Celebratory 2009

As a celebratory post for ending 2009, we would like to reflect on the past year and thank every artists and designers contributing to Monzuki as well as "you" the readers and followers. As we are unable to repost every featured artists from 2009, we would like to acknowledge some of the artists and designers that created an outstanding responses from the readers. We are not declaring who is best, as every artists featured on Monzuki are talented in their own rights. Please check the rest of the postings from the past at the archive section. See you in 2010.

Xiem Clay	Blaine Fontana
Mario Martinez	Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz
Guy Sargent	Matt Dangler
Lionel Deluy	David Trautrimas
Brian Despain	Kim Holtermand
Félix Girard	Sandstrom Design
Chris Berens	Greg Miller
Alberto Cerriteño	Thomas Allen
Macoto Murayama	Frank Buchwald
Oleg Dou	Jason Limón
Jake Walters	Robert Connett

Young Alabama

These photos are not only beautiful because of the composition and color but the statement it communicates, capturing the people and images of Mid-America.  Miller Mobley has a passion in cinematography which lead him to photography in college.  According to Miller, most of his photos are shot on medium format film as well as digital.  He is inspired by Richard Avedon, Alec Soth, Peter Yang, Dan Winters, Martin Schoeller and Annie Leibovitz.  Some great talents! Miller Mobley continues to work his way to become a commercial and music video director.  

Abstract And Science

Simplicity, dominant colors, and simple shapes are well balanced and calculated to form a stunning visual art. Don Shank is the artist to these amazing geometric abstract paintings. Don attended CalArts and continued to work on many projects, Ren & Stimpy, Dexter's Lab and Samurai Jack. Don Shank has won an Annie Award and 2 Emmy Awards. His career path may seem similar to Lou Romano, who we previously interviewed but stylistically very different. Don is currently working for Pixar Animation Studios and has worked on The Incredibles and Up. Check his website in order to purchase prints and original artwork.

Calculated Art Of Beauty

Organic yet digital. These images are compelling by the stylized form and structure as the artist break the boundaries of nature and man-made art. Gustavo López Mañas, a photographer and a visual artist started with the series of "Experiment" by photographing his girlfriend as she modeled, then sketched on the original photo before scanning it, and lastly, using Photoshop to create the final product.

"Destructures" was created for a Hairdresser group called X-Presion. Gustavo quoted, "They wanted to do something special with the skin of the models because they were wearing very special haircuts." And "Rockmantick" is the next level to "Experiment" as he incorporated the same techniques as Gustavo gave the subject an environment to complete the visual narrative.

Gustavo López Mañas is an award winning photographer from Barcelona, Spain. He has the natural talent to draw at a young age and later attended the School of Arts and Faculty of Fine Arts majoring in Photography. Check his website for additional work, as he covers the subject from personal work, music related photography, fashion, movies and advertising.

Fishing In Boise

Instructor for illustration major at Boise State University, Bill Carman brings a level of experiences as an Art Director from the design, advertising and publication field.  Bill is a painter, designer, and an illustrator with a surreal imagination in a distinguished world. His work has been featured in many galleries and publications.  Bill graduated from Brigham Young University with a BFA in Visual Communication and Illustration, as well as an MFA in Painting.

Exhibitions:

Weekend Gallery

Hastings, East Sussex, UK

January 7 - February 14, 2010

Gallery 1988

Los Angeles, California, USA

He-Man (Group Show)

January 8 - 29. 2010

Nucleus Gallery

Lift Off: The Art Of Airships

Alhambra, California, USA

January 9 - February 1, 2010