Tilles Singer: Skateboardanimation

Skateboardanimation from Tilles Singer on Vimeo.

Lots of awesome videos this month. I am so pleased to share Tilles Singer's papercraft video, Skateboardanimation composed from "a ton of digital photos, a ton of real life magazines, [and] an hour of recording music". The sound is spot-on, and the imagined landscape of books and flora and paper scraps takes on life-size proportions with familiar wonder. [via Becky at Craftzine]

Shout Out to Charley Harper: One With the Birds

I was drawing birds a couple weekends ago and thought I'd give a shout out to American illustrator Charley Harper (1922-2007). Harper is best known for his highly stylized nature drawings, full of elegant geometry and bold portions of color that capture the remarkable personalities of so many feathered friends. When asked to describe his visual style, Charley responded:

When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don't see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures.

The above images are from a series created for Ford Times between 1954 and 1956. You can see more here. And if you're in Cincinnati you can see the Ford Times covers in person until September 5, 2010!

Lissy Laricchia: Get Back In Your Book

Canadian photographer Lissy Laricchia is making my Monday with these fantastical shots of various fictional characters getting sucked back into their literary origins. Can you guess who's who? Here's a hint, from the top down: she's getting back to her French origins; she's a Darling; she was born to Muggles; she just might speak Jabberwocky! [via Design Porn]

This is Japan!

This is Japan! from Eric Testroete on Vimeo.

You might remember Eric Testroete from his 3D paper geosphere self portrait. Now witness: this glorious video made from photo stills taken during his 3-week trip to Japan in 2008. If you didn't already have a deep desire to travel East, this will make you wish the other side of the globe was a lot closer. [Thanks, David, for the link]

Keegan Meegan Press & Bindery

Keegan Meegan Press & Bindery from :::MAGNETIC ARCHIVES:: on Vimeo.

I have something magical for you today — business cards being printed on a 1920's press. Mesmerizing. It's been a long 2 weeks, full of new information and problem solving. We discovered our beautiful hound mutt, Townes, has epilepsy. Watching him suffer through a series of seizures creates pause on thoughts of motion — fluid vs. spasmodic, rhythmic vs. arrhythmic — and the level of consciousness involved in making deliberate vs. involuntary movements. I won't belabor a juxtaposition, but suffice it to say this stunning (and I use the word to its full effect) video is itself a meditation on harmonious motion. The music [Do Make Say Think] pairs perfectly to the synchronized workings between man and machine. Watching Wenkman's measured hand load paper in time to the press as the counter clicks onward and the gears orbit ... is trancelike.

KeeganMeegan Press & Bindery in Portland, Or. was co-founded by Katy Meegan and Keegan Wenkman in 2007, and is best known for its hand-illustrated letterpress work. They also do design, bookbinding, and silkscreening. Be sure to check out Wenkman's illustrations at One Foot In Front (below).

Natalie Purschwitz: Makeshift Project

Almost 11 months ago, Natalie Purschwitz made her first pair of shoes out of leather and wood — "a rudimentary beginning" to a tremendous undertaking. Her self-made challenge, now 9 months underway, is a venture called Makeshift. Starting September 1, 2009, Purschwitz — an award-winning clothing designer and the founder of Vancouver-based Hunt & Gather — would only wear clothing she had made herself for one whole year.

"Initially this may seem like a reasonable task," she writes "but it will include all of my clothes, socks, shoes, underwear, coats, jackets, hats, bathing suits, accessories and anything else I might need to protect my body from the elements while trying to lead a fulfilling life."

As she set out, prototyping blouses and cutting out what would be sunglasses, Purschwitz was confronted with questions regarding the "rules" to her endeavor. Which materials were allowed? Did she have to make those too? What about accessories?

"As a simple starting point I will say that my wardrobe will consist of anything made by me from either new or used materials. Materials can be reused but just altering something doesn't count.

Rule 1. My entire wardrobe will be made by me out of new or used materials.
Rule 2. I don't have to make my materials, however, I will aspire to do so whenever possible."

Thankfully, she has allowed herself a few exceptions, including tools and eyeglass lens. Her success, and her challenges, have been recorded for 272 days and counting. Purschwitz is generous in her accounts, detailing techniques and materials that chronicle the rigorous practice of making. Though she is a fashion designer, it has taken an enormous concentration of energy, creativity, and determination to complete such a demanding and personal task. I'm hoping for some kind of catalog at the end of this, where we can see not only the daily shots but each and every piece she created for the project. Go Natalie!

Check out the "Makeshift Store," the Surprise! Surprise! Program. Read more on the Makeshift project here, and more on Purschwitz here and here.

Jennifer Cecere: Giant Doilies & Mandalas

I found New York artist Jennifer Cecere through one of Abigail Doan's blogs, ECCO*ECO. Her giant Doilies are arresting and demand investigation. Made from ripstop nylon and acrylic, these delicate behemoths range in size from 4' to 20' and suggest a range of familiar images, from giant spiderwebs to dreamcatchers to snowflakes. In one artist's statement, Cecere says:

I see Doilies hanging between office buildings, off bridges, over construction sites transversing spaces indoors and out, growing from the ground-up, occupying urban spaces, parks, fields, mountains, museums, sports stadiums and anywhere you might not expect to see a giant Doily. 
I was inspired about taking something intimate and handmade and making it into something large and public. Cities need Doilies!

[You can see the above right Doilie as part of The Ins and The Outs at Rockland Center for the Arts in New York, on view through June 13, 2010]

The Mandalas series, similar to the Doilies in form and composition, are created using fabric, watercolor, lace, and acrylic applied through modified pastry tubes.

"Mandalas" began with images recalled from childhood fables and fairy tales.They grew to occupy the space between art and craft, with references to traditional women's handicrafts, drawing attention to overlooked artisan work. They forge a connection between Western and non-Western art forms.

Having grown up deeply in love with my coloring book of Turkish Designs (which I still have, unmarred), I am mesmerized by Cecere's elaborate, sonorous layering. You can see more images on her Flickr.

Abigail Doan: Fiber Forms

You've got to love the rabbit hole of the WWW. I was admiring Design Sponge's post on Yelena Bryksenkova and became increasingly enamored with her drawings of lace. (I've always loved methodical detail drawing.) This prompted a query: I wonder how many people are out there, quietly whiling the hours drawing lace? So I googled "Lace Drawing" and started poking around and found an image that led me to the blog of Abigail Doan. STUNNED. Though not drawings, Doan's work does have a 3D illustrative quality. Her Fiber Forms are simply exquisite, connoting underwater sea creatures and, at times, amoebic life. The New York artist also does installation, both in and out of doors (below). Sort of like a feminine Goldsworthy.

Fine Little Day: Wooden Spoons

I love everything Elisabeth does, but these wonderfully fanciful wooden spoons caught my eye today. What a great idea for repurposing old kitchen wares, and easy to do with kids too! (The painting part, not the carving.) Made me think of heading to the thrift store tomorrow to see if they have any lying about.