The Working Proof: Heisuke Kitazawa - Dance Party

Dance Party is an awesome print by Heisuke Kitazawa, an illustrator that I have long since admired, ever since spotting his wallet series for Poketo. Dance Party is about how we coexist with others. It expresses how Heisuke feels about communication:

Animals or humans it's all the same. It's all about sincerity - how we treat others and not about knowing the language or other communication methods.

This is a digital print on acid free, Neenah uncoated matte 100lb cover paper that is 80% recycled. It was digitally signed by the artist and was numbered by The Working Proof. 15% of each print sold will benefit Puppies Behind Bars. Read our interview with Heisuke here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Jez Burrows - Sea Dream

I love the simplicity of this print edition by Jez Burrows - a series of maritime elements that make up a nautical dream. Sea Dream is a four-color Gocco screenprint on 140 lb Canaletto Liscia paper.  15% of each print sold will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières.

Read our interview with Jez here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Harry Diaz - Same Sun

One of the best things about running The Working Proof is being introduced to new artists. When Harry Diaz sent us a link to his portfolio, I was super stoked. His artwork is influenced by Mayan textiles and hieroglyphs, and incorporates an amazing amount of texture, layer, and color. The edition he made for us evolved from his memories of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Guatemala (where he is originally from), which were happy and celebratory events, despite the fact that dealing with the passing of loved ones is always a tough ordeal. Same Sun is about the forces of nature, life and death, and the afterlife.

This is a four-color screenprint on 140 lb Muscletone cover paper from French Paper. Each print was signed and numbered by the artist. 15% of each print sold will be donated to Teach For America. Read our interview with Harry here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Laszlito Kovacs - Vida Lenta

A light-hearted print by Laszlito Kovacs for your Tuesday afternoon, and good reminder in this fast-paced day and age: Vida Lenta, or "Slow Life". According to Laszlito, "It is a set of words for a way of living: slow, without stress, in a contemplative way." I need that reminder especially - with a three-month old baby, I'm trying to figure out how to balance work and life these days.

15% of each print sold will be donated to 826 National, a fantastic non-profit that encourages kids' interest in reading and writing. They also have an awesome set of themed shops, including the Superhero Supply Company in Brooklyn, which sells capes, masks, and grappling hooks, muscles, antimatter, secret identity kits, and suction cups. The website appears to be under construction, but you can check out all of the other shops supporting 826 National here. Read our interview with Laszlito here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Santiago Uceda - The Visitor

This print, The Visitor, by Santiago Uceda started out as a gig poster for the band Finn Riggins. This simplified version is about travel and discovery in other worlds. The theme of travel and outer space has been of interest to Santiago ever since he did a poster last year for a science and arts festival, for which the theme was the cosmos.

15% of each print sold will be donated to Little Kids Rock. Read our interview with Santiago here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Blanca Gomez - Village

I am a longtime Blanca Gómez fan, so I am thrilled to share today's print edition, Village, with you. Village was created by Blanca as a simple and calm portrait of her ideal landscape. As with all of her artwork, the landscape features simple geometric shapes and bright colors.

15% of each print sold will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières. Read our interview with Blanca here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Karina Eibatova - Flower Families

Another pretty spring print - this one by Karina Eibatova, featuring Flower Families with subtle details and beautiful colors.

15% of each print sold will be donated to Restore NYC. Read our interview with Karina here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: bee things - Animal Medley

I'm so excited to launch this amazing print by bee things. Jeff and Shay are a husband and wife duo from Dallas, TX, who create beautiful, nature-inspired products. Animal Medley is a four-color screenprint featuring all kinds of exotic animals. The print is perfectly paired with the Jane Goodall Institute, because Jeff and Shay were delighted to hear about the Institute's philosophies and mission of inspiring and educating young people around the world to be stewards of our small planet and advocates for our fellow organisms.

Buy the print here, and read our interview with Jeff and Shay here.

The Working Proof: Mark Warren Jacques - The Things I Think Dangle From Me Like This

This new print by Mark Warren Jacques reminds me of Native American dream catchers, a symbol of protection that "caught any harm that might be in the air as a spider's web catches and holds whatever comes in contact with it" (Wikipedia). Rather than catching harmful things, The Things I Think Dangle From Me Like This captures and displays the positive elements of our selves - beliefs, knowledge, truth. As Mark describes the piece:

The Things I Think Dangle From Me Like This is a piece about self awareness and self exploration. The diamond shape with descending steps of blue into outer space represents the mind and its structured infinite nature. The dangling charms are our beliefs, our knowledge, and our truths, if you will. We wear these truths for all to see - they are our history, and in many ways, our self-worth.

Beautiful! 15% of each print sold will be donated to Farm Sanctuary. Buy the print here, and read our interview with Mark here.

The Working Proof: Kate Shaw - All that Glitters

Kate Shaw describes her work as vacillating between the real and the hallucinated, and this new print for The Working Proof is most definitely that. All that Glitters was inspired by the landscape in the Northern Territory of Australia, which ranges from tropical to rocky desert. One of the features of this landscape is the Ghost Gum, a type of eucalyptus tree, which has a white bark that changes color depending on the light conditions. At dusk the tree trunks range from a bright orange to a pale peach, depending on the intensity of the sun. All that Glitters depicts a Ghost Gum and considers the ephemeral nature of things.

15% of each print sold will be donated to American Forests for their work in conserving and replanting forests. Buy the print here, and read our interview with Kate here.

The Working Proof: Hollie Chastain - Unplug

Unplug, by Hollie Chastain.
15% of the sale of this print goes to American Forests.

Yesterday was the first day of spring, and Unplug is a celebration of the changing season. After a long winter of hanging out indoors and spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen, it's time to unplug and go outside! I love the sentiment (and need the reminder!). The print, by Hollie Chastain, was originally created for a group show centered around a modern take on the Works Progress Administration posters of the 1930s, promoting health and safety, travel and educational programs. The artists involved with the group show were challenged to create a poster with a modern message, Hollie's being that there is always more adventure and beauty in nature than we can ever find online.

15% of each print sold will be donated to American Forests, which Hollie felt was the natural choice to pair with this print, as there will be nothing left of 'outside' to enjoy unless we start taking better care of it. Read our interview with Hollie here, and buy the print here.

The Working Proof: Susan Schwake and a Fundraiser for Japan

Like us, you've probably been following the coverage of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday. Also like us, perhaps you are looking for ways to help with the relief efforts.

We have partnered with Susan Schwake to bring you this week's print edition, Birds in the Bush. We will donate 100% of each print sold to Doctors Without Borders, who are currently in Japan assessing the post-quake needs, setting up mobile clinics, and focusing on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and victims suffering from chronic illnesses. You can read more about Doctors Without Borders' efforts here, and I'm sure that the website will be updated as they conclude their assessment of the post-quake needs. Birds in the Bush is an open edition that will only be available through March 31st, so pick up your print now and help us support Doctors Without Borders!

Birds in the Bush is about the promise of spring. No matter how bleak the winter, spring always comes to comfort us - heralded in with the songs of birds. Originally a gelatin monotype made with mixed media in ink and pastel, this is a digital print on acid free, Neenah uncoated matte 100lb cover paper that is 80% recycled. Huge thanks to Susan Schwake for enabling us to bring you this special edition.