Category Archives: Art

4 wrongs make a blog

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Inspiration comes in many forms. Graffiti. Photography. T-shirts. T-shirts of t-shirts.

Let me explain.

Last week the Marc Jacobs store in New York City’s Soho neighborhood was hit by street artist Kidult.

Well…at least the ginormous graffiti said ‘art.’

That may sound like bright-side thinking.  But Marc Jacobs went one step further.

The label created t-shirts bearing a photo of the abused storefront and is selling them for a whopping $689 exclusively at the Soho store.

I believe that’s known as ‘high art.’

Kidult has denounced Marc Jacobs as a ‘capitalist thieve’ on Twitter.  And Tumblr Wilfry has decided to make some bucks off the very public altercation by selling their version for only $35.

And I’m telling the story.  Of the artist who spray painted Marc Jacobs. Who made t-shirts of the graffiti.  Who ticked off the artist.  Who was copied again in a tee by Tumbler Wilfry.

And everyone made money but me.

Yep.  Sounds like a blog.

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Posted in Art, Blog, Blogging, Blogs, Commentary, Design, Fashion, Humor, Life

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Beyond real

Posted on April 28, 2012 | 4 Comments

Images in black-and-white have a special power.

"After"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, as hard as it is to believe, this isn’t a photograph.

It’s a pencil sketch — graphite on cartridge paper — by Scottish artist Paul Cadden.

Cadden is a student of the hyperrealism movement.  Where as photorealists strive to meticulously recreate an image, artists of the hyperrealist bent add their own emotions and narrative to take it to another level.

“Intensify the normal” is how Cadden describes his process.

“After” is just one example of his success.

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Posted in Art, Design, Photography

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Sticky art

Posted on February 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

What have you done with push pins lately?

Rob Surette created a portrait of Jesus.  It’s 5.5 x 4 feet in size.  It took him six months and 24,790 push pins to finish. The price tag for his creation?

$250,000

As we say in the country, good lord.  Wanna see it?

You gotta admit, that’s pretty cool. But what’s really surprising is all the push pin artists that are out there. Rob isn’t the only one sticking it to the canvas (and the buyers).

Take at look at these other fine examples.

Here’s a display made of push pins:

 

 

 

 

 

…and here’s another portrait:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, stick me with a pin and call me impressed.

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Posted in Art, Business, Commentary, Crafts, Design, Humor, Life

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Spectacles

Posted on February 4, 2012 | 6 Comments

I’ve worn glasses since I was nine years old.

Some were butt ugly.  A couple were stylish and fun, including my current pair of classic Ray Bans.  But I have never liked any better than

THESE

Kudos to street artist Pavel Puhov.

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Posted in Art, Design, Humor, Internet, Life, Photography

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Food as art

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 3 Comments

There are many pursuits in life that we trust only to experts. Electrical.  Plumbing.  Surgery.  The cutting of our bangs.

Trust me on that last one.

So why do so many people attempt to photograph the food on the plate in front of them?

True, cameraphones today have the technology to produce great images, but that doesn’t automatically mean we can…especially when hot and cold foods are involved.

Food stylists employ all kinds of amazing techniques and non-food items to create the beautiful images we enjoy online and in magazines.

Like Hollywood superstars, these foods are airbrushed and artificial.

That’s why your picture of grandma’s green bean casserole or turkey chili or that special cocktail from the bar that you text from your phone or post on Facebook or Twitter often receives such unexpectedly negative comments from your family and friends.

It looks kinda gross.  Sorry.

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Posted in Art, Commentary, Cooking, Food, Foods, Humor, Internet, Life, Photography, Technology

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Lady luck

Posted on January 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

When it comes to bugs, I earned my wimp card years ago.

I’m not a fan.

But the ladybug?  That’s one very different beetle.  It’s cute, it eats a lot of harmful insects and it’s lucky.  (That’s a scientific fact.)

If you like ladybugs too, you might consider this Ladybug Nightlight that my friend Stephanie sells at Stoopher & Boots on the Upper West Side.

Look at that face.

And you might stop reading right now.  Because the rest of this post on ladybugs will freak you out.  It did me.

Hungarian Artist Gabor Fulop also likes ladybugs.  A lot. So much so that he created 20,000 and hand-painted them.

He then applied his ladybug creations to a  sculpture of the human form, forcing viewers to imagine what it would feel like to have ladybugs crawling over every inch of their bodies.

Me?  I wouldn’t feel lucky at all.

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Posted in Animals, Art, Commentary, Design, Humor, Life, Museums, Shopping

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Comprehension

Posted on January 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

How often do we judge something as being good or bad without fully understanding it?

We’re all human, so I would guess…too many times to count.

It appears Anthony Burrill agrees. The English illustrator and designer is well-known for his posters, videos and 3-D pieces.

Check out his print below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this.

(What is it?)

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Posted in Art, Comedy, Commentary, Design, Humor, Life, Museums

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Stinger

Posted on January 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Many women would love to have ‘bee sting’ lips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But Interview — did you have to be so literal??

A big ol’ scary insect on Lana Del Rey’s face wasn’t necessary to make the point.  We can clearly see the singer is blessed with full lips.

Plus, do you think I want that magazine sitting on my coffee table? I think not.

You’re creeping us out, guys.

Stop it.

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Posted in Art, Beauty, Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Humor, Music

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A doll’s life

Posted on January 4, 2012 | 1 Comment

Barbie…a hoarder???


That’s no dream kitchen, sister…

It’s a nightmare.

It kept Carrie M. Becker up at night.  So the St. Louis native, photographer and sculptor created “Barbie Trashes Her Dreamhouse,” a photographic exhibition at the Riney Museum of Fine Art at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.

I love the idea of Barbie as a hoarder.

The girl is so perfect in every other way; you just know she has to act out somehow.  What better way than trashing that powder puff pink nightmare of a townhouse?

Which begs the question…

What is Ken’s secret?

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Posted in Art, Humor, Life, Shopping, Toys

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