2Dots

Now Reading : Marvel Art of Marko Djurdjevic

2012-03-04T23:46:00.001-06:00

This weekend i picked up one of my most cherished books, Marvel Art of Marko Djurdjevic.

Marko brought a new look and feel to Marvel Comics characters (my personal top pick is his re-design of X-Men characters). Every single page is detailed with either amazing pencils or painting of the characters such as Daredevil, X-Men, Wolverine, Blade, Thor and more.

This book also has an art commentary by Marko as well as interviews of Marko. Plus exclusive and unpublished artworks. A must have art book for marvel comics fans and art fans in general.

Cityscape 2095 + Interview

2012-02-29T11:26:00.002-06:00

An interesting video interview of the creative team behind Cityscape 2095 (Yannick Jacquet, Mandrile and Thomas Vaquie) talk about their audiovisual installation. Click here to see their amazing project.

Linear Clock by Audun Ask Blaker

2012-02-29T10:24:00.002-06:00

Impressive design by Audun Ask Blaker.

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Creative Film : Beauty of Bridges by Christian Andersen

2012-02-27T00:29:00.000-06:00

Official Description :

"The Test Series is a series of creative videos, created to inspire and lift your creative spirits within. Each video is an artistic reflection of the different cultures, places and people that shape and decorate the creative world we live in - all created and produced with 100% freedom of expression"

Wonderful creative test video shot by Christian Andersen. I will definitely look out for more of his test series.

Kirby Ferguson x CreativeMornings

2012-02-27T00:20:00.000-06:00

Informative video of Kirby Ferguson, creator of Everything is a Remix as guest speaker of CreativeMornings, a monthly lecture series for creative types. Kirby talks about his series,creativity and more.

2dots Approved Links

2012-02-22T11:27:00.001-06:00

Cost Of Living short film by BenDavid Grabinski - Click here to watch

Game of Thrones season 2 production set video - click here to watch

Marley documentary trailer - Click here to watch

Sam Mendes video blog for SkyFall - Click here to watch

Top Cover Picks : May 2012 Comics Solicitations

2012-02-21T23:33:00.000-06:00

Incredible Hulk 7.1 Cover by Michael Komarck

Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow issue 13 Cover by Robert Atkins

Ultimate Comics X-Men Issue 12 by Kaare Andrews

Morning Glories issue 20 cover by Rodin Esquejo

Thief of Thieves issue 4 cover by Shawn Martinbrough & Felix Serrano

Introducing a new section..Top Cover Picks.

Starting from today i will post my personal top picks of covers every month whenever comics publishers release their monthly solicitations.

I always check solicitations to decide the comics i will be reading that particular month as well as picking great covers by comic book artists for my laptop wallpaper.

It is only right to share my favorite covers that i find cool and incredible and more importantly showcase the great work of comic book artists.

John Carter of Mars x Mondo Poster

2012-02-21T22:19:00.002-06:00

Cool mondo poster designed by JC Richard.

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Early Look : Tron : Uprising

2012-02-21T22:12:00.001-06:00

Avengers by Val "The CreativeShark" Cabbadonga

2012-02-20T21:48:00.001-06:00

Cool Avengers posters designed by Val Cabbadonga also known as The CreativeShark.

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Photography Spotlight : Christophe Jacrot

2012-02-20T20:44:00.001-06:00

Outstanding photography by Christophe Jacrot.

Interview with Jay Roeder

2012-02-16T13:47:00.000-06:00

Nothing but greatness can be said about Jay Roeder's work. His choice of subjects and wordplay illustration is one of a kind. It is full of unique colors,creativity and inspirations. I have been an instant fan ever since i laid eyes on his work and was excited when he agreed to do an interview. We had a fun interview and talked about his work,music,creativity and more. With no further ado here is what we talked about. Enjoy!

Can you tell readers a bit about yourself?

My name is Jay Roeder, and I have an unhealthy obsession with drawing and lettering. I was born in Minnesota, and moved to Connecticut in 2002, which is where I have lived ever since. I do daily drawings on my website every Monday – Friday. Doing a drawing 5 days a week has been a challenge at times, but also extremely personally rewarding at the same time.

When did your interest in design and illustration start?

I have always had an interest in illustration in design, a personal motto of mine has always been “inspired since 84” when I was born. At a young age I was deemed an “art kid” and I’d always be found with a pencil or pen in hand, drawing ninjas turtles and race cars. The best part, is that I still find inspiration from a lot of the same things I did when I was younger – video games, cartoons, tech, music, and anything retro – not much has changed!

You have a lot of music inspired artwork. When you listen to a song,how do you incorporate music into arts with the fusion of illustration and words.

Most of the time my drawings are pretty simple, so I typically break off a lyric from a song and focus on that. I try to keep everything very fluid without too much planning – just draw and see where it takes me.

Reading your bio, you taught design classes at Sacred Heart University. How was that experience like?

The teaching that I have done has been an awesome experience! I still find it funny that I have taught classes... As I am still learning so much about art and design myself. At some point in my life, I’d love to teach design/illustration class at a college.

What do you think is an important factor in graphic design and illustration.

Having spent 6 years in the agency world, I think it’s extremely important that people find a way to make sure they are still having fun. It’s so easy to get burnt out with the hours you are putting in. In the end, we all got into design and illustration because it was fun and it’s important to never lose that.

Artistically how have you grown,how different is it compared to when you first started.

One thing that I admire about children's art is how organic and unplanned it is, and as much as we don’t want to admit it, as we grow as designers we lose a bit of this.

I appreciate that mentality and always try to consider it.

Besides arts and music what else are you passionate about.

I just thought about this question for about 15 minutes, haha – what am I passionate about besides art and music, hmmm. I have always loved sports and unfortunately I am a huge fan of all the Minnesota teams (who never win anything). I also love animals and have a little pug who gets mad when I work too much and often makes sure I see the light of day.

What is your perfect working mode like.

Music must be turned up loud, as in, if you were outside of my door you would think it was a night club, haha. To work without music is sacrilegious in my eyes. I like to wake up early and create a hitlist of things I’d like to get done throughout my work day, crossing off to-do lists is a passion of mine and sometimes I write something down that’s already done, just so I can cross it off (who am I?).

What do you think is the power of "words" besides being creative with it.

Wow, I wish I had a few days to write an essay on this question. To keep it short and sweet, the power of words is seems pretty infinite to me – they can make or break a person.

Three words that best describe your work.

Me
Inspired
Imperfect

Last great song stuck in your head.

I am currently on a classic hip hop kick, so I’d have to go with: “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest

What does creativity mean to you

I think people display creativity in so many different ways. To me creativity is the ability to react to an inspiration in a way that is unexpected.

What do you like most about what you do.

I am so grateful and blessed to wake up every day and make a living doing what I am most passionate about. Every day brings a challenge that is completely new, and this keeps me fresh!

Find Jay Roeder Here :

Official Webpage

Flickr

Twitter

Behance

Show Your Love : A Valentine's Day Short by Kien Lam

2012-02-14T07:42:00.003-06:00

Creative and lovely video made by photographer Kien Lam.

PS : Check my interview with Kien Lam here

Artist Spotlight : Matt Needle

2012-02-13T15:53:00.001-06:00

Incredible movie posters by British designer and illustrator Matt Needle.

More of his work available at his webpage.

Cube Chair & Sofa by Vasiliy Butenko

2012-02-13T14:40:00.000-06:00

Nice and simple design by Vasiliy Butenko.

illustration spotlight : Boxer by Kathleen Montalto

2012-02-12T00:48:00.002-06:00

Fine painting by Kathleen Montalto.

Superheroes by Alejandro "CranioDsgn" Garcia

2012-02-08T19:52:00.000-06:00

Cool retro superheroes illustration by graphic designer and illustrator Alejandro Garcia.

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Short Film : Joy Ride by Sandro Miller

2012-02-08T19:30:00.005-06:00

Great short film made by photographer Sandro Miller.

Click here to watch behind the scenes making of Joy Ride.

Documentary : Etsy Handmade Portraits : Sophie Blackall

2012-02-08T19:21:00.000-06:00

Interesting spotlight video on Brooklyn based artist Sophie Blackall courtesy Etsy.

Trailer : The Bourne Legacy

2012-02-08T19:04:00.001-06:00

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Creative Video : Word As Image by Ji Lee

2012-02-06T18:04:00.000-06:00

Cool creative video by Ji Lee.

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BALLET Paper illustrations by Olga Samsonenko

2012-02-04T15:26:00.002-06:00

Beautiful hand crafted ballet paper illustration by Ukraine based artist Olga Samsonenko.

Photography Spotlight : Skateboard by Fernando Martins Ferreira

2012-02-02T20:41:00.000-06:00

Love the location shots.

Incredible skateboard photography by Brazilian based photographer Fernando Martins Ferreira.

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DRIVE Poster by Ken Taylor

2012-02-01T00:07:00.000-06:00

Magnificent poster of my favorite movie of 2011 made by Melbourne illustrator & designer Ken Taylor.

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2dots Approved Links

2012-01-30T12:53:00.000-06:00

Hypebeast interview with Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) - Click here to read

Concrete Circus itunes release - click here to purchase

HBO's Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdown - click here to watch

Chico & Rita trailer - Click here to watch

Game Of Thrones Season Two Trailer

2012-01-29T22:38:00.001-06:00

The best tv show of 2011 and possibly my favorite of all time returns in April 1st.

Winter is Coming..

Artist Spotlight : Travis English

2012-01-28T22:18:00.000-06:00

Brilliant movie posters by Austin based artist Travis English.

More of his posters available for sale at his Etsy page.

Design Spotlight : TarGetBooks by Mebrure Oral

2012-01-27T13:30:00.000-06:00

Official Description :
Simple way of organizing your books as "has been read" and "will be read". When we look ordinary book shelves we just see a boring stack of books which all books get lost in each other. Even we buy a new book and plan to read it later, after a short time it gets forgotten in this book chaos. Aim of "TarGetBooks" design is based on this point. This special shelf is basically designed for separating the books that we have read and we will read. It shows you your target books all the time. You don't need long books list anymore, just buy books on your target and put them on shelf and never forget and postpone your reading plans. It stimulates you, attracts your attention and encourages you to read more.

Cool and smart design created by Istanbul based industrial designer Mebrure Oral.

More of Mebrure's work available at her webpage.

CASSETTE: A Documentary Film about the Cassette Tape.

2012-01-24T12:00:00.000-06:00

An interesting documentary made by Zack Taylor and Seth Smooth. Head to their kickstarter page to support the project.

LongBoard Girls Crew : Land of Castles

2012-01-24T11:39:00.004-06:00

Chapter 3 of LongBoard Girls Crew Endless Roads adventure captured by Juan Rayos.

Drive by Jeff Boyes

2012-01-23T22:55:00.000-06:00

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"Chronicle" Artwork by Keron Grant

2012-01-23T10:06:00.000-06:00

Cool artwork by Keron Grant based on the upcoming superhero movie Chronicle. Keron was commissioned by FOX to make his own interpretation of the film and the questions it raises about teenagers with superpowers. Click here to watch Chronicle movie trailer

MADE Visions of Visionaries : Karl-Oskar Olsen

2012-01-20T10:30:00.002-06:00

Karl-Oskar Olsen, the co-founder of Danish fashion label Wood Wood shares his vision with the good folks at MADE while hosting his fall/winter 2012 collection show at MADE space.

Documentary Trailer : Side By Side

2012-01-20T10:19:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
The documentary investigates the history, process and workflow of both digital and photochemical film creation. We show what artists and filmmakers have been able to accomplish with both film and digital and how their needs and innovations have helped push filmmaking in new directions. Interviews with directors, cinematographers, colorists, scientists, engineers and artists reveal their experiences and feelings about working with film and digital--where we are now, how we got here and what the future may bring.

Looks very interesting and insightful hearing opinions from film makers on film vs digital evolution.

Head to the official webpage and facebook page for more info.

Music-holic by Kisang Doh

2012-01-19T23:36:00.000-06:00

Love everything from the colors,concept,execution and incredible details.

An overall outstanding digital painting by Kisang Doh.

Tron x Mondo Posters

2012-01-17T23:31:00.000-06:00

Fantastic Tron posters designed by Martin Ansin for Mondo.

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Point Blank by Deftbeat

2012-01-17T10:50:00.000-06:00

Awesome digital illustration of Eliza Dushku's character in Joss Whedon's DollHouse series.

Created by Philippines based artist Jejomar Limbo known as deftbeat.

2dots Approved : Creative Future Magazine issue 2

2012-01-17T00:08:00.000-06:00

Creativity sensation Christian Andersen just announced the release of issue two of his

Creative Future Magazine and as expected the preview looks great.

Definitely getting my copy asap before it is sold out.

PBS Off Book : The Evolution of Music Online

2012-01-13T23:00:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
As the 90s came to a close, the business of music began to change profoundly. New technology allowed artists to record and produce their own music and music videos, and the internet became a free-for-all distribution platform for musicians to promote themselves to audiences across the world. The result was an influx of artists onto the cultural scene, and audiences were left wondering how to sort through them all. In this episode we discuss these massive changes, and reveal how music blogs and websites have arisen as the new arbiters of quality.

Another great installation from PBS Off Book series on the evolution of music online.

Interview With Kien Lam

2012-01-12T18:13:00.000-06:00

Taking a bold move quitting his job as a financial strategist to travel around the world, Kien Lam captured over 6000 photographs to make an amazing time lapse video showcasing the essence of life around the world. I am excited to start the year with an exclusive interview with photographer Kien Lam on his time lapse project, photography, creativity and more. Enjoy!

When did your interest in photography start.

I took a photography course in college and joined the college newspaper's photography department after that.

How did Time is nothing come about.

I had the idea for this project right before I left while trying to come up with a way to capture this amazing adventure I was soon to embark on. I wanted it to show what I saw when I had traveled before: the people, the traffic, the energy and even just the pace of the place. More importantly, I wanted to put it together in a way I could share with my family and friends in a few minutes rather than having to show them thousands of pictures that would no doubt bore them after the 15th photograph.

How did you pick your locations and countries.

That was hard. I wanted to start in London to see some friends and then follow the sun and warm weather. 2010 was a particularly cold year in San Francisco and I just wanted to go where it was warm. I had places I wanted to visit and made my decisions from country to country as I arrived.

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, what messages do your photography deliver.

I strive to have my photography capture moments rather than just people or places. If it's a photograph of a person, I want to capture that person in the middle of doing something, perhaps lost in thought, or deeply focused on a task. I want to the viewers to be able to look at a photograph ask what was going through the mind of the subject and the photographer when the photo was taken.

How has the experience and exposure to different cultures and people helped you as an individual and a photographer.

It has made me more appreciate of the things we have in America and other large countries, as well as what I have in my life. No matter what you have, someone will always have more, and someone will always have less. It comes down to what you make of what you have and how you can find happiness in that.

As a photographer, it helps me look beyond the obvious things that would typically interest a photographer shooting in a foreign countries. When you see people dressed in full Bedouin or Berber attire that's put on merely for the tourist or a girl dressed in a traditional Ao Dai in Vietnam in a village just so tourist can take a picture, it helps you try to find something more authentic to capture.

In your opinion how will you define creativity.

When I think of the word "creativity", I make the distinction between an artist and a craftsman. An artist's creativity comes organically and can take many exciting and new shapes and form.

A craftsman's creativity comes from looking at something and finding a way to improve on it.

I believe that true creativity is a lot more rare because it takes a special mind to come up with something completely new to the world.

What else are you passionate about besides photography.

I am a very curious person and learning new skills is something I'm very passionate about.

Besides photography, I love to cook and and I love playing the piano.

What do you like most about what you do.

I love that photography allows me to meet people and to explore new places.

You just know that you'll never run out of new people to meet or new places to see.

Find Kien Lam Here :

Official Wegpage

Facebook

2dots Update

2012-01-11T11:37:00.003-06:00

2dots domain address is now simply 2dots-era.com
Stay tuned for more great stuff..i will make the announcement at the right time.
Cheers!

Aaron.

Documentary : The Boombox Project

2012-01-10T16:13:00.000-06:00

Official Description :
On the heels of the graffiti renaissance comes a vibrant look at an old-school icon that figured prominently in the hip-hop, rock & roll, and punk movements of the 1970s and 80s. The Boombox Project features contemporary fine art portraits of an array of vintage boomboxes, as well as scores of documentary photographs of the people who brought the boombox movement to life back in the day. Owerko shot the cover photograph for the September 11, 2001 issue of Time, which was ranked as one of the 40 most important magazine covers in the past 40 years by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Nice documentary directed and shot by Paul Stone.

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2dots Approved Links

2012-01-09T20:53:00.000-06:00

Leica Camera Blog interview Jonathan Mannion (click here to watch)

End of Line : Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol Aerosol Mural (click here to watch)

Robert Kirkman talks Thief of Thieves with EW ( click here to read)

Monolith Clock Concept ( click here to check it out)

Jean-Jean Shelving by Numéro111

2012-01-09T20:08:00.000-06:00

Impressive shelving unit created by French based design and architecture office, Numéro111.

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Travel Spotlight : Time Is Nothing // Around the World Timelapse

2012-01-08T11:51:00.002-06:00

Amazing around the world journey by San Francisco based photographer Kien Lam.

Michael Jackson by Primitive Heritage

2012-01-05T22:04:00.001-06:00

Brilliant limited edition print design of Michael Jackson created by Primitive Heritage.

City Escape

2012-01-04T20:02:00.004-06:00

Wonderful digital art by Rozefire.

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Lost in Tokyo

2012-01-02T23:01:00.001-06:00

Get lost in Tokyo with photographer, Mark Bramley.

Still Life by Henrik Bonnevier

2012-01-02T22:57:00.000-06:00

Beautiful interior set captured by photographer Henrik Bonnevier for NK Stil.

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2dots Approved : Blade Runner Sketchbook

2011-12-29T22:54:00.001-06:00

Blade Runner is one of the most visually stunning movies ever made and the sketchbook published by
Blue Dolphin back in 1982 looks amazing. This just made my day. Click here to read.

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2dots x Pulse x Google Currents

2011-12-27T15:35:00.001-06:00

I just added 2dots both on Pulse & Google Chrome apps on my tablet.

Looks great and cool.

Add 2dots if you use Pulse or Google Chrome.

2dots Best of 2011

2011-12-27T01:48:00.001-06:00

As the year is almost over i recalled back to choose the best movies, music,comics,design, illustrations and so on as well as cool stuff i posted on 2dots, just like i did last year.
I am not a critic,these are my personal picks that i found appealing and great one way or the other. Overall i am just a fan that appreciate and love great stuff.

Best of 2011- Movies

Overall Best Movie - Drive

All though i am confident enough to pick Drive as the best movie of 2011, The Devil's Double will be hard to ignore, Dominic Cooper's excellent performance makes it worthy to be second favorite.

Hannah and Friends with benefits also land on top of my favorites this year. Other great movies i liked are Margin Call, Thor,Captain America, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2, Fast Five, Transformers Dark of the Moon, The Debt, Sucker Punch, Super 8, Limitless, Attack of the Block, Immortals and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Best of 2011-TV Show

Overall Best TV Show - Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones easily is the best tv show of 2011 and has the potential to be my best tv show of all time.BoardWalk Empire Season 2 was great and shocking this year as well as The Walking Dead season 2 was also intriguing this year. Nikita is currently still going strong and looking forward to see how the season will end. Other strong contenders are AMC's Hell on Wheels and HBO's The Borgias.

Best of 2011 - Music

Overall Best - Cole World : The Sideline Story

Each music has its own genre, feeling and vibe to it,makes it hard to pick the very best. So i judged by my most played on my ipod and Cole World : The Sideline Story won.

Other good albums i like this year include The Weeknd's Thursday & Echoes of Silence, Common's The Believer The Dreamer.

Best of 2011 - Urban Sports Documentary

Overall Best - Concrete Circus

Mike Christie, the director of Jump London(the best parkour documentary of all time) does it again with his Concrete Circus documentary highlighting urban sports athletes with film-makers in a non stop hard knocking journey. I saw a private screening of Concrete Circus courtesy Mike Christie and i cant say much about it because is not released in the US yet and will be available via itunes in January. All i can say is Concrete Circus is wonderful and will highly recommend to watch when is released next year. Click here to watch the trailer for Concrete Circus.Other great urban sports documentaries : LongBoard Girls Crew's Endless Roads, Sebastien Montaz Rosset's Skyliners Paris as well as Guiilhem Machenaud's Oxelo Skateboard in India.

Best of 2011 - Short Film(Live Action)

Overall best - A Sure Moment & Portal : No Escape

I picked A Sure Moment and Portal : No Escape mainly because both films are ground breaking films in terms of their strong story and cinematic elements wise. I also enjoyed Mobius and Tea Master. As well as both Kid Cudi's Rager short film and Maniac short film.

Best of 2011 - Short Film (Anime)

Overall Best - ROSA

Jesus Orellana's self made ROSA short film caught a lot of attention this year and is now being picked by FOX studios into a full feature film. Visually it was amazing and i loved the action choreography.

I also loved The Archiver by ArtFx studio, Drive tribute by Tom Haugomat & Bruno Mangyoku as well as

R0:0K by Ziid.

Best of 2011 - Design

Overall Best - Balloon Lamp

Japanese studio h220430 fascinated me with one of the coolest designs i have a ever seen, Balloon Lamp. Other great designs are Wha Cabinet by Tembolat Gugkaev,Anemona lamp by Igor Pinigin,Papergeometrix Chair by Maria Yasko.

Best of 2011 - Watch

Void V01LED. A Sleek,classy and minimalist design by Swedish designer David Ericsson.

Best of 2011 - Concept

Laye Gning's Beats by dre tron edition concept is hands down the best concept of 2011.

Best of 2011 - illustration

Overall Best - Girl and Headphones series by Yanni Floros

Nothing but greatness can be said about Australian artist Yanni Floros realistic charcoal drawings. His detail orientated art is just simply amazing.

Other great illustrations : Geisha series by Leojamelli, Adele by John Asalarona,The Ladder by Hayley Siobhan.

Best of 2011 - Comics

Overall best - Morning Glories

Best graphic novel - Batman Noel

Best new series - Greg Rucka's Punisher & Jennifer Blood by Garth Ennis

Best on going series - G.I Joe civil war

Best of 2011 - Creative Photography

Top 2 - Cookie Splash by Siebe Warmoeskerken & Photography by Joel Robinson

Best of 2011 - Travel Photography

Top Picks :

Memphis, TN by Fasasha

Ghana by Gerard Nartey

Asia by Raphael Olivier

China by Larique

Best of 2011 : Overall best photography

Red In Vienna by Rachael Greene

Best of 2011 - Creativity Visionary

Christian Andersen

Eclipse Wall Lamp by Nuno Teixeira

2011-12-26T00:02:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
ECLIPSE wall lamp, uses several small magnets to adjust the inner circle (moon) position, and one larger magnet in the lamp center to assure a secure placement (strength approx. 20Kg) The position of the inner circle will also work as a dimmer to control the amount of light desired in a room.

Impressive wall lamp design by Portugal based industrial designer Nuno Teixeira.

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Artist Spotlight : Justin "FallOutHero" Remalante

2011-12-24T14:38:00.000-06:00

Wonderful vector illustrations by Justin Remalante also known as FallOutHero, an artist from The Philippines.

More of his work available at his deviantart page.

Interview with Kees van Dijkhuizen Jr.

2011-12-21T14:03:00.000-06:00

To Celebrate the release of Kees excellent work on Cinema 2011, here is my interview with Kees on his film projects, passion for films,early film experience,creativity, and more. Enjoy!

Can you please tell readers a bit about yourself and what you do?

I'm Kees, 18 years old and attending the dutch film & television academy. I thought I wouldn't get in so I came up with this series called [the films of] to fill my time, which was also to add some classics to a criminally Hollywood-dominated watch list and gain some knowledge about some of my favorite directors.

Besides how great you edit and cut your work, much passion can be seen in all your work,when did your interest in films start and what is your earliest great film experience?

I think I was at a very young age, my father had this video camera and I used to make shows with a friend of mine (which included a biscuit with a face). I've always been interested in film as well, I used to be glued to the television when I was young. The first actual motion picture 'experience' would have to be Napoleon, which was about this dog who flies to Africa. Brilliant.

How do you pick the scenes and special moments for the films of series and cinema series.

Before I start browsing, I think about what I need. It's easy to start browsing and just pick shots that might work, but in the end it's much more rewarding to approach it more like shooting a film and think 'what would I need to make this cool' rather than going 'oh, this is cool, this might work'. It's mostly just intuition, though, I try to find shots that work when pulled out of context, so they need to be visually striking but also contain material that would make it more than just interesting to look at.

What is the creative process like and what is the average time you spend on a project.

The creative process is often slow, I can't force myself to finish projects and if I do, it really shows. I gain a lot of inspiration from watching the films and listening to new music to go along with it. I average about 20 hours on a project, without watching the films and doing the research.

In your opinion how will you define creativity

Wow.. I think creativity is something along the lines of the need to express yourself in an original way and not finding any other way to gain that satisfaction. If I have an idea, I just need to see if it works or not, I can't just let that idea go to waste. So it's a very demanding thing, but if you use it right incredibly rewarding.

Besides films what else are you passionate about

I really like music, art, photography, anything that's done with a lot of passion, really. I mean a crazy drawing on a wall somewhere can really make my day, because it testifies that somewhere along those hundred people I see everyday, there's another crazy person like me.

Last great movie you have seen.

I just saw A.I.: Artificial Intelligence for [the films of] Steven Spielberg. I cried like a baby! God!

Top 3 visually inspiring movies.

I don't do the 'top'-thing but the first few that come to mind: Scott Pilgrim, Melancholia, The Darjeeling Limited, Sunshine.

Top 3 directors/film visionaries.

I think Wes Anderson, Danny Boyle and Christopher Nolan. All for different reasons.

Any unfulfilled dreams you would like to share?

I've always wanted to be part of a project that really makes an impact on people. Like on how they see the world or something like that.

What do you like most about what you do.

That moment when I'm not entirely sure whether I made something cool, and then the first few 'likes' and comments start pouring in. That's just a fantastic moment every time.

Cheers!

kees

Find Kees van Dijkhuizen Jr here :

Official webpage

Twitter

Youtube

Spotlight : Cinema 2011 by Kees van Dijkhuizen Jr.

2011-12-21T13:55:00.000-06:00

Kees van Dijkhuizen jr just unleashed his Cinema 2011, a retrospect of movies released in 2011 highlighting special and memorial moments. A must watch for movie lovers like me.Click here for behind the scenes of Cinema 2011 notes by Kees.

PS : Stay tuned for my interview with Kees van Dijkhuizen Jr. on his film projects and more.

The Motion Bookshelf by Hyunjin Seo

2011-12-21T13:52:00.002-06:00

Official Description :
The concept of ”The Motion” is space beyond the predominant view that furniture is just arranged in a room. It has not only a storage function but also space for reading and relaxation. This mobility of this book shelf gives users unexpected pleasure.

Created by Hyunjin Seo and though the concept and design of the motion is similar to Thomas Mill's Long Form Library, it is also a brilliant design for book readers.

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PBS OFF Book : Book Art & Product Design

2011-12-20T23:09:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
Books are in a conflicted state. Should they still exist in a digital era? Will they all be replaced by Kindles and Nooks? These questions dominate the discussion of books in our time. A select group of artists, who use books as their medium, engage this discussion from another angle. From pop culture pop-ups, to surreal sculptural stories, to reformations of antique sacred texts, these creators re-envision what the experience of a book can be. At times playful, and other times profound, this episode explores the boundaries of one of the most important human creations.

Official Description :
We swim in an ocean of products. Behind each one, there is someone (hopefully) thinking about the way we experience it. In this episode of Off Book, we explore three aspects of product design: build quality and engineering fundamentals, humanism and sustainability, and speculation on the future of the product experience. In discussion with the 4th generation owner of a classic brand, a brilliant designer of socially progressive products, and an MIT researcher looking to revolutionize the product experience through 3D printing, we’ll capture a sense of the values and challenges in the contemporary world of product design.

Great insight discussion from PBS Off Book series on product design and the status of Books versus e-readers.

Experience Zero Gravity

2011-12-18T18:23:00.004-06:00

Intriguing video from Infinity List.

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illustration Spotlight : "Geisha" Series By Leojamelli

2011-12-16T00:13:00.000-06:00

Brilliant illustration series by UK based artist, Leojamelli.

Head to his deviantart page for more of his work.

///M Table by Jason Phillips

2011-12-14T22:50:00.000-06:00

Official Description :
///M Table measures 54x28x17"h and is constructed from cold-pressed steel. It is finished in a durable and sexy powder coat.

Nice table design by Jason Philips, the same creator of Clouds seating collection.

Travel Spotlight : Memphis,TN by Fasasha

2011-12-10T14:54:00.001-06:00

Beautiful and clean shots of Memphis,Tennessee from the lens of the cool fellow blogger Fasasha..

Head to her blog for more beautiful shots.

Interview with Photographer Raphael Olivier

2011-12-10T12:13:00.001-06:00

Pleased to present my interview with photographer Raphael Olivier.I discovered Raphael Olivier's work via Behance while searching for great photo journalism series. His Shanghai Daily and Urban Documentary series caught my attention and stood out for me among the rest. Both series are pure photo journalism capturing the essence of life in Asia that most do not pay attention to. Check out our insightful interview on traveling, photojournalism,Asia and more. Enjoy!

Can you please tell readers a bit about yourself?

I’m 28 years old, originally from Paris, and currently living in Shanghai like many fellow foreigners who seem to find here something they couldn’t find in their home country. On my side I left France 6 years ago as my work took me to spain, then moved to Vietnam for a few years, and only recently relocated to China about 8 months ago. I work as a freelance editorial photographer though my background is in graphic production.

When did your interest in photography start?

I travelled a lot with my parents as a child so I developed the feel for taking pictures of places I’d go very early, but nothing serious. Then after I graduated from high school I had to move downtown Paris to continue my studies. My room-mate was a gay guy called Anthony and was a full-time photographer. He taught me all the basics and I got my first SLR with him. But it’s only a few years later when the digital technology arrived that photography really became a central part of my life.

Your photo journal series on Asia are great, you capture the essence of real life that people seem not to pay attention to. How do you pick your photo journalism locations and subjects.

The work of any photographer comes from a personal connection to a particular subject. For my case, I grew up in a gray industrial suburb of Paris and feel a strong fascination for life in heavy urban environment. As to how I choose particular locations and subjects, I don’t have a proper answer for that, it’s always a result of mixed circumstances, must be something unconscious.

What do you think is unique and special about Asia.

Asia is amazing for an urban photographer like me as it offers some of the most impressive cities in the world while being very safe and friendly for the most part. I’ve travelled to many countries in Asia and almost never felt danger, even in Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Philippines people were extremely friendly.

Favorite Asian country by far and why.

China is my favorite Asian country by far because it’s the largest, most diverse and most complete in many ways. It has everything you could imagine and much more, China is huge.
Incredible landscapes, overwhelming mega-cities, 1.4 billion people, millenary cultural heritage… But it’s also the “weirdest”, the culture here is just radically different from the rest of the world, it amazes me everyday. And as a foreigner it’s also the most comfortable and easy to live in, or at least in Shanghai which is almost a country of its own.

In your opinion where is the heart of Asia and where is your favorite spot?

Well, again, China surely feels like the center of everything, the real heart of the far-east. For thousands of years the whole of Asia has always been revolving around China. As for me, I don’t have one favorite spot, there are too many places I love for different reasons. Though Shanghai is in very high ranking, that’s why I decided to come and live here.

What do you believe is the power of photography?

When I was young I saw a picture of Shanghai in a magazine, it was a picture of a girl walking on a bridge with people around her passing on bicycles, the light was crazy, the scene was amazing. I remember thinking that one day I wanted to go there. This picture influenced my life, it made me dream. The power of photography is to inspire people, to stimulate their imagination, especially children. Kids are extremely sensitive to images, I think photographs should be shown to young generations as much as possible.

How has the experience and exposure to different cultures and people helped you as a photographer and an individual.

Travelling around the world and living in different countries has taught me there isn’t one reality but an infinite number of realities. One cannot understand all. So I learned to be less rational and more emotional.

What do you think is an important factor in photo journalism.

Sensitivity. Today many photographers shoot stories they think would look good on their portfolios with great technique but without feeling any intimate connection with their subject. Producing quality images is one thing and it is important, but in terms of story telling the initial emotion that leeds you to click at one precise moment is fundamental. A picture without emotion will not be remembered, no matter how fancy.

Current favorite camera to shoot with?

Right now I work with a Nikon D700 body and a fix 35mm f/1.4 lens as my battle horse. The D700 is very compact and solidly built, with great iso speed that makes it perfect for all situations, very terrain oriented. The 35mm is a very fast and intuitive lens that enables you to do almost everything, and teaches you how to move and to place yourself. I also use a 50mm f/1.4 from time to time especially for portraits.

Aside from photography what else are you passionate about?

I’m a born traveller, I like to take pictures while travelling, but definitely travelling is a category of its own. Being on the road. I’m always thinking about new trips, new missions, new challenges. It’s a big part of my life. And I like turn-tables music too.

In your opinion how will you define creativity.

Creativity for me is the ability to channel something extra-sensorial into something sensorial. I do believe humans perceive a lot of information outside of their known sensory system, and have the capability to express it through music, dance, poetry, painting, photography and other forms of art. It’s the famous “I don’t know why but it makes me feel something”.

What do you like most about what you do?

Doing it.

Find Raphael Olivier here :

Official Webpage

Twitter

Behance

Design Spotlight : Thom Fougere

2011-12-10T11:34:00.001-06:00

Steel Wood Table

Official Description : The Steel Wood Table is made of finely crafted cherry wood.Two solid wood planks hover producing two functional areas: The table top, a flexible space with an allowance for a variety of everyday uses, and a storage space burrowed between the two planes.

The storage space provides obvious function and the platform to celebrate clutter, bringing

a rational beauty to chaos.

Letter Holder

Official Description : Before e-mail there was mail mail. It's actually still around. Light switches have stuck around for quite some time as well.The letter holder just showed up, but we like to think it'll be around for a while too. Just like letters and light switches.

Bench Rack

Official Description : The Bench Rack by Vik & Fougere is an answer to the lack of closet and storage space in the average apartment. Made of powder coated steel tube and a single piece of solid Elm, the Bench Rack is suitable for hanging clothes, storing shoes, and sitting.

Simple and unique design collection made by Canadian furniture designer Thom Fougere.

More of his work available at his webpage.

2dots Approved : Batman : Noel by Lee Bermejo

2011-12-09T11:14:00.001-06:00

Currently reading Batman : Noel written and illustrated by Lee Bermejo.

An intriguing graphic novel with a strong story and jaw dropping illustration.

Click here to read Lee Bermejo interview on Batman : Noel.

No wonder it is now the best selling graphic novel.

Definitely 2dots approved!

Here is another ground breaking cover illustrated by Lee Bermejor for

DC Comics Supeman issue 703

Photography Spotlight : Joel Robison

2011-12-07T11:10:00.001-06:00

Cool and inspiring photography by Canadian based photographer, Joel Robison.

MADE : Art Basel Miami

2011-12-07T10:52:00.001-06:00

Highlights of the good folks at MADE trip to The Art Basel in Miami.

LongBoard Girls Crew : The Island

2011-12-07T10:26:00.001-06:00

In this second episode, the girls take the ferry and head to Mallorca, where they will be spending the next days travelling and skating the rocky island. New friends and local riders join the girls for this stage and some crazy downhill.

Chapter 2 of LongBoard Girl's crew Endless Roads Series captured by Juan Rayos.

Flesh and Acrylic : Julia by Ben Heine

2011-12-06T13:32:00.001-06:00

Another masterpiece flesh and acrylic design from visual creator Ben Heine for Catalan public television "TV3" (Spain). Below is the making of making of process. More information on the project available at his deviant art page.

"The Films Of" Series by Kees van Dijkhuizen jr

2011-12-05T13:34:00.001-06:00

Incredible series made by 18 year old film student from Holland, Kees van Dijkhuizen jr.

Head to his vimeo page for more of his series.

Below is a cool Drive movie poster made by Kees van Dijkhuizen jr as well.

Fallen Chair by Tim Mak Cool

2011-12-01T21:24:00.001-06:00

Simple and creative concept of a two in one(table and chair) design created by Tim Mak Cool.

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2dots Approved : "Drive" Movie Tribute

2011-11-30T18:46:00.001-06:00

Awesome short tribute of my favorite movie of the year. Made by Tom Haugomat & Bruno Mangyoku.

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John Carter of Mars

2011-11-29T13:17:00.000-06:00

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Creative Spotlight : Andrew Zuckerman

2011-11-29T12:57:00.000-06:00

Informative and inspiring series by renowned filmmaker and photographer, Andrew Zuckerman.

Both Music and Wisdom series are also published books.

Sastro by Yuschaf Arly

2011-11-29T10:10:00.001-06:00

Amazing vector illustration by Indonesian based artist Yuschaf Arly.

Elevate

2011-11-26T13:03:00.001-06:00

Wonderful illustration by brooklyn based illustrator, Nook.

Interview with Christian Andersen

2011-11-21T22:37:00.000-06:00

Few days ago i discovered and featured Christian Andersen's work. I was fascinated by his art direction and vision of creativity and i wanted to uncover more. Lucky for me he agreed and had a pleasant interview with the multi-talented young sensation on his work, love for New York, creativity and more. Enjoy!

Can you please tell readers a bit about yourself.

My name is Christian Andersen and I am 18 years old. I’m a full time student and part time artist.

I express myself through painting, design & photography.

When did you start out as an artist?

I have always liked drawing but never thought I’d be doing today. I went to the United States as an exchange student back in 09/10 and got a chance to take a couple of art and photography classes.

I got so interested in art and design, I decided to take it to the next level when I came back to Europe.

I launched my website hereafter and it has all been moving really fast ever since.

I watched your video interview and you talked about living in New York. I also see a lot of New York influence in some of your artworks. What kind of impact has your experiences from NYC had on you?

New York is my absolute favorite city. I've been there three times now and it never gets boring or uninteresting. There’s really a lot of stuff to see there, especially if you go explore the city outside the normal tourist attractions. There’s always a special kind of vibe and rhythm in New York that you can’t find elsewhere. The cultural differences, creative individuals and urban art scene is really what makes me keep coming back.

What is your favorite spot in New York?

My absolute favorite spot or area in New York is definitely the Lower East Side. There is so many influencing people working out of there, doing their own thing. It’s filled with design studios, nice cafés and creative individuals. I always feel this young and artistic atmosphere when I’m there.

2dots-What keeps you motivated for all the different projects and artworks you do?

I find a lot motivation by following other creative individuals career. There’s really a lot of creative people out there and seeing them succeeding really motivates me. I have this that I’m chasing some kind of imaginary goal I don’t know what is yet. The fact that my future is so uncertain at this point and I don’t know where I’ll be in 2 years, really motivates me. The fact that I have no clue of where I am headed, just makes me hungry for more.

Your works are very colorful. What does color mean to you?

I really like working with high saturated colors. I find the whole technique of making the colors blend well with each other and create some kind of balance between them really interesting. I think the very colors bring some kind young and modern look to the artwork.

What made you do The Street Aesthetic Series?

When I published the first video in ‘The Street Aesthetic’ series from New York this summer, I never thought of it as anything special. I actually never intended to use the recordings for a video. I happened to come across some of the recordings I shot in New York when I got home and decided to try out editing it into a short video, highlighting the street aesthetic and vibe of New York. So it was really a kind of incident. After the huge respond and attention I got from the New York video, I decided to continue the series, most recently with a video focusing on the street aesthetic of Berlin.

How do you go about film-making compared to the other kind art you do?

Film-making has never been my primary focus point. And it will never be. I really like exploring the different fields of art and that is also the reason why I decided to go ahead and try out my capabilities in producing videos. But at this point the majority of my creative time is spend working on paintings, designs and of course the Creative Future Project. This is where my true love for art is rooted.

What is your perfect working mode like?

It actually depends. Sometimes I feel most comfortable working on late nights, but in the weekends I like spending the whole day working on different projects. There’s always music though, I can’t work without listening to music. I also carry my sketchbook and camera with me at all times, so it’s not like I need to be in a special environment before I can work.

How would you define creativity?

Creativity to me is creating something out of nothing. I think creativity is one of the most spiritual things an individual can posse. Another thing is that it is really hard to bottle and control. You can’t force creativity, so it is really a hard thing to manage. But to me creativity is about creating something that has not been seen before. Creating something new and innovative.

Web: www.CAndersenArts.com
Twitter: @CAndersenArts

Documentary : Startup Weekend

2011-11-21T21:57:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
Startup Weekend is a global initiative that brings together passionate individuals with unique skill sets and experiences, then challenges them to turn their ideas into reality over the course of a weekend. This film captures the journey of two participants at Startup Weekend in Toronto: Ronan Levy (Delirious App) and Eugene Woo (Vizualize.me), and explores what it means to live the life of a startup entrepreneur.

Interesting documentary by Startup Weekend.

Travel Spotlight : China by Larique

2011-11-20T23:23:00.001-06:00

Wonderful photography of China shot by Larique.

More of his work available at his flickr page.

Creative Spotlight : Christian Andersen

2011-11-17T13:02:00.001-06:00

Outstanding work by Denmark creative mastermind, Christian Andersen.

Whether it is painting, designing, photography or creativity in general,Christian Andersen delivers in every aspect of art with a unique touch of color and inspiration to it.

Head to his webpage for more of his work.

Design Spotlight : Ocean & Savannah Rocking Chairs by Jolyon Yates

2011-11-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

Savannah III Rocking Chair

Ocean Drive III Rocking Chair

Beautiful hand crafted wooden chairs made by English designer/maker Jolyon Yates for ODE Chair.

Photography Spotlight : Andrew Paranavitana

2011-11-16T19:58:00.001-06:00

Great shots by Melbourne,Australia based independent photographic artist Andrew Paranavitana.

XI Memoir : Official Review by Professor Bea Gyimah

2011-11-16T13:43:00.001-06:00

" As the pages turn, it's as if you are there behind the camera capturing and experiencing these moments with

Mr. Yeboah Jr. The festive eccentricity of the college experience to the nostalgic wonderment of amusement parks pervade this snapshot portrayal of American life within the eyes of an artistically inclined while technologically savvy Ghanaian youth. Ultimately, the creativity of Mr. Yeboah Jr. knows no bounds as he takes his readers on a fast paced excursion that explores both the excitement along with serenity of youth culture in 5 cities/6 years. "

- Professor Bea Gyimah

Just got my official review for my XI Memoir project today on my birthday.

This is the perfect birthday gift. Thank you Prof Gyimah!

I am truly honored.

Skate Park by Nacho "Naolito" Diaz

2011-11-16T00:09:00.001-06:00

Cool illustration by Nacho "Naolito" Diaz, an illustrator from Spain.

PS : Discovered this cool animated illustration,Stronpunk also created by Nacho "Naolito" Diaz.

Creative Film : Keep Drawing by Studio Shelter

2011-11-14T16:52:00.001-06:00

Impressive video made by South Korean based Studio Shelter.

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Artist Spotlight : Francisco "PacMan 23" Perez

2011-11-14T16:34:00.001-06:00

Impressive illustrations by Miami based freelance illustrator Francisco Perez also known as PacMan 23.

More of his work available here.

Creative Film : 2D Soul By Usmanov Eldar

2011-11-14T16:11:00.001-06:00

Great creative film by Usmanov Eldar.

Documentary Spotlight : PBS Off Book Series

2011-11-14T15:57:00.001-06:00

PBS Off Book is an informative series from PBS Arts that explores art and the people that make it.

More of PBS Off Book series can be seen here.

illustration spotlight : Ultimate Comics X-Men issue 4 Cover by Kaare Andrews

2011-11-11T16:04:00.001-06:00

Electrifying cover by artist Kaare Andrews for Marvel's Ultimate Comics : Xmen issue 4

Short Film : "ROSA" by Jesús Orellana

2011-11-10T23:26:00.001-06:00

Official Description :
ROSA is an epic sci-fi short film that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where all natural life has disappeared. From the destruction awakes Rosa, a cyborg deployed from the Kernel project, mankind’s last attempt to restore the earth’s ecosystem. Rosa will soon learn that she is not the only entity that has awakened and must fight for her survival.

Just today creator Jesús Orellana unleashed his animated short film which was made entirely by him with no budget in a single year.
The anticipation is over, i have been waiting patiently to see the final result of ROSA ever since i saw the trailer.
I enjoyed every single minute watching the short film,Jesús Orellana delivered every aspect from story-line, directing,animation and more plus the action choreography is simply stunning. An outstanding visual and creative craft.

ROSA is already official selection at various film festivals all over the world and is currently in development to be a live-action motion picture.

Hopefully the live-action picture will be as great as the anime. More information on ROSA movie available here.

illustration Spotlight : FFFFixas Series by Adams Carvalho

2011-11-10T01:01:00.001-06:00

Magnificent fixed gear bike illustrations by Adams Carvalho.

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2dots Approved Links

2011-11-07T16:59:00.002-06:00

Networked Society "On The Brink " Documentary - Click here to watch

Blair Butler talks "heart" with CBR - Click here to watch

Martin Luther King mosaic by designer Pete Fectau - Click here to check it out

I Believe I Can Fly ( Filght of the Frenchies) Trailer - Click here to watch

Short Film : Sintel

2011-11-07T16:17:00.000-06:00

Official Info :
“Sintel” is an independently produced short film, initiated by the Blender Foundation as a means to further improve and validate the free/open source 3D creation suite Blender. With initial funding provided by 1000s of donations via the internet community, it has again proven to be a viable development model for both open 3D technology as for independent animation film. This 15 minute film has been realized in the studio of the Amsterdam Blender Institute, by an international team of artists and developers. In addition to that, several crucial technical and creative targets have been realized online, by developers and artists and teams all over the world.

Head to the official page for more information on Sintel.

Now Reading : Akira Club by Otomo Katsuhiro

2011-11-06T19:13:00.001-06:00

For over 20 years is amazing how AKIRA is still relevant and a game changer in not just anime and manga but pop culture in general. I still remember how fascinated i was when i first set my eyes on the anime.
I recently watched the blu-ray version and up till now is still strong and still feel like a breath of fresh air. Reading Akira Club re-energized my love and appreciation for AKIRA.

Made by the creator and mastermind of AKIRA himself,Otomo Katsuhiro, this masterpiece is loaded with over 200 pages original storyboards,creative process of covers,alternative artwork, exclusive never before seen covers,sketches and issues plus personal journals and interviews of Otomo Katsuhiro and more.

Akira Club is the ultimate must have book for any AKIRA fan as well as manga,anime,art and pop culture.
Definitely 2dots approved!

PS : discovered this photo and this pretty much sums up how nothing but greatness surrounds AKIRA

nuff said..

Babydoll by Warren Louw

2011-11-06T00:18:00.002-05:00

An incredible illustration of Babydoll, made by South African based illustrator, Warren Louw.

Babydoll is the lead character of Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch movie played by Emily Browning.

Click here for more of Warren's work.

Short Film : Mobius

2011-11-04T00:13:00.004-05:00

Great short film from director/photographer/filmmaker Vincent Laforet.

Head to his blog for more information and behind the scenes making of the short film.

Star Wars by Richard Davies

2011-11-03T23:30:00.000-05:00

Outstanding artwork by UK based illustrator/graphic designer Richard Davies.

More of his work available at his Behance page.

BASIC Collection : Reading Space by Grupa

2011-11-03T23:04:00.001-05:00

Basic, simple and marvelous design created by Croatian based product and graphic design studio,Grupa.

More of their work available at their webpage.

Back To The Future II : Secret Show Posters

2011-11-01T17:59:00.002-05:00

Incredible posters..nuff said

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Designer Spotlight : Luigi Semeraro

2011-11-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

Duetto

Official Description :

Coffee table, pouf, mobile support for laptops: this multipurposecomplement starts from a simple, young and contemporary gesture: you take thelaptop from the table and rest it on you legs, which comfortably stretch on thepouf.

Graphic Furniture

Official Description :
Graphic Furniture leads from theidea of the contemporary walls as something more than a simple architectonicstructure: walls are empowered by a new expressive function, with a highdecorative worthiness. In this idea, Graphic Furniture proposesitself not only as a furniture item, but as a real three-dimensional graphics.

Sparvar

Official Description :
Sparvar -armchair and pouf- is a ready-made project , which creation is based on the use of empty spray paint cans utilised from street artists and writers.

Great designs by Italian product and interior designer, Luigi Sermararo.

More of his works available at his webpage.