BORDERLINES PERSONALITY DISORDER...

by Precious Ambergris, Company Secretary:

(photo courtesy of Bad Dog Theatre)

What if the Dungeons and Dragons universe was set in Toronto?  So goes the premise D and D Live!, the latest comedy show to muster up the courage to commission the Misanthrope Specialty Co. to draw their promotional poster. Or posters, plural, it turns out.  Bad Dog Theatre Company has signed the M.S.Co. in perpetuity, to deliver new artwork for every instalment of their serialized improv adventure venture.  The Company therefore wishes them continued success for many seasons to come.

 ("D and D Live!" book by the men and women of the M.S.Co.)

Yesterday the Company put the finishing touches on its submission for "Capaign 1: The Legend of T'ranna" -- the first instalment in the series.

Rather than its customary twodimentional gouache and ink on cardstock poster designs, the M.S.Co. saw fit to approach this assignment a little differently. The artwork was painted on the back of a book, alluding to the Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbooks, and hopefully imbuing the show with the mildly nostalgic feel of young adult fantasy novel.  In this instance the finished product isn't the illustration itself but a photo of the illustration on the book.

(With and without black border and logos)

This departure in the Company's approach to design was brough about by Bad Dog's imposition of a black "swoosh" border and digital logos on the finished poster; a design element that simply didn't jive with the Misanthrope's usual style or colour palate.  And while the Company feels it's come up with something that works, it is still the Misanthrope's unanimous opinion that this attempt at branding uniformity is as constricting to the designers as it is visually discordant.

(Previous Bad Dog show posters, as realized by various designers)

The black "swoosh" is one thing, but the prominence of Bad Dog's logo is a little awkward, pulling the eye down to the bottom left of the poster away from much of text more relevant to the actual show. Nevertheless, a contract is a contract; a paycheque a paycheque, and cigar just a cigar.  Chances are, at the end of the day, nobody but the easily annoyed Misanthropes will think that said border and logos mar their precious poster design. But anytime the Company members are in complete agreement about something is a day worth celebrating.

(Ms. Sakana's Twitter Dragon)

The Misanthropes would also like to take this opportunity to point out their favourite detail on the poster: the redesigning of the twitter bird as sort of batty dragon.  This finishing touch was snuck in in digitally in post-production by Company member Erkuden Sakana. A subtle bit of cuteness that tickles the Company more than anything possibly should.  It's the little things, sometimes.

* * *

HOMELY FOR THE HOLIDAYS...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

This just in: The Misanthrope Specialty Co. is now taking appointments for Unflattering Portraits at Kid Icarus' upcoming Handmade Holiday show.

What's are these Unflattering Portraits, you axe? They sound familiar, and amazing. They are.

The Misanthropes have adopted Reverenend Aitor's mission to lovingly commit everyone's oft-ignored flaws to paper. No laugh line is too deep; no blackhead too small. Embrace your cold sore, under-eye baggage and bot fly cysts. They are a part of who you are and shouldn't be glossed over or ignored. For a nominal fee, you too can have have your turkey neck recorded for posterity.

This is an Unflattering Portrait

To book your portrait appointment: simply click on the comments section at the end of this posting and claim any hour that isn't already claimed. Couples, oddly enough, count as two persons, so please book two slots. Online sign ups are open until 11:00 pm, Friday December 2.

UNFLATTERING TORONTO
at Handmade Holiday Arts + Crafts Show
Saturday December 3rd 2011
St. Stephen-in-the-Fields
(103 Bellevue Ave)

1:00pm - Available
2:00pm - Available
3:00pm - Available
4:00pm - Available

All live portraits are done by donation. Pay what you can, or think it's worth. Sittings take about thirty to fifty minutes per person. Punctuality, by the way, is always in fashion. Please be aware that patrons arriving more than eight minutes late for their scheduled sitting may not be served.

* * *

FAIR WEATHER...

(CRAFT FAIR, THAT IS)
by Reverend Aitor, Impressario:

The Christmas shopping season is already upon us. And while it had been decreed some time ago that the M.S.Co. was to all but pull out of the craft fair game, Christmas is a holy cash cow and the greedy Misanthropes are loath to relinquish their piece of the action.

promotional poster courtesy of Kid Icarus

And so, it's been decided that the Company would accept a very generous invitation from its new best buddies at Kid Icarus to partake in this year's Handmade Holiday extravaganza.

The one-day gift show grants Torontonians the opportunity to buy directly from local creators of high-quality handcrafted goods, such as paper products, poster art, soft toys, children’s clothes, knitwear, jewellery and more. Crafters flock from all parts of the city for a day of selling and swapping goods. Shoppers visiting the event are treated to mystery loot bags at the door, raffles throughout the day, and of course, a piece of artistry with every purchase they make.

video courtesy of Adil and Adam

This is one of those events that is so impeccably curated that the Misanthropes are left scratching their heads as to how exactly they managed to be invited to participate. Please note that there is a two dollar entrance fee. Five dollars if you wish to grab a mystery loot bag, while quantities last.

* * *

FRESH-SQUEEZED RENEGADE...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

 

promotional poster courtesy of Renegade Handmade

Citizens of Chicago: The Misanthrope Specialty Co. is heading to the Windy City for their final stop on the Renegade circuit.  Let's make this one count.

The M.S.Co. Away Team will once again be sharing a tent with long-time comrade-in-arms and frequent travel companion, Sweetie Pie Press.  You can find them at booth # 32, on Division Street (between Winchester and Wolcott), where they will be desperately hocking all manner of prints, handmade ephemera and a selection of original drawings and paintings.

photo by Reverend Aitor

And let's not forget the Unflattering Portrait Project.  The Misanthropes will be at the ready to lovingly preserve your oft-ignored flaws for posterity.  No laugh line is too deep; no blackhead too small. Embrace your cold sore, under-eye baggage and bot fly cysts.  They are a part of who you are and shouldn't be glossed over or ignored.  Sit down, relax, stop sucking in you gut and let your turkey neck swing proudly as one of the Company's qualified portraitists work their magic.

photo by Reverend Aitor

To book your portrait appointment: simply click on the comments section at the end of this posting and claim any hour that isn't already claimed. Couples, oddly enough, count as two persons, so please book two slots. Online sign ups are open until midnight, Friday September 9.

UNFLATTERING CHICAGO

at booth # 32

DAY ONE

Saturday September 10, 2011

Noon - Zueger

1:pm -Stacey T.

2:pm - Joshua

3:pm - Rachel

4:pm - Brandon

5:pm -Jylly Cortez

All live portraits are done by donation. Pay what you can, or think it's worth. Sittings take about thirty to fifty minutes per person. Punctuality, by the way, is always in fashion. Please be aware that patrons arriving more than eight minutes late for their scheduled sitting may not be served.

DAY TWO

Sunday September 11, 2011

Noon - Rachael

1:pm -Trish

2:pm - Phil and Noelle

3:pm - Phil and Noelle

4:pm -Timothy

5:pm - A.J.

And don't hesitate to tell your friends.  Or, for that matter, your enemies.  It looks like this might be the Company's last trip through Chicago for quite some time, so get your portraits while the getting's good.

*  *  *

DENIMED IF YOU DUDE..

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

Let Lucifer logo A by the members of the M.S.Co.

This week, the Company finished up work on the a new logo for Indianapolis artisan clothier, Jerry Lee Atwood.

Jerry Lee's handiwork (photo courtesy of Jerry Lee Atwood)

Mr. Atwood is the founder and proprietor of Jerry Lee's (Mid)Western Wear; a one-man operation turning out some of the finest hand-made and embroidered custom western clothing since Nudie Cohn. The two parties' paths had crossed a few years back, during a previous Company tour. They hit it off off instantly, discussing the finer points of both antique typewriter and moustache maintenance. Since then, Jerry and his lovely soon-to-be wife, Jaime, have hosted the Company on its various crossings of the Hoosier state, providing the Misanthropes with a private and comfortable space to spread out and fulfill their Sunday protocols.

A one-man sweatshop (photo by Becky Johnson)

But Mr. Atwood divides his time among many compartmentalized interests. Presently, he is preparing to launch Let Lucifer, a separate clothing label for his line of rugged workwear. This is where the Misanthropes come in.

Steps in the collaborative creation of the logo

The Company has been hired to handle Let Lucifer's branding; designing the logo, tags, and sundry items for this new venture. And while things are still in their nascent stage, the M.S.Co. is excited at the prospect of seeing its work emblazoned on a leather tag, swinging to and fro on the back of a pair of indigo jeans down the streets of Indianapolis.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of illustration initiated: 20
Number completed: 14
Number inducted: 4
Carried over to next week: 4

* * * *

WHAT MADE MILWAUKE FURIOUS...

by Tallulah Lastname, Company Clerk:

The Company Away Team is planning a little trip through Milwaulkee, WI where local arts maven Faythe Levine has arranged for Reverend Aitor to spend an evening drawing Unflattering Portraits at Sky High Gallery.

Gasp in horror as your every pimple is recorded for pus-terity; reevaluate your aversion to Botox as your crows feet and worry lines eclipse you smile; etcetra as a bunch of other stuff!

(photo by Reverend Aitor)

To book your portrait appointment: simply click on the comments section at the end of this posting and claim any hour that isn't already claimed. Online sign ups are open until midnight, Thursday night.

All live portraits are done by donation. Pay what you can, or think it's worth. Sittings take about thirty to fifty minutes per person. Couples, oddly enough, count as two persons, so please book two slots.

Punctuality, by the way, is always in fashion. Please be aware that patrons arriving more than eight minutes late for their scheduled sitting may not be served.

UNFLATTERING MILWAUKEE
Friday September 9, 2011
Sky High Gallery
2501 S. Howell Ave.

6:pm - "midwesteditorialphoto"
7:pm - Marisa
8:pm - Available
9:pm - Caleb and Steph

10:pm - Caleb and Steph

* * *

(photo courtesy of Faythe Levine)

The event is being held in conjunction with the opening reception for These Things They Do, a collection of new works by San Francisco's Catherine Ryan. Also in the works is additional programming by Print Shop Forever and a trunk show by comrade in arms Sweetie Pie Press.

* * *

LINE DISEASE...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

The painting pictured above represents something of an olive branch.  A public goodwill gesture from some of the naysaying members of the Company in Toronto to their Away Team counterparts.

"Please Come Back To Us: a public apology" by the M.S.Co.

In reviewing this summer's weblog posts, some of the Misanthropes grew concerned that their attempts to preclude the tour might end up being misconstrued; both by the Away Team and the reading public. They wanted it known that there is no true animosity between the two camps.  Infighting is sort of what the Company is set up to do by design.

Indeed, from it's very inception, the Misanthropes agreed the Company should be a house divided against itself, mired in its own bureaucratic democracy.  It's just more fun that way.

*  *  *

In unrealated news, sometimes the M.S.Co.'s membership finds itself in complete agreement.

 photo by Tallulah Lastname

Last week, for instance, all camps agreed unanimously that it'd been too long since the release of a Company catalogue. Nearly five yeas, asamatterofact.

True to their fickle dilettantism, the easily distracted Misanthropes became sidetracked with new diversion and offshoots thereof, leaving the once monthly review of the Company's collective output to flounder. In 2003, The Misanthrope Specialty Co.  Encyclopædic Catalogue, Illustrated, Monthly was scaled back to a quarterly publication, but even that became too much to live up to. It fared a little better as an annual before falling completely by the wayside in 2006.

Finally, the time has come to revive the all but forgotten publication.

 "The Killer" and its catalogue counterpart

A new Editor-In-Chief has been appointed to spearhead the Company's Publications Division.  Assignments have been doled out, and now the company has begun the process of compiling a comprehensive five-volume catalogue of selected works from 2007 to 2011.

Unlike in previous incarnations, the new editions will not contain scans and photos of the original Archive illustrations.  Instead, the Misanthropes have been busily re-creating their work in the slightly more simplified form of line drawings.  Each collectively made original will now be reinterpreted by a single illustrator. Depending on the whims of the Misanthrope assigned to any given illustration, some reproductions may be more faithful to the original than others. 

New drawings of old paintings by the M.S.Co.

It is not yet clear when the Catalogues will be published, and at what interval.  For that matter, the Company has yet do discuss whether it will continue to put out new volumes with any regularity after the 2011 volume is complete and on the streets. Right now the Misanthropes are busily focusing on the task at hand.

As usual, curious readers are advised to stay tuned to this weblog for further details as they come to light.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of illustration initiated:37
Number completed: 20
Number inducted: 3
Carried over to next week: 7

* * * *