Happy New Year! And a good way to start off 2009 is with the addition of Kareem Rizk to Thumbtack Press. We’re very pleased to have him aboard - welcome Kareem!

Looks like I’ll need to buy a lot more magenta ink because of Vanessa Tam’s new work. That’s okay, she’s certainly worth it.

She’s also offering up her very first miniature print for under $20. Buy it now or X X.

Patrick Leger’s art is a personal favorite of mine, I am the proud owner of two Leger originals after all, and if I had the money I’d own everything he draws. It may be my soft spot for good inkers, or a childhood (Pavlovian) snap-back to my comic collecting days, it could be my attraction to flat screenprint styles. Or maybe — and far more likely — he’s just a great artist that makes great art!

Wow! Doug Boehm has been busy. It looks to me like he’s transcended to a higher plane of illustration.

Don’t leave this post without viewing the two 3 Hats illustrations either, you won’t be disappointed!

Fellow SI-LA alumn Shiho Nakaza has added 3 new prints to her shop

Check ‘em out!

The very talented Jason Limon has joined Thumbtack Press. This guy’s good.

He’s also afforded us fresh subject matter to our world famous Girls & Tentacles section.

My jaw dropped when I first saw Adam S. Doyle’s work. He has a very unique, borderline abstract, style as you can see. They’re even better close-up, buy a print and you’ll see.

Dave Pressler is back and he’s still full of hot air. Corny? I got nothing.

For all you middle children, or those of you who have ever felt like the middle child, here’s the appropriately named Middle Child miniature print by Brandon Reese!

To the surprise of absolutely no one Lilly Piri has created a stunning image. What is surprising, however, is how deftly capable she is with a brush loaded with acrylic as well as a pencil. 3 new pencil drawings have been added to her store as well!

There’s lots of new stuff on Thumbtack Press (sorry for the lack of updates). Firstly, I’d like to introduce the very talented and very prolific Pascal Campion to Thumbtack. I first saw Pascal’s animations about a year ago and was blown away. He is also, it seems, a brilliant illustrator and an amazing compositionalist (if compositionalist is not a word, screw it, now it is!). He brings a wonderful and innocent Mary Blair-esque sensibility to the table. I got a chance to see one of his pieces at a recent Pixar art event too.

Sidebar on said Pixar event: While viewing a painting I realized that John Lasseter was just next to me quietly admiring the same piece. My mind started to scream, “Say something idiot, this is the Walt Disney of the new millenium, you’ll NEVER have another chance!” But being I was on his turf and trying to be a ‘civilized’ art patron I bit my tongue for fear that he would roll his eyes at, yet another, rabid Pixar fanboy. About 20 minutes later I saw another rabid fanboy approach him and stammer out how much he admired John’s contribution to animation — well guess what? Mr. Lasseter took it with genuine sincerity and couldn’t have been nicer or more accessible!!!! I blew it DAMN IT!!!!!!! Anyway I admired a painting with John Lasseter for a few seconds, I’ll take that.

Back to Pascal! He’s great too! I know you’ll agree.

One T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D prints now available on Thumbtack Press!

Boo. I would rather tread water in a recession. Seriously.

Here’s why hooray!!! (Never should’ve passed the Senate by the way…).

Previous rant here

There is so much to appreciate in Ken Wong’s art, especially the dreamy and childlike adventure stuff like this one. But don’t be lured into a false sense of security just yet… ’cause he’ll leap out and get you!

I’m overjoyed to have true blue illustrator Douglas Jones join Thumbtack Press. When I first saw these images I was blown away. It’s words and images like these that fortify me through, what I consider to be, a graceless age of man.

His talent is indisputable. If we’re lucky Douglas will give us more in the series - encourage him - buy a print!

I’ll get right to the point… Cancer sucks. I lost my brother to Leukemia in 1985. On a more hopeful note, Bob Dob was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma of the knee in 1987 and - thankfully - recovered. It’s really impossible to describe the heartbreak and helplessness felt from these devestating illnesses.

In 2006 Thumbtack Press raised $1000 for St. Jude Childen’s Research Hospital with a giving challenge, but that was a “drop in the vast sea” when it comes to cancer research. This year we are going to donate over $3500 with your help (no, we aren’t asking you for $3500). Bob Dob has graciously donated all of his commissions for “Lonely Day” for the cause, likewise, Thumbtack Press will donate all proceeds of this print run to St. Jude… Every single penny.

Here’s more good news: YOU get a Thumbtack Press-quality, hand signed limited edition print from Bob Dob for $75. It’s really a Win-Win-Win-Win situation. Want to help but don’t have the money? Please blog, e-mail, talk to everyone you know about this. Thanks.

A little about St. Jude:

“St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility anywhere. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. We are where some of today’s most gifted researchers are able to do more science, more quickly. Where doctors across the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients. Where no one pays for treatment beyond what is covered by insurance, and those without insurance are never asked to pay. We’ve built America’s 3rd-largest health-care charity, with a model that keeps the costs down and the funds flowing, so the science never stops.”