apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


See My Artwork! Contest: #7 - Bradford's DIY Graphic Heaven

1-20-brad1.jpg

Name: Bradford Shellhammer
Location: Manhattan
Website: www.bradfordshellhammer.com
All Other Entries: Link Here

Artwork:
The picture with the flag is a graphic poster I designed on Photoshop and had printed on large paper and mounted to a wood back. I created it while living in San Francisco. I have always loved flags, stars, and stripes. It is the flag of some made-up place.
Price:
About 200 to mount and 100 to print.

1-20-brad2.jpg
Artwork: The photo with the two silhouettes contains two paintings I did myself. They are of me and my partner and were inspired by silhouettes I had seen at galleries, in magazines, and at Jonathan Adler's Soho shop. I did them the old fashioned way. My boyfriend and I sat in front of a bright light and we traced each others heads. I then used a heavy paint to color in the lines. The brush marks are very visible and the paintings have great texture. They were a perfect way to commemorate moving in together. Price: About 35 dollars in paper and paint from Pearl Paint. Another $400 to have them framed in thick, deep, box-like frames.
 
 

Tags

See My Artwork

Related Links

Share

Comments (24)

Nice work BS, I love the one of you and your man!!

posted by Andrea on 2006-01-24 13:28:45

I liked this immediately...I especially like that they're done by you and that the second one has such personal meaning. They also look great with the decor!

posted by Christine on 2006-01-20 11:25:12

I agree with Christine. I know there are many fabulous artists out there which leads to infinite choices for home decor - but there is something so very special about making something personal for your space with your own hands. I think it is easy to forget that all of us are artists if we just allow ourselves to be (and excuse ourself of our harsh self-criticisms). Sounds kind of cheesy, but it's Friday and I'm in that kind of mood.
Great job!

posted by erin t on 2006-01-20 11:44:27

Honestly, while it may not be in the same vein as some of the "higher-brow" art that's been entered already (which still is all amazing), this is my absolute favorite entry!!! Excuse the vulgarity, but I just FUCKING love that flag!!! Very very cool, and reminds me of Rage Against the Machine. A weird comparison, but I just think that first pic is incredible.

On another note, while I know I've missed the entry deadline, I'll be posting some pics of the art in my apartment done by a close family friend soon... Bill Amundson (see an old, but relevant website- www.amundart.com).

-Kellen-

posted by -Kellen- on 2006-01-20 11:46:05

you are seriously adorable, hanging out tracing each other...

posted by guido on 2006-01-20 11:47:34

I am in love with the silhouettes. What a fresh, fun idea, especially in the bright colors. Good for you guys!

posted by Lizochka on 2006-01-20 11:57:41

I did silhouettes of my boyfriend and I for our bedroom wall. Our way was a little less romantic though--I took digital photos in profile and then made them into stencils in photoshop.

posted by anna on 2006-01-20 12:03:53

simply smashing.

posted by conor on 2006-01-20 12:10:50

celebrate creations!

posted by matty on 2006-01-20 12:16:27

I like the flag a lot. It reminds me of the red, black and green one hanging outside of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

posted by Cindy on 2006-01-20 12:17:17

I fucking love that flag, too!!

posted by anne on 2006-01-20 12:17:51

Simply wonderful!

posted by Guttersnipe on 2006-01-20 12:32:20

i find that flag disturbing but am still attracted to it, well done!

the profiles, not so much, but the personal connection make up for a lot!

posted by minh on 2006-01-20 12:33:04

the profiles are so f&*%#ing amazing!!! (i don't know what i'm being such a wuss about cussing, but... ther you have it.)

i'm gonna have to copy-cat that one. when people comment on them, i promise i will give you credit!

posted by seema on 2006-01-20 12:49:03

Jasper Johns anyone?

posted by anonymous_coward on 2006-01-20 13:09:37

One thing I love about the silhouettes is what an sweet old-fashioned domestic convention it is into which you've breathed such fresh new life and how modern and graphic it seems here.

And the flag? Yeah, we've seen some pop artists do flag things, but it's still pretty damn great, and I love the idea of finding fresh ways to look at established symbols. But mainly, it really looks elegant as all hell. I love it.

posted by Curtis on 2006-01-20 13:23:00

Love! The overall effect of the art in the room (and the room itself) is clean and bold, with just a touch of whimsy/cheekiness. But I would expect no less from the ever-stylish Mr. Shellhammer!

posted by Enrique on 2006-01-20 13:28:46

Sorry to nitpick, but isn't the flag backwards? You may very well have done that on purpose to make it extra jarring, but they're certainly traditionally hung mirrored to that (the star-field always upper left regardless of orientation).

posted by AP on 2006-01-20 15:44:41

I'm not sold on your color pallet but I love the artwork! Like AP above, I also have a nitpick question about the flag--is there a particular reason there are less stars and more stripes present than what you would normally find on the flag? Just curious. Great work!

posted by Michael W. on 2006-01-20 16:28:29

Michael W.: in the description, I found the information about the flag:

"The picture with the flag is a graphic poster I designed on Photoshop and had printed on large paper and mounted to a wood back. I created it while living in San Francisco. I have always loved flags, stars, and stripes. It is the flag of some made-up place."

I really adore the silhouettes.

posted by Anne, the first one/in Dallas on 2006-01-20 17:25:05

The lone dissenter: The art's not to my taste, but it's all nicely arranged.

posted by zia on 2006-01-20 18:40:52

And I love the color of that wall!

posted by zia on 2006-01-20 18:41:35

Love the juxtaposition of the silhouettes and the Sapien tall bookcase!

posted by Peggy on 2006-01-21 21:37:55

Late to the party here, but cast another Yay vote for this high style, colro-jolted, diy fabulousness.

A great example to me of how a contemporary aesthetic in art can keep mid-century modern furniture from looking like a time capsule, or dusty vintage store. DWR should hire you as a stylist although they do a pretty smashing job in much the same way themselves...)

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2006-02-02 18:51:27

Feeds

RSS icon New York

+ City Feeds