It's time for another Tuesday Special! (I'm doing accounting homework and it depresses me.) This time, it's featuring this super cool modern artist to whom I was introduced via youtube in my Psychology of Creativity class.^_^ I love classes like that - you learn loads and get exposed to lots of cool things!
First off,
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!
ABC's of Love - you'll notice that the images and words coincide and that the lyrics are going in ABC order...
A Moment
What's the moment that changed your life?
Influences
Who influenced you in your life?
I think these are great questions to reflect upon - just to think back and see what or who made you who you are (Chinese has a great saying for it: 饮水思源) as a person today. =) I had to write a paragraph for my Culture, Self, Brain class - because my teacher was trying to prove to us that our influences in life have taught us the cultural tasks that allow us to function "appropriately" in society today.
I guess when you think about the big things in life, all those little things don't matter so much anymore.^_^
Omygosh. Tokidoki has an upcoming collaboration with HELLO KITTY!!! =D =D =D It's called tokidoki for Hello Kitty and is currently "coming soon".xD xD xD Double the cuteness! Double the fun! I cannot wait!!! =D
Secondly, I didn't know this but in spring this year, there was a tokidoki for smashbox collection.=D =D =D I am so hunting that down when I go to the US [or ordering it online..=P].^_^ Beams. Firstly, I am dying to try smashbox cosmetics since it's supposed to be quite good [apparently, this foundation thingy helps to soak up all the oil on your face so you have a great matte finish] and the tokidoki prints seal the deal! xD
Check the smashbox page here: LINK and the tokidoki page here: LINK.
The tokidoki home page [LINK] is bursting with cuteness.^_^
And I found a tokidoki notebook that is wayyy too adorable to not own [LINK] but US$12 for a notebook is simply ridiculous.-___-" Especially when they tell you there are 128 pages.-___-" I like having notebooks where you cannot divide the cost by the number of pages and then weep over how much you spent. Still, each page in the tokidoki notebook is printed with tokidoki characters so it does make the notebook feel a teensy bit more worth the money.
I love tokidoki!!! =D =D =D It's SO CUTE. But how many ways can you say so expensive and so overpriced?! *hangs head sadly* I would own a tokidoki for Lesportsac right now if it weren't for the price and how flimsy Lesportsac bags are. [I love Lesportsac but seriously. How many ways can you say falling apart?]
tokidoki has t-shirts! xD I love 'em stormy rainbows.xD You can buy the t-shirt if you click this LINK.=D
Some info on tokidoki: tokidoki is the Japanese inspired lifestyle brand created in 2005 by Italian artist Simone Legno and his business partners Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold. tokidoki produces apparel and other products using art and iconic characters designed by Simone Legno. [wikipedia]
More cuteness:
EMOTIBUDS!
Little clip-ons for your ipod earphones.^_^ See and buy [only by Paypal] the cuteness here: LINK. They are just US$4 each if you don't include shipping.=) And I think they can brighten up anyone's day quite considerably.^_^
Tofu Girls
Tofu Girls is the offbeat project of two minds: Hong Ly and Mindy Lee. By working together, they've managed to come up with designs for t-shirts that they would want to buy and wear themselves. The main idea behind Tofu Girls is to inspire and create an environment in which female artists could be invited to participate and contribute to a brand that would essentially be created by women for women. [from the site, link below.]
You can visit their site and store [unfortunately, they only ship within the US] here: LINK! They have loads of characters really. Haha.=D
Takashi Murakami/Murakami Takashi
Murakami is the one who designed the Monogram Multicolore for Louis Vuitton, the insanely popular and ubiquitous design of the LV monogram in colourful shades on a black or white background.=) On his official site, he has a whole stable of other artists who generate greatly interesting stuff.^_^ They specialize in pop art on the whole as well as installation pieces... Not sticklers to tradition in other words.=D
A quick look brings Chiho Aoshima to my attention.=D It's probably her colourful, intricate and Japanese-inspired artwork that makes me squeal with delight.^_^
There's an art exhibition on in Los Angeles [or Los Angels according to the Japanese.O__o Apparently, Gackt isn't the only one guilty of this faux pas.] called World xshibuya [LINK]. They will feature up and coming artists from one of the most vibrant districts in Tokyo, Shibuya! ^_^ [Like that wasn't obvious.-_-"]
From the blog: World x-shibuya is a project for Shibuya related Japanese creators and artists to bring their works to other countries with the flavor of their local ordinariness based on their localactivities. Lively artists from the heart of the Tokyo metropolis will bring the scent of the NOW of the ordinary life in Shibuya, Tokyo.
^_^ Sounds great doesn't it! I regret slightly not visiting all these uber cool art exhibitions in Tokyo, especially when I adore Japanese pop art [there's something irresistably cute about it all.xD]. And I'm sad I didn't get to check out the 21_21 gallery at Tokyo Midtown.
Nevermind! This calls for another trip to TOKYO!!! xD xD xD Beams. Plus the food that calls me... *_*! And of course.. manga! And anime! And music! And the language! ^_^
I am looking forward to studying Japanese in school. ^_^v *random insertion ends*
Disclaimer: All images belong to tokidoki, Tofu Girls, etc etc and their respective owners.=)
Okay. I must be off. cheers *[-witchstone-]*
[music : Corona alice nine. + Fukai Mori Do as Infinity] [mood : ^_^ tokidoki!!! *points points*] [food : Japanese!]
I really should be studying my Japanese while I finally have some free time at work, but I had to post this stuff, if only for me to remember it.=)
Sometimes, when you least expect it, you come across things when your curiosity gets the better of you and you pick something up to take a look or read an article even if it appears to be long.
I was flipping through a design/graphic design magazine that I found at work.=) Yay for these creative people! These magazines are full of really interesting stuff.
Absolut Lomo campaign:
By Huang Yan, from China
By James "Dalek" Marshall, from USA
The Absolut Lomo campaign has already ended and it's mission was to shoot one or a series of images capturing people's vision of Absolut. The pictures are captured with Lomo cameras and thus ... I suppose, have that Lomo-ness about them.^_^" But it's interesting to see how the winning entries are like, there are 6 of them and you can see them all at the website: www.absolutlomo.com
I also found the works of Sophie Toulouse, a French graphic artist. I particularly like her line-drawings in her project, "Nation of Angela":
I think they are intriguing and delicately complicated.=) I realise that I really like the work of graphic artists even though I still appreciate the beauty of art that is physically present [as opposed to graphic art that is created on a computer]. ^_^ You can see her work at www.sophietoulouse.com
Azul De Corso's works are rather cute and you can see a slight Japanese influence but at the same time, she's got a style all her own.^_^ It's quirky, quite fun and has this vibrancy to it.^_^ No wonder MTV got her to design some stuff before! Azul De Corso is from Buenos Aires.=)
Designs for toys.
I like this one a lot.=D
This is a little strange.^_^"
This one is called "reach" and reminds me of those performing "mermaids" you see in underwater restaurants on TV.
You can see her other works at: www.azuldecorso.com.ar
I've also discovered this article on American Food and how people should change their perceptions of food and such in America: American Food Manifesto by The Amateur Gourmet. =) It's an interesting read. And not terribly long.
Finally, a little poem I found on epicurious:
M is for the mince pies she used to bake O is for the oatmeal she'd always make Double M is for the many miles you had to roam And Y is that you're yearning just to get back home
^_^ Mother's Day is coming soon! [This Sunday apparently. *peers at Mother's Day suggestions littering websites everywhere.*]
And finally, because no post can be complete without some kind of fangirly happiness, here's Gackt on a motorcycle tank! xD
xD Apparently, Gackt gained 9 kg for his role as Uesugi Kenshin in the NHK drama now showing called Fuurin Kazan.xD
And then here's Shou and Saga!
Shou's looking good!
Saga's hair is too flat. But he looks good anyway.=D
Today I was reading the advertisement by the Singapore Hospice Council and it lists Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's 5 stages of dying. Trust me. It's both depressing and snaps you into the reality of your upcoming death [one day... it WILL happen.-_-"].
Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance
I don't think it applies only to dying.. I think these 5 stages actually occur in a lot of other situations like if someone dumps you or something heartbreaking like that. Hmm.
So today I was much busier helping them prepare stuff for submission to competitions and the like.^_^" And I had to research stuff too! AGAIN! Oh. And then I was merrily surfing around DeviantArt.=)
Isn't it morbidly funny? =P It is also ironic and... Strange.
And isn't this SO CUTE? xD
And this is pretty! And cute.=) And sweet too!
I know. All are drawings, none are photographs. But o well.^_^
Today, they showed me this booklet thingy they put together to present to the client. It was SO well done. I swear, I was practically INSPIRED by the sense of accomplishment one would feel when looking at the put-together package [after slogging hard for 3 days with no sleep apparently, and that's not even an exaggeration]. But it was simply.. a touch of brilliant marketing. Honestly. And they even added an extra touch that tied in perfectly with the client. ;) Yet, it still blended in with the overall package. Seriously. I was very impressed.xD
And looking at the work they have done, kind of like a collection of the work done in the past year, I was like.. when I saw those, I liked EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! xD So yes. I was inspired. Again. Haha.=X
*is easily moved*
And then it made me think of how proud you could be to present these brilliant ideas to your clients! Although the clients can be very demanding. Like calling every 15 minutes or something [trust me. I know. I have to pick up the phone ALL THE TIME.] to ... I don't know. Discuss something of DEATHLY importance.
So I must say that I think I would enjoy the work they do. I don't think I'll hate it except that it gets repetitive.. But then again. Which job isn't repetitive? The pay though... The pay is a fabulous disincentive to work in this industry and the long hours.. Thankless work you put in is even more reason to avoid it like the plague.
Working in a bank would induce boredom and repetitiveness as well but hey.. At least you get better pay right?
I think I'll relook career options once I finish this internship. I think 3 months should be enough to help me see if this is what I want to do.. I hope. If I still am not sure.. Hmm. That could be troubling indeed.
I always wish I were creative and good at designing and drawing though. That's something I'd like to do but cannot EVER do. O well.=) Dealing with clients can be *cough* fun too!
Besides DeviantArt, more alice nine. stuff.=D Yay!
I think the important people look terribly good here.xD Hooray!
"We are never more mysterious, beautiful or powerful than when we are ourselves." - Harper's Bazaar
In the days to come, I think they're going to start giving me more stuff to do and responsibilities to handle.=) I'm looking forward to it!
Work and Japanese homework. Oh glory! We are SLIGHTLY more experienced about worldly matters [ie: work], a LITTLE richer [hah!] and one step closer to reading all about alice nine., Gackt, w-inds. and HYDE without relying on translations!!! xD
cheers *[-witchstone-]*
[music : Waltz Suneohair (Honey & Clover)] [mood : ^_^] [food : cookies and sponge cake!]
cch: I am DYING, absolutely DYING, to make Lemon & Orange Mascarpone Muffins now. But I'll have to wait till Sunday!!! Wails. When I'm, you know, free.^_^" And I feel like baking and eating chocolate chip cookies!!! I was SO tempted to do that just now but I was just so tired and I was watching Desperate Housewives! xD Which is REALLY nice to watch. Haha.=P
Yay! =D Although I have been totally slow at realising this, blackeri [on DeviantArt] has finally completed her Seven Deadly Sins series with WRATH.
Behold the flaming red of the anger and destruction that wrath can bring!
Funnily, everytime I hear the word "wrath", I'll think of William Blake's poem:
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole; In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
William Blake
^_^ I haven't posted his poems in a long time...
Besides blackeri's works, I love shirotsuki too! =D She's barely older than us [I think] and yet she has a wonderfully original art style and fabulous use of colour!
You can't tell about the colour here but lovely detail no? Sadly, I can't save some of my favourite pieces because my computer remains uncooperative on the "png" files.-_-"
Besides brilliant digital art [they usually draw on paper, scan it and then colour with computer tools OR they draw and colour on the computer itself], there are wonderful photographers as well!
This photograph is named "Elegance".^_^ Lovely no?
This painting reminds me of this poem, also by William Blake:
Eternity
He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity's sun rise.
William Blake
On a random note, I've got a new printer-cum-scanner-cum-photocopier! ^_^ I was setting it up today and discovered, to my delight, that there's a special compartment to store photopaper! =D Beams. Now I can attempt to print photos! Wee! *bounces around* And there's a little screen that displays your photo to be printed when you insert your memory card. Mwahaha. I was fascinated by it! =P
A new episode of Code Geass has just been released as well! =D Along with this "Visual Sound Drama" or something.xD Yay! WHY o WHY is iyforever SO SLOW at releasing NANA??? (T_T) (T_T) (T_T)
I also rewatched Gackt' "The Sixth Day & Seventh Night ~Final~" Tour today because I was all sad that I couldn't watch Training Days Drug Party in Taiwan. *sigh* Kyaaa! xD xD xD I really miss his voice.. Haven't heard him in SUCH a long time thanks to all the anime soundtrack distractions!!! ^_^ xD ^_^ xD ^_^ Beams. I should watch Malice Mizer next! *bounces off*
You see. Deviantart also has amazing art by amateurs/amateurs-turn-professionals. No longer is art confined to museums and art galleries. ^_^ Artwork/photography you can find online can be quite amazing too.^_^
Like this!
SO CUTE! xD And so detailed! And so.. you know. So cute! xD I like the colouring used too.^_^ And it was just a random picture that caught my eye while browsing Deviantart.^_^
I really like this as well:
^_^
Actually.. I like a LOT of artwork on Deviantart and there are some artists I follow.=) Wee! I suppose one can appreciate art in other forms as well.^_^
cheers *[-witchstone-]*
[music : saikai~story~ + emu~for my dear~ + kimi no tameni dekiru koto Gackt] [mood : normal] [food : --]
My Emotible!
starry-eyed: filled with such youthful hope and optimism that one's eyes twinkle even when it's dark
Wish List
ie: motivation to save money!
- clothes
- shoes [heels! boots!]
- the perfect tote
- coats/outerwear! [Soïa & Kyo, Burberry...]
- Gackt - nine*nine
- Gackt Photobooks:
1 The Gift The Sixth Day & Seventh Night Tour Document (2004)
2 Crescent Photobook (out of print)
- Cookbooks!
1 Thomas Keller The French Laundry Cookbook
2 The Nobu Cookbook
3 Emily Luchetti A Passion for Desserts
4 Alice Medrich Pure Dessert
- Anime/Manga
1 Rurouni Kenshin
2 xxxHOLiC
3 Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-
- Proficiency at Japanese!
- Learn French for Food!
