Featured Artist ||| Jennifer Lewis (Boston, MA) 

This week’s Featured Artist is Jennifer Lewis from Boston; the starting place of Paint Pens in Purses, our most beloved art collective. We are pleased to share you some images from Jennifer Lewis’ Cats at Work series. This particular series, which was inspired by old World War II propaganda posters, is both adorable and thoughtful. To check out more work visit Jenifer Lewis’ website or on her Etsy page. There were some buttons on there that I am already eyeing, so you better hurry. 

Bio:

I grew up in a small town in Maine, where I read a lot and spent numerous days in the woods chasing the animals.

Looking at the little things and observing the details has always been of great joy to me. Early on I was influenced by the detailed works of Hieronymus Bosch, Bruegel, and Lisbeth Zwerger. My influences grew to include numerous comic book artists, Mark Ryden and James Jean.

Visual storytelling became a big part of my art. Following my influences I set out to become an illustrator. In 2000 I graduated from the Rhode Island School of design, with a BFA in Illustration.

Currently I reside in Boston where I show my work at numerous galleries and cafes and continue cultivating my freelance career. I spend my days painting, baking, drinking coffee, arranging my loft and feeding my two cats.

My love of the arts continues to evolve and grow. Just recently I started attending Graphic Design classes at Mass Art and have big plans for the future.

You an find my work at the Made In Fort point store or Etsy and I also participate in the Fort Point open Studios.

Cats At Work Series

This series evolved from my love of old World War II movies and posters. I really enjoy the old propaganda poster aesthetic, simple with hand painted imagery. There is something quaint and unsettling about looking at the classic images of the 40’s from our modern viewpoint, I highly recommend  the movie “Fido” to illustrate this example.

My favorite images from this time period are the depictions of the factory girls. These women, like Rosie the Riviter started to support themselves and their families after the men went to war. I imagine these kittens like Rosie the Riviter, being all self sufficient with a great sense of pride in their work. Whenever I look at these paintings I always hear the Flogging Molly “Factory Girls” song in my head.

Featured Artist ||| Tofusquirrel (Boston, MA) ||| Illustrator

Tofusquirrel is this week’s Featured Artist and long-time friend of Paint Pens in Purses. We are very pleased to have her ice cream creatures flying ALL the way here from freezing Boston, Massachusetts to come chill with us in San Francisco for the “Ice Cream Girl” show at D-Structure NEXT Friday!

With Prismacolors, pens and paper; Tofusquirrel can create magic. You will also never meet someone more excited to watch the Planet Earth documentaries. Tofusquirrel loves animals, bugs, and all creatures times a zillion. True story. 

Tofusquirrel has been displayed at galleries, store fronts, New England Comics during Free Comic Book Day, The New York Comic Con, The Boston Comic Con, The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, and the world famous Art Basel Miami. Tofusquirrel has done art events for companies such as Apple, ADIDAS, Converse, Karmaloop, and Wizard Sleeve Toys. She has also had billboards and wall murals advertising Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer in cities across America.

In 2009, Tofusquirrel was flown to LA to do live painting along with Tara McPherson at the Hive Gallery during the very first Feminality show, all female art, hosted by Wizard Sleeve Toys. In 2011, Tofusquirrel’s work was displayed in Tara McPherson’s Tiny Trifecta art show, also the grand opening of the Cotton Candy Machine art boutique in NY. Dozens of low brow/pop surrealism artists were also in the show. Fans camped out in front of the boutique the night before, and the event was filmed by MTV.

Tofusquirrel has been published in LA Weekly, The Boston Phoenix, ColorInkBook Volume 11, The Boston Metro, The Boston Herald, The Weekly Dig, WIRED.com, STUFF Magazine, The FAT CHUNK robot anthology, MTV.com, I Luv Halloween 3, Juxtapoz.com, and more. She was featured in the Best of Boston 2008 and 2010 issues of the Boston Phoenix Newspaper, highlighting her gig posters and Paint Pens in Purses (an urban female art collective). In 2010, FuelTV flew to Boston to film Tofusquirrel and her work. The Tofusquirrel segment aired internationally during Mountain Dew’s Green Label Experience Action Sport Championships. Her artwork was also shown during the championship commercials. In 2011, she illustrated an octopus for the cover of “The Best of” issue of the Phoenix for Boston, Providence, and Portland. In 2012, she won the 1st place award for illustration at the New England Newspaper & Press Association Awards (weekly newspapers, circulation more than 6,000), for the Phoenix’s “Best of 2011″ octopus cover illustration.

At the event we will have Tofusquirrel pieces for sale, however, if you a.) can’t wait, b.) you need to get something N-O-W, or c.) you can’t attend the show, then you can purchase her work here.  

Gotta start somewhere. This page is virgin.

(Source: paintpensinpurses)

July 15, 2011 /// “Off the Pages”

Paint Pens in Purses, Boston’s all-female urban collective, released their first book this December and are following it up with “Off the Pages”, a show featuring new work from the book’s artists, plus some new additions. Paint Pens in Purses has been a notable force in the Boston urban art community and has been throwing art shows and other events around the city since 2008.

The show will be made up of twelve talented lady artists from the Paint Pens in Purses lineup and will span the genres of painting, illustration, photography and mixed-medium pieces. Artists include Mykim Dang, Tofusquirrel, Shayna Yasuhara (curator), Morgan Thomas Anderson, Heather Mcgrath, Allison Bamcat, Steph Love, Nineta, Ali Jersey, Destiny Palmer, Silver Oris and Genie B. 

Special thanks to our sponsors; Via Matta & Pabst Blue Ribbon. For more info please visit hourglasstattoo.net.

“Paint Pens in Purses”, an all-female urban art collective, Book Release Party

Boston, MA, December 4, 2010 —- Paint Pens in Purses, Boston’s all-female urban collective, is ready to release their first book to the public. This book is a visually stimulating collection of artwork and interviews with some of New England’s top female artists. Paint Pens in Purses has been a notable force in Boston urban art community and has been throwing art shows and live painting events around the city for over two years.

Author, Mykim Dang, and the group’s Founder, Shayna Yasuhara have thoughtfully selected photographs, illustrated works and paintings from sixteen artists of the Paint Pens in Purses lineup. The collection, which serves as a mini treasure trove of artwork, features work by Heather McGrath, Molly David, Ali Jersey, Silver Oris, Annie Park, Nineta, Destiny Palmer, Morgan Thomas, Genie B, Ashley Clark, Steph Love, Lichiban, Jessica Hess, Veronica Hubbard, Mykim Dang and Shayna Yasuhara. 

On Saturday, December 4th, the ladies’ will be celebrating the release of their first book at Goodlife Bar, 28 Kingston Street, 18+, 9pm-2am.