This is one of my favorite illustrations its called “Feel My Pain.” In it a guy has his new air force ones scuffed on his first day wearing them out side. A tragedy without a doubt. You’ve seen this piece before but now for the first time I’m sharing with you a piece of planning of this artwork. I super imposed the original sketch on top of the actual artwork (somewhat) to show how it all began. This is a peak into my sketchbook. Even if its a pinhole peak.  

Over the course of my life studying art I’ve accumulated and completed about 15 sketch books of various sizes. 8×6 all the way up to 11×15. This doesn’t include the 4 journals I’ve written and drawn in but does take into account the 3 years I took off from 1999-2002 where I did nothing but work shit jobs, watch movies, play video games and discover what AOL had to offer. Chat rooms how do I miss thee.

Since my return I’ve learned that in order to become a better illustrator you have to do the one thing that defines you. That’s illustrate. Early and often. Now, if you see me out, travelling around the city there’s a 90% chance that I’ll have my sketch book on me. I draw/design/illustrate at least every day at some point in some fashion.

Last week, I attended an event at the Wix Lounge, in NYC, entitled “Promote Your Art.” A really informative talk discussing the different techniques an artist can use to promote the work they love to do. After the panel there was a networking session where I met a woman who represents illustrators and she was surprised that I had one of my journal/sketch books on me. “Most artists I meet don’t carry books with them any more” she said. Which shocked me because most illustrators I know do carry them. (S/O to Phil Mamuyac)

I wrote all this to say to all my fellow illustrators, painters and artists: Carry a damn sketch book. It doesn’t have to be a Strathmore 400 or a Canson Classic. It can be a generic, lined, spiral notebook that’s big enough to fit in your back pocket. When inspiration strikes you have should have a way to document it. Although you might feel you’ll remember the moment, there’s a chance you won’t. That’s a risk I choose not to take.

By definition style is a particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode of action or manner of acting. To me style  is a definition of who you are as an artist. Many things help shape that definition such as where you studied your craft, which artists inspire you the most as well as what constitutes art in your eyes.

Growing up I’ve met all types of artists:

• The Carbon Copy: someone who mirrors their work so closely to someone else that it’s hard to tell the two artists apart.
• The Shape Shifter: the artist has spent so much time searching for their own style by mimicking others that they can’t help but shift into different identities in each piece they do.
• The Non-Believer: this person just lacks confidence in their ability to embrace their own work. They believe that they should follow the path of someone else in order to find their own style.
• The Old Dirty Bastard: he truly believes there is no father to his style. Says things like “I’m the only who creates work like this. I’m an innovator.” In actuality there many people who are very similar to you.
• The Vanguard: One who absorbs the knowledge of those before them and leads the pack. Not by reinventing the wheel but by merging what they’ve learned into something that defines who they are.

The thing about style, in order to find your own you have to play the role of some of the personas listed above. In the end, like most art related philosophies, it comes down to confidence. Do you believe in yourself enough to trust your own instinct on what is art?
Personally I’ve followed many comic book artist on my artistic journey because that’s the medium I grew up around. John Byrne, Want Simonson, Arthur Adams, Joe Madureira, Jim Lee are some of the artists who have influenced and dominated my studies growing as a kid artist. I looked to them because at the time, this is all I knew and I felt they were the best in the business. And in order for me to achieve success I needed to be more like them.
In reality I just didn’t think my work was strong enough. I was self-conscious about my style. But over time I’ve become more comfortable with it for better or worst. Either way it’s me. When you see my work you know that Popephoenix created that piece. That is what you want. Instant recognition. No label or copyright needed. That is what style is. Its basically your brand, your logo, your calling card.
I ask you, what is your style? Who were your influences? What’s holding you back from embracing your style completely and utterly? Have you branched out from what you’ve seen and defined yourself as a Vanguard?

I’ve been working with NestEgg Builders for close to 8 years now and we’re always coming up with new ways to reach out to agents and help them make their business easier with fantastic back office support. Back in ’04  we created Earl E. Bird, a mascot for fiscal and smart financial planning. If you go to his site www.earlebird.com you’ll find a blog dedicated to educating the consumers on how to invest wising in the future. The concept is take the MetLife campaign with Snoopy and flip it on its ear. With a crazy cast of character we plan on changing the way the American Saver buys annuities for there retirement. After the break you can see the rest of characters created to accompany Earl on his journey.

Because the alternative is unacceptable. I’ve worked my entire adult life. Even part of teenage years starting at age 14. I’ve worked for small businesses and large corporations. I even did a stint working for a non-profit for 5 years. At each opportunity the outcome was the same, either I walked away or I was asked to leave.

Most people shun the times they were fired but I wear them as a badge of honor. Every time I’ve been fired it reaffirmed that I can’t be tied down to a desk in someone else’s office affixed to their arbitrary schedule of when I should be creative. I am not a 9 to 5 guy. I’m not a morning person. I generate my creativity when I am inspired. Which is something the corporate world doesn’t understand.

Artists aren’t based on numbers (unless its fractal design) or accustomed to manufactured creativity. The best artistic moments of my life came during moments when I wasn’t thinking about what I should do. An artist needs the flexibility to seek out inspiration in moments of frustration or when one can’t really perceive an innovative way to produce the desired message in their current work.

A 9 to 5 doesn’t allow this. You can’t do this when IT is tracking every website you surf. HR is counting every second you are away from your desk.  How can you seek out new direction when your connection to social media is blocked. Your email is monitored. You put creative shackles on every time you log onto your computer at work.

I don’t thrive in that environment. If I can help it, I’ll never have to spend another moment in the corporate landscape. I enjoy my freedom. It makes me a better artist and person. I need to come and go as I please its the American way. The self-employed life is harder by all means. You never know when you’ll get your next client. Will they pay on time? How will I pay for health insurance? Should I work or clear one more undiscovered fort in Skyrim? What’s new on Netflix?

A job is stability. Self-employment is freedom. As that old saying goes “freedom doesn’t come easy.” If I have to choose between a cushy, restrictive job that I hate or a hard, fulfilling life of creative freedom; that’s an easy choice to make.

So if you ask me, why am I self-employed? Its because to me the alternative is a creative death sentence.

written in a coffee shop at 12pm on a Friday afternoon.

There are many things that I excel at: Illustration, graphic design, making women laugh, playing StarCraft 2, being a good dad… The one thing that has always escaped me these many years has been my ability to paint. My skill in that is god awful. I’ve tried time and time again and I just get frustrated. So over the weekend. I bought a set of acrylic paints, brushes and a pad with the goal to do like I did with everything else… teach myself how to paint. Eventually I’ll take a class but for now I’ll just mess around and see what transpires. What do you think?

If you’ve been following my Facebook Page The Atlas of Pope, You would get the latest info on new projects that I create. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of T-Shirt design and art shows. I’ve decided to create more art on a more frequent basis with hopes of keeping my work circulating and your interest high. First up is my Carmen Sandiego shirt inspired by a meme I saw last week with Waldo with the same concept. I saw and immediately thought of her. Boom, bam, new t-shirt. Don’t forget to buy a shirt or sticker right this instant.

Check out the other shirts after the break.

Next up I went back and did a full color version of my RoboHolmes Tshirt (check out the original here). I think having it in full color makes it more interesting and hopefully more appealing to customers. What do you think? Don’t forget to buy a shirt or sticker right this instant.

Over the summer I participated in a contest for PLNDR and won to the thrill of the masses. Now its finally on sale. It looks really great can’t wait to wear this shirt. You can see a close up version of the shirt but checking out the product page here. Don’t forget to buy one right this instant.

Well that’s all the new stuff. Next week I’ll be posting up flicks and images of the show I did at Ella on the 10th.

Prohibition NYC will be my fourth show this year. That sounds amazing every time I say it. I’ve been working really hard on projects to get them up to par for these shows and I’m really proud of this new show I’m apart of. This will be my second show working with the fine  folks over at Whiskey Glass Studios  as we build our relationship our shows become tighter in theme, concept and execution.  Exploring themes of sexuality, addiction and promiscuity, you won’t see these pieces floating around on Yahoo or Disney Channel.

Although a little short notice, you still have four days to cancel your plans and come to show to see the artwork of my fellow show mates: Antoine Young, Jaclyn Amor and Manana Saralidze. Show opens at 8pm at Ella Lounge in NYC. I’ll be there early if you want to meet me for the first time or just catch up. Prints and Original artwork will be for sale. Come down and have a drink with me, see some all new Pope Art, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

I love Halloween its the one time in the year where you can let your crazy out and nobody cares. Over the last few years my friends and I usually dress up in a group character. One year we were all ninjas and another year we were Terminators. This year not so much. So since we can’t decide I’m gonna be Nick Fury, which everyone has been asking me to be since Sam Jackson took the role. Easiest costume ever… I got the bald head and beard already locked down. I just need an eye patch and a turtle neck. What are you gonna be this year?

I won’t sit here and say that I’m a huge Freddie Mercury fan. I know a couple Queen songs and those are probably the most famous ones. Say what you will about Google being this soulless behemoth set out to control the internet. Thing is when these two beings collide its really awesome.  When you combine great music with dope After Effects animation you get the awesome video above. This is how you pay tribute to someone.

To me, Red Fox is a legend. While growing up I watched reruns of “Sanford and Son” and loved his brash brand of humor. He was the king of the put down joke and would battle endlessly with is co-star, LaWanda Page aka Aunt Ester. One of my favorite performances was he played in Harlem Nights with Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. The old near-blind card dealer, Bennie Wilson. Being only 35 I wasn’t even alive when he was starting out doing stand up but his TV shows and Movie career made him a comedy legend in my eyes. So this is a small tribute to a comedy great. Congrats Fred, you finally made it home to Elizabeth.