Category Archives: Art

Being in the middle of a cartoon threesome was, strangely enough, not on any of my bucket lists, but after gleefully discovering the artwork of Quentin Maxfield and being immortalized in one of his erotic scenes, it most certainly should have been. (This is also the closest I’ll get to becoming Jessica Rabbit, and I must take such thrills where I can get them.) The admittedly NSFW/18+only artwork is a glorious amalgamation of animation and real-life photographs, as Maxfield brilliantly combines the two in breathtaking fashion. Beginning with a photograph and wondrously weaving a sexy scenario around it in cartoon form, he creates a scene that elevates a real life pose into the realm of fantasy.

Maxfield’s work is a mash-up of erotic fusion and whimsy, grounded in a skillful rendering of light and shadows: his genius lies partly in his ability to match his additions to the photograph in lighting, tone, and texture, creating a seamless world where a real life image is augmented by animated figures in sexy, surreal style – a heightened landscape of erotic drama. Check out his Instagram and Twitter feeds for more NSFW artwork and scintillating evidence on why he has been named Dazzler of the Day. I can’t wait to see what he conjures next. 

Artists always make the best people to profile for this feature, as they create what the rest of us find to inspire, challenge, and entertain. Case in point is this Dazzler of the Day, Greg Fox, who has kept many of us enthralled with the goings-on at his comic strip ‘Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast‘, originally published in 1998. Since then, the beguiling denizens he brings so gorgeously to life have found their way into blogs and books, and can be found at his website here. Greg joins the vaunted pantheon of artists such as Paul Richmond, Dave Woodman, Michael Breyette, and Joe Phillips who have recently been featured here. Bonus points for the way he rocks a kilt at all seasons of the year!

A three-and-a-half decade career as an artist is a formidable and impressive feat to accomplish – and to see it mid-stream is a thing of wonder and beauty and inspiration all at once. Joe Phillips has managed such a marvel thanks to his talent at turning life into a work of art. More than that, he turns his daily existence into the stuff of creative magic and fantastical conjurings, as evidenced by the elaborate costumes and wardrobe he creates when attending various parties and events. Today he earns the Dazzler of the Day crown for overcoming hardships and still making the world a more exciting and beautiful place. Witness a more detailed look into his work and career at his website here: http://www.joephillips.com.

While you may not know Dave Woodman by name or face, you certainly know him by his work. Woodman played an integral part in bringing ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and ‘Aladdin’ to life during his tenure at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Widely and wisely credited as the triumvirate that formed yet another golden-age of animation, those three films stand as testament to a fertile and magnificent creative cycle of which Woodman was a pillar. Since then, his passion for his artwork has not waned, and seeing his work on social media is a joy when so much of social media has turned sour – for that alone he earns this Dazzler of the Day. 

Only the very exceptional artists and creators manage to be named Dazzler of the Day twice in one year (see his first crowning here), but as we are gearing up for the holiday season, I look to Michael Breyette to provide beauty and whimsy and the entertaining scenarios that make the holidays ho-ho-hot. He often makes a seasonal splash with his work, and this year’s Hallowe’en work is no exception (entitled Dr. Strangeglove, you must see it for yourself here). 

His website is a glorious repository for his work, and it offers behind-the-scenes explanations of his art and its progress – a fascinating peek into the life of a working artist. Too many people, artists especially, don’t get appreciated or honored as much as they deserve in their lifetime – may this little Dazzler go some way toward recognizing the beauty and wonder that Breyette consistently gives to the world. 

Artist, designer and illustrator Will Bryant channels the exuberance and spirit of the very best pop inspirations to earn this Dazzler of the Day post. With a Masters of Fine Arts from Portland State University, Bryant uses his talent and skill to embody the dreams of his clients, while honing his own drawing, printmaking, painting and sculpture work. Visit his enchanting website here.  

Starring and directing in anything is a feat of majesty, purpose, and grace when well-executed, and in the case of the music video for Karel Barnoski’s ‘November Moon’ Summer Shapiro executes both tasks in magnificent form. She earns her first Dazzler of the Day feature thanks to the precision of her vision, and the hints at physical dexterity and skill that inform her other artistic work as dancer and comedienne. The powerful ‘November Moon’ marks a return to this avenue of craft after a few years away, and it’s a stunning sort of re-birth, more phoenix than butterfly, as one gets the sense that she’s taking fiery flight after burning up the ashes of learning to let go. Visit her exquisite website here. 

It’s not often that I get to say that I’ve known the Dazzler of the Day since we were kids, but such is the happy circumstances of today’s Dazzler Karel Barnoski, whom I ‘ve known since we played hide-and-seek in the streets of Amsterdam, NY back in the 80’s. A friend of my brother’s, he was (and is) about two years younger than me, so I didn’t know him that well, but we spent some formative summers inflicting the usual trauma upon the neighborhood as young boys are sometimes wont to do.

Since then, Karel has grown into one of the most inspiring and creative artists I know, making his time matter with musical composition, musical performance, and new forays into painting and video. Witness and hear his ‘Tiny Telephone Sessions‘ collection for a starting point, and the gorgeous ‘Welcome Home’ album which is an absolute balm on today’s mad world, as well as his recent ‘November Moon’ song and video. Also check out his website for previous genius.