it out!

Off the Record

2010-02-10T00:42:00.001-08:00

Just finished up a poster for my friend Chris' band, Off the Record. They're playing at a pub in Jersey the day before valentines, and I wish I could make it out there.

9-5

2010-02-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

I've been working at Whole Foods for about a year and a half now, but as of 4 months ago, I was fortunate enough to snatch up the position of Assistant Store Artist at the South Street location in Philadelphia. It's kind of stressful, and not as creative as it may seem, but I still have fun with it. Mostly, I handle printing and distribution of standard signage (i.e. produce signs, cheese signs, hot bar & chef case, name tags, etc.). It's really interesting to see how regional and global marketing distributes visuals to coincide with campaigns, and we have to apply it to our specific situation at the store. I'm partly responsible for the visual consistency of the store, so I'm thinking more about the layout of displays and their impact. The full time artist, Erin, has been doing this for way too long. She's a great resource and it's been a lot of fun picking her brain over stuff no one else needs to think about, like brands of chalk ink markers, sign clips, glitter, and laminating machines.

Occasionally I get to do some hand lettering and create some chalkboards for the store. Takes a good, smooth hand that I'm slowly achieving. These have to be done fairly quickly and efficiently; there's no use laboring over something that will be erased and replaced within a week or two. With any luck, there will be more of my work on the walls of South Street Whole Foods more frequently.

These were all done with chalk ink markers (like the kind you write on a car with). They handle like a Posca or DecoColor, but don't cover as well; drawing on glass is the hardest.

This one is by far my favorite.

Edit: I also get to make stupid little signs for the back of the house, involving things like toilets, time clocks, and water fountains. Here's two of 'em.

Busy week

2010-01-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

I promise I will be posting soon...it's been busy, there's been a couple of group shows that my buddies have blogged about (so I kinda forgot to myself), and I have some new jawns in the works. Jawns all around. Happy New Jawn to everybody!

435 : New photo blog

2009-12-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

New photo blog; 435.tumblr.com
Posted on location via text-message.

Exploring the modern low-fi camera, complete with shitty lens, dreamy soft-focus, and off-balance colors.

Sunoco

2009-11-16T20:36:00.001-08:00

Does anybody else feel the same way that I do when you see these beacons alongside the highway? I also just found out that Sunoco is headquartered right here in Philly. Go figure, I chose this instead of Amoco. Watercolor and ink in the (landscape-oriented) sketchbook.

Bill Cosby

2009-11-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

Just finished this print for the Bill Cosby show this weekend (details on the above flier). One color screenprint, printed with chocolate pudding. Smells good, tastes great, looks fantastic. I was pretty surprised how warm and luscious the color (and also light) the color was. Took a good handful of wasted prints to get it perfect, but I nailed it on my last piece of paper. Right now, I have one really good one, but I also have a scant few proofs if anyone is interested.

Merrily, merrily, merrily

2009-09-22T23:30:00.000-07:00

Custom NoseGo Vinyl

2009-09-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked by my friend Yis to customize a blank vinyl figure for his toy release show at Jinxed (here in Philadelphia), and of course I debated between tons of possible ideas. I couldn't help but want the toy to be plush (instead of vinyl), so I decided to paint it as if it was patched together out of scraps of fabric. I like the thought that someone had all kinds of gaudy pieces of things lying around, and decided to breathe some life into it. I had a lot of fun trying to decided what to do in each section, mixing up the designs and textures.

Anyway, the show is going to be a lot of fun, good friends and lots to see. Sneak a peak at Brad and Adrienne's pieces before the event.

Summer sketches

2009-08-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Got some stuff in the works, but I don't want to spoil the surprise. In the meantime, dig these little numbers from my sketchbook.

8-Bit and Beyond

2009-08-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

If you have been over to the Autumn Society's blog recently, you may have noticed a lot of buzz around the upcoming 8-Bit and Beyond show at Brave New Worlds comic store, right here in Old City Philadelphia. I went up there to drop off my piece today, and let me tell you that everything on that wall is absolutely gorgeous. If you share my misfortune and have to work on Friday during the opening (around 6PM), it will be up for about a month.

This Kirby piece is collage/ink/watercolor, and is about 8x6 inches or so. Finally found a use for all those menus that were stuck in my door.

Early in the mornin'

2009-06-29T02:05:00.000-07:00

Time
is
no
thing.

New Studio

2009-06-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

Well, to recap the last few weeks, I have: graduated college, moved to a new house, helped a few friends move, went to the beach, been part of a great art show with my classmates, and set up my new studio. I can finally relax a bit before I start [9-5] work on Monday, which means I'm overdue to make new [art]work. Below is a picture of my new studio (the other half of my bedroom) which is a bit of a mess, what with being in the middle of making a few prints. Also, sneak preview of a new print! I finally started to set up an Etsy shop, and will have some patches and prints for sale very soon.

American Illustration and Heart Earth

2009-04-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Just found out yesterday that I was lucky enough to be 'chosen' for American Illustration's website. The image won't actually go up until November, but damn, I'm still excited. Below is the piece that got in.

Also on Sunday I will be hanging up my submission for the Heart Earth show organized by the Autumn Society of Philadelphia. The finished piece is below, and I will probably be selling original prints at the opening (no watercolor (maybe)). It's about 8x10, and is a linoleum block print with watercolor.

Big 'ol Update

2009-04-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Hey blog, it's been a while. Long days/nights at school and basking in post-thesis delusions of freedom before the taxi cabs of reality nearly run us down. Spent the afternoon polishing up the refined second version of the website. Up all night cutting/printing a linoleum block, finishing the watercolor up tonight and will post soon. Last week was mostly spent printing and getting my portfolio together for the inaugural review (which I am happy to say was very constructive and encouraging). Finally got the printed posters and postcards in my hands for that Jersey Devil Ballet I mentioned in the last post. Was fortunate enough to do another cover (and a spread as well) for the wonderful folks over at 14th Street Magazine, and will be posting all that business soon.

So for now, here's two pieces I've been meaning to post. The first is a band poster done for class (real bands, fictional scenario). The second image is based off of the Kerouac haiku that follows it.

Birds singing
in the dark
–rainy dawn

-Jack Kerouac, Book of Haikus

Thesis work and more

2009-03-31T08:33:00.001-07:00

I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to show this work in the same space as all of my friends in the Illustration department; I have never seen so much talent and dedication in one room. I am humbled to have received one of two first prizes, the other one awarded to Katelyn Lewis. Very honorable mentions were received by
Nicole Buglak, Chris Gauvain, Adrienne Langer, Graham Palme, and Dan Fishel.

Oh yea, and I got a poster done recently for Chaz Flud's ballet about the Jersey Devil. It was a new experience to have to work in print templates and take the company's own color profiles into account. Everything got sent out to print yesterday, and I can't wait to see what the stack of posters and postcards is going to look like. I also have a small (ed. of about 19) run of original linoleum prints that I'm debating selling at the opening. I need to take the time to set up an Etsy store in the near future.

I am not contained between my hat and boots

2009-03-15T17:28:00.001-07:00

Ink and watercolor in the sketchbook. Got 4 pages left in my sketchbook, trying to fill them up so I can start a fresh one. End of spring break seems like a good time to finish a book.

Also, I just discovered Librivox.org. They organize books that are in public domain, then volunteers record readings of these books and return the free audiobooks to the web. I'm listening to Leaves of Grass right now, and I'm about to download Ulysses.

I love coffee and coffee loves tea

2009-03-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Just a quick something or another. I don't use walnut ink nearly enough.

green 001 + 002

2009-03-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

Couple of experiments to procrastinate. Who knows, could become a series until I get it right. Ink & watercolor.

New piece and some other stuff

2009-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

New piece for my portfolio, this one is ink and watercolor. It is based on an article in The New Atlantis titled Military Robots and the Laws of War. Below is the ink before any watercolor is applied.

This self portrait was executed in lino-cut, ink, and watercolor.

Lastly, a cityscape in ink and watercolor. Straight analog, no digital.

Streisguth.com

2009-02-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

It's official, Streisguth.com went live this afternoon, around 4pm EST. Though it is still under construction, I am pleased to have a small presence on the internet. Please add it to your bookmarks. I will updating pretty consistently to expand my portfolio, add a section of sketch/experimental stuff, and generally make it awesome.

Please leave any issues or bugs encountered on my site in the comments here. The only problem I have found so far are some mouseover issues involving the linked images. As far as I can tell, it works fine on Safari, but not Firefox. I am currently pulling my hair out in a vain attempt to fix it.

From the last few days

2009-01-31T22:36:00.000-08:00

Been playing around with a slightly new technique, which has been very exciting (if you're around me at all, I'm sure I haven't shut up about it). Anyway, I'm partly through the Ely's, though I'm hesitant to post anything until after the show. Maybe I'll jump the gun. The top image is Stanley Kubrick filming the path of the sun over the course of 8 months. More here. Kubrick did not actually film the sun, but he did take a notoriously long time on set to film.

This is just a straight up portrait of the master himself (Kubrick).

'Boring as fuck' still life experiment.

Late Night Post!

2008-12-17T01:01:00.000-08:00

Because I can't seem to sleep before 4am anymore, I'm posting some sketchbook happiness.

Just a skull (and some redorange)

Some brainstorming for my 2nd thesis piece.

I'm pretty into this drawing.

Not a comfortable place to rest your eyes.

Ely Poster

2008-12-14T12:20:00.000-08:00

Poster for our senior illustration show (Ely Exhibition).

Sketchbook Shtuff

2008-12-10T12:46:00.001-08:00

Ink splats and rubber stamp nonsense.

Lightswitch.

More stamped stuff.

Transferred text and ink.

It's been a while!

2008-11-22T15:19:00.001-08:00

School's been keeping me real busy, and the internet in our studio won't let us attach files to emails or post anything, so at long last, here is some stuff from this semester. This first piece is for a NY Times op-ed article about the particle accelerator underneath Geneva, Switzerland. It could provide a glimpse into the origins of the universe (or create a black hole to swallow the earth).

Front and back cover design and layout for Ratatat's latest release, LP3.

Illustration for an article about birds being able to see the earth's magnetic field when they orient themselves during migration.

And finally, one from the sketchbook.

Skull and Observatory

2008-06-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Both from the this summer's sketchbook.

Illustration Friday - Punchline

2008-06-18T22:20:00.001-07:00

Another for Illustration Friday.
The topic this time is 'punchline'.

Illustration Fridays

2008-05-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

A little piece for Illustration Fridays. Topic is 'Worry.'

New shirt!

2008-05-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Freshly stenciled t-shirt, originally a stenciled poster for my Design Methods class. I need to figure out how to stick these to the bottom of a screen and print more, right now the registration and everything else is a pain in the ass. I wish the highlights on the car didn't squidge out though, but I think it looks alright. Technical problems, now I know better.

Some new work, sketches, gallery group show

2008-03-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Been a busy two weeks since spring break. I still have to scan and post a few things from the past week, but I have some things to post in the meantime. The group show at the Digs gallery @ 4050 Spruce St. was pushed back to this Friday, but Nouveau Riche is playing and I believe the beer is free, so it should be a good time. Here's the flier for it:

Album cover mock-up for the Boredoms' Vision Creation Newsun cd.

Linoleum cut of the all-seeing eye, printed on canvas

And a few from the sketchbook:

Fresh outta my brainoven

2008-03-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

Three new pieces for the Digs show in West Philly. Supposed to be this weekend, but got pushed back a week I believe. I think I need to see something other than dirt and concrete, hence the ocean theme. Besides being fun to draw, who knows that kind of wacky lifestyle those creatures have in the murky depths.

Trans-Atlantic Voyage

Trans-Oceania Voyage

Trans-Pacific Voyage

Area man remembers he has blog, no readers.

2008-02-27T14:34:00.000-08:00

That pretty much sums it up.
Actual website (domain name and all) coming sooner than later.
Here's some new/old work.

somethin' small from the sketchbook

2007-04-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just a little something or other.