Prepare yourselves...

They're almost done! Just have to make the Illustrator one... 

About a week ago, I got Adobe CS6 Design standard edition. So I figured it was about time to update the shortcut sheets. I'll upload them in a week or two when I've finished the Illustrator one.

Shagadelic weekend!

Me with Shag (A.K.A. Josh Agle)!!!

Minotaur — Shag (2008)

On Saturday I met my favourite (living) artist, Shag (short for JoSH AGle) again. It was at a book signing for a new exhibition at Outré Gallery in perth! I met him a few years ago at Outré Gallery, also a book signing. I'm always surprised that he keeps visiting Perth, seeing as how it's so out-of-the-way. But I'm extremely glad he does!

Anyway, when I met him this time, I got his newest book signed. But that's not all! I bought a print, 'Minotaur', and got that signed the back too. And because I felt like pushing my luck just a little further, I asked to take a photo with him as well! I was quite pleased with myself this time, I didn't turn into too much of a gibbering fan-girl. But I was smiling like a total jack-ass... (^_^)

IT WAS SUPER-AWESOME!!!

If you want to see more of his TOTALLY AWESOME work, check out his website!!!

Perpetual bliss

Small Perpetual Calendar  (1998) — Gideon Dagan for MoMA store

Many months ago, this calendar was part of my online shopping list. I later found out from a (now former) co-worker that a store in Perth sold them. Originally, I wanted the orange/silver one, however Venn store never seemed to have them in stock when I was there. Then the other day, I received a call informing me they were back in stock!

When I got to there, I saw the orange/silver one next to the red/black and all-silver ones. I had a tough decision to make. I really like orange, however the combination of red and black is always striking. I stood there staring at the two calendars for several minutes. I'm not even kidding.

Getting back to the point... Sometimes, what you want isn't really what you want. Over time one's taste evolves. In the end, the reason I chose the red/black one was that it looks very Bauhaus and cool — not to mention it goes well with the other things in my cubicle.

Also, the best thing about having a perpetual calendar is that I'll need to buy a desktop calendar ever again!

————————— COMING SOON —————————

I'll be doing a series of posts about Open House Perth.
Get ready for my best pictures of Perth Arena and other notable buildings from Perth's skyline!

After that, an awesome Photoshop Tutorial.
How to photoshop one person's face onto another person's body. With all the special tips and tricks I use to make it look more realistic!

Shin-Hanga: The softer side of Japan

Cherry and Castle — Yoshida Hiroshi (1939)

Through pinterest, I went on a little tangent and discovered something rather amazing! Someone pinned this cool Japanese print and I went foraging after it. So here goes:

After the decline of the Edo/Meiji period of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, there came the inevitable revival in the early 20th century. This became the known as the Shin-Hanga (new print) period which flourished from 1915-1942, resuming briefly after WWII. They were designed to appeal to Western tastes giving a nostalgic, romanticised view of japan. And so, they were primarily exported overseas, never finding much fame at home. However, Shin-Hanga became immensely popular in America, so much so that there were two major exhibitions in the 30s. 

What I like most about them is the warmer colour palates and how they're just less stuffy than Edo period prints. Not to say that Hokusai and Hiroshige prints aren't absolutely beautiful or that I don't love classic Japanese prints, but there's just something about Shin-Hanga that's just softer and hard to describe ― as lame as that sounds.

For more on Shin-Hanga visit: Wikipedia, Jacquesc, and artelino.

Misty Evening At Shinobazu Pond, Tokyo — Kasamatsu Shiro (1932)

Sunset At Tomonotsu, Inland Sea — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1940)

Ueno Shinobazu Pond — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1939)

Heirinji Temple Bell — Yoshida Toshi (1951)

 Tengu Rock At Shiobara —Kawase Hasui (1950)

Red Temple — Asano Takeji (1931)

Evening Moon On Yodo River — Asano Takeji (1934)

Heirinji Temple — Kasamatsu Shiro (1962)

Summer Moon At Miyajima — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1936)

Moonlit Night At Miyajima — Kawase Hasui (1947)

Campbell's launches Andy Warhol soup cans!

Cans with label art from Andy Warhols "32 Campbell's Soup Cans"

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Andy Warhol's "32 Campbell's Soup Cans", Campbell's Soup Company have released a limited-edition run of tomato soup cans with Warhol's original label art! They went on sale for 75¢ each. I just want to know why didn't they do this sooner and why can't it be a permanent change.

The only thing I'm not so pleased about is — after a bit of digging around — it looks as though they aren't available in Australia! But they're already on eBay...

Via The Cool Hunter, Grocery Headquarters, and Gizmodo.

Bernini at 25

Pluto and Proserpina — Bernini (1622)

Today, I made a rather unsettling discovery...

Italian master-sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, created Pluto and Proserpina at the age of 25! I can't even imagine how anyone in their 20s could have turned a giant lump of marble into something that brilliant. Apparently, when it was unveiled, they had to take precautions to protect it because people wouldn't stop touching the figure's skin. There are veins in Pluto's hands and indentations in Proserpina's thigh. The second image looks like a black and white photo. In fact, every sculpture that Bernini ever made is amazing!* 

So why is this unsettling? I'm turning 25 next month! Puts things into perspective, doesn't it.

*In my opinion.