Rice Candy

FORGOTTEN ART- W. 7th and Carondelet St. Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:55:00 +0000

This moved me. I had to post this. I will definitely be going here soon. I am currently working on a project that is in need of stockcard paper... but I need recycled paper. And he mentioned it on the video, therefore this works perfectly for me.

Aarvark Letterpress -http://www.aardvarkletterpress.com/

McManus & Morgan Paper- http://www.mcmanusmorgan.com/

1 More Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:33:00 +0000

I will try this again... its been almost 2 years? since I really placed effort or posted here. There where so many ideas and projects that where to come from Ricecandy....but it was never completed.

I want to give this 1 more shot... even if its just posting here and exposing others creative work.

Thank you all who stopped by in the past... and thank you in advance to all the new viewers.

Sycamores & Cedars

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:30:00 +0000

It's isolation alone is calming pause. The day could be longer then usual.

The feel of the images here are as if- there is no rush...we can take all the time in the world to observe... there's no stop sign, or red traffic light in sight. We can create a few minutes of commercials for our visuals if we wish. Nothing but our own advertising to disconnect for a few moments.

Yes...this is what I was looking for tonight since I can't sleep. Something light and almost weightless, but heavy enough to get my attention. Thanks Sycamores & Cedars for the simple yet delightful gallery.

More at: http://sycamores-and-cedars.deviantart.com/

Henry Waltz

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:18:00 +0000

I am not guessing in what the direction the movie will be heading into...or anything about the story, but it does not matter. I am sold purely on the imaginative appearance of the animated teaser.

I am loving the broken straight lines and the circular accents all around. I hope the full length film expands the visual concept and leads away from the usual.

Hell Yeah!

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:59:00 +0000

Nick Schmidtz just send me over his latest poster design, and I am cycling the display for all of you to see. This is another amazing poster by Nick that seems to follow once again the colors of the season, by bringing reminiscence of a color in a- holiday color palette.

The last post from Nick's work that was presented here on ricecandy.net back in February was the "I'm pretty sure I like you a lot" design- that made quite a buzz around the interwebs (yes I did type "interwebs" there's a reason for that), after making its debut here on Ricecandy. Hopefully once again people will appreciate this one as well as before. This is a true testament that Nick has a the right formula to create a stylish cool typography design good enough to print as a poster.

This means: I hope to see one of these posters on my wall to accompany that winning streak moment with a visual affirmation. Hell Yeah!

PS- This poster is screen-printed on French Paper's Pop-tone Hot Fudge (I like the sound of that!, this makes it ever-so-more-exquisite)

"Hell Yeah!" available for purchase at: http://00one.com/play/play_hellyeah.html

Click images to enlarge!, or head over to ^

Greno "The Dream"

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:22:00 +0000

The Dream is an amazing piece by the artist that goes by the name of Greno (first picture from the top, click to enlarge! ). There is so much for me to say about just this single piece, but after looking through all of his art, I found more important evidences to confirm that Greno really has something going on with his style (as far unique and captivating)

The Dream carries a lot of textures and tones of blue which makes me think of various finishes and weights of denim fabric. All the decorations and dotted touches are in the right places. The square and checkered details add a false sense of dimension but still keep it fun visually. Last but not least, I adore the contrast of all the colors focused in one hand, as if there was a transition ready-to-happen from blue tones- to a full mix of colors about to spread all over her body.

In conclusion... sometimes you need a dysfunctional and messy display in order to regroup and make sense of things. It brings a better focus to what's more interesting or important. Greco’s art presents a good combination of- somewhat messy visuals, incorporated inside a basic portrait drawing. But one can enjoy the more organized details or the less complicated, depending on your taste, but this is what makes it interesting and a joy to look at.

travel photo montages.

noreply@blogger.com (qwux) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:30:00 +0000

since making my own photo montage of my trip through japan (see one post down) i have noticed a trend in this method of recording a journey. by no means am i saying that i pioneered this, as most of the videos i have found since making my own were actually made before my own video, but i just find it interesting that i had never really though about it till now.

anyway, i have 2 amazing photo montage videos to share today. the first one, is called "The Longest Way" and documents Christopher Rehage's 1 year walk across china. i love how much his face changes over that time.

next up, Chris Boardman's daily commute through london is documented in an awesome interactive flash video, which adds a nice three dimensionality to the oft photographed london bridge.

i cant embed this one, so head on over to www.londonbridge.thisiswhere.co.uk to check it out.

hello, people.

noreply@blogger.com (qwux) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:43:00 +0000

hey guys.

i would like to say hello. my name is qwux and i have been asked to be an occasional guest poster here on Rice Candy, and it's probably a good idea to introduce myself so you can all get a feel of where i am coming from.

so the brief history of qwux is as follows. i hate capitals, i just think they are ugly. i am currently studying visual arts at sydney college of the arts, majoring in printmedia. i am addicted to screenprinting, inks and paper. i run a little site called if forever exists (at www.ifforeverexists.com). i love stars and have 3 tattooed on my arm.

here is some of my recent work, if you like it, there is plenty more around!

first up, my major work from last semester - this poster sucks.
by day, i minimalistic typographical poster, by night, something much, much radder. i never knew photographing glow in the dark was so hard. (all glow images are 10 sec exp. for those who want to know.)

next up, the rad squid deck.

this is a short run (5 only) hand screenprinted deck with my character (sqwux the squid) printed on it.

i also dabble in photography, but i am not calling myself a photographer. i recently spent 2 weeks in japan, and here are all the photos i took put into 1 video.

the song is m83's lower your eyelids to die with the sun.

so thats me in a nutshell! i will be posting up a couple of times in the near future, so i hope you enjoi what i share.

peace

qwux

ps - feel free to follow me on twitter @qwux

Khristian Mendoza

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:43:00 +0000

An obvious representation of photographic work that is steering into a new course from the usual- is the pleasantly distracting “Transparency” set by Khristian Mendoza.

It seems in our current time, what you can-and-can’t-do with photography is non-existent. The restrictions are coming close to a full mute level, and creativity is KING right now. This fantastic set by Khristian Mendoza combines cleverness with illusion, and in other ways then- visually, it literally represents a portal of creativity.

For any of you letting your guard down in creative-photography, there is always someone with an upper-cut of imagination like Khristian Mendoza, ready to wake you up, and stimulate your own work. Though the photographs are simple with the: concept, shots, and materials, they undeniably pack-a-heavy-punch of imagination!

A good decision in the set was the use of a universal language, which were the stencils of well known basic shapes, rather then creating a busy overdone detailed design (which could have easily lost the viewer’s perception)

I can already see it… I can see the legions of imitators… sprouting left-and-right. But before that happens, maybe Khristian can give me a few hints to the recipe of- Transperancy.

(1)Can you tell me about the root that started this idea, and what prompted you to use it with photography?

KM-This wasn’t a well thought idea to begin with, so there was no decision making involved at all. Just one day I brought out the cam and started shooting, and within that time this idea kind of arose, rather than the idea beforehand. I know that’s not so professional but I find that most projects, and more specifically self initiated projects come about from nowhere.

(2)What do you think is more important in photography: originality, style, or well executed results?

KM-Don’t get me wrong, I love photography but I am no expert in it nor am I a photographer. Here and there I come across awesome photo folios that inspire me in what I enjoy. Photography is a whole new dimension to me, because in most cases they are not restricted to a brief and I find most successful photographers have this ability to express themselves through their photography.

(3)To me these photographs are a good transcending example of imagination. What are some of your own personal ethics that are essential to your creations?

KM-I always try to create things that make me happy. If it doesn’t, well then, make it work. That is why I am slightly afraid of entering the industry, concerned that commercial viability will not be my friend.

Khristian Mendoza- 21 years old
Equipment: Everything
Currently living in Melbourne, Australia

source:http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Transparency/239563

7 Favorites F.T.M #3

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:01:00 +0000

The other entry I was prepared to post is not completed till I receive further notice. But for now... here are some of my favorites I have come across this month.

I will also be including a series of posts under the title of "Dissecting", which will basically describe and break-down the aesthetics, composition, and perspectives of a SINGLE piece in each post. In the post I will explain WHY the image was chosen, and why it's a good example of inspiration. I want this to be more of a- conversation piece, with more interaction, which will compliment the overall opinion of each particular piece in each series.

Basically I want to know and explain why this image works so well and how it translates to us visually. Rather then focusing on a whole collection of a particular artist/creator/photographer, we can focus on a single composition. I will also include notes from the creator/artist/photographer of the image which will aid the examination and opinion.

RICE CANDY will return to its regular schedule posting in the next entry.

From-top-to-bottom. Links to the above photographs are listed as follows :

Photo source: http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Stock-Work/257182

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leandromartinez/2854574494/

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leandromartinez/3395812648/

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_travel_east/2723990204/

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30625014@N02/3680847062/

Photo source: http://goodbyeanimosity.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009'

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeromelorieau/3521300563/

Drops

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:06:00 +0000

As liquid pearls descent swiftly -giving into gravity. Your mind is already lip-syncing the “drip” that follows after. But just before that conclusion, Charlotte visually shares a short-story of the drops that where.

In my attempt to bring different styles and techniques to control the variety. I have noticed that sometimes the main attraction can also be the subject and more importantly- what you can create with it (example: the matches/ match boxes used in the Laika video post). In this post Charlotte shares her creative photography captures, which include: timing, color gels, coins, Milk, and paints- that create a colorful display... before, during, and after the splash.

Each shot has its own character. Some droplets play follow-the-leader to a larger drop, while time creates a distance from each other. And in other shots, the arrangements of the drops are somewhat reminiscent of a system in outer space. I can’t help not-be-drawn to these images, as they are quite calming, but at the same time they inspire possibilities in my own creative experiments.

I believe 3 questions are now in order.

(1) I would like to learn a bit about your set-up, equipment and the HiViz quit. And also how all of this comes together to capture these great shots. (I have no idea about any of this nor about the HiViz quit and it would be a great insight for others who don’t either)

C- The basis behind these shots is that you can use the flash pulse to freeze the motion you are trying to capture. A flash can pulse at 1/10,000th of a second or even faster depending on the strength of the flash. This is much fast that most normal shutter speeds. To capture the motion in the manner, you first set-up your equipment (to be described in a moment), turn out the lights, open the shutter, perform whatever action that you are trying to capture and make sure your flash fires while you do it, close the shutter, and see what you have captured. This can be done without much fancy equipment, provided you have enough timing and coordination to try to (if you are going to water drop shots) manually fire the flash at the exact moment the drop hits the surface or pool of liquid. This is hard to do...I’ve tried without much success. The best way is to use some sort of kit to trigger the flash. I use kits from HiViz.com. The one I used here is the light activated trigger kit. Basically, you receive a breadboard and a bag of resistors, capacitors, potentiometers, phototransistors, etc...Everything you need to build a circuit that will trigger your flash based on whatever criteria’s you are looking for. There is also a delay built into the circuit so that a drop falling will trigger the circuit, but the flash wont fire until the drop actually hits. As I said, I used the Light Activated circuit, meaning that when light strikes the phototransistor (provided in the kit) the flash is triggered. I have actually done this the hard way, I should have used a photogate trigger, but I couldn't get it to work at the time...fairly certain I fried either the LED or the receiver when I first plugged it in... So, I had to make due for the time being the light activated trigger. To make this work, I took a Laser pen and aimed it directly at the Phototransistor. The flash fires when the light first hits it, but if you leave the laser light pointed at the receiver, it will not fire again until the light is removed and shot at the receiver again. Then, I set up a turkey baster filled with milk, positioned such that any drops that fell would fall through the beam, causing the flash to trigger. The issues I had were that I could not get the droplets to break the beam long enough such that the capacitor had time to recharge (essentially, they weren't breaking the beam long enough to trigger the flash). So I would have to squirt a big stream of milk out of the turkey baster to get the flash to trigger. I was able to get this to work however, at least to an extent, and I eventually was able to be pretty consistent in getting the flash to trigger when I wanted it to. Once the setup was good to go, it was just a matter of picking out food coloring and trying not to make a huge mess. To get the drops to pick up the food coloring, I would just put a drop of two of whatever color(s) I was going for right where I thought the drop from the baster would hit. The surface I was dropping onto was a reflective piece of poster board. At the end of the set containing the high speed shots there are some setup shots with some explanatory notes that you are welcome to use.

(2)Why photograph- drops and liquids?

C-Why not? It’s pretty what happens in such a small length of time. You can't see this reaction with the naked eye and it’s a lot of fun just to see what cool things you can capture. The bright colors and how the milk reacts with them are also very interesting. Also, I am an engineer by profession, so I love projects like this that require me to think outside of the box and figure out how to do things.

(3)The best experience through experimenting so far has been?

C-The best experience is probably going through all of the setup and work, and then sitting back and looking at the LCD screen after every shot to see what I have captured. Every shot is different, some work and some don't, but it’s always a surprise.

Charlotte-23 years old
Equipment: Nikon D60 with 18-200mm lens, SB-600 speedlight
Currently living in Florida

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsaplayer/sets/72157619551482184/

Chiara Bautista

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:52:00 +0000

Dream-weaving via her imagination into a graphic illustration- is the work presented above by Artist/illustrator Chiara Bautista.

Although it might appear that Chiara’s work seems to root from what is meaningful to her at the moment of creation. Her unique style, references, and symbolic details are what really interested me the most.

Chiara infuses several elements with its own personality and charm that definitely changes the entire theme of the art piece. From a heart-shaped cassette, to octopi tentacles.One cannot ignore these meaningful details in her art, as they add a lot to the total value of her composition.

To know a little more about what goes behind the mechanism of Chiara's creativity, I will share with you the few thoughts I stole from her in response to my questions.

(1)How much does your personal life and emotions affect or influence
your artwork?

CB-... A fair amount, I usually add and take out pieces, or change the composition of an illustration depending on the things happening around me while I'm working.... like the songs I'm listening to, or how good or bad my day was. I think this kind of stuff happens to everybody. At the end we all put a little (or a lot) of ourselves on everything we do.

(2)What is the meaning behind the birds in your art? (I noticed 2
types, can you please tell me what they represent)

CB-The black ones, showing their skeleton, are all those doubtful thoughts that cross your mind when you're about to make a relevant decision. The white one is that thing -or person- you want the most.

(3) Which are your favorite colors of inspiration?

CB-I like black, green, blue and brown. I usually start working with a basic palette of matte colors, and then add some contrast with a bright color, and for this, my favorite is pink.

Chiara Bautista- 33 years old.
Art tools-Adobe Photoshop, Adobe illustrator, Freehand MX, Ink, Pencil, and acrylics.
Currently living in Tucson, Arizona.

Source: http://www.myspace.com/logyu

Guillaume Blanchet

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:12:00 +0000

As photography and art continues to get amplified by the internet, great creative videos are also being hatched by the dozens every month. One of the main platforms for this immense wave of new creations being shared on the internet is due to the incubation from sites like Vimeo.

For me Vimeo is like a vitamin that jolts my creativity whenever I need it. But in the other hand, there’s also an overflow of repetitive work displayed there, which gets me a bit hesitant about hitting that play button on new videos that get uploaded constantly. But once-in-a-while I am glad to hit that “I>” button because it’s such a joy for me to find a hidden jewel amongst the many. Such a find can be quite exciting and exhilaration for me, and can quickly turn into a small addictive viewing session. One of those recently fabulous finds comes from French creator- Guillaume Blanchet, in a stop-motion animation video.

Laika- is a 3 min animation Guillaume Blanchet created using matches & match boxes; this video was produced to celebrate the 10th birthday of a famous bar in Montreal (The Laïka). For those of you who may not know- Laïka originally was the name of the first earthling ever sent to space (a female dog). This was in Russia, back in 1957. Not only did Guillaume create a fun animation video, but he also unified the meaning behind the name, plus an actual object from the bar, which then coordinated with the song perfectly.

From the very beginning of the video there’s hints of a visual fun ride. It starts with one creation- creating another, and another, which takes you step-by-step through a small voyage. Guillaume also displays various stop-motion techniques which makes him look like a magician by using basic, and hard-to-figure-out animation tricks.

Whether the internet has created a platform for a new “creative renaissance” or if this is simply the age of the “click-shoot-n-post” generation, I am glad that creativity overall is in a good positive evolving phase. It could get better; it could get boring, overdone, damaged or ruined. But I have confidence we are headed in the right direction. And someone like Guillaume is proof of this.

Now to learn a bit more about the process from Guillaume.

(1)Can you tell us the average amount of pictures and hours spent in this project?

GB- It took me about a month to run some tests, including the on-and-off time. But overall I would say it took me between 40 and 60 hours. For the record, I had the “chance” to have my tonsils removed. Therefore, I spent two weeks out of the agency, at home. As for the pictures, it is tough to estimate as well, I believe it was about 3000(The original version is a little bit longer).

(2)What was the main approach and idea behind Laika?

GB- I live above the Laïka bar. It’s like the extension of my own apartment. The owner (a friend of mine) once had those genuine match boxes sent from Japan. And since he decided to celebrate the 10th birthday of his bar, I asked him to give me ten of those boxes (one for each year). I first tried to see everything that I could do with them in a technical way. Then I followed by writing a script, and after that… it was all just patience :-)

(3)The most important perspective you strive to demonstrate people who view your work is…?

GB-This video was actually very simple and low-cost: 10 boxes, maybe 200 matches, a blue paper and a pair of scissors. I love to be impressed by things that are technically over my understanding - like 3D animation – On the other hand, I also love what comes out of simplicity: everyone understands how it’s made. Simplicity in execution has a nice sharing dimension, because people end up realizing that somehow, they could have done it too.

Guillaume Blanchet- 32 years old
Equipment- Canon Rebel XTI
Materials- Match boxes ( made in Japan!!)
Currently living in Montréal, Canada

Video source: http://www.vimeo.com/4949624

Steve Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:44:00 +0000

Some dishes are best served cold. And some photos are best served- resisting stability (or full definition). A sample-taste of this type of delicacy is today’s special, which is a colorful interpretation of- an evening at the carnival, by Steve Wilson.

During the day I take several breaks to get away from the desk and my work. I walk around, stretch and view other things completely unrelated to my work. It would be nice to have a daily break where I can just open a door (secretly, hidden in my closet) that gives me immediate access to a fun night at the carnival (especially ala Steve Wilson’s perspective).

The common quality presented across all of these photos are enticing enough to day-dream for a few minutes, at the very least. Each photo well describes the fun factor experience in a carnival. And punctuating the visuals are sprinkles-of-light, where one can measure the speed of joy.

The main appealing substance of this set was that it never lost focus of the theme. And even though that door doesn’t exist, I will settle for the visual play-escape Steve has offered in his photography.

To complete the inspiration and see it through Steve's point-of-view, he was kind enough to answer the following questions.

(1)You work creating graphic illustrations and 3D designs.
Are there any qualities in all of this that influences your
photography?

SW: I think the creative “eye” is present for both my illustrations (3D and 2D) and my photography. That being said I feel that my 3D design work (day job) actually benefits more from my photography than the other way around. Working in 3D you use a lot of virtual lighting and cameras to get the “shot”.

(2)The punch of color you expect from a carnival was
present in this set. What other elements where you attracted
to at the carnival?

SW: The lights and rides was what first attracted me to shoot at the small carnival. It was set up close to my mom’s house (a very small carnival with only a few rides) but a lot of fun to shoot. The most important thing is that it's fun. I just enjoy photography.

(3)What interests you the most about photography overall?

SW: B&W, IR and extreme color is what excites me in photography. I am drawn to images that are there, but are not something that can be seen with the naked eye.

Steve Wilson-49 years old.
Equipment- Canon 5d Mark II, Lensbaby Composer
Currently living in Fort Worth,TX and working as a 3D Graphic Illustrator.

Photo Source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11879543@N06/sets/72157619042829040/

Shuo Cheng

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Unspoken words, silent lights, blurry reflections and retired Deja Vus- come together in a play that our mind sets a stage for. If the eyes blink, the curtain falls. But somehow at the end of that second we are able to save it in our memory, picture frame included.

An example of someone who has a visionary quest to capture these moments (in photograph form) is Shuo Cheng. Just slight suggestions of people present is his photos are obvious, but in return this accommodates a better focus to other qualities. And displayed above is a small collection of his photos, which is more of a visual soundtrack then anything else.

The attractive simplicity of the everyday life, plus the mood of the photographer reflecting on the captures- is something my attention enjoys when searching for photos. And Shuo's photography projects some of these qualities very well.

To learn a little more about what goes behind the mind of the photographer, artist or designer (plus any tips explaining their personal approach). I am adding a 3 question part to each post from now on, hopefully this creates a better harmony to each composition.

(1) Can you remember the first photo you took that meant something to you in a creative point-of-view? And why was this significant to you.

SC- It was years ago, when I was still enrolled at the university. I decided to register in a design course (my major was in MIS), which meant I had to stay one more year at the university. During that time, when almost all of my friends were going to graduate, I felt a bit lonely, and uncertain.

One day I climbed to the penthouse of the building, and took some photos. It was a hot day, with not a not cloud in the sky. And I guess something told me to remember the day, the sunshine, and the heat of summer.

(2) How different is your initial vision from your ending result?

SC- I think that's the interesting part of digital photography. You never know what the picture is going to look like. If you don't like it, you just delete it. Sometimes I think a lot before pressing the shutter, and sometimes I don't think at all.

(3) What advice can you give a person like me, who appreciates your style and is starting to experiment with photography?

SC- As Nobuyoshi Araki said: Photography is life. Taking pictures is a way to record your life. I think it's great if you learn something from it; if you don't, that's fine, as long as you enjoy it.

Shuo Cheng- 30 years old.
Currently living in Taipei and working as a designer.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28718028@N00/sets/72157605057509859/

Happy Up Here

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:25:00 +0000

I know I am late on this but this is such an interesting video it is worth mentioning, for those who haven't seen this video yet.

Not only is this a fantastic creative video but it is a joy to watch, especially if you love 80's Video Games. This is such a happy and fun music video that anyone can enjoy watching. The special effects are on target! along with the camera direction, lighting and concept.

I've had the "Junior" Cd for about 3 weeks now, but I did not see this video till last week. I am loving the song even more now since ive see this. The video fits perfectly with the song!

Source:royksopp.com/music/happy-up-here

MY ART

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:59:00 +0000

In the last blog entry I mentioned that I was working on an drawing based on the sketch I did to accompany the "triangle" post. I mainly draw realistic style art, but I wanted to try a different approach and style just to mix things up a bit. Also because I need the drawing practice.

I have included 2 versions of the drawing because I would like to get an opinion on which one looks better (I haven't decided on a title either). But the concept in one is: the hummingbird is about to take the nectar from her lips (instead of a flower/rose). And on the other one the small hummingbird is building her. I like both ideas, the first Idea was the main concept behind the art but in the process of cleaning up the line-art, I thought about the idea of a "gentle" piece-by-piece built by the little bird.

I would love to read your thoughts on this! Thank you.

Shahrul Nizam Selamat

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Today I share with you the wonderful fantasy/sci-fi art of Shahrul Nizam Selamat.

It comes in a good time that I find Shahruls fantastic imaginative art, because this past week I have started to draw again a bit more then usual. I normally just have a typical quick sketching that only happens about every 3 to 4 months. But I should keep consistent with the practice, because I am extremely rusty at this point.

I am amazed that artists like Shahrul exist, as he is so effective to project a fantasy world in every piece. I have no idea how anyone can have an imagination where they can create so much detail and create a picture perfect surrounding that fit his characters. All the elements in his pieces are always cohesive with his compositions.

In my case I can create the main character, or the main focus point and concept, but I was never good at drawing a background or surroundings. I would not know where to start. But in the other hand you have Shahrul who has so much to offer in this aspect, and give you more then enough of it!.

Shahrul's color choices and accents are on-point. I can look at the water reflection in the first picture and separate myself from whatever I am doing at the moment. It is a joy to see his color combinations and perfect shading.

I will update you with the latest art piece I am working on in the next blog entry. I am trying a new style which was inspired by my experimention of the sketch in the previous post. So far it is coming out pretty good. But in the meantime I suggest you continue observing the rest of Shahruls artwork displayed in his website or Deviant account. He has many wonderful pieces to spark a pleasant distraction.

PS. don't forget to click on the images above to get a larger view as they are savored better this way.

Official Website: http://kloverfx.blogdrive.com/

Diviant Gallery: http://syarul.deviantart.com/gallery/

Brancolina

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Angle-tracker Brancolina wants to obtain poetry out of geometry as much as she can, one frame at-a-time.

Brancolina- Photographer based out of Antwerp, Belgium has amazing geometric captures that can be best described as abstract art. While she exploits the best spaces and angles in a shot, she also manages to attain a visual-escape in the linear world she presents.

Rectangular shapes, soft touches and delicate-color-rhythms become great accessories to a minimalistic composition. Her pictures can easily be mistaken for an effortlessly approach, and that she happens to have easy access to these surroundings. But a picture of the set of- red card invitations (third to last picture) can dismiss this thought and prove she can definitely project her creativity through her photographs. As she easily traps the angles of her liking.

More geometric poetry at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22284792@N08/

Focused Blur

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:47:00 +0000

Leave it to a freshly-made-look, or a rained into an out-of-focus visual, is sometimes the decision the photographer takes at the very moment before clicking away. And some photographers can already know this approach will work in the composition as soon as they see the very object they are about to shoot.

An unfocused image can get lost in the surface or in the background with no regards to a clean-and-clear shot. But sometimes it is good to conserve a well focused blur and just show the inspired beauty that cannot be presented- by not displaying every-little-detail.

Whether it's the foreground or background, this style (if its well done) can definitely present a beautiful balance and make the leading role in the photograph stand out even more ( take a look at the last shot as an example, which is closer to a Bokeh style photo)

If you did not notice before, by now you can already tell that I love these visually tricky "I'm going blind" style photos. To me these focused blurs can be perceived as a smooth, dreamy, or a cotton-candy-like-texture. But in the other hand I can also see it as a smeared-focused shot with a will to run riot (in a imaginative sense). Both aspects combined explains why I like these spot-on images.

Above are 7 photographs I have encountered recently that is true to my focused blur taste.

Photosource from top to bottom:

1.http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_travel_east/3469966999/

2.http://www.flickr.com/photos/32068797@N04/3514119483/

3.http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryseinfeld/3515032926/

4.http://www.flickr.com/photos/prettydreamyforagirlfromrhodeisland/3514896514/

5.http://www.flickr.com/photos/22284792@N08/2527619697/

6.http://www.flickr.com/photos/22284792@N08/2658197591/

7.http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizlife/3548334036/

Andrew Archer

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:38:00 +0000

Andrew Archer is this months incinerator of my jealousy, when speaking about-the talent I wish I had. His work displays one of the best artistic talents I have seen in years.

Based out of New Zealand and only at the young age of 23, Andrew has already racked up a very decent list of clients. Ranging from: Vogue Fr, Penguin Books, Elle, New Scientist and Emi Music to name a few.

I am surprised that his work never came to my attention before. But I am glad to know about him and his art now, as this will also serve as a motivation for me to kick my self into gear and re-sharpen my drawing skills.

Another good thing to point out about Andrews art work, is that he mainly hand-draws and paints a large percentage of his work. This presents real talent in my opinion. Plus the style and color palette he chooses makes-it-all close to flawless in my eyes.

The first picture is extraordinary! the accents and colors are visually effective. But the second picture... wow, it is just poetry to me, there's glamour, there's darkness, there's perfection in the brush strokes. It's insanely amazing! I am very drawn to it!.

I highly suggest you click each image to enlarge for a better view!

NOTE: Regarding the last image- I am not PRO smoking/cigarettes. This is just for the sole purpose to display the variety of work by the artist.

The rest of his work at: http://www.andrewarcher.com/

Face

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:40:00 +0000

I am loving the overall work from Face design group -based out of Mexico. Most of all I love the first sample you see here(Border Noise poster design). Although the Border Noise design represents a quite manic and frenzy look, it definitely co-ordinates with the identity of the project. The poster just demands a lot of attention immediately when you first view it. Also the sharp edges and shapes seem to replicate and represent a "noise" level visually. The vivid colors in all the right places adds to it, and it seems like you can almost hear the design break-out into pieces.

I had seen some of their work about a year ago in the Los Logos book ( I had come across it at Barnes & Noble) but I was not aware they did more then just logos. The consistent level of execution in their portfolio, with the projects that tie-in with the identity of their clients, seem to be their strong point. If you're looking for extra visual inspiration, take a look at the rest of their work displayed in their website.

click images to enlarge!

PS. The second image is art direction for Lola De Alejandro. I just thought it was a good example of beautiful typography.

Their portfolio at: http://www.face-face-face.com/#/home/portfolio

Chocolate Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:43:00 +0000

I am currently working on a design that involves a "chocolate" theme, and funny enough I happen to stumble upon this piece today. I am a chocolate addict and this piece (much to my delight) is filled with chocolate goodness.

"Chocolate Dreams" is the work of artist/graphic designer Rik Oostenbroek - based out of Netherlands. I have seen Rik's work before but not quite in the direction he is taking now. The previous work I viewed was more generic and commercial. It seems now that Rik is in the upwards hill of progression ( Though he was only 18 when he started to get a lot of buzz for his work). Now that he is 19 (turning 20 shortly) Rik seems to show a new direction of creativity and his art is evolving quite well. Rik's work will be all over the place before you know it.

I love his signature melted/distorted detail in the shapes, and the shine effects that add an edible/visually-tangible quality to-it-all.

click image to enlarge!

Source: http://nkeo.deviantart.com/art/Chocolate-dreams-121060579

A Touch Of Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:01:00 +0000

My attention in photography that I have been browsing through lately seem to mainly focus on the color Yellow ( for some reason it currently stands out to me in the composition).

When I think of yellow, it reminds me of the hot valley sun here in southern California... and I feel as if it slows-me-down a bit (much like the Yellow in a traffic light) Yellow also reminds me of summer and things related to summer.

Yellow can also make me feel outgoing, and very alive. It depends in what tone. A bright (somewhat fluorescent) yellow against a black background can become very vibrant and alive. It also very much reminds me of the beautiful Yellow that nature brings.

Above are some cool Yellow tunes I have come across in the last few weeks.

Photosource links from top to bottom:

1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35645520@N02/3506708549/

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/94422515@N00/3514225439/

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardos_pictures/3501919363/

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilrobbins/3515027806/

5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/faithannyoung/3505454936/

6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidpieces/2262837948/

7. http://victoriabennettbeyer.blogspot.com/2009/04/daffodil.html

Shinichi Maruyama

noreply@blogger.com (Rice Candy) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:13:00 +0000

Pieces of work like this reminds me that there's always a new angle to be found when you are trying to look for a new creative point-of-view in your own work. This is probably the best water photography I have seen to date. Shinichi Maruyama's approach is extremely inventive, but most of all, it seems that he has a love-connection to this natural element and the art of: finding the beauty of imperfection (Wabi-sabi). He exploits all his views and does a good job to present it in a beautiful manner.

Just the simple addition of black dyes to the water creates an amazing contrast I would've never thought about doing. Shinichi can afford to do without additional colors, keep it in a black & white format, and still hydrate our perception one-picture-at-a-time.

The rest at: http://shinichimaruyama.com/