Christina Entcheva: Blog

I ♥ gifs

2011-01-31T12:59:00.005-05:00

me!

:) I'll try to do a gif-type post each week

If you're into Tumblr, you can follow me here: HELLO, INTERNET.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T12:39:00.002-05:00

Wishing you all the best in 2011!

Finally, fall!

2010-09-21T23:09:00.002-04:00

Anders Krisar

2010-08-05T14:06:00.005-04:00

Hello all, I'm back! Check out these sculptures by Anders Krisar:

‘cuirass (front)’ by anders krisar, 2005 (silicone, fiber glass, oil paint, mdf, plastic padding, metal screws)

‘the birth of us (girl)’ by anders krisar, 2007 (fiber glass, oil paint, hardware)

Anders Krisar on Design Boom

Stone & Honey

2010-01-07T09:05:00.001-05:00

More beautiful geometric things for you today - this time courtesy of Teresa Robinson's newest venture, Stone & Honey. Teresa combines crisp geometric design with the rough-hewn beauty of natural Brazilian agate to produce bold yet delicate ethereal pieces. Want!

Link: Stone & Honey

Thank You & Happy New Year!

2009-12-30T23:32:00.002-05:00

photo by Mikaylah Bowman

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and came out to my show on Saturday! My apologies for the venue. Beyond that, I was happy with my showing, and extra appreciative of the people who came out to see it. Thanks again.

If you're in the NYC metro area and haven't had enough of me already, a few of my smaller drawings are on display at LITM's Little Wonders group show which runs through January 3, 2010.

These will probably be the last shows I do for a while, as I try to refocus and work on some new drawings. Thanks for your continued support and readership. Happy New Year!

solo art show @ Public Assembly, Dec 26

2009-12-17T09:16:00.003-05:00

I have my first little one day solo gig:

December 26, 2009
8:30pm

Public Assembly (formerly Galapagos)
70 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

This is also the CD release party for Joga. Open bar 10pm - midnight!

Hope to see you.

Happy Birthday Lucian Freud!

2009-12-08T09:55:00.004-05:00

Lucian Freud
Girl With a Kitten
1947
Oil on canvas
15 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (39.5 x 29.5 cm)

"At the outset there is always a mystery. We cannot know what a painter brought to painting or what drew him to it. Yet everything he paints throughout his life adds to our understanding of one or both these things. When his last picture is painted in that predestined way in which, one cannot help believing, an artist's work, and therefore art, unfolds when the last predestined picture is finished and the trajectory of his meaning completes its curve then we know all there is to be known about these first riddles and understand what can't be known, what remains unknowable about the sources and the resources of a painter..." (more at artarchive.com)

Little Wonders: 3rd Annual Small Works Exhibition

2009-11-30T09:05:00.002-05:00

Hey local readers,

I'm part of this group show that opens tomorrow. Come check it out if you're free - they'll have a lot of small & affordable art for the holidays!

LITM’s Third Annual Group Exhibition of Small Works
December 1, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Opening Reception: Tuesday December 1 7-10pm

Here's a link to the Facebook event page.

Like Trains & Taxis // Tales From A Revolving Door

2009-11-23T08:48:00.001-05:00

Here's a preview of the album artwork I recently completed for Like Trains & Taxis. There's a live person trying to breathe in there! Tales From A Revolving Door is due out early 2010.

Band t-shirts, etc.

2009-11-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

Band t-shirts seemingly went out of style in high school, after we all got over our punk/hardcore/emo/whatever phases. My collection is long gone (somewhat regrettably), and I think it's time to bring some new and relevant band t-shirts back into the mix. Here is my wish list:

Radiohead // Trapped

Radiohead // New Suburbian

Fever Ray // Crossed Square

Mad Decent x Mishka: Logo (Blue) Limited Edition

No more band shirts, you say? Fine, let us not forget these gems:

Fountain - Great Moments of the 20th Century Series

Automatic Lovers

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Save The World

And please, don't all kill each other trying to buy me these all at once.

Artist Interview at ChristinaAlessi.com

2009-11-13T12:30:00.004-05:00

I am featured in an interview today on Christina Alessi's blog as part of her Artist Feature Friday series! You can read the interview here. Don't forget to check out her cool fiber arts, illustration, photography and music sections while you're there. Thanks Christina!

2009-11-09T10:10:00.002-05:00

Here are the two pieces that I showed in a group show at Paul Vincent Gallery this past weekend:

Cowardice
18"x 24"
pen & ink on paper

Excess
18"x 24"
pen & ink on paper

Like Trains & Taxis EP out now

2009-10-09T10:20:00.001-04:00

I finally get to share the artwork I recently completed for the Like Trains & Taxis Charlie EP. I particularly enjoyed doing the hand-lettering. The EP is out now and available for purchase here!

And here are the corresponding poster and drop cards with track listing:

I just completed the artwork for their album, and am currently working on some things that will go with it. I'll post about it when it's done!

Other Like Trains & Taxis links:
Myspace
CD Baby
Facebook
Twitter

I hope you're all having a great October so far. Be well!

some new work - in progress

2009-09-22T09:08:00.005-04:00

I'm working on some new things that I'm excited to share more fully with you soon. I just wish I had a better camera, gah. Here are some "sneak peek" photos for now. I'm working on larger paper than usual (18 x 24) which is both exciting and scary!

First Friday in Philly, late

2009-09-18T09:45:00.004-04:00

I was pretty into First Friday in Philly two weeks ago. My favorite show was Ben Volta and
Hadieh Shafie at Pentimenti on 2nd Street. Impressive online but more awe-inspiring in person, I was completely sucked in by their presence.

I also fell in love with a lamp made by one very talented 12th grader. It reminded me of those scary spore things that you see Photoshopped on fingernails and nipples and such... I tried to Google it to no avail. Who knows what I'm talking about??

PS - I'm heading to “Archive” - Group Exhibition Opening & Catalog Release at Alfa gallery tonight (I'm in it!), hope to see you there if you're local.

xoxo C

Fall, finally

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000-04:00

Ahh, hibernation is finally over. There go the last few days of summer. Sorry for disappearing for a while, I've been caught up in it all. I'm excited for my favorite season - fall always makes me feel crazy. I'm working on a few design and art projects too, excited to share them soon.

How was your summer?

Happy Birthday Man Ray!

2009-08-27T09:14:00.005-04:00

Man Ray
Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin)

Man Ray
Larmes (Tears)

Man Ray
Le Retour A La Raison
1923

"More a work in experimental Dadaism than a film, Le Retour à la Raison was the first film to be made by the celebrated surrealist artist, Man Ray...The film is very short (three minutes in length) but includes some astonishing and evocative images. The early segments of the film iillustrates a technique which Man Ray pioneered in static photography, the rayograph (or photogramme). Here, an object is placed between a light source and photo-sensitive film, in contrast to traditional photography where photographic film captures light reflected off an object. For Le Retour à la Raison, Man Ray sought to extend the rayograph technique to a moving image. He sprinkled salt and pepper on one piece of film, pins on another, illuminated the film for a few seconds, then developed the film." - filmsdefrance.com

"Man Ray (August 27, 1890–November 18, 1976) was an American Dada and Surrealist artist. Born Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Man Ray showed evidence of being artistically and mechanically inclined from childhood. After graduating from Boys' High School in 1908, he was offered a scholarship to study architecture but chose to pursue a career as an artist instead. In 1911, the Radnitzky family changed their surname to Ray, a name selected by Man Ray's younger brother Sam, in reaction to the ethnic discrimination and anti-semitism prevalent at that time. Emmanuel, who was called "Manny" as a nickname, thereafter used the single name Man Ray." - wikipedia.org

Zachary Zezima

2009-08-20T09:23:00.001-04:00

Zachary Zezima is a freelance illustrator/animator who is currently calling Brooklyn home. He holds a BFA in Illustration from Parsons School of Design. Do yourselves all a favor and check out his illustration and animation portfolio, as well as his blog.

Beautiful Women @ Paul Vincent Gallery: photos!

2009-08-17T13:19:00.001-04:00

The Beautiful Women show was awesome this past Sunday, if you weren't there you missed out for realz. The space looked great and the selection of work was impressive. I was flattered to have been part of it!

Most of these photos are ganked from other places on the internet because (you probably already know this) I am pretty much the worst blogger ever. Thank you to everyone on Facebook that uploaded photos!

There are so many more photos here! Thank you to everyone at Paul Vincent Gallery for making this such a great event.

Stanley Donwood

2009-08-12T09:05:00.001-04:00

"Stanley Donwood is the pen name of English writer and artist Dan Rickwood. Donwood is known for his close association with the British rock group Radiohead, having created all their album and poster art." - wikipedia.org

I sure do love Radiohead's music and Donwood's artwork, but I'm really here to tell you about this writing. I highly suggest you check out his website, Slowly Downward, for some rad surreal stream-of-consciousness short stories.

Beautiful Women @ Paul Vincent Gallery: this Sunday!

2009-08-05T09:05:00.006-04:00

Alright - in my traditional last minute manner, here are the details for the group show that I'm going to be a part of this weekend:

Beautiful Women: An Interpretation of Beauty
Group Show

August 9, 2009
2pm - 8pm

Paul Vincent Gallery
49 Harrison Street
Hoboken, NJ 07304

$5 donation at the door
Performances by DJ Difference and The Almighty Terribles
Curated by Tara Thurber.

Here is a link to the Facebook event. It's a rad space with good music and good people, and from what I have seen so far the selection of artwork is amazing! So if you're local - do itttt!

Umbrella Art

2009-07-29T09:08:00.000-04:00

I am in love with these umbrella art installations. More at crookedbrains.net.

Happy Birthday Marcel Duchamp!

2009-07-28T09:09:00.004-04:00

Marcel Duchamp
Fountain
1917
Readymade: Porcelain Urinal
Height: 60cm

"Fountain is a 1917 work by Marcel Duchamp. It is one of the pieces which he called readymades (also known as found art), because he made use of an already existing object—in this case a urinal, which he titled Fountain and signed "R. Mutt". The art show to which Duchamp submitted the piece stated that all works would be accepted, but Fountain was not actually displayed, and the original has been lost. The work is regarded by some as a major landmark in 20th century art.[2] Replicas commissioned by Duchamp in the 1960s are now on display in museums." - wikipedia.org

I love this dude.

Upcoming art show & mini-update

2009-07-23T09:06:00.000-04:00

Hello!

Hey everyone, I hope you have been enjoying the more editorial-esque content as things have been quieter for me on the illustration front.

Recently I have been working on more graphic design projects, and I am excited to share them with you as they become more developed. I am also working on re-designing my website (possibly "websites"?!), so I will keep you posted on that as well.

If you are local, I am in an upcoming show - Beautiful Women: An Interpretation of Beauty - at the Paul Vincent Gallery in Hoboken, NJ on August 9, 2009. Here is a link to the Facebook event, more info to come!

Deanna Halsall

2009-07-22T09:06:00.003-04:00

Deanna Halsall's illustrations are way cute! Deanna is a UK based illustrator "with a love of birds, bears, pens, Super Mario, the colour yellow, nice hair, & old stuff". Check out her portfolio website here.

Fractal Recursions

2009-07-20T09:07:00.001-04:00

I don't know why I haven't yet mentioned one of my favorite sources for accidentally wasting hours staring at (faux?)-fractals - Fractal Recursions by Jock Cooper. Don't forget to check out the recently added Zoomable Fractal Gallery: "an interactive playground that allows one to zoom through six levels in each quadrant of a given fractal image." Awesome!

Alyson Fox

2009-07-16T09:27:00.002-04:00

I very much like Alyson Fox's work, as well as her strange website. Check out the design section for surprising (in a good way) video.

Happy Birthday Gustav Klimt!

2009-07-14T09:19:00.003-04:00

Gustav Klimt
The Kiss
1907-08
Oil and gold on canvas
180 x 180 cm
Osterreichische Galerie, Vienna

"Gustav Klimt first made himself known by the decorations he executed (with his brother and their art school companion F. Matsch), for numerous theatres and above all (on his own this time) for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where he completed, in a coolly photographic style, the work begun by Makart. At the age of thirty he moved into his own studio and turned to easel painting. At thirty-five he was one of the founders of the Vienna Secession; he withdrew eight years later, dismayed by the increasingly strong trend towards naturalism..." (more at artarchive.com)

Sara Antoinette Martin

2009-07-13T09:14:00.001-04:00

I am very into Sara Antoinette Martin! From her blog:

Sara Antoinette Martin is a young up and coming illustrator/artist based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from eastern Long Island, Sara graduated from The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a degree in Illustration and hasn't left the borough since. Often working with themes of sexuality, anger, and grossness, she creates carefully crafted images in multiple mediums. She filters through her influences from traditional tattoo art, vintage swimsuits, gnarly skate graphics, masonic symbology, fins, gills and flowers, to create a unique visual language.

Sara also makes toys, comics, and picks up freelance illustration. Sara has shown in galleries all over the country, including the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, and is in multiple publications, such as Kidrobot's "I Am Plastic." She is currently a residident of the Gowanus Studio Space, a NYFA organization.

Check out more of her work on her blog, Beastie Weenie.

Happy Birthday Andrew Wyeth!

2009-07-12T09:06:00.001-04:00

Andrew Wyeth
Christina's World
1948
Tempera on gessoed panel
32 1/4 x 47 3/4" (81.9 x 121.3 cm)

"The woman crawling through the tawny grass was the artist's neighbor in Maine, who, crippled by polio, "was limited physically but by no means spiritually." Wyeth further explained, "The challenge to me was to do justice to her extraordinary conquest of a life which most people would consider hopeless." He recorded the arid landscape, rural house, and shacks with great detail, painting minute blades of grass, individual strands of hair, and nuances of light and shadow. In this style of painting, known as magic realism, everyday scenes are imbued with poetic mystery." - moma.org

Anna Higgie

2009-07-06T09:05:00.001-04:00

Anna Higgie is a freelance illustrator from Bristol, England. I love how she combines figural and geometric elements so flawlessly. Anna provides super-zoom close up images of the work on her portfolio website - they are so interesting!

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-05T08:12:00.001-04:00

Erika Somogyi
Divining Light
2005
30" x 36"
watercolor, gouache, color pencil on paper

This is about an accurate representation of how my 4th of July went as I have right now. I'll have some photos to share soon though. How was your weekend?

You can now buy a print of Erika's Divining Light right here.

You've Got Light in Your Eyes

2009-07-02T09:07:00.000-04:00

I am in love with the art that was a part of the You've Got Light in Your Eyes show at Needles and Pens Gallery. The show was curated by Meighan O'Toole. Here are some of my favorites:

Know Hope, You've Got Light in Your Eyes

Olivia Jeffries, What Happens in Between

Ashley Lande Brown, When I Stood Upon a Mountain and My Father’s Hand was Trembling with the Beauty of the World

Will Bryant, It’s Organic

Unfortunately, the show ended this past weekend, but some of the work is available for purchase here.

Nerdy Jewelry

2009-07-01T08:52:00.001-04:00

In honor of my birthday today, here is a consumerism post! I am a fan of these Golden spiral earrings! They are available for purchase in Plastique's Ponoko shop. I also love the Kern ring, and the Helvetica necklace, also by Plastique. Total graphic design nerdiness!

Leo Kesting Gallery Presents: Jonny Fenix : Swing the Door Wide

2009-06-29T09:08:00.002-04:00

I checked out the Leo Kesting Gallery recently, they have some rad stuff there! It looks like they put this painting of Micheal Jackson in the window for display hours before hearing of his death. From the website:

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

We heard news of Michael Jackson's passing only hours after hanging Jonny Fenix's painting, Michael's Jacksons, in our window display. Within minutes, the front of our gallery transformed into an impromptu memorial commemorating this iconic pop star's life. This image will be featured in the next issue of New York Press.

Here is a blurb about the show going on right now:

Leo Kesting Gallery Presents:
Jonny Fenix : Swing the Door Wide
June 11 - July 5, 2009
Opening Night Reception: Thursday June 11 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm
812 Washington St (at Gansevoort) NY NY 10014
8th Ave A, C, E and L train Stop or 1,2,3 to 14th St
Tue - Sat from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm Sun & Mon 1– 6pm
Admission is free to the public phone: 917-650-3760 / 917-292-8865
http://www.leokesting.com
CATALOG OF WORKS

Pop color, street culture and sardonic wit are themes in the artworks of west coast artist Jonny Fenix whos latest exhibition entitled "Swing the Door Wide", opens to the public on Thursday, June 11 at the Leo Kesting Gallery. Over a dozen new "uneasy" works give art enthusiasts a visual spectacle.

Fenix's krylon colored palate adorns the new collection as do the drips, collages and cutouts reminiscent of his past work. In Keep Up, mixed media on panel, collage material circa 1945 depict two children looking skyward glimpsing a swallow's profile cut from traffic signs. The backdrop of the work, a muddied mountain view, rains atop a Native American village of tee pees formed from cutouts of Triple A maps.

"Fenix's visual library references the characteristics Americans love while subtly pushing us towards resolution of the negligent hypocrisy we are now becoming aware of." explains gallery director David Kesting. "Earnest change begins at home and then spreads abroad."

In Michael's Jacksons, mixed media on panel, Fenix finds material to cherish in American culture's fixation on pop iconography. Here the viewer is engaged by a contemporary Michael Jackson, cast from Neverland holding his former naked boy self in a Narcissistic Pieta.

Jonny Fenix's work has been displayed in galleries across New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Portland. He has received critical acclaim in ArtNet, ArtInfo, NPR, and the Miami New Times. Most recently his exhibition with studio mate Blake Britton was almost shut down due to censorship issues.

Pingg Designer Series

2009-06-19T09:11:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to announce my partnership with Pingg's Designer Series!

Here is an excerpt from their press release:

New Independent Artist Galleries Unveiled on pingg, Popular Online Invitation, E-Card and Event Planning Service

Partnerships with ERNI VALES, JASON YOUNG, JENEAN MORRISON of POSH PATTERN, CHRISTINA ENTCHEVA and YENTY JAP Represent pingg's Continued Commitment to Aesthetics, Style and Design

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 17, 2009 -- pingg (www.pingg.com), an innovative and rapidly growing online invitation, e-card and event management company, today announced the addition of several new artists to their unique "Designer Series"--a curated gallery of original art featuring a select group of independent artists, both established and emerging. The accomplished and highly influential artist Erni Vales, best known for developing the now prolific 3D graffiti style as well as his collaborations with famed photographer David LaChapelle and numerous NYC nightlife venues, has designed an exclusive collection of invitations in his distinct graffiti style just for pingg. Jason Young, an internationally celebrated artist recognized for his versatility and his daring use of materials, has also launched a gallery for pingg. Jason is currently working on The White Film, which will soon begin showing at film and art festivals worldwide, as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yenty Jap is an international graphic designer and illustrator living in Indonesia and educated in New Zealand and Malaysia, whose culturally diverse background is reflected in her whimsical designs Another new gallery comes from Jenean Morrison, the very successful artist behind Posh Pattern, a dramatic collection of contemporary patterns licensed broadly by textile manufacturers, stationers, retailers and hotels worldwide, most recently the Mirage in Las Vegas. Christina Entcheva is a Bulgarian-born graphic designer by trade and illustrator by heart whose provocative illustrations focus on figural, organic and geometric elements. Her work can currently be seen in a show in NYC's Meatpacking District.

You can read more here, and check out more of the Designer Series here.

It is a pleasure to be featured on the same page as Martha Stewart, graffiti artist Erni Vales, fellow illustrator Jessica Gonacha, and my friends Dallas Shaw and Leigh Bullard.

You can check out my section here!

Meatpacking District: Nero, APT

2009-06-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Prior to the Lady exhibition on Saturday, Brent and I had a quick bite to eat at the nearby eatery Nero. We didn't have time to go for the brunch ("unlimited Champagne, Bellinis, mimosas, Bloody Mary or screwdriver, and a broad selection of eggs, panini, pasta, and salads" - sign me up!), but the portobello panini we shared was nice, and the mixed drinks strong. Friendly staff, fun (and loud) music, and a laid back atmosphere added to the experience.

After the show, a few friends and I went to relax with a drink at APT, also nearby. I liked this little blurb about APT by Ken Miller: "The gimmick, in case you haven't heard, is that the entrance is unmarked and the address is a secret. But frankly, no one's trying all that hard to keep things under wraps, and that's a hell of a lot less obnoxious than your average velvet-rope wrangler." I am so not into the velvet rope scene. We went early and the place was pretty deserted, but hey - that's what my apartment is like, right?

Would recommend both, although I am also looking forward to returning and seeing them at their best - Nero for brunch, and APT for the DJ nights.

Photos from "Lady"

2009-06-17T09:38:00.003-04:00

I've uploaded a set of images from the Lady group show to my Flickr account! Check out the set here and the slideshow here. Thank you to Dallas and Aneta for the photos! The entire collection (okay, almost entire) can now be seen on my website right here!

Thank you!

2009-06-15T09:06:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out the Lady show on Saturday! If you missed it, I have good news! You can still see the show - it has been extended for a whole week!

Thank you to Charles Nolan for having us (and to Linda for arranging my work), and to Whimsy & Spice for the delicious cupcakes, brownies, and cookies - they were a huge hit!

Thank you to everyone who blogged about the show - Letitia from Dujour Magazine, Aneta of Bobbin Talk (so nice to meet you!), Jessie of Zest & Thyme, Jan from Scoutie Girl, and Jeanine from AphroChic. If I missed anyone - I'm sorry!

More pics coming soon.

Last sneak peek!

2009-06-11T09:34:00.000-04:00

Aah, only three more days until the Lady show! Here is one more sneak peek of some of my new work. You'll have to come on Saturday to see the rest!

Also - thank you to Jessie of Zest & Thyme for featuring us in an interview this week!

I guess this is my last chance to use the Lady poster for promotional reasons. If you are a regular reader you have probably seen it a million times before, but you know what - oh well! Ha! Hope to see you all on Saturday ;)

Whimsy & Spice

2009-06-09T09:01:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you about the wonderful shop that is providing the sweets for the Lady show this Saturday!

From their website: Whimsy & Spice was founded in 2008 by the husband and wife team of Mark Sopchak and Jenna Park, who combine their skills and more than 12 years of experience in culinary arts and graphic design to produce a distinctive line of handmade sweets.

They are a talented duo: when Mark's culinary skills meet Jenna's eye for design and photography - watch out! I think they've got something really unique and creative going. Read more about them and drool over the wonderful photos on their blog, Sweet Fine Day. Oh and the photos above? Marshmallows made with a chocolate stout beer. Amazing. Here are a few more selections for your viewing (and tasting!) pleasure:

I would advocate that people come to the show on Saturday just for the food!

Haptic Lab neighborhood blankets

2009-06-08T09:12:00.000-04:00

"Each map is embellished with hand-embroidered street names, compass rose, and scale marker. Upon request, the Lab will detail the house or apartment you live in, your favorite coffee shop, the school your child goes to, or any other place in your neighborhood that has sentimental significance to you. It is important that each quilt be unique to its owner, just as a neighborhood is unique to each of its denizens."

I want one of these for New Brunswick! Check out more here.

Lukas Wierzbowski

2009-06-04T09:02:00.000-04:00

Totally gorgeous photography by Lukas Wierzbowski.

Thanks to Jeff at Booooooom for this one! He originally posted it a few weeks ago.

Sneak peek: Lady show

2009-06-02T09:02:00.002-04:00

With two weeks left until the Lady show, and I am finally wrapping up the new pieces for it. Here are a few examples to show what I think has been a pretty far reaching progression of both style, technique, and message.

A few more of mine, as well as the awesome new work of the other ladies in the show, can be seen in a Flickr gallery here and slideshow here.

Sneak peek: Lady show

2009-05-27T09:04:00.000-04:00

Still in progress, still untitled. Much more is in the works!

Back to work

2009-05-26T13:00:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! I know I did! Now, back to work on various web design and identity projects, and of course - new work for my group show, Lady! Things are starting to come together, and I'm excited to show you more soon!

Sneak peek: new collection

2009-05-18T09:07:00.005-04:00

Here are a few more photos from my new collection! Click to see them larger and with more detail. It's coming along pretty nicely, I think!

Also, thanks to Dujour Magazine for their post about our show!

Miranda Lehman

2009-05-15T09:05:00.002-04:00

Miranda Lehman is so good at capturing that mood, the one that makes me catch my breath and puts a lump in my throat. So good! See more on Miranda's website.

Erin at Design for Mankind originally posted this on Wednesday, and I just loved it so much I had to repost!

2009-05-14T11:27:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Ofifteen for recently featuring me in an interview! It originally appeared on their blog, but I've transcribed it here as well:

Christina Entcheva a graphic designer who currently resides in New Brunswick, NJ, but has recently become interested in illustration. Her exhibitions aim to bring people together around experiencing multidisciplinary art in an accessible and affordable setting. When she is not working on illustration, you can most definitely find her designing! You her online store right here.

Ofifteen: So, can you share with us how it all began?

Christina: I've been drawing since I was a young girl. I used to draw pretty faces, and there was nothing interesting about them, even to me. I drew in my spare time, as a hobby. I got laid off from my full-time graphic design job in August of 2008 and I suddenly had a lot more time to explore illustration. I started experimenting more with my drawing, trying to capture that slightly uncomfortable undertone with my figural illustrations. I became very interested in trying to capture that "something" and I haven't stopped since.

Ofifteen: What types of mediums do you enjoy using?

Christina: Pen and ink are my favorite, hands down. I love the bold, flat look of ink and I've recently been trying to replicate that with different mediums. Lately I have been working with watercolor. Bold and flat is pretty much everything that watercolor is not, so it's been an interesting challenge.

Ofifteen: Do you have a mentor?

Christina: Actually, no. I never went to art school, and am self taught in both illustration and graphic design, so unfortunately I haven't really had access to many people who are in the field. I would love to find a mentor though! I would probably be a lot better off if I had one!

Ofifteen: What inspires you?

Christina: Relationships played a big part in the illustrations I have done thus far. I have a "Family" series that explores relationships pretty explicitly, but even my less literal work takes relationships into consideration. Design is a big part of my life, so that makes it's way through into my illustration. Fashion inspires the poses, the bodies, and some of the accessories in my figural illustrations.

Ofifteen: Where do you see your work going in the future?

Christina: More recently, I have been getting inspired by science, nature, and mathematics. I have been transfixed on fractals lately, frustrated yet excited by the challenge of drawing them free hand. I've been trying to find a way to get around it, to do them justice. I'm especially interested in Cantor sets and Sierpinski gaskets. The actual project hasn't happened yet, but the ideas keep me excited for future work.

Ofifteen: What are you currently up to?

Christina: I'm currently working on a new collection of illustrations and patterns - these are much more geometric and abstract. My interest in science and mathematics have been manifesting itself in my work. I'm working on two lines of t-shirts - one screen-printed with the figural illustrations you see as part of my current body of work, and the other hand-painted with the new geometric and abstract work. Additionally, I am trying to expand the selection in my shop so I have been working on a line of jewelry inspired by my illustrations, as well as hand-painted plates, cups, and bowls.

Ofifteen: Do you have a studio? If so, how would you describe it?

Christina: Currently, my studio is the spare bedroom of the 2-bedroom apartment I share with my fiancé. It's small and cozy and pretty minimalist. (photos attached)

Ofifteen: What would your daily rituals be?

Christina: My schedule changes from day to day, so it's hard to keep to any specific routine. I have no daily rituals, although I probably should! I do like to get emails out of the way as early as I can, then tackle whatever is on the schedule for that day - art administrative things, graphic design projects, promotional stuff, etc. I usually draw in the late evenings.

Ofifteen: Would you be able to share 5 random facts about yourself?

Christina:
1) I proposed to my fiancé Brent and gave him an engagement ring.
2) We have a Siamese cat - Rupert - who is pretty much the boss around the house.
3) I won a spelling bee in middle school - I think 6th grade? - after speaking English for only about three years. That was exciting! I still have the plaque I won.
4)The first email I ever wrote was to my favorite author at the time - R.L Stine - I was in 3rd grade, I think it was 1994? Email was obviously not nearly as prevalent as it is today - he wrote me back the next day. I was pretty excited about that one for a while. Haha wow, these facts are showing how truly nerdy I am. Here's one that's less nerdy - the internet doesn't know it yet (breaking news!) but I recently went from a brunette to a platinum blonde!

Ofifteen: What are the 5 qualities in a person that you appreciate most?

Christina: Open-mindedness, motivation, intelligence, honesty, creativity.

Ofifteen: Favorite food?

Christina: I love salad, and anything with quality vegetables gets my vote. The salads my Mom makes are the best, naturally.

Ofifteen: What work of yours are you most proud of?

Christina: I'm proud of all of it. I am still very much in the beginning stages of my career as an artist, and I have been fortunate enough to already have met so many amazing people. I have collaborated with multi-disciplinary artists to create work that is relevant, compelling, and honest. I have been inspired by so many other great artists. I guess I would say that I am most proud of the process, most excited by the prospects to come. My work pales in comparison to the experience!

Ofifteen: How do you like to spend your free time?

Christina: With a few things - I'm a co-founder of Stone Soup Café, a social gathering that operates every Monday and Wednesday evenings in New Brunswick apartments around the city. Recognizing the difficulty post-graduates face when it comes to intellectual networking, Stone Soup Café aims to foster community, encourage conversation, and revitalize social networks. We are expanding to include Stone Soup University which offers workshops and skill-shares, and Stone Soup Library which facilitates book swaps, clothing swaps, etc. I am also working on the Democrats For Change campaign in New Brunswick. I am on the Communications Team, so I work on the marketing, design, and PR aspects of the campaign. You can check out more info about the campaign at www.democrats4change.com. Those two things take up quite a bit of time! But when I'm not doing that, I enjoy having friends over for board games (our favorite is Settlers ofCatan), dinner parties, and barbecues. I enjoy reading (I'm currently reading Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali) and watching documentaries (I'm currently watching Life of Mammals Volume 1).

Ofifteen: What would you like to try that you have not already tried?

Christina: So many things - I'd like to keep exploring new ideas along the thematic elements I have already been working with, but I am also interested in considering whole new concepts. Art as commentary is a vital part of society, and I'd like tocontribute to that in a relevant way. Some ideas are (very abstractly) in the works, but I have not really tried to formulate them into cohesive projects just yet. I'd like to work in different mediums - painting is something that I have always been interested in, but frankly have never had the patience for. I'd like to learn to be more patient with my work and apply my style and ideas to a more classic medium.

Ofifteen: What are your pet peeves?

Christina: Close-mindedness and anti-intellectualism really bug me. It drives me crazy when people bite their nails in front of me. Interrupting cows!

Ofifteen: What music have you been listening to lately?

Christina: There is a great local music scene in New Brunswick. Last night, I saw Like Trains & Taxis, a soul/pop/jazz band. I also saw Hannabiel and Midnight Blue, a local melodic African percussion ensemble with a reggae feel. They blow me away every time I see them. Later this week I am seeing FUSE, a soul rock band that collaborates with underground hip-hopMCs. Those three are definitely some of my local favorites. Outside of that, the soundtrack to La Planète Sauvage by Alain Goraguer has been on repeat in my apartment lately. I listen to a ton of world music, and Oliver Mtukudzi has been a recent favorite. I have been getting very into CocoRosie, I don't know how I missed the boat on that. Some old favorites are Piano Magic, David Byrne, and The Knife.

Ofifteen: What are your favorite book(s)?

Christina: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig - the first book that got me into philosophy, 1984 by George Orwell - classic and still so relevant, It's Too Late To Say I'm Sorry by Joey Comeau - really poignant and funny short stories. There are so many books I would like to read, I'm sure I haven't read my ultimate favorite yet!

Ofifteen: What would be your most prized possession(s)?

Christina: I'm very fond of my typewriters. I own a Remington Model Seven that is from the 1930s, and a blue Royal Mariner. I'm always looking to collect more! I also really love my Polaroid cameras, I have a Polaroid wall in our apartment that features all of our friends.

Thank you Christina for such a fun and informative interview and for your time!

Thanks Olan!

Lady - A Group Show

2009-05-11T11:03:00.003-04:00

You're invited! I am going to be part of a group show at the Charles Nolan flagship store in NYC (meatpacking district, 30 gansevoort). The show is on June 13th from 5-8pm! I'll be showing alongside the fabulous Leigh Bullard, Samantha Hahn, and Dallas Shaw. Join us for drinks and delicious cupcakes from Whimsy & Spice.

Sneak peek: new collection

2009-05-08T11:50:00.002-04:00

Here's a sneak peek of a new collection of illustrations that inspired, and was in turn inspired by, the new t-shirt line I'm doing. These are still in progress, but will all be done in time for a group show in June. More details on that soon!

Hi!

2009-05-06T14:33:00.003-04:00

Holy no posting! Sorry I've been MIA lately - I've been swamped with work, but in a good way! Lots of great things happening that I'll be excited to tell you about very soon! If you're from the area, here are some rad events going on this weekend:

Saturday:
Revolution Summer II Primer BBQ, our place!, 2pm.
Seed Gallery and SAI Present: Art of Vision, Seed Gallery, 6pm.
Contraversion: Group Exhibition, Alfa Art Gallery, 7pm.
coLAB dancePARTY II, 95 Senior, 10pm.

Sunday:
Artist Bazaar and Waffle Cafe, 34 Central, 11am.

See you there!

coLAB Film Festival

2009-04-22T09:37:00.001-04:00

I hope you all had a great weekend! My weekend consisted of hustling to get the design materials done for the upcoming coLAB Film Festival. Here is the poster. EDIT: And the program!

The festival premieres on April 22nd (5-9pm) and April 29th, @ The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum! Free of cost! If you're in the area, come check it out!

From coLAB's website: coLAB film festival is a series that aims to showcase and support local film while bridging Hub City artists with national and international figures. Our aim is to provide filmmakers, supporters, artists, and audiences with a space to communicate, collaborate and share in the diverse experience of film. We aim to empower our community while sharing in a communal conversation about film. Film is meant to be shared, deliberated, and challenged—so let’s do just that.

coLAB film festival: Emerging Jersey Film is first within a triannual short film festival series. Our first festival thematically will showcase New Jersey films. After screenings, there will be a moderated Q&A session with the audience members and filmmakers!

Website update: patterns!

2009-04-20T13:25:00.003-04:00

I just added a patterns section to my website! There are many more to come soon!

New item in the Etsy shop!

2009-04-17T08:56:00.000-04:00

Compilation I is now in my Etsy shop. Yay!!

Sneak peek: new pattern

2009-04-16T14:16:00.001-04:00

I've done a couple of these, I can't wait to get them scanned and colored!

Polaroids

2009-04-16T09:47:00.001-04:00

Here's a small excerpt from my Polaroid collection. Three are from last weekend, and one is from last year, I think? I miss that black shirt!

Ryuji Nakamura

2009-04-15T15:21:00.000-04:00

First saw this over at Booooooom, and I re-tweeted it, but I liked it so much that I wanted to post it here as well. Amazing installations!

Invisible Children - MEND

2009-04-15T10:56:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my e-friend (and fellow Bulgarian!) Aneta Genova for the heads up on this great project. I first read about it on her blog Bobbin Talk.

About MEND: MEND is a new brand and handbag line (set to launch on April 26) by media-based non profit Invisible Children. Each MEND bag is individually created & sewn in Northern Uganda, by women who were saved from the rebel army, and were all former sex slaves, abducted & tortured for years. Now they are employed for the first time.

About Invisible Children, from their website: As a non-profit we work to transform apathy into activism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Our media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a grassroots movement that intelligently responds to what.s happening in the world.

I can't wait to get one for myself!

I Can't Write Left Handed

2009-04-14T09:03:00.000-04:00

"I Can't Write Left Handed" is an on-going project by Brent Klokis (my fiancé!). He's attempting to learn to write left handed, and is documenting the process in a journal.

From his website: This is a project that centers around my attempt to acquire a functioning level of ambidexterity. All of my left-handed writing takes place in a single journal (multiple if eventually necessary) which will double as a complete documentation of my progress. This journal acts as a visual timeline of my growing ambidexterity, and all of the pages will be compiled into one larger work like the pieces of a puzzle ... This project explores the gaps and overlaps between acquiring new skills, typography, archiving, and art, while attempting to show that there are less gaps and more overlaps between these labels.

Where's Waldo?

2009-04-13T09:10:00.001-04:00

I forgot to write about this! 1,052 students and community members set the new Guiness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Waldo from the children’s book series “Where’s Waldo?” on April 2 in the State Theatre in downtown New Brunswick. The record was nearly doubled, as the previous Guinness World Record was set at 577 people. Participants also brought 3,186 books to donate to the New Brunswick school system. What a great example of giving back to the community. And how fun!

New Brunswick Free Public Library

2009-04-08T14:04:00.006-04:00

Brent and I usually go to our public library about once a week. I decided to take a few photos during our last excursion:

My selections

Second floor made of glass!

View out the second floor window.

Apparently my photography drew some attention because the library director came down to talk to us. I learned that the stacks on the second floor were part of the library when it was just one floor, and were moved to the second floor once they expanded. They are Victorian and the first floor stacks are Edwardian!

About the library, from their website:
In its historic building, the library strives to give personalized, quality service to the community while adopting the computerized information tools of this century. The New Brunswick Free Public Library traces its roots back to the 1796 Union Library Company. The present library, incorporated in 1890, has been serving the community for a century from its Carnegie building on Livingston Avenue.

Spring!

2009-04-07T18:33:00.007-04:00

Here are some sunny photos that I took in our backyard this weekend!

Postcard pics

2009-04-05T11:46:00.002-04:00

The postcards I ordered arrived last week, and I've been too busy to upload pics! Here they are, finally:

I think they came out nice! They are all signed and numbered on the back. Here is an Etsy listing for "Yana", and the listing for "Arachnocampa". Packs of 4 will be on Etsy soon!

Sneak peek: new t-shirt

2009-04-03T22:01:00.003-04:00

Hand drawn on a super soft Alternative Apparel gauze tank. I can't wait for the upcoming photo shoot that's going to show off the whole collection!

2009-04-01T15:28:00.004-04:00

I've been getting ready for a craft show this weekend, so I've been packaging stuff non-stop! Thankfully, pretty much everything is finally done. My fingers hurt! If you're from the area, stop by the Rutgers Craftivists Fair this upcoming Friday!

Dan Witz

2009-03-27T12:56:00.006-04:00

Dan Witz is just straight up awesome. He does really great street art, but for this post I've chosen to focus on his figurative gallery paintings. That's right - paintings! I love the old master style juxtaposition against the mosh pit scenes. More here: www.danwitzstreetart.com.

Karen Wise Photography

2009-03-24T14:19:00.004-04:00

As you may or may not know, I'm getting married! We've been engaged for about 2 years now, and are (supposed to be) in the process of planning a wedding. So you would think I would be all over this stuff! Truth is, I'm not a fan of most wedding photography. Having said that, I absolutely fell in love with these wedding photos by Karen Wise:

More at karenwise.com.

2009-03-24T14:06:00.002-04:00

I've been diligently working on some t-shirts! This is the first of the bunch:

They are all going to be hand-painted - which is something I'm excited about - but it's a lot of work! More soon.

B Berenika

2009-03-20T12:15:00.003-04:00

My second photography post this week! I am losing it, maybe.

I have been a fan of B Berenika for a long time! I can say with some confidence that she is not as well known as some of the other wonderful creative people I have blogged about, not because she doesn't deserve it but only because she is so mysterious. I don't even know her first name! I think it is Abigail, but who knows!

B Berenika takes captivating photographs, and does some magical post-processing! I've included some of my favorites, more can be seen here: www.berenika.vio.pl.

Sneak peek: packaging for buttons and t-shirts

2009-03-20T11:42:00.005-04:00

This project is still in progress. I'm currently working out the details, but here is my preliminary packaging for buttons and t-shirts. Card packaging is on the way too. More (and better) photos coming soon! Just thought I'd snap a few with Photobooth to share.

Daniele Buetti

2009-03-18T10:10:00.006-04:00

I don't usually post photography, but Daniele Buetti's work is just too exciting to pass up. These are perforated photographic prints on an aluminium lightbox. How cool!

From Wikipedia: Daniele Buetti (born 1956 in Fribourg) is a Swiss artist currently residing in Berlin and Zurich. Since the 1980s, Buetti has been working with multimedia such as tinted photographs of glamorous celebrities, brand names and lightboxes in order to create powerful, thought-provoking art. Exhibitions of his work have been featured in galleries worldwide.

More here: buetti.aeroplastics.net.

new items @ Etsy

2009-03-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

I added a few postcards and an original illustration to the Etsy shop, one of which I don't think I've shown here before:

Yana, 4 x 6 postcard of original illustration mounted on wood.

Check them out!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
christinaentcheva.etsy.com

I'm currently working on some new and exciting stuff - a small collection of hand-painted t-shirts, for example - that I am very excited about! More on that soon!

Stone Soup Café

2009-03-16T20:24:00.005-04:00

I have been a part of Stone Soup Café for a while now - dang, I'm one of the founders! - but I haven't gotten around to blogging about it yet. If you're in the mood for reading, here's an article I wrote about it!

New Brunswick "Café" Fosters Community And Fills Coffee Shop Void During Recession

Recognizing the difficulty post-graduates face when it comes to intellectual networking, a group of New Brunswick residents are resorting to taking things into their own hands and providing a solution - they call it Stone Soup Café.

A social gathering that operates every Monday and Wednesday evenings in New Brunswick apartments around the city, Stone Soup Café aims to "foster community, encourage conversation, and revitalize social networks," says Brent Klokis, one of the Café's founding members.

The event is open to post-grad residents who find themselves lacking a social network after graduation. Currently the event's attendance is mostly facilitated through word of mouth, and the organizers prefer it that way.

"Stone Soup Café is not designed to keep anyone away. On the contrary, it aims to keep the objective pure - focusing on the needs of New Brunswick residents who have graduated from Rutgers University and elected to remain in New Brunswick, but feel that there is nowhere for them to socialize," says Klokis. "We elected to call it a 'café' because we are channeling the feeling of past New Brunswick establishments. People are recognizing that bars are not the best place to facilitate this sort of interaction, and there are no coffee shops around anymore."

Indeed, New Brunswick has recently seen its last independent coffee shop - West End on Easton Avenue - close its doors for good. Given the economic situation, hopes for a new independent coffee shop reopening are slim. Klokis and others are hoping to provide an outlet in the interim. Founding member Xavier Hansen says, "We're planning to expand Stone Soup to five nights a week, but the eventual hope is that these type of establishments will start to reappear. We're just trying to sustain the culture in these tough times." He adds, laughing, "We are the coffee shop refugees."

Stone Soup Café's founders states that their objective is "to cultivate relationships between post-graduates of Rutgers University and to and revitalize their social networks. We have no specific activities in mind and are endorsing no movements or special interests during these hours. They are simply a time where if you find you want to get together with friends - and possibly meet new people for the purposes of creating the potential for good conversation and enjoyable activities - we are supplying the outlet. We have books, board games, and wireless Internet. So if you want to do some work or do your own thing but don't want to wander to Starbucks and be surrounded by strangers, then come here and be surrounded
by friends."

Stone Soup Café's name is inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers story - a tale with a moral of cooperation amid scarcity, one that the organizers hope to pass on to its attendees.

typewriters

2009-03-15T22:48:00.003-04:00

I own two typewriters, and I'm sad to say that I don't use them as often as I should. But! Today I wrote a note to an Etsy customer with my Royal:

Here's my baby:

Check out my sweet print from E.K Wimmer in the background! ;)

Sylvia Ji

2009-03-12T17:52:00.002-04:00

Saw a great Sylvia Ji image in Juxtapoz Magazine today. You know about Sylvia Ji, don't you???! Her Day of the Dead collection rules pretty hard.

This green one is my favorite!!

Collage

2009-03-11T19:05:00.003-04:00

I just added a collage section to my website! Here are a few of the pieces I included:

Check it out here. Hopefully will be adding more work soon! I haven't done collage in a while, so it's a matter of just getting back into it.

2009-03-11T14:59:00.002-04:00

Time for another illustrator I love - Cassandra Rhodin! Her work is all sorts of awesome and has been an inspiration to me for a long time. Maybe you can even tell! I named my illustration "Cassandra" after her :)

Sparks & Starbucks

2009-03-11T14:57:00.003-04:00

My illustrations are now available for purchase at Sparks Hair Design in New Brunswick, NJ, and will be displayed (and for sale of course!) at Starbucks in New Brunswick in a couple of weeks. Fun!

Creeps and craft fairs

2009-03-09T17:10:00.004-04:00

New print in my Etsy shop - Creeps! Available in both gray and brown backgrounds.

Also, I entered two juried craft fairs today. I've never done a craft fair before, so any advice is appreciated!

painting progression

2009-03-08T20:38:00.001-04:00

Woo!

I'm back!

2009-03-06T12:38:00.003-05:00

Did you even notice I've been gone?! I've been away for a bit because I've had the worst cold! I'm finally getting myself together today and getting ready to leave the house for the first time in (gasp) 5 days!

Yesterday I decided to delve into the world of painting! I had been thinking lately about starting to work in a larger scale, and this canvas was laying around so I decided to go for it.

Sneak peek:

Creepy! It won't be red when it's finished, and hopefully it won't be as terrifying.

Painting is hard!

Etsy

2009-02-25T01:58:00.005-05:00

I finally put a few things up in my Etsy shop! I'll slowly build the print collection, and most of the originals will be up for sale after my show is over on March 4. In the meantime, feel free to let me know what you want to see in there! Oh, and buy buy buy! ;)

PS - T-shirts are available through RedBubble, as always.

Julia Harrison

2009-02-24T17:02:00.006-05:00

One more: let me do you all a favor and tell you about Julia Harrison! A Seattle-based artist and writer, she creates wood jewelry that blows my mind! I need to have this brooch:

These is something so expressive about wood! I love it as a medium. Check out her blog here and more of her work here!

Liselotte Watkins

2009-02-24T15:04:00.005-05:00

I sure have been talking about myself a lot these past few weeks! Why don't I take a break from my narcissism and talk about someone else for change, eh?

You know who rules? Liselotte Watkins, that's who! She is an illustrator that I've been keeping my eye on for some time, I love her fashion illustrations. My work is a little bit different, but she has definitely inspired and influenced me. Here is some more of her work!

Go Liselotte go Liselotte go!

The Daily Targum

2009-02-23T21:53:00.002-05:00

I'm in the paper again today! The Daily Targum ran a story in their Metro section, which is available here. A transcribed version is below. Woo - "Renaissance woman"!

Gallery brings together art, indie-rock

Madelline Pizarro
Staff Writer

The eclectic tunes of indie-rock band Like Trains and Taxis blended with the graphic design illustrations of Christina Entcheva Saturday to create a medley of diverse interdisciplinary art at Alfa Art Gallery.

Entcheva presented her graphic design work and pencil illustrations at the collaborative exhibition at the gallery, located at 108 Church St. in New Brunswick.

“Alfa Art Gallery’s theme for the show is interdisciplinary artistic work,” said Gallery Assistant Director Galina Kourteva. “We see art and music as art and we try to show the connection between the two — but we don’t try to push [a connection]. We like letting things come together on their own.”

Due to space constraints, the audience could not view her graphic designs as accessibly, Entcheva said.

She said the band asked her to design their posters, t-shirts, and EP cover.
“We ended up going through a lot and went an entirely different direction than we expected,” Entcheva said. “I’d set out to give them something they’d wanted and also wanted to put some of myself in there, too. I like what came out and hope the band does.”

Owen Susman, bass player for Like Trains and Taxis, said art and music could end up inspiring one other. “Collaborative art seeks to bring all disciplines of art together: writing, dance, performing arts, Susman said. “We don’t isolate art. You can see a picture or read a short story. You can be inspired by a painting.”

Entcheva said her experience with Like Trains and Taxis was an artistic one because she had an open dialogue with the band members and used her creativity. “It’s good to have some cross-pollination of ideas,” said Chris Harris, the keyboardist of the band. “Like tonight: People can look at Christina’s paintings but can also listen to our music.”

The gallery exhibited the artist’s pencil illustrations that she created in a very different process from her graphic design work, Entcheva said. “I had resolution journals where I first drew my sketches, and slowly my work became more and more intricate,” she said. “It’s very different, sketch work and graphic design work. In graphic deign you have certain criteria and expectations to fill.” Entcheva said with sketching, there are no guidelines or criteria. “It’s me doing things freely and I can explore,” she said.

Rutgers College alumna Susette Chavez said Entcheva’s sketches have a certain sadness and seriousness to them. “Interdisciplinary art is totally necessary today. Art can spill into freelance work, and with that you should just go with it,” Chavez said. “For her to do this [and graphic design] is surprising. I see Christina almost like a Renaissance woman.”

art show photos!

2009-02-23T10:38:00.009-05:00

A big thank you to Ed Eckels for providing us with his photography services!

Mom!

Dad!

Brother!

Brent!

Thanks to everyone who bought one of my pieces!

Presentation time.

Like Trains & Taxis

Many more photos are here!

2009-02-22T21:54:00.003-05:00

I am posting the podcast from the February 19 episode of The Big Surprise because my mom wants to listen to it! In case you are reading this and you are not my mom and you still want to listen to it, then cool! It is available here!

The Open Studio event last night ruled! I'll have photos, video, and more interview stuff to post soon.

2009-02-20T17:34:00.004-05:00

I'm in the paper today! The Home News Tribune and the Courier News ran a story in their Pulse and Kicks sections, respectively.

New Brunswick gallery presents evening of sight and sound

By RALPH J. BELLANTONI • Correspondent • February 20, 2009

Visual art combines with music in a festive event tomorrow at the Alfa Art Gallery in New Brunswick.

The evening will feature the work of graphic designer and illustrator Christina Entcheva, who has extended her talents to indie soul band Like Trains & Taxis, designing the cover of their newly released debut album. From 7 to 11 p.m. tomorrow, the band will team up with the artist, accompanying an in-depth presentation of Entcheva's art with a live performance of their original songs.

"The Alfa event is going to be a lot of fun," Entcheva says. "Galleries can sometimes be stuffy and intimidating, but this will be something different — the live music, nontraditional exhibition, and the hip crowd all contribute to a unique atmosphere."

Entcheva has eight years of experience as a communications professional in graphic design. After gallery curator Natalie Trainor introduces her to the gathering, Entcheva will delve into the intricacies of working with a client in the graphic arts process, presenting early design sketches for posters, covers, stickers and T-shirts — including discarded ideas.

"I may tell a few bad jokes, as well," she says.

Recently, Entcheva has grown enamored with illustration. She says she enjoys the freedom and spontaneity of drawing and considers it a relief from the rigors of design work for a client. She cites Egon Schiele, Salvador Dali and Alphonse Mucha, along with contemporary illustrators Cassandra Rhodin and Liselotte Watkins, as particularly influential on her.

"I used to draw pretty faces, and there was nothing interesting about them, even to me," Entcheva says. "I became interested in pursuing it more avidly when I started to find my own style and voice — when I stopped copying fashion spreads and started drawing what was in my head."

The exhibit will present about 60 of Entcheva's illustrations, 15 of her graphic design pieces, and a small collection of traditional and digital collages. The New Brunswick artist executes most of her illustrations in ink and marker in a moleskin journal she carries with her, though at times she employs digital methods for altering, combining and coloring her drawings.

"My best work comes when I stop thinking and just draw," she says. "Things just come out of me."

Those who miss the event can view Entcheva's work at Alfa as part of the "Art Lines" group show through March 5.

Art lines pics

2009-02-20T15:57:00.006-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the Art Lines group exhibition opening last night! Pictures are coming soon, but for now here are a few that I'm stealing from my new friend Amy's Facebook! Thanks Amy!

Jill Caporlingua

No photos of the other artists' work yet, sorry!

My friends Communipaw played!

And up next is my Open Studio on Saturday where Like Trains & Taxis are playing!

Reminder - The Big Surprise

2009-02-18T11:51:00.004-05:00

Per request, this is a reminder that I'm going to be a guest on the Hear New Brunswick radio show The Big Surprise tomorrow! Listen here at 6pm!

art show press

2009-02-16T13:10:00.004-05:00

Various links I've found on the web about the show at Alfa, posting them here mostly for future reference: Design for Mankind, Get Out New Brunswick, Jonnyballs!, New Brunswick Life (note: Price: $0.00!!), Design Taxi.

News coverage: New Brunswick gallery presents evening of sight and sound, Gallery brings together art, indie-rock.

buttons are here!

2009-02-13T21:41:00.000-05:00

The buttons came in the mail today! They are $1 each and will be for sale at my upcoming Open Studio event. If you'd like to mail order one, let me know! They will also be for sale after February 21st at my Etsy shop, which currently has nothing in it, ha!

2009-02-13T20:55:00.004-05:00

Rupert is the best. That is all!

oh noes

2009-02-10T14:59:00.004-05:00

I suppose I've been on a bit of a hiatus - my computer died (R.I.P) and I'm waiting for the arrival of my new one. So for now, here is a crappy cell phone picture of a Like Trains & Taxis merch table that I ran across at a show I went to last week:

It was the first time I got to see the t-shirts in person, and I thought they came out very nice! I bought one for my dad.

art show changes!

2009-02-03T14:18:00.004-05:00

Originally scheduled for a one night only event, my upcoming Alfa Art Gallery show has been extended. The original date and time - February 21 at 7pm - will remain the same, and will serve as an Open Studio. However, my work will also be exhibited in a group exhibition that will run from February 19 to March 5, 2009.

The featured artists for the group exhibition are Christina Entcheva, Jill Caporlingua, David Sananman, Juan Torres, and Koenraad Seghers.

buttons

2009-01-30T12:30:00.005-05:00

I'm getting 1" buttons of my illustrations made! They will be for sale at my show next month, as well as at my Etsy shop. I'm still trying to decide which images to use, but I think I've pretty much settled on the following:

Let me know if you think something important is missing!

sneak peek

2009-01-20T23:01:00.003-05:00

Starting to frame some things, using a combination of vintage and new frames, as well as a few that I'm painting my "signature" (ha!) green.

Only 893883^9392 more to go!

Loretta Lux

2009-01-19T14:32:00.002-05:00

I just discovered this photographer/artist on a friend's blog. Old news maybe, but new to me! She blows me away. It's the same "capturing of something slightly uncomfortable, yet still subtle enough to take a moment for recognition" that I've been working with, but in a completely different way. I'm way into it. Check out her website here.