Inspiration Machine #5: Jean Jullien

I've had an iPad for awhile now and though I don't use it for anything overtly productive, it does offer the opportunity to relax on the couch and surf for inspiration — which is exactly how I found the work of Jean Jullien.

Jullien is a French designer living in London, and he works in a variety of media — all very bold, strange, playful, and pretty awesome. Check out his website...and take a look at the video below, too!

Artbreak 2012

A few weeks ago, Shreveport & Bossier City held the 28th annual Artbreak celebration, a showcase for elementary, middle, and high school artists. I never pass up an opportunity to check out student artwork and soak in the creativity that just jumps off the walls...plus I've gotta keep an eye on my future competition, y'know.

I remember when I was a part of Artbreak (way back in the day), and what a charge and a motivation it was to have people see my work. Below are some of my favorite pics from the afternoon!

Berenstain Bears

Jan Berenstain, who created the Berenstain Bears books with her husband Stan, passed away on Friday. As a kid, the Berenstain Bears (along with Mercer Mayer's Little Critter) were a huge inspiration to me and made a fantastic impression on my imagination and artwork — and it's an inspiration that continues to this day. Thank you, Jan and Stan, for the creativity and storytelling you shared with each other and with us.

Below is a look at one my earliest works of art created in Mrs. Ruth's preschool class circa 1984...the Berenstain family treehouse. Good times, good memories.

Keeping it Weird in Austin

After Christmas, I headed over to Austin, TX, for a few days with some friends for a little getaway — took in the sights, played a lot of shuffleboard, and soaked up plenty of inspiration that already has the gears turning for future TOOMASOOBA artwork. Below are just a handful of pics from our travels...enjoy!

Not sure what's going on here, but I like it.

I never pass up the opportunity to take a photo in front of a Johnny Cash mural.

Parts & Labour, a great indie shop on South Congress featuring TX designers.

The state capital, 3 am. Texas Forever.

Inspiration Machine #4: Jon Klassen

I recently stumbled across the work of Jon Klassen via Drawn, and it's beautiful and moody and charming and I love it. Visit his website and blog and take in the muted colors and inviting textures...I've spent a lot of time poking through his art, and you should too.

Also, here is a trailer for his children's book, "I Want My Hat Back." It's good stuff:

Inspiration Machine #3: ReGeared

I first met Rachel Spire of ReGEARED at the 2011 Spring Handmade Bash in Dallas and took to her work right off the bat. She creates furniture, clocks, art and more from reclaimed gears and other old bike parts. I do quite a bit of mountain biking in my spare time and I love unique decorative pieces, so I had no choice but to buy something from her booth immediately! I'm looking at a bike gear clock on my mantle as I type this entry, as a matter of fact.

If you're into outdoor sports (or even if you're not), visit the ReGEARED Etsy shop and website and pick up something awesome! It will inspire you to get out there and hop on your bike, I promise.

Inspiration Machine #2: Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett is one of my illustration heroes! I first came across the work of this MA-based writer/artist almost ten years ago and have been following his books ever since (I've even had the opportunity to chat with him via email and phone several times...pretty cool). I was first drawn to his expressive, energetic painting style and use of color -- not to mention the fun stories he cooks up.

"Punk Farm" and "Goodnight Monkey Boy" are a couple of my favorites, and he even has a great graphic novel series for kids called "Lunch Lady"...another thing I admire about JJK is that he does a ton of speaking engagements for kids and schools all over the place. Dude is unstoppable!

Want to see more of Jarrett's work? Of course you do. Take a look at his website and the Studio JJK blog for some good stuff!

Inspiration Machine #1: Argyle Academy

(“Inspiration Machine” is the first of several new monthly features I plan to begin on the blog...to find what else I've got up my sleeve, check back soon!)

It should come as no surprise that I love art featuring simple lines and oddball characters, and Mike Lowery (a.k.a. Argyle Academy) delivers on both counts. I’ve been following Mike's work for a long while now and his energetic style and sketchy lines never fail to make me smile and want to pick up a pencil.

Mike teaches at SCAD and in the past several years his work has been featured all over the place -- children’s books, print patterns, clothing, you name it. All the while he continues to churn out original craziness like this.

Be sure to check out his blog and website and shop. There used to be more comics and some videos featuring his drawing process online (some of which involved coffee used as watercolor paint, if I remember correctly) but I can’t seem to find them at the moment...ah well, Mike is awesome at any rate! Hope you dig his stuff as much as I do.

IndieGenius Bazaar

Last Friday night my boy Trav and I headed to Dallas to catch Guster at the House of Blues (it was pretty rockin’, for the record) and I found out IndieGenius was having an event the next day. I’d always wanted to swing by and this seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I dragged Travis along on our way out of town.

Was it worth the visit? Heck yeah. There were a ton of independent artists and handmade designers showcasing their wares — it’s always an inspiration to see fellow creators out there, and I even got to meet some of the folks who will be at Handmade Bash in a few weeks (Dowdy Studio and Signifying Not, great to meet y’all!). It's been fun hunting down these events and shops and artists in the Big D, and I really hope to be a larger part of "the scene" in the future. It seems like I'm in Texas every other weekend for this or that anyway, so I might as well do something productive with my time. That three-hour drive from Shreveport ain't no thang.

Anyway, here are a few pics from the Bazaar...if you’re in the area and searching for a unique shop to visit, IndieGenius is most definitely it.

Summer Ortiz of Signifying Not...her work is dang cool.

Dylan & Pamela Dowdy...and the awesome Dowdy Wagon in action.

The bazaar from afar.

Creative Kick in the Pants

I took a trip to Dallas this weekend to hang with some friends and also to do a bit of "research" on the local art scene. Turns out there are some pretty rad shops and art + craft groups in the area -- if you're in the Big D, be sure to stop by We Are 1976 on Henderson and keep an eye out for anything Etsy Dallas and ArtLoveMagic is cooking up!

Anyway, we stopped by ArtLoveMagic's Underground 2011 event on Saturday night and it was a blast. Tons of folks doing their thing live, selling art and chatting it up...it's always awesome to see fellow artists, illustrators and designers working their magic and to be a part of that energy. I headed back home Sunday afternoon full of inspiration and ready to get cracking on work of my own. Always a good feeling.

To the right are a few quick pics from the event...check 'em out!