The Artist in His Studio. The Mercedes and The Woman.
The Artist has taken several forms. He’s a representation of the creative and fashionable gentleman. Not in the traditional sense, though I have fallen in love with the traditional imagery. My fingernails were painted last night and I have no problem with this combined with a suit and hat and gorgeous watch.
There is no reason to be stuck in the past, tied to the roles and rules established for a different culture in a different time with antiquated technology and antiquated understandings of the systems in the universe.
I do believe there is value in appreciating, understanding, elevating and emulating aspects of the past in which can be found beauty. This is The Artist.
The Artist in His Studio
A Print Series
This expression of The Artist combines inspirations across my universe of influence.
The figure is wearing a suit inspired by one Kent Haste and Lachter made for The Rake’s TF Chamberlin.
The Car is a Mercedes Benz 250SL 1967 via a wonderful article in Petrolicious.
The Woman is a portrait of Flora Mezino from a photo shoot in Parisian artist Zahra Holm’s studio by photographer Maud Chalard. I don’t know when I started following Zahra’s work but when she shared this photo series I new I would have to use it as inspiration for one of my paintings.
The watch is a Patek Philippe Chronograph (almost no detail in this painting but inspired by a collection I am illustrating to be exhibited at Baselworld 2020).
The Glasses are from Eyevan 7285. You’ll see an example in the editions below.
As with most of my digital illustrations there are a few different versions. Check them below. Prints are available for each.
The Original
The Artist in His Studio. The Woman and the Mercedes.
Eyevan Introduction
The Artist in His Studio. The Car.
The Woman, Edition
The Artist in His Studio. The Woman.
And the final Edition
The Artist in His Studio. Kent Haste & Lachter.
Gold and Vintage. Ralph Lauren and Porsche.
When we slow down we can simplify not only our stress, but our desires. When we slow down we can narrow our scope and attention, focusing on the goals we can achieve. Focus and perseverance are the key ingredients to success. It doesn’t much matter the goal.
I have been wanting to narrow the focus of Sunflowerman for some time. Not all of my work, but the expression of Sunflowerman across the eponymous outlets. Creating a template for the expression of fashion that can clearly become a ‘Sunflowerman.’
With the Mazda CX30 I found a template that inspired me. It was incidental, an expression of many years of study and experimentation. This Porsche and Ralph Lauren illustration is a more deliberate attempt to solidify that expression. It’s luxury, composition, style, technique and detail.
Porsche and Ralph Lauren
The Print
I began with the Gold Porsche 911. It’s a bit ostentatious but much of my work lately is leaning on the ornate and the grand. The most recent in The Artist series is a perfect example.
There are three expressions of the Gold and Vintage Illustration. They’re subtle in difference but tell different stories.
The Card Game
What is this mysterious card game that would drag us out at night, panning the street for clues? Is it a card game at all?
Rose Colored Life.
Sunglasses at the ready. Tinted to the perfect warmth. When your life is cozy and perfect why not see it through the warm glow of the fireplace.
Wine and Cars.
An ostentatious gold Porsche 911, an abstracted Ralph Lauren NYC flagship storefront, and champagne to go. It’s been a wonderful evening and now it’s time for a sunset ride.
The Artist with Liverano & Liverano Styling
After watching a clip of Dali on 1950’s game show ‘The Name’s the Same’ I went on a bit of a Dali dive. It had been a while since seeing exhibitions of his work at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA where I truly fell in love with his genius. Just as Caravaggio had moved me as a child, Dali was inspiring me as a young college student.
I stumbled on this image of Dali during my research. It was photographed as part of a series by Dali’s friend Philippe Halsman. It happened to be one of the more linear narratives from the set.
The pose with its irreverence for the canvas - note the foot on the easel- and the slacked shoulders suggest an arrogance of talent and ability. It’s an irreverence I imagine I could have some day.
The canvas is turned away from the viewer in this photograph. Unlike my interpretation which exposes the surface of the canvas, this version of Dali doesn’t care about the result, simply the process and the experience.
What Dali is wearing I don’t know but my Artist is in a Liverano & Liverano suit.
This photo of Simon Crompton from Permanent Style does a good job of exemplifying the Liverano & Liverano details. The strong shoulder with light roping. The straight cut lapel with large roll and high button.
The details are expressed with a much different posture in The Artist painting. A rested elbow drops the shoulder and allows the jacket to slack a bit down his left side.
The stiff, outstretched right arm pulls the fabric and bunches it along the arm.
An open jacket hides the exaggerated roll and high buttons.
The Artist is not Dali and I love Italian painting thus the Italian villa setting.
Behind the model is a painting from the Basilica di Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome. On the left wall is a painting by Heinrich Füger, Prometheus Brings Fire to Mankind. One the right wall is a detail of Hermes from a ceiling fresco at the Wurzburg Residence, the largest ceiling fresco in the world.
Ultimately I love the idea of an artist as a style icon. And as an artist is a master of their craft I like the idea of an artist wearing the craft of master clothiers such Liverano & Liverano.
‘The Artist’
With Liverano & Liverano suit styling
Road Trip with Mazda CX5. Sunflowerman's Fashion Illustration Process
How do you Road Trip?
The Mazda CX-5 was certainly an upgrade from my standard car (base model sedan). Having it as my ride for a week long road trip put my mind at ease and made each time getting in the car a breeze.
I like to pair my road trip with style. Here we have a gentleman with well groomed hair, clean face and a perfectly made suit.
• The suit is bespoke by Richard Anderson of Savile Row fame. It's double breasted and grey with pink checkered stripes.
• The levitating hat (because you always need a hat) is a Worth and Worth bespoke from the last bespoke milliner still in Manhattan, Orlando Palacios.
• Watch by Haldimann Horology because I obsess over the poetry they weave into mechanical engineering and design.
• Shoes are by George Cleverley. One of the best bespoke shoemakers in the world.
Materials
-Watercolor Paint.
-140lb Watercolor Paper.
-Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sable brush.
-Da Vinci Petit Gris Pur brush.
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The Passers-By Fashion Illustration and Print
The Passers-By
-Borsalino Fedora
-Brew Watches HP1 Watch
-Sunflowerman Bespoke Suit
-Shibumi Firenze Tie
Passers By
Where the time stands still.
High Quality Prints.
A Very Kingsman x Mr Porter Painting
The new Kingsman Movie is out, The Golden Circle. I haven't seen the movie but I have been to the Mr Porter x Kingsman pop up on St James in Piccadilly, right next to the great Lock & Co hatters shop.
It's where I got to see the collection created by Kingsman's producer Matthew Vaughn in collaboration with Mr. Porter based on the costume design of Ms Arianne Phillips. They've partnered with the best in production including Drakes, Turnbull & Asser, George Cleverly and even Stetson.
Enter my latest illustration pulling inspiration directly from the Kingsman x Mr Porter collection and pulling loosely (very loosely) from the movie, The Golden Circle.
It is in fact fully shoppable via Rewardstyle. Click on a piece of the collection in the painting, you'll be taken to the item and you can purchase from where you're sitting or standing right now.
Kingsman x Mr Porter Collection Print
Buy it plain, framed or on canvas.
Matthew K Hartman
Matt Hartman
Website
stylecoordinators.com
Instagram
@runnineverlong
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Where is home for you?
North West Arkansas (NWA) near Fayetteville, Arkansas
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
New Zealand
If you could only have one pair of shoes, what color would they be?
Brown
Podcasts or audiobooks?
Audiobooks
Extroverted or Introverted?
Introverted
If you were a dragon, what would you hoard?
Time (if we are playing fantasy here)
1. What first interested you in men's fashion?
My career pushed me into it but the interest started from vintage photos and old movies.
2. What is one great failure that you've had and what did you learn from it? Has it influenced the work you do today?
This is a hard question because failure is negative perspective on things that happen in life. I've had setbacks in my life like not getting a job offer, having cancer or being laid off. In every case I use those setbacks as fuel to push me forward. I'm an extremely driven person who doesn't like giving up easily.
3. Has one piece of art, literature or music helped shape who you are today?
Yes, bible.
4. Do you prefer to learn from other's mistakes, or make your own mistakes?
Learn from others especially from my grandparents.
5. If you had to choose a different career, what would you be doing?
An entrepreneur who travels the world and introduces solutions to everyday problems.
6. What are you most proud of in your own life?
Completing a marathon and my children.