Compare/Contrast

Both artists Justin Fines and Kimou Meyer do a large amount of their work by hand and exhibit an organic, rawness in their pieces, all traits that I enjoy and identify with. Meyer and Fines also share a graphic explosiveness in their pieces with line complexity and color so overwhelming that the viewer at first may not know what he or she is looking at. Adding to their similarities is the fact that both designers have received recognition from the same clients and press. In 2006 Zoo York Skateboards commissioned a series from Fines as a part of their Zoo York Artist Series. One year later, in 2007 Zoo York used Meyer's work in the same series. Additionally, both designers have had work published in Over and Over, a Catalog of Hand-Drawn Patterns, by Mike Perry. As I mentioned, there is much at first glance, that is similar between these two, but striking differences make one, in my opinion, a better visual communicator than the other.

Zoo York Artist Series Skateboard, 2006 by Justin Fines pen and computer

Justin Fines, a New York based artist uses thick lines to block off areas of different sizes and shapes in his work, both abstract and representational. He is more organic than Meyer, using lines that appear to have been drawn by a quivering or shaking hand. Fines uses simple, often three color schemes to fill in the spaces in his work which often overlap and abut each other.

by Kimou Meyer

Kimou Meyer's lines are slimmer and steadier than those of Fines. Meyer often uses a two color scheme dipicting icons of common thoughts or images that pertain to his particular project. Unlike Fines, Meyer's shapes and icons are usually seperated by negative space, and are not a mass of shape and color on top of itself. Meyer has a clear foreground comprised of icons and background comprised of a solid color and is therefore more easily graphicly communicable. Fines' work requires several minutes of attention from the viewer before he or she knows what is being viewed. That's not to say that Fines makes poor or uninteresting work, but Meyer is more quickly and easily visually read or understood.