By Mark Kaufman

I am on track with a collage a day in 2010, I'll be doing number 36 later today, but I have been remiss in scanning and posting some that I like. Here's one.

By Mark Kaufman

Hey, it's raining again in Seattle. I need some cheering up. Here are more examples of Barcelona graffitti and street art from my recent trip to Spain. It rained the entire time I was in Spain, but c'mon it's still Spain!

The following is my letter to The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Contracting Officer. The first line is an ironic passage from the Request for Proposals to design an Art Works logo:

“…arts workers are real workers with real jobs who are part of this country's real economy…”

This is a laudable claim, and a sentiment that I whole heartedly agree with. However your Request for Proposals for the NEA Art Works logo is a request that a whole class of American worker should work for free. This is speculative work pure and simple, and it is wrong.  Graphic design is a profession, its practitioners are also real workers and have every right to be compensated fairly for their work.

A more effective and ethical approach to requesting speculative work is to ask designers to submit examples of their work from previous assignments as well as a statement of how they would approach your project. You can then judge the quality of the designer’s previous work and his or her way of thinking about your business. The designer you select can then begin to work on your project by designing strategic solutions to your criteria while under contract to you, without having to work on speculation up front.

Please withdraw this RFP, and rewrite it so that the speculative and free labor aspect is rescinded.

Sincerely,

Mark Kaufman

By Mark Kaufman

My first submisssion for the Mail Me Art project.

One of my absolute favorite things from my youth. And now I will shuffle off home after a very long day.

Dead bird image originally created by Mark Kaufman for the 2008 Hellvetika album, The Ortolan Spoke.By Mark Kaufman

Do you have a few seconds of free time each day? Do you hate to read anything longer than a shopping list? Do you enjoy being spoonfed the funny? Do you consider yourself tech savvy enough to keep one step ahead of the robots? Then you may be interested in Drawmark Twitticisms. Drive by the Drawmark Twitter page.

Democrats. Imitation is the sincerest form of anxiety.By Mark Kaufman

Breastfeeding SasquatchBy Mark Kaufman

One of my favorite images. Of course, it’s one of a very long line of faves that were rejected for one reason or another. If I remember correctly I think the reason for this one was “…disturbing…”. I say it's only natural.

Katharine Harmon makes a point for The Map as Art.By Mark Kaufman

Because of the standard I don't have a MAC adapter for this digital projector issue, we almost didn't get to see the Katharine Harmon’s lecture last night. Happily Ms. Harmon and the audience kept up a lively Q+A session for her new book The Map as Art from Princeton University Press, while someone trekked to their house to get the missing adapter (big thanks whoever you are). Ms. Harmon, also the author of the best seller You Are Here, was quite gracious and took the technical SNAFU in stride as she answered questions and related stories about visuals that no one could see. When the adapter finally did show up we were treated to a brisk slide presentation of contemporary artists’ interpretation of what makes a map. The book features work from quite a diverse group of artists, visions and disciplines, including painting, experiential mapping, sculpture and design. Nice evening, and a great book.

By Mark Kaufman

Today is the one year anniversary of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th POTUS. I found this image the other day in my neighborhood. Attached to a sign at a shuttered business. ‘Nuff said.

By Mark Kaufman

I am very pleased to announce that my illustration work is to be featured in the DesignTaxi.com limited edition card set to be distributed at Icograda Design Week, ICON6, Ad:Tech, One Show, etc. I don't know who else will be included in the set, but if the quality of people involved in the DesignTaxi Front Seat is any indication I am once again proud to be in such goode company.

By Mark Kaufman

More street art from Barcelona trip.

Collage365 // Number 13By Mark Kaufman

My New Year resolution was to undertake Collage365. A new collage every day of the year in TwentyTen. Projects like this usually require that you post each and every daily activity online. No fucking way, first off that would interfere with other items I may want to write about. I suppose I could set up a dedicated blog to this enterprise, but come on I am way too busy with work and life and blogging and FaceTweeting to add another daily ritual into the mix. Secondly when it's crap it's crap and the act of making it is the thing, no need to foist more garbage on the world. When I have something I think is worthy I'll post it right here. Like this one, Number 13.

By Mark Kaufman

Some more from my recent trip to Spain. Most people take loads of pictures of themselves in front of iconic structures, beautiful sunsets, interesting cultural events…I do the same thing, but what I also love to do when in Rome or any other city for that matter is to shoot the street art and grafitti. Happily Barcelona was a treasure trove of interesting illustration and artwork. Amazingly, unlike any other city I have ever been in taggers and street artists DO NOT TAG BUILDINGS. I repeat buildings are not tagged, at least in the parts of town I ambled through, metal security gates, yes, metal window grates, yes, screens, metal phone boxes and electricity boxes, yes, yes and yes. I do not know why the bricks and mortar and stone of the historic buildings themselves were not tainted by grafitti, but they were 99.9% clean and devoid of markers and paint. Is it a respect for the architectural heritage or is it really stiff jail time, I wish I knew the answer. Fascinating. What I did find were alot of interesting drawings, stickers, stencils and spray jobs of heads and faces. I took alot of photos and will post a bunch. If anyone knows who the artists are please let me know.

By Mark Kaufman

Spain. Madrid. Barcelona. Of course you go to the amazing museums. Of course you go to pay homage to Picasso, Miró, Tapies, Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and Rafael, and on and on and on. But the best part of travel is to see and experience artists that you don't know, or to see new works that move and inspire you. For me on my first trip to Spain I encountered many artists that I sadly did not know about. The first of this lot is the Spanish artist Antonio Saura. My god! It is downright thrilling to discover something new, at least new to me, even if it is something or someone that I should have known all along. I will happily be taking a new journey and seek out Saura's work and life. As near as I can figure he hasn't shown very much in America, and that is a shame. His works is diverse, painting, collage, drawing, illustration, and that is merely scratching the surface. The work itself, what little I have seen, is vibrant, bold, fun, with a vigorous and emotional line.I am just glad to have discovered this. Image from the book Antonio Suara por si mismo from Archives Antonio Saura/Lunwerg Editores. Please excuse the lousy image, but I lost my camera, shot with my iPhone.

Saura! Si!