The folks at NerdLocker have offered up some preview of images from the Hero Complex Gallery’s “I Am the Law/A Life of Crime” show. Opening reception August 15th.
Category: News
Hero Complex Gallery- I Am The Law/Life of Crime
Hero Complex Gallery presents the show “I Am The Law/A Life of Crime” opening Friday, August 15th. The show pays tribute to both cops and criminals across a wide spectrum of films and pop culture. My submission draws upon the fond memory of my first viewing of “Bullitt.” Director Peter Yates’ iconic car chase down the hills of San Francisco was beautifully choreographed. The sequence was highlighted by Steve McQueen’s ultra cool demeanor as he confidently glided his Mustang GT over the paved hills and valleys in pursuit of the hitmen in their Dodge Charger.
Available in the online shop HERE.
2014 Austin Craft Riot Summer Show
If you’re in or around the Austin area next weekend, make time to attend the third annual Austin Craft Riot Summer Show. Packed with creative goodness, shop from among almost 70 unique local artist’s works. Located inside the air conditioned Austin Music Hall, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a summer weekend. Food trucks will be on hand, along with a DIY station, cash bar, gaming area and massage therapists. ChetArt will be a part of the fun, offering a wide variety of new merchandise.
ACR Summer Show Link
List of Vendors
8 Bit and Beyond 2- Bottleneck Gallery
Opening August 8th- “8 Bit and Beyond 2,” a video game themed show at Bottleneck Gallery. The ChetArt contribution, titled “It’s On” mixes Donkey Kong with the iconic Aurora King Kong model.
Children of the 80s Art Show- Guzu Gallery
(Click to Enlarge)
Guzu Gallery presents an art show titled “Children of the 80s” with an opening on Friday August 1st. My contribution, titled “Pee Wee and Mr. T” pays homage to a host of Pee Wee Herman offerings, including “The Pee Wee Herman Show,” “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” and the movie “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” I saw his HBO special and on stage live in the 80’s and immediately became a fan of his irreverent humor.
~Purchase from the limited edition here~
More about the show:
Ah, the 1980s…that most outrageous and colorful of decades. The excess and overindulgence of the 80s was unavoidable. It was reckless. And it was soaked in neon hues. This was no more evident than in the fashion, pop stars, movies and television of the time. That isn’t to say there was nothing consequential or more far-reaching happening in the world. The war against drugs was in full swing, as was the Cold War and the Iran-Contra Affair…but for the children who lived it, breathed it…everything that was important about the 80s, everything that mattered, happened on Saturday morning. So many awesome cartoons! So many awesome toy commercials! Every cartoon had a toy line and every toy line had its cartoon (yes, kids actually played with toys a very, very long time ago). It was a magical era for sure…and Guzu intends to serve up a slice of that nostalgia this summer at our art exhibition titled Children of the 80s. Join us as we celebrate the cartoons and toys from the raddest decade ever!
The opening reception will be on Friday, August 1st from 7 to 10pm and the artwork will remain up through August 30th. Be sure to sport your best (or worst) 80s attire! Blue eyeliner, leg warmers, hair by Aqua Net and Members Only jackets are encouraged (as is wearing your sunglasses at night). There will be a live performance and 80s/Synthwave DJ set with retro visuals by Who Ha on opening night. Complimentary beverages will be provided by Miller Lite, featuring the original white can (for added old-school authenticity). We will also be featuring an array of vintage toys from the collection of Outlaw Moon Games & Toys. Admission is free and all ages are welcome!
Guzu Gallery welcomes everyone to the show but if you can’t make it out, the artwork will be available for purchase in our online store.
Guzu Gallery Store
San Diego Comic Con 2014
ChetArt Booth in the Small Press Section
The 2014 San Diego Comic Con was a non-stop whirlwind of fun this year. With 4 hours of preview night on Wednesday and 4 full days through Sunday, we saw lots of familiar faces and made loads of new friends.
We arrived on Tuesday. From the front door of our hotel was a view of the swaying palm trees, the Assassin’s Creed display being set up and the convention center in the background.
Our hotel was designated as Terminus. Fortunately there were no train box cars behind the hotel that we were led to after checking in.
left to right-Cesare, Kirstie, Julie and the Pacific
The day before set up we took the opportunity to meet up with our good friends from Curio and Co., Cesare and Kirstie. Heading over to Ocean Beach, we enjoyed a burger at Hodad’s before a leisurely stroll on the pier to view the sunset over the water.
Attendance for the show maxes out at 130,000 and we saw our share of folks. Preview night started off strong for us. So strong we asked our neighbor and friend Jen Sorensen to ship us more product the next day. It was a good decision, as we would have sold all the “Childhood” books by Saturday if we hadn’t received her generous help.
Along with lots of sales, we had the pleasure of seeing long-time friends, fellow artists and loyal fans, topped with a surprise visit from April Winchell (who has no Regretsy(s) over retiring her wildly popular web site and concentrating on gracing us with her incredible voice work.) I was approached by several people with interest in some high profile projects. Stay tuned for those that may pan out in the coming months. Much to my surprise, my “Grumpy the Hutt” print that was purchased by our wonderful friend Jane Ezratty was then gifted to David Glanzer, the director of marketing and public relations for San Diego’s Comic Con International. The word came back to us that he considered it the best gift he’s received in ages. Here’s hoping it’ll fill a little bit of “NO!” on his wall somewhere. (A big thanks to Jane for gifting and Dustin Romero for passing along the news.)
What follows are a sampling of photos taken from the convention floor. Click each for a larger view.
World of Playing Cards
ChetArt- San Diego Comic Con 2014
Located in the Small Press Pavilion, Booth O-01 across from Oni Press
This year San Diego will be hosting its annual International Comic Con from July 23rd-July 27th, (preview night on the 23rd from 6PM-9PM.) ChetArt will be represented in the Small Press Pavilion in booth O-01 (across from the Oni Press booth.) This year’s offerings will include the Childhood book and prints from the series, the new playing card set titled Steam Ark, along with a trading card set version, vinyl stickers, a variety of tribute prints, new leather key chains and a lot more.
(Click Map to Enlarge)
Fantasy in the City Show- Ltd. Art Gallery
July 18th marks the opening of Ltd. Art Gallery’s “Fantasy in the City” show. Artists will present their concepts of characters from various worlds of fantasy placed in modern day surroundings. My contribution (above) is titled “Sauron’s Raiders.” Visit the official Facebook event page HERE for more.
Steam Ark Playing Cards
Steam Ark is an alternate universe of Victorian, Steampunk flavored animal characters. Each group is comprised of a particular type of animal: Aerie Clan- Birds, Simian Clan- Monkeys and Apes, Woodland Clan- Forest Creatures and Predator Clan- Big Cats. 52 individual portraits of characters from each Clan are represented in a casino quality, plastic coated poker deck. The card deck sports a custom designed red back. 2 jokers and 4 additional suit cards are also included.
Click Here to Shop for Steam Ark Playing Cards
Click the images below to enlarge.
Click Here to Shop for Steam Ark Playing Cards
Steam Ark Trading Cards
The Steam Ark trading card set delves into the lives and occupations of the inhabitants of a Victorian Steampunk alternate universe. 52 cards in all, each has a full color portrait with name, affiliations, Clan motto, rank, specialties and quote on the reverse. Cards measure 2.25″ x 3.75″ and are printed on 100 gloss stock. Presented in a Japanese styled paper portfolio. The set showcases 4 Victorian Steampunk animal Clans: Predator (Big Cats), Simian (Monkeys and Apes), Aerie (Birds) and Woodland (various woodland animals.) The set serves as a companion piece to the Steam Ark playing card set.
Click Here to Shop for the Trading Card Set
Below is a sampling of cards from the set. Click the images to enlarge.
Click Here to Shop for the Trading Card Set
Childhood- ChetArt Hand Bound Book
48 Page Book– 20 Color Illustrations with Text and Haiku Poems
“Childhood“ is a hand bound book of Japanese styled illustrations paying homage to nostalgic activities and toys. Each image showcases playful parodies of a variety of characters from films, TV and pop culture. This 48 page book contains 20 full color illustrations. Haiku poetry and reflections on youthful amusements accompany each piece of art. Written, illustrated and designed by Chet Phillips with binding created by Julie Sullivan of Dancing Cat Bindery.
The book measures 8.5″ x 11″ printed on 80 gloss text. Front and back covers are richly textured 100lb. Espresso cover stock with a window on front cover revealing a peek to the interior orange cover stock page. Each cover is gold foil stamped with Japanese characters (translates: childhood) and is sewn with a Japanese stab binding technique using green ribbon. The last two pages translate the Japanese titles and text within each illustration.
Book and a select number of prints available in the ChetArt online store HERE.
Gold foil stamp and cover window showing through to orange interior.
Character parodies represented in Childhood:
Godzilla • King Kong • MST3K • The Hulk • The Thing • Totoro • Catbus • Cthulhu • Nosferatu • The Terminator • Robo Cop • Alien • Mothra • Ultraman • Ultraman Zero • King Ghidorah • Bender • Baragon • Gremlin • Mogwai • Astro Boy • Tetsujin 28 • Robby the Robot • Optimus Prime • Cyclops • Martian • Metaluna Mutant • Mechagodzilla • Gamera • Bubo • Kraken • Tardis • Daleks • Space Godzilla
(Click Image Previews For More Info)
(Examples of the illustration’s translations, all available in the back of the book)
~Click Here to Browse the ChetArt Shop for the Book and a Selection of Prints~
Kings of Cult- Trailers From Hell
Check out this great set of photos from the “Kings of Cult” show opening.
via Chris Condon of Trailers From Hell.
Father’s Day- Give The Gift of ChetArt
Father’s Day is just around the corner. Shop from hundreds of items in the ChetArt online store for fun images Dads will love.
~Click Here To Browse the Store~
Previewed above, starting top left: Monkey Trek Monkey Wars Breaking Bad
The Big Lebowski Sanctuary Lord Cthulhu MST3K Attacks! The Wagging Dead
Ka-Pow!
Now available: Ka-Pow! variant of Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro as Batman and Robin.
ChetArt Shop Link
“Fargo” the TV Series
With executive producer backing from Joel and Ethan Coen, the limited episode TV series “Fargo” is set to drop later this month. With new characters and crime to explore, I’m hoping the flavor of the original will shine through. Headlining the cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman and Colin Hanks. The movie “Fargo” is one of my favorites by the Coen brothers, mixing humor and darkness together for a truly original recipe. The trademark dialogue and catch phrases drew me to creating my tribute to the movie with Marge Gunderson, the sharp and level-headed protagonist, as the centerpiece.
Learn more about the upcoming series via the FX Networks web page.
Strange Beasts 2- Guzu Gallery Show
Guzu Gallery in Austin presents its “Strange Beasts 2” show with a tribute to Godzilla, the king of the monsters. Each artist was asked to pair Godzilla off with the foe of their choice. My contribution, titled “Boss Battle,” matches Godzilla with King Kong for some fierce two player combat. Reception is Friday March 28th 7-10PM Click Here For The Austin Chronicle story
Signed 11″ x 14″ Variant Now Available Here
Mint Condition Issue #3- Ltd. Gallery Seattle
“Ka-Pow!”
Ltd. Gallery in Seattle will be presenting their “Mint Condition Issue #3” art show with a reception on Friday March 28th. The theme is all things comic book related with a tip of the cape to Emerald City Comicon just down the street from the gallery. My contributions are a Napoleon Dynamite/Batman mashup and a selection of famous superheroes as chimps. After the reception all the unsold pieces will be available in the Ltd. Gallery online store.
“The Dark Chimp”
“Wonder Chimp”
“Captain Chimp”
ChetArt Storewide Sale
To celebrate passing the milestone of 5000 sales, the ChetArt online shop is offering a storewide 20% off sale. (Limited time offer. Sale ends without notice.)
Strange Beasts 2 Show
The “Strange Beasts 2” art show will showcase a variety of artist’s work with the theme of Godzilla vs. the foe of their choice at Austin’s Guzu Gallery. ChetArt will be represented with a limited edition of 25. Stayed tuned for more as the reception date draws near.