I'm With Stupid

I'm With Stupid is a delightful collection of the bold and beautiful illustrations and fine art of San Francisco's Jeremy Fish. His art has crept into our brains via his graphics as an art director for Think Skateboards, owner and artist of the Unbelievers Skateboards, "the Big Stupid" comics in Slap Magazine, fine art shows throughout the globe, and other illustration gigs for Xbox, the SF Guardian (or one of those papers), and others. Or maybe you've had the good fortune of coming into contact with the gang he formed in 1994, the Silly Pink Bunnies. His work inspired many of his contemporaries and his pen paper style continues to evolve into sculptures and furniture installations.

The books is divided into four sections. The first consists of Fish's absurd drawings. Heavily outlined black and white creatures and scenarios mix a gigantic cast of animals, weapons, vehicles, machinery, foodstuffs, and familar buildings. A lot a cartoon tattoo imagery in vignetted spaces. Plus bonus portaits, self-portaits, and skulls a-plenty. These are objects and styles now very familiar with many artists, but don't fool yourself, Fish is the original.

The second section is some choice selection from the Big Stupid ( in full color), which was a two-page comic illustration Jeremy did monthly for Slap Magazine from 2001-2004. These were small, surreal narratives generally involving skateboarding. From a set of lungs kickflipping a cigarette over an ashtray to (my personal all-time favorite skate drawing) the f/s nose blunt spread in the "New Condiment Concave" episode. The final 7 episodes were collaborations between Fish and some heavyweight skateboard art legends like Pushead, Andy Howell, and Todd Bratrud.

The third section of I'm With Stupid is dedicated to skateboard graphics. Fish made did his first skateboard graphic with Think in 1999 and has since designed over 300 different decks for them, others, and his own the Unbelievers brand. Fish's work defined the Think brand for the new century (the post-Wade Speyer era), and he took everything a step further with the Unbelievers' graphics.

The final pages of this book are color reproductions of his fine art paintings and sculptures. These are much along the lines of his more graphic work, but with brighter colors, brushwork, textures, and layers of materials. The content is usually a blend of his characters within a layered environment or scenario. The sculptures are like Fish drawings come to life. The book ends with his work combining painting with skill-saw cut skatedecks. I remember first seeing some of those decks at Culture Cache gallery in SF (where Fish was working in exchange for a free apartment) and being excited that Jeremy was pushing his talents in new directions while still clearly working within his original framework. They were new and still unmistakable Fish.

His recent works have included several art and furniture installations (most recently at Fifty24 in SF), as well as a "get-in-the-van" art tour across the country for his 30th birthday. He has clothing and vinyl toys and even his own Nike shoe! He recently released a limited edition book from Ginko Press with Aesop Rock (with a 7" vinyl record") called "The Next Big Thing"... the book was so limited I never even got a copy of my own!

I'm With Stupid was published by Fifty24 and Upper Playground in early 2006. It's got full-color glossy pages (except the drawings section), 140 pages total, soft cover, and is amazingly affordable. Jeremy Fish currently lives and works in San Francisco, is an amazing skateboarder, has always been cool when I've met him, and is the big Don of the SPB so show some respect. Check Jeremy's website here for tons of new work, and check this blog on fecalface.com about Jeremy's trip through Germany. There are lots of blogs and photos of and by Fish on the internet so do some searching.

I'm With Stupid is available from Rowan Morrison right now (depends on when you read this) for only $19.95. You can check it out in the gallery, purchase it on our website, or buy it right now through Paypal by clicking on the "add to cart" link below (there is no link, now):

Update September - we just sold out of I'm With Stupid. I'm working on getting some more copies if possible. Check back in or check out our online art book store for updates.