Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
MAKE Magazine
I'm currently taking a class in media design back at Northwestern. Somehow I missed what little NU did have to offer as far as visual journalism which sucks, but at least I'm lucky I have the opportunity to try and fix that now.
The class has been really challenging due to my own limitations. I feel like I have a very high learning curve as I've never before touched many of the Adobe programs we use (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop to a degree). It's actually quite ridiculous how much material is supposed to be crammed into nine weeks, one of which we lost because of snowmageddon.
I thought I'd post the most recent assignment we were given for kicks. We were supposed to design the cover and spread of an imaginary pop culture magazine that covers music, movies, TV. I came up with MAKE Magazine. The concept is kind of elitist, but whatever. Stick with what you know, right? :p I wanted to spotlight the people in the industry who actually MAKE the stuff we like. Directors, producers, set designers, costume designers; you get the idea. I'm assuming my reader is someone who appreciates art and popular culture but is clued in enough to know that behind-the-scenes tastemakers are stars themselves (and many times are more deserving of fame and fortune).
The goal of this assignment was to play with colour. For my cover, I chose a black and white photograph of Sofia Coppola (mainly because that was the best I could find... shhh). For the text, I chose the three primary colours (red, yellow, blue) but made them very soft, unlike how we typically see primary colours (think bold, like in childrens' books). Overall, I'm satisfied with how it came together. We'll see what my professor thinks.
Caroline
The class has been really challenging due to my own limitations. I feel like I have a very high learning curve as I've never before touched many of the Adobe programs we use (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop to a degree). It's actually quite ridiculous how much material is supposed to be crammed into nine weeks, one of which we lost because of snowmageddon.
I thought I'd post the most recent assignment we were given for kicks. We were supposed to design the cover and spread of an imaginary pop culture magazine that covers music, movies, TV. I came up with MAKE Magazine. The concept is kind of elitist, but whatever. Stick with what you know, right? :p I wanted to spotlight the people in the industry who actually MAKE the stuff we like. Directors, producers, set designers, costume designers; you get the idea. I'm assuming my reader is someone who appreciates art and popular culture but is clued in enough to know that behind-the-scenes tastemakers are stars themselves (and many times are more deserving of fame and fortune).
The goal of this assignment was to play with colour. For my cover, I chose a black and white photograph of Sofia Coppola (mainly because that was the best I could find... shhh). For the text, I chose the three primary colours (red, yellow, blue) but made them very soft, unlike how we typically see primary colours (think bold, like in childrens' books). Overall, I'm satisfied with how it came together. We'll see what my professor thinks.
Caroline
My friend Falko
In 2008, I had the pleasure of living and working abroad in Cape Town, South Africa for my journalism residency. For three months I worked at The Cape Times newspaper and learned a lot. After my internship, I took off for a month to travel the country and study graffiti for a global reporting grant I had been awarded. During this time I was able to meet many wonderful, talented, fascinating people. Craig aka Falko was one of the many talented and prolific artists I met.
I caught up with him the other day and it turns out he is currently completing a massive graffiti project he talked about wanting to undertake back in 2008.
The project is called "Splitpiece: The Darling Made Me Do It." The idea is to take one picture and 'split' it up into pieces and paint the different parts in various places. In effect, it will be like a giant artistic puzzle (in the physical sense--I'll get back to you on the meaning of this mural). Even though the full image will never be together as one, each piece can stand alone as art with its own meaning in its respective location.
The project started this month on Akkerboom Street in Darling East, a residential area (I don't think I've been there before). Craig said he'd be painting on people's houses, both inside and out. I personally don't know how the project can have a unifying feel if one of the pieces is hidden inside someone's house, but that's what further interviews are for.
Craig's words:
"Using a road where people are neighbours and have common space that they share, splitpieces will put sharing space into a different dimension. It will link people in a completely new way no matter what their differences.
The interaction between artists and residents will also have an unusual prolonged relationship. Not only will be spending extensive time in the area doing murals, more importantly we will be spending time with the locals. We will be able to share our visions, ideas and knowledge about what we do (for those who are interested) and they will be able to share their thoughts with us."
Here are some pictures of the pieces so far. I'll be sure to post the completed project when it's done.
Artists Jadas and Nardstar are contributing as well.
Craig is based in Cape Town with his partner Lindsay and their beautiful new baby Femi.
Caroline
I caught up with him the other day and it turns out he is currently completing a massive graffiti project he talked about wanting to undertake back in 2008.
The project is called "Splitpiece: The Darling Made Me Do It." The idea is to take one picture and 'split' it up into pieces and paint the different parts in various places. In effect, it will be like a giant artistic puzzle (in the physical sense--I'll get back to you on the meaning of this mural). Even though the full image will never be together as one, each piece can stand alone as art with its own meaning in its respective location.
The project started this month on Akkerboom Street in Darling East, a residential area (I don't think I've been there before). Craig said he'd be painting on people's houses, both inside and out. I personally don't know how the project can have a unifying feel if one of the pieces is hidden inside someone's house, but that's what further interviews are for.
Craig's words:
"Using a road where people are neighbours and have common space that they share, splitpieces will put sharing space into a different dimension. It will link people in a completely new way no matter what their differences.
The interaction between artists and residents will also have an unusual prolonged relationship. Not only will be spending extensive time in the area doing murals, more importantly we will be spending time with the locals. We will be able to share our visions, ideas and knowledge about what we do (for those who are interested) and they will be able to share their thoughts with us."
Here are some pictures of the pieces so far. I'll be sure to post the completed project when it's done.
Artists Jadas and Nardstar are contributing as well.
Craig is based in Cape Town with his partner Lindsay and their beautiful new baby Femi.
Caroline
Monday, February 21, 2011
Kim Høltermand
I love looking at artists' and designers' inspiration boards. It gives such an immediate and intimate glimpse into that person's mind and their aesthetic. I especially love when I see seemingly unrelated items on a board; for example, a picture of a building or a car on a fashion designers board. The first time I saw one of these inspiration boards/books, I realized I could and should look for beauty and inspiration in everything I see and experience.
I recently discovered the work of Danish photographer Kim Høltermand. He specializes in architectural and landscape photography while his day job is, get this, as a fingerprints expert in the Crime Scene Unit of the Danish National Police. The moment I saw his "Deserted City" and "Tuve" series, I thought jewelry. The colours, the lines, the shapes; I could imagine a ring, earrings, necklace, cuff being made with almost every picture I saw as source inspiration. What do you think?
Caroline
I recently discovered the work of Danish photographer Kim Høltermand. He specializes in architectural and landscape photography while his day job is, get this, as a fingerprints expert in the Crime Scene Unit of the Danish National Police. The moment I saw his "Deserted City" and "Tuve" series, I thought jewelry. The colours, the lines, the shapes; I could imagine a ring, earrings, necklace, cuff being made with almost every picture I saw as source inspiration. What do you think?
Caroline
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Changing Education Paradigms
Education expert and 2008 RSA Benjamin Franklin recipient Sir Ken Robinson gave an incredible talk which was then graphically animated. I was simultaneously inspired as it's something I hadn't thought about before yet horrified by how the system is so arcane--people really need to be thinking about education in more contemporary terms. The video is a bit long, but truly worthwhile. It will make your jaw drop. And make you never want to put your kids in a traditional school system unless it changes radically.
Caroline
Caroline
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day
Pictures from Steve McCurry's series called "The Power of Two."
"Here are some pictures of couples who have a relationship that is evident in their gestures of caring, their body language, in their eyes." - Steve McCurry
Make sure to check out the rest.
Gostivar, Macedonia
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Belgrade, Serbia
Tagong, Kham, Tibet
Happy Valentine's Day! X.
Caroline
"Here are some pictures of couples who have a relationship that is evident in their gestures of caring, their body language, in their eyes." - Steve McCurry
Make sure to check out the rest.
Happy Valentine's Day! X.
Caroline
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Back to the Future
Sorry, this has nothing to do with Michael J. Fox. Rather, Back to the Future is an art project taken to an OCD extreme. Argentine photographer Irina Werning created the series modeling her friends and family members exactly as they were as a child; she brings the same exact style, clothes, situations and feelings from the "then" photos and replicates them in the “now.” The results are pretty amazing.
What I love is that the "then" picture is usually pretty cute and certainly stands as a portrait of time, but the "now" picture feels so rich and compels you to think: what's happened in this person’s life between photos? What's happened to the place?
The project is ongoing, so be sure to check back! I really hope she does a cat. Or a goldfish.
Caroline
What I love is that the "then" picture is usually pretty cute and certainly stands as a portrait of time, but the "now" picture feels so rich and compels you to think: what's happened in this person’s life between photos? What's happened to the place?
The project is ongoing, so be sure to check back! I really hope she does a cat. Or a goldfish.
Caroline
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Collar Flip
Not to be confused with the popped collar which automatically makes you douche-tacular.
"All over sartorial Japan (at least in the Classic Italian sub-genre) guys flip their shirt collar to appear more nonchalant. Even the shops display the shirts with the collars flipped." - The Sartorialist
This is exactly why I love menswear. It is this kind of attention to detail and subtlety that I find so impressive and charming. Please also notice the addition of the pocket handkerchief and the placement of the pin. Guys, there are SO many options for accessories! Use them! Have fun!
Actually, one could argue this is taking douche to a whole new level, but it's Japanese which automatically makes everything cool.
Caroline
"All over sartorial Japan (at least in the Classic Italian sub-genre) guys flip their shirt collar to appear more nonchalant. Even the shops display the shirts with the collars flipped." - The Sartorialist
This is exactly why I love menswear. It is this kind of attention to detail and subtlety that I find so impressive and charming. Please also notice the addition of the pocket handkerchief and the placement of the pin. Guys, there are SO many options for accessories! Use them! Have fun!
Actually, one could argue this is taking douche to a whole new level, but it's Japanese which automatically makes everything cool.
Caroline
Monday, February 7, 2011
Music Monday!
I feel like my life has changed. I discovered so many new artists today (shout out to Proper Villains) as well as stumbled upon the mecca of all electronic music websites, beatportal.com. I found/acquired the remix of Hello by Martin Solveig I heard briefly on the radio. And I discovered a FREE podcast by Dada Life here.
Goodies below. Get dancing, bitches.
Caroline
Goodies below. Get dancing, bitches.
Caroline
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Neistat Brothers
The Neistat Brothers are a creative pair who have been making simple short films since 1999 basically using a camera, paper, scissors and an iMac. I was particularly interested in checking their stuff because, aside from the iMac, it seemed like they used minimal tools and programs (no Adobe AfterEffects here) to make films and tell simple stories; a skill set I would like to have as well and maybe one day take to youth in developing nations to help them tell their stories of social importance.
Anyway, I haven't made my way through their entire portfolio yet, but I can so far recommend this hilarious short titled "The Ethics of Stealing a Bike." Apparently they have an HBO series based on their lives, told in various short stories, of course.
Caroline
Anyway, I haven't made my way through their entire portfolio yet, but I can so far recommend this hilarious short titled "The Ethics of Stealing a Bike." Apparently they have an HBO series based on their lives, told in various short stories, of course.
Caroline
Thursday, February 3, 2011
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