sweep up the pieces

today's terrarium

2011-09-07T17:47:00.002-07:00

Crate & Barrel had really adorable cheap butter dishes that I thought would be perfect for a tiny terrarium. Surprise, they are!

My succulent plants are the only things that are thriving outside- could it be because I never, ever do anything with them but clip them occasionally to plant the cuttings and watch them proliferate?

Nico is helping! Yeah right.

Jessica Swift rain boots

2011-07-08T17:18:00.004-07:00

Cue girlish squeals! I am soooooooo excited about Jessica Swift's rain boot line coming out! I get her regular email updates and have been watching her Kickstarter page get closer and closer to her goal and voila! It's happened!

Her patterns are super fun, colorful, bright (just like her paintings) and I just love them. Sadly (kind of), we don't get much rain here in sunny San Diego, so buying rain boots isn't exactly the most USEFUL way I could spend my money, but it's one of the funnest!

I think what finally got me to realize that drooling over the wonderfulness of the boot project wasn't going to get me merrily clomping around in a pair was when she kept blogging about painting and being inspired just by getting off the computer and into the studio. I particularly liked the pink whale painting:

I knew that this pattern-making spunky lady of the South is a woman after my own heart and I must, simply must, get a pair of these boots. I eagerly anticipate the next chance of showers (a.k.a. marine layer threatening to spit about a half inch) so I can throw on my bright yellow raincoat and splash around in the "puddles".

You can help too! She's reached her goal, which GUARANTEES that the boots are soon to be a reality! Pledge any amount, and $100+ means you get AT LEAST one pair of your choosing (I'm having a hard time deciding) and larger pledges = more swag! Plus, the more money she gets, the more patterns she can release from the start, so get your friends over there too via Twitter, Facebook, or one of the badges available on her site!

This is a total sales pitch, but whatever. I'm just stoked to see talented ladies pull up their bootstraps and get it dooooooone.

Fort Day

2011-07-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I've been completing many important projects recently.

Knitting Narwhals!

2010-12-14T20:18:00.002-08:00

Knitting Narwhals!

SadlyHarmless at Etsy

paper frames

2010-11-14T20:55:00.001-08:00

for an el cheapo like me, these are awesome!

today

2010-08-09T21:46:00.001-07:00

i've been swamped. here's a colorful design sponge post that i love and can't beat.

mustache by font

2010-07-04T10:37:00.002-07:00

I'll admit, I got a little carried away when the whole mustache craze really took off, and why not? They're funny and if properly used, hysterical with irony. However, it's gotten a bit out of proportion with fingerstaches and the high number of handlebars now being sported by men under the age of 60, but this handy guide to mustaches by font is still pretty funny and clever.

You can also download different sizes here from wit + delight.

Andrew Holder

2010-06-29T18:25:00.003-07:00

What is it with this guy? I swear, I hadn't heard of this local artist until about a month ago, and now I see him EVERYWHERE. I even saw his work on a local retailer American Express door sticker for stores in San Diego! Obviously his work is super hot right now, in San Diego and beyond. His simple use of shapes and more complex use of color palletes represent his ideas in unique, fun, fresh, and contemporary ways. These are all pretty generic terms, but his work is anything but. Today he's the featured artist on Tiny Showcase, and the charity he has selected is WiLDCOAST, which "works to protect and preserve coastal ecosystems and wildlife in the Californias and Latin America by building grassroots support, conducting media campaigns and establishing protected areas. $250 dollars from the sale of his artwork will be donated to the organization." (tinyshowcase.com) The print pictured above is available for $20, and is a series of 200.

His website is phenomenal, and I'm hoping that I'll have the opportunity to see more of his work for many years to come. Here's a few of my favorites below. Enjoy!

The illustration for American Express

Memories of the Desert, 12.5" x 6", mixed media on vintage paper

Jelly Fish, 11" x 30", 6 color screen print on hand painted paper artists edition of 10

Owls, An ongoing series of owls on vintage slides

Trophy Deer Heads, personal project

Adam Juresko + Catcher in the Rye = Making Richmond proud

2010-06-24T21:50:00.003-07:00

First the Penguin clothbound classics by Coralie Bickford Smith, and now this. Newly vamped book covers are a hot design trend, and I am super stoked to see a Richmond not-so underground art powerhouse making his mark in the literary world as well.

Adam Juresko has long been a figure in the Richmond art scene, and I have to say I am extremely pleased with his newer works and the direction in which he's headed. I've always been a fan of his collages and paintings, and to see his work take a more tightly-knit focused approach to layering paper and assemblage techniques is way exciting, to say the least. Even from across the country it's apparent that he's headed for big things, and I'm sure this won't be the last we hear of him.

Not to mention Catcher in the Rye is a badass book. Nice first choice!

Fingerprint rings

2010-06-06T21:46:00.002-07:00

I'm guessing getting engaged, going to a wedding, and picking out wedding rings keeps that particular item of jewelry on the mind, so today I would like to share one of my recent finds that I think would be a totally awesome wedding ring option.

Fingerprint rings by Etsy seller fabuluster are a great way to say I do while keeping a unique momento to commemorate the union. Apparently, via Kaboom this is the latest Etsy trend, but I'm sure by next week Etsy will have come out with some other totally awesome and unique rings for me to pine over.

Haoshi Design Studio

2010-05-27T19:16:00.002-07:00

I'm not much of a jewelry wearer. What I do wear generally dangles from my ears and sometimes neck; I already went through the adolescent-subculture-pseudo-hippie phase wearing plastic and wooden rings from every finger with a bent spoon on my thumb, but for years until Ashton gave me a sparkly rock to put on my left hand I've avoided all hand accessories. However, the other day I was perusing Design*Sponge's recap of ICFF's trends of nature, and fell absolutely head over heels with Haoshi Design Studio jewelry, based out of Taiwan, most notably the Animal Series rings.

There's an entire zoo available, and when I realized these were only $75 I about flipped. These absolutely exquisite, classic, clean, and gorgeous pieces are a steal, and I would have predicted a price tag in the hundreds at least. Obviously, the rabbit is my personal favorite, and I'm hoping to add it to my right hand soon! I'm actually having difficulty restraining myself from ordering this immediately, but reason unfortunately prevails.

For the Birds: Luke Bartels & Jeff Canham

2010-05-11T18:11:00.004-07:00

"Adorable" doesn't even come close to an accurate description of these handmade wooden birdhouses by San Francisco duo Luke Bartels & Jeff Canham. Admittedly, a bit pricey at $675 each at the Curiosity Shoppe, but if you don't mind shelling out the bucks, these little spaces have got to be the cutest avian nooks of the century. Unique design oozes from every clever quip painstakingly painted upon the collection; clean lines meet with tchotchke humor, and I can't imagine a more wonderful place to fly into and shake the dust of my wings every night!

How can I pick a favorite?! Whatever you do, please don't make me choose!!

Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera

2010-05-01T21:58:00.003-07:00

I'm at the point in my life where I can remember a time when only rich people and photojunkies had digital cameras, and the rest of us normal folk used those crazy little boxes with film that had to be taken and developed. Stacks and stacks of negative sheets still haunt my mother and fill her basement with blurry photos with a horrible-to-acceptable photo ratio of roughly 1,000,000 to 1. Ah, the days before a preview screen!

When Polariod announced the discontinuation of its extremely popular vintage instant photo camera, there was a major backlash from the artist community and nostalgia lovers. People across the world stockpiled the hard-to-find film packs whose numbers are only dwindling as the days go by. Still, there's a few options that have sprung up to fill the analog need in a digital world, one of whom is the Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera by Photojojo!

Photo from Photojojo store

This lil' box of adorable packs a different wallop than the square photos we all know and love- the pictures that print have the immediate satisfaction like the digital cameras of today, but portray a dated look of yesteryears. Described as "Polariod's little brother", these little puppies are only about the size of a credit card and have a few upgrades from their outdated brother, such as four exposure settings for indoor/outdoor shooting, a built-in flash, and a sweeping wide angle so you can still have a bit of control while maintaining the 'surprise' aspect of instantaneous shooting! With film that costs just over a dollar per print, it's not the bargain of the century, but for the magical moment when it pops hot and fresh into your hand, it might just be worth it.

Domo!

2010-04-22T18:25:00.004-07:00

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK OR THINK COHERENTLY WHEN I AM FACED WITH DOMO. Inexplicably, as some people stroke out when faced with puppies or babies, when I am faced with most toys from Japan, I become a drooling, blabbering idiot without rational capability to think or exist beyond an excited vegetable. I have lots of hobbies, but none can rival my toy collection. It's an absurd habit for an almost-25 year old to have, but I DON'T WANNA GROW UP. Domo is a rebel, a rapscallion, a lover, a fighter, a biter, a dogsitter, an astronaut, Domo may be the almighty Jah. Now you too can collect his multiple personalities via blind box collection from Think Geek!

"Domo, amongst his other talents, is an artist and master of disguise. Normally, he's the brown we all know and love. But sometimes he just has to turn green to blend in with some grass or plaid to blend in with a . . . uh . . . kilt! And sometimes he enters stealth mode and becomes as clear as clearish plastic. And even if Domo really doesn't do all that, these 2" Domo Qee Collectible Figures do.

2" Domo Qee Collectible Figures are adorable. Each Domo Qee (pronounced "key") is full of mystery. There are over 15 different versions in this series, ranging from regular to plaid to silver to camouflage - and you never know which Domo you're going to get. Ah, the exceitment! As a bonus, each package contains one extra Domo part (arm, leg, body, etc). Collect all 6 and you can assemble your own clear Domo. 2" Domo Qee Collectible Figures - a dash of mystery, a tablespoon of fun, and a whole heaping helping of adorable. Awww."

I don't consider my toy collection complete without at least half of these. To all you procrastinators out there, my birthday is in 2 days. Don't be afraid to extend the festivities by sending a few of these my way!

Jason LaFerrera

2010-04-12T18:11:00.003-07:00

Two big reasons why he's the artist of the day: 1) I've already gotten 2 emails about him, and to get even 1 in a day is a big deal. 2) He's from Richmond, which automatically bumps him up a notch in my book. Other reasons include his use of maps (which I am a HUGE fan of and use many maps in my work as well), along with his complex use of collage and paper to create creatures that jump off the page with simplicity of shape, yet intricacy of detail. Jason LaFerrera's work effortlessly achieves everything that I wish my work would embody; subtle pallete tones tie each image together with ongoing detail in each animal that keeps the eye on a continuous train around their forms. It's a delight to consider the travel and geography of the earth shaping these beautiful beasts, and his Etsy shop is open and available for you to bring one of these great pieces home today!

Here's some of my favorites from his Bird Series, followed by some work from his Fauna series- I didn't alter the size on some of them so you can click on each one to fully appreciate the scope of detail present in each individual work.

Munny PLUSH!

2010-04-06T20:45:00.006-07:00

As I delve deeper and deeper into the wild and awesome world of vinyl toys, I am constantly reminded that the artist not only has complete liberty over aesthetic on a given template, but material as well. Dunnies exist as a blank platform for which an artist or designer can approach the problem of a bare pallete with a signature style, genre, or idea, and re-create the mold into a completely unique icon available to the world. Taking the idea one step further is Holly Stanway, a UK artist based in London whose plush & model work is magnifique! Check out her site here: A Little Stranger
Pictures from KRonikle:

Jason Jagel at FIFTY24SF Gallery

2010-03-27T23:24:00.002-07:00

Image from FIFTY24SF
A Massachusetts native, this extremely talented, unique, and contemporary artist has been shown around the world in cities including New York, Barcelona, Tokyo, Seattle, Los Angeles, and more. Certainly not his first show, Jason Jägel opens yet another solo exhibition at FIFTY24SF in collaboration with Upper Playground. I'll Fly (Into Your Heart) opened April 1st and runs through May 26, 2010 in the gritty heart of San Fran. His work is heavily influenced by the music of today and the past decade, referencing not only the movement of today's underground music scene but his childhood loves of records and comic books.

His bold, vibrant colors and slashing edges juxtapose across his canvases in a flurry of controlled desperation and haunting facial expression. His multi-layered universe speaks volumes about the trials of today and nostalgia for years past. Don't underestimate the street artist of today; what strength they have in numbers doesn't directly correspond with the level of merit seen, but Jägel rises above his counterparts to truly shine an exquisite light on what artists are capable of today.

I'm partial to his paintings and drawings, but don't miss his album artwork as well. You're sure to recognize big names there, and perhaps even find some gems in your own collection. His installation work reminds me of the Mexican artist installations from the designers in the Azteca Series with a splash of watercolor palette sensibility, but that's just me!

Artificial Ink

2010-03-16T19:07:00.003-07:00

We've all been there- drawing little flowers on your ankle, pretending to have hand tattoos with puppet faces, summertime application of the Looney Tunes stick ons, and maybe even in a moment of drunken weakness succumbed to the beach hippies giving henna. However, once you get past the age of 12 it's mildly unacceptable to continue on the trend of fake body modification. Tattoo culture is an extremely bizarre and cultish lifestyle with many subgroups who all equally snub the others. For those not quite ready to take the 18-and-over plunge into permanent body modification, piercing is a good way to get your feet wet. It's rebellion that can be hidden at opportune times, such as Christmas at Aunt Mildred's or your first day of work as an elementary school teacher.

Fake tattoos seem to be gaining in popularity, and not just with the under 16 crowd. There have even been been talks of developing tattoo ink that will last for anywhere from a month to a year, or erasable with 1 laser treatment rather than several. I personally find this to be a complete sham. If you're going to do it, do it. Don't pop a Valium, grit your teeth, take the pain, and basically man up. If you want to be in the club, earn it with the commitment and the dedication to do it the RIGHT way.

To those of you who find this mindset snobby or elitist, my guess is that you don't have a tattoo, and you might be interested in these artificial ink stick ons specially designed, it seems, with hipster photo shoots in mind. I suppose these fill a completely separate niche than actual tattoos, but it's such a fine line these days as tattoo culture becomes more mainstream with every passing day. While there are some definite benefits to this culture trend, it does tend to dim the romantic side of body art. Despite my initial hesitation to embrace mainstream (as mainstream as Etsy can get!) tattoo-inspired art, it IS damn cute. Check out some more ink-inspired work on Etsy here.

Adorable necklaces

2010-03-13T18:39:00.004-08:00

After getting chewed out by multiple sources, I have finally willed myself to sit down and knock out a long-overdue blog! Things that have happened in the last few weeks that have distracted me and taken up a whirlwind of my time: 2 different sets of visitors from Virginia, a boyfriend birthday, and an engagement! That's right, Ashton popped the question and of course I said Si si si! It's been a few weeks to wrap my head around this development, but most of my time is now taken up by browsing All Things Wedding via the Internet and magazines. Who knew this was such a big deal?!?!? I'm sure many of my future posts will be dedicated to cute little invitations or centerpieces, but as I'm only beginning my long research journey I haven't quite narrowed things down.

No more excuses. My friend Mandie brought these adorable necklaces by Spinthethread to my attention and I just love them. Color and geometry are two big loves of mine, and as I rapidly approach my quarter-century, I'm trying to make an effort to care more about fashion. I still haven't gotten over my jeans and t shirt phase (much to the chagrin of Momma D), but I'm trying to be more open-minded about perhaps wearing a sundress, or actually looking at accessories! Here's a few of my favorites:

I don't know how to pick a favorite! I love all of them!!!

Drunk At My Own Party

2010-02-06T12:12:00.002-08:00

I've known Tim Skirven just shy of a decade, and I'm consistently amazed at his creativity and dedication to art and design. As a young twentysomething residing in various parts of Virginia, he's a photographer, printmaker, designer, webber, blogger, painter, jack-of-all-trades who is an inspiration and challenge to us all. I like to think of myself as an artist, but with a full-time job and a list of excuses a mile long to not sit down and get to work, it's people like Tim that remind me there's a LOT of time that needs to get put in to be a real artist.

Check out his site Drunk At My Own Party and p33p the video below. True to form, he took the time to do a walk through of his latest show so us minions who couldn't make it could still appreciate the work.

What's The Word, Thunderbird? from Tim Skirven on Vimeo.

Mati Rose McDonough

2010-02-01T21:00:00.002-08:00

One of our newest artists at work is Mati Rose McDonough (not Matt-ey like a adorable nickname for Matthew, Mate-y like ahoy) and I'm absolutely in love with her work. I moved my desk to a nook by the door and ordered 2 of her pieces to put on my new walls. She has an adorable portfolio and has recently joined the Lilla Rogers stable of artists. We only have a smattering of her work available through Oopsy daisy, but I'm crazy about her necklaces, especially the January Sprout Studio necklace seen below:

She's also a fellow blogger, and has a crisp site that I could definitely take a lesson from. Check it for cool updates, kitschy links, fun videos, and brainstorming sessions that are definitely better than anything I would even dream of creating.

Cordial Lee

2010-01-27T18:32:00.003-08:00

Having a sassy apron always seemed like an oxymoron to me. Why would you buy an adorable accessory that you obviously WON'T want to dirty up to wear while protecting yourself from doing just that? However, I feel like this is one of those mysteries that perhaps men will never understand, and women will continue to participate in without fulling knowing why until the end of time. Or spacesuits. Either way.

Until we either come to our senses and start buying ugly aprons, Cordial Lee has a great selection that I am absolutely in love with. Aprons are only a small part of the collection, but I'm already in love with this gem, the Bib Audrey Woven Houndstooth Adult Apron:

Adult apron sounds a little naughty, but we can overlook that. For $31.50, you can even get matching oven mitts! Bring on the food. I'm going to whip up a souffle and look damn good while doing it.

April 30, 1985

2010-01-16T18:31:00.003-08:00

Only 4 short months until the celebrations begin harking my quarter-century upon this earth. If anyone wants to get a head start on just the right thing for me, perhaps this will help out!

Midnight Magi by Gary Baseman via Kidrobot Black

Oki-Ni 8" dunny (probably only on Ebay!)

Snorkin' Labbit 10" Silver Edition (or bronze if need be!)

Vasily the Grumpiest Walrus Plush 16" by Frank Kozik

Miao And Mousubi 7-Inch Buff Monster SDCC Edition by Amanda Visell

Miao and Mousubi Set 7-Inch Fat Cat Edition by Amanda Visell

Wee Sticker Incognito by Shawnimals

Raffy MUNNY by Kidrobot

Totem Doppleganger 3 pack by Anton Ginzburg (also available in pink and white!)

And of course this Detolf shelf in white from Ikea to display it all in!

give her your heart and hers is sure to melt.

2010-01-14T18:36:00.005-08:00

Valentine's Day is coming up, so men, don't be slacking on getting a token of your love for that special lady in your life! Etsy is obviously a great place to turn for something cute, whimsical, one of a kind, and sure to melt your ladies' heart. Speaking of heart, why not get her her very own soft and cuddly heart to remind her of you?

Check out Shannon Gerard's shop for more!

New Kidrobot jamz

2010-01-11T18:12:00.002-08:00

Kidrobot has a ton of fresh new swag and goodies for sale: check out their NEW Section, and buy me everything there! January 28th marks the launch of the latest Dunny line, FATALE. To say I'm stoked is an understatement.

"Artists in this innovative series include Alex Anderson, Catalina Estrada, Klor, CW, Aiko, Kathie Olivas, Wendi Koontz, Koralie, The Baroness, Anna Chambers, Amanda Visell, Amy Ruppel, Julie West, Toofly, Junko Mizuno, Aya Kakeda, Tara McPherson, and Sara Varon."
CHECK IT!

Fashion for the little and large alike

2010-01-10T16:35:00.002-08:00

V Magazine recently did a spread about fashion and body comparison. Honestly, this is one of those times where I don't really have anything to add- their article says it all and I feel like the reader has to make their own insights for themselves. Enjoy.

The Curiosity Shoppe

2010-01-07T20:28:00.005-08:00

No amateur, professional, occasional, or practicing designer should ever find themselves without at least a half-decent library. The internet is a vast and often overwhelming resource for all things modern and historical, but nothing beats the old fashioned pages between covers, and sometimes even a good quarterly doesn't cut it. The Curiosity Shoppe has grown immensely since I started following them a few years back, and their library selection is second to none. Self described as "a carefully curated, extremely subjective selection of some of our favorite books in the whole wide world", their offerings range from subjects as obvious as contemporary and as quirky as children's books with silly illustrations. Check out their selection, and the rest of their online store as well. Not the most extensive of shoppes, but one of the best, methinks! While you're at it, check their crafty blog, Smarts & Crafts for tricks of the craft trade.

More Wall Decals!

2010-01-06T18:54:00.004-08:00

Wall decals seem to be the rage in home decor, and with endless sites and stores popping up with these must-have design items, there's a plethora of colors and shapes to pick from! Blik has pages upon pages of the things for reasonable prices, with designs ranging from comic characters to minimalistic silhouettes to even faux furniture! Here's a few of my favorites (even better for the renters out there- no repainting!)

Fernwood Mirrors by Blaine Fontana

What's for Lunch by Working Class Studio

Delfts Blue Transfers by Jansen+co

Pirate Infested Waters by Threadless

Me, Myshelf, and I by Blik

7.00 by Threadless

Foxy by Threadless

Bye Bye Apocalypse by Threadless

Flock by Blik

Olivia Headboard by Mina Javid

Bunny Family Anomalies by Threadless

The Bull and The Bee by Threadless

Birds of a Feather by Threadless
Okay, so I had a lot that I can't live without. This is just motivation to buy a house, right??

Chairs

2009-12-27T12:17:00.004-08:00

I hate chairs. Not because I hate sitting or any simplistic reason like that; actually, it's a very deep-seeded hate, stemming from a former awful office job that revolved around the attempted manufacturing and distributing of those godforsaken items. However, I can't resist the kitschyness of these handmade semiprecious metal pendants made by Bruxe Design in Montreal. Tiny Little Chairs are available for purchase and are sure to please any sitting enthusiast with an eye for design.
Picture taken from Swiss Miss.

Wall Decals

2009-11-29T20:39:00.003-08:00

As a veteran apartment dweller and frequent mover, I often lament the fact that painting the walls in my temporary dwellings is often not an option. I love how a good coat of fresh, bright paint has the ability to completely transform a space where I generally have to rely on quirky knick knacks and wall art. However, Etsy has put together a great collection of the available wall decals here, which are a fantastic way to spruce up a room without having to completely re-paint it year after year! Here's a few of my favorites (just in case any of my friends were wondering what to get me for Christmas- fast approaching!)

Crystal Chandelier by singestonestudio

Silverware vinyl decal by circlelinestudio

Birds around the Cherry Blossom Branch by DecorDesign

Sugar Skull vinyl decal by Beepart

Winter Trees by PopWall

APOLOGIES!

2009-11-22T17:02:00.001-08:00

Thanks to a flurry of activity such as moving, new job, holidays, etc. I took what was supposed to be a short break from blogging! Thanks to the infinite wisdom of Cox Communications, this break was extended much longer than it should have been, and I still do not have access to my computer. To everyone desperately waiting, hoping, praying for an update, I assure you they are coming. I've stockpiled a few choice items that have just been ripening and are ready to hit the web. Once we get this whole internet shenanigan figured out (hopefully this week) we'll be back in business! Stay tuned...

Toy Collector Apartment Crash by KRonikle

2009-10-25T11:11:00.003-08:00

Photo courtesy of KRonikle.
Any serious toy collector eventually runs into the problem of just what the hell to do with their toys! Soon no amount of shelves or displays will be able to contain the mass collection of any apartment dweller, and you've got to get creative with ways to show off your hard-earned prizes. KRonikle put out a great article, Toy Collector Apartment Crash about Kidrobot employee and toy enthusiast Grace who had to roll up her sleeves and hit the drawing board for ideas on how to display and utilize her toys as interior decoration. My personal favorite placement choice was the bathroom Labbit, which is a bizarre and deliciously voyeuristic location for such an object. Check out the rest of the article for your own ideas and motivation!

Three Apples

2009-10-22T21:31:00.006-07:00

To the millions of Sanrio fans out there, LISTEN UP. This weekend kicks off what should prove to be a great show in LA titled "Three Apples"; in honor of the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty, this phenomenal event is unlike anything that America has seen before, taking place at Royal-T (LA's first Japanese-style cosplay café). Unless you've had first hand experience of the Japanese mania surrounding this iconic figure, you have no idea the impact it has made in our country and around the world. The fact that this cutesy cat has lasted through over three decades of worldwide fame and is recognizable in virtually every country in the world is a testament to the designer who created her, and her entire band of Sanrio friends!

Come view the work of many of the big contemporary artists today, including Amada Visell, Buff Monster, Frank Kozik, Friends With You (FWY), Gary Baseman, Huck Gee, Luke Chueh, Natalia Fabia, Ron English, Simone Legno, Tara McPherson, and more! Don't miss the Happy Hour specials on Saturday after the opening; the show runs from October 23 through November 15. Plenty of time to stop by and getting cheered up/ creeped out by the perpetually perky feline!

8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
T 310 559 6300
F 310 559 6633

Blog Alert!!!

2009-10-15T18:54:00.002-07:00

I love finding and reading other blogs- in this information age, it's difficult to have your voice heard amongst the cacophony of millions of others just like you! Still, it's a great feeling whenever your passion for your work is recognized, so whenever I am introduced to a particularly interesting outlet, I like to pass it along and say hey! Take the time to read this!

My sister brought glow.like.berlin to my attention; it's a sleek but confusing, exploding, bright, subtle mess of words that make deciphering the entire point of it almost impossible. Nonetheless, the wide range of topics from music to fashion to art to Germany (Berlin specifically) make for an interesting read. Just don't expect the expected. Her Etsy post specifically caught my eye, and her design*sponge-esque way of laying out her favorite DIY selections left me drooling for all of her picks. It would be silly for me to post pictures of work that she/he too has posted, so do yourself a favor and check it out. If you think you can't commit to a whole afternoon pawing through the posts, just read the first page. Even that is chock full of so many goodies that I feel confident you too will become a believer.

Day by Day

2009-10-13T18:31:00.003-07:00

Remember the DMV incident that sparked a nationwide overhaul of identification applications? Or how about the Klown Klux Klan? And who can forget the smash hit "Bum Rock"? Well, the classy guys from DaybyDay who brought you Teenagers from Marz and Teenagers from Uranus now bring you THE BEST OF THE BEST! The last 3 years have been busy for the Richmond collaboration, working on new material for Stupidface and now bringing you the creme de la creme of their efforts. Richmonders, if you love laughter, gratuitous gross out comedy, or collar-pulling antics, don't miss the premiere at Empire (corner of Laurel and Broad) this Friday for FREE. Don't miss what will be the most hilarious event in the city since the premiere of Teenagers from Uranus at Alley Katz!

Oopsy Daisy/Studio Avo

2009-10-01T21:39:00.003-07:00

The dawning of a new era! Today I had the privilege and pleasure of starting at No Boundaries, Inc., home of Oopsy Daisy and Studio Avo- wholesale website of fine art and miscellaneous items for children and adults! The day was filled with paperwork, tutorials, and introductions, and I think I'm going to be very happy to be a part of this dynamic, interesting, and creative environment!

The BEST part of my day was when the girl who sits next to me and I got to pick out our new wall art! New people means new views, and after flipping through the catalog we decided to go with two pieces by Andrea Cobb, a North Carolina based artist who had studied Illustration at Parsons School of Design in NYC:

Morning Pond

Evening Pond (images used from Studio Avo and are copyrighted Andrea Cobb).

I'm incredibly excited to be a part of this, and I'm looking forward to much more exposure to art and artists that I'm not familiar with. Check out both sites for extremely high quality, GREAT stuff for all ages.

Munny made a friend!

2009-09-29T18:48:00.005-07:00

Your favorite DIY toy has come individually, super-sized, glow in the dark, mobile, and now Kidrobot is introducing the Munny FRIEND! This indecipherable shape (giraffe? goat? cat?) lends itself to the imagination and is not yet available in stores or online. Keep checking back though, Kronikle just announced this launch and with rabid fans chomping at the bit, they're sure to drop soon!

In the meantime, check out the other Munny merch to satiate your desires. Personally, I'm partial to the Houndstooth Munny tee. Christmas, anyone??

Pantone mugs!

2009-09-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Attention color nerds! If you like coffee (fuel for designers everywhere!) then snag your favorite Pantone color mug here! Pop Deluxe had originally carried these in sets of 10 only, but the demand for custom colors became so great that now you can order them individually. As a coffee AND color nerd, you can bet that one of these will be gracing my kitchen ASAP.

In Stitches- Teresa Cole

2009-09-14T10:14:00.003-07:00

Crafting is at an all-time peak interest, with fantastic organizations like local Craft Mafias and independent crafters worldwide offering handmade goods on private sites and Etsy. Teresa Cole of In Stitches (and Richmonder!) offers hand-dyed yarns for the DIY knitters at reasonable prices, along with hand-knitted baby items and made-to-order knitted goods. Check out her iCrave store to pick up some fantastic custom dyed yarns for your next project!

Photo: Western Sky Knits Collab.

Heroine

2009-09-12T18:46:00.002-07:00

To all those who loved Helvetica, I have every confidence that you will also appreciate Heroine, set to release September 15, 2009. FountainType brings you another feature length film exploring the oft-ignored but ever-prevalent world of type and how it permeates everything in the world around us. Only a true design lover can appreciate the nuances and enjoy an hour and a half discussion of the history of type- count me in!

Heroine is a typeface inspired by the typeface Windsor, which is most recognized as the font in Woody Allen movie titles (obviously!) Designed by Göran Söderström, this modern take includes alternate letters and a variety of differentiations that keep the eye enthused and the design clean with a throwback to the early 1900's. Enjoy this preview of it, which promises to be just another step to bringing the importance and interest of clean type to the public eye!

Noah Scalin

2009-09-11T13:42:00.003-07:00

Noah Scalin- Richmond legend, owner/creative director of Another Limited Rebellion, and most famously known for his Skull-A-Day project; recently he had an exhibition at none other than Quirk Gallery, and just to make sure his work continues to be appreciated here's just some more note-worthy work to feast your eyes upon!

Design and Design recently awarded him with recognition for his work seen here.

Actor's Choice Book Covers

The Richmond Vegetarian Festival 2009 Poster

Fair Share Campaign

First Vote Postcard

Artseen Invitation

It's hard not to envy such talent.

All photos courtesy of Design and Design.

Marimekko

2009-09-09T11:24:00.002-07:00

Scandinavia obviously has the global upper hand in all things kitsch. Marimekko is just another Finnish design powerhouse with worldwide recognition in textile design. I got my first taste of their bright splashy designs at Quirk, where we carried a few lines of their goods and I fell in love. Their lines of clothes, interior decorations, and bags all carry their signature bright and modern designs, and now they've introduced wallpaper!

This is just another motivator for me to get my own house. Design*Sponge offered the first look at this exciting venture here, and I was blown away. Texture and pattern rules without overwhelming the rooms, while keeping with the Marimekko aesthetic. The line is launching at IIDEX in Canada this month, and their new line of autumn fabrics are available to view here.

Maija Isola

Anna Danielsson

Pia Holm

Courtesy of Design*Sponge

Allison Schulnik

2009-09-09T08:46:00.003-07:00

Enter a world where the grotesque meets the natural, thick layers mask shape, and the despair overwhelms the seemingly joyful faces presented as sculptures, drawings, and paintings so thick they take on a 3 dimensional life of their own. Allison Schulnik, an LA artist with a BFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts who works in EVERY DIMENSION... EVEN THE TWILIGHT ZONE PERHAPS?!?!

Her work explored the forlorn, abandoned, those who wish to be loved and when rejected present themselves as fierce, beaten, or dejected. Although she studied animation, her paintings, drawings, and sculpture add to her portfolio along with her films. It's a tightrope of disgusting and delicate that pulls the viewer to experience with eyes open and stomach clenched. Check out the interview by FecalFace here, and check back for several show openings in the coming months.

All images copyright Allison Schulnik.

New York Book Fair

2009-09-08T14:23:00.003-07:00

I'm hoping of the approximate 19,490,297 New Yorkers that at least a handful of them make it to the New York Book Fair at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, Queens on October 2-4. This event is being presented by Printed Matter, Inc., the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of publications made by artists. With over 150 international presses, DIY bookmakers, artists, dealers, and more, this is going to be a massive creative gathering force assembling for 3 days only. Events include a special exhibition of emphemra, books, and posters by Richard Price and the Contemporary Artists' Books Conference, along with a fundraiser hosted by Deitch Studios on October 1st. All of this, and more!, can be experienced by anyone with a love for books and transportation to Queens. If anyone were to pick up some kitschy limited edition print and send it to lil' ol' me, I wouldn't be disappointed!

Kidrobot Dunny 2009 Series

2009-09-08T09:43:00.003-07:00

As of Thursday, it's here! The Dunny 2009 Series hits stores everywhere, so don't miss your chance to snag some of these hot items from designers like Amanda Visell, Andrew Bell, Amy Ruppel, Brandt Peters, Dalek, Devilrobots, Gary Taxali, Mori Chack, Huck Gee, Jeremyville, Kozik, Kronk, Luke Chueh, Mad, Pon, MR. Shane Jessup, Shawnimal, SupaKitch, Travis Cain, and Thomas Han. Not only are there 20 designs by these artists and more, try to catch the 2 chases and the Golden Ticket for a 3-inch Dunny not for sale anywhere!!!

All images copyright Kidrobot.

Benjamin Jones at Quirk

2009-09-03T07:45:00.003-07:00

Every city with any sort of arts community has their version of First Fridays- the nights when wine flows, friends gather, and galleries open their doors for monthly openings and small shows. Quirk is always the toast of the town in Richmond with their ongoing commitment to unknown artists and big names alike, as long as they are innovative and bright stars in their niche.

Friday, September 4th from 6-10 Quirk opens their Main Gallery to Benjamin Jones, "an internationally acclaimed artist whose small drawings are full of deep emotion and intricate, yet ambiguous, story lines. The images walk a line between humor and horror, seducing the viewer as he sees bits of themselves, the artist, and the fictional collide." His show of small works runs until October 17th, so there is no reason why you should miss this great show.

Sienna Gallery

2009-08-26T14:51:00.008-07:00

Art jewelry is a booming underground niche in contemporary art circles. More and more galleries dedicated to the 3-dimensional handmade are popping up, my former alma mater Quirk included. Sienna Gallery is another space dedicated to the innovative, the craftsman, the wearable art that is taking hold in big and small towns alike. Nestled in Lenox, Massachusetts, this idyllic town has served as the perfect muse for generations of artisans; they specialize in the display of traditional and non-traditional jewelry presentations as works of art.

Sienna boasts a large, varied, and proud group of represented artists, such as Susie Ganch (Head of Metals at Virginia Commonwealth University), Sayumi Yokouchi (featured in Quirk's Sparkle Plenty 2), Barbara Seidenath (participant in Sparkle Plenty 3), Giampaolo Babetto, Lauren Kalman (an especially interesting artist whose unconventional unique work speaks volumes about body adornment and alternative social values), and a variety of assorted jewelers each making exciting statements about the way we present ourselves through ornamentation.

Lauren Kalman

Anya Kivarkis

Esther Knobel

Myra Mimlitsch-Gray

Visit Sienna Gallery to see more work by these fabulous artists, upcoming shows, previous exhibitions, and more!

TOMS shoes and Mint!

2009-08-20T09:49:00.003-07:00

San Diegans! Living in such a hub of culture while still maintaining the laid-back, small town feel that so many millions of people love is a tough job! Still, if you have any inkling of what is going on in the land of shoes, you've heard of TOMSshoes. Buy one, give one pair away? Great stuff for activists and just shoe-wearin' folk alike! Be sure to check out their event at Mint Shoes in Hillcrest one week from today. Bring a book to the book drive to enter a chance to win a TOMS prize pack! As a new TOMS customer, I can attest to the comfort and fashion points you will glean from wearing these cozy lil' things. If that doesn't get you excited, they promise to have refreshments also. What's not to like??

Ghost Town Design

2009-08-20T08:20:00.003-07:00

With such a huge influx of "hot" designers and "must see" shows at any number of galleries across the world, it's sometimes hard to keep up with the real movers and shakers of the art industry as opposed to the 15 minute famers. Ghost Town Design, a screenprinting and design firm, seems to fall into the first category, having been in business since the early 2000's, with their client list including CBS, CMJ, Epitaph, Hard Rock Cafe, HBO, HellCat Records, Interscope, Reebook, Rolling Stone, Warner Bros., and more!

Originally a duo-turned-solo project, Ghost Town now consists of a whopping two designers in Rhode Island, a small state but a giant in the art world. Peter Cardoso and Darren Johnson are the artists/designers with an impressive portfolio of posters & fine art prints with a heavy emphasis on promo posters for bands like Wilco, Doomriders, Fucked Up, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Girl Talk, Kings of Leon, Iron & Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, Explosions in the Sky, Wu Tang Clan, Modest Mouse, Muse, Slayer, Belle and Sebastian, and WAY MORE. You can also view their individual portfolios here, with more fine art and individual prints available to purchase.

You've probably seen their work hanging on club promo boards or online at some point, so be sure to check it at the source. Ghost Town definitely seems like it is here to stay!

Best Friends Day- The Ocho!

2009-08-14T12:16:00.002-07:00

I'm pretty sure any and all of the Richmond readers are familiar with the BFD escapades of years past, but this year carries on the tradition of being bigger, better, and more badass than the year before! Best Friends Day 8 is poised to blow all years out of the water, returning to its 4-day glorious extravaganza of bands, buds, and beer!

Thursday, August 20th, kicks it all off at Plaza Bowl, where they are welcoming us back after a 6-year hiatus. Young Widows, Ultra Dolphins, The Measure, Future Virgins, and Pysched to Die will rock your face off starting at 7 pm.

Friday things get into full swing with the annual Scavenger Hunt starting at 12 noon at Vinyl Conflict in Oregon Hill- but be sure to get there early to sign up your team! That night, prepare to have your mind blown at Alley Katz, where for $12 at 6 PM the show goes on with Strike Anywhere, None More Black, Off With Their Heads, No Friends, Blotto Ringers, and Gatorface. A not-to-miss show.

Saturday your mind will continue to be blown at the free Magrudergrind show in the parking lot of Fine Foods before heading to the main event- Hadad's Lake! The centerpiece of the weekend, if you can only make it to one event, I'd say this is the place to be (except for the None More Black show because they are awesome.) Don't get drunk too early or you risk missing the group picture! 12-7, with bands like Torche, Pink Razors, No BS Brass Band, Gull, Lemuria, Wasted Time, Tubers, and Sexy Crimes.

Sunday be sure to drag your hungover ass to the Bike Lot to see the final event at 1 pm, Asshole Parade, Cannabis Corpse, Snacktruck, Monikers, Virgins, and Constrictor. FBM bikes will also be hosting a world class event- a bike jump contest over the world's biggest plate of nachos! This event will be MC'ed by Oderus Urungus of Gwar, so DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!

RVA was good enough to put out the promo video with Tony, Shelley, Ward, and (insert dude's name here because I'm not cool enough to know it)...

BEST FRIENDS DAY 8 PROMO from RVA TV on Vimeo.

WOOD DONKEY DUNNY

2009-08-13T08:04:00.004-07:00

I always get excited for the new Dunny releases, and Amanda Visell is an especially exciting artist with her whimsical and playful imagery. An resident of that place we all know and love, Los Angeles, she proudly states that she never went to art school and has an exclusive line at Disneyland! Pretty impressive stuff for a self-taught artiste! Her Wood Labbit SDCC Exclusive, partnered with Frank Kozik, was a smash hit and now for the perfect forest partner- the Wood Donkey Dunny!

"Discovered in the woods and raised by lumberjacks, Wood Donkey spends his days chopping down trees.After a lifetime of terrorizing the forest, all the living creatures fear him, forcing him to chop himself up to make new friends.

Watch your fingers, because Wood Donkey's always looking to expand his circle of friends!This 8-inch figure is sold with a bonus stump and axe, and features delicate vinyl leaves as fingers.

Limited to 1500 made worldwide."
Don't miss your chance to snag one of these beauts up for $75 at its release on August 20th!

images and text taken from KidRobot

Vermont

2009-08-10T15:51:00.003-07:00

I apologize to the vast millions of readers I have for the brief hiatus, but vacation calleth! Our weekend in Richmond and week in Vermont was one of the best getaways I have ever had, and let me just tell you that not only is Vermont the land of Ben and Jerry's and maple syrup, it is BEAUTIFUL. One of the most picturesque places I've ever been to. If you haven't been, I highly suggest you visit it immediately. To entice you and get your feet itchin' to travel, here's some eye candy to enjoy while you ponder your existence:

Olaf Bruening

2009-07-30T10:09:00.004-07:00

First of all, GREAT intro to the site! I love when artists share their space to the public, even if it is via internet. It is such a helpful peek into their world, which is a huge insight into their work. Regardless, this was brought to my attention via VAFROMVA's tweets, and I am instantly in love. Kitschy, slightly NSFW drawings, and a multitude of twisted links showing random things like the location of her studio via Google maps, a refreshing page with "Click Me" appearing endlessly, and "Scroll Downs" which reveal nothing but a picture of a man holding a bottle of Orangina. However, there are some serious links as well, such as her blog, shop (just kidding!), photos, installations, drawings, and more. Just the site itself is a delight, so once you actually maneuver to her portfolio the happiness only grows. Line drawings exploring the seemingly innocent figure in perhaps innocuous situations, sometimes dangerous, silly, risque, and more. Great quick work by an artist that I can describe as "fun." There might not be a lot of serious "work" behind it, but who needs it to bring a smile to your face?

Kidrobot Dallas opens tomorrow!

2009-07-29T11:04:00.003-07:00

Kidrobot hits Dallas! Tomorrow they open their doors at 5307 East Mockingbird Lane, with guest artist Huck Gee! He'll be on hand to sign his 3" Golden Ticket dunny which will be given away for FREE. A signed Huck Gee toy for free? If anyone is in the Dallas area, I would be your best friend if you got me one!

The opening is from 6-8 pm, so don't be late. I'm sure this will be a mass frenzy of excitement in the Lone Star State! Check out the KRonikle article about it here.

L.A.- Watch Out for PAINTALLICA!

2009-07-27T09:12:00.002-07:00

Country Club Los Angeles is hosting PAINTALLICA, an installation group whose antics and artistic inspiration are definitely a not-to-miss event. It's happening Thursday, August 13th from 7-9 PM, featuring the stellar talents of Dan Attoe, Jaime Boling, Bill Donovan, Jesse Albrecht, CeCe Cole, Jeff Decker, Shelby Davis, Gordon Barnes, Posie Currin, David Dunlap, Jay Schmidt, Dominic Bisignano, Jeremy Tinder and Chris Miller. Jamie and CeCe were former adjuct faculty at VCU, and I was lucky enough to study under the tutelage of Jaime for a few semesters. Be sure to check out ALL of these talented artists' work, and other artists in the Country Club library (Ryan McGinness, a personal favorite of mine, is among them). If you are in the Los Angeles area during this event, I can't stress enough your need to experience PAINTALLICA.

Photo credit to CCLA.

San Diego Comic Con EXCLUSIVE 8" Shane Jessup Luck Dunny

2009-07-23T13:31:00.002-07:00

Today is the happiest day of my life. With the soul-crushing realization that I had neither the funds or time off work to go to Comic Con (that plus the weekend tickets sold out in a day) I resigned myself to my absenteeism and thought, well, it's for the best, I'd just spend a crazy amount of money anyway. Well, when I found out that Kidrobot was having an exclusive release of Shane Jessup's "Fortune" gold 8" dunny in a series of 1000 (already sold out online), my interest was piqued. When I found out that there would be a SDCC exclusive colorway limited to a run of 200, I was VERY interested in acquiring one. I reached out to all my like-minded nerdy friends in the slim hope that A) someone was going that day, B) would be there at that time, C) didn't have another signing or event, and D) was willing to put up with some sort of hassle I'm sure to get this for me. I didn't get any response until my friend Justin asked me 2 days before the big day if I still needed someone to try and get it for me. Hell yeah I did!

Against all odds, even with his number being 209 on the list, somehow, someway, this beautiful specimen of humanity did it. He did it. He not only got me the limited edition SDCC Luck Dunny- he got it signed. Not only did he get it signed, he got the certificate signed. I am now the proud owner of one of the most limited runs of Dunnys around, with Shane Jessup's John Hancock to boot. I pick it up tonight bearing cash and a 12 pack of Guinness as a small token of my enormous gratitude.

Before this, I was having a pretty crappy day. I slept terribly, there was a giant spider in the office, and my banana was bruisy and gross. This completely turned my day around. There's a nice little UV protected display niche waiting for this guy at home!

Eye-Catching Ads

2009-07-16T09:06:00.002-07:00

Learning how to Live is a pretty extensive daily blog focusing on "the art of living"- at quick glance, I'm not super interested in much that this guy has to say, but the latest post was brought to my attention by the lovely Virginia Ivey, who was recently accepted in the prestigious VCU BrandCenter Master's program! The Top 5 Interactive Ads That Catch Your Attention is a great collection of quirky, innovative, and edgy ads that either force the viewer to participate whether they like it or not, or draw you in almost involuntarily with unsupervised participation.

My personal favorite is this swooping photo of a custom ad floor in a mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, which replaces fleas with unsuspecting shoppers. People on the higher levels can observe what seems to be human fleas crawling all over the animal as they scurry to and fro about their business. I'm sure there were many tweets about this.

Green Fonts!

2009-07-15T10:36:00.002-07:00

Everyone has gone green-crazy lately, and while some might think too little too late, I am of the opinion that every little bit helps! The Dutch design firm Spranq shares this mindset, and has introduced a new eco-friendly font using 15% less ink. Not a new concept by any means, but since it's the hip-to-be-green generation, today's showcase is on Ecofont. The bubbles within the letters allow it to be easily read while using less costly ink, a double bonus in this struggling economy when green doesn't always equal more green in your pocket. This font is available as a free download here, so grab yours now. Be sure to check out the other great designs they have going on- this Dutch firm is already a strong player in the design scene, and for good reason!

Bicycle Film Festival comes to Richmond!

2009-07-09T09:44:00.003-07:00

Bike enthusiasts unite! This weekend (starting tomorrow) the Bicycle Film Fest makes its way to Richmond, VA, where I'm sure it will be met with rabid enthusiasm from the bikefans of River City. Hosted by Gallery5, the festival consists of 2 shorts and 1 full length film, each $10 or $23 for all 3 with 2 showings of each. Here's a note from the founding director about the fest:
The Bicycle Film Festival celebrates the bicycle.

We are into all styles of bikes and biking. If you can name it-Tall Bike Jousting, Track Bikes, BMX, Alleycats, Critical Mass, Bike Polo, Cycling to Recumbents- we've probably either ridden or screened it. What better way to celebrate these lifestyles than through art, film, music and performance? We bring together all aspects of bicycling together to advocate its ability to transport us in many ways.

Ultimately the Fest is about having a good time.

We have been fortunate enough to include works of established artists such as Jorgen Leth, Mike Mills, Jonas Mekas, Blonde Redhead, Swoon and Michel Gondry among others as part of our programming.

Many of the artists who have participated in the Bike Film Fest such as the Neistat Brothers and Lucas Brunelle are gaining more and more recognition for their work.

Sign up for the email list or just come out and enjoy our 9th Annual Bicycle Film Festival.

Thanks.
Brendt Barbur, Founding Director

P.S. bikes rule

Check out this great trailer for the event, and be sure to check out the RVAMag article about it here. OF COURSE when it comes to San Diego I won't be here, but that event is August 8. Sign up to be a volunteer and get info at their site BFF.

Virginia Weekend

2009-07-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

Apartment 5 Version 3.0.

MUTO by Blu

2009-06-30T14:07:00.004-07:00

I stumbled across this free share video of public art made by BLU in Buenos Aires. Trust me, this interactive work in a public space is well worth checking out and passing along. Be sure to also check out the rest of the website for news about his latest book, drawings, and maybe even the shop? Enjoy!

Noah Scalin at Quirk

2009-06-29T10:14:00.002-07:00

Everyone's seen the images- Skull-A-Day became an international phenomenon when Richmond artist Noah Scalin took on the task of creating a skull image every day in 2007 out of common materials and taking a photo of it on his blog. Now in year 3, Skull-A-Day now boasts a book and 2 other skullfan contributors. His project has been featured in Mad About Design, Boing Boing, HOW Magazine, Suite 101, Style Weekly, RVA Magazine, and also on the Martha Stewart show?! Now Quirk Gallery adds his work to their Main Gallery for July and August, so don't miss either First Friday events as they are sure to be insane crowds for this hometown hero.

Quirk Gallery
311 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-644-5450

Alexis Mackenzie

2009-06-24T10:47:00.002-07:00

Usually I don't like to just completely re-post an email I've gotten, but Fecal Face is such a repeat offender of awesome shows that it is sometimes difficult. Their studio visits are always a fantastic glimpse into the minds of the young movers and shakers in American art; Alexis Mackenzie is the latest of the lucky featured. I wasn't familiar with her work, but the exquisite details and floral facets weave together in beautiful pieces on paper. Her hodgepodge ideas can be seen here, along with the rest of her studio.

Her show at Park Life opens June 26th - July 27th in San Francisco, so be sure to stop by the opening reception on June 26th at 7 pm to get the first look at what is shaping up to be an amazing show.

Jason Polan

2009-06-23T13:22:00.003-07:00

Printed Matter held the opening for Jason Polan's new zine, Eleven of My Things and One of Yours on Saturday, and it sounds like a fantastic time was had by all. It's a totally innovative and interactive concept in which Jason draws eleven of his possessions, and at the signing on the last page he drew whatever object the guest brought. Once this individualized, personal drawing was complete, the zine became One of my Favorite Things and Eleven of His. That sounds awesome! I wish I could have been there- I'm not sure what I would have brought but I bet he had some gems. I'd love to see a sampling of the drawings, so if anyone out there in internetland has a contact, let me know!

Another interesting fact- the REAL reason Jason Polan caught my attention- is his current project in which he is attempting to draw every person in New York. That's a mighty big venture, and I wish him luck!

Mike Shine

2009-06-16T10:55:00.003-07:00

Stacy Peralta (pioneer skateboarder now award-winning filmmaker) has released the trailer for his new film "Raw Meat on the Doorstep" about the life and art of Mike Shine. His work is widely recognized and has shown at White Walls, Mollusk Surf Shop, and the Museum of Craft and Folk Art to name a few. Check out the trailer!

Raw Meat on the Doorstep from Eddie Ringer on Vimeo.

Huck Gee does it again

2009-06-11T11:06:00.002-07:00

Ok, I am sick to death of Huck Gee. Why does he keep having to come out every 2 seconds with another highly collectible and highly EXPENSIVE must-have vinyl toy? Now he's even recycling previous designs in limited editions! His Skullhead Dunny from Series 1 is being re-released as a monstrous 20-inch Dunny from Kidrobot. Only 200 were made, and all are signed by the man himself. At $400, it's out of my price range, but not my desire range. Snatch yours up if you can!

Tiny Showcase Tuesday!

2009-06-09T09:47:00.002-07:00

Time for another edition of every print lover's favorite event- Tiny Showcase print release Tuesdays! Today the artist is Sasha Barr, a Seattle illustrator/designer who relocated to the Pacific Northwest from Tennessee in 2007. I personally like that the first example of work on his website is his label for Daisy Cutter beer in Chicago (besides the fact that making labels for beer is awesome, beer is awesome too!) Check out his shop and work as well- the posters are especially fresh.

His print "One Way Out" comes in an edition of 100, and part of his proceeds are going towards the Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop in Memphis, a community based organization dedicated to providing maintenance for the working lower class and recycling parts. Great organization, great print, great bargan!

King Albino

2009-06-04T11:09:00.003-07:00

I love Kidrobot. I love Domo-kun. I love pretty much anything whimsical and modern cartoonish. This new Friendswithyou tee featuring King Albino is all in one!
"King Albino has an insatiable hunger for everything he sees. He can magically eat all your blues away and each little meal he has gives you more and more power.

So go on, give us a hug, and let King Albino eat his heart out."

Visit Friendswithyou to make your wishes come true, and Kidrobot to just buy the wish!

Poketo! Alien mug

2009-06-01T15:38:00.003-07:00

Like any creative professional, I have a serious caffeine addiction. I require massive amounts of stimulus in the early morning hours to get me going, and several pick-me-ups along the way. I don't have a very exciting mug collection, and mugs are one of the things that I don't really pay much attention to. Sure, I have my favorites, but it's one of the things that I actually DON'T collect. Still, whenever I see an especially cute one it makes me crazy with happiness! This one by Leah Chun at Poketo is amazing! What a great way to start the day- an alien attack! Just the kind of stimulus I need in the A.M.

i want to ride my biiiiicycle

2009-05-28T08:00:00.003-07:00

These were excellent modes of transportation around the jungle of Costa Rica... until I got a flat tire. FANTASTIC.

Kidrobot Endangered Dunnys

2009-05-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

KLAFDJOPIEURKSNCDKSCNDS

WANT

Dunny Endangered Series from Kidrobot on Vimeo.

2009-05-11T07:46:00.004-07:00

Outdated, old fashioned, a giant hassle- many words and phrases that come to mind when considering wallpapering vs. painting a room. Believe me, trying to change wallpaper is NOT a simple project for the antsy decorator who loves to change room decors per season. Still, if you're ready to make a semi-permanent decorating decision, then wallpaper is a funky and fun way to make a potential accent a major part of the decor. The Curiosity Shoppe has a new book out all about your options and project ideas! Wallpaper Projects by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith is available now in a 144 page hardcover edition that's chock full of amazing projects involving wallpaper, not always on walls! Pick one up if you're ready to take the plunge...

Enter their giveaway at their blog Smarts and Crafts to win a free copy!

Born Ugly mag

2009-05-08T07:48:00.003-07:00

Holy cow. What a week. Things have been absolutely insane for me, so TGIF to the maxxx! Still, a bright spot in the week came from the news that Issue 1 of Born Ugly mag is now a reality! Jim Callahan (aka Barf) is already a Richmond underground icon with his memorable Municipal Waste art, Nowhere Skateboard line, and Tales from the Underground comic (check it out at Velocity- best place in Richmond for your comic and graphic novel needs). The link above is to the online .pdf of the mag, so be sure to snag a print copy wherever you can. Michael Brock of Wilted Roses was kind enough to pop one in the mail for me, so whenever I get that will be a happy day. If you're in the Richmond area, be sure to get to the launch party tomorrow, Saturday May 9th at Holly Street Park at 4 pm. I'm sure it will be a debaucherous event filled with only the finest of Richmond's youth!

North Park Festival of Arts

2009-05-04T10:50:00.004-07:00

Come one, come all to the 13th annual North Park Festival of Arts! Sunday, May 17th between 30th and 32nd Streets from 10 AM to 6 PM will be you, your family, and 35,000 other people enjoying the arts, culture, and entertainment in this creative hub of San Diego. Unfortunately, I'll be returning from Las Vegas that day, so I'll miss out on the fun, but don't let my absence deter you! There will be artist demonstrations, animals for the kids, a variety of international food booths, and best of all, it's FREE! In this economy, anything free is welcomed and should be enjoyed to the fullest.

Snail!

2009-04-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

He's baaaaAAAACKKK!!!

The Obscura

2009-04-27T08:02:00.003-07:00

VA has got no shortage of great young artists right now. Richmond might seem like the center of the Virginia Artistic Universe, but the oft-overlooked region of Hampton Roads has got some really innovative stuff happening as well. The 7 Cities have a ton of fabulous organizations that are rapidly gaining attention, and the latest one is the web collaboration The Obscura.org. The photography based site has a handful of contributors at the moment, and it seems like the emphasis is portraits. I don't have a ton of info, so take the initiative and check the site out. It's a nice mix of artists, and I'm looking forward to watching it grow!

Vinyl store in San Diego now!

2009-04-23T15:40:00.005-07:00

The nearest Kidrobot store to me is in Los Angeles. Now, I'm sure LA is a great town. There's a ton of artsy stuff going on non-stop, it's a giant hub of the world, a really lovely place with lovely people... right. As much as I LOVE the 2 hour drive up there to buy overpriced (albeit cool) clothes and knick-knacks, I'd just as soon stay local and buy my vinyl wares in the neighborhood. Now, thanks to Gunnzo, I can do just that!

Gunnzo is located in Old Town San Diego at 2445 Juan Street. It doesn't look like much from the outside (the store is located in the left side of a house smack in the middle of an incredibly steep residental street), and the inside consists of a small front room which leads to a slightly larger and more angular back room. All of this is attached to a great back porch which opens into a small courtyard linking the other side of the house (I'm assuming). What it lacks in space it makes up for in cozy quality.

Chika Sasaki has opened the only designer toy store in San Diego as far as I'm aware, and I'm hoping it works out beautifully for her. I got to go to the "opening" party where every attendee got a free Mini Munny Mobile to decorate as they pleased! I got to talking with a guy there (Jesse? Maybe? Bad with names) and apparently this entire venture started from her own personal collection. From the sounds of things, it seems like she has more internet business than walk-ins, but I'm sure as the buzz continues she's going to find herself in a great spot to dominate the toy market in San Diego. Not only does she have a great collection of hard to find Dunnys, Gunnzo is the exclusive US retailer for MINDstyle Asia Exclusives.

The fact that this is a toy store by a toy collector means that some things are off-limits, but what is for sale isn't grossly inflated with outlandish retail upcharging. Yes, she's got to make a profit, and her collection is small but very thorough. Sasaki seems to have a good handle on what's available and what's coming, so I'm expecting great things from her.

new from Generate

2009-04-22T11:43:00.005-07:00

Generate Design is a super-cool site with a ton of stuff for the design lover. Their prices range from the wallet-friendly to back-breaking, but I assure you whatever you pay for you get your money's worth. This lamp is my new personal favorite thing ever, and I for one will not rest until I have fooled everyone with this illusion of suspended animation. Personally, I think it's a little on the pricey side, but what it lacks in affordability it makes up for in style, and isn't that what's really important?

Available in wall or table versions. Red or white interior.
Product Specs

Materials: Iron PlateLiquid Lamp
Designer: Kouichi Okamoto
Price: US $199.00 (red interior add $28, table lamp option add $11)

New from Veer

2009-04-20T10:21:00.004-07:00

When I graduated from college, I had the choice to either A) go to Peru for a month for a school program (I'd get no credit for it but it would be an experience that basically was just set up for me) or B) upgrade my old hand-me-down laptop to a brand new Macbook Pro. For a variety of reasons (new boyfriend, long term helpfulness, I'd just gone to Costa Rica 2 months before, etc) I went for the Macbook Pro. I assure you I have no regrets about that. It is a magical device that I cling to my bosom and have already set up a trust fund for it. Still, it is not without its flaws, such as the tendency to get reallly hot on my lap while I'm using it for important design business. More like Tetris.

Anyway, Veer has a new product for just that very malady. Smooth, classic, modern, and with a type-twist, it's the perfect thing for the Mac-lover. I guess you could use it for a PC laptop but if you have one of those you probably hate pretty things anyway so don't bother.

The 3/4" engraved wood dissipates the heat (I always thought wood was flammable but design has proved me wrong once again!) and features 2 types that are elegant and swirltastic. Get yours here for the low low price of $100. Personally, I enjoy the crotchal heat. Convenient for private sexy time with my Mac.

attn: philly!

2009-04-17T09:24:00.003-07:00

Plaid Pony Vintage is a cute, kitschy independent company in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia (one of my personal favorite cities in the US of A). Their main wares are vintage clothing, accessories and other items for the rockabilly and retro fans of today. Art Star is a Philadelphia gallery that is an independent spot frequented by art lovers, young people, crafters, and the like. It seems very similar to Quirk, and has a great online shop for the poor art student as well as a wealthy collector. Trunk shows are a great way to get introduced to new lines, and meet the people responsible for the creativity being shown. I recommend to anyone in the Philadelphia area to check out this event and bring your wallets!

Rainy Day Dunny!

2009-04-16T10:30:00.002-07:00

Gloomy day? Down in the dumps? Well, if it's raining in LA, Miami, SF, or NYC, head over to your friendly neighborhood KidRobot store to score the new John Burgerman Rainy Day Dunny!

The 3" Dunny is only sold on days when it's raining at the city the store is located in, and sporadically through the website. What a cheeky gimmick to cheer up even the most depressing of drizzly days!

MY GOD... I'M DELICIOUS!

2009-04-16T07:20:00.005-07:00

I have a Twitter account. Believe me, I was a HUGE skeptic when it first came out, and when even now when I sit down and try to grasp the actual concept it still seems ridiculous. That being said, I follow Rainn Wilson's Twitter (Dwight from the Office) and his posts are always silly antics of online taunting with a few worthwhile links thrown in. His new background is courtesy of Mike Mitchell, an artist I'd never heard of- he hails from Los Angeles (where else) and a is self-proclaimed cat enthusiast. His work largely deals with animals, comic book characters, mixed in with a dash of silly, a splash of ridiculous, and some adorable grotesquerie. Take a peek at a few of his pieces (all used directly from his site)

These are just a couple of my favorites (wow, I like bunny art and a zombie ice cream- how totally unlike me!!!) Mike is also a brother in blogging! Check out his blog and shop for even more stuff from this darkly original artist. Shirts, prints, the works! He seems like a fun guy. Mike, if you ever see this, come on down to San Diego and we'll discuss important topics, like crime fighting slugs and spontaneously combusting kittens.

Thomas Doyle

2009-04-15T09:17:00.006-07:00

I feel like I might have seen and/or posted about Thomas Doyle's miniature worlds, but who cares. It's amazing enough for even TWO mentions. His site is home to his Distillation Series, Bearings Series, and Reclamation Series, all focusing on presenting a minute view with universal ideas. I've included only one picture from each of the series, because I want to tantalize you enough to go directly to the site without going batsh** insane and posting his entire portfolio.

Bearings:

Reclamation:

Distillation:

The Grid Book

2009-04-14T07:40:00.002-07:00

Hannah B. Higgins has mapped the history of the most prominent grid systems in Western culture in her book "The Grid Book", which had an opening a few weeks ago at Printed Matter in NYC. She examines the brick, the tablet, the gridiron city plan, the map, musical notation, the ledger, the screen, moveable type, the manufactured box, and the net as the underlying structures for the world around us perhaps even more than any of us realize. These 10 "grids" have moved and shaped the world around us, and even as the landscape changes these basic structures remain the same. They are used in art as well as urban planning, technology as well as simple games.

She is the an associate professor in the art history department at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which I think would present a really interesting point of view for such a potentially mathematical subject. I've always been fascinated with the idea of structure in a seemingly structureless object, like parallel lines in nature. Thinking about the invisible harmony of the world is truly a spectacular mind exercise.

photos

2009-04-10T09:20:00.003-07:00

When I don't have any new items to post, new events coming up, or just something new and exciting, I'll start posting a photo montage! I have a lot of pictures that I just kind of have... so they might not all fit together or make sense... but here goes!

Just a couple of shots from the last month or so... I haven't edited anything in Photoshop, but I kind of miss doing that on a regular basis. I need to get back into the habit. Anyway, here's the scoop.

1) Balboa Park Cactus Garden- I just thought the perfect round cactus shape with the weird blues of the unidentifiable plants were really cool. I love nature!
2) Prickly!
3) Skull decal in LA... I'm sure I'd get sick of all the snarky street art if I lived there, but for now I just think it's cool.
4) Balboa Park again... I just thought it was cool the way the sun split the tree. No major artistic insight there.
5)San Diego zoo- flamingos are sweet, and I like how crisp this turned out just as the sun was starting to sink.
6) Ashton likes to take ugly pictures of me when it looks like I have legs like a goat that bend backwards.
7) Wall in LA. There's old stuff there?!?!
8) Leprosy leaves in Balboa Park. Not really. But maybe.
9) I've based entire portfolios around the concept of geometry in nature, so these naturally hexagonal pink cactii will probably be popping up a few more times

SWEET!

2009-04-09T11:05:00.001-07:00

Dennis' bike joust from Slaughterama!!!! VICTORY!

this morning

2009-04-09T10:20:00.002-07:00

marked a new start. the drive was especially wonderful today. it looked like the mountain to the east was a volcano because the clouds matched the colors of the shadows perfectly; the powerful, unmoving rocks of deep gray-blue melded with the constantly shifting vapors in the sky and the pale gold of the sun peeked through in an ever-changing dance of dawn. there was just the slightest hint of pink hanging on the edges of the sky. subtle twinkles on the bay to my right, and as i turned to face the sun the heavy hanging clouds over mexico moved to the side to make room for the crisp morning. it was the perfect start to a new day, which in itself is a new start.

Joe's Inn

2009-04-08T14:47:00.001-07:00

I took this off Google Maps. I miss this place!

Souther Salazar and Megan Whitmarsh

2009-04-08T08:38:00.004-07:00

First of all, I LOVE studio tours. It's such a great glimpse into the reality of the working artist. Fecal Face is really good about updating them on the reg, and the latest one was the LA studio of Souther Salazar and Megan Whitmarsh. I think collaborations or even shared spaces is an excellent idea, because even though the personal space is affected, the bouncing and sharing of ideas is a fabulous marriage. One day I would love to have a seperate studio from home; I kind of got a taste of that in the Honors Studio at VCU and it gave me the bug. I won't even bother posting images of their actual work (you can go to their websites for that) but I love the following things about their studio:
1) Exposed brick walls
2) Lots of weird nooks and corners
3) FLAT FILES. SO AMAZING.
4) Lots of light
5) Tons of books and other reference materials
6) An influx of neon. Superb.

Anyway, here's the studio. Maybe the next time I'm in LA I'll be a creep and lurk outside.

Los Angeles Festival of Books!

2009-04-07T09:28:00.002-07:00

UCLA is hosting a weekend-long book festival at the end of the month that is FREE!!! Nothing in LA is free, but somehow this is (however, parking is not). The Los Angeles Festival of Books will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26 on the UCLA campus in West LA. There will be book readings, signings, and local authors on hand peddling their wares. Click the link above to get more information on what's happening and who will be attending. Tickets are free but required to enter some of the events and panel discussions.

Pritned Matter NYC

2009-04-06T07:48:00.001-07:00

Nieves
An Exhibition
April 4 – May 23, 2009

Opening Reception
Saturday, April 4, 2009, 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Printed Matter is pleased to announce an exhibition with the legendary Swiss publisher Nieves. The exhibition will feature a full retrospective of Nieve's zine program since 2004 as well as a selection of the books published by the press since its founding in 2001. The opening reception will also serve as a book launch for new titles by Henry Roy, Katerina Christidi, Harmony Korine as well as the compilation Zine Box 2008. The exhibition will open on April 4, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Printed Matter, which is located at 195 Tenth Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Street) in New York City.

Nieves was founded in 2001 by Benjamin Sommerhalder, following the demise of his short-lived magazine Zoo. From the start, Nieves has published critically acclaimed, yet diverse, publications from a who's who of visual delinquents: Rita Ackermann, Linus Bill, Robin Cameron, Larry Clark, Marcel Dzama, Chris Johanson, Kim Godon, Spike Jonze, Harmony Korine, Ari Marcopoulos, Mike Mills, Rick Myers, Aaron Rose, Ed Templeton, and Andrew Jeffrey Wright to name but a few. The publications have taken on a variety of forms, from limited edition, photocopied zines, to more-formally recognized hardcover, perfect-bound and offset books. In the last eight years, Nieves has become one of the most talked about names in European publishing and Sommerhalder recently won the Jan Tschichold award, a prestigious award given annually on the occasion of “The Most Beautiful Swiss Books” competition.

Although I have collected artists' books for several decades, this is the first time that I have trusted a publisher's tastes and program to intersect so completely with my own. Perhaps this is because Benjamin Sommerhalder, who is Nieves itself, is not so much a publisher as someone taking pleasure in artists' zines and in the act of publishing.

AA Bronson
“Nieves”, The Most Beautiful Swiss Books, 2009

The exhibition will feature over 100 zines published by Nieves since 2004, making them available for reading and perusing. Also on view will be a broad selection of books published by the press since 2001. Nieves authors Rick Myers and Tim Barber will be on hand to sign their publications at the opening reception, which will also serve as the launch for four publications:

Henry Roy's new zine August is about cinematic and dreamy vision of Ibiza, where he spent his last summer holidays (and has been visiting many times since the late eighties). August is saddle stitched, black and white, and 20 pages. It retails for $8 and can be purchased at Printed Matter's storefront in New York City or online at www.printedmatter.org.

Katerina Christidi's C'est pas angoissant is a combination of charcoal drawings drawn from her large scale works and her series One Year Drawings. The figurative work creates tension as the artist describes “between the anxiety of existential discomfort and it's comical response evoked by human figures.” C'est pas angoissant is saddle stitched, black and white, and 20 pages. It retails for $8 and can be purchased at Printed Matter's storefront in New York City or online at www.printedmatter.org.

Harmony Korine's Devils and Babies is as the title suggests, drawings of devils and babies in the artist's characteristic brut style. Devils and Babies is saddle stitched, black and white, and 20 pages. It retails for $8 and can be purchased at Printed Matter's storefront in New York City or online at www.printedmatter.org.

The Nieves Zine Box 2008 is produced in an extremely limited edition of 20 and contains a complete set of the zines that produced in 2008. The authors include Keegan McHargue, Beau LaBute, Mari Eastman, Geoff McFetridge, Frédéric Fleury, Reala / Körner Union, Eddie Martinez, Susan Gianciolo, Anthony Record, Tal R, Jonas Delaborde, Beni Bischof, Himaa, Rick Myers and Stefan Marx. The Nieves Zine Box 2008 retails for $250 and can be purchased at Printed Matter's storefront in New York City or online at www.printedmatter.org.

For more information, please contact AA Bronson at aabronson @ printedmatter.org.

Printed Matter, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1976 by artists and art workers with the mission to foster the appreciation, dissemination, and understanding of artists' books and other artists' publications.

Printed Matter, Inc. has received support, in part, through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Altria Group Inc, the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, The Gesso Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Schoenstadt Family Foundation, The Roy and Niuta Titus Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and individuals worldwide.

2009-04-02T13:28:00.002-08:00

Even though this is an "art" blog, I think that I have a) enough freedom to take a break and write about something personal, and b) not enough readers to make a difference anyway! Lately, for a variety of reasons, I've had to re-think how my current life has been affected by my past. For years I have blocked out significant amounts of memories and experiences, which unavoidably have helped shape me into the person I am today. I have as much cynicism and jading as I do nostalgia and happiness, and while I have chosen to focus more on the present and future, I have to come to grips with things in my past to be able to successfully move ahead. For years I struggled with an enormous amount of self-doubt and thus overcompensation in mentally unhealthy ways, none of which ultimately damaged me as a person, but I believe as a defense mechanism I was able to block out much of my negative experiences. This self-induced amnesia only works to an extent, and I believe that I need to re-visit many of these experiences and resulting emotions to move forward. While generally I subscribe to the notion that focusing on the positive is better than drowning in the negative, sometimes coming to grips with the past means examining the unpleasant experiences and emotions. I guess it's just thinking about "growing up" and kind of outlining how even terrible, horrible, soul-crushing emotions have helped me to become a better, stronger person. I am very happy with my life today, and I wouldn't change anything in the past, but there's no way to separate the person I am today without thinking about how I got here. The relationships I built and lost, the accomplishments I made, the interaction with my family and resulting present ties, my observations of relationships and how they have shaped mine, the choices I made, big experiences and firsts, my reactions in love, hate, jealousy, compassion, forgiveness, judgment, and reality. How people and "scenes" shaped me. How family has shaped me. How love has shaped me. How friends have shaped me. How people judging me has shaped me. How me judging people has shaped me. How loss has shaped me. Basically outlining the last (almost) 24 years as my life and trying to make sense of it all. Seems like a tall order...

UGH NO FAIR

2009-04-02T10:24:00.002-08:00

Kidrobot LA is JUST far enough away to make me a crazy person for driving up there just to shop. Still, they have so many ridiculously cool events that my sanity is often tested by my desire to go up there and blow my life savings on toys. Tonight Frank Kozik is kicking off his summer apparel series with a signing and pre-release of the new 1984 Labbit from 6-8. All the details can be viewed here and also below.

Is it bad I would move to LA just to be a hobo outside the store?

Kill Pixie

2009-03-23T07:06:00.003-08:00

Mondays are sometimes difficult for me, and today was no exception. Getting up early has never been an easy task, especially over a long period of time. Just ask Momma D- I assure you that even the mention of the phrase "morning person" around her will ignite her into such a frenzy of explanation about how I am simply NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE that your ears will literally bleed at the montage. Still, somehow after our debaucherous weekend filled with cooking spaghetti and re-planting our herb garden I managed to ooze my way out of bed this morning to get to work by 7 sharp. It takes me longer than usual to get into my normal work mode on Mondays after actively atrophy-ing my brain into mush over the weekend, so I was perusing some of my personal emails and came across Fecal Face's Kill Pixie interview. I'm sure that at one time or another I've come across his work, but the vivid colors really struck a chord with my addled brain cells not quite functioning on 100%. Also I am very jealous of his LA pad. I would hate to live in LA for any other reason besides art, but I think I would thrive there as an artist. Then again, that's what everyone says.

Regardless, here's some of his drool-inspiring work.

These are all taken directly from Fecal Face. He's got a few shows coming up, one in LA and one currently in Australia. Some life, right?!?

Ryan McClennan

2009-03-18T06:43:00.003-08:00

Ryan McClennan is an artist from Richmond who's making big strides in the art world today. The first exposure I had to his work was his cover of RVAMag a year or so ago when he was promoting an in-town show, but now he's moved on past lil' ol' RVA! He's been featured on Tiny Showcase a few times already, and who knows what else he's got his fingers in. His intricate illustrations of nature beautifies the violence and intensity in a world we can't fully immerse ourselves in.

Check out his site and tinyshowcase to see more of his work.

Stuart Kolakovic

2009-03-13T08:02:00.003-08:00

Every once in a while I get really bored with whatever my current desktop image happens to be, but it's not always the simplest task finding a new one. You don't really realize how much you actually look at it, and if it's just not quiiiiite right, it will bother me until I find The Perfect Image. Usually my go-to's are FecalFace and Tiny Showcase, and today proved no exception. I scanned through the archives of Tiny Showcase to come across the work of Stuart Kolakovic, a UK artist that I could only find a little information about, but his work speaks for itself. Folk art, cubism, and retro color theory are all explored through his works. He's worked as a comic artist and illustrator with a pretty impressive clientele. Check out his site and especially his comics.

And FYI, here's the image I have as my background now:

Worship Something, Tiny Showcase

Here's just one that I especially like (the geometric patterns in nature is a concept that I've explored for years. I actually based my AP portfolio on it in high school):

Arctic Chilling, personal work

New fonts!

2009-03-09T07:18:00.002-08:00

Veer came out with a new font collection with Dessau Pro by Gábor Kóthay, and while I'm not usually immediately drawn to Bauhaus-styled imagery, something about this family of sans serif fonts appealed to me. I think it is one of those irrational prejudices that I carried with me from a younger age without ever questioning it, but you would think with my love for "rounded edges and bright colors" I would be more open to this sort of design! Nevertheless, here is their little blurb about the font itself:

Dessau Pro is an extensive Bauhaus-influenced sans serif family with 11 weights and extensive alternate glyphs. Without question there are Hungarian influences, and many authentic letterforms (using samples from various Bauhaus designers.) In part in can be considered a commemoration of Hungarian designers/teachers (Breuer, Moholy-Nagy, Molnár, etc., and to new Bauhaus (Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Kassák).

The letters were originally designed for various installations in 1987 (Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest.)

The options and customization for this font are really fun and interesting. I'm predicting even more of a resurgence of this retro look in design. By 2009, I feel fairly confident that all the good design has already happened, but from what I can see on the market today people are using their own innovations to improve the past and push it even further.

This week with Core77

2009-03-05T07:25:00.003-08:00

It's always a bittersweet moment when I get the monthly Core77 emails. On one hand, it's always refreshing and inspiring to get a first hand look at brand new design and what people are really creating all over the world. Now that I'm out of school and in a non-art saturated environment for the first time in my life, I have to make sure I keep on top of what's going on. On the other hand, it's super depressing to NOT be in that sort of atmosphere on a daily basis. I try to use it as a motivator to keep myself in tune with the creative juices.

Regardless, this email contained some of my favorite topics inside and outside the realm of interior design- toys and books! The New York Toy Fair (aptly titled "Inspiring Growth") just ended and Core77 was there to capture all the highlights of 2009. They got some great photos that can be seen here, and the show site can be viewed here. I mean, how awesome would it be to just hang around the newest (and some of the classics!) and hottest toy designs and play all day??? Here's a couple of my favorites:

Great dolls by Lunar Loft. Reminds me of uglydolls, but more like cute robots.

Crystallized Swarovski Lamborgini by Maisto. The ultimate bling for any child under 7.

Lego- never a disappointment. How can I live so close to Legoland but have never been???

A new name to me, Kosen's wrinkle-pup made me smile.

I love wooden fruit. It's an oldie but goodie. Just something about the simple, familiar shapes in miniature is comforting. Not necessarily the most innovative, but still a classic (this one by Estia Holzspielwaren)

The only thing better than a real s'more is a fake one, I guess... by Reel Roaster

This little world, perfect for a munchkin or small child, seems easy, breezy, bright, safe, and fun. Great stuff by Melissa and Doug.

I haven't heard of EnviroBlox before, and I don't even know how cool their product is, but this T-Rex is about as cool as it gets.

Skuut's answer for speed and style, for all single digit ages.

Before we get too lost in what's new and good, Core77 also brought around a book of mistakes! Design Disasters: Great Designers, Fabulous Failure, and Lessons Learned by Steven Heller revolves around a single question- what makes good design and bad design? I would definitely like to get my hands on a copy. Here's the review via Coree77 by Robert Blinn. It's an easy to read concise review, so if it's any indication of the book's quality I'd say it's a winner.

Jeremy Fish

2009-03-02T08:20:00.004-08:00

Jeremy Fish's largest print to date is for sale now! It spans a 22" x 34" area, and looks awesome in the frame (but that adds a significant cost!) He's been a big name in the contemporary illustration/paint/street art/etc. scene in the past few years, and this San Francisco based artist has the world by its balls. His collaboration with Aesop Rock is a sight to see. I really like his condensed but articulate pallete and his re-occurring anthropomorphism. A weird detail that I always like in his work is also his edges! Clean, crisp, and perfectly balancing the entire work. Wonderful.

Marcos Chin

2009-02-26T07:33:00.003-08:00

Sometimes when I read articles by or interviews with professional artists it's hard for me to grasp the concept that their lives can be true. This interview with illustrator Marcos Chin was one of the most refreshing reads from a professional in a long while. I especially liked the part where he talks about brunch! Anyway, it's a very clear article that outlines his metamorphosis from student to professional and all the steps he takes to maintain his life. PS. I am VERY jealous of his studio. It's nice having a studio in our apartment, but I bet it's REALLY nice to have a totally seperate space dedicated to creation. Regardless, the article is a winner. Read it.