Mark Gonzales: South West

by Ariston Anderson Mark Gonzales, aka the Gonz, might be better known for skateboarding or his shoe and clothing lines, but lately we've been taking note of his paintings and illustrations. In a new show in the Lower East Side, entitled South West, the artist explores patterns and cheery images in delicate watercolors. He tells CH, "A lot of the artwork in the show is …

Best Made Co. Axes

by Laura Neilson In May 2009, Peter Buchanan-Smith and Graeme Cameron debuted their marvelously dapper spring collection of Best Made Co. axes. Despite the hirsute woodsman imagery often linked to this simple chopping tool, Best Made's striking heirloom-quality designs are intended to appeal to men, women, urbanites and weekend warriors alike. Tempered and shaped—all by hand—at one of the U.S.'s oldest axe-makers in Maine, they …

Illustrator Lauren Nassef

Chicago-based RISD graduate Lauren Nassef has some unimpeachable skills as a draftsman, but I appreciate her work for its restraint and elegant minimalism. Check out her A Drawing A Day blog to keep up with her current illustration projects.