Art Behind the Fridge

I Hope This Makes You Happy

nick v. — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:59:00 +0000

So where do I begin. I think I have put a little too much thought into this post, but I really wanted what I have to say to make sense. The last couple of weeks I have been working on this idea I have had. The idea involves me creating a 5×5 drawing that I will take and put up somewhere in Jacksonville for whoever to find it. The idea behind it is this, I believe that art makes people “happy”, or at least thats the case for me. I know that when I look at an illustration, a painting, a sculpture, street art, or even a film that I think is “cool”, it makes me “happy”. It makes me feel inspired and gets me thinking creatively. The experience may be different for everyone. That is why I think Art is pretty important. Mainly because without art, the world would be a pretty unbearable place. Art can change the mood of an environment, and even the mood of you, the viewer.

With this project I want to take art and put it in places that you normally wouldn’t find it, in a sense put it where it would be least expected. I want to make drawings that I hope people will think are cool and will be stoked to find them. Every week I will create a new drawing and put it up around town on friday. Tomorrow, Friday March 5th, is the first day I will be putting up a drawing. Hopefully one of you find it, and I Hope it Makes You Happy.

-nick v.

What were we thinking?

nick v. — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:33:02 +0000

So a little over a month ago, my friend Randy Vale and I hung out and worked on an illustration together. We just hung out, watched some band dvds, and talked about music while we passed the drawing back and forth. It was a lot of fun working with him. Below are some pictures of what resulted from our hang out.

-nick v.

What Were We Thinking?
11×14
Micron on Bristol

I wish I was better at skateboarding…

nick v. — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:44:16 +0000

At this months Art Walk, Jimmy and I, along with a number of our friends, participated in the I’m Board IV skateboard art show which was put on by Chad Landenberger. The turnout was awesome. There were so many people who came out to check out the show. I was blown away by how many boards were on display. So many local artists took part, submitting some really awesome artwork. I submitted two boards for the show. Below are some pictures of my boards.

check out photos from the show here, here, here, here, and here.

-nick v.

Got Board X 4

Jim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:41:09 +0000

During this past ArtWalk, Nick and I, along with many of our friends and artist from all over Jacksonville, had the privilege of being a part of Chad Landenberger’s I’m Board IV skate deck art show. (Take a moment to catch his recap of the show) The turnout in the space at 229 Hogan was outstanding. It was quite amazing to see how many boards were on display for the show. I personally had a great time there, and an even better time working on my boards. Above are the three boards that I submitted followed by a fourth board in collaboration with fellow student, friend and amazing talent Karen Dessire Gonzalez. Thanks Karen for hanging out all afternoon to have some paint pen fun with me on this one!

—Jim

Okay, campers, rise and shine.. It’s Groundhog Day!

Jim — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:21:57 +0000

“Okay, campers, rise and shine. Don’t forget your booties because it’s cold out there today. It’s cold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach? Not hardly. You can expect hazardous travel later with that blizzard thing. “That blizzard thing”? Here’s the report. The National Weather Service is calling for a big blizzard thing. They are. But there’s another reason why today is especially exciting. Especially cold. The big question on everybody’s lips-On their chapped lips. Do you think Phil will come out and see his shadow?-Punxsutawney Phil.-That’s right, woodchuck chuckers. It’s Groundhog Day!”

In honor of one of my favorite movies that relates to today’s holiday, Groundhog Day, I am putting up this poster I did for one of our current AIGA student group projects. I think that this film is one of the most brilliantly written films I have ever seen.. Bill Murray, one of my personal hero’s, created the perfect character—originally slated to be played by Tom Hanks, although passed up, by both him and the studio, due to the fact that he is too likable of a guy. Happy Groundhog Day everyone!

Also.. Catch both Nick and I, along with a bunch of our dearest friends and acquaintances, this week at I’m Board IV skate deck art/design show located at 229 Hogan during Art Walk this coming Wednesday, February 3rd.

—Jim

and so it begins…

nick v. — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:05:32 +0000

Well ladies and gents, I would like to introduce the addition of the Daily Drawing tab. I started to come across a lot of different artist who do daily drawings, and that started to get me interested in doing a daily drawing myself. Recently I brought the idea to Jimmy and we decided to go for it. I think this will be a good way to help us grow as artists. I also think it will provide us with the perfect excuse to experiment, not to mention it will keep us thinking creatively on a daily basis. There have been too many days where I have gone without picking up my pencil to draw. By committing to doing a daily drawing, we’ll be forcing ourselfs to take time every day to draw something, even if its only for 30 minutes.

-nick v.

One Year Later—Back to the Beginning

Jim — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:24:28 +0000

One year ago today marked the very first post on our blog, Art Behind the Fridge. It is hard to believe that this fun side project, started as an alternative to just doing projects for school, has gone on for a full year now. With this new school quarter starting, and graduation approaching for both of us this summer, I realize that this “fun project” has become a huge part of the college experience for us. I have found, over the course of this year, the blog to be about fun, friendship and simply doing what it is that we love to do. Thanks to everyone we have connected to along the way so far.

Now, one year later it seems that we have revisited right where we started—a suiting way to kick off another year. The last week of school before the holiday break, we got the opportunity to do another environmental illustration on the large window area of the store at our school, The Art Institute of Jacksonville. Where the first time around I believe it took us a couple of weeks to complete, this time we did it in the span of six hours. Looking at if from the front, I did the left side and Nick did the right side.

Sara Basse was awesome enough to photo document the experience and compile it into this time lapsed video.
(sorry, for some reason I cannot embed the video.. but please click the link and check it out)

Following the video we came in and added some color to the scene. If you happen to be visiting the school, stop by the student store and check it out.

—Jim

Candy Never Spoils Your Dinner…

nick v. — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:21:59 +0000

I mentioned before that I had three submissions for the Designers In Toyland show. I did the two munnys, and for my third entry I submitted a gumball machine. I’ve had this gumball machine for a couple of years and it just kind of sat there. So one night when I was bored, I decided I would use paint pens and draw all over it. The process was pretty random, not really planning out what I was going to draw. I thought it turned out pretty interesting. Below are some pictures.

-nick v

Candy Never Spoils Your Dinner…
paint pens

I Hope This Makes You Happy…

nick v. — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:12:58 +0000

So recently I took some time away from school work to sit down and do an illustration. It’s been awhile since I have done an illustration. Recently I have been interested in shapes and patterns so I really wanted to do a drawing based on that, but at the same time, doing so in a way that was still in my style. This is what I came up with…

-nick v.

I Hope This Makes You Happy
10.5 x 13.5
Micron on Bristol

Jolly Green Munny

nick v. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:45:10 +0000

This is the second of three toys that I did for the recent Designers in Toyland show that took place at the December 2nd Art Walk. It is titled Jolly Green Munny. It is a 4 inch Munny that I covered in materials used to make trees and underbrush for model train sets. I cut off the top part of the head and (since munnys are hollow) filled it with rocks. I also put a tree on top. It took awhile to glue all the stuff on him but it was worth it.

-nick v.

Jolly Green Munny
4 inch Munny