Besides the internet nonsense, I am working on new pieces for the next May show, and I am doing some oils, here's a preview of the first one:
And here's the process for the Fables #94 cover:
Cheerios! -
Preview and Prints 31.01.2010
Hi again,
News! There's a new print that came out this week from the "Inner Myth" show that took place at the Thinkspace Gallery last May. Here's the PR:
Thinkspace is excited to announce a new limited edition print release from artist Joao Ruas.
This is our first print we've published from Joao Ruas and we're extremely happy with how it came out. This particular work was a big hit during his sold-out 'Inner Myth Pt. 1' exhibition and we felt it was a great fit for our first print with Joao. "Enkindu & Gilgamesh" 12×12" giclee print Hand signed and numbered by the artist Limited edition of 30 prints (+ 5 artist proofs) $60
I am posting this from London where I am staying till Xmas, so the lack of updates is even worse because of that, I guess. The group show in New York was a blast, I got to know great artists, which is good, that were also great people, which is awesome.
This December I am also showing at the Thinkspace Gallery panel at Art Basel in Miami with two pieces, if you're around it is worth to check out since there are some great stuff from everybody that sent some of their works.
If you're in London, there's gonna be a Fables signing with myself at Orbital Comics (near Leicester Sq.) this 17th. More details at:
These last few months have been the busiest in terms of work I've ever had, but I am enjoying it at least, a lot!
I have finished 4 pieces that are going to be shown in NY this week, 2 for the Art Basel Thinkspace presentation and the always present Fables covers. I expect to keep the pace so I can have a good number of pieces put together for the show at Thinkspace next year.
I will be traveling this week to NY for the Lebasse Projects "Go West" exhibition and after that going to London right away to help friends with a project staying there till the end of December. Plenty of time to spend in a pub, buy some tea and attend concerts.
Here's the press release for the NY gig:
ʻGo Eastʼ - A three-day group exhibition in New York
LeBasse Projects NY
42 Rivington St.
New York, NY 10002
November 5th – 7th, 2009
Artists Reception: Saturday, November 7th, 7-11pm
New York, NY – For a special three-day only exhibition, Los Angeles based contemporary gallery
LeBasse Projects expands its horizons to the East Coast. LeBasse Projectsʼ temporary exhibition
offers New York a collection of work by some of the galleryʼs best and brightest talent. “Go East”
presents the galleryʼs penchant for fresh, innovative artists featuring Yoskay Yamamoto, Tessar Lo,
Edwin Ushiro, Eric Fortune and Nate Frizzell plus invited artists Joao Ruas and Mia.
Though LeBasse Projects calls Culver Cityʼs Art District home base, it aims to conceptually extend its
white walls and showcase its core group of artists. Originally born as the monthly art party “project:”
in 2005, LeBasse quickly evolved into a gallery after founder, Beau Basse gained a following for his
strength in exhibiting new talent. Now the re-branded gallery shows its serious commitment to bringing
their talented roster of artists directly to collectors. Besides regular in-house exhibitions, LBP has
begun participating in major art fairs and is hosting “pop-up” shows both nationally and internationally.
The “Go East” exhibition marks one of many future endeavors LeBasse Projects is planning to carry
the messages of its artists around the globe. The seven artists in this exhibition represent the many
new contemporary style that LeBasse Projects has helped define
Taking on the illustrative angle are edgy-yet-emotive Brazilian artist Joao Ruas and Columbus, Ohioʼs
heralded figurative painter Eric Fortune. Surrealism meets Pop in the work of Mia, whose interest in
dreams and the subconscious is shared by fellow featured artist Tessar Lo. Edwin Ushiro and Yoskay
Yamamoto both use their Japanese identity as the base for their work and share the ability to relay
sincere nostalgia. The final artist, Nate Frizzell also looks to his youth as a source of inspiration, but
with a decidedly more figurative rendering. Though these artists exhibit a refreshing range of
aesthetics and stylistic techniques, “Go East” displays their collective flair for urban modernity, a
LeBasse Projects trademark.
The slate of events during the three days in New York include an Artists Reception, an Artists Signing
and Print Release, and hosted private previews by Gen Art, Theme Magazine and Culture Shock
Marketing.
And one of the four pieces I am going to show:
Normally, when I am travelling I tend to update more often, I already have sorted some images and will upload them in the following weeks.
ciao -
Fables #87 21.08.2009
Hi there,
This week I had my first surgery in my whole life to repair the bones in my left hand and now I am made not only of bones and flesh but METAL as well ( ImI ).
To celebrate that I am finally going to put up something like a process of the last published Fables issue, which happens to be #87. For this cover, Shelly and Bill wanted a shot of the so much loved Bufkin in full and a bit comical armor ready to fight some dangers, specially the witch Baba Yaga.
The sketches:
The painting:
The end:
I had a lot of fun doing this one. Expect to see the next and previous covers here in a few days.
cheers! -
Prints/New Site 17.08.2009
Is anybody still there?
Long time, no see. INDEED.
So, lots of things happened lately which kept me away from updating and contacting people, including a broken hand... the left one, luckily... so, working and typing is harder as you can expect... but it's doable. Apart from that, I am busy as usual doing illustration work (mainly Fables) and paintings for the next shows, finishing the new website (95% done!) and setting up the logistics to start selling prints in ONE month.
Prints:
FERAL-KID.COM will be launched next Saturday, it'll be my online portifolio and shop. The prints will go on sale 2 weeks after that. "Scowrers" and "Haunted #11" will be the first ones to get out of the oven. This edition will be limited to 50 signed Ultrachrome prints on Hannemuhle and Somerset Velvet archival paper with a nice varnishing touch. Thanks to Ryan Graff for helping me out with that.
Just to finish, here's a detail of a piece I am working on for the group show LeBasse Projects is putting together to take place in NY next november. It's pretty big for my standards.
Laters. -
The Opening 19.05.2009
So, I did go to LA for the "Inner Myth" micro show opening at Thinkspace Gallery, and all I can say is that I had a great time. It was really nice to meet Andrew, Shawn and LC from Thinkspace, I felt home there. Thanks guys.
Also showing there were (and still are!) Allison Sommers (amazingly detailed gouache paintings with a dark storybook feelling) and Kathleen Lolley (you can smeel the forest in front of her pieces).
After a couple of days I headed to New York, spent a day walking around, having a constant deja-vu feeling. The Metropolitan was awesome, as well as the MOMA.
I went to the DC Comics offices, where I met Shelly Bond, we spent a lot of time talking about Britpop, problems I have with Oasis and how awesome is Jarvis Cocker among other things. It goes so fast, now I am back to São Paulo.
I will post the show paintings as soon as it goes down at the gallery at the end of the month, as well as some Fables covers.
Laters! -
INNER MYTH - Part 1 27.04.2009
Inner Myth Pt. 1
A short collection of new works by João Ruas.
Opening Reception: Friday, May 8th 7-11PM
On View: May 8th – Jun. 5th, 2009
Thinkspace Art Gallery
4210 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 913-3375
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So, yeah, it's coming! I am anxious about it and also it is my first US visit. Everyone's invited!
-
INNER MYTH - Podcast - Fables 05.04.2009
Hey,
I've been away for a while now and I won't spend much time trying to explain because it is simple as that: I have been ultra busy. First I moved, then I have some freelances and a lot of work for an exhibition.
About that exhibition, It's just a small collection of (around six) works which is called INNER MYTH. This will be part one, I have the intention to do many others around the theme. The show will be at Thinkspace Gallery, in LA and if everything helps (visa/flights), I will be there for the opening night (May 8th).
A couple days ago I had a nice chat recorded as a podcast with the guys at Siderbar, Dwight and Swain, they are really easy going and made me less anxious. Unfortunately that didn't help much with my amazing english skills because I was with a huge migraine derived from a few drinks I had the night before. It was a lot of fun nevertheless. You can listen to it by clicking HERE .
Fables: I am working on the sixth cover right now, things go fast! I SWEAR that I will post the covers soon with some extra shots, and those will be a lot.
Okay, so here's the second image I have finished for the show:
Enkindu & Gilgamesh
28x28 cm
Watercolor, Gouache and Gold leaf on 300gms Fabriano
Some process shots:
Answering the previous comments tomorrow or tuesday.
Laters! -
Year Kicks 19.01.2009
Hi,
first of all, I hope you had a great time/festivities during the last few weeks wherever in -cold or +hot weather.
As some of you may know, Vertigo announced recently that I will be doing the covers for their monthly comic book Fables. It is a big responsibility, the series is highly successful and it is a major title, written by Bill Willingham and beautifully penciled by Mark Buckingham. It has also a big weight on my shoulders because the previous cover artist, James Jean, someone I respect immensely, is a role model for many Illustrators, fine artists (and why not art lovers) around the globe which will lead to future comparisons and claims about my work. All that made me think twice about the gig since It is not my intention at all to be a shadow or a plan B for anything or anyone. I was finally convinced when Shelly Bond received my opinions with open arms and mind, so you can expect lots of visual explorations within the next covers while I try to cope with the pressure.
I want to put some of this work here and I will do it as soon as possible.
To water this soup a bit, a few sketches.
Bye, -
Art Basel 02.12.2008
"Scowrers" (see below) will be shown at the big Vanguard/Art Basel held in Miami, if you're around, great chance to check a great amount of awesome art.
-
Scowrers 20.11.2008
Have any of you seen the Swedish movie "Let the right one in"? I saw it twice almost straight away, beautiful scenery, full of mood and a really compelling, new point of view for a recurrent theme. Recommended.
I was invited by Andrew from Thinkspace Gallery to join them in the next Art Basel show that is going to take place in Miami, from the 4th until the 7th of December. I managed to complete only one piece due to the turbulent times I am going though right now (will post about it soon).
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Scowrers
Watercolor and Gouache on 300lb Fabriano
41x30cm
And here's a Sketch that I am going to paint as soon as I can:
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Take care, -
Haunted #16 09.10.2008
Hi there, hope everything is alright with you. No news about prints yet, I still don't know what to do and I am searching for advices about it but it seems very complicated to print them in US, then send all of it to Brazil, sign and number to then finally start selling. I am afraid the costs would be high and that would reflect in the final price for the people interested. I will do some more research on it and will let you know when I solve this issue.
This is the final piece for the show in LA, I worked on a pretty large surface for my standards, but it was nice for a change.
Yes, another girl wearing a parka/raincoat.
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Haunted #16
Watercolor/Gouache on board
44x33cm
There you will find quite a lot of stuff, most of them are process shots, specially involving the Labirinto project. I am happy to say that everything related to that is finally done, I am just waiting for some test prints to give it all an OK and sent the stuff to the oven. I think it will be out in January.
A long time ago, in another dimension and time lapse, an entity from nowhere whispered from the top of my head if ... enough bs, I asked the genius Barnaby Ward if I could do a painting about his fantastic Sixteen Miles to Merricks after reading a preview about almost two years ago in an art forum we both are part of. It's one of my favorite comic books ever. It is out and can be found on Amazon.
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Down The Waterhole
Digital
30x20cm
Take care! -
Luxúria 06.08.2008
I've been thinking about prints for a long time, I am still in doubt how should I start doing them, through a third party website or doing it on my own... each side has pros and cons... art printing is pretty rare and expensive here in Brazil, so I won't be able to sign and make limited editions and that takes a lot of the fun out of prints, at least in my opinion... Anyway, in a month period they will be available somewhere.
And here's another piece that will be at the November show (click on it for a larger image):
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Haunted #14
Pencils on Paper
25x20 cm
It moves the world...
cheers,
-
Thinkspace + Other news 01.08.2008
Two posts in a week, there must be something wrong with my lazy antics... Anyway, I realized recently that I've never really linked an interview I did months ago for the Australian webzine DesignFederation... the site is very well put together and showcases work from people with a very diverse background, which is really cool. Click here for the words.
One more thing about Australians, Empty Magazine #12 has a few pages with my stuff. Once I get my hands on it some pics will be posted.
The main reason for this post is that this November three drawings/paintings I've done will be at the show that Audrey Kawasaki is curating at the Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles. Those works are going to be for sale, so if any of you that emailed me about original artwork lives nearby, you can check them out along with all the amazing artwork from the other artists there. This is one of the pieces that is heading for this LA show (click on it for the complete image):
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Haunted #11
Pencil and Watercolor on 200gr Watercolor Paper
25x20 cm
All the comments from the previous posts were answered by the way. Thanks for the support,
-
Labirinto Update 28.07.2008
The artwork for the Labirinto Album is completely done, I just need to fill small design gaps and get some final info from the band to send it to the printers. It was a long journey till now but I am really proud of it... the whole thing consists of 10 illustrations, a typeface, the band logo, the complete graphic design and t-shirt designs. It was the most pleasant professional work I've done... maybe it's because I treated it as personal and I thank the band (Muriel, Erick and everybody else) to give me the freedom to do it this way. I hope everything goes well in this final stage, on my side and theirs with the mixing and whatnot. The album will be out this December, watch out for this space for news about that.
I am putting my flickr account in order and I will have a lot of process stuff for this project there, I took quite a lot of pictures and kept a lot of early material.
A small peek (click on it to enlarge):
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Chromo
Mixed Media on 250g Fabriano Watercolor Paper
25x25 cm
The comments will be answered this week, sorry about the dealy, things are going crazy around here. Seriously.
Best, -
News 18.07.2008
If there's anyone out there: Hello.
I've been away due to an overload of issues. I will update this site as soon as possible, expect some new pieces. I promise to answer to the comments as well.
I am going to clean up the older entries for this website due to storage/bandwidth but mainly because It's good to start from zero. I am working on a layout for my "proper" website, hopefully it will be done in a couple months.
au revoir
-
Catch 20.02.2008
Quick one from UK again, clickety for a bigger image.
I'll answer the previous comments soon.
-
Pensa 05.02.2008
Hi,
These last few weeks have been full of happenings and they are still coming. In January I went back to London to work on a pitch for Lobo after a bit more than a year that I left the city.
The travel was a mixed bag... It was good to walk on those old streets again, seeing friends and eating duck wraps, on the other hand I got sick resulting in some sleepless nights (maybe the inverse?) and had a weird nostalgic feeling for the days I lived there, even if London is though sometimes, It got things to offer and I should've taken more out of it, forgetting the fear of big mistakes... BUT, what is gone, is gone.
