Monday, June 29, 2009

Tricked by Yuki 7


The color and 60's style of Kevin Dart's Yuki 7 illustrations makes me all happy and warm inside. I've posted the link everywhere I can think of, check out the series, they're totally cool. When I first ran across the slideshow through notcot.org I truly thought they were examples of old Japanese movie posters. I've only figured out after doing a little more research that the art is a representation of a fictitious spy character. I suppose I should've realized right away based on the Shag, Ed Fotheringham, Glenn Barr clean modern quality that it was current, although I'm glad I didn't. I was able to go off into imagination land and think about this series of films that I'd never heard of and how could it be that I hadn't run across this artwork somewhere? What a discovery! Alas even though it's new it still presents the same level of excitement and anticipation... this is only the beginning.

I talk a lot about illustration as a major part of the graphic design cocktail and less about "design" per se but to me it's all smooshed together. As an illustrator and a designer I don't know how to separate the two, art is an integral part of how I approach design. Not only is it a way to maintain control of the project and my vision of the outcome, but it's also an absolutely essential tool for composition and inspiration. Not too many things can stop me in my tracks like a beautiful, thoughtful, well drawn, masterfully executed piece of illustration can, I am mesmerized, temporarily paralyzed by it... good thing galleries don't appear in the roadway, I would have been squashed long ago. Maybe it's due to the nature of illustration which is often representational, I can easily get lost in the color and the style without being bogged down in interpretation. This isn't always the case of course, much editorial art is quite conceptual but it's meaning is generally grounded in the story it seeks to represent and not so much wrapped up in the artist's personal manifesto. Color and skill alone are enough to dazzle me, art does not require deep meaning to be called art. I'll stop by the MOMA for a dose of concept and vision when I need it, but I will continue to appreciate art purely for art's sake.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

information overload!



I have spent so much time today thinking about all of the things I want and need to learn, research and create that I'm immobilized at the moment. I think my head will explode if I read one more tweet. There is sooo much out there, does anyone know it all? Are all of you struggling to stay on top of technology racing at the speed of sound just like me? Shoot, I'm a self-taught technician and played the role of IT person at home and at work because in those days, no one knew the answer. I took responsibility in order to learn and because it was an interesting challenge. I hope the next technological advancement is a Johnny Mnemonic injection, I'll be first in line.

So through all of that, here's some links to share that I found very cool... MephoBox a great site to pick up or examples to review. There's so many neat things to look at it satisfies my OCD. How about 20,000 names from around the world? From Sumiko to Adhiambo, Padraig to Miroslaw, go ahead — Baby Dwynwen deserves to be unique. Last but not least... morbid yet hysterical, these pillows are a stitch fromKeetra.com

'til next time

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It's happy hour



Graphic design cocktail, sponsored by Pink Chocolate Design, takes its maiden voyage. All beverages are half price until 6pm!

Once again I am up past my bedtime, my empty blog cried out for attention and I must oblige the little dickens by typing a few lines. So to get started, let me share two of my most favorite things.

First notcot.org the coolest website around. Design, architecture, gadgets, fine art, illustration, you name it, a random collection of art related yet unexpected links that continuously update. I think I was lost for three hours the first time I visited, it's an amazing source of inspiration and reminds you how much creativity is out there. Millions of people around the world making stuff, daring to go public and share with the rest of us... the world seems vast and small at the same time.

Second, the most amazing dolls by Marina Bychkova. Beautiful yet pensive, the eyes seem filled with tears... as if they are witnessing something perfectly beautiful or the moment following when the vision has faded. They are capable of such lifelike poses it's easy to forget they are enchanted dolls and not real people. The costumes, jewelry and headpieces are so finely crafted, they are true works of art in their own right.

enjoy