Thursday, August 19, 2010

Artist Interview: Matthew Hunt


Matt Hunt's ink drawing "Wolf Dog" won first place for best in show at our last art show/contest!


Interview with the Artist:


Q: What inspired you to draw this piece?

Matt Hunt: A representation of my family, each piece symbolizes a different member of my family. Thus the tree is like a family tree.


Q: Who are your greatest influences artistically?

Matt Hunt: Jose Orosco because there is so much detail in all of his work, and there is so much going on, it always catches the viewers eye.


Q: How long have you been doing art?

Matt Hunt: Since I was ten, I was drawing the Tick cartoons and mimicking them, my mom was very supportive and people at school would say nice things and notice, this is how I realized I had a gift.


Q: What’s your favorite genre of art?

Matt Hunt: Surrealism


Q: What methods of editing do you prefer to use?

Matt Hunt: Paint over my mistakes!


Q: Do you have a favorite model in town?

Matt Hunt: I don’t know any of their names, I draw figure art for school often and I like drawing girls with lots of curves.


Q: Tell us about your latest series or projects.

Matt Hunt: Working on an unannounced comic book and working on things involving organic things interacting with inorganic things.


Q: Do you like books, or have a favorite author?


Matt Hunt: Yes, I like Chuck Palahniuk's newer stuff, I like the 50s and 60s Sci Fi and Fantasy, I think the cover art from that time period is incredibly inspiring.




Contact Bent Cover Books for more info on Matthew Hunt and see his newest work at our next art show on September 25th!


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Artist Interview: Photographer Martin Hazine

Martin Hazine won first place in the photography category at the last art show!

Martin is a fine art photographer whose work has been hung at many businesses in the Phoenix area. Martin is available for Commercial, Advertising, Fashion, and Fine Art Portraiture. Whether its the in the studio, on location, or underwater, Martin turns every photo into a work of art. See more of his work at his website http://www.glossyworks.com and read his interview with us below.


Broken Keys by Martin Hazine


Interview with the artist:


Q: What inspired you to shoot this piece?

Martin H: It was located in this amazing abandoned school in California. It's out in the middle of nowhere, where the reflection off the white sand was blinding and it felt like I couldn't see. The school was small and looked abandoned for a few years. They left it like they were going to return to it, but never did. The ceilings were falling and there were two pianos just sitting there, decaying. It was a beautiful disaster.

Q: Who are your greatest influences artistically?

Martin H: I'm inspired by Helmut Newton, Clayton Cubitt Seige, JW Waterhouse,
David La Chappelle, Joyce Tenneson to name a few.

Q: How long have you been photographing?

Martin H: I originally started in high school with a photography class. I really liked it. I didn't keep it up though. I started up again in 2001 when I got a digital camera. When I started again, I was taking the usual bad photographs of all the innocuous things I could find. I wanted to create one of a kind photographs so I kept working at it. Eventually, I started photographing people which I liked a lot. When photographing people, the shot always changes. Plus, it was much more interesting when you can carry a conversation with a subject. Cactii just aren't good conversationalists.

Q: What's your favorite genre of photography?

Martin H: Photographs with people. I like street shots, artistic, fashion. Everything that
documents the human body and the human soul.

Q: What methods of editing do you prefer to use?


Martin H: I try to keep my editing to a minimum. I've learned a few photoshop effects, but I prefer to keep most of my edits to color adjustments. I have to edit my underwater photographs a bit more just to get a clearer picture though.

Q: Do you have a favorite model in town?

Martin H: I do like working with the same models over and over, but I don't have one in particular that I can call my favorite. I like shooting a lot of different things and each model has her own strength.

Q: Tell us about your latest series or projects.

Martin H: Right now I'm trying to line up some more underwater shoots. I've got a few models, but finding private pools that are deep enough are a problem. I'm also trying to expand my fashion portfolio and get them published in some high fashion magazines.

Q: What made you interested in photography and when did you start?

Martin H: When I was a kid, I wanted to be a lawyer, then I wanted to design planes, then an sketch artist, architect, and finally photographer. I almost made it to architect. I broke it down to what I really wanted to do: be creative and figure things out. Photography allows me the best mix of that. Also, it feels these days like you can't create one masterpiece. You have to create hundreds to make an impression. With photography I can create more.

Q: Do you like books, or have a favorite author?

Martin H: A little bit of science fiction, but most of my books are either photo books of some of my favorite photographers or technical how-to books.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Story Time by Author Cathy Huffman

Tomorrow August 18th at 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm come and listen to Cathy Huffman read from her book, The Legend of Painted Pony and the Western Wind. A tale about a boy and his pony inspired by Native American folklore from the author's roots in Tucson, AZ.

Ages 4 - 8



Reading will beheld in the cafe 12428 N. 28th Dr Phoenix, AZ 85029 602-942-5932
books@bentcoverbooks.com http://www.bentcoverbooks.com

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Jared Aragona's Signing/Reading

Thanks to all who came out to support Jared's book. This was a great event and a ton of fun! We will be posting pics and video soon so anyone who missed it can check it out on here. :)

For now, please see his website to read about his innovative fantasy series inspired by a Star Trek episode. Check out Stories from the Circle series today, a trilogy.


http://www.storiesfromthecircle.com/

Also catch Jared at his next signing

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
1pm - 3pm
Barnes & Noble -- 10500 N. 90th Street -- Scottsdale, AZ

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Back Page Coffee Art Show!


Wow! What an amazing event, this was! There was such an incredible amount of talent, many said it was very difficult to vote and choose just one for each category! And what a great turn out!

Here's some photos and the results of who won, as well as some of the artists posing with their works :)

Painting/Drawing Category

1st Place Beserker by Matthew Hunt








2nd Place Wolf Dog by Matthew Hunt








3rd place Dog Portrait by Elena Mitchell








Photography Category

1st Place Broken Keys by Martin Hazine (GlossyWorks.com)

















2nd Place Weird Al 1 by Weird Al Photography/ and Fairy by Laughing Moon Productions (tie!)









3rd Place My Dad by Furious Ideas









3d Art Category


1st Place Copper Clan (Dragon statue) by Phillip Bostick








2nd Place Butterfly by Monte Fremouw








3rd Place Sunset candleholder by Margie Crider / and Calavera (mosaic globe) by Phillip Bostick (tie!)



















Overall Best in Show

1st Place Wolf Dog by Matthew Hunt














2nd Place Beserker by Matthew Hunt/ and The Hulk by Gary Johnson (tie)


















3rd Place Dog Portrait by Elena Mitchell/ and Weird Al 2 by Weird Al Photography/ and Large Collage by David M / and My Dad by Furious Ideas (4 way tie!)