Andy Batt

Andy Batt Studios

Location:
NE Portland, OR

Last time you ate a pancake?
I think it was a buttermilk and PBR Krusteaz™ while camping last summer.

Favorite day of the week?
Sunday. It’s just like Saturday, but more mellow.

Favorite website besides your own?
boingboing.net

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your artwork.

I’m a commercial photographer, so I do a lot of advertising and sports marketing photography. I love my job–it’s the job everyone wants to have. But the work I’m sending you is a personal series. It’s what I do to provide a counterpoint to my commercial images. I like to take handheld landscapes. I have a serious jones for formal composition, but I like to temper that with the fluidity of being handheld.

What’s your goal as an artist?

To create images that other people want to look at.

Why did you choose photography?

It chose me.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

From little moments – from random thoughts that run through my head – from artists that are better then me.

What do you do when you are not shooting?

Cook, paddle, read. Not at the same time.

What was the last full album you listened to?

I just picked up Cosmic Egg from Wolfmother. Those guys truly rock. Can you get me their autograph?

Top three movies of all time?

Can’t do that. I can give you 3 amazing sci-fi movies off the top of my head: Alien; Children of Men; Moon — you should see those.

Favorite living artist?

Don’t have a single favorite. How about Roger Deakins? That guy is a visual genius.

Favorite deceased artist?

Um, to continue a theme of not being able to answer that, how about Alfred Hitchcock? I recently read that he made sure people had fun on his sets, and that he felt if you weren’t having fun making a movie, why make it? I’m probably paraphrasing that horribly.

Who would win in a photography battle royale Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson?

Bresson would kick Ansel’s ass on the field, but Adams would stage a tough comeback in the darkroom.

Have you seen this high speed video of jello?

Yes. I raise you exploding things in slow motion

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I love the sheer physical quality it gives my work. The tactual “art object” rating goes up up up.

More about Andy

Andy Batt creates moving images for editorial, advertising, interactive and corporate clients. His work is high energy, capturing the speed, beauty and grace of his subjects. He is known for his dramatic sports photos and his portraits of interesting people. Andy has been a panelist for Canon Cameras, APA San Francisco and a workshop teacher for the Newspace Center for Photography. His photography has been featured by the Annenberg Space for Photography, PhotoEidolo Magazine, Foto & Video Magazine/Russia, Avante Garde Living Magazine/Hyderabaad, India, and most recently MRM Magazine in Hong Kong.

Andy’s image of runner Jenn Shelton was recognized by Outside Magazine as one of their top 10 published images. He is a member and former Co-President of ASMP Oregon, a member of Editorial Photographers and a teacher in the Digital Masters of Photography program at the School of Visual Arts/NYC. Andy is one of those guys you want to be around simply because his aura makes you cooler. When cool-by-association is all you have going, hanging out with someone like Andy becomes super important.

Win a Andy Batt Print on Plywerk

Post a comment below and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a 12×18 Andy Batt 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 June 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.

Jason O’Malley

Jason O’Malley Portraits and
My commercial illustration portfolio and My greeting card company

Location:
Kerhonkson, NY (The Catskills)

Last time you ate a pancake?
Last Saturday. Whole wheat with blueberries.

Favorite day of the week?
Saturday (pancake day)

Favorite website besides your own?
The wholesome and erudite dlisted.com

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.

Audrey Heller

www.audreyheller.com and http://www.etsy.com/shop/AudreyHeller

Location:
A small apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area.

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
I had French Toast last Sunday, but I don’t think that counts.

Favorite day of the week?
Thursday. Obviously.

Favorite website besides your own?
www.dudecraft.com
or www.ted.com/

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your artwork.

My photography draws from my background as a theater director and lighting designer. I have been working for a long time with mixed scale scenarios, using the disorientation that results from these surreal scenes to draw attention to the beauty and power of everyday objects and daily interactions. I also love playing with optics, both of the eye and the camera. My latest series, Linger, which is mounted on Plywerk, comes from that exploration.

For the last dozen years, I’ve been showing my work, rain or shine, at top outdoor art festivals all over the country, as well as more stable, indoor venues. I have a book, I’m in a book, I’m on some book and CD and magazine covers. And all over the interwebs.

What’s your goal as an artist?

To encourage people to see things that they might otherwise overlook. It’s not necessarily about introducing NEW images or new ideas, as much as re-introducing people to things they see but don’t look at. On a really good day, I might re-introduce them to things they think and feel, but haven’t articulated. My book title “Overlooked Undertakings”, refers to bringing attention to our world.

Why did you chose photography and working with miniatures?

From an early age, photography was the most satisfying visual medium for me. I couldn’t reflect what was in my head through drawing, but I could in photos. I have always worked in and around theater, so the miniatures became proxy actors for me, staring in my tiny productions.

Favorite type of melon?

Cantaloupe.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

People. Places. Things.

I am inspired by people with vast curiosity and an ability to communicate their passions and ideas, whatever their field is. I am inspired as much by science and history as by painting and sculpture. I always cite Jacques Cousteau and Dr Seuss as strong influences, and heroes because they introduced me to new ways of seeing the world.

I am inspired by places, and the different ways that people relate to space, and the way space affects how people relate to each other. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world for adventure, but my art fair travels have introduced me to parts of the U.S. that I never would have seen. This country is full of surprises, and I encourage you all to go looking for them! (hint: If you’ve never been to Kansas City, you’re missing out)

I’m inspired by things, and the stories they tell. My first work in theater was in the prop department, and it taught me that one teacup is not the same as another teacup. And object tells the story of its creation, its acquisition and its use. How is it designed? What is it made of? Where is it worn out? A lot of the objects in my photos are things I grew up with or live with now. The crayons in “Shades” were used by the kids in my life, and I love how the way they are worn down gives you a clue about the pictures that were drawn with them.

What was the last full album you listened to?

Victor and Penny, Antique Pop. My copy is signed.

Top three movies of all time?

Robin Hood (Flynn!), The Graduate, Holiday (Hepburn/Grant)

Favorite living artist?

Anselm Kiefer

Favorite deceased artist?

Artists are immortal.

Scale of 1-10 (low-high), Picasso’s Blue Period?

7

Scale of 1-10 (low-high), Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup?

B

Who would win in a typography duel between David Carson and Dino dos Santos?

Comic Sans would kick both of their butts. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-comic-sans-asshole (profanity warning!)

Who would win in a paint off between Gustav Klimt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir?

Renoir. Klimt would be all wrapped up in some quilty, blanket thing and would have a hard time holding his brush.

Who would win in a photography battle royale Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson?

Tough one. Henri would be more nimble, but Ansel has the bigger gear. One good whack with that tripod, and it would all be over.

Have you seen this high speed video of jello?

Seen it? Hell, I posted it on my Facebook Page.

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I wanted an alternative to traditional frames that still felt finished and substantial. I love how the edges of the ply look, and that it becomes part of the piece. In my Linger series, I was working with a lot of horizontal lines in the images, so having those carry through into the ply was really nice. HEY! Did you know that when you get a Plywerk, they orient the grain so that the stripey side is always on the vertical? I think that’s really classy, because they could just cut one piece and put two keyholes in it, and say you could hang it however you want. That would be easier, but artists never make things easy.
http://squint-pictures.myshopify.com/collections/linger-series.

Does thinking of Plywerk give you love butterflies in your stomach?

Oh yes. Oh yes! You know, I was at a party the other day, and I SWEAR Plywerk was looking at me, and I was like, OMG, is this really happening???

Would you describe kohlrabi as more of a turnip or radish?

More of a cabbage.

Favorite hair style?

Marcel. I like the word, and I like the shell with shoes on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF9-sEbqDvU

More about Audrey

Audrey has a background in theatre and light design. Her playful personality and spirit for life are echoed in her artwork. Her creative and unique artwork have appeared on book jackets, album covers, magazine pages, and walls around the world. Most people who don’t smile when they see Audrey’s artwork are eventually discovered to be soulless creatures similar to The Grinch, just minus all the Christmas jazz.

Win an Audrey Heller Print on Plywerk

Post a comment bellow and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a 14×18 Audrey Heller 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.

Bryn Forbes

www.brynforbes.com

Location:
Portland, OR, though sometimes I think I should have my mail forwarded to Seat 12F United Airlines. When was the last time you ate a pancake?
A couple weeks ago, I was shooting surfing on the north shore of Oahu, and macadamia nut pancakes are the highest form of pancake, if you ask me, so I made sure to go for the full stack after being up for sunrise.

Favorite day of the week?
“I never could get the hang of thursdays” Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Favorite website besides your own?
Who thinks their own website is their favorite? Anyway, everybody knows to wish for infinite wishes, so I’d have to say my favorite is Google Reader, because I can use it to keep up with so many blogs.

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your artwork.

I’m tall. I hate writing about myself. My background is in computer engineering. I’m overly (at least by common standards) parenthetical.

My work is alternately very highly detailed and realistic (I love cityscapes or landscapes where you can get lost in one small section of an image, pondering the story that plays out there) and also very impressionistic. I like to use long exposures and intentional camera movement to capture the essence of motion or the colors of a place while eliminating the distracting details. I like the more abstract pieces because I, as a viewer, can keep coming back to the image each time bringing my own interior landscape to the image rather than having everything spelled out in the image. As far as subject matter, I’m all over the map, as I have a lot of diverse interests.

What’s your goal as an artist?

My art forces me to keep an eye on the world around me, always looking for the visually interesting, and finding beauty whether it’s far away and obvious, or close and hidden. My goal is to keep myself looking, and to share the beauty I find with others. I think it’s important for us to make the good louder in our life to compete with the onslaught the media and our own mental news service brings us. So in some small way, I’m trying to hang on to a small fraction of the moments of beauty I’ve seen and preserve them on walls.

Why did you choose photography, fractal, and mosaics?

My father is an excellent photographer and he inspired me to try photography and it has been a lifelong passion of mine since.

My first introduction to fractals was my high school calculus teach who connected a camcorder’s output to a tv and pointed the camcorder at the tv. The feedback loop made such cool patterns, but it wasn’t until many years later that my love for detail and resolution in large formats combined with my computer engineering background, led me to set my computer rendering for weeks at a time making fractals. When the computers rise and take over I’m sure I will tried for crimes against computerdom making my computer work so hard day and night.

I know when and where I started doing mosaics but I can’t completely explain the why. It went something like this: I was reading a web page listing strange things available on ebay. One of the items was 5000 blue dice. I remember thinking who on earth would buy 5000 dice? Here’s where it gets fuzzy. Shortly thereafter I realized that each side of a die is a different brightness given how many pips there are (I was working on medical imaging technology at the time and thus surrounded by and probably dreamed in grayscale). I realized I could make a “grayscale” image out of the dice. I’ve kept playing with other items I can acquire in bulk (lego men, ikea tea candles, and so on) because I like that the mosaics are interesting from up close and far away, and it toys with my awe at the complexity and size of this world.

Favorite type of melon?

Watermelon.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I wish I knew so I could get more of it. Seeing new things is very energizing for me, so travel is very inspirational. I guess the engineer in me is inspired by new technology that triggers my brain into thinking of new ways to make images utilizing the new technology. My parents and my sister are also very inspiring as people (my sister is a novelist check out Misdirection by Melinda Skye. I also am inspired by all the amazing art that is posted on the internet, but the vast quantities of high quality work that already exists can be dis-inspirational if that’s a word.

Top three movies of all time?

Die Hard. I grew up in the 80s so Top Gun and Secret of My Success were my favorites, but now I’d probably have to go with Elizabethtown, Lost in Translation, and of course, Die Hard.

What was the last full album you listened to?

Bliss – Quiet Letters. It plays in the “gallery non objectionable background music” playlist, and also in my “I am not in the zone but need to be, perhaps I will isolate myself from the audible world while I take pictures to try to get in the zone” playlist.

Who would win in a photography battle royale Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson?

Well Bresson certainly has quickness with his rangefinder, but if Adams gets one good hit in with his large format camera, he could put a serious hurting on the french man. Not to mention Ansel’s talent in the darkroom and his bathtub of toxic chemicals. All logic says A.A. is the heavyweight favorite, but something says Henri’s knack for keeping one off balance and perfect timing could be the surprise underdog winner.

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I love the richness of the warm wood tones from the side, the sturdy heft and the buttery smooth finish. I feel it turns a two dimensional print destined to obfuscate a blank wall in to an object of importance.

Breakfast cereal of choice?

I grew up on Cheerios, but I treat myself to raspberry granola every now and then.

More about Bryn

Bryn is an incredibly diverse artist with an equally diverse background. He has been shooting since elementary school (having started with a 110 disc camera), then became more deeply involved in high school and college shooting color slide film and black and white print film with Canon EOS SLRs. Currently he shoots almost exclusively digitally with a range of digital SLRs and a significant array of lenses. He’s also an outstanding baker and makes chocolate chip cookies that Plywerkers have fought over. He also just re-found this excellent quote and asked us to share it: “The Muse visits during the act of creation, not before. Don’t wait for her. Start alone.” — Roger Ebert

Win a Bryn Forbes Print on Plywerk

Post a comment bellow and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a 12×18 Bryn Forbes 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 March to see if you won and to check out the new featured artist!

Jill Bliss

www.jillbliss.com

Location:
Portland, OR

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
Hmm. I made some a few weeks ago!

Favorite day of the week?
Sunday, my sleep-in day.

Favorite website besides your own?
google.com

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your work.

Me and my artwork live on the west coast, specifically the Pacific Northwest. I depict native northwest plants & animals. I am not opposed to doing the same in, say, Africa or Asia or any other bio-region really, if a benefactor steps forward to fund that research!

What’s your goal as an artist?

To learn about and depict ecosystems and the interconnections between all things. To help other people see these things also.

Why did you choose drawing/illustration?

Drawing has always been my method for understanding how things are constructed, and how they work.

Favorite type of melon?

All of them are fabulous.

Scale of 1-10 (low-high), Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup?

9

Who would win in a paint off between Gustav Klimt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir?

That would be a draw. Or in this case I guess you’d say a paint.

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

Because I got tired of making my own panels!

Does thinking of Plywerk give you love butterflies in your stomach?

Oh yes! all those perfectly sized panels and precision keyhole notches and the smooth sanded edges…yum! Oh, I guess it makes me hungry.

Favorite hair style?

Freshly washed.

Breakfast cereal of choice?

Fruit smoothies.

More about Jill

Jill Bliss began working as an NYC-based freelance illustrator and graphic designer in 2000. After graduating from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in illustration, she moved back to San Francisco a year later and established blissen.com, a website devoted to selling limited edition items made from left-over materials and made by various artists and crafters. Blissen, and other diy-enthusiast websites like it, were the small-scale equivalent of today’s etsy.com and it’s community. While in San Francisco, Jill received her MFA in design from California College of the Arts. In 2008 she moved to Portland to start her own studio and teach. The move to Oregon has helped Jill slow down somewhat, breathe, sleep, think and contemplate. Jill has an amazing spirit and is incredibly talented. She also does not believe in capital letters and actually removes the caps lock and shift keys from her keyboards.

Win a Jill Bliss Print on Plywerk

Post a comment bellow and you will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a 16×20 Jill Bliss 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 February to see if you won and to check out the new featured artist!

Christopher Friedman

www.mysticeyedesign.com

Location:
Downey, CA

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
Sadly, it’s been months. I will rectify this by weeks end.

Favorite day of the week?
I still really dig the Friday. She’s hard to beat.

Favorite website besides your own?
dudeswithbeardswithcats.com

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your work.

I’m a Freelance Graphic Artist/Hermit born and raised in Southern CA. I’m a newbie to the illustration and design scene; I’m enjoying every new step as I learn the ropes. Since my night gig has always been as a musician, a lot of my work is for local bands and venues doing things like album art and poster design. Although I’ve done a lot of collage pieces so far, lately I’ve been trying to get my drawing chops up to speed to inject that into my work.

What’s your goal as an artist?

As an artist I simply try to create things that I like and would like seeing more of. Personal projects come easy for me, and I feel like a kid again when working on them. On the other hand, when doing work for a client who has a specific idea or concept of what they want I try my best to execute that idea while staying true to my style. My goal as graphic designer is to hone in on that sweet spot between my personal style and my clients’ satisfaction.

Why did you choose collage?

I started in collage completely by accident. I was handed the job of designing album art for a band I was in and, at the time, I could not Photoshop my way out of a paper bag. It was a learn-as-you-go-situation and collage was the fastest, easiest way to get that project done before I was old and grey. I ended up really loving the process: taking old random images, transforming them, and placing them in some new context. Each piece becomes kind of a Frankenstein’s Monster taking on a new life. The finished product never ends up looking the way I originally envision it. It’s a lot of fun.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Most of my inspiration comes from my childhood. I’ve always been into the weirder things in life from an early age (monster movies, aliens, and unexplained phenomena). A lot of the things that are now considered kitsch were just cool to me back then. I still have a lot of the same interests even now that I’m all growsed up. I’m still way into Bigfoot. ‘The Woodwose’ is a Bigfoot portrait I did for my office at home. Anyone at Plywerk ever seen a real one?! I’m looking at you OREGON.

What was the last full album you listened to?

Tom Waits–Bad As Me

Favorite living artist?

Wow, I can’t just pick one! I’ll just say 3 current favorites are Julien Pacaud, Mark Weaver, Gary Taxali.

Favorite deceased artist?

Caravaggio. He’s dead right?

Do you prefer Van Gogh with two ears or one?

One. That was a brilliant career move. It was all success and happiness for him from then on out.

Better mustache Rollie Fingers or Salvador Dalí?

Dali! That Mustache was a physical extension of one of his paintings. I believe it could’ve choked out Rollie Fingers’ stache without breaking a sweat.

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I have been looking for a unique way to display prints of my work for a while now. I wanted something other than the standard print in frame format. I stumbled upon Plywerk and instantly knew I wanted to try them. *So glad I did!

*No, they didn’t make me say that.

Does thinking of Plywerk give you love butterflies in your stomach?

Now that I’ve just unwrapped my first mounted Plywerk prints and seen how great they look, YES!

Favorite hair style?

Comb-Over Pony Tail

Anything else you want to tell us?

I do not have a Comb-Over Pony Tail and no, I am not Zach Galifianakis.

More about Christopher

Christopher Friedman is a self taught designer and illustrator who is influenced by mid century modern, retro futurism, crypto-science, nature, assemblage, collage. He clearly has a sense of humor and may in fact be somehow connected to Zach Galifinakis. Had we known about this connection prior to the interview, most of the questions would have been about the Hangover, and discussing the need for a sequel.

Ben Moon

www.benmoon.com

Location:
Portland, OR

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
A couple weeks ago. My next-door neighbor in Bend makes an incredible cornmeal and pumpkin pancake.

Favorite day of the week?
Friday. My schedule is fortunately not a typical 9-5 existence, but on Friday, the emails slow to a trickle and there is a fresh feeling of freedom and possibility.

Favorite website besides your own?
I pull inspiration from many sources so that is always changing… APhotoEditor.com is a great page that I read daily.

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you and your work.

My photographs cover a wide variety of subjects, however I most enjoy documenting people in their environments. I like to capture an athlete in their element, a musician making a record, or a band onstage. I’m really inspired by an ongoing personal project I simply call “faces”. When you strip away all the elements of environment, clothing, and color, all you are left with is the raw humanity of an individual. For me, truly connecting on a human level is the most amazing feeling! Recently, I’ve been working more with video and am enjoying the process of storytelling through motion.

What’s your goal as an artist?

My goal is to convey what I see in a way which allows the viewer an intimate and honest perspective of the subject. My hope is that my work can inspire others in a positive way. I have a multimedia project in the beginning phases which will share the stories of people who have gone through intense life-changing experiences. I survived colorectal cancer over 7 years ago, so the project hits really close to home. If anyone has a story they feel compelled to share, please get in touch with me!

Why did you chose photography?

Embracing my love of photography and making the art my work has been a bit of a process. I’m self taught and didn’t start shooting seriously until my mid twenties, and after that it took me almost a decade to identify myself as a visual artist and be comfortable with the idea! When I first started shooting, I lived in a camper van for almost 3 years, traveling the west and photographing the rock climbers and surfers who were within my community. I was fortunate to work with Jane Sievert, the photo editor for Patagonia, early on—she recognized something in my work and encouraged me to keep shooting. Today, she continues to be a client and a huge source of inspiration and friendship.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I’m constantly inspired by the ever shifting dynamics of human emotion. I also have many incredibly gifted and talented friends who make wonderful music and create amazing art… I definitely draw from their energy and creativity in order to find my own. The amazing thing about photography and motion/video work is you can never stop learning. I am constantly pushed into a beginner’s mind which allows me to grow and progress everyday.

What was the last full album you listened to?

Saint Bartlett, by Damien Jurado

Have you ever had a beer with Yvon Chouinard?

Yes, but my favorite memory of Yvon is when I was surfing the point in front of his house all alone, and I paddled in to shore because I couldn’t convince myself that the two dorsal fins circling nearby were dolphins and not big whitey–he had a good chuckle at my expense! If you haven’t yet seen the 180 South film, it’s worth seeing just for his one-liners, he is a classic.

Favorite deceased artist?

Richard Avedon’s work is a consistent source of inspiration.

Who would win in a photography battle royale Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson?

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Better mustache Rollie Fingers or Salvador Dalí?

Salvador Dalí

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I appreciate the simplicity… and the lack of distracting elements allows me to focus on the beauty of an image. Framing images has never been a favorite task of mine, but Plywerk makes it a lot easier!

Breakfast cereal of choice?

I tend to concoct my own… starting with a bit of granola and adding almonds, ground flax meal, maca & cacao powder, Udo’s oil, hemp milk, fresh fruit and whatever else is near the bowl at the time.

Anything else you want to tell us?

I grew up in rural Michigan near the shores of Lake Michigan and spent a good portion of my childhood living off the grid on a little subsistence farm. In the winters, we would shuttle our laundry and groceries in by snow machine. I’ve never studied photography, but I did pursue a degree in sports medicine… so if you happen to break an ankle while on a shoot with me, you would be in good hands!

More about Ben

Ben Moon is a self taught photographer who is continually inspired by human emotion. Surviving cancer at an early age gave him a deeper appreciation for each and every moment and allowed him greater connection with the environment around him. He especially enjoys the unexpected moments in-between.

Ben is in the 98th percentile in all these categories: intelligence, creativity, amazing life changing experiences, outstanding athletic abilities, overall good guy, and level of chill. Clearly he’s someone everyone loves and wants to be around. If you get a chance to corral him for a beer or a game of connect four it will be oodles of fun and your other friends will be super jealous. Sorry about saying oodles.

Nando Costa

www.nandocosta.com

Location:
Portland, OR

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
About a week ago. My wife makes this amazing Swedish oven pancake.

Favorite day of the week?
I have to say Friday! There is something about it that brings back memories from my teenage years and knowing I would not have to go to school the next day. Amazing feeling!

Favorite website besides your own?
ffffound.com

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you an your work.

I’m a Graphic Artist and Director originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil currently living in Portland, OR. I have been working in the animation field for over 10 years and have collaborate with clients like Nike, Apple, Microsoft, Absolut Vodka, Cartoon Network, Lexus, Modest Mouse, Timex, FOX and many others.

What’s your goal as an artist?

My day job to direct commercials. So as an artist I try to create projects that fulfill my needs to express ideas without a lot of boundaries or a particular agenda or even specific deadline. So in other words I just want to have fun.

Favorite living artist?

Inka Essenhigh

Favorite type of melon?

Cantaloupe

Who would win in a paint off between Gustav Klimt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir?

Klimt!!!

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

I’ve seen the product in person and know it’s high quality. But aside from that, it was important to me that the process of handling all of this wood was sustainable and also that people purchasing my work would not have to frame it in order to hand on their wall.

Breakfast cereal of choice?

Plain granola instead is a bit more my style.

More about Nando

Nando’s interest in art started around the age of 15 when he found himself obsessed with creating really intricate ink drawings. Over time he started experimenting with various other mediums like sculpture, painting and photography. He attended the well known art school, Parque Lage, in his home town of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over the last 14 years Nando has worked with a long list of clients including: Apple, Nike, T-mobile, Nintendo, Adobe, Microsoft, Modest Mouse, and Lexus. If modern day artists were as well known as modern day musicians, Nando would be bigger than Bieber.

We are incredibly excited to be working with Nando Costa on his newest project entitled The New America. The New America is a short film that will pick up on the limited edition series of laser engraved wood panels Nando created in 2010. Nando fell in love with the process and will be using Plywerk as his substrate for the laser engraved illustrations for the film. The length of the film will depend on how much backing he is able to get for the project. Check out his kickstarter campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nandocosta/the-new-america-short-film-and-engraved-art. A pledge for $35 or more gets you an original 8×4.5 Nando Costa original!

Evanescent Energy On display from August 13th – October 2nd. Lightbox Gallery 1045 Marine Drive Astoria, OR (map & directions)

Interweb Links Blue Mitchell Lightbox Gallery

Evanescent Energy by Blue Mitchell combines photography, acrylic lifts and open flame to create dreamlike imagery that will lure you in for a closer look. Combining these different artistic elements gives the pieces an incredible texture and aesthetic. We are extremely pleased, honored even, to have the show mounted on maple Plywerk. The show will be at Lightbox Photographic Gallery in Astoria OR from August 13th – October 2nd with an opening reception from 5 – 9 on the night of the 13th.

Blue Mitchell received his BFA in photography from the Oregon College of Art & Craft. He has engaged the arts in many facets including teaching, facilitating exhibitions and publishing. In his personal work he implements many photographic techniques including toy cameras, pinhole, other film and digital cameras as well as alternative processes, scanners, aged paper, wax, installation, collage, and hand drawing.

His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. including special invitations by Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, PONCHO art invitational, and the Oregon College of Art & Craft’s Annual ‘Art on the Vine Auction’. He recently exhibited new work at Newspace Center for Photography and has been juried into the Light Factory’s 3rd Annuale. Blue is currently the exhibitions curator for Plates to Pixels gallery as well as the Founding Editor of Diffusion magazine. Blue is a decent arm wrestler and is super ticklish on the entire left side of his body.

Jessica Hische

jessicahische.is/awesome

Location:
Brooklyn and soon also San Francisco!

When was the last time you ate a pancake?
At least a couple of months…I’m more of a salty breakfast lady.

Favorite day of the week?
Saturday (no emails!)

Favorite website besides your own?
If i had to go by “time spent on” it would probably have to be twitter.com, but for pure hilarity mycatisadick.com was frequented quite a bit this week.

Q&A

Give us a brief description of you an your work.

One of my friends, Jason from The Heads of State put it best: “Jessica Hische’s work combines equal parts design, typography, illustration, brown sugar, and heavy cream.”

What’s your goal as an artist?

To inform and delight (totally stole that one, but Milton said it best!)

Why did you chose illustration/photography?

I ended up in design mostly because it was way more fun to help other people solve their problems and express their opinions than express my own…but now I love to do both!

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Definitely draw the most inspiration from talented friends. Being surrounded by motivated people keeps the lazy at bay.

What was the last full album you listened to?

The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt

Favorite Golden Girl?

Rose or Blanche. Rose was always good for a laugh, but I love the idea of a slutty old lady.

Top three movies of all time?

I couldn’t name the top three movies, but I can name the to three most watched by me: High Fidelity, Interview with a Vampire, and The Secret of NIMH.

Favorite living artist?

Chris Ware

Favorite deceased artist?

The guys behind the Mira calligraphiae monumenta.

Who would win in a typography duel between David Carson and Dino dos Santos

Dino dos Santos FOR SURE. Though if it was a fist fight maybe David Carson.

Have you seen this high speed video of jello?

Not until now…HOLY EFFING S.

Why do you chose to show your artwork on Plywerk?

Plywerk panels were perfect for my work for a few reasons. They’re of course beautiful simple and elegant, but also since most of my prints are letterpress I wanted people to be able to see the paper and the impression on the paper without it being obscured behind glass. They’re incredibly cheap for how nice they look, and don’t feel “cookie cutter” like a lot of less expensive framing solutions can.

Favorite hair style?

“Clean”.

Breakfast cereal of choice?

Plain old corn flakes. Though Frosted Flakes make for an epic snackdessert.

More about Jessica

After graduating from Tyler School of Art with a degree in Graphic Design, Jessica worked for Headcase Design before taking a position as senior designer at Louise Fili Ltd. Spending her days learning about fancy typography with Louise, she continued developing her freelance career at night. After two and a half years of little sleep and a lot of lettering, she left to pursue lettering and illustration further and to try her hand at type design. Jessica and her work have since been featured in many publications, she has traveled the world speaking about lettering and illustration, and she has probably consumed enough coffee to power a small nation. Jessica wrote all of this not us. Clearly she is not only more artistic than us, she’s also funnier.