Early Baltimore Citypaper Illos / Wrongfest

Recently longtime Baltimore Citypaper Art Director Joe MacLeod got the axe when the paper was bought by the Baltimore Sun, in that all too familiar tale of whatever's left of the once-thriving world of Alt Weeklies being swallowed by bigger, blander media. Joe was escorted from his office with no severance pay (!!) I assume in retaliation for angry tweets? I don't really know the full story...  I would check one of many articles for details.

A group of employees and freelancers are organizing a benefit / concert / art auction for Joe this month. I've donated the original of this rejected Citypaper cover from a couple years ago. The first event is tomorrow night, and the final bidding / second event is March 28th, both at Ottobar I believe. More details here: http://wrongfest.tumblr.com

Joe MacLeod was one of the first people to hire me, and seemed to have a knack for assigning exactly the sort of work I wanted - completely over the top and/or humorous takes on serious subjects. Lenny Bruce, Nigerian con artists, Fat tourists with fanny packs and Old Bay tattoos. 

One of the highlights is this illo about Evan Wright's book Generation Kill (later an HBO miniseries). I'm pretty sure this political stuff led to my later gig illustrating Steven Wells' column every week for a few years. 

Another classic with some foreshadowing of the hot dog thing. The "Bavarian Music" guy in the corner still cracks me up. 

Some vegetarian propaganda relating to Jonathan Safran Foer.

"Portrait" of Corey Harris from Mother 13. 

One of the earliest, from 2002. 

More recent work. 

Anyway THANKS JOE for all the great work over the years. Follow him on twitter @JoeMacleod666 or read his Mr Wrong column which is maybe still going to run in the Citypaper? And keep your eye on the Wrongfest site for how to bid on the auction.

Detroit Stadiums for Next City

Series of illustrations for Next City Forefront article about Detroit pouring all their money into stadiums instead of the crumbling city.

Preview the article here - Forefront Excerpt: Red Wings Stadium Upset!

Or grab the Forefront App.

Did you know the Red Wings mascot is a maniacal giant purple octopus? Also threw in a nod to Detroit's lesser-known corned beef scene. 

Taco Madness 2014

For LaTaco.com's annual bracket-style "best taco in LA" competition, culminating in a wild event where you can eat all the tacos. 

Been doing these for a few years now, lots of fun and I'm always reminded how nothing in Philadelphia comes close to LA tacos, especially these beauties from Mariscos Jalisco that this year's poster was semi- inspired by. Anyway if you are anywhere near LA, definitely check this thing out. 

LaTaco.com: Taco Madness 2014

Vibe Magazine - 2013 News No One Cared About

Fun job for Vibe's 2014 "Race Issue" covering the past year in slightly bizarre urban entertainment news. First up is Keith Sweat's new dating site truelove meets.com...

..next up is Rihanna's reality show "Styled To Rock"

Ja Rule's microwave cookbook based on techniques he learned in prison.. 

..Chingy on VH1's "Couples Therapy"..

.. T-Pain cutting off his dreads ..

.. Lil' Wayne's new "Trukfit Juniors" clothing line ..

.. Eddie Murphy's "Musical Comeback", including a recent reggae video with .. 

.. Snoop Dogg, AKA Snoop Lion, who recently changed his name AGAIN to "Snoopzilla" .. 

.. Kobe Bryant unfollowing Dwight Howard on Twitter .. 

.. Shaq's new Gluten Free Vodka .. 

.. "The Game" signing to Cash Money Records..

.. annnnd last but not least Australian rapper Iggy Azalea claiming Miley Cyrus stole "twerking" from her. The end. 

Title Fight / Metz / Dark Blue

Recent gigposter for House Of Vans in Boston. Title Fight is an awesome PA group that sort of picked up where the grey area between pop punk and indie rock left off in the 90's. Also halfway through this I realized Dark Blue is the latest from John Sharkey of Puerto Rico Flowers / Clockcleaner / Violent Students who I did stuff for a LONG time ago. 

Always a blast to do gigposters. Not sure if/when these will be available online? Anyway thanks to FYFfest for the gig. 

Crossfit for C-Ville Weekly

For C-Ville Weekly's "Health Issue". Crossfit - some sort of exercise fad where you drink a lot of coffee, put yourself on the paleo diet, and maybe break your leg trying to lift something 5 times your weight - is apparently huge in Virginia, and can also lead to a horrifying condition called Rhabdomyolysis where your muscles rip open or something, affectionately called "Rhabdo" by crossfit devotees who see it as a badge of honor. 

My first sketch featured a sort of Jersey-Shore-meets-Ultimate-Fighting douche complete with Boondock Saints tattoos which I guess doesn't really read in Virginia where jocks still look more like 80's frat boys.

Anyway a fun quick job.. thanks to AD Bill LaSueur!

Small Lafayette Coney Island Paintings

Since I started offering custom paintings for the holidays.. I've gotten a bunch more custom projects rolling in, including these fun Lafayette Coney Island pieces. I think it's the 3rd or 4th time I've drawn Vernors Ginger Ale in the past few months...

Got a little obsessive with the edges, sort of a neat thing but you definitely have to look at it from the right angle. Anyway it's nice to do food stuff that's more of a restaurant scene than just the same diagram thing with arrows and mustard flying everywhere.

Check out some past Detroit Coney art here-

•Hot Dog Of The Week - Detroit Coneys

•Lafayette Coney Island B&W

•Custom Food Paintings - Lafayette Menu Board