Bill Zeman Art

Vinyl Tabernacle Rocket

2011-08-20T21:27:00.002-04:00

My latest is currently on display in the window of Brooklyn Design Lab until Sept. 4th. along with some of my other rockets, so if you're in Park Slope, Brooklyn, wander by 7th Avenue between 13th and 14th St. and have a look!

Bumblebee

2010-06-25T09:48:00.000-04:00

Another cartoon - this one co-written by my daughter Jane (AKA Biggie).

Best Practices

2010-06-22T10:12:00.000-04:00

A cartoon featuring our new dog Skippy

Cardboard Tabernacle

2010-06-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

I've been obsessed with tabernacle frames since I saw an exhibit at the National Gallery in 2007. Next up I'm doing one in vinyl! The frame is all cardboard (from our recycling) and the painting is watercolor. Click for a better view.

Stuffed Metallic Diner Vinyl Rocketship

2010-03-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

I've been advised, correctly I'm sure, that in order to get anywhere as an artist I need to focus on one style and medium. Oh well, here's to good advice.

While I'm not sure the stitching would impress anyone who actually knows how to sew, I can't think of anything I've made that I'm happier with. TAD loves it too and has been flying it all around the house and the park making blast off noises. More pictures here http://www.billzeman.com/bz/vinyl.html

Mars

2010-02-25T10:53:00.001-05:00

Snail Head

2010-02-22T16:35:00.002-05:00

Space Warp

2010-02-09T18:23:00.002-05:00

Just having some fun

The Cassini Bikini Martini

2010-01-18T17:27:00.001-05:00

this grew out of this drawing from a while back

Portrait

2010-01-13T13:11:00.001-05:00

For my donation to the school auction I let people bid on me doing a portrait for them

Pseudo Comics

2010-01-11T10:13:00.001-05:00

Wedding Announcement

2010-01-07T22:47:00.002-05:00

for a friend who eloped in the park!

birdy

2009-03-05T09:13:00.004-05:00

A present for my big girl. Companion piece to this one at Tiny Art Director.

T.A.D. has been getting tons of traffic and links lately, including Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic, The Guardian (best of the web), Saatchi Gallery (world art news), Neatorama.com, b3ta.com, Metafilter.com, Daily Candy, Design Observer, NotCot.org, FlavorPill (in the viral section), Urlesque.com...

Thanks to everyone who is linking and sorry that I can't list everyone, but I want to give a shout out to neatorama.com where all this traffic originated. If you want to promote a site, check out their upcoming queue feature - just make sure your server is ready for it - mine wasn't!.

Brothers

2008-08-27T15:34:00.006-04:00

I like doing portraits - but with kids you pretty much have to use photos which is a problem because A) the color information just doesn't compare to what you can see in person, and B) I'm a terrible photographer. I know these two kids a little bit which helped a lot.

Eggplant

2008-01-04T10:59:00.001-05:00

My first watercolor from life (I think), for my Mom for xmas. (100% organic!)

Portrait Of My Daughters As Zombies

2007-12-15T16:43:00.001-05:00

For some reason my wife doesn't like this

The Bubblegum Nebula

2007-12-06T10:00:00.002-05:00

Once again my attempts at genius abstract art turn into delicious chewy planetesimals. I was going to call this "My Astonishing Genius #4", but I guess I can be done with that joke.

Subway

2007-12-02T22:30:00.001-05:00

From a sketch on the subway:

My Astonishing Genius #3

2007-11-30T10:24:00.003-05:00

Oh no! My astonishing genius turns out to be just more cartoony science fiction!

My Astonishing Genius #2

2007-11-29T09:27:00.002-05:00

Alternate titles: My Alarming Mediocrity; My Distracted Decorativity; My Bubblegum Booger Balls... no,no, it's definitely genius.

Newscaster

2007-11-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

Quick and random. I don't know why I think she's a newscaster.

My Astonishing Genius

2007-11-27T14:04:00.001-05:00

Make the Most of What You've Got

2007-11-26T13:37:00.001-05:00

Tar Pit

2007-11-06T09:55:00.002-05:00

So my summer break went a little long, but here I am again. This is a study for a painting - I did this ink version just for fun. It was intended to be egg tempera with a gold leaf sky, but I think it's going to have to be oil after all and we'll see about the sky.

EDIT: I added the gold leaf sky - I'm still not sure if I'll do it on the full color version - what do you think? This is imitation gold leaf by the way, for you purists. For the final version I'll use real gold and oil gild it on - something I haven't tried before.

Summer Break

2007-05-29T11:45:00.001-04:00

To focus on some paintings that will take a while to complete, I'm going to take a break from posting (although you might check Tiny Art Director once in a while).

In the meantime, just to leave you with something to look at, here's a few of my best from the past year or so.

Thanks for all the comments and have a great summer.

Fall

Supplicants

Self Portrait

Ribbonfish

Sprout

Red Cow

Empty Nesters

I'm Here to Help

It Will End Badly

Fortified

One More Thing To Worry About

Astroliner

Ebony Space Pirate Ship

Combine Harvester of Doom

Opposites

No Swimming

2007-05-19T15:50:00.001-04:00

Lava Demons think they don't have to follow rules

The Adventures of Space Tart

2007-05-18T11:07:00.002-04:00

Chapter One: The Cassini Bikini Martini

As requested by The Tart, a space tart.

Now before anyone wonders how she's going to drink that Martini with her helmet on,
consider this: by the time science can give The Tart SPF 9000 suntan lotion so she can safely sunbathe on an airless moon of Saturn, I think we can also expect Martini permeable space helmets.

UPDATE: Now in color but I prefer the pencil only version

Moon Rockets and the Inky Blackness of Space

2007-05-11T13:39:00.002-04:00

This was the most fun I've had with art in a long time even though my hand still hurts from the stippling.

The rockets are inspired by the Buck Rogers newspaper strips from the 40s (as always), and the inks by Basil Wolverton's Spacehawk strips.

Ink on watercolor paper

Robot in the Crusher

2007-05-10T15:22:00.001-04:00

By request from Jeannette, a robot.

The Villain Vortex

2007-04-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

Polar Bear Club

2007-04-22T21:12:00.001-04:00

(It's not cold enough)

Rocket Pseudo Comic

2007-04-14T00:18:00.002-04:00

Herpetina

2007-04-08T23:49:00.001-04:00

still just goofing off with watercolors

Sea Monsters

2007-04-06T09:17:00.001-04:00

Trying to learn watercolors

Supplicants and Fall

2007-03-20T11:31:00.002-04:00

Supplicants

Fall

These will be shown at the Upstate Artists Guild Gallery in Albany, NY starting April 6th for their second annual national juried show - this year's theme is "Angels and Demons". The UAG is a great organization run by artists and I'm very happy to be included again this year. These are graphite on paper 6.5"x10"

Shredded Clown

2007-03-16T09:51:00.002-04:00

Total torment: this demon clown gets shredded every day in hell then has to grow back his body at night to do it again the next day. That's the punishment for being a clown.

another self portrait

2007-03-09T11:02:00.001-05:00

Done the same day as the self portrait below, while the kids were out of town.

Self Portrait

2007-03-02T17:39:00.001-05:00

Now you know what I look like, more or less.

The Bottle Fairy

2007-02-17T22:20:00.003-05:00

Don't worry - I'm not going to start drawing fairies! This however is a very important piece in my life, if not my art.

My 2 year old daughter has been waking up in the middle of the night demanding "MORE BOTTLE!" every night for weeks. At 3:00am we comply to avoid hours of screaming.

Last week we told her that soon the bottle fairy would come to take her bottles away and give them to new babies who need them. She says she's going to be very mad at her when she comes.

Well tonight's the night - when she wakes up and runs to the bottle drawer she's going to find a present and this calling card from the bottle fairy. Wish us luck!

***UPDATE*** results below in the comments

Ribbonfish

2007-02-16T09:18:00.001-05:00

Visible under an electron microscope, the ribbonfish is unaffected by gravity as it tunnels through your cells laying eggs

No Cherries

2007-02-10T10:15:00.001-05:00

sprout

2007-02-02T16:24:00.001-05:00

Red Cow

2007-01-26T09:14:00.001-05:00

This is from last year, but I've never used it for IF. Maybe I'll do a new one later in the week when I have some time. In my original idea for this painting he is supposed to have a slice of american cheese on his back.

The Uncommon Drunk

2007-01-19T11:44:00.000-05:00

Posted for illustration friday "Superhero", this is going waaay back to 1991.
It's pretty raunchy so be warned - Click to read the comic

Idea Fixa

2007-01-15T23:25:00.000-05:00

Idea Fixa is a cool art webzine from Brazil - the current issue is all about sci-fi, and I have 2 paintings in it! There are some really good artists represented, including Justin DeGarmo, and Will Murai, as well as a bunch of other really impressive people, so check it out (and vote for me!)

The Great Firewood Shortage of the 1880s

2007-01-14T13:55:00.001-05:00

Five bucks for this pile of twigs!?! It's still green! I'll be smoking like a chimney!

Empty Nesters

2007-01-05T09:12:00.002-05:00

Henrietta doesn't mind when he gets a little buzzed on holiday.

Krešimir, the destroyer of peace!

2006-12-23T21:20:00.002-05:00

The Croatian name Krešimir means "destroyer of peace". At least that's what Krešimir's older brother told me.

still in progress but I had to post it. I think I'll paint this one

I'm here to help!

2006-12-15T09:01:00.001-05:00

He's not here to help.

office

2006-12-08T14:17:00.001-05:00

I worked in an office for 6 years. This is pretty much how I felt.
For Illustration Friday: Mask

Ebony Space Pirate Ship

2006-11-29T11:34:00.001-05:00

I wish I could invent a real one of these. Sometimes I lay awake and imagine flying one of my ships out to the Orion Nebula. What I'd like to do is open a nice bed and breakfast space station there - I think it could be a great weekend getaway!

I made this last week for my brother's birthday. It's ebony and vermillion (natural colors), and attaches to the stand with magnets. The ebony is salvaged, along with the mahogany and walnut in my recent pieces. I don't know too much about this, but it seems like even "sustainably harvested" exotic hardwoods can be problematic, so I think salvage is the best way to go. I get my wood from Seth at Urban Lumber whenever possible and he's really good. More of my rockets here

Lascano Opening

2006-11-20T12:49:00.001-05:00

This weekend my wife Kate and I went to the opening at Lascano Gallery in Great Barrington, Ma., a lovely little town. The gallery looked great, and it's a very good show. Below are some shots from the opening and the next day. We forgot to take any shots of the crowd but it was packed and a lot of fun. It will be open until Jan 7th if you're in the area.

It Will End Badly

2006-11-13T10:43:00.003-05:00

This is the third of my robot series on display starting this weekend along with the others and 5 rockets (see previous post "Astroliner"). I just finished this and delivered it to the gallery yesterday.

Astroliner

2006-11-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

This is my latest rocket "Astroliner" - I think it's my best and it's the biggest as well. It's inspired by the Boeing 307 Stratoliner which is one of the most beautiful planes ever made. It is on display at the Lascano Gallery in Gt. Barrington Ma. I also have three paintings and four other rockets there for their toy-themed holiday show that officially opens Saturday. Click the image for in progress shots

Quiet

2006-10-01T16:25:00.001-04:00

no chance I'll be able to do a drawing this week - my project for the UN is almost done and as soon as it is I've got a painting and 2 rockets to make pronto.

So this is a very old drawing done at night around the back of the library where I went to college. I did a few like this and while I could quibble with some parts (like that tree) I still really like them

From out of the Filth, He Comes

2006-09-22T16:10:00.001-04:00

Destroy All Brownstones!

2006-09-15T08:59:00.001-04:00

Change is coming to Brooklyn.
Do you think the giant robots will spare Park Slope's Historic Preservation District?

combine harvester of doom

2006-09-09T23:51:00.001-04:00

for Illustration Friday "Farm"

John Howland and the Mayflower

2006-09-01T10:14:00.001-04:00

This is an in-progress painting that I'm having some trouble with, so critical feedback would be very appreciated (you don't have to be nice!).

Here's the true story: On the Mayflower crossing, conditions were awful. The passengers had to stay below, it was stormy, everyone was seasick, and John Howland (my ancestor!) couldn't take it anymore and ran up to the deck to get some fresh air. He was immediately blown overboard but managed to catch a rope that was dangling behind the boat, and held on while being submerged and dragged behind the boat. They pulled him back on-board and he had like 11 kids in the new world.

As you can see in the drawing, the placement of the key figure is a bit weak, which is why he isn't show in the burnt sienna version - I can't figure out where to put him! I've tried several locations, including reversing the ship but I can't get it to work, so I think I'm going to have to redraw the whole thing. What do you think?

Garden Freak

2006-08-28T12:27:00.001-04:00

I can't imagine anyone else will like this, but I can't stop looking at it

RUN!

2006-08-26T11:10:00.001-04:00

Illustration Friday - Match

2006-08-21T17:56:00.002-04:00

This is the diagram for a big rocket I'm making for the November show at Lascano gallery. It will be about 30" long and made of walnut, mahogany, and ebony like this one. Notice how the plan view matches the elevation? But wait there's more matching...

check out this from my older daughter (6 1/2):

And this from the baby (1 3/4). This was her first representational drawing - she did it and announced it was a rocketship! I'm so proud. (I had to help her invert it in photoshop)

My Daughter On Her Bike

2006-08-12T11:07:00.001-04:00

There's no way I can do a new one this week but since I missed last week too, here's one from a while back that fits, I think.

I got some exciting news this week - I'll have paintings and rocket sculptures in a group show at Lascano Gallery in November.

Illustration Friday - Clean

2006-07-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

Clean lines - that was the idea. I don't like clean, and I don't like this drawing much, but I did learn some stuff in Illustrator, revitalizing my hate/hate relationship with that program.

Illustration Friday - Opposites

2006-07-24T03:02:00.001-04:00

this was fun. brush and ink.

Good Morning Brooklyn - Don't Give Your Bagel To The Dog

2006-07-14T09:44:00.001-04:00

For Illustration Friday - Sacrifice

This is a page from a book I did for my daughter a couple of years ago. Never managed to get it published of course, but all her baby friends loved it. Click it to read the rest of the book.

As for the topic, I have thought a lot about the strange generosity of young children. Sometimes they fight bitterly over something they don't really want and other times they gladly give away something they love.

illustration friday (topic: portrait)

2006-06-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

Maybe there's no point in posting to illustration friday on thursday night, but...

Sidewalk Chalk at the Tulip Festival

2006-05-15T16:03:00.000-04:00

Just got these great pics from Colin Wilkinson at the UAG of an excellent entry in the Tulip Festival sidewalk chalk competition (I should point out that I had nothing to do with their choice of subject!)

photos: Colin Wilkinson

Albany Opening

2006-05-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

I had a great time at the opening of Pretty Girls and Robots in Albany at the UAG - almost 400 people came out on a rainy night. thanks to everyone there - they are a great bunch and I hope I can do something with them again. I have only crummy pictures due to my lack of photography skills but I should be getting some good ones emailed I hope

My First Press!!!

2006-05-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

Metroland, a newspaper in Albany has a little piece about the UAG show. Here's the good part (emphasis added):

NOT JUST FOR THE ETERNAL 16-YEAR-OLD MALE: Steve Martin once stated·back when it was possible to joke about such things·that ·food and sex go together like teenagers and drugs.· Well, you know what else goes well together? Pretty girls and robots. Just look at the magnificent illustration on this very page, One More Thing to Worry About (2006) by Bill Zeman; it·s as if the robot and the space girl would be incomplete without the other. The creators at the Upstate Artists Guild had no trouble intuiting this rather obvious concept, and will be opening the exhibit Pretty Girls & Robots tomorrow (Friday, May 12) at their gallery at 247 Lark St., in Albany, with a reception from 5:30-8:30 PM. On display will be 66 works of art by 36 artists from 11 states. Pretty Girls & Robots runs through June 2. For more info, visit upstateartists guild.org

I made a copy of the page to preserve it for eternity, but hopefully there will be an archive on their site I can link to.

Bullshit

2006-05-11T10:01:00.000-04:00

I've been reading Tyler Green's Modern Art Notes lately. I'm not a fan of most contemporary art and he generally has interesting things to say about it. He posted this link to a really interesting article bashing the Whitney Biennial's labels. It may seem like a bit of an obscure complaint, but I think she really gets to the heart of the bullshit problem. The labels are also what enraged me so much at Dia Beacon, and it's nice to have someone else so clearly articulate what pisses me off.

Teal Cadillac Rocket

2006-05-07T21:18:00.000-04:00

This is one of my first rockets, and the one I imagine myself escaping this godforsaken planet in while laying awake at night. It's a cross between a 1948 Cadillac and a DC-3, made of solid balsa and spray painted. I vowed never to use spray paint again after this because it's totally toxic and a big pain in the butt. It took at least 10 coats and 2 full cans to get a smooth finish. Of course I broke the vow recently and then immediately renewed it.

Buck Rogers

2006-05-05T12:15:00.000-04:00

Here's another one of my rockets. This one is based on one from an old Buck Rogers daily comic strip.

Mouse Rocket

2006-05-03T11:16:00.000-04:00

This is "Mouse" one of my wood model rockets made of walnut, mahogany, and ebony. I've only shown this once and really want to find a good venue for all of my ships. You can see more of my rockets at http://www.billzeman.com
This one took well over a hundred hours - largely because I didn't have a drill press at the time so I cut all those holes by hand.

Martini and Chocolate Cake

2006-05-02T10:20:00.001-04:00

Sad to see this go, but I sold it the other day. Definitely need to get over my reluctance to part with my art. I guess.

Pretty Girls and Robots

2006-05-01T15:08:00.001-04:00

One More Thing To Worry About

This painting is my entry for the "Pretty Girls and Robots" show at the Upstate Artists Guild in Albany, NY, opening May 12th. They are going to use it for the promotional card for the show, and I should be getting some soon... Anyway I'm pretty happy with the painting and wish I could get the companion piece done.