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Skip Williamson

Skip Williamson
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Birthday
August 19
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Proprietor
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Self
Bio
Cartoonist, writer, artist, unrepentant insurgent, publication designer, pornographer and an aggravating carbuncle on the ass of Culture.

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JULY 26, 2009 10:32PM

Illustrations

Rate: 15 Flag

July 16th on my Facebook page I published a link to four recently completed paintings here on Open Salon.

I received a comment from gallery director in Brooklyn. He said my paintings were "illustrations..." A bit snarky, I thought. And rude. Not to mention a tad assholier-than-thou.

And why use "illustration" as a pejorative, anti-art definition? The German Expressionists were illustrators. As were Picasso, Braque and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Since he was passing himself off as arbiter and critic on my social networking page -- and being the kind of guy who seeks out edification and wisdom-- I took a peek at the art (Looking for guidance.) he shows at his gallery space.

Would you believe I came up dry?

I've always had a problem with those who self-importantly lay down the law, or pass themselves off as pundits. The morons guarding the Gates of Culture can kiss my contrarian half-breed ass.

So today I'm posting a few illustrations.

Enjoy the art.

 

Bonus copy 1
Magazine cover, 1992.
Melvin Natural
Parody of Robert Crumb's Mister Natural in the style of Harvey Kurtzman's Mad comics. 1972.
Pighead copy
Comic book cover. 1993.
Screw copy
Screw magazine. 2005.
scum copy
Cover for an anthology. 1984.
ArtORamaDelArte copy 1
Poster for an art exhibition. 2005.
FullMoon copy 1
Logo for a record store. 2004.
Columbia College poster copy 1
Poster for Columbia College. 1970.
Dick Clark copy
Illustration for Playboy magazine. 1976.
Aurora Criminal-green shirt copy 2
Logo and t-shirt design. 2006.
Stop the War Machine copy
Cover for the Chicago Seed. 1968.
WideOpen Album cover copy 1
Cd cover. 2003.
True Burglary copy 2
Cover art for the Chicago Tribune magazine. 1972.
WGLD Poster copy 3
Poster for a radio station. 1970.
Yippie Night copy
Poster for Yippie Night at Second City. 1969.
Smoot cover
Comic book cover. 1995.
Go-Kart Trophy art copy 2
Book cover. 1993.
Kavarna
Logo. 2009.

 

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Awesome, just plain awesome!
Johnny Noir
July 26, 2009 10:57 PM
Just awesome!! (nothin' "plain" about it!)
Johnny Noir
July 26, 2009 10:59 PM
You are the other side of me, I am convinced. (The talented side.)

As for the next to the last one..."She would look damn fine, thanyouverymuch!"

rated
BuffyW
July 26, 2009 11:11 PM
Awesome "illustrations"!!!!!

:)
Tinkerertink69
July 26, 2009 11:13 PM
I liked to take the snarky prick Walczak out on one of the rivers nearby and use him for sturgeon bait. Dumb Dicklip Motherhumper. I hate dicks like that. What were his paintings like some swirling abstract bullshit I assume. This collection of art you just shared here is amazing stuff. My favorite was Melvin Natural as I was and am a big R. Crumb fan. Liked Yellow Dog and Zap Comics also. I hope you get pleasure from posting these here Skip. I certainly enjoy viewing your art and reading your stories. Thanks, it is a honor to be sharing this site with you. Your talent is golden...
Dr.Spudman 44
July 26, 2009 11:13 PM
wow, you are one talented guy!!! shit, man. great great stuff. and my favorite piece of art (well, copy of art) is an illustration that Picasso made of my beloved Ella Fitzgerald! it's framed in red and makes me very veyr happy. love lvoe lvoe
Theodora L'Engle Knight
July 26, 2009 11:32 PM
Man, those bring back some memories--I used to own three of those comics...I might still have the Melvin Natural in something...but I remember the Smoot and the Scum.
iamironman
July 27, 2009 12:13 AM
Did you know that there's a weekly t-shirt design contest at Woot.com, and first, second, and third prize every week pays a grand? You should check it out. They do a theme every week and the public votes on the designs. The site regulars do commentary and some are obviously young and full of themselves, and get snarky, but most are glad when good artists come around.
Umbrellakinesis
July 27, 2009 01:21 AM
I must learn to swim with the snarks.
Skip Williamson
July 27, 2009 01:25 AM
Skip, he can kiss your artist's ass! Illustrations are in cook books and encyclopedias. Love your stuff!
Ralph Tingey
July 27, 2009 01:26 AM
I think you illustrated your point well :)
Harry's Ghost
July 27, 2009 01:29 AM
Moral lesson, kids:

Only those who pay the dues of living well are able to exact so full, robust and satisfying a revenge as Mr Williamson has done here.

Kudos, sir. :-)
vonnia
July 27, 2009 03:10 AM
That gallery owner sounds like an ignorant, self-important asshole. I'd like to see the illustration of him kissing your ass.
Sirenita Lake
July 27, 2009 06:24 AM
And what is a guardian of the Gates of Culture doing in Brooklyn?

Years ago I was dropped by my gallery with this simple explanation of what is art from a gallery owner's point of view. "If it sells, it's art". I have a feeling that at your level of artistic achievement selling is not a problem. So, in the words of Plato, "Fuck him".
TheObsoleteMan
July 27, 2009 06:53 AM
Really great, coolio artwork!

You know? I have found that the folks full of themselves that have, "artist" listed in their profiles but then when you look, have no art to back up their claims are ALWAYS the biggest critics walking.

Once I had one call me a, "cut and paste artist..." Well......okay.
RicTresa
July 27, 2009 08:55 AM
Art is in the eye of the artist. Illustrations are frequently denigrated by those who have no talent other than making money.
bobbot
July 27, 2009 09:17 AM
I'm all for kicking the morons guarding the Gates of Culture right in the crotch.

These are all great but I love the Peter Max vibe on the illustration for Screw...
Lonnie Lazar
July 27, 2009 09:57 AM
Screw the guardians. I only go for the free cheap wine and to pick up the arty fags. (They're so romantical)
Great art. Love Smoot and anything that reminds me of Chicago. But the Screw bike was hilarious.
Tijo
July 28, 2009 07:41 AM
Thanks for posting. Some of these were nostalgic for me. Sammy Smoot would have been the next big thing if the culture had gone the way I anticipated.
Tom Walls
July 28, 2009 12:13 PM
And Blake and Hogarth and Hopper and...

I'm partial to "True Burglary". It reminds me a bit of the cover art for those paperback pulp detective books.

I'm cribbing your comments: "assholier than thou" and "swim with the snarks."
consonantsandvowels
July 28, 2009 12:31 PM