Monday, January 31, 2011

Jeremy Scott

Jeremy Scott is one of my favorite fashion designers, I'm almost certain of that. Scott is known for his playful patterns, extravagant collections and his famous Winged Adidas (I still want a pair). I really like the fact that he takes chances in his work and it's hard to categorize his designs. I had to show the shoes pictured above because they're a perfect example of how he takes an idea no matter how off the wall, and gives it life. Weather you like his work or hate it, he will definitely get people talking.
Check out Jeremy Scott Spring/ Summer 2011 here http://www.jeremyscott.com/livestream.html

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Folding chairs everywhere

In honor of today's drawing class, I thought I'd share this Jay Ryan poster with y'all. I borrowed the image from here:


Fabien Barral is a designer from Clermont-Ferrand, France who has been creating functional works of art for clients since 1997. Living in a cottage in the country has caused him to do most of his work remotely. Fabien’s techniques implement rich textures, bold contrast, and washes of color to bring each piece to life. Clean, modern lines layered with elegant, vintage textures combine to create an air of timelessness. While his work maintains a common feel, the breadth of his portfolio spans from minimalist to ornate and from organic to technical. He demonstrates an extensive understanding of typography by combining serif, san-serif, and script faces and by utilizing old-style numerals and unicase figures in much of his work. Fabien’s more recent work has included letterpress printing of calendars, coasters, and business cards. He explains his passion for the visual arts by saying, “I am what I create, I create what I am.”


Sources:

http://www.fabienbarral.com/

http://www.abduzeedo.com/inspiration-fabien-barral

http://www.behance.net/imoments

http://www.designartculture.com/2008/08/14/fabien-barral-imaginary-moments-ink-splatters-surrealism-and-stunning-beauty/

http://www.thegraphicdesignschool.com/blog/whos-who/interview-with-fabien-barral/

http://www.graphic-exchange.com/

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Steve Mumford is braver than you

A few months ago, I found this painting and this painting in a magazine. The artist who painted these is Steve Mumford. I'd never heard of Steve Mumford, and I still don't know much about him. In fact, I didn't remember his name, and it took me at least 15 minutes to find him on Google. But his work stuck with me, not necessarily as a result of the work itself (although I like the work and think it's well done and powerful), but because of the story behind the work.

Mumford is an artist who has spent several months embedded in Iraq with U.S. troops. He's an embedded artist, which is a lot like an embedded journalist, except instead of taking photos, writing about, or broadcasting the war, Mumford draws and paints it.

Evidently, there's a long tradition of artists who've done this sort of thing.  But I haven't really seen anything like Mumford's work come out of the Iraq war, and it struck me as such a wonderful and peculiar form of journalism. After all, we have photography. It's cheap and instantaneous and (somewhat) objective. If you want to capture a moment as it really was, you snap a picture. But there's something about the slow, considered deliberateness of using pencil and ink and paint to record these moments in war-torn time that really affects me, both as an artist and as a citizen of a country that has been pointlessly and continuously at war for nearly a decade.

I guess Mumford has collected his war art in a new book. I'm going to read it. I'll let you know how it is.

Lecutre from today's Ch1 reading (Slides)


























here's today's lecture

Chuck U...?



Chuck U's work within the huge world of art that we have here in minnesota, stands out to me not as being the best artist alive, but stands out in a way where reality is broken while still being present and the assumed possibilities of the future are combined to create the imagery of the title of his most recent works named accordingly as "Robozoology".
With the realism of animal forms matched with dark line structure to the vivid colors, his works look as though they were designed for a coloring book, and were colored, completely inside the lines of the visual shapes while still holding this abstract view of how the animals with out opposable thumbs(besides the monkeys) have been altered with robotic appendages and human-like characteristics. Which for me allows for extreme thoughts of genetic alteration and mechanical alterations to organic beings, while making you wonder if this is a foreshadow of what is to come in our ever growing world of mechanical ability.

Maya Hayuk and why I love her!




When I first came across Maya Hayuk, I was sixteen and in love with markers. Maya is an artist that uses incredibly vibrant colors and geometric patterns to evoke good vibes. She even came out with a book titled Just Good Vibes. That's probably why I was so attracted to her at first. She is a muralist, painter, drawer, photographer, and printmaker, and musician. She does independent studio work as well as many collaborations with other artist groups or artists. I think her work is important because it makes me happy and makes me inspired to make murals. I'm obsessed with lines, and a lot of her murals play with lines and overlapping them with color. Her drawings also fascinated me. A certain series especially shows couples in multiple "love" positions. Its beautiful because the faces are completely covered by long flowing detailed shiny looking hair. There's a magical feeling to her work and an innocence. It doesn't feel too serious or pretentious. It's familiar but still different. And I love it.


Ryan Trecartin for W Magazine





I have chosen to write about a magazine spread conceptualized by Ryan Trecartin. I feel that I really relate to his artwork. In some ways I think this is a new form of pop art.
Internet is such a big part of my life and upbringing. It is such a big part of the culture that I know and love. As someone who spends most of their free time scowling the internet searching for the next big thing, I relate to this!
In this spread for W magazine Ryan Trecartin totally touched on popular internet culture of today.
One thing I really love about pop art is that it takes things people see everyday and really throws it in their faces. I think that's what Trecartin is doing here.
To really see what went into this spread and what ran through his mind you must visit this article in DisMagazine. The amount of planning that went into each and every minute part of it is really incredible.
To many this will not seem like art, but just a jumble of nonsense. I think it is absolutely genius.

photos from W Magazine

David Hale Review



David Hale is a favorite of mine because of the spiritual nature of his work. He often uses raw skate decks and wood, which is something that I also like to work with. This piece is entitled "That Which Nurture" which was created using acrylic, pen, ink, and marker. It rests on 5 natural skate decks and "much love".
He uses a lot of elements in nature, and labels them where they occur. Since they seem pretty obvious to me, I think he wants to make a point of noticing these elements. The radiating yellow ball in the upper right corner of the piece clearly represents "sunlight" which he has emphasized it with a really organic script. The wind is above the ground, and even if it wasn't labeled it would be seen as wind because of the spiraling wisps throughout the stream, and the way the woman's hair wraps around and flows with it. Love is centered between the two people, and I think because he mentions it as a physical element with the rest of the elements, he wants to convey that love is something organic that occurs in nature as well. To me, he's saying that love should be just as relevant as sunlight, water, wind, and earth. It is as physical as any of those things, and flows without any pause in design. People need every thing in the piece to survive, and nothing can be left out!


I discovered Rachel Timmins because she and I look oddly alike.

Aside from that, she does amazing work. She's an MFA candidate at Towson University, focusing on Studio Art mostly concerning metals, jewelry, sculpture and the like. This necklace that she is wearing is an original piece. I partly love it because of the message that she tries to communicate in her work: the feeling of homelessness. And this isn't homelessness in the way of not having a place to live, but more so in the way of not belonging and feeling alienated. I can identify with this, especially because we both share an affinity for body modifications which often contribute to a feeling of alienation because they are not widely accepted. To convey this message, she makes restrictive or uncomfortable jewelry that limits the wearer's mobility. She also does sculpture, and her sculptures play off of her message through narrative to show the viewer about alienation rather than putting them directly in a situation. But these sculptures are small and intimate and still place the reader in an interactive position, whether they are wearing it or simply observing.

So here is my question: Does she make this work in the hopes that people will identify with it, or does she make it to make them identify with it? Does she want to force people into her position, or does she want to find people already in her position? Does she want to alienate herself further through her work, or is this a search for a “home”?


her portfolio can be found at: racheltimmins.com


Week #2 – Orientation to Art and Design
 Allan Spring 2011
Your Assignment due for Feb 1st, 2011

READING
  Read Chapter 2 in Barrett  Theory & Art”
Take Notes in your process journal
  Be prepared for in-class discussion.
OTHER
Materials needed to bring with you for next class   -- THIS IS FOR YOUR VISUAL RESOURCE BOOK
- Your CVA Art-Tool-box
 - At least 2 sheets of hard board, strong cardboard, thick tag board, book board etc.  You want them to be 8” x 5” and sturdy
-  Invent a method to attach this sketchbook to your process journal:  Velcro, string, ribbon, snaps, hooks, and pockets- whatever. (Your design problem)
-  Paper that will function as 8”x5” pages – type of paper is up to you.
-  Tread and Needle
-  Durable paper, cloth, or other material that will function as the covering for the book
-  Duct tape (good for everything)
-  Adhesives (Elmer’s glue is recommended)
-  Anything else you can think of.

PROJECT #1:  Completed in class (*Ideally)
  BLOG ENTRY #1:  1ST artist of your choice
I’d like to start with someone that you connect with – an art and / or design piece that you came into art school thinking was heads and tails above all others.  Your job is to convince us.  Using what you learned from Chapter One – tell us WHY this is an important work for us to know about.  You can even choose a work you know NOTHING about – but saw and felt you couldn’t not talk about it!  Ideally, this should be a contemporary piece, So something in the last 60 – 70 years, (*yes, contemporary)  -but feel free to explore the avenues of this.
Strong examples of past student work:

Diane Kornber



à Write at least 150 word Criticism (1-2 paragraphs) about this chosen work - based on the discussion of Ch 1 in class  - Love it, hate it, tell us WHY, à What DOES THE CRITIC DO:
- Adds credibility to the artists and their art ($values$$)
-  Adds social context
-  Another way of viewing the work
-  They tells us why art matters

    à  *Include a sited image of the work
              (*Either one you took, or one found on line)


A few things to remember:………….. 

1) Spelling and Grammar still count (*I know... booo).
I usually like to write things out in a word doc. and then cut and past them over into the blog.
Why?  Because I can't spell, and grammar  - it is beyond me - BUT  - you are required to do it well.  How will I know then if you are miss-spelling anything?  Simple my dears....  cut and paste right back into word and there you go.  Can't hide from it, just do it.


2) REMEMBER: future employers will find this, so think respectful and smart.

3) Vanna White style of swearing (i.e.: F***, MuthAF***, S__T)   = STILL equal Swearing, and can’t be used on the blog.  In class – swear your little hearts out (but no derogatory isms – EVER), but on the blog, pretend it’s the radio, keep it clean, and find a thesaurus.

3) Site and source EVERYTHING!  It's very important and for legal reasons even.  Also, it can be a great resource for someone else who is researching a similar artist to keep clicking their way into the infinite source of possibilities found on the web.  Get link happy - highlight the words you want to link to the original site, then hit the blue button above that says LINK, and then paste in the original web site.
So let's say I was supposed to write about an art I made this summer (good times).
I would paste my image to the screen via that little button up above that has a picture of a mountain on it.



Abbi A. Allan
"Mr. Crumple's Last Day".
Pen on paper. 2009
8.5" x 12"
Image taken from her Blog "Abbi Allan's Latest Work"

Visual Resource Journals:  Preview


1)    Strong examples of past student work:


What you need for your visual Journals - (*An example)

Tools recommended by a former student of mine:  Rachel Nusbaum
Posted on the site:  http://creativecriticalthinking.blogspot.com/2010/04/visual-journaling.html


 she recommends the sites / books:
great books:

visual journaling blog:
http://rozwoundup.typepad.com/roz_wound_up

   samples from that web site:100909StabiloTonesLightft

100909NeoColorIILightfastMaryRussia
http://mcturgeon.com/blog/2008/09/07/1000-artist-journal-pages/






 http://www.coastcollective.ca/classes.html



http://ramblingrose.typepad.com/journal/2008/04/microscope-slid.html


   http://ict4entrepreneurship.com/category/ethnography/


  image taken from:   http://jewelryartistjournal.com/visual-journal-7tips/  
on this site she gives her own advice for how she gets her ideas and uses this book

"Tip #3 Find things you love to put in there! Inspiration can come from anything and anywhere, snapshots taken when going for a walk, at the beach or in the park, or just walking down the street. It is easier than ever to take snaps, just using your mobile phone, no problem if you forgot to take your camera, just a quick shot with your cell phone will remind you of what you found so you can work it out further when you get back home." - - - Maggie Bergman





here's an example of someone who does this:

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/linda-tischler/design-times/introducing-guest-blogger-ken-carbone-curiously-curious-kind-guy





Here's another one - ignore the cheesy dopes from "studio 5" - but the man being interviewed, David Clyde - is actually very smart! Just listen to him. He uses a visual journal for design


the video is not copying  - but you can find it here: http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=58&sid=12038431

I took this DIRECTLY FROM - CUT AND PASTE  - THIS INFORMATION IS NOT MY OWN BUT THAT OF STUDIO 5.  I TOOK THIS FROM:  http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=58&sid=12038431

"  Designer David Clyde walks us through the creative design process.


Most people know what they don't like, few people know what they do like and even fewer know why. Here are my steps for exploring, discovering, distilling and building upon your own unique sense of style and design: 


1. Start a Design Journal
Start by getting a note book or an art pad and designating it as your design journal. A design journal is a working record that serves to help you discover and understand your own personal design style. A design journal is an ongoing dialog with yourself and a resource you can continually add to and draw from. [Visual Support - Physical example of a working design journal] 



2. Open yourself to inspiration.
To be inspired we have to expose ourselves to new things and experience what the world has to offer and recognize the way these things make us feel. Look for inspiration beyond your next door neighbor's house. A great place to start is by looking through design magazines, websites, blogs etc. discover things you have never seen before; examine them for things that speak to you in some way. Don't limit yourself to brand specific catalogs as they are only a big advertisement from one point of view. I like to go through design magazines and websites that feature a variety of work from different designers and artists as they pull from many sources and life perspectives to create spaces that are unique and fresh.


Here are few magazines that I like and are easy to find:
• Architectural Digest
• Veranda
• Interiors

3. Seek Visual Inspiration
Clip or print the pictures and put them in your journal and jot next to them what is you like it may be a particular color combination, pattern, feeling you get or memory it evokes. Whatever it is it is personal to you and is key to identifying your style. If you like something but are not quite sure why still include it and come back to it later these are the fun mysteries we get to discover about ourselves and helps define our deeper sense of style. 



4. See the unusual in usual things.
Don't limit yourself strictly to design specific sources There are new beautiful things to discover everyday. Look at the everyday things around you with new eyes and ask new questions about old things, like what else could I use this for? If I arraigned these differently what would they look like? You will find that a simple change of perspective will create a new view of the world. 



5. Generate and capture new ideas.
Once you start to understand why you find different things beautiful or inspiring you will naturally apply this knowledge to your own personal sense of being and begin to generate new ideas that are unique to only you. Write them down or draw them simply in your journal or snap a quick picture to preserve the process and look for ways to apply them to your life. 



6. Break things up.
After a while your journal will begin to fill up with inspirations and your own ideas you now have the ability to sort and categorize these things in any way you want. You can break it up into rooms, colors, moods, shapes etc. 



Now that you have a foundation . . .
Once you have begun to understand what it is you like and why you now have a solid foundation for building on basic design principles to influence the spaces around you improve the way you want to feel and how you want to live.

It is David's belief that each project is an opportunity to provide a better result than his last project. With the experience and ability to design a space from the ground up there is no shortage of opportunity to become better and create something new every day.


David's design experience ranges from residential, to commercial interior design and space planning as well as custom furniture and interior architectural design. David's spaces are always fresh with something unexpected around every corner.David's work has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show, HGTV and in the "O" at Home magazine as well as local television.
David is currently working as a designer with Ethan Allen in Sandy, Utah. You may see some of David's work and contact him through his website:
www.davidclydedesign.com
Phone: 801-232-5653
or visit him at:
Ethan Allen
10390 S. State Street
Sandy, Utah 84070"
THIS WAS ALL TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE STUDIO 5 WEBSITE:  http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=58&sid=12038431