Here’s a peek at a couple of the illustrations for my solo show this April, which will act as a side story to the main drawings. There will be approx 26 pieces in total (most of which are definitely not-really-done-but-sort-of-getting-there).
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Oh man. Sorry these last couple of entries are really short. I have more to say, but I’ve cut back on smoking this month (from 14/day to 3/day). Overall it’s a great decision. In the long run I’ll thank my 26-year-old self for it. I’m even slowly substituting smoking with good habits and productivity..
..but every 70 minutes or so, every synapse and receptor in my brain turns into this:
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A couple of weeks ago, Mike Echlin and I installed die-cut vinyls of our ping pong themed illustrations at Spin Galactic in Toronto. We’ve been working with this really cool removable vinyl for just over a year now, and it’s great to have a sample showcase on the walls of a place we regularly frequent.
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Here’s a link to some of our vinyl samples that are available for purchase – CTY Vinyls
Thanks to The Baitshop for the great print quality, Ryan and Carrie at Spin Toronto, and to everyone for their continued support and contributions :)
Sorry this post is so rushed. I got my record player working and have been slamming to King Crimson all day. Slow, moody slamming.
Thanks to Bryan Brock at 1 LOVE T.O. for featuring a few of my drawings. I really appreciate it. Keep up all the great work!
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Last month I was approached by Aimée Legault and Tara Bartolini to do a feature on my work for the Winter 2011 issue of OTM Zine. I love the stuff they’ve done in the past and am very flattered to be included in the current issue.
Hermann & Audrey’s Jalani Morgan took all of the portrait photos. They look great, despite the fact that I can’t really smile and definitely can’t take direction.
A special thank you goes out to Rebecca Burton for conducting a great interview, and for dealing with my rambling answers.
The images below are collaborative photo-illustrations that Jalani and I worked on (and are also a taste of some things to come :)
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Behind the scenes
Jessica Fortner (friend, illustrator, owner of Squidface & The Meddler) has launched a new website. It’s called Tangled Fingers and focuses on the process work of artists and illustrators. I’m super honored that she asked me for an interview. Thanks a million Jes, and keep up the great work!
My interview on Tangled Fingers
TF
It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog. Sorry about that. Breaking Bad has been so good this month that it takes me 7 days to calm down and regain my composure from the previous episode…just in time for the next one :)
I wanted to post a couple of links to prints/drawings that I’m selling. My Society6 page has drawings from my website available as digital prints. Their quality is really good, and it’s pretty inexpensive. Also, my Secret Archives page has prints, sketchbook pages, and other small drawings that have outgrown my studio. I’ll change the items every couple of weeks, or as they sell :)
Secret Archives – Prints and Sketches
My Society 6 page
The Secret Archives page
Sample etching for sale :)
This month was Courvoisier’s group show at Gallery 1313. I had a piece in it, and am flattered that it was chosen to hang alongside the work of talented Toronto artists and illustrators. Thanks again to everyone at the Courvoisier Collective, as well as everyone that voted for my drawing :) The opening reception was delicious.
I was asked to illustrate the front cover of Brandon Brophy’s “The Singer’s Instinct”. Brandon is a really nice guy and, on top of being an excellent vocal coach, would make a great living as a knowledgeable and well-liked art director. Here’s a link to his company info for anyone interested – 3rd Voice –
I finally began using my twitter account, after registering it ages ago, and I’ll be releasing free prints and other giveaway goodies out of appreciation of anyone who actually puts up with the nonsense that I write. Same goes with my Instagram account :)
twitter – @NikDudukovic
instagram – @thesecretmuseumofmankind
The Singer's Instinct - front cover
The Singer's Instinct - voice chart
Top secret process work ;)
Courvoisier Collective show at 1313 - photo by Jesse Milns
Me and Sean drinking in front of Mark Laliberte's print - photo by Jesse Milns
Receiving mail has been a joy this month
Cornfield bachelor party #2.
A portrait illustration I drew for Chaz Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi. My friends at SuperColorSuper booked him for some shows in Korea last month, and I’ve been a fan ever since. His music goes into further detail better than I can, so here’s a link to his stuff (as well as his tumblr).
Keep up the great work, man :)
Chaz Bundick / Toro Y Moi
A process pic
I have a few minutes before leaving town for the weekend and thought I’d upload some drawings, both finished and in-progress.
XI asked me to create a secondary graphic to compliment his logo that I made a while back. XI is great to work with. When I asked him what he was looking for, his answer was something along the lines of “a crazy warrior helmet”. With ideas like that, it’s no wonder his music is so good. Here is a link to his music and other info.
My friend Molly Grundy drew a portrait of me below. She’s a keen observer and captured my essence with surgical precision. Considering that we were at a bar, my shirt was still on, and it was drawn using crayons, her depiction definitely deserves a gold star. More importantly, Molly is a fantastic designer of all things fabric/paper-related. She’s made great work for as long as I’ve known her, and just recently created Down With Webster’s outfits for their performance at the Muchmusic Video Awards. Check her stuff out at Molly Fashion Dolly.
Instagram for iPhone is awesome for photo-sharing. Not only has it allowed me to check out all sorts of photos and albums from around the world, it has also provided me with a steady diet of commissioned drawings from users who like my uploads. Below is an 8″x10″ drawing that I recently shipped to Vicente Montelongo, an artist/designer from San Francisco. Anyone who asks me to draw their initials as gang signs is cool in my books. He’s picking up the drawing at the post office tomorrow, so my fingers are crossed that he doesn’t check this entry before then :)
Also, Vicente and his friend Vinit Patil are the brains behind The Whiteout, which was just recently profiled by The Thrillist here. Here is a link to their etsy page, for good measure. They’ll be in Hayes Valley this September for The Capsule Design Festival. Check them out if you’re in the neighborhood.
Feel free to follow me on Instagram – @thesecretmuseumofmankind
I’m working on a series of small hair-fur-feather drawings for a book. The series is still very much in progress, so I can’t reveal too much. The drawing below doesn’t even have a title yet, but it’s a small preview of what a portion of the series will look like.
Hope everyone is surviving this heatwave. Wear hats and drink too much water :)
XI Helmet Logo
Hair-Fur-Feather series sample. This is Hair.
Vicente Montelongo Commission
Vicente Montelongo Commission close-up
Studio
Process work for a sculpture + the finished piece. Apparently it's 20x28-ish
Me by Molly
I bought a used bike. We take long trips through the park together.
Before I get off computer for the day, here are some photos of the top secret vinyl Bü’s that were launched by Crywolf Clothing this past Saturday at the Gladstone in Toronto!
For photos of more Bü’s, and the people that welcomed them, check out Crywolf’s facebook album.
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Some of the critters at the launch party
My Bü posing
My Bü eating
My Bü growing
I’ve been working on a couple of commercial illustrations since May’s update. One is of an awesome musician, the other is of an awesome actor.
Since they won’t be ready for a little bit longer, here are a couple of other things that I’ve been up to.
I was interviewed by my friend Tara Krebs for her online Weekly Mini Interview. She is really good at what she does, and the site has some really interesting nuggets of information from other artists that she’s interviewed as well. Thanks for the interview, Tara.
Weekly Mini Interview
Lisa Vanin is a really good illustrator/friend. She asked me to submit an illustration for her Paper Potions blog last week. I would be a terrible sorcerer in real life, so I hope the drawing turned out alright. Thanks for the invite, Lisa.
Paper Potions
The cottage gods smiled upon me again, because last weekend I visited another friend’s cottage, ate burgers by a fire, and drew a lighthouse in my sketchbook. Not too shabby.
Recently I was asked to create an illustration for an article that dissects Tim Hudak’s energy plan for Ontario. Below is the part of the article that is drawn :)
The Hunting Horns just released a new album and I put together the layout. I’m not sure if it’s available for purchase in real life yet, but here’a a link to some online streaming.
The Hunting Horns – Fifty Bullets Strong
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Potion for Maintaining a Good Mood
Lighthouse Sketch
close up
Hudak Illustration crop
Hunting Horns - front
Hunting Horns - back
Some photos from a trip to a friend’s cottage this past weekend.
There was a lot of beer, canoeing, pushups, Korean rapping, napping and some silly sketchbook drawing in between.
I could get used to a 4-day weekend every week.
On the open water
A bident for roasting hotdogs (the handiwork of Aviv)
Overdrawn sketchbook stuff, pt.1
Overdrawn sketchbook stuff, pt.2
Dusan harassing me the moment after opening a beer
What a crab-snake battle might look like thru beer goggles
Quick digital sketch of someone in 5 years
Seen near the lake
At the cottage, hotdogs are his kryptonite
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Some new stuff is on the way next week, as well as a pilot5.com beta version!
