Foster the People “Torches” Album Cover
Dec 28, 2011 Art, Design, Inspiration, Music
I love the artwork for this album cover (album is great too, btw)!! Isn’t it rad?! It was created by this dude, Japayork. He’s a musician and graphic designer who previously resided between Japan and New York and is now in London. I tried to find his portfolio but the links that turned up were down…oh well.
Tags: Foster the People, Japayork, Torches
Hellen Jo
Nov 3, 2011 Art, Design, Inspiration
As I was doing research for my next project, I came across an amazing illustrator named Hellen Jo based out of Burbank, CA. I can only assume that she’s Korean since she seems well versed in Korean folklore? Too lazy to look into it. Regardless, what impressed me the most was how she chose to embrace each story. Her dark sense of humor was the icing on the cake for me. Here are a few pieces I really loved.
This is a piece she was commissioned to commemorate a wedding anniversary. One of their wedding photos inspired her to draw the couple as “Gyeonwu and Jiknyeo, lovers separated by the universe in the Korean folk tale called Chilseok; they were permitted by God to reunite just once each year, on a celestial bridge formed by thousands of magpies and blackbirds.” Funnily enough, it was one of the few Korean children’s book I had at my disposal when I was a kid. Totally forgot about it and it was great to be reminded of it.
This one is called “Red Mask.” And the story behind it is: “The Red Mask (bbal gan ma su ku) is a Korean urban legend which finds its origins in 1970s Japan. She wears a blood-soaked surgical mask and she carries a knife. She approaches people to ask, “Am I pretty?” If you say yes, she’ll kill you, and if you say no, she’ll take off her mask and show you her horrific Glasgow smile, the result of a cosmetic surgery procedure gone terribly wrong. She asks again, “Am I pretty?” If you say yes, she’ll cut up your face; if you say no, she’ll follow you home and THEN cut up your face, and if you say, “You look normal,” she’ll grow confused and wander away.”
And here’s a more recent piece, outside of the Korean folklore. This one is called “Mortal Residue.”
Check out the rest of her work. She’s pretty bad ass.
Supakitch & Koralie
Sep 27, 2011 Art, Design, Inspiration, Typography
From the moment my friend from Hunter said “You gotta see this video,” I’ve been obsessed. I can’t even begin to describe how inspiring it was watching Supakitch & Koralie create this wall painting. What I love, especially, is that they blur the lines between design, typography, calligraphy and painting…seamlessly. Incredible.
SUPAKITCH & KORALIE – VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.
Tags: elroy, Koralie, Supakitch, Supakitch & Koralie
Fundraiser x Art Show: Sunday, 8/21
Aug 17, 2011 Art, Design, Events
Come to the East Village this Sunday, 8/21, for a benefit supporting Pasalubong, a photobook of images of the Philippines by Grace Villamil, plus a raffle of works by various artists. Oh! And did I mention that I am a participant and raffling new work? Swing by and check it out.
Details are on the flyer below, hope to see you there!
Pasalubong flyer design by Haena Kang
Tags: Grace Villamil, Haena Kang, Maharlika, Pasalubong
Paul Octavious
Jan 11, 2011 Art, Inspiration, Photography
I’m so glad that Tina Roth Eisenberg, aka Swiss Miss, featured Paul Octavious’s photo in her newsletter recently. I loved his interpretations on everyday objects and scenes. Below are a few of my favorites. One other series, not represented below, called “Same Hill, Different Day” is worth checking out.
from the series “The Black Stuff”
from the series “The Black Stuff”
from the series “The Book Collection”
from the series “Lines“
Tags: Paul Octavious
Calligraphy by Luca Barcellona
Oct 29, 2010 Art, Design, Inspiration
One art form that I always have a deep appreciation for is calligraphy. During my college years, I studied it and only used metal nibs for my assignments. That class provided a lot of insight to the craft and I don’t think that anyone really knows how painstaking the process is…it’s what makes this art form precious.
It’s an artistry that requires, better yet, demands one to be focused, controlled, yet calm, so that your hand and motions are no longer two separate entities. There’s no room to think. You have to allow the nib to become an extension of your hand and then, create movement through the expressive qualities of the strokes you make. If you premeditate your movements, it almost guarantees you’ll f*ck up. Once you do f*ck up, that’s it. You have take all the time and effort you just spent, trash it, and start all over again. It’s unrelenting that way. On the up side though, when you do capture everything in that single go…it’s golden.
I mention this because it provides a better understanding of my latest find (I’ve rarely come across people that have done calligraphy before). His name is Luca Barcellona and his calligraphic work is beautiful. We live in such a digitized world, that when you come across work such as Luca’s, all hand drawn, it’s refreshing to see. I selected a few to show you the various personalities this art form can take on. Each piece evokes a different emotion and I loved going through his diverse body of work.
Metal nib on paper
Metal nib on paper. I also wonder if that statement is true – hahaha.
Brush pen on paper
Not sure what medium? I’m guessing it’s all drawn and possibly silk screened onto paper.
Tags: Calligraphy, Luca Barcellona
James Hopkins
Salvation Lies Within, 2003/ Lectern and bible, 122 x 50 x 34 cm / Installation view Cosmic Galerie, Paris / Private collection
Design for Life, 2006 / Mixed media, 230 x 180 x 35 cm / Private collection
Brink, 2004 / Balanced chair, 89 x 45 x 45 cm /Installation view Max Wigram Gallery, London
