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Blog » Creative Carnival

At The Creative Carnival

Posted by Workbook on 11/15/2011 — Filed under:  Creative CarnivalFeaturesHeadlineIllustration
By Kevin Sprouls


I recently appeared at a singular event: Creative Carnival, hosted by Workbook at the Art Directors Club in New York. I’ve been a loyal advertiser in Workbook's artist and photographer directory since the late '80s. I consider Workbook exclusively "top drawer." My recently appearing ads are below.











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Creating, Then Taming, The King of the Jungle

Posted by Workbook on 11/10/2011 — Filed under:  Creative CarnivalFeaturesHeadlineIllustration


When Workbook established the Carnival theme for this year's party, I immediately thought of all the great old American midway posters I've seen from the past. I found a terrific book called Freaks, Geeks & Strange Girls: Sideshow Banners of the Great American Midway, which illustrates many of the old designs that could serve as my inspiration. I thought initially for my piece that I'd do something around an eccentric oddity like the Fiji Mermaid, the Tattooed Man, or the Alligator Boy. While these subjects were interesting to look at, I really wanted to play up the interactive element, so I chose something a little more dynamic: the Lion Tamer. While it's a bit more circus oriented it's still in the same vein, plus I loved the idea of a furry, yet regal-looking lion as the central theme - lots of texture to delve into! (I like a good drawing challenge.) My intention was to show that the lion was in charge of the show, being either fierce or friendly, depending on how the viewer chose to interact with him. I added a second lion who is stepping out of the banner into our realm, blurring the line between drawing and illusion.

Because of the nature of the Creative Carnival event, I knew I'd get a lot of foot traffic on the floor piece so I decided to make that a vinyl print. I created the original for the print in my studio with chalk on canvas and had a digital photo of the canvas printed up. Vinyl is really effective and very durable. I always invite viewers to step into my drawings if they are designed to be interactive, and this working method can accommodate lots of interior wear and tear. I also wanted to showcase the chalk technique on-site, allowing viewers to see the beauty of the medium, so I installed a canvas backdrop for the wall panel, which worked out nicely. (I love how chalk works on pavement or canvas so I wanted to highlight it for the event.)

The whole process took me about four days (excluding the printed vinyl), and the piece was a big success at the party. I had a viewing lens set up, and loads of folks were taking photos posing with the King of the Jungle. As you can tell, I love to play, and as the Ringmaster, this installation allowed me to do just that.

Thanks Workbook for a fun creative opportunity!




Creative Carnival raises thousands for art college students

Posted by Workbook on 11/02/2011 — Filed under:  Contests - EventsCreative CarnivalFeaturesHeadlineIllustrationPro Bono


As you take a look at some of the brilliant sketches produced rapid-fire style at Workbook and ADC's Creative Carnival last Thursday, we at Workbook are pleased to announce that 43 of these pieces were sold on site for a total of $2,150. This money will go to the ADC Scholarship Fund, which awards 5 scholarships each year for exceptional art and photography students. Many thanks to all the artists who participated, the Art Director's Club and everyone who helped make the event such a rousing success!









Creative Carnival Extravaganza!

Posted by Workbook on 10/29/2011 — Filed under:  Contests - EventsCreative CarnivalFeaturesHeadlineIllustrationMusing OnPhotography


Workbook's Creative Carnival party took place Thursday night, and the event was an outrageous, smashing success. With the outstanding mid-town Art Directors Club as the venue, The more than fifty photographers and illustrators took center stage to create their impressions of the Carnival scene. Twenty-five Workbook illustrators sketched what they saw, and at least as many Workbook photographers shot the scene: a contortionist, freak show, lion tamer, and burlesque performers. How about drag queens serving incredible libations and hors de oeuvres? Creative Carnival was not your average cocktail party by any means. Workbook kicked off Halloween weekend with a unique vibe that created a night no attendee will forget anytime soon. Nothing was too strange, too abstract or too risque, and an anything-goes mood defined the evening. Perhaps the most spectacular piece of art on display at the event was created by legendary 3D chalk artist, Tracy Lee Stum. A life-size lion rose seamlessly from the floor to the ceiling, and attendees were eager to assume a role and be photographed taming the king of the jungle with a whip included to complete the look of Indiana Jones.









As the performers prepared to make their way on stage, the tension in the room was heightened because many of the artists were essentially the performers as well. They knew an excited and intrigued audience was eagerly watching to see what the artists would produce in such a dynamic setting. One illustrator explained his mood, which seemed to be shared by many others: “I’m a little nervous. The last time I sketched while someone looked over my shoulder, I was in art school.” This certainly was no art-school assignment.











When the performers and models actually began their roles and the music bumped a little louder, their focus took over, and the artists worked as if alone in their studios. The illustrators sketched piece after piece of high-energy art, and these recorders of the wild scene took center stage. Surrounded by art directors and other top creative industry professionals striving to catch a glimpse of the action, Workbook artists created spectacular art in real time. As the pieces rolled off the design tables, they were pinned to the wall and live-auction bidding began. When the enthusiastic response finally ended, thousands of dollars had been raised for the ADC scholarship fund. Although most revelers were hesitant to leave the packed showroom, as the curtain came down all who attended left Creative Carnival in awe of a night packed with creative energy, amazing work, and twisted fun.
Too see a full collection of photos, courtesy of Alan Kaplan, capturing this spectacle, click HERE.




Bill Mayer for the upcoming Creative Carnival

Posted by Workbook on 10/20/2011 — Filed under:  Contests - EventsFeaturesHeadlineIllustration

Sometimes something with so much potential just lands in your lap. When you have a client that is open for you to do anything you want, and an audience of your peers that will surely thumb their nose at anything substandard, you can't help but panic a little at first, right? This little poster was just so much fun from the very beginning; it was hard to see it all come to an end. Many thanks to all of the folks at Workbook for giving me the freedom to take this project to wherever it ended up falling. For me, I am much more used to heavy-handed art direction, so this "do-whatever-you-want" theme I have been getting lately is just such a joy. But it's also hard to settle down in any one direction: no art director, no writer... just do whatever you like... how much fun this would be.

Creative Carnival 2011

Posted by Workbook on 09/15/2011 — Filed under:  Contests - EventsFeaturesHeadlineIllustrationPhotography

Image by Bill Mayer. Click HERE to view his Workbook Portfolio



Workbook and the Art Directors Club present…


CREATIVE CARNIVAL 2011


On October 27, step right up to enter a strange and curious world where the sideshow takes center stage. An open mind is essential – along with the readiness to exhibit your talent and your taste when both sides of the creative universe unite, with all the borders blurred.

Aerialists whirl overhead while contortionists and fire-eaters wow the crowd. Artists of every description capture the action for the audience’s greater delight. Industry professionals can join in, or simply enjoy the daring feats of creativity from the grandstand.

Mr. Momotaro spins rarities and oddities while the barkeep pours ‘em stiff for the exclusively-invited attendees. All will mingle, whether amongst the creations taking shape in the main space, or in the VIP rep room, checking out the latest work from the best photographers and illustrators in the business.

Come one, come all – all, that is, who are permitted to enter. Invitations will be extended only to Photographers and Illustrators appearing in Workbook 34 and qualified art buyers, with RSVP required, so keep an eye on your inbox!

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