Kevin Steele :: Sheds Some Light

Posted on September 7, 2012 by The Pick

2012 Kevin Steele

Early on photography was Kevin Steele’s tool for documenting the world of rock and ice climbing.   He was passionate about sharing those adventures and shedding light on the experiences that words alone could not do justice.

For Kevin it’s about telling a visual story, whether it’s a still photograph or motion.

2012 Kevin Steele

What inspires a man who can hang on a rock with a $10,000 camera and hold it steady?  To begin with, it starts with black coffee…Running mountain trails… Beautiful light…Good people with good attitudes…Creative challenges…Constraints…Telling someone’s story …Lines, shapes and forms…Seeing something new…Seeing something different…People with passion…

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Don’t we all want to be like Kevin Steele?

Check out Kevin’s work on his website and Altpick page.

Kevin was also part of The 20th Alternative Pick Anniversary Edition :: Deck

2012 Kevin Steele

2012 Kevin Steele

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Dahl Taylor :: Samuel Adams Redesigned Packaging

Posted on August 29, 2012 by The Pick

We would like to highlight a fantastic collaboration between Boston Beer and Dahl Taylor (represented by Mendola Artists). 

2012 Boston Beer

Boston Beer has produced a limited edition Samuel Adams IPA Hop-logy variety pack containing an assortment of beers adorned with labels illustrated by Dahl Taylor. For Dahl, this mix pack is the culmination of an ongoing project and it was exciting to see how well the labels coordinate.  Dahl combines his eclectic style, a dash of humor and exceptional drawing skills, giving each bottle the appearance of a relic.  Coincidentally, the case for the pack was hand-drawn in chalk by Bernard Maisner, an artist from their affiliate, Gerald & Cullen Rapp.

2012 Boston Beer

2012 Boston Beer

2012 Boston Beer

2012 Boston Beer

To see more of Dahl Taylor’s work go to his website and Altpick page.  Also, check out Mendola Artists Representation’s blog here.

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Zave Smith : : Of Life, Love and the Stuff In Between

Posted on August 22, 2012 by The Pick

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Midwest born and trained, exuberant photographer Zave Smith has told some short and tall tales behind the lens. This is but a short snapshot of his many passionate stories. Once upon a time …

The summer heat has melted the cat.  She no longer cares when the mouse runs over her tail.

The summer light fades and the bars fill up with guys in fancy tshirts.  The ladies stroll the sidewalk, arm in arm with their friends, filling the evening air with laughter and secrets. The sap is running hot.

Two people who have hated and chased and have followed each other for so long that they have long ago forgotten why, have once again crossed paths under the old dirty streets of the city industrial past.

Summertime.  The heat grows while the client world becomes a bit quiet. Summer is the time let go. It is the time to try something new. Summertime. Time to go out and play.  Summertime. Let’s create a story or two.

In Zave’s style, this story has no ending. Keep turning the page at http://www.zavesmith.com

Zave Smith is part of the 20th Anniversary Alternative Pick :: Deck Edition and is also a member on Altpick.com.

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Secret to Success :: Words of Wisdom

Posted on August 20, 2012 by The Pick

by Ralph Mennemeyer

In my opinion the secret to success for photographers and/or artists, boils down to a couple of key things – not the least of which is timing – aka “dumb luck”. It is a promo card that comes across a desk at just the moment that the creative is looking for something like that. It is the sum total of being “out there” in as many places as you can be – consistently – with amazing work.

AMAZING WORK. Not good work. Not pretty good work. Not work that anyone could do (which sadly is what we are all competing for most of the time) but AMAZING, INSPIRING, BREATHTAKING WORK THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET. And how do you get there? Shoot all the time. It won’t all be great – but if you shoot enough you allow yourself the opportunity for greatness to happen! Famous authors don’t sit down and write a book…they write ten drafts of the same page. Enough pages and well….you get the point. Same with musicians…same with all creatives. Create enough good work – let it be seen in enough venues enough times…and your chances have improved.

But now the secret – which nobody wants to talk about but it is the truth – make genuine friends with every client you work with. Not only “never burn a bridge” (a motto that you have to live by) – but never let a client walk out the door and not stay in touch again. The one consistent quality I have seen over the years between those photographers who year in and year out make it big – is that the big ones know more people personally. And if you think about it – it makes sense.

Here is the art director (CD, client..whatever) and they are giving you their vision – their BABY- which they have thought up themselves, fought tooth and nail to get pushed through countless committees, labored over, compromised, pitched fits to make it happen and now they bring it to YOU to bring to life. What a privilege! But 8 out of 10 photographers treat it like “this is my gig today” and never give them a thought once they have walked out the door. Many don’t even remember the AD’s name a month later. Shame on them! The good ones remember the name – their kids names – their wife or husband or BFF or dog or cats name. They take the time – in the trenches or at lunch or at a lunch right after – to get to know them as people. And then….they stay in touch. Not just when they want a job – but when they see an article that is something the creative is interested in….fly fishing, manolo blahnik shoes, Maroon 5…whatever.

As much as this is a visual business – ALL BUSINESS IS PERSONAL BUSINESS.  And if you don’t know the “person” it’s hard to get ahead. Whether you get a copy of Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” or any of a dozen other authors who preach the same thing the truth always boils down to the person they know and trust is the person they will go to. Earn both titles. Do great work for them…AND…get to know them. In the future your life will be richer on both fronts – financial and personal.

 Ralph Mennemeyer – Owner, M Represents, Inc.  More on Altpick.com.
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Saturday : : An Italian Ramble

Posted on August 16, 2012 by The Pick

by Carol Schultheiss Cavalini

You’re thinking; a walk in the countryside, a picnic with cows in the background. Ha! Not quite. But perhaps your romantic imaginings are not too far off. This is Italy and as Fellini indicated, life can be magical.

The day started with clear plans that quickly disintegrated. A drive east to Soave (same as in the wine) to get tickets for a guitar festival concert Sunday night followed by a hillside hike picking wild asparagus.

We got to Soave early and wandered the town, visiting a park and admiring the architecture and bread guitars decorating shop windows. I had already visited the castle several times so we didn’t do the long hike uphill. While waiting in line we ran into one of my husband’s numerous cousins. It’s easy to run into relatives here. And of course got invited to visit and see his house just outside of town. This involved ambling over, all the while, visiting cute churches and roadside shrines, noting the first leaves on the grape vines and collecting a shirt pocket full of capers that were growing wild on a rock wall.

We rambled some more on winding back country roads. This time we got to the hillside and picked the wild asparagus; fresh produce for a risotto or frittata.  En route we got a phone call telling us about a gallery opening in two hours.

A quick clean up and change and we are on the road again. This time we headed to the older Veronetta area of Verona. A shop specializing in furniture from the 50s/60s/70s, was hosting the work of a half dozen photographers. The subject matter, for all, was China.  White wine aperitivo in hand, I wove in and out of the furniture, chatting with people I knew and studying the photographs.

A Saturday late afternoon ramble about town is a reminder for this American, that the local life taken in small doses can help you appreciate the good things everywhere.

Written by Altpick’s Italy Correspondent and Artist Carol Schultheiss in Cavallini.

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Chris Nixon’s Imagination Migration

Posted on August 13, 2012 by The Pick

Imagination Migration is a mural created by Chris Nixon in Karratha 2011 – this video documents the installation process. Set to a marine theme the work explores the migratory patterns of the Pilbara’s marine life, ignited by a central character Inkan.

Inkan acts as a catalyst for change amplifying the sea creatures characteristics, leading the imagination migration. Commissioned by the Shire of Roebourne in conjunction with The Youth Shed project.  The project took a month to complete with 8 days and nights to paint the finished mural.

The size of the mural is approx 150 square metres spanning 38 metres and reaching 4.5 metres high.  The mural was created using Acrylic and aerosol paint.  The central character inkan has now inspired an interactive app and picture book which are now in development.

To see more of Chris Nixon’s work go to his website and Altpick page.


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Art Fears Business Fears Art

Posted on August 9, 2012 by The Pick

Blog post by Scott Hull

Many times I find it hard to put into words what, exactly, it is I do. One of my favorite thinkers Seth Godin truly understands creativity and business. He recently shared these thoughts on the relationship between the artist and the businessperson. Seth certainly put into words what I could not. THIS  is why I do what I do.

The artist says, “that sounds like business, and I want nothing to do with it. It will corrupt me and make me think small.”

The businessperson says, “art is frightening, unpredictable and won’t pay.”

Because the artist fears business, she hesitates to think as big as she could, to imagine the impact she might be able to make, to envision the leverage that’s available to her.

And because the businessperson fears art, she holds back, looks for a map, follows the existing path and works hard to fit in, never understanding just how vivid her new ideas might be and how powerful her art could make her.

There’s often a route, a way to combine the original, human and connected work you want to do with a market-based solution that will enable it to scale. Once you see it, it’s easier to call your bluff and make what you’re capable of.

What are your thoughts…

Go to Scott Hull, ‘The Visual Ambassador’ to read more interesting insights.

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Kent Miller Explores Through the Lens

Posted on August 7, 2012 by The Pick

After moving to NYC in the latter part of 1989, Kent Miller found the energy of the city more powerful than he could have ever expected.  Kent was in his early 20’s and was doing a little soul-searching as many of us do in our youth. He borrowed a camera and began to preserve his visions on film. “It was a way to remember where I had been and what I had done and seen.”, Kent comments. “Photography changed the way I think, move and act.”

Kent had no idea it would change his life and its direction. “I was never a good student in school and realized that if I wanted to learn something, I needed to do it with my own hands.”  Kent was determined to immerse himself in photography and find out what would really work for him. “I love to experiment, to try new things. Being a gear-head and loving the toys of photography has given me more options for how I make images than I thought possible. As technology grows, there are more and more reasons to love what I do.”

For Kent, using photography to preserve the present is a way to see the future. “It’s about the way an interaction with a subject can take us in directions we could never plan. It’s about being open enough to let things flow and brave enough to follow it. Ultimately, it’s about pushing myself to find that creative spark hiding under the surface.”

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“I think moving to NYC brought me into a world of expression I had never known and I love it more every day. I’m still amazed at my ability and grateful to be a part of it.  The images photographers capture change the world. They open our eyes; they provoke emotions; they inspire movements. I’m in love with this medium.”

Kent Miller is part of the 20th Anniversary Alternative Pick :: Deck Edition. To see more of Kent’s work go to his website and Altpick page.

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Duggal + Cartier + Americana Mall

Posted on August 6, 2012 by The Pick

This month Duggal covered the façade of Cartier’s storefront at the Americana Mall in Manhasset, NY.

The façade was 42 feet wide by 29 feet high and was wrapped with a flex banner, which stretched a solid 76 feet around the right side of the building to the adjacent parking lot.

The large-scale banner announced the Fall 2012 opening of the store itself, successfully creating an atmosphere of anticipation among the local clientele.

 

For more information go to Duggal Visual Solutions’ website.

 

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Tansy Myer :: Girl Power

Posted on August 1, 2012 by The Pick

Born and raised in Venice, California, Tansy Myer came of age among the eclectic artist community of the Venice Boardwalk.  Inspired by the indulgent worlds of music and fashion, she began drawing her girls at a young age as a way to create and control the beauty and perfection that seemed to be the pinnacle of achievement for a girl.

Tansy’s work centers around identity and how women use beauty to define themselves. The themes of adolescence and adulthood, innocence and sexuality are present in both her digital drawings and paintings. The juxtaposition of her slick and pretty digital work, with the raw awkwardness of her “nerd” girls is a perfect example of the battle inside every woman to identify themselves in an appearance-obsessed culture.  Based in Los Angeles, Tansy works as an artist, illustrator and designer, creating digital art as well as painting and drawing strange, pretty, and nerdy girls.

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Tansy Myer is part of the 20th Anniversary Alternative Pick :: Deck Edition.  To see more of her work go to her website and Altpick page.

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