Pikabooks: Evergreen Jim & Tulip
Posted by Amy on Friday April 27, 2012
I’m really excited to launch our latest zine for Pikabooks! Evergreen Jim & Tulip: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is the brainchild of Ana Benaroya, and what better way to celebrate than to interview the lady herself? Melanie Maddison gets down and dirty with Ana, so read on!
——————-
Ana Benaroya is an illustrator, designer, typographer, and screen printer making adrenaline-fuelled, energizing, insanely bright, bold, loud and colourful work that smacks me in the face with how joyously unashamed it is. I don’t think I have enough adjectives to describe it!
Her illustrated zine, Evergreen Jim & Tulip: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is being published and released by Pikaland’s book imprint, Pikabooks imminently, so we thought we’d catch up with Ana to ask more about the zine, and her other artwork.
Website | Blog | Paintings blog | Shop | Tumblr
Hi Ana, how are you? Could you tell Pikaland readers a little about yourself?
Hello! I’m doing pretty well. I am a freelance illustrator and designer working out of Jersey City. I love eating, drinking coffee, and drawing.
Could you tell us a little about Evergreen Jim & Tulip, both about the project came to be, and also the story within it?
I came up with the idea for this story while on a trip to the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Vancouver). It was my first time to this part of the country and I was amazed at the difference in trees and nature…and the mountains. My surroundings inspired my story…I wanted to create a romanticized version of the people who inhabited this part of the country. And of course, insert my own ridiculousness and sense of humor. I love writing love stories.
What is your history in independent or self-publishing? I’m guessing Evergreen Jim & Tulip isn’t your first zine?
I don’t have a huge history in self-publishing…though I did self-publish a newspaper with a good friend of mine called “Egg on Bread.” It was a satire on what a newspaper typically is, containing the weather, horoscopes, an advice column, etc. I also self-published a book called “Men Eating Fruit” which is a collection of paintings of nude men eating fruit, along with a short story about each of their lives. I like self-publishing because there’s no one telling you what you can and can’t do, or warning you about the marketability of something.
Do you think zines are a good way to share art, to display art, and to reach (new?) audiences or artistic communities?
Yes, I definitely think so… though the tricky part is getting the world to know that your zine exists. But there is something very magical about discovering a zine that you love… because you know it was hand-crafted and purely made. A zine represents true creative freedom and expression.
What appealed to you about working with Pikabooks?
I’ve been a big fan of the blog for a while, and how could I say no to the offer of a story of mine being published? This is my first real opportunity to have my writing and my art appear together and I’m very excited about it.
——————
You can get a copy of Ana’s limited edition zine, Evergreen Jim & Tulip: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough over at Pikabooks!
——————
CLICK HERE to read the entire interview with Ana!
Comments [1]
Sponsor giveaway: The Curious Pancake
Posted by Amy on Tuesday April 17, 2012
I’m so thrilled to announce this week’s sponsor giveaway from The Curious Pancake! I got to know Claire better through the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp and to see her opening her shop that’s filled with lovely gifts and oddities has been amazing, to say the least!
From stylish organizers to cuddly plushes, The Curious Pancake is a fun stop online, and it’s also where you can get lots of illustrated goodies from folks like Gemma Correll and Egg Press!
Claire is giving away a gift certificate that will enable you to cobble up all your favorite items from her shop to the tune of USD$40!
ONE lucky person will get to go wild at The Curious Pancake, and all you need to do is to head on over and share with us what it is you’re going to splurge on. Go on – you know you want to!
The lucky winner will be announced after 24th April, by way of our all-time favorite random.org. Everyone from anywhere can enter, no matter if you’re from the UK, USA or Philippines!
LINK
The Curious Pancake
The giveaway has ended and the winner has been picked by random.org – congratulations Carina (comment #52)! :) Thanks everyone for joining in!
Comments [55]
Vladimir Stankovic
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 21, 2012
Finland based illustrator Vladimir Stankovic works with a variety of mediums – from watercolors, tempera, colored pencil and markers, and the results are psychedelic! What I admire is the way he mixes colors (and not to mention different mediums seamlessly!)
He has an Etsy shop, and he posts a lot of his illustrations up on Flickr.
Comments [2]
Sponsor giveaway: Duane Hosein
Posted by Amy on Tuesday March 20, 2012
Today’s giveaway comes from Duane Hosein is an artist and illustrator based in New York, where he spent his childhood immersed in a world of his own – mostly behind a book or drawing at the dining table. As a result, his artworks primarily reflect on nature but with an added twist; with minute and detailed line work that seems to border on the obsessive.
As a sponsor, he is giving away a fun package for ONE lucky reader, who will be able to pick out TWO prints + a postcard collection from his Etsy shop worth USD$56.50!
To be in the running, just share with us your fondest memories of childhood (or how it has affected you today) – we’ll pick out a random winner after 27th March!
LINKS
Blog | Etsy shop | Website
The giveaway has ended and the winner has been picked by random.org – congratulations Kelly! :) Thanks everyone for joining in!
Comments [23]