The new pumpkin brew
October 29, 2009
Not every goblin unearths success while carving the iconic pumpkin.
For all the ghouls that can’t quite use the tools, here’s an alternative to the madness of slashing & slicing:
No fear this Halloween. Invent your own festive beer koozie. Bring it to the costume party. Or just rock it on your couch with a hard cider (or preferred hard beverage of choice).
A buzz without the bloodshed.
Be anonymous this Friday
October 9, 2009
A digital self-portrait created by Anonymous in Pennsylvania. A happy holiday weekend to everyone.
Sexy Species: The Okapi
October 6, 2009
This is why I fancy the okapi:
1.) Cotton swabs are for the weak. Okapis clean their eyelids and ears with their bristly blue tongue. Try the okapi way.
2.) This species is closely related to the giraffe despite the familiar zebra design. And I love some stripes.
3.) I respect a mammal that doesn’t follow the crowd. Okapis prefer the solitary life. I could use more seclusion myself. Too many New Yorkers.
Fashion forward five-year-olds
September 20, 2009
While at the zoo this weekend, I noticed a stylish little girl wearing assorted animal prints. The zainy mix motivated me to juxtapose my own zebra and leopard prints. Could I be as bold as this five-year-old? It made me think…
This kindergartener wasn’t actually the daring one; one of her parents made the adventurous fashion move. Why not?
I am 100% positive that I will test out potential fashion trends on my future kids (not anytime soon). Since certain design elements intimidate me, I’ll play with fashion and dress up the future little tyke. Trends will spread via kindergarten.
If you’re in search for the next BIG thing this fall, look no more at the display windows. Hang out at the nearby playground. Just don’t be creepy.
Color on a Monday and send to me.
Gabriele’s doodle
July 30, 2009
Art by Gabriele
Gabriele Maurus is an exquisite artist from Canada.
Crops Replace Coach Clutch
July 21, 2009
That’s right, label-lovers, Coach Clutches are officially out. The colossal bags were replaced by citrus, bananas, and kiwi as of yesteryear. Fruit is in. Originality and debranding at its best (note: scrape off the sticky label on your apple).
Divulge the healthy new you.
Eat the fruit. Or don’t. Flash the green apple around your face like it’s the latest Tiffany’s wand. You will hypnotize. More importantly, you’ll promote well-being over well-I-paid-too-much-for-this-necklace.
Summer is for color and creativity. Mix and match the crops, and take a bite out of the latest accessory.
If you spy this trend, snap a photo and send to me.
Drink & Draw = Pure Genius
July 7, 2009
The genius artistry of the west coast makes me want to relocate.
I’ve never been to Portland, but I’m ready to move there tomorrow. Maybe. Is it because of the roses?
No folks, it’s more about The Drink & Draw. It’s pure social-genius in an artistic form. A group of artists, of all levels, meet at a bar on Sunday night and have a few drinks.
Anyone can start their own drawing or add their own artistic touch to a creation that’s chillin’ in the center of the table – just waiting for some magic.
The concept is captivating, and the scene actually happens in other cities as well (Sacramento, Montreal, and Seattle).
I want to play. Anything near me? I’ll look into it. New York City can always use more collaborative opportunities for artists of all levels. Take a look and check it out if you’re ever visiting P-town or the other locations.
The Beer Dragon was created by Stuart Hiner at a recent Drink & Draw event
Building blocks of Lang
July 6, 2009
Artwork by Lang Schwartzwald using acrylic paint on canvas
“At points in my life I sometimes feel like I am made of smaller pieces. Sometimes the pieces get along, and harmony buzzes freely, but sometimes some pieces of me want to do one thing, while other pieces of me feel I should do another. These pieces act like family – they all want the best for you, and they certainly have different views points on what that is, but aren’t afraid to express it.
This portrait shows a time in my life where I was transitioning to a new beginning, and I am fractured into different pieces. I am at a similar time now, and I wonder what exactly these building blocks will become.”
-Lang
Lang is an art teacher living in Forest Grove, Oregon. www.langschwartzwald.com
Lang's Gaggle Monster
Pisces are good kissers.
June 27, 2009
Artwork by Emily Molloy
“This is me. Emily.
My self-portrait doesn’t look much like me. I always draw my eyes way too big and for some reason my lips too. I actually have thin lips. I think I’m in denial and that’s why I draw them big. The only time I see those thin lips are when I look at pictures of myself.
I received an email today describing the different zodiac signs. I am a pisces. And this is what it said: ‘The Dreamer; Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don’t like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.’
I agree with most of it. I’m definitely a dreamer. I always have been. I’m constantly thinking about the future and forgetting to live in the present. Unrealistic? Probably. But…maybe not…I usually get everything I ask for. I don’t mean materials. I mean things in life.
For example, in 9th grade I wanted to move to NYC. I imagined myself walking across the busy streets with my brief case and going to work. I wasn’t really sure what I would be doing but I had that idea in my head. A few years later I forgot about that dream… But after graduating from college I found myself…living in NYC, walking across those busy streets and having an awesome job. It just kind of…came together. I’ve had a lot more of those ‘dreams’ turn into reality. So I’m not really sure that unrealistic is the right term to describe me.
Dreamer, generous, kind, thoughtful, creative, imaginative, sympathetic, loving, good kisser (I hope so, even though I have those tiny thin lips), stubborn, and overly sensitive (sometimes). This is me.”
Emily resides in Los Angeles, California, and she started Elephant Shoes in 2008. Her pillows designs are my personal favorite. I am also a Pisces (Emily and I share the same birthday) and yes, I am a good kisser too. Who would admit otherwise?
Emily's pillow design
Morgan’s Monsters and Mythical Beasties
June 22, 2009
Artwork by Morgan - Austin, Texas
“As a child I was only allowed to draw on the back of already used paper. My father kept a bin of scrap paper on his desk. Old junk mail, business letters, homework assignments, or even grocery lists (my folks were recyclers way before it was cool to be recycling). That was the only place I was allowed to draw, anything else was ‘A waste of paper’.
My father was very strict, and didn’t approve of fantasy being the subject of my drawings, he said it was ‘a stupid, waste of time’. As a kid I loved the work of artists like Maurice Sendak. I often tried to emulate his lushly imagined style. I couldn’t show my Dad the pictures I had made of dragons, or monsters, or (embarrassingly my favorite subject as a thirteen year old girl) unicorns. I could show Dad drawings of animals or plants as long as they were done in a properly scientific style.
For awhile I told people I wanted to be a scientific illustrator, but in freshman year of high school I got a dreaded ‘B’ in art. Anything less than an ‘A’ was ‘a failure’ according to my Dad. I took it very much to heart. I had failed at art and my drawings were a waste of paper. I gave up any dreams of being an artist and went on with the business of growing up.
Then 30-odd years later somebody showed me how to use Photoshop to make digital art and suddenly joy and creativity blossomed in my life again. Now there was no paper to waste. I’d been through enough life that I no longer blindly accepted my Dad’s views on the value of or lack of value of certain types of art. I had a ball creating any image that crossed my mind: monsters, mythical beasties (no unicorns though, thankfully I seem to have outgrown those along with my A.Y.S.O. soccer uniform and my belief that STYX was the hottest band ever formed), dark fantasy forests teeming with imagined animals.
I am a freelance lighting designer but my spare time is now completely taken up creating images on the computer. I don’t remember ever being quite so happy. When my husband got me a T-shirt for my birthday that said ‘I draw pictures all day’, I almost cried. It was the first time I didn’t feel inwardly guilty about just sitting down and drawing.”
Morgan is an artist from Austin, Texas, and her work is incredible, just like her story. Check out my favorite design called “Talks to Snakes”. Send your story and self-portrait to me. TheMathematicsofGlamour@hotmail.com
