Bug

Happy Monday,

Over the last couple of weeks I've been fortunate enough to get some tonally varied assignments. I love the challenge of switching gears from piece to piece once in a while.

Last week I got a call from Colin Tunstall at Esquire asking if I was available to do an illustration for a review of William Friedkin's Bug. The review was about the up-and-coming actor Michael Shannon's intense and frightening performance.

I tried to communicate this in the sketch and then on the final, implementing more texture than I usually do and compositionally trying to create the sense of anxiety that I got from watching the trailer, which you can view here.




In other news, the new issue of Swallow just hit stores (finally). Be sure to look both ways before running across the street to get it.
thanks for reading,

Frank Stockton

Red Envelopes

[click image to enlarge]

It's always nice to buckle down and write some comics, especially since it's hard to make time for it these days. Much thanks to Brian Rea and Sam Weber at the New York Times OpEd for providing a financial reason to put aside illustration for a bit and make some comics (twice!).

Oddly enough, this month looks like the month of comics for me. I'm currently writing a comic for an Italian magazine, the upcoming Meathaus publication (which will feature comics by Frank Stockton as well) and possibly another anthology if I have enough time. I hope somebody somewhere enjoys these stories.

******

Here's an illustration of performer Allen Johnson that I did for The Stranger over the weekend.


Speaking of The Stranger and live performances, Josh and I both got to see editor Dan Savage perform along with Sarah Vowell, John Hodgman, and Ira Glass at the LA stop of the This American Life tour. It was awesome. If anyone has Showtime and can record the premiere of This American Life next week, I want to be your friend.

Made in China

Hello! I just got these new tote bags in from China. Mark Miller and I were both asked to created seperate series for The Outfit. (Mark is a genius. We went to school together) I actually had one more design but it was sort of weak and didn't make the cut.



I approached this project really in the same way I do my silkscreens. Everything was mostly hand-drawn. Layers were created in Photoshop and the files were sent off along with specific Pantone colors to the silkscreeners overseas. We went back and forth a bit....initially they had a hard time matching the transparency of my colors but eventually, everything got worked out. The Outfit took the samples and went to various tradeshows here in the States...including a really big one in Las Vegas where a lot of different boutiques, and larger stores (including Urban Outfitters and various MOMA's) placed orders.



Patterned lining as well as pockets on the inside...



These will probably retail for around $28 or so...I heard the first run of 1500 are already sold out. But those of you here in LA can catch the launch party March 17th. Might be fun. More info here


p.s.
Those of you wondering what a tote IS..

It can carry:

1. Groceries
2. Books
3. Paintbrush
4. Sandwich