Harper Says Blog

The UArts Alumni Project

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:27:20 +0000

This week the seniors at the University of the Arts graduated (just as I did 8 years ago) and each one of them received this UArts Alumni booklet I designed and illustrated.

Back in March and April I spent some enjoyable hours putting together the 12 page booklet for the Uarts Alumni department, featuring all the info ex-students will need to keep in touch with Uarts, help them get gigs, discounts and other stuff. I was given A LOT of creative freedom with this project, and I gave it the free spirited treatment - using lots of textures, a lively color palette and an open layout incorporating as many majors as possible. The cover name "Up and Coming" was a title I came up with since it seemed more optimistic and powerful. Previously it was named "Welcome".

Forgotten Gods

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:45:49 +0000

For those of you in the Philadelphia area, I highly recommend coming out to tomorrow evening's reception for the group show "Mythology and the Forgotten Gods" happening at Phantom Hand Gallery at 6th and South Street in Philly.

I have two pieces in the show, both screen printed pieces with water color worked into them, and I know several other artists who's work for this show will be stellar.

Check out my process for one of my submissions below!

Firstly I work up my dip-pen and ink lines

Then it gets scanned in and cleaned up in Photoshop, taking time to arrange the composition the way I like it.

I get prints on clear acetate made so it can be burned into a silk screen

After the screen has been burned and washed out

Finished piece on watercolor paper with minimal washes applied.

The show will be running from Friday, March 23rd 2012 (opening reception from 6 - 10 PM) until April 23rd (at least). Other great work from local Philadelphia cartoonists, painters and illustrators are currently on display at Phantom Hand as well. And almost everything is on sale at really reasonable prices.

See you there!

Sunrise

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:58:01 +0000

Sunrise this morning at the marina

Instagram Updates for In-Progress things...

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:45:23 +0000

Check out my new Instagram page for random updates of things I'm up to in my studio...

A Liveaboard's Conservationist Lifestyle

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:46:01 +0000

Check out the article I wrote for Grid Magazine. It appears in the April 2012 edition and hard copies should be out soon! Flip to the very last page to view the piece!

Open publication - Free publishing

all about vices

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:50:15 +0000

If you're in the Northern Liberties section of Philly tomorrow night, Saturday March 3rd, you'd be missing out if you didn't come to "Everything in Excess" at Masthead Print Studio featuring screen prints from a plethora of Philly artists. If you've got bare walls, this is the place to pick up a piece for that spot at the end of the hallway that looks so bare. I've got two freshly screened pieces in this one - at reasonable prices framed, so bring your spending cash!

Ever felt really happy?

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:10:00 +0000

yeah, this is what it looks like.

My drawing for today.

Double Booked!

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:45:05 +0000

I'll be dropping off work to two different group shows this week, and both will opening next Friday night, January 27th. Come out to both, they're on the same street! I'll be going between 2020 South Street and 6th and South for the show receptions, so you may see me at either one.... or at each one simultaneously?

First we have Paradigm Gallery featuring Uarts alumni interpretations of confidence in "Confidence Is Not a Four Letter Word". Lots of interesting solutions to be poured over with many mediums represented. Reception begins at 6 and continues on until 10 PM.

Then drop by Phantom Hand at 604 South Street for "Artificial Dissemination: Propaganda to Popoganda" featuring screen-printed designs from a rag-tag army of Philly's finest cartoonists, artists and all around creative types. Reception from 6 - 10 PM as well.

See you there!

Summer sailing 2011

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:56:16 +0000

I just realized I didn't post any images of sailing from last summer (2011)! While we did less sailing overall than in 2010, it was mainly due to a very busy summer that didn't even afford more than a week off for either of us. Sigh! We did, however, manage to take my father and stepmother out for a day sail in July when they visited from Bangkok, Thailand. My father's photos of the outing (below) show his mastery of storytelling with photography, and his fantastic fish-eye lens managed to do the best justice to the scale of our boat I've seen thus far! To see more of his photos, visit Dr. Jeff Harper's photo blog.

Going under one of the many bridges we pass in order to get to the Chesapeake side. It always kinda feels like we won't clear it, but of course we do.

At the helm... It feels so great when the boat has picked up some good steady wind and is moving along at a comfortable tack. It's a sailor's life for me.

Heading southwest towards more open waters...

When these photos were taken we'd just gotten finished scrubbing the decks (or swabbing, if you prefer). Teak wood takes on a silvery hue with a few days of exposure to the elements, but if you take a scrub brush and some natural cleaner to it, you can reveal its lovely golden hue. The effect is short lived, however. Teak is used on sailboats since nothing eats it and it stands up well to the harsh ocean environments.

A full jib is what we like to see.

Our marine GPS is my favorite instrument on the boat. Full of info, and helps us avoid rocks.

The Wonder Years

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:48:42 +0000

This is a t-shirt design I made for The Wonder Years, a Philadelphia punk band. I'm pretty happy with the results! It's a 4 color screen print... A few different color variations, depending on the color of the shirt were provided to the band for their printing.