Brian Ewing #3

“Quitting my day job in porn to freelance as an artist full time,” says artist Brian Ewing of the decision that sparked his career watershed. “[I was] working for Hustler on the magazines handling scheduling, prep houses and printers. I swore that’d be my last day job.” Although Ewing has transformed into one of rock music and pop art’s most prolific, iconic image-makers, remaining down-to-earth and staying inspired are key elements to the growth of his rebellious art empire. While he’s become a sought-after household name for record labels and agencies, Ewing has stayed true to the independent spirit of his art, and his style has developed over time. “At first I was just happy to get a chance to draw and work with my favorite bands,” he says of his early punk-rock posters. But with his growth from poster artist to full-blown fine artist, he’s followed in the footsteps of his heroes and mentors--Frank Kozik, Coop, Tara McPherson and many others--building an instantly recognizable stylistic empire. Informed by everything from art nouveau to ukiyo-e woodblock printing, from the full-throttle art of SoCal’s “kustom” car culture to the dynamism and self-assured lines of comics, Ewing’s work fuses his own creative explorations Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct visual art media. For example, a work on canvas that combines paint, ink, and collage could properly be called a "mixed media" work. When creating a painted or photographed work using mixed media it is important to choose the layers carefully and allow enough drying time between the layers to ensure the final work will have integrity. If many different media are used it is equally important to choose a sturdy foundation upon which the different layers are imposed. Many interesting effects can be achieved by using mixed media. Often, found objects are used in conjunction with traditional artist media, such as paints and graphite, to express a meaning in the everyday life. In this manner, many different elements of art become more flexible than with traditional artist media. The Cotton Candy Machine is a fine art archival print publisher and online gallery for select contemporary artists, founded by Tara McPherson and Sean Leonard in 2011. It serves as the official online print store for Tara McPherson, as well as doing special events and pop ups across the globe. All of our archival pigment prints are produced right here in our studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We print on the highest quality etching and watercolor papers made in France, Germany and the USA. Our serigraphs and UV prints are produced in collaboration with a variety of talented screen printers and print houses around the US as well. We began as a storefront gallery and art boutique from 2011 to 2016 in a former fire station in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. The Cotton Candy Machine held a variety of art exhibitions, workshops, and events by a plethora of contemporary artists, curated by Tara McPherson. It then transitioned into a thriving online store and print publisher in 2017, serving as Tara McPherson's official print shop, publishing archival fine art editions, selling limited edition art prints, posters, apparel, books, toys and more. All the while holding onto its roots