“BIG BANG BIG BOOM: 
an unscientific point of view on the beginning and evolution of life … and how it could probably end.”

Epic vandalism for your entertainment.

Special thanks to Leandro Maffei for pointing this out.

Just been really busy lately!

Here look at this! It’s shiny! I will be back with something more substantial soon!

RethinkTO wall mural art by Chairman Ting from Chairman Ting on Vimeo.

” EXPOSURE! is an international search for inspired photography dedicated to exposing emerging talent from around the world.

One Grand Prize winner will be awarded a Manhattan gallery reception, international publicity and their choice of $10,000 cash or 1 year living rent free in a $1.2 million dollar apartment provided by The Edge in New York City.

The panel of judges includes Photographer Lauren Greenfield, New York Times Photo Editor Maura Foley, MoMA Curator Nora Lawrence and JPG Founders Derek Powazek & Heather Powazek Champ.

The public will also cast their vote and the highest rated portfolio will receive the People’s Choice Award.

Deadline for entries is May 28, 2010.”

Details and entry forms here! 

I love Pop-Surrealism.

There is a quality to this art “movement” that really speaks too me. It’s strange and beautiful, able to travel in nearly any direction. I love the freedom and the spaciousness in the term “Pop-Surrealism”. It’s gained a cult-like following by many people like me. If that cult had a prophet, it would certainly be Mark Ryden.

I’m not always great at expressing why I like something. As you may have noticed in my past posts, I tend to like odd, visually striking art, that isn’t traditional or straight forward in any way. Mark Ryden’s paintings are like individual worlds to me.They have beautiful tones and colors, rich and lush brush strokes and a dreamlike softness that are the work of an obvious master. He combines realistic elements and details with distorted, cartoonish characters and meshes them perfectly. His reoccurring themes (Abe Lincoln, raw meat, bees, creepy bunnies, alchemy, numerology) though seemingly odd, really tie his personality to each painting. I often find myself pouring over them, looking for those themes, before stepping back and absorbing it as a whole.

His execution and attention to detail (some paintings take over a year to complete) have given credibility to the Pop-Surrealist genre. His works are in museums around the globe and in high demand by art collectors everywhere. However, it’s not his popularity that I admire. It’s the fact that he approaches his work from a perspective of someone that refuses to “grow up” or to cater to what is expected. To not explain every aspect of his paintings (much to the chagrin of some) because he enjoys the mystery that people find in his work and doesn’t need to ” literalize it all and tie it up in a neat little package”.

Mr. Ryden’s new show The Gay 90’s will be running from April 29th through June 5th at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York. Dress in your best “Old Tyme” outfit and hit the opening reception on Thursday April 29th, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Then tell me all about it, so I can be jealous.

I got my print today! Yay!

Last week I ordered this amazing print from my very talented friend, Elijana (Jambi to Threadless peeps). It arrived in a large envelope and I was like a kid at Christmas opening it up! I love having my friends art on my walls! The print is high gloss perfection. It’s reminiscent of an animation cell in it’s sheen and amazing color.

I really love her style. It has some obvious Japanese anime influences, but also reflects a lot of her personality. It has instant aesthetic appeal, but upon closer inspection a true appreciation begins to form. I get drawn into the subtle themes, use of texture and color, the fluid line work. There’s an element of sadness, but I’ve always had an appreciation for art that isn’t afraid to explore darker themes.

I probably like it so much because it’s the highly stylized kind of art I just can’t get to come my pen/brush. At least not as effortlessly as like Elijana does. 

She’s got a few limited edition prints up for sale on ETSY. If you like interesting and unique artwork and supporting full time artists, you should really go give her work a peak.

Elijana Forto Art Prints and Originals

Hey everyone,

I thought I’d do a little personal review of the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet. There are currently 3 Bamboo series tablets (Touch/Pen/Pen & Touch) however, this review only covers the Pen model, which doesn’t include the gestural touch input.

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I’ve had my Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet for a couple months now, and I love it! I was looking for an affordable, entry level tablet that would suit all my needs, and this is it!

Take the tablet out of the box, install the drivers, plug it in and you’re ready to draw. It’s really that simple. It instantly worked with all my graphic editing software and worked like a regular pointing device for navigation. 

Read More

Theo Jansen: The art of creating creatures

Kinetic sculptor, Theo Jansen discusses his kinetic “animal” sculptures at a TED Conference. Mr. Jansen “demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move — and even survive — on their own.”

CGSociety - Society of Digital Artist is having a awesome Sci-Fi art contest!

 NVArt5 Competition - ACCELERATE

Images of future transport : In the style of Syd Mead 

In this, the fifth NVArt competition, artists from all over the world are challenged to create vehicle designs for a future on the move … transport in the style of Syd Mead.

Syd Mead is the Master Futurist, famous for his concept designs in Blade Runner, TRON and 2010.

There will be over $35,000 in cash and prizes. Not too shabby!

Check out the details here!

No, that’s not a typo. Just a feeble attempt at being clever. I found Jim’s art awhile back (but oddly, not his last name) and was immediately drawn too it. It instantly reminded me of something you might see in the hut of a tribal shaman or a die-hard death metal fan’s arts & craft corner.

Jim grew up in New Caledonia, an island between Australia and New Zealand. Traveling to the sister islands, he absorbed much of their tribal influences. He then moved on to India and Hong-Kong gathering “Human experiences, cultural, ritual, he is marked by his travels and encounters”.

In 1976 Jim moved to Paris and attended various art schools, which were apparently the inception point of the concepts we see today. Though much of his sculpture is done with twine he also delves into glass work, mosaic, paper, plastics and even used tea bags as accouterments.

Some might say that the subject matter is redundant. However, I think that the variation of styles and materials keep his work interesting and engaging. The intricate weaving and careful placement of all the elements really blow me away. There is obviously many hours of work in each individual piece.

These tiny pictures don’t really do his work justice. Please take some time to go check out Jim’s work in more depth at jim : skullgallery. 

There’s something amazing about Beth Cavener Stichter’s sculpture. (NSFW)

It’s simultaneously refined, yet rough. So fluid in its lines, yet raw and seemingly unfinished in others. Subtle tones and colors highlight most pieces, keeping to a monochromatic palette. Her work uses dynamic form an posses deeply rooted in realism, yet it strays from traditional strictures. 

She captures human emotion expertly. Daring to explore taboo subjects and aspects of sexuality in her work. She captures what it is to be human - and she does so almost entirely with animals. 

I must admit it is extremely odd to see a sculpture of two male goats (kissing while embracing) and think “what amazing lines”. As I said before, she’s not afraid to go there. So, if you are open minded and like good technique and extremely daring subject matter, don’t hesitate to check out her art!

Did I mention some of this art is Not Safe For Work!?

http://www.followtheblackrabbit.com/

Let me know what you think!