Artistic influences and artists I admire

These are links to websites created by or devoted to artists whose work I admire. If you’re an artist, send me the URL to your site. I’d love to see your work. If you wish to link to my site, you’re more than welcome to do so. In the meantime, scroll down to peruse all the links or click on a category below.

Comic Art

Jim Can Draw — My good friend, the talented James Anderson has a new well-designed website loaded with lots of his incredible art. Tell him I say hi.

Matt Feazell — The official website of the creator of the extremely hilarious Amazing CynicalMan.

Fridge Magnet Concoctions — If you don't own a comic or even a cool fridge magnet drawn by Suzanne Baumann, you are surely the poorer because of it.

The Man Who Japed — He's responsible for the cool look and art for the local paper The Metro Times, the Detroit branch of Dr. Skeychy, as well as the creator of some of the best drawn and written mini-comics around. Of course, I'm talking about the the amazing and prolific Sean Bieri.

John Buscema — Back when I collected comics, he was considered the Michelangelo of comic art. Unfortunately, he passed away in the last year, but this official website is still up in tribute to his art.

Will Eisner — The online home of comics’ master storyteller and creator of the influential strip The Spirit.

P. Craig Russell — One of my favorite comic artists, his elegant and detailed style is reminiscent of Steve Ditko, the Symbolists, Art Nouveau, Expressionism, and whatever else this talented artist from Ohio throws into the mix. His latest work is a detailed and multi-part adaptation of Wagner’s opera The Ring of the Nibelungs. Check out the message forum where you can have discussions online with him and his many fans (like me).

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Illustration

Frank Frazetta Art Gallery — The most famous and beloved painter of fantasy of them all!

Illustrator Biographies — A section of Bud Plant with biographies and examples of work of the greatest illustrators of all time, as well as a resource of what books you can buy with examples of their work.

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Museums/Galleries

C-Pop Gallery — A cool Detroit gallery featuring cutting-edge, pop, and comic-inspired art.

Detroit Contemporary — A great gallery of the latest work of Detroit artists.

Detroit Institute of Arts — Our revered museum here in Motown. This is also where you can find the schedule to The Detroit Film Theater.

The Tribes of the Cass Corridor, Detroit — The Cass Corridor near Wayne State University attracted a group of talented artists starting in the 1960s. You learn about these artists from their own words here, or provide your own memories and thoughts of your experience with the Cass Corridor.

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Painting

Lowell Boileau One of the two Detroit artists to create micropointillism, his website is also loaded with artwork, essays, and a terrific photo-essay on the ruins of Detroit.

George Allen Durkee — I came across his website by chance. I liked his work immediately and hope to go to San Francisco one day to meet him. His paintings are full of joy and movement. He’s a guy who obviously loves his city and what he’s doing.

Stephen Goodfellow The other of the two Detroit artists to create micropointillism, he also teaches website creation. His website is loaded with information on art, music, and science.

Michael Wood Fine Arts Michael has been one of my dearest friends for 20 years. She now has a website devoted to her beautiful art, which currently shows off her talent in watercolor.

Villie’s World She’s listed influences as diverse as Chagall, Munch, surrealism, Hindu religious art and Russian iconography. You can see that and more in her beautiful and colorful paintings.

Roberto Macedo Alves Roberto is a wonderful watercolor artist, although he's even painted with chocolate!

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Photography

Joanne M. Domka — Joanne specializes in beautiful black & white photography that’s been meticulously colored by hand — none of that phony Photoshop jazz for her!

Misha Gordin — An extraordinary photographer with beautiful, haunting, and surrealistic imagery.

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Printmaking

Stephen Alcorn — My favorite relief printmaker currently working, I finally got to meet him when Tammie and I visited his Cambridge, New York studio recently. His work and his wife’s watercolors look even better in person.

Artists of Brücke: Themes in German Expressionist Prints — German Expressionism turned out some of the most exciting printmaking ever. I love this involved site from the MOMA that’s filled with information and images. Flash plug-in required.

Barry Moser — I was tempted to put this entry under illustration, but he does much more than that. He also does the calligraphy, typography, and design on all the books he illustrates. Since my favorite illustrations by him are wood engravings, I put him in the Printmaking category. Check out the gorgeous Pennyroyal Caxton version of the King James Bible too.

Gwen Frostic — My wife and I had the great pleasure of visting the studio/gallery of this wonderful and prolific relief printmaker, bookmaker, and poet, as well as buying some of her wonderful notecards. She had a great love of animals and plants, as was evidenced by her subject manner and the grounds surrounding her studio located an hour or so outside of Traverse City, MI.

Prairie Print Makers: Selected Prints — American printmakers of the early 20th century produced some of the most beautful works of art around. I’m especially fond (naturally) of the woodcuts and wood engravings.

A.E. London — I discovered A.E. London at the Ann Arbor Art Fair and was blown away immediately with her gorgeous and moving depictions of endangered animals done in a new relief printmaking technique I never saw before. Since then, I've gone out of my way to seek her at the Ann Arbor and Pontiac art fairs and have been rewarded with new art and stories every time. If she comes to your town, make sure you say hi.

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Sculpture

Jim Pallas Kinetic Homepage — His work is not only fun to look at, it’s also interactive with the viewer.

Laurie Sharkus — My good friend, Laurie, just got her new website up to showcase her gorgeous smoke-fired sculpture of endangered animals and more. Tell her I said hi. It won't get you a discount, but what can it hurt?

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Miscellaneous

Hatch — The Hamtramck Art Collective is a group of some of the coolest artists you can find in metro Detroit. If you're an artist in metro Detroit, I highly encourage you to check them out and join.

Dr. Sketchy: Motor City Division — The blog for the Detroit branch of Dr. Sketchy, the fun figure drawing session started by Molly Crabapple.

CidTalk.com — This personal site has terrific articles, interviews, tutorials, and examples of art (as well as information about movies, products, assorted essays, and other fun stuff to keep you occupied for a long time.

The Official John & Tammie Nagridge Website — The personal website of my wife and myself.

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