A marketplace for redesigned notebook covers

As product customization becomes ever more popular with consumers, it is inevitable that items as personal as notebooks are also being altered to suit individual tastes. Rather than fighting this in an effort to preserve their classic black finish, Moleskine have recently launched a marketplace that embraces artists’ interpretations and redesigns of their notebooks.

Artists on the marketplace all take original Moleskines for their canvas, and redesign them using carving, embroidery, painting, screen printing, sketching, and many more techniques. They can then put their customized notebooks up for sale on the marketplace for others to buy. Visitors to the site can browse the marketplace and search it by notebook model, materials and techniques used in the redesign, or, if the notebook is being bought as a gift, by the occasion it is being bought for. Payments are then made via PayPal, and the notebook is shipped directly from the designer. The website also hosts a “Meet the artists page”, where visitors can view the profiles of the Moleskine re-designers and like them on Facebook.

In the site’s own words, “The Moleskine Artist Marketplace aims to match what people are looking for with the talent of our users. We are creating this platform to help satisfy the growing demands of our consumers while channeling the revenues directly to our creatively dedicated Moleskine community.” Just as Apple opened up to allow the public to create apps, sometimes it’s worth taking a gamble that puts your audience in the driving seat. Other brands around the world take note: This is a model that inspires brand loyalty and helps build a sense of community. So be courageous, and see what rewards you could reap! (Related: Puzzle books given a design makeover.)

Website: artistmarketplace.moleskine.com
Contact: www.moleskine.com/contact_us.php

Papirmasse - 1Year 12Art Prints $60

The subscription model continues to gain popularity among convenience-minded consumers. However, it's rare that we see the concept applied to more high-minded goods. Now, however, Papirmasse is a venture from Canada that delivers 12 pieces of art throughout the year for just USD 60.

Each month, Montreal-based Papirmasse chooses a new, emerging artist to feature and asks that person to design a print for one of its upcoming issues. On the issue's backside, meanwhile, it prints a short story, essay, graphic novel excerpt or poem. The result is “a magazine, piece of art, and social experiment all rolled into one,” in the site's own words. Each issue is printed on archival paper in varying sizes and formats. Subscriptions are sold on a yearly basis for USD 60 so as to keep costs low; back issues are available as well.

From open source magazines to periodicals presented on audio LP, it's clearly an era of experimentation in the publishing industry. The incorporation of original, affordable art, meanwhile, adds a compelling twist. One to watch! 

Decorate your wall !!!

Papirmasse is a subscription that delivers an art print to your mailbox every month. We want everyone to have art – real art! Not the fake paintings sold at Ikea or the same tired old posters every college student has. No! We want images to travel, and people to get excited about seeing. Our eyes are beautiful things.

Paintings are expensive because they are one-of-a-kind. But prints can multiply!

Every month we choose a new artist to showcase and ask them to design a print for us.  On the backside of Papirmasse we publish short stories, essays, graphic novel excerpts, and poems.

We then mail these prints to subscribers for the ridiculously low price of $5.00 a month.  What can we say?  We’re waging a war against blank walls.

Papirmasse History

Papirmasse was founded in 2009 by Kirsten McCrea, a Montreal-based artist and illustrator.  While at a restaurant shortly after graduating from art school, Kirsten was struck by the magnificent prints on the walls – and their even more magnificent price tags.  Realizing that few people she knew were in a position to buy original artwork, and that the reproductions offered in commercial stores were bland and banal, Papirmasse was born.  Appreciators of art who would like to own original and contemporary works: rejoice!  Here at Papirmasse, art is for everyone!

Papirmasse originally ran from January – December 2009, and then took a year off to reflect, recoup, and reorganize. Papirmasse relaunches in December 2010 under the continued leadership and direction of Kirsten McCrea and is produced with support from Maison Kasini.

Website: www.papirmasse.com

Contact: info@papirmasse.com

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

Yoko Furusho - Ilustration

I love Japanese artists. They are always so tender and subtle. Here is Yoko, an "Tokyo" illustrator based in NY.

Yoko also has shoes with her designs: