Philly ARTrepreneurs wins SEED Grant

This week, I showed a presentation to the Philly CORE Leaders in City Hall's City Council Caucus room. I talked about my student artists at Memphis Street Academy Charter School and did a 3-minute pitch for a program called Philly ARTrepreneurs.

Philly ARTrepreneurs is an idea I've had for the kids since I started teaching at Memphis Street when we started the school in 2012. Memphis is a turnaround school that used to be called John Paul Jones Middle School. The kids there have grown so much. The academic and behavioral progress they have made is mind-blowing. My students are my heroes. I say it all the time. 

When I show them my work, my t-shirt designs, comics, anthologies, and art for shows, they always ask me how they can do it too. Now with this SEED grant, I will be able to show them. In the next few months, we will be outfitting my art room with professional equipment and programs so I can show students how to design their own shirts and create their own books and prints. I will also teach students about marketing and shipping their creations. 

The proceeds from the products sold will be split three ways - 1/3 will go to a charity of the student designer's choice. 1/3 will go to the student in some form of scholarship. 1/3 will fold back into the ARTrepreneurs program to keep it moving forward for other students.

I am blessed every day to have this job and work with these kids. I can't wait to walk them through this experience of getting their work out into the world to a wide audience. Please stay tuned for updates over the next few months.

Please CLICK HERE to read the Newsworks article regarding the SEED 4.0 event.

Who the Wild Things Are (eleven) on Teefruy June 30

On Monday, June 30, Teefury will be running another collaborative designs I did with Stephen Yarish. Steve came up with the idea, and I did the finish design. This time, I got to pay tribute to one of my artistic heroes, Maurice Sendak with this Doctor Who/Where the Wild Thinsg Are crossover parody. This was a lot of fun to work on, and we may even do some more (based on other Doctors and villains).

To purchase the shirt, just go to www.TeeFury.com on Monday, June 30, 2014. It'll only be up for the day, so get it while you can.

March 24 - "Rocket & Groot" Tee on Teefury!

On Monday, March 24, Teefury will be running a "Rocket & Groot" tee - a Guardians of the Galaxy/Calvin & Hobbes parody. The shirt is a collaboration by myself and HULK superfan Steve Yarish.

Steve is best known for his incredible fandom of the Hulk. He is such a big fan, that Marvel writers and artists named a recurring character after him in the comics. Steve also has a bar from one of the Hulk movies named after him. You can get some background on Steve Yarish in this episode of Fanatical:

Steve approached me with the idea for Teefury's March Collaboration Challenge. Being a huge fan of Hulk, comics, and Calvin and Hobbes, I whipped up the design in a few short days. 

Starting at Midnight EST, Monday, March 24, go to www.teefury.com to get the shirt for just $11. But after that day, it's gone, gone, gone!

Monster Eating a Sandwich

Drawing I did today of a monster eating a sandwich. No good reason for it. Just wanted o draw a monster...eating a sandwich...with cans tied to his tail.

 Happy New Year!

Recent Fishtown Shirt Designs

I recently did these shirts for sale on my online shop. They're currently sold out, but I aim to put them back up for sale before Summer's end.

One is just a playful take on my home neighborhood:

The other is a nostalgic look at how poor city kids make their own fun. I know Crateball is not exclusive to Fishtown, but it was one of my only fond sports memories growing up. I had more fun throwing a ball at a milk crate than I ever did in an actual playground.

No Pizza After Midnight - Today Only (Feb 24)

Sunday, February 24, 2013 - Teefury will host Jeffro Kilpatrick's homage to two of the greatest pieces of fiction to come out of the eighties - ninjas who are turtles and gremlins who are...well, gremlins! The shirt will only be for sale for one day at such a low, low price. So please CLICK HERE to go to Teefury's website to grab one!

Georgia's Finest Walker Walking Service on GimmickTees!

GimmickTees will be running my Walking Dead parody shirt "Georgis's Finest Walker Walking Service" until February 17. They may even extend the sale. To buy or look at the shirt, you can CLICK HERE!

January 19 - ShirtPunchin'

On Saturday, January 19, Shirtpunch's TV section will be running my Breaking Bad/Pinky & the Brain parody shirt. Please go to www.shirtpunch.com to check it out Saturday.

Teachin' Art Again!

Last summer, I took a job at Memphis Street Academy Charter School, once again teaching art full-time. I feel blessed for this opportunity. Memphis Street Academy is a turnaround school in the Port Richmond section of Philly. Previously, it was known as John Paul Jones Middle School.

Every day is a challenge, no question - for students especially. However, for every challenge there are at least a dozen victories. I am amazed at the obstacles our students are overcoming, the growth they are experiencing. They amaze me. The progress I am seeing between September and January is incredible. I am watching middle school students understand and comprehend color theory, ghost line drawing, and even the fundamentals of two-dimensional design - art projects they have never before been exposed to. Students understand how math and reading weave into the visual arts. They are so smart and capable.

I have some amazing co-teachers. But the real stars are these  kids. Since September, our students have had art shows with local famous painters, gone on a sketchbook scavenger hunt in town, participated in Philly Photo Day, made handmade holiday cards for the local crisis center, fired pottery for the first time, embarked on an advanced art portfolio workshop and many other artistic adventures.

I am proud to say that I love my job and consider it a privilege to walk into that school every day. Any artist who has ever taught art (and meant it) knows that you learn as much as you teach while teaching. These kids, like all my awesome students over the years, are changing me for the better - making me a better artist, a better teacher, and a better person. As I was pulling out of the parking lot tonight, I was wondering what will happen tomorrow. I love being a part of this. I can't help but to feel like I am part of something important and meaningful, something much bigger than myself. Like I said, I feel blessed.

To read more about what our students are up to at Memphis Street Academy Charter School, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

"The Bending Giant" on Teefury - 1/1/2013

I just found out I will have the very first Teefury of 2013. On January 1, you can go to www.teefury.com and get this Futurama/Iron Giant parody shirt for only $10. 



Since it will only be available for one day at that low price, make sure you get over to Teefury.com on January 1.

Woodbury Biters Shirt Design

I am not sure what will become of this one, but I was watching AMC Sunday night and decided to put this design together:

 

I tried to take an almost sports-logo approach with this design. I think it's funny, even in the comic, how different groups and towns have different names for the zombies. The best part about most zombie movies and stories, even the immaculate original zombie flick "Night of the Living Dead", is that nobody calls zombies "zombies". They always say, "those things" or "walkers", "roamers", or "biters". C'mon, people...let's call them what they are.

New Teefury - "Weeping Cherubs" - Sept 29

Tomorrow, September 29th - one day only - I will have a new shirt on Teefury! The sale will start tonight at Midnight and run until Midnight tomorrow. If you are a fan of the Doctor or art history parodies, stop by and check it out.

I apologize for the lack of posts in recent months. I recently switched jobs, and have been teaching full-time at a brand new charted school. It's kind of a dream job, but my freelance and personal work had to take a back seat for a little while. That being said, I will be posting some news in the coming weeks about my new job.

Original Los Pollos Hermanos Shirt up on TeeBusters

For the next couple days, TeeBusters, a shirt company out of Ireland, will be selling a shirt I co-designed with Mike Giacopetti. This was the original design. Teefury sold a variant that was kind of a KFC parody. But Mike and I are both very happy to see this finally get out there to a wider audience.

PCS Book 3

The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society’s third comics anthology. This one is titled “PCS Book 03: The City of Lotherly Brove.” It is the group’s illustrious tribute to Philly.
You read more about it here and buy your copy here.
Keep your eyes peeled for an Official Book Release Party in the next few weeks.

UArts Summer Pre-College 2012

I just wanted to give a big thank you to my students in the University of the Arts Summer Pre-College program. I also wanted to thank my T.A. Yara and fellow teachers Patch and Larsen. This year was great. I had the privilege of teaching students in the Illustration track, where I taught 2-D Fundamentals. It was hands-down the highlight of my summer!

The work looks awesome on the walls. Keep at it. I can't wait to see the amazing art and design work you produce in the future!

Walkin' Dead Inspired Shirt For Sale on ShirtPunch - 7/13/2012

Friday the 13th (spoooooooooooooooooooo-ky), for one day only, Shirtpunch.com will be selling a shirt I designed inspired by one of the greatest and brutal comics of all time. The design features a cute version of everyone's katana-weilding zombie slayer and her two docile pets. Shirts cost only $10 bucks and are gone in 24 hours. Great for zombie-maniacs, dog walkers, and friends who like to wave sharp objects around. To visit the website, click HERE.

UPDATE: Here is a picture of my buddy's kid wearing the shirt. Thanks old tymer!

Norris Street MixTape - More Work

The opening show at Masthead came and went on Saturday. A bunch of old friends and family, and some new friends were nice enough to come out and hang out. Joannie and her kids came. My old friend Marvin (a great artist in his own right) snatched a few of my pieces. As a matter of fact, quite a few attendees got art and prints at the show. It was a great feeling to feel that support. I'd like to thank Shawn Hileman, the curator and owner of Masthead. I would also like to thank Narragansett Beer for donating my lunch and dinner on Saturday (and everyone else's libation as well).

The Norris Street MixTape show will hang until July 7, 2012, when the gallery will host a closing party. If you missed the opening and would still like to see the work, that'd be a great day to hang out. Also, you can get in touch with Shawn in the meantime to see other days the gallery would be open. Below are some more pieces that hung in the show...

Inspired by ALL of the amazing music of Screamin' Jay Hawkins:

Inspired by Kris Kristofferson's "Just The Other Side Of Nowhere":

This is inspired by Tom Waits' song "Underground"

Color version of the E.L.O. inspired piece that started this whole series of work:

Inspired by a Bob Dylan lyric: "Pickin' Up Angel"

Inspired by my hero and friend Nate Wiley's version of "I Can't Stop Loving You"

Inspired by the Skillet Lickers' "Show Me The Way To Go Home"

Inspired by The American Dream's "Can't Get To Heaven On The Frankford El"

Inspired by Eric B & Rakim's "In The Ghetto"

Inspired by the music of Jay Reatard, drawn while listening to him live:

Inspired by Nina Simone's version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood":

...My Dad bought this one. Aw shucks.

Inspired by the art and music of Daniel Johnston:

Inspired by the Kinks' "Complicated Life":

Inspired by a song Jackie Cooper was singing in the 1931 movie "The Champ":

Inspired by my buddy Sam Heimer and our mutual love for the Kinks' song "Alcohol":

Masters/Misfits T-Shirt

My Misfits/Skeletor parody shirt will be up for sale on FSC Tees all week until June 24, 2012. If you're into the 80's nostalgia, cartoon, fan art stuff, check it out by CLICKING HERE. FSC sells their shirts for $15, but that also includes shipping costs.

Originally, the image came from a shirt I was designing for my friend Nick Mil. His pool team, "The Misfits" just won a tournament and will be going to Vegas for another tournament this summer as a result. With my brush pen, I redrew the standard Misfits skull (but left in the missing teeth). A few people told me that was stupid, that I should have just swiped it from the internet, because the logo itself is basically a photocopy of the face from this old Crimson Ghost serial poster. But I wanted something high resolution. After that, I just put 8-Balls over the eyes to somehow relate the concept to billiards.


After Nick's shirt was done, I started monkeying with the drawing, and for kicks I made it a Skeletor parody with the colors. I was amazed it got picked up as a shirt, but I am also happy now that I recycled the image. It was a happy accident.

My Facebook Art Page

I just wanted to post here in case anyone wanted to check out my Facebook art page. Unlike the blog format, you can just browse through albums of images. Feel free to poke around. CLICK HERE to see the page.

Teefuries to Date

Last August I started designing some pop culture-inspired t-shirts for a few different websites. Without a doubt, Teefury.com has been the most successful for me. Some sales were better than others. But no matter what, it's been a fun ride every time. It's a strange and interesting time for things like this. In spite of media sources screaming about a recession, somewhere in this world, ten-dollar t-shirts are selling online by the thousands.

In this economically-challenging environment, Teefury has been a key source in keeping me financially afloat over the past year. The funds raised from these t-shirt sales got me through the holidays, helped me buy a bedroom set, and have given me a new perspective on a niche market. It's been an interesting challenge, catering to the needs of a whole new audience. To be honest though, the work is more fun and allows for more freedom than many of the freelance jobs I take that pay a great deal less. Anyhow, last Friday, I had my eighth online sale on this site. I looked back over the past nine months at the designs I've done, and I realized how grateful I am to have this resource.