BeautyFro Collection

Will Allen & the Growing Table This is a book I got to illustrate this spring. This is my first published illustration book.
Here is a little more about the book:
Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. A former basketball star, he’s as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage, or a basketball, in one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can’t see. When he looked at an abandoned city lot he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. No space, no problem. Poor soil, there’s a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one.
Jacqueline Briggs Martin, author of the Caldecott winner, Snowflake Bentley, tells the inspiring story of an innovator, educator, and community builder. Combined with artist Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s striking artwork, readers will share Will Allen’s optimism and determination to bring good food to every table.
Jacqueline Briggs Martin is the author of Snowflake Bentley, winner of the Caldecott Medal. Her last book,The Chiru of High Tibet, was named “Best Book of 2010″ by Smithsonian Magazine and Kirkus Review. Other notable mentions include ALA Notables, a Golden Kite Honor Award, Lupine Awards from the Maine Library Association, and four inclusions on the Blue Ribbon List of the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. She has taught creative writing at Hamline College and University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival. She grew up on a farm in Maine and now lives in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Learn more about Jackie at jacquelinebriggsmartin.com.
Eric-Shabazz Larkin is a film maker, fine artist, and a creative director in advertising. He is also a founder of the Creative School of Thought, a group of artists that produce content for public art and social change. A native of Virginia, he lives in New York City. This is his first book for children. Learn more about Eric at whateveriwanttobe.com. 2013 Cartooning, Illustration, Painting

Hitman The Vandal - Photography Vandalisims Eric-Shabazz teams up with Hitman the Vandal to make this series of vandalized photos.
2013 Graffiti, Photography, Typography

Portraits portraits of me and my wife 2013 Painting

Two Faces Self Portrait 2013 Painting

BeautyFro - Soul Lyrics The BeautyFro Collection 2013 Painting

BE POLITE. BE POLITE.

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol did a pretty popular series of collaborations in the 80’s. It was anticipated to be one of the greatest bodies of work in history. It’s said that Warhol would paint something and Basquiat would paint over it and sometimes urinated on it. I guess they thought irreverent was genius. Isn’t that what we love about great art.
In the end, the critics hated their collaboration. They pounded it into the ground. The art community turned its back on it. Leaving us asking the question, “is there a dark side to collaboration?”
We tried that same experiment at Creature. We put up a canvas and started taking turns - putting paint on canvas. We had one rule, “respect what was put before you or don’t respect it at all - There is no middle ground.”
The original image was a well crafted, irreverent painting of a smiley face in the shape of a middle finger. It wasn’t too long before people began to add random phrases and awkward obscenities.
How can this be? We collaborate day to day to make amazing pieces for our clients. How can we have failed
so much with this collaboration. We gathered around to figure out why and we drew only one conclusion. We weren’t polite. We chose disrespect. 2012 Painting

Awaken Heaven my version of "The Virgin With Angels" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau 2013 Painting

Kissing with Mussels A couple kissing. 2013 Painting

Marsha Hunt Marsha Hunt Acrylic 2013 Painting

THE BEAUTY-FRO COLLECTION 2009 Illustration

BEAUTYFRO - BIG GIRLS 2009 Illustration

BEAUTYFRO - POP 2009 Illustration, Typography

BILL GATES Bill Gates illustrated 2010 Illustration

African Proverb Until the lion has a historian, the hunter will always be the hero. 2013 Painting, Typography

Rankin vs. Hitman the Vandal This book was left on my desk. I vandalized it. This is how Hitman the Vandal was born. Coming to a photographer's work near you.
See more about Rankin - www.rankin.co.uk 2014 Illustration, Photography, Street Art