It wouldn’t be a new month if I wasn’t redoing my website. It hit me after the move into a new house and office that my current site had some usability issues. Mainly people found it harder to work than ikea furniture. So I took a page out of Steve Jobs book (metaphorically speaking, even though I am currently reading his book, I would never tear a page out of it, blasphemy) And started over even though I just published it. Oh well it was a good idea, but like good ideas sometimes they need to be put on a shelf. Unless its an crappy ikea shelf, but we’ll just assume any furniture mentioned in future metaphors is not ikea furniture ( for the record I quite like ikea furniture but they get a bad rep sometimes do to shoddy materials ). What was I talking about? oh yeah my website check it out.
New piece about American Consumerism. been real busy moving homes and offices to new locations so things might be kinda quiet for the next few weeks, but I will be back posting again soon.
Last weekend I did a piece for the new issue of Bloomberg Businessweek. Its a book review for the book Power Inc. About the increasing size of private power over government. Check it out on the news stands or on Businessweeks site here
(via austinkleon)
Last week I received this new illustration annual book in the mail from 3X3. Inside is one of my images, probably you have all seen it, the cyberwar grenade. That piece is nothing new but being selected into this illustration annual is new. It is an honer to have a page among the best illustrators in the world, I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but its things like this that make it exciting. you can buy the book here.
Here is a new piece that I created before the holidays. I got inspired when I saw an “apples for sale” sign at a small produce market in fresno so I made this. I would put in the vain of my vintage ad posters even though its a little different format. Its up in my store if you want one for your kitchen or house.
My website has been down for a few weeks now, but we are back online. After a switch in CMS to Cargo Collective and a major redesign we finally launched. You will notice that the interface is totally different, portfolio images are now represented by symbols. Without Further ado Here is CurtMerlo.com 3.0. I would love to hear your feedback to help me improve your interactions with this site.
Please excuse the mess.
Since my recent website hackings I have realized my website is very old and very vulnerable to cyber break-ins, So I have decided to move my portfolio to a new CMS one preferably with a community, so I settled on CARGO COLLECTIVE. The good news is it is very alive and i think it is secure the bad news is I have to completely redo my website…Again. I have to work around a few limitations set up by Cargo but I think it will in the long term be a good move. so now let the coding <begin/>
Trying to make one post every week and this weeks post is a new illustration. I am really trying to following this collage experimentation kick I have been interested in. Collaging is fun an interesting. I think it was Truman Capote who said “I believe more in scissors than I do in the pencil.” If I had to guess what he meant by this its that by cutting and combining seemingly unconnected things you create more an unexpected and creative result rather than precisely placing every element of a composition. The art of accidents is a true art form, because it takes creativity to know which accidents to keep. You can’t fake it. Humans are good judges of sincerity. Oh yeah this piece is about fixing yourself, especially after a broken heart.
My website got hacked yesterday. Trying to figure out all the details, Please be patient with me and the site. I may need to move my site to a new CMS and basically start over. Things might be weird for a while. Sorry Friends.
Working on some collage experiments lately. This was an Idea I had a while ago about how as a society we are becoming increasingly distracted. How about “Procrasti-nation” as a title? Pretty happy with how this turned out ill probably do more. Enjoy the distraction
New cover illustration out this week. This time it was with first time collaborator Miami New Times. Always a pleasure to work with new people, especially when they are nice. you can read the very interesting story HERE at MNT, and also see the cover featured HERE at Nas Capas the Magazine cover lover who loved my magazine cover without taking it out on a date first.
I got this book in the mail yesterday. I forgot why it was sent to me but as I was flipping through it I quickly remembered agreeing to be featured in this illustration book a while ago. I am so glad I did, What an honor it is to see my work laying next to some of my favorite illustrators of this time. You can see my two page spread on pages 98 and 99 if you happen to pick it up somewhere. Otherwise if you are interested in seeing some amazing illustration you can purchase the book here.
Last week Denver Westword published an issue with an a cover I illustrated for them. Denver Westword as you may know is a fine magazine with good folks working for them. This issue was about the people who speak on behalf of victims and there motivation for doing so. Its called “The Victim Lobby,” you can check the full issue out here.
