The Blog of Joe Palumbo

Inspired

2011-10-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was asked to do a private commissioned piece based on the Android operating system. I was only asked to do a nice, easy drawing of the Android character itself surrounded its operating systems (They are all named after desserts by the way.). Lets just say it was one great time. He wanted simple but I knew I wanted to have more fun with it. What better way then making the scene epic and the characters racing toward us as if they're going into a battle of epic and techy proportions. Lets not forget about the sweet new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system launching this October/ November. Mix it all together and you get one epic, fun and quirky illustration. Loads of fun to do!

Get this piece and select others as a print or other product in my shop!

http://www.society6.com/joepalumbo

Inspired by Android with great respect to HTC.

Artscape 2011

2011-07-27T13:33:00.001-07:00

This year I had the great honor of being chosen to be part of a slice of Artscape; Baltimore, MD; during it’s 30^th anniversary. My group exhibition was called Gamescape and took place in the MICA’s Pinkard Gallery in the Bunting Building. It was a great show where independent and larger video game companies can show off their latest game and people get to play the games.This was the third year Gamescape was apart of Artscape but it’s first year with visual art component. My Angry Bird inspired painting “Threat Neutralized!” was on display and among other great works. I see great potential with having the visual game inspired art and look forward to it growing over the years.

For me the best part was also the most fun and random part. I was invited for a great rare opportunity to represent myself and Gamescape on live tv. It was for Baltimores local WJZ-TV.They asked about my piece and the show itself. Not sure I can really express how cool and surreal it was. To work so hard on something and see it get that much attention is hard to imagine and makes you very thankful when it does.

Interview: One at top, give it a second to load.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/07/16/saturday-july-16-2011/

Buy the print here!

http://society6.com/joepalumbo

Tough Love

2011-07-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

Tough Love

Tough Love is an illustration I was asked to provide for Irregular Magazine. They’re a great free download only magazine with serious potential and focus on the f/sf gaming industries. I only wish them the best in their future endeavors. Every issue of theirs has a theme. This one was Pulp and being a sucker for old pulp cover art it got me excited early on.

I’m a huge sucker for pulp book covers of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. It was very artistically open and immediately I knew I wanted to do a throwback to those great covers. The thing I love the most about them is how fun and kitschy they are. There are very, very few instances when you’re allowed to use a very forced perspective, over crowed compositions and semi-wrong anatomy (notice I didn’t say wrong/bad anatomy, that is not ok). This was one of the few great times to do that.

It was all about body language and mood. The goal I set to push myself was to make sure the viewer understands both characters mindsets. She seducing him but she has an alternate agenda. He’s thinking he will be getting one thing but not knowing what he’ll really be getting. I think there’s a lot of fun in that story device. I hope I’ll get the chance to do more like this in the future.

Threat Neutralized! An Angry Birds Inspired Illustration

2011-06-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to announce my illustration entitled “Threat Neutralized!” has been selected in group show called Gamescape. Gamescape is a great slice of a much bigger annual arts festival called Artscape. They both take place every year in Baltimore, Maryland and has grown every year since. And this year Artscape turns thirty! Although, Gamescape is just a baby and turning two this year.

Gamescape is all about the art of video games. It showcases art made for a game and art inspired by a game. Mine was inspired by the mobile gaming phenomenon Angry Birds. Doing a illustration for this show was a no brainer. Angry birds has easily made its way into my top 10 list of all time favorite games and what better way to pay homage to it then create an illustration!

I aimed to illustrate that victorious point where the gamer has cleared a level and achieved three stars for their hard work. Most levels aren’t easy and don’t bet on a guaranteed three stars. Each level requires a different tactic and usage of the birds to defeat all of the pigs while earning enough points to achieve one, two or three stars.

Having played many hours of Angry Birds I drew much inspiration. Like the game, I knew I had to design a simple and fun illustration with a lot of attitude. The bird was to emulate the gamer and feel proud of its accomplishment. He sits on top of a defeated pile of pigs and the achievement of earning three stars appears behind him. I’m very pleased with the finish and can’t wait to be a part of this years festival! I hope I did Angry Birds and its fans proud.

To check out Artscape visit the following link.

http://www.artscape.org/

This year it happens from July 15^th -17^th. The gallery I will be in is The Pinkard Gallery inside MICA’s (Maryland Institute College of Art) Bunting building (Mount Royal Avenue and Lanvale streets).

It’s a great time. I urge everyone to come out and have fun!!!

Ps- To all you hardcore gamers can you locate the Golden Egg in my illustration???

A Little Behind The Scenes

2010-12-20T13:24:00.000-08:00

Over the years I've been asked many times how I do what I do. At the same time this and other questions are being asked while one will have someone or more watching you do what you do. Many moons ago, at first it was intimidating having someone watching you and asking questions. Over time that goes away and you just do what you know. And hopefully along the way the people observing take away a fun experience.

Fun fact about me- some of the most fun I have creating is the model shoots. Don't get me wrong, I love the painting part but the model shoot is just plain old fun. In our adulthood we forget how much fun it is to play in costume. But then I started to realize, and I think my friends and family did as well, that its super fun. Especially for us fantasy illustrators. We get to wield swords, wear armor and sweet costumes.

I thought I'd share a quick behind the scenes of my piece entitled Ascendancy. A quick few model shoot photos and work in progress to finish. I have to give a big thanks to Courtney for being such a great model and having a lot of fun with it. By the way, be sure to wish her congrats because she also gets married in a few short weeks! Also, big thanks to Kyle and Ashley for being great light and prop holders! Enjoy the fun!!!

Ovarian Cancer Ribbon

2010-09-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

It’s been a crazy but great summer and excited to be working on new art! One of which I am very proud. September is ovarian cancer month and to commemorate I thought I’d share something I was fortunate enough to contribute. In March, my cousin Jennifer Fratangelo contacted me. She works in public relations and her company was looking for an artist to contribute to a benefit. It was the annual benefit for the Maureen Foundation put on by the Hackensack Hospital. Every year the foundation honors one woman who survived ovarian cancer or has contributed so much of herself to the cause. When asked to contribute to such an event, how could one say no? That was an honor in of it self.

I was told I had creative freedom. As much as artists love hearing that it can also be a little intimidating because there is no initial idea or direction. I have no problem working this way and quickly the ideas started flowing. Instantly I knew I wanted to design something instantly recognizable and iconic. I wanted to incorporate the teal into the piece because that is the official color of ovarian cancer. From there the piece clicked. I would take the ribbon everyone knows and make that a nice finishing point from a ribbon that wraps around in space to create the contour of the female form. It made sense. It was clean, recognizable and the ribbon is iconic. Sometimes the best solution is shedding new light on something already known and recognizable. I hope I did just that and I believe I did.

The very best part about this was when Jen told me how well it was received and loved by everyone. Originally, it was to be raffled off to raise money but she was told there was an even greater idea. I will permanently be displayed in the hospitals shop for all to see. It was amazing to hear that! Almost couldn’t believe it. So if anyone is in the area, check out the shop in the Hackensack Hospital where you can see my work on permanent display!

It was truly great experience and one that I will forever be touched by. A huge thanks goes out to Jen and the people she worked with to make this happen. My thoughts go to those who fight and survive cancers. I am humbled.

2009-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

Eyes & Hair

I did this piece for a beauty salon back home in Reading, PA. She wanted something original and gave me complete creative freedom. It's nice when someone trusts you enough to allow that. I think every artist loves drawing eyes and the complexity they hold. I wanted to do something that's done often but put a new spin on it making it more interesting and engaging to the viewer. I wanted it to be intense, personal and for it to have a life of its own.

I finished this a few months ago but it took awhile to photograph and piece together. The original size is one foot by 4 foot. It was fun to do something at a larger size. It's not too often you get to do something at that size. As always I transfered the drawing using pencil. Then do an acrylic under-painting and finish it in oils. Always a fun process.

I hope everyone enjoys it!

It's Been A While...

2009-01-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a while but been busy. Finished a painting for a pin-up page I'm doing for American Terror: Confessions of a Human Smart Bomb Vol. 2. Let me say I'm very excited and so thankful to Jeff McComsey(writer and artist) for the oppertunity to do a pin-up page. It's published through Alterna Comics and slated to arrive in stores March 25th, check your local comic shop! Also, my first solo gallery showing is Sunday, March 1st from 1pm-230pm! It's being held at...

Grandview Gallery

2601 Grandview Blvd.

West Lawn, Pa 19609

It will be on display from March 1st-March 21st. There will be some work from my site, the pin-up page, work I've done for a beauty salon and work from a model as well. Please come out and check out the show. They'll be good work, music, people, food and drink. Hope to see all you there. I promise next post will have work along with it.

Hello Blogger!

2008-11-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

It took a bit but it paid off well. My new site is up, www.joepalumbo.net, and looks great. Really proud of it and learned a whole lot. Now onto the blog thing. I find these interesting because some of my favorite artists have them and you get to take a look at behind the scene type stuff that is usually very interesting. They've influenced my work and if best I hope to do the same when I get to the point in my career where people are excited to see my work. For now though, enjoy the blog. I'm finishing a project that I'm very excited for and very proud of. It's a bonus that it'll be published too. So for now I must be off. Hope everyone enjoys my new site and the blog.