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Jason O’MalleyJason O’Malley Portraits and Location: Last time you ate a pancake? Favorite day of the week? Favorite website besides your own? |
Q&A
Give us a brief description of you and your artwork.
I’m a longtime New York City dwelling illustrator who bought a weekend house in the Catskills with his bf and never went back to the city. When the market crashed in 2008 and my editorial work dried up, I started doing custom portraits for friends and it gradually snowballed into an actual business. I draw all my subjects to look their very best, no dieting required. It’s much more forgiving than a photograph.
What’s your goal as an artist?
To make my client flip out when they see the final art.
Why did you choose illustration?
After years of toiling in the trenches as a graphic designer and art director in the fashion world, I finally came to my senses and realized I could make a living by drawing pretty pictures instead. And I can do it all from the comfort of my home, on my own schedule, in my underpants. It’s my dream job.
What was the last full album you listened to?
MDNA by Madonna. Don’t believe the haters. It’s freaking awesome. And Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by M83. It’s magically delicious.
Top three movies of all time?
Female Trouble, 16 Candles, A Room with a View
Favorite living artist?
Morrissey. He’s still charming after all these years.
Have you seen this high speed video of jello?
It’s hypnotic. Must. Buy. Jello. Now.
Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?
It’s a breeze to order, the prices are great, and the clean lines compliment the modern people, places, and pets that I like to draw. And whoever writes the copy on the Plywerk website is a smart ass. I like smart asses.
Does thinking of Plywerk give you love butterflies in your stomach?
Yes, especially when I daydream about my Pro Deal discount.
Favorite hair style?
The Bouffant. The higher the hair the closer to God.
Breakfast cereal of choice?
Honey Nut Cheerios with rice milk and blueberries. And since we’re on the topic, I’m pretty sure that the couples featured on the Kashi Good Friends cereal box are “doing it”.
More about Jason
Jason began his career as a graphic designer and art director for the likes of Donna Karan, Abercrombie and Fitch, OUT magazine, and Laird + Partners. In 1998, he came to his senses and realized he could make a living as an illustrator. His greeting cards are featured in hip shops around the globe and his illustrations have appeared in many publications including Vogue, The New York Times, and Elle Decoration. Other clients include Gap, Mini Cooper, Ikea, Coca Cola, and American Express to name a few of his resume highlights.
2005 marked the launch of his greeting card company Handsome Devil Press with partner J.R. Craigmile. In 2006 he was selected one of the “200 Best Illustrators Worldwide” by Lürzer’s Archive. In 2007, his first two children’s pop-up books for Jumping Jack Press won gold and bronze Moonbeam Awards. Several of his illustrations are featured in the 2008 edition of The Big Book of Fashion Illustration. And he’s been creating “über gay and sparkly” graphics and branding for his pals at the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop in NYC. In his spare time he paints, throw pots, and occasionally blogs about design and celebutards. Jason is and amazing human and if I lived closer to New York, I would most definitely ask him to wear the other half of my BFF necklace.
Win an Jason O’Malley Print on Plywerk
Post a comment below and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a 12×18 Jason O’Malley print mounted on 3/4″ bamboo Plywerk!!! We’ll select a winner at random at the end of the month so make sure you come back to the blog in early April to see if you won and to check out the new featured artist! We’ll ship it anywhere in the continental US for free. If you win and need it shipped internationally, you’re on the hook for shipping costs. Sorry to be so mean.
This stuff is great. I am proud to be a Hudson Valley neighbor!
So freakin’ proud of you, Boo. Can I make a smartass remark about being mounted by the artist? Oh. You meant the art. Awesome.
Proud to say I knew him when. An amazing talent and a funny, funny guy!
Jason’s work is unique and amazing! Contact him for a one if a kind portrai, you will not be disappointed!
Dil?
Great work! I can’t help but smile when I see all of the people pictured. They all seem so happy!
Your work is always so amazing.. I used your sailor for inspiration for a tattoo I got!
For real? I need to see a pic of that!
Jason is responsible for calling me a nickname in school that corresponded with a cheese cracker. Unbelievably, I have forgiven him.
I fully support and love this work and want to win a morrissey print because jason is a genius
ply-werk it girl!love this art….
Sure he is talented, and creative, and funny and good looking, but without me he would not be here to be PLYWERK featured artist for the month of April.
… and if my brother and I didn’t terrorize him into eating his broccoli when he was a wee lad, he might not of been emotionally scared enough to become an artist!
make that “scarred” not scare.We did the scaring, he did the scarring.
I love the animals. Time for another children’s book? I’m also convinced there could be a great graphic novel for teens in your future. Your perspective is so irreverent and funny; you could really speak to them.
Susan is the winner of a Jason O’Malley print mounted on Plywerk!!! Hurraahh!!!
Please email us at info@plywerk.com to claim your prize. Feel free to take a few hours or a day to breathe and take it all in. Congrats!
Jason O’malley seems quite clever. I am glad that this interview introduced me to Jason. I want to find out more about his work.
I loooved to be introduced to Jason’s work and I’m truly in love with his illustrations! Congratulations Jason!
And I soooo wanna win one of them! 
Thanks for this feature! I’m happy to have found Jason and his marvelous work!
I love the clean style of these illustrations! The Morrissey one is definitely my favorite. All the details are great!
Such incredibly awesome work!
I love the work of O’Malley. It has such a fresh look and always makes me smile.
I prefer Honey Clusters of Oats myself.
Where do you post the winner? Just checking in again to see if I’m the lucky one.
It’s in-line with all the comments on the post: http://www.plywerk.com/blog/2012/04/jason-omalley-april-2012-featured-artist/#comments
Susan H was the winner of Jason’s lovely art work but we have a new artist every month!