Jaz Harold Illustration

2012-01-29T18:55:00.000-08:00

PROGRESS REPORT!!!

So, I did away with the neopolitain ice cream hair. The texture was nice, but the colors I hated..
I've been obsessed with pastel rainbows recently. They make me SO happy!! Seeing anything in an array of pastel colors makes me want to jump for joy.. or explode. I would probably buy just about anything draped in pastel packaging (rilakkuma, for example, really knows how to sell me).
So, the next step was pretty natural.
I ordered a huge amount of samples for fabrics, as well as a wide variety of yarns, and even tried my hand at needle felting (I stabbed clear through my thumb within an hour). Even just opening the package with all my samples was a pretty magical experience. I was even more late than usual, delayed leaving my house by arranging the colorful swatches next to each other, seeing which combinations worked best.
Later, when I was no longer running late, I cut all the samples into circles (above), then sewed small spheres (also above).
I thought it would only take about 1/3 of the spheres and yarn pom-poms I had made to cover this sculpture.. but in the end I used almost every last one! And who knows if I'll add a few more later. Layering them up makes it so much more interesting that the initial cover.

Anyway, I'm happy to have gotten a good amount of progress, but still this one is

NOT finished!!

A little more has to be done to the part seen here, followed by making 2-3 smaller (hopefully less complicated) sister pieces before it's a completed work.

2012-01-24T20:20:00.001-08:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

2012-01-23T19:32:00.000-08:00

Natsumi Hayashi
Yowayowa camera woman diary
http://yowayowacamera.com/

This girl takes pretty amazing photos of herself levitating.
Even if it's usually easy to see how it's done (though sometimes it really leaves me stumped, assuming there's no photoshop), I still must say she has some great techniques down. I've tried jumping my little heart out as part of my friend's photo shoot, and I can't even jump 1 foot without making a stupid face. Kudos, Natsumi.

2012-01-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

These landscapes by Pip & Pop

are

amazing.

I saw a press release for their recent show in Australia.. maybe a month or so ago? I know I saved the press release somewhere and then lost track of it. I'm glad their work popped up again so I could check out more images. The ones up above are a few of my favorites (it was a really long list to narrow down).

The materials are pretty simple... foam, sand, straws, wires, and small plastic parts... toys, aquarium decorations?
But the way it's put together to make a soft colorful landscape with alien plants and rock formations is fantastic. And the quantity of small detail is overwhelming, in a good way.

2012-01-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

More sculpture progress!

So at this point (point in the pictures above this) the sculpture is painted a second round-- the first was too pale. I like the color, but the texture is bad. Also I have to make it so the bottom of the face sits completely flush to the floor at some point. But for right now not worrying about anything... just waiting for the paint to dry.

I keep testing the paint every day and it still comes off on my finger... for 3 weeks! I give up the waiting game and start to sew some thread in for the hair line. Now I see the problem.. while the matte white paint had no problem adhering to the resin, the oil refuses to do so (somehow also the layer of matte paint is not working as a barrier surface, which is what confuses me most). But all I know is when I put the needle through the paint is flaking off in a small circle around the hole. It must be dry to flake off like that, it's just coming of in small enough particles it gives the idea of being wet still.

A conundrum.

Here I have wiped down most of the oil paint, just using linseed oil, followed by some soap and water. I don't know how a solid layer of paint would effect my next step- another good thick layer of resin, so just trying to avoid complications.
On the up side this next step fixes a bunch of issues I had otherwise-- my lumpy skin texture, and the work sitting flush on the surface below it.

This is after several layers of resin have been dripped on. I applied them with a paintbrush (disposable, since this destroys the brush right away), but the brush was just to control where the paint drips, the resin was applied thick and high up, then just guided a bit in direction as it dripped down. I did not want to actually use a painting motion to apply the resin- this way the surface has no brush strokes and appears very shiny, like it's always wet. I wanted this sculpture to appear like an emerging land mass- either a mountain or an island, that is coming out of the ground. In this case, since I ended up making the skin look wet, it would seem to be an emerging island. It's just as good for me, as long as it has this general feeling.

Here the hairline is almost done. There are 2-3 inches unfinished.. it's good to see the finished and unfinished right next to eachother to see what a difference it makes. This part is a long, painful (and slightly bloody from needle pricks) process. But the transition is so much better than the hard line of the yarn behind it... it's worth while.

Here the base of the hairstyle is finished. The "hairline" has been sewn about half an inch thick all around, followed by about 1.5-2" of yarn, and in the very middle some white plush sewn together and filled with stuffing. This center is convenient because when everything is together, I can alter the shape by separating the yarn, making a small slit in the plush, and removing some stuffing.

So this is the current state of the sculpture. I think I need to build the pom poms in back out a good amount further, The goal is to use those pom poms as a "ground" and then put trees out of that, topped with more pom poms in the place of leaves. Small pom poms will also hang down and taper off (a bit like a weeping willow).
In the end, if the trees don't have the aesthetic effect I'm going for, I can do without that element. What's important to me is the softness and the flow. It should have an effect like a train on a wedding dress, but wispy and light. The pom poms also need more varieties in the pinks and less heavy on the brown/beige. Right now it looks too much like Neapolitan ice cream!!

I will update more soon. Right now I'm restocking my yarn selection. It takes 10-15 spools of yarn to make as many pom poms as seen above. It's kind of crazy!

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Blood of the Shogun
by Glitchmouth

new album cover art

2012-01-06T21:43:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine shared this artist with me today.

Geza Szollosi

http://szollosi.eu/

I wish I could distance myself from the "creepy" thing more, but I think it will be years before people who know me stop making the association! "This art is kind of creepy... Jaz will probably like it."
Anyway, she was right, I like it.
BUT not without criticism to go with it. I hate to be a critic, I mean, given it's not my job to be a critic, it seems like doing so is just a result of one's own insecurities. But even still I'd like to make note... there are a few things on this site that I like very much as individual pieces, but there are others.. whole sections even, that really put me off.

Main disclaimer: The "project flesh" section really made my stomach turn... and this is after years and years of avid horror movie viewing!

The "my pets" section has a few really nice pieces that were initially what grabbed my attention. The pieces I enjoyed have been added up above. I really like the transformation here. The cartoon like shapes make something very off-putting (taxidermy) into something impossibly cute. The bunny is a great example above all... a bunny is a very very cute thing to start. Changing its shape to be more bubbly and nostolgic (resembling the stuffed animals of your childhood) move it to an impossible level of cute in the real world. The other animals start out fairly neutral... I neither think a cow is cute nor ugly- but when made into a sphere head resembling anime with wide set eyes, big ears, and a flat nose it makes me squeal with joy!
It's creepiness level is still uncomfortably high though. Do I love the image of these bubbly taxidermy animals? Yes. Do I want them in my home? No.
Nightmares for sure.

Anyway- make your own taste judgment.
Check out the rest of his work here: http://szollosi.eu/

2011-12-29T18:34:00.000-08:00

I was flipping through Art Forum and came across the work of Adriana Varejão. I'm in love. It was one of those moments that caused physical pain from the envy of not having made the work myself. The tiled canvases that peel away to fleshy insides are my favorites, though I love some of the tile works (that don't peel away) quite a lot as well.
These images are a combo of random web images, and images from her site: www.adrianavarejao.net
You can check out much more of her work there!

2011-12-26T22:16:00.000-08:00

I, like every single other person at the Maurizio Cattelan Guggenheim show, ended up with about five thousand images by the time I was home. For sure this is a show worth seeing. It's impressive how it fills a space that I never thought was so massive until I saw how much could be crammed into it. The sensory overload is a nice effect in person, but maybe just confusing in 2D... so this selection of images is a massive edit down from the original version. It's also nice that the areas around the center that usually have work shown were all blank, leaving you undistracted from the central artwork, as well as a little jarred (I've never seen those spaces blank before!). I think the only down side to this show is that the artworks, now all slung together, had much more individual impact in their original environments. Some also seem to lose context, to a point that without knowing the original display of the work it loses meaning. The impact you get from seeing everything at once is certainly worthwhile though, and does effectively make every old piece into one new piece, interesting in its own way.

2011-12-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone
very very happy holidays!

The end of a good year, and start of a better year.

Cheers!

2011-12-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwuah!!

Painting some mouths this evening.

2011-12-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Some progress shots of one of my on-going projects. I try to avoid getting into a lot of different things at once, because it's better to do just one thing, finish, and move on.... but currently I find myself knee deep in 3+ projects, which means all of them feel like they're taking forever.

This is foundation of the whole sculpture.. an important part, but probably the least interesting. A lot more to be added on & updated soon.

This is the face lying on the back of the head/ears not yet out of its mold. I found it nearly impossible to get the whole face in one shot WITH an adequate facial expression, so the darker brown seen at bottom is a different batch of resin used to connect the mouth to the rest of the face.

Here's the face lying next to the rest of the head, now out of the mold.

The face and head connected, and shaved down where necessary to lay at the proper angle on the table/surface.

Ditto.

After some more work with resin to smooth the connections, everything is primed matte white.

Ditto.

And.. pretty much up to date here, the first round of a thin layer of oil paint.
I've already made the mouth/tongue more red and added pink (more to the effect of eyeshadow) around the temples and under the eyes. It will be worked on a bit more then given 5 or so days to dry before I can move on to the next step... luckily there's lots and lots of material preparation to be done on the side, so drying time isn't waiting around doing nothing time.

2011-12-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

Before & After shots for retouching on Suzanne Rae SS '12 campaign.

2011-12-04T08:25:00.001-08:00

HOLIDAY GIFT GIVEAWAY!
Hey guys- enter your email address to join the mailing list on jazharold.com in the next 5 days to enter!
4 winners chosen to win one of the following:
-Cherry blossom pillow ($38 value)
-Cherry blossom pocket mirror ($3 value)
-Magnet set of 3 ($2.50 value)
-Sticker sheet of 15 stickers ($2.25 value)
Enter before midnight on Friday 12/9
Winners will be contacted Saturday 12/10
Good luck!!

2011-12-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry this is far past due (it does no one good for the opening party now) but had a show with 2 extremely talented friends- Yoko Furusho and Cannaday Chapman- at Compound Gallery. The show had a variety of silk screens, the cherry blossom branch, and the painting below--

Mix of acrylic and oil (oil on top of course). 20x30"
This got a little creepier than I had intended. Ixnay on the inespay.
Since the color palette is also much brighter than my current tastes I'll leave it be and hope it finds its loving home filled with other bright colors, and possibly spines.

I do love the more detailed frosting on this though. I should have done more of the painting with oil, in retrospect. I do like the combination of the very graphic with the very rendered, though.

2011-12-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

CUPCAKE MUSHROOMS!!

These were actually my first attempt at silk screening ever.

These silk screen posts are in complete backwards order, but now it's up to date! Correct order from here on out!

I made these (plus 2 other designs) for a charity event at In Rivers Gallery to support Japan after the tsunami.

2011-12-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

GEODE

NEWEST SCULPTURE!

YAY!

I still need to get some professional shots of this one.. but in the meantime here is some stunning iphone photography.
A couple shots of the finished work, and a few shots of the work in progress.

Hollow resin head filled with day-glo pink resin and quartz crystals (a geode!)

Hair made of yarn (mostly cashmere and merino wool, but it's a mix) and hand made yarn pom poms. The first 1/2" of the hair is thread hand sewn through the resin to create a better hairline. The eye is closed with long soft eyelashes.

It's a self portrait. I am filled with crystals, too.

2011-12-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

Escape

Here's another illustration made to be silk screened (this one was made just before the one in the previous post, actually).

This also leans the direction of fashion illustration, but while the clothing the girl wears is specific, it's not all the same designer. The dress is Viktor & Rolf (the multi-collar top makes me swoon), while the shoes are lucite booties by Balenciaga.

A lot of repeating themes.. recently I just like to make a small fantasy world that seems soft, sweet, and pleasant (there always seems to be some creepy twist, but it's not intentional! I just don't think much of it..)
Cupcake mushrooms and frosting dripping off the hearts...
Airplanes because being home, going home, and traveling are (while contracting) all things that appeal to me.
I've loved the visual effect of ants crawling across ever since seeing one of Dahli's sculptures (the bust with a loaf of bread on its head) when I was.. maybe 12 years old? It stuck with me, for sure.
The cherry blossoms with mouths (which I have

all over the damn place, should I have made note of this before?) are simultaneously soft and pretty and feminine, then also sexual, suggestive... I like a mouth without a face or a style connected to it because it's more raw. People get very into clichés about what is attractive or sexy, from the way you dress, to how you pose... A mouth on it's own isn't trying to be sexual, and it's not desperately hoping for your attention and praise, it just is what it is.

The silk screen is limited edition of 5. The prints vary a lot more from one to the next than the silk screen previously posted. The previous silk screen was printed on a high quality japanese paper, while these are printed on Strathmore illustration board. The thinner paper is simply easier to register.
I like this one with the blobby edge the most..

2011-12-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

These are some more views of the stickers mentioned in the post below. I'm afraid if I put too many images in one post they will have trouble loading!
(there are some older posts with many images with no images loading now....)

Here's a wallpaper!!
You can see it in action! (in action=tiled) on twitter:
twitter.com/jazharold
Feel free to save & use!
For PERSONAL use only!!
A name credit is always appreciated :)

2011-12-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

I made a whole bunch of promo stuff.. some to sell, some for people I meet (if I ever meet you in person you will probably get a sheet of stickers with a business card in the back..)

There are mirrors (3" pocket mirrors) that are super for purses/ checking makeup, and the best ever for my makeup artist and hair stylist friends :)

There are magnets...
I don't know what to say there except they're good for sticking to your fridge..
Set of 3 -- 1", 1.25", and 1.5"

And STICKERS!!!
These are the best.
Personally, I put stickers on everything. My phone, my computer, my monitor, my keyboard, my wacom, my desk, my chair, my notebooks...
Stickers are just super.
I'm sure I will make another sheet with a new design when this current design runs low.
There are 15 stickers on a sheet. And the adhesive and print quality are both great!

Oh all this stuff is available on etsy as well:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jazharold?ref=seller_info

2011-12-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

An ode to Viktor & Rolf

Just because I love them.

Here's the digital version. I would be the original in this case.. I drew it with the intention of silk screening and kept in mind keeping strong lines and a limited palette (because I like silk screening solid custom colors more than CMYK).

And here is the finished silk screen version. Limited edition.. I would have to count how many came out to satisfaction, but I believe the edition is around 10 (obviously I will figure that one out and mark them before selling any). A bit larger than 20x30", but some paper can be/should be trimmed because the edges get some damage during the silk screen process.

In the illustration- Viktor & Rolf shirt, blazer, clutch, and Flowerbomb perfume. The flowers in the Arch are the scents found in Flowerbomb.

I think these guys are one of the most amazing design teams.

2011-12-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

I've made a whole bunch of Cherry Blossom pillows! I love them!
I'm obsessed!
My sofa is covered. My bed too. And above my shelves also, because they just look so nice stacked up! The ones above the shelves also stay in pristine condition to sell or put in shows :)

I also have a few of these up on etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86852012/cherry-blossom-pillow-throw-pillow?ref=v1_other_2

But really I'm hoping to make even more and stack them up in a gallery show. Depending on the space/layout of the gallery they would look very nice stacked against the window, along with other works hanging down from the ceiling, or they could also work inside creating a ground beneath other installed works.

They're just so soft looking (and feeling)!

Makes me happy-!

2011-12-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a small sampling of the cherry blossom pouches I've made. There are maybe 10 of these in existence. In the future I will be making many more cherry blossoms with mouths, but this may be the end of the run for pouches. I've always liked the idea of something having a secret, or being able to hide things while they're somehow out in the open.. but the future blossoms might not function as well as pouches. The pouch is best used as a single item, not as part of an installation. The branch view is for installation, and is about 6 feet long (was shown in Compound Gallery in OR). Even the blossoms on the may be switched out for blossoms with no back, as they should remain permanently affixed to the branch and viewed as being one piece as a whole. There will be other interpretations for installation views in the near future as well.

The mouths are made of a flexible resin, painted with oil. The resin in sewn onto the cherry blossom pouch, which is made of chirimen (the fabric used in kimonos and traditional japanese crafts). Most blossoms are a soft pink and peach and white outside, with a stronger red and deep pink inside (and green cord and finishing).

While I prefer to keep most of these in a gallery environment, I very recently have listed one Blossom on etsy, and may or may not add a select few more in the future.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86856827/cherry-blossom-pouch-mouth-adorned

2011-12-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

New personal photo shoot.

Laundry Day

art direction / styling / retouching / etc - Jaz Harold
hair / makeup - Holly Corsano

Laundry Day 1-
Balenciaga lucite booties
Comme Des Garçons trench coat
Comme Des Garçons skirt
Suzanne Rae silk shirt with chiffon yoke
Rodarte x Opening Ceremony skirt
Alexander Wang fold over booties

Laundry Day 2-
Alexander Wang buckle booties
Viktor & Rolf multi collar shirt
Alexander Wang tank
Vivienne Westwood blazer
Martin Margiela boots

2011-03-04T18:32:00.001-08:00

Mouth-
Limi Feu double layer pants
Alexander Wang buckle boots
Helmut Lang double layer tank
Né-net scarf
Rag&Bone Jacket
Helmut Lang shorts
Uniqlo polka dot leggings
Victorialand asymmetric dress shirt
Oak cowl cape/hoodie
Michael Kors rain boots
Alexander Wang tank
Alexander Wang silk apron shorts

Lace-
Victoria's Secret bra
Victoria's secret french sling

Cave-
Burberry Prorsum turtleneck military sweater
Burberry Prorsum 3 buckle belt
Kelly Ewing skirt
Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony wedges
Martin Margiela slit back cardigan with extra long sleeves
Comme des Garçons dress shoes
Comme des Garçons drop crotch pants

Snowflakes-
Jade Chiu heart eyepatch
Meschantes custom corset
Comme des Garçons skirt
NYLA zipper booties
Temperley London dress
Martin Margiela oversize leather boots

Clouds-
Vivienne Westwood blazer
Vivienne Westwood skirt
Martin Margiela oversize leather boots
Martin Margiela soccer flag vest
Diesel heels
Alice & Olivia studded shorts
Helmut Lang double layer tank
Urs Fischer silk scarf
L.A.M.B. studded cashmere shirt

Birdcage-
Burberry Prorsum triple buckle belt
All Saints jacket
Evil Twin cage shirt

Art Direction - Jaz Harold and Tracy Morford
Photography - Tracy Morford
Styling - Jaz Harold
Hair and Makeup - Holly Corsano
Retouching and Illustration - Jaz Harold
Models - Holly Corsano, Jaz Harold, Tracy Morford

2010-11-21T19:05:00.000-08:00

Sugarless Girl album cover- updated!

2010-11-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

New Glitchmouth album cover

2010-07-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've made my life even crazier and busier than usual by taking a 10 day trip to Tokyo. Worst possible timing, right before a deadline. 6 day work weeks for a while before and after to make up for it. Leaving in one week.
My last trip to Tokyo was horribly unplanned and left me leaving without ever feeling like I was there to begin with. This trip is much more thought out, I even bought a guide book! (never thought I'd be the type to do that).
The girl on the cover of this guide book looks like the last guy I dated. Ha.
Until this next huge project is over I'm struggling to get any of my own work done (I'm struggling to even get enough of their work done!). So, until mid august, I guess the posts will be scant.

This little guy is the newest pill pal- replacing panda version one.
There will be 15 of him in various sizes. Right now there is one done and 3 more almost done about 1 foot tall. I'll try to finish this edition, as well as more owls... mid august? Soon.

2010-06-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Who needs to sleep more?

I do! I do!

A good night sleep now has yet another distraction.

Now on facebook.

2010-06-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Just finished the album cover for the dance/electronic group Sugarless Girl's first Album, "I Can't Dance"

You can check out their music here

2010-06-21T16:57:00.001-07:00

2010-06-15T21:38:00.001-07:00

99% Gallery presents...

BROOKLYN STAND UP
an exhibition and silent auction featuring Brooklyn-based artists

Following the success of the inaugural print show auction here at 99% Gallery, with almost 500 in attendance, comes Brooklyn Stand Up, where local Brooklyn artists will get a chance to exhibition there work for a silent auction on Friday, June 25th from 7-11pm.

This show will take place during the same weekend as the L Magazine's Northside Festival, allowing the maximum exposure for the artists exhibiting their work. The goal of the Northside Festival is to celebrate the community of independent musicians, filmmakers and visual artists in the place where it thrives the most, shining a light on the sheer talent and creativity that Brooklyn cultivates.

Please arrive early to register to bid on items in the auction. Auction starts at 7:30pm and ends roughly at 10:30pm. Bids must increase in increments of $20 after the initial minimum bid has been placed.

Afterparty starts immediately following the auction at Savalas Bar located at 285 Bedford between Grand and South 1st.

Particpating artists include:
Michael DeNicola
Tiffany Walling-McGarity
John McGarity
dickchicken
Eddie Alfaro
Jess Ruliffson
Jaz Harold

more artists to be announced very soon!

2010-06-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

Vive Memor Leti Fugit Hora

Time is fleeting, huh?
I mean, really, where does the day go??
I wake up, go to work (I work for a fine artist, I do love my job). Photoshop, photoshop, photoshop. Get home, exercise, shower, eat, sew, and before I know it I should have been asleep an hour ago.
Every single surface of my apartment has some project overtaking it (including the floor). My living room has props for an upcoming photoshoot, my computer desk has scraps from a sewing pattern I just made, as well as sewing labels, and misc sketches. The island counter/table by my kitchen is covered in stuffed animals, a sewing machine, heaps of fabric, thread, pins... My sofa has a couple paintings in the works lying there....and every bit of my floor has fabric, or scraps, or fur debris blowing around it.

Anyway, my own fault I suppose. I could just do the American thing and watch a few hours of tv when I get home, and be content to work for the weekend.
But then where do I get to make my mark in the world? Certainly not through children. Ew.
One day, if I lead a life worth reading about, I can publish "Memoirs of a Workoholic"

Vacation in August or September....?
(Japan again..?)

2010-06-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

If I concentrate very hard, can I bring myself to update this as much as I used to (no, more, I never did update it very much)?

Photo retouching site has finally been updated after about a year of lying stagnant. I got so busy with work I didn't update not just because I had no time to do so, but because I didn't want to encourage people to ask me for more work!

Photo Retouching

I will make a promise to my blog to write more interesting things in the future to accompany the pictures,
but I've also made a promise to myself to think less.
Quite the contradiction.

2010-05-31T21:24:00.001-07:00

I don't update this nearly often enough.

Here are the two most recent pieces (drawing/digital)

This is the album cover for Glitchmouth's first album "Cure for the Common Flow."
Second album is currently recording.
They are a super awesome hip-hop group. Feel free to check out their music here:
Glitch Mouth

This is a piece called "Let Go"
To explain it, in the least-bitter terms possible, it's about getting caught up in someone else's energy and having it overwhelm your own, and being able to let go of that when needed. The 5 hands stand over the 5 chakras. Personally, I find cherry blossoms to be healing/soothing (as well as nostalgic for the cherry blossom tree in front of my house growing up), but their traditional symbolism of love works well in this context as well.

2010-02-10T19:07:00.001-08:00

2010-02-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

Pill Pals Baby Albino Owl
Limited edition hand sewn lovable huggable squishable stuffed animals... that stash your pills.
Made of albino raccoon eyes, faux fur, chirimen, and hand cast resin feet. Glitter pills hidden inside stomach pouch.

2009-07-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a few of the photo shoots by Tracy Morford I worked on, as seen on the Working Class Magazine website.

And here's a photo compositing project done for Amberly Valentine. Love her sets so much!

2009-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

3rd Annual BIRD BEAK Group Show

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 11:55pm
Location: Headquarters Studio
Street: 385 Broadway (btwn White & Walker St) 2nd Fl
City/Town: New York, NY

BIRD BEAK is a collective founded by young New York City artists. This will be our third exhibition at the renowned alternative space Headquarters Studio. We invited select artists to make work in a uniform format. Individually each piece will provide a 12"x12" window into an artists world. Together, they will form a surreal movie reel that spans the entire gallery. One night only, with dancing to follow.

including work from
Christian Siriano, Ray Sell, Tuffer Weidner, Nick Dyball, Elizabeth Morahan, John Hagan, Seth Mulvey, Christopher Duffy, Greg Hedderman, Brendan Winick, John De la O, Miller Lopez, Jaz Harold, Heather Sporing, Ryan Beckwith, Donna Cleary, Augustus Nazzaro, Jazz-minh Moore, Eunkang Koh, Tim Francisco, Vicent Scala, Victor Cox, Jessica Ruliffison, Diana Ho, Becca Kacanda, Samantha Hyatt, Jennifer Young, Justin Jordan, Abbey Beck, Meg Woodcheke, Carmelina Licata, Tom Pitili, Juilia Lachman, Eric Gallea, John Ryan Solis, Ameila Midori, Miller The Nerds

2009-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Also, I haven't updated in a very long time.
I'm booked back to back with work.. since about 3 weeks ago... until at least another week from now. Lots of 12-16 hours days. Including weekends. Exhausted.

Was featured on artistaday.com on May 6th (link here: http://www.artistaday.com/?p=3914)

And artist if the week on Art Nouveau Magazine's Website (http://artnouveaumagazine.com/blog3/2009/05/06/artist-of-the-week-jaz-harold/)

AND, finally got some good pictures of my 3D work thanks to Tracy.

2009-04-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

So I'll be a part of the Art Market again at Destination (32-36 Little West 12th St) which will be opening April 30th 6-8pm.

4 paintings, 1 drawing, 1 sculpture from my end, plus tons of stuff from other artists!

2009-04-16T14:20:00.001-07:00

I got a bunch of my paintings out of storage from CT this week. I really like this one.. it was about 98% complete, I had just never finished the black outlines. So, with relatively little work here's a nice piece to add to my series on mental health disorders:

Split Personality: 18x24" oil on stretched linen canvas.

I also found the painting of lilies with syringe pistons I had made for my first tattoo 5 years ago which I'm still kind of fond of. Will add that here shortly.

2009-04-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga
12x12" oil on Strathmore illustration board.
Kind of knocked off my own old work on this one. But it's mine anyway. So who cares?

I'm thinking I may make a brief trip to CT sometime soon to grab some old artwork I don't like (to put it very lightly) anymore, which I will then proceed to paint over and destroy (improve?) so as not to be ashamed of them any longer! I'm wondering if this could turn into a collab project instead though.. or half and half. Then I get to destroy someone else's old work while they scribble over mine!
I'll have to bring this up at the next crit meet up (next Friday I think?).

2009-03-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

Retouching site has been massively updated, including finally adding the Asics 2009 ad campaign (although unfortunately I lost most of the before shots for the campaign along with my hard drive that stopped working out of nowhere). Also lots of the shots I worked on with Tracy, a Russian Standard Vodka Ad (I did two, but can't find a finish for the second anywhere), and portraits from various freelance jobs.

Illustration site ALSO just updated. But not so much of a content overhaul, just reorganizing (into "illustrations" and "fine art" rather than painting/drawing). I did finally add the Mock Zingers ad campaign I was commissioned for last summer though. I was so busy with my soul-sucking full time job at the time that I never got around to it.

3 for the proposed magazine print ads (unfortunately the text was never added to these- it would read the same as the website section though- "Zingers, they own you"

And then 3 images for the website game component of the ad campaign. (There are also the uncolored uncropped pen versions on my site).

Thanks, Ridge, for being my Zingers poster boy. As well as, as my most physically fit friend, the least likely candidate to ever go near Zingers, or anything remotely resembling snack cake.

2009-03-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

I can't sleep, as usual, so maybe it's time to do an actual entry instead of just pictures with little to no text.

On a topic that has both nothing to do with me, and nothing to do with illustration, this student film is amazing, and everyone should take the 12 minutes out to watch it:

Watch Death to the Tinman

Spent 15+ straight hours Sunday (into Monday) doing some emergency last minute retouching for Tracy Morford. I love working on her stuff, so no complaints once I finally got some sleep the next afternoon.

My friend's aunt, who I've known since I was 8 or 9 just commissioned me to do an invite for a birthday party for her and her friend. It's nothing to write home about, but I do like how the cartoon in a photo effect makes me think of Jessica Rabbit.

Some more retouching work for Michael Tammaro to get done today, then hopefully I'll be able to finish the long-in-progress Lady Gaga painting sitting on my drafting table.

2009-03-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Pill Pals Panda silouhette for packaging

2009-03-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Yasutaka Nakata <3 v2 ...finished?

2009-03-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

Yasuktaka Nakata <3 v1

2009-03-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Björk final version

2009-03-02T06:17:00.000-08:00

Tracy Morford Tammy Faye makeup shoot (www.tracymorford.com)

2009-03-01T04:05:00.000-08:00

Beauty retouch. (Photo by Kenny Sweeney)

Alt shower pic.. last in this set for Tracy Morford. (www.tracymorford.com)

2009-02-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

More work for Pill Pals packaging. Right after making this got word from the MF gallery that the kitten may have sold at the Genova Italy show already.. but still working to make packaging for the rest!

2009-02-26T01:07:00.001-08:00

Religion themed photo shoot retouching before & afters. Photos by Tracy Morford.

2009-02-25T05:13:00.001-08:00

More Pill Pals Panda packaging.

2009-02-24T02:52:00.000-08:00

Pill Pals Bat packaging.

2009-02-24T00:38:00.001-08:00

Tops of boxes for Pill Pals packaging.

2009-02-24T00:25:00.001-08:00

Pill Pals Kitten packaging.

2009-02-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

Version 1 of Björk... most likely to be modified in the near future.

New (finished) version of Pale September

2009-02-10T09:51:00.001-08:00

Pill Pals finally added to portfolio & New painting:

Pale September
A portrait of Fiona Apple

2009-01-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

Finally about to update my portfolio online. It's about damn time!! Sadly STILL not with the pill pals, waiting to get pictures of them taken by someone who knows how to light and owns a "real" camera.

But what I do have:

The Sloth Man
I'm not happy with the text at bottom. Needs a color change I think. But to what.. red? Too much red.. Will have to ask a graphic designer friend about this one.

Rainbow Brite: Mob Troubles
This one went straight from my easel (still wet even) to Italy for the opening of the MF Genova Gallery.

2008-10-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Finally got pictures of my Pill Pals stuffed animals. Not good pictures, still really need someone who knows their way around cameras and lights to help me out there, but at least it's something!

Pill Pals: The lovable squishable (mildly creepy?) stuffed animals... that stash your pills.

2008-08-15T23:47:00.001-07:00

Well.. this is not illustration related, but I also just got my photo retouching portfolio online.

www.jazharold.com/retouching

2008-08-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Ah, my first real post. About time.
I've been working on finishing up the Lamb I made for my Pill Pals series.. all of which are lacking portfolio quality photos at the moment and so still lack presence on my actual website.
So, you'll have to excuse my terrible camera, and my even worse lighting skills, as well as me forgetting to take any pictures with the head removed.
With the help of a photo savvy friend hopefully I will have better images soon. I should probably get moving on making more pills for background use.

Lamb:
approximately 16x11x6"
One of a kind stuffed animal with hidden pill bottle made of: vinyl, polyester filling, craft eyes, pill bottle, thread, faux fur, acrylic paint, and resin.

2008-07-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to make a blog for a while. As is required of all first blog posts, I have nothing worth posting right now. Real posts to come soon though.