Wierd but Cool - Earth as Art

I always like to get inspired from different kinds of materials and medias. I believe that when the inspiration origin and its concept is innovational, the end art result would be more interesting as well.

There is a nice website that shows the earth through the lens of the Landsat 7, Nasa´s Satellite. It shows nice images that can definitly inspire, principally, for an abstract art work. Check it out!

Delta Region, Netherlands

                     

Northern Norway

 Karman Vortices, Selkirk Island

West Fjords, Iceland

Icefall, Lambert Glacier, Antarctica

One painter I loved when I visited Kansas City´s (Missouri) Belger Center of Art was Creighton Michael. He has a series of paintings that take the earth and maps as an inspiration element.

I will write more about him and his mold painting in another post!

NPR's Project Song: Moby & Kelli Scarr - by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

               

NPR's Project Song is the topic of today's post. The project challenges its competetors to complete a song in just two days. Normally this is a task that leaves artist working until the last moment, until Moby & Kelli Scarr. With in a day, they had already fully completed the challenge: "Gone to Sleep" was created. On the second day they composed two more versions of the same song entirely superpassing all expectations.

        

To see all three versions of the song "Gone to Sleep" by Moby & Kelli Scarr, you can access the full story at NPR's official site along with previous Project Songs.

Cartoons

I drew these cartoons in my note paper during a meeting.

Guess it was productive! ;)

Urban Art

ViSuAl KeI in JaPaNeSe RoCk! - by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

When one thinks of Japan, Rock normally doesn’t spring to mind; however there is a very lively rock scene in most of the major cities. From Fukuoka in the South, to the streets of Tokyo and up to Akita, one can see its cultural manifestations in the younger generation’s fashion sense and attitude. Some of its fashion influences, among many, are: gothic & punk lolita, gangaro, glam rocker, yanki, Osharei Kei, and (my personal favorite) Visual Kei.

Since the 1980s Japanese rock has been developing and evolving into its own hybrid sound. The three showcased bands (Plastic Tree, Penicillin, and X Japan) are only the tip of the iceberg among the Japanese rock repertoire and are perfect examples of the androgenic Visual Kei.

Plastic Tree or PuraTori (プラトリ)

                      

The group is known for its radical lyrics and the Visual Kei outfits put together in their videos and live performances. Since 1993, Ryūtarō Arimura has been the band’s lead vocalist. His soft and melodic voice contrasts the group’s heavier instrumental sound.

Penicillin

The group formed in 1992 and has been going strong ever since. They are most well known for their lead vocalist, Hakuei, one of Japan’s most famous male models. Hakuei is currently modeling with Black Peace Now, but considers music to be his number one priority, according to one of his recent interviews while posing in France. He beautiful face is the personification of the Visual Kei that has spawned from Japanese rock over the years. He uses make up to draw attention to his delicate androgenic facial features, while his fashion is constantly transforming.

X Japan- エックス ジャパン

Last, but not least, X Japan is one of the most famous and quintessential Japanese Visual Kei influencers in the history of Japanese rock music. However, don’t be fooled by their tough exterior. X Japan’s lyrics are mainly about love and getting one’s heartbroken. With a song list of: “Forever Love,” “Dry Your Tears with Love,” and “Crucify My Love,” I would hardly consider them menacing--but their music is beautifully endearing and classic.

Please enjoy the bands and their flamboyant outfits.

* This post was written by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

Ouno Design

A great finding for colloring your home is the UONO Design with their fun pillows, covers, throws and bags. In the tradition of West Coast Modernism, Ouno Design incorporates Scandinavian, Japanese and ancient design influences to bring warmth and natural texture to both modern and traditional decor.

I love a colorful house. I think that the perfect mixture of colors makes people happy for the day! My room is green and my  

Just loved this cover! I wanna it!

I would not put this mail pillow on my sofa, but it is really funny.

ALICE MANIACS by Fashion Columnist Daniela Lanna

Last weekend, on April 21st, the movie Alice’s in wonderland was launched in Brazil. So yesterday, I went to the movies to check on it and I definitely give credit for its special effects, esthetics and costume design - and I could not expect less of a Tim Burton film! -.

Tim Burton is one of those directors recognized for its unique style and his colorful and folkloric way of telling stories. Burton once again imprinted an original eye for an already known universe. And despite not being a triumph in movie market, Tim Burton’s Alice is a magical and imaginative performance, delightful to be seen, especially with a fashion eye!

If you have plans of watching Alice in Wonderland you sure will be touched by its visual effects. Burton’s Alice arouses the imagination of spectators and fashion designer all over the world and soon we could observe its influence in fashion. T-shirts, nail polish, make up, jewelry, shoes inspired by the fanciful universe of young Alice, a classical children’s literature.

Urban Decay dedicated a limited edition of eye shadow called Book of Shadows which comes with 16 ultra pigmented colors. The book is illustrated with a pop up image of Alice in the mushrooms forest.

Following the new trend, the famous nail polish brand O.P.I. launched the “Alice in Wonderland Collection” with 4 super modern colors named: mad as a hatter, off with her red, absolutely Alice, thanks so muchness.

"Alice in Wonderland Collection"

Another brand that invested in the fantastic universe of Alice was Swarovski, with a line of super cute

accessories, as you can see below.

In Brazil, some brands also invested in “Alice” trend. The colorful flowers garden inspired the Brazilian jewelry brand H.Stern to design finger rings with elements of the movie as giant flowers and the famous cat of Cheshire. The rings will be part of an exhibition in São Paulo and available for sale only by order.

The Brazilian cloth brand Ellus also created a line of t-shirts with icons of the movie, which will be available for sale only at Ellus and Guest. Tel.: (11)3552-6699.

* This post was written by Fashion Columnist Daniela Lanna

Quotation

Projects require a particular quality among its managers, producers or any envolved professional: pacience. In this case, pacience should always be the art of positively and actively wait for an answer, a confirmation, an approval that will decisively decide the course of a project. As you know, pacience is an inevitable fase of every project, plan or dream. Therefore, for down fases when you just want a "yes" answer, I just love Friedrich Nietzsche's phrase:

"You can bare any HOW if you have a strong WHY."

Hang in there. Be positive.

Painter Alyssa Monks

If you like the charade: is this real or not? is this a painting or is this a photo? you will love the New Yorker Alyssa Monks. She masters paintings with wet and naked people taking baths, showers or just hanging out (still wet and naked). As eper her own site: "Monks’s work explores narrative figuration. Currently she is playing with the tension between abstraction and realism in the same work, using different filters to visually distort and disintegrate the body." Alyssa has been awarded a Grant for Painting from the Elizabeth Greensheilds Foundation three times.

I love how she plays with an artful realism with the water and its forms. Wet flesh texture, glass, vapor, transparency and fog. 

I don't know, but I feel like taking a hot shower!

Bunkwaa - Street Illustrator from Australia

             

For the past two years Bunkwaa has been creating and selling his illustrations on King st, in Newtown (Australia). He has made approximately 1400 funny characters. His cartoons have appeared in newspapers, magazines, websites and books fro example. Bunkwaa is also an Art Teacher at the Pine Street Creative Center. According to Bunkwaa, busking in Newtown is awesome and he adds: "I'm always along side painters, musicians, poets and street artists. Creating my art out on the street has been like working in an open air studio, where I get instant feedback about my art from people wandering by; from complements to harsh criticism."

Bunkwaa is the one in the middle!

Bunkwaa Blog: http://www.bunkwaa.blogspot.com/

Bunkwaa Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwippy/

Bunkwaa Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bunkwaa

Also, a great and leading art reference site from Australia is ArtsHUB, but you've got pay for it!

Bunkwaa - Video

Japanese Street Style: Fairy-Kei - by Guest Columnist Ana

If you’re around 20-ish or even 30-ish … and missing youth and the 1980´s cartoons, such as Popples, My Little Pony and Vintage Barbie, remember listening to Cyndi Lauper on the radio while the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” hit reached the top #5 parade? Well,now you can revive all those special moments and even find stores in Tokyo to get dress in pink, purple, yellow and mint again!

Tavuchi, a Japanese fashion enthusiastic, opened her own store – called - SPANK! In 2004, starting the Fairy-Kei movement – which she don’t want credit for – selling used itens and her own creations based on the Disco and 1980´s culture, arguing that there wasn’t anywhere she could find clothing tasteful enough for her fashion needs.

Fairy-Kei is nowadays a popular style - thanks to Tavuchi and her brand – which mixes cute icons from the 80´s, toys, bright colors, head-eating bows and lots and lots of accessories.

There’s lots and lots of stores dedicated to this fashion, especially in Harajuku, they look like children’s store, but dedicated to youngsters and – Of course - adults. Another dedicated brands: SBY Happy Room and 6% DOKI DOKI.

You can check nice links here:

Tavuchi: That´s Her! Tavuchi (click!)

Lots of Pics : http://spankgirls.tumblr.com/
Official Website SPANK!: http://www.spankworld.jp/
Official Website 6% DOKI DOKI: http://www.dokidoki6.com
SBY Store: http://www.lacarmina.com/blogpics/091001_fk1.jpg


* This post was written by Guest Columnist Ana, 23 years, Fashion Designer who ABSOLUTELY loves japanese street fashion and it´s a Brazilian Lolita, living in Brasília for a while... Check out Ana´s blog here!

From Me to You - Jamie Beck

               

If you like photography, a great photo-blog is From Me to You by Jamie Beck. The blog was carefully designed by Kevin Burg to look like a pin board displaying memorable pictures. The photos are whimsical with strong colors and a well defined area focus. You will be delighted (and hungry!) with the food pictures and amazed by the city shots. Jamie can extract the perfect angles and add an artful pallete to her work. You know those pictures that incite you to visit the place, eat the food, to live? Those are Jamie's pics. It is worth checking out and have fun!

     

 

Jamie takes lots of pictures of herself. They are superb!

Thanks, Jamie, continue on your path!