What’s the best thing about the internet? Trick question, it’s everything. But mostly, being able to tap in a few words, "Rick Griffin" say; and then receiving in an instant, pages of results of the Californian artist's work, with comix, handbills, posters, album covers, as well as studio and life shots, featuring his influential '60s psych style, with that instantly recognisable hand-drawn lettering, strobing colours, and surf vibes aplenty. What an age.
BRIGHT NIGHT SKY by MISO (STANISLAVA PINCHUK) from Louis Mitchell on Vimeo.
ART MEETS FASHION : SIMONE ROCHA + LOUISE BOURGEOIS from Blue Raincloud on Vimeo.
Oooh. I discovered a rad thing last night! I spent about 7 hours looking at it! It's called Society6, and I have no idea how I hadn't heard of it before, because I am obviously and manifestly: a) Obsessed with my iPhone b) Online a whole bunch, and c) Into designy arty type things.
Anyway, the idea is this: any artist can submit their designs. Any person can say "oh eff yes, I'm having that". Then the good fellows and ladies at Society6 print up the artwork onto the medium of choice (art prints, stretched canvas, iPhone case, MacBook skin etc). EVERYBODY WINS.
While I'm not the ruler of your life or anything, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you get yourself over to the site if you like puppies, art, Ron Swanson or iPhones. In the meantime here the spoils of my mini quest through the pages of Society6 (I finally decided on the second design for my iPhone case... I think.)
From L-R 1. Arnsdorf SS11 Crystal Pattern 2. Scales 3. Untitled Abstract 4. Corteo 5. West Coast State of Mind 6. DG Aztec No. 1 7. Camille 8. Cosmos 9. Shapes 003 10. Isometric Harlequin
How useful are labels? Is it important to be able to define, to sum up, your own style in a few words? By “style” I’m not just referring to fashion - though that’s definitely a part of what I mean – I’m talking about an overall aesthetic that we strongly identify with, and use to explain who we are.
In my own personal experience, starting Friggen Awesome, and squirrelling away inspiring discoveries from www travels in folders on my mac, has been an insight into my own sense of style – from the clothes I wear, to art, design, interiors. All viewed at once, they reveal a common thread and have given me a sense of cohesive awareness (and record) of my own aesthetic.
There’s something seductive in that feeling – it’s almost like applying an editorial eye to yourself, knowing instantly if something “works” with your aesthetic. And, of course, it's amazing to find other people who dig what you dig and respond to what you put out there.
But it leaves me wondering – how natural is it to always be consistent? Do we lock ourselves in to something stifling when we remain true to one “vision” and ignore all else? I think anything that helps us understand who we are right now is important, as long as we remain open to change; to that vision growing or even doing a complete turnaround, contradicting what we were before.
The most beautiful things and people are those who are open to change. Who always come from a natural place, who are unafraid of what that means. I’ve always liked the way good old Whitman summed it up:
Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.
Confetti System
Ink Calendar by Oscar Diaz
Stockholm Street Style
Anthroplogie
Julie Verhoeven
Acne Pistol Short Boot
The details of my recent obsession with cupcakes hardly need to be blogged, I mean, they're CUPCAKES, enough said. However, I found this super adorable poster that is just so perfectly pink and cute and british and cupcakey (that's totally a word) that I just neeeeeded to show you all.
So we're all pretty familiar with the old "Keep Calm and Carry On" wartime poster, aren't we? The quintessential old school English stiff upper lip attitude in a five word poster format, old chap. It's rad. Well, some lovely little creatives over at etsy have added the one thing that could possible make that concept any radder. A cupcake to the first person who guesses that it's a cupcake!
I am currently on a sugar high. From, uh, something healthy, yes, that I ate earlier. Can you tell?
The original. Courtesy of the BBC, who else?
Cupcakes, from jennysbakeshop over at etsy.
So most of us are already subscribed to the inbox glitter that is michi girl - fashion and weather forecasts with a sarcastic edge, all in pretty, pretty packaging - or maybe you even have the delightful little book in your bookshelf... so it's a nice surprise to see that the michi team have put together a completely rad project for the 2009 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
It's called through my eyes and here's the idea: take nine awesome Melbourne artists, give them five days to create an artwork on a GIANT canvas at Lamington Drive, and film the whole thing so arty types with lapdogs (who, me?) can watch it grow before their eyes. Also, once it's finished, the canvas will be transformed into a series of limited tote bags, which you could tote around in spectacularly smug style.
Artists include Kat Macleod, Tin&Ed, Rick Lee, Beck Wheeler, Andrea Innocent, Oslo Davis, Good Wives and Warriors & Rebecca Wetzler.
Through My Eyes - Day 1 - Rik Lee, Kat Macleod, tin&ed from Michi Girl on Vimeo.
Anyone who knows me or reads this blog knows that Kat Macleod is possibly my favourite artist ever. She has always had a certain mystery about her – not a spotlight celebrity in any way... in fact, when I was researching her as a possible candidate for the YEN Young Woman of the Year Awards, the google-results were less than revealing.
So imagine my squeals of delight when I found that The Age had written an article on the lovely and talented Kat – and that she had her first solo exhibition at Lamington Drive (which I missed, and still crying salty bitter tears into my pillow at night because of it…(also if you’re not subscribed to the jacky winter newsletter do it right now, it's funny and full of arty goodness, ooh a double parentheses, I am getting tricky)) – and that the interwebs have slowly, slowly been shining a little light on the artist.
I look away for two minutes! Now it seems everyone is catching on to Kat’s awesomeness. And despite my indie cred, I can’t help but feel happy that other people are getting to share Kat’s beautiful, inspiring art.
So I thought I’d share a few finds with you.
An AMAZING video of Kat's process for anyone who's ever been interested in how she puts her gorgeous ladies together
Kat Macleod's Process from Jacky Winter on Vimeo.
Photos of Kat Macleod at work in her graphic design studio Ortolan, thanks to The Age, Word of Blog and Real Living magazine.
Another interview with Kat at The Design Files.
Enjoy!
According to two very adorable (in the way only tiny Japanese girls who speak very little English can be adorable) girls I recently had the pleasure of introducing to the garden of unearthly delights (this is a place in Adelaide, not some kind of weird biblical metaphor), the one thing they really missed, hands down, about their homeland, was miso. Who can blame them? It’s delicious. One could even one could even call it an oriental prince in the land of soup.
But I digress. I wasn’t actually intending to talk at all about the soup at all – instead, I wanted to talk about the very beautiful works by Melbs street artist Miso. And yes, street art is so done, so yesterday, etc etc, I know, I know. But mainstream or not, I am totally enamored with her delicate hand-made art. Yes, I saw the doco about her and ghostpatrol on abc (and you can too, and I recommend you DO SO IMMEDIATELY on iview if you have super rad broadband.)
According to my sister, who is a very reliable source of information, I have apparently seen her work before, at the Adelaide Fringe no less (this post is really coming pleasingly full circle for something that is rather incoherent). I’ll take her word for this, as I don’t remember it exactly but apparently I was impressed then too, and it sounds like me so hey.
Her works are feminine, hand-hewn, intricate, patterned, graphic, temporary, dazzling, dreamy, inspiring, pretty, talented, narrative, delicate… and some are here for your visual delight.
Also she works as part of a collective called mitten fortress. Best. Name. Ever.
linkies.
iview - papercuts documentary
buy book format by miso and ghostpatrol
Wall decals are the gypsy's dream: moveable packages of design goodness that let you be creative with a space that is temporaily yours.
I have stumbled upon some designs as whimsical as all of us semi-permanent nesters...
I’m in love with the gorgeous mixed-media pieces by Melbourne-based artist Kat Macleod – she uses watercolour, pencil and collage to create beautiful girls and other whimsical creatures. Kat’s work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Frankie, Nylon (US) and Real Simple (US), among others. Her illustrations regularly feature in michigirl, The Age Magazine and Vogue Entertaining and Travel. She is also co-director of graphic design studio, Ortolan, the busy girl.
She’s an elusive bird, but I have tracked down the following bits of gorgeousness for your viewing pleasure. If you’ve come across anything else, dear readers, I’d friggen love to know about it.
The Cocktail: 200 Fabulous Drinks
The Cocktail Deck
The Cocktail 2007 Diary
Bio (and gorgeous art) at the Jacky Winter Group
Daily fashion and weather updates at michigirl
Funny dress journal for Studio Matador
Tea towel at Remedy
'Bird' art book at 3 Deep Publishing
Writer, editor, coffee drinker.
The Street Stylers
The Mags
Content copyright friggen awesome. Photos and images taken from other websites are linked and/or referenced back to original source.
