Everyday Art
Previously, I’ve featured the talented illustrator in St. Paul, Teagan White. Since then, she has posted more intricate renderings of flora and fauna, cute anthropomorphic critters, illustrative typography, and everything in between. Teagan begins each piece with an inky drawing and then digitizes them to add her harmonious color schemes. Check out her website, here, to see more of her incredible art! And for a wonderful treat, check out her Society6 page to purchase prints.
Posted in Art, Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Print, Typography
I am so bummed that I missed The Washington Ballet’s performance of ALICE (in wonderland) at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre. To reimagine the Lewis Carroll classic, powerful forces of breath-taking talent and visionary direction were combined. From the revolutionary artistic director Septime Webre, designer Liz Vandal (Cirque du Soliel’s OVO), composer Matthew Pierce (who created a completely new score), sets by Jim Cronzer, and puppets by Eric Van Wyk, The Washington Ballet took a trip down the rabbit hole for this season’s grandest production. To capture the incredible costumes, personality and drama of this magnificent performance, the husband and wife team, Jake and Pum Lefebure, of Design Army were brought in for the creative direction of the photo shoot. Known for their unique and surreal creative vision, Design Army was the perfect choice to capture the magic of Wonderland. Hair and makeup artist Dean Krapf created the editorial-style beauty using [similar to the show, but uniquely] new wig and make up designs. For a behind the scenes look into the magical world they created, check out this wonderful interview in Washington Life Magazine.
As described on Design Army’s blog: “Colors and contours take center stage: Alice’s blonde hair is intentionally a mess—after all she just went down a rabbit hole. The White Rabbit is leaping (not hopping) because he’s running late. The Mad Hatter is truly mad—no one knows if it’s the multi-hued jacket he’s wearing or the potent brew in his black-and-white cup. Tweedledee and Tweedledum have a ballet spring to their step. And then there’s the Queen of Hearts, who is seeing red as she demands to know who ate her tarts. Rose petals (and heads) fall around her but the Dancing Card takes her punishment in style with a not-so-lucky number 7 – dripping with red. It’s a dark, deadly wonderland brought to life with a pirouette of vibrant colors.”
The Washington Ballet World Premiere
Alice Starring Maki Onuki
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
Red Queen Starring Sona Kharatian
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
White Rabbit Starring Jonathan Jordan
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
Tweedledum Starring Nayon Iovino & Tweedledee Starring Corey Landolt
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
Mad Hatter Starring Jared Nelson
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
Card Girl Starring Emily Ellis
(Photo Dean Alexander. Produced by Design Army)
Posted in Art, Dance, Design, Graphic Design, Performance Art, Photography, Print, Typography
Krista Charles of Albuquerque, New Mexico has created an innovative series entitled “Matchbook Landscapes”. Krista was inspired by her 90-year-old grandfather-in-law who kept a bag full of old matchbooks in a drawer. The branding featured on the labels are from another era; the typography on the outside alone is inspiring. And now they have become priceless as Krista pencils the current landscape on the inside envelope of each book. As the years have gone by, some of the businesses have been turned into parking lots, others are out of business and vacant, while others still are in business and thriving. What a wonderful time capsule which captures old and new. Nostalgic with an upgrade. To see more of Krista’s series, check out her website. Or you can purchase the matchbooks on Etsy, here.
“For each matchbook I find where the location of the business would be in Google Maps and on the inside cover of the matchbook I make a pencil sketch of whatever is now shown at this location. On average each drawing takes about two hours to complete. Sometimes the places advertised on the matchbooks are still in business even after decades have passed, some businesses have changed names and are under new ownership, and some buildings are empty or have been torn down and replaced by new buildings or parking lots or highway expansion programs and even empty fields. The age of the matchbooks I use vary, but all are a unique view into the previous business and the dreams of its owner and how these places and by extension all places and our histories change over time. Even the story of matchbooks has evolved and what was once a common item to give out to promote a business has now become a vintage item, rarer to find except in antique stores and our own junk drawers.” - Krista Charles
Posted in Architecture, Art, Branding, Design, Graphic Design, Pencil, Typography
