Iain + Artist Series: Joe Biel

One of the few perks of working in academia is being able to invite one's friends and/or creative idols to come to campus as visiting artists. I would have to classify the wildly talented Joe Biel as both friend and creative idol. Man, can Joe draw. His work is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing, strangely bleak, yet always tinged with humor. In person, Joe is hilarious and completely down to earth—totally unassuming given his talent, impeccable taste, brilliant imagination and ridiculously comprehensive knowledge of art. He defies the model of aloof, obnoxious, egomaniacal, too-cool-for-school artist. In addition, he's an ace at drawing old school Ironman, so he's always welcome in Iain's art studio.

Jason O'Malley Visits California

Last week, the internationally-renowned and award-winning children's book illustrator Jason O'Malley graced us with a visit. The last time Jason saw Iain, we still referred to him affectionately as Ziggy the Zygote, so a trip to the West Coast was long overdue. Jason began his California adventure with a book signing in Palm Springs for the hot-off-the-press and hilarious WOOF! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs. Athough Jason is incredibly talented, Iain still took it upon himself to instruct Jason in the nuances of mark-making and the crayon as an often overlooked expressive medium. I sense a creative collaboration in the future.

There's Some Good Art in Michigan

Wow, am I blown away by Matthew Shlian's art. Who would have thought that ball point pen could be such a fantastic medium? His drawings are mind-blowingly intricate and imaginative, with a nice dose of weirdness. I love it when artists employ the most banal materials in their studio practice to create such beautiful things.