So anyways, he just put a hilarious series of drawings on his blog, roughly describing the recipe for okonomiyaki. It's worth checking out (as are his books!).
Links: Website | Blog | Books--- Comment »
Florent Chavouet's Okonomiyaki
Florent Chavouet is a French illustrator, whose work is mostly comprised of journal-like drawings of his travels in Japan. I'm a huge fan of his work and I'm at a loss to even describe how inspirational his drawings are to me. They make me feel completely energized and hopeless at the same time. Energized because his style is one of the coolest things I've come across in the past few years, and hopeless because I know I will never be able to emulate his brilliance.
So anyways, he just put a hilarious series of drawings on his blog, roughly describing the recipe for okonomiyaki. It's worth checking out (as are his books!).
Links: Website | Blog | Books
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So anyways, he just put a hilarious series of drawings on his blog, roughly describing the recipe for okonomiyaki. It's worth checking out (as are his books!).
Links: Website | Blog | Books--- Comment »
Review: Tomi Ungerer, a Multifaceted Artist (Strasbourg)
This weekend, Ashwin took me on a surprise trip to Strasbourg. I had been there before as a teenager, with my parents, but Ashwin had never been and with the weather looking good, he decided to book us some last minute train tickets and a hotel room in this very European city. Now, I'll probably tell you all about the rest of the trip on my personal blog, but today I'd like to share with you a review of an exhibition of Tomi Ungerer's work.
Tomi Ungerer is a French illustrator born in Strasbourg, who did most of his work while living in New York (I think he's back in Strasbourg now, not sure). In 2007, the Tomi Ungerer Museum in Strasbourg was opened in honor of this living legend and we decided the pay the museum a visit.
The museum is not very large, but it's an absolutely gorgeous building. Light, white, and with a fun little sculpture garden out front. The works inside were carefully displayed and the accompanying texts were concise and informative. The exhibition on display was called Tomi Ungerer, a Multifaceted Artist, and boy, what an apt title that was.
0) BOOKS, TOYS, AND THE THREE ROBBERS
The ground floor of the museum was dedicated to Ungerer's toy collection and children's books drawings. I loved that the museum showed both the inspiration behind his works, his sketchbooks and the sketches that led up to the final works and published books. I don't believe I've ever owned one of his books as a kid, but his style definitely rang a bell and reminded me of some of the books my dad grew up reading (and passing onto us). Colorful, witty, but with an edge. On this floor, we also saw a selection of tv cartoons that Ungerer made, my favorite being the 'Three Robbers'. LOVE those sound effects.
1) SHARP SATIRE, BUTTS, AND BEANS
The first floor (or second, if you're American) showed some of Ungerer's more commercial and controversial work. Among the brilliantly executed anti-Vietnam war posters and Bonduelle vegetable commercials, we also saw a series of 'erotic' jewelry he designed and a series of designs for playground buildings and public bathrooms (my favorite being a square building with a giant butt on top it).
-1) FROGS AND THE DARK SIDE
It was in the basement (where else?) that we began to understand the true meaning behind the 'multifaceted' aspect of Ungerer's work as we encountered a warning that the images we were about to see weren't suitable for a younger audience. A series of sketchbooks on SM prostitutes, another series of frogs having sex with not only each other but with objects and plants ('the joy of frogs', the series was called - it really was kind of funny) and an entire room full of mangled Barbie dolls being molested by animals and other crazy creatures. Multifaceted, yes, definitely. Personally, if I were a children's book author still alive and publishing, I would have left my molested Barbie dolls hidden in the back of that closet, but perhaps I'm being too prudish. I'm not against some good erotic art every now and then (and the frogs were hilarious), but I suppose the violence of it kind of threw me off after seeing the children's book drawings. That, or I'm clearly still not over the trauma of that one time when the neighborhood bully burnt the face off my favorite Barbie doll.
All in all though, the exhibition and museum were very inspiring! I absolutely loved Ungerer's children's books drawings, the movies, and the whole presentation. I really feel I've learned more about the artist, his inspirations, and the way he works. The museum was a pleasant space to spend some time in, also because people were hanging out everywhere with their sketchbook in hand. Even the guard upstairs was doing a little sketch whilst keeping an eye on us. If you're in Strasbourg, and you're not familiar with Ungerer's work, I'd recommend going, but yeah... keep your little ones out of the crazy Barbie-room, hehe.
Links: Tomi Ungerer's website | Tomi Ungerer Museum
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Tomi Ungerer is a French illustrator born in Strasbourg, who did most of his work while living in New York (I think he's back in Strasbourg now, not sure). In 2007, the Tomi Ungerer Museum in Strasbourg was opened in honor of this living legend and we decided the pay the museum a visit.
The museum is not very large, but it's an absolutely gorgeous building. Light, white, and with a fun little sculpture garden out front. The works inside were carefully displayed and the accompanying texts were concise and informative. The exhibition on display was called Tomi Ungerer, a Multifaceted Artist, and boy, what an apt title that was.
0) BOOKS, TOYS, AND THE THREE ROBBERS
The ground floor of the museum was dedicated to Ungerer's toy collection and children's books drawings. I loved that the museum showed both the inspiration behind his works, his sketchbooks and the sketches that led up to the final works and published books. I don't believe I've ever owned one of his books as a kid, but his style definitely rang a bell and reminded me of some of the books my dad grew up reading (and passing onto us). Colorful, witty, but with an edge. On this floor, we also saw a selection of tv cartoons that Ungerer made, my favorite being the 'Three Robbers'. LOVE those sound effects.
1) SHARP SATIRE, BUTTS, AND BEANS
The first floor (or second, if you're American) showed some of Ungerer's more commercial and controversial work. Among the brilliantly executed anti-Vietnam war posters and Bonduelle vegetable commercials, we also saw a series of 'erotic' jewelry he designed and a series of designs for playground buildings and public bathrooms (my favorite being a square building with a giant butt on top it).
-1) FROGS AND THE DARK SIDE
It was in the basement (where else?) that we began to understand the true meaning behind the 'multifaceted' aspect of Ungerer's work as we encountered a warning that the images we were about to see weren't suitable for a younger audience. A series of sketchbooks on SM prostitutes, another series of frogs having sex with not only each other but with objects and plants ('the joy of frogs', the series was called - it really was kind of funny) and an entire room full of mangled Barbie dolls being molested by animals and other crazy creatures. Multifaceted, yes, definitely. Personally, if I were a children's book author still alive and publishing, I would have left my molested Barbie dolls hidden in the back of that closet, but perhaps I'm being too prudish. I'm not against some good erotic art every now and then (and the frogs were hilarious), but I suppose the violence of it kind of threw me off after seeing the children's book drawings. That, or I'm clearly still not over the trauma of that one time when the neighborhood bully burnt the face off my favorite Barbie doll.
All in all though, the exhibition and museum were very inspiring! I absolutely loved Ungerer's children's books drawings, the movies, and the whole presentation. I really feel I've learned more about the artist, his inspirations, and the way he works. The museum was a pleasant space to spend some time in, also because people were hanging out everywhere with their sketchbook in hand. Even the guard upstairs was doing a little sketch whilst keeping an eye on us. If you're in Strasbourg, and you're not familiar with Ungerer's work, I'd recommend going, but yeah... keep your little ones out of the crazy Barbie-room, hehe.Links: Tomi Ungerer's website | Tomi Ungerer Museum
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I Have a Crush On Mel Stringer
God, I love Mel Stringer's work. Yesterday, when I was drawing in my journal, I put on a slideshow of her Flickr stream on my screen to inspire me. I have a definite art girl crush on her. And what exactly that means, also, is none of your business.
Links: Blog | Etsy Shop | Tumblr | Flickr
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Links: Blog | Etsy Shop | Tumblr | Flickr--- Comment »
Guest Post on Turtlewings' Think About Paper
I'm honored to let you know the first guest post I've written for the new Turtlewings 'Think About' Blog has just been published online. This month, we're thinking about paper and I used this opportunity to delve a bit into paper fashion.
Read all about it here.
Images: Matthew Brodie and Fred Butler
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Read all about it here.
Images: Matthew Brodie and Fred Butler
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Portable Manfriend
Are you in need of bearded moral support? Of a portable man friend to keep you company?
I was and I didn't even know it!
That is, until I found out about Nicola Rowland's Pocket Manfriends. Now I can't get through the day without one, I think. So awesome and completely random.
Links: Blog | Etsy Shop | Facebook | Twitter
(Via: Cup of Jo)
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I was and I didn't even know it!
That is, until I found out about Nicola Rowland's Pocket Manfriends. Now I can't get through the day without one, I think. So awesome and completely random.
Links: Blog | Etsy Shop | Facebook | Twitter
(Via: Cup of Jo)
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Yeah, baby! Cross-Stitch iPhone Cases
I know some of you follow my illustration blog (annadenise.nl) and those who do know I was thrilled to find some pretty cardboard iPhone cases to illustrate. So when I came across these stitch-able iPhone covers by Leese Design on the Purl Soho website, I completely flipped.
Not only do I now have another perfectly good reason to pre-order the new iPhone 4s, I also think I have my new fall challenge lined up: to create a stitched design that even remotely measures up to the beautiful designs of Purl Soho's Erin.
Links: Leese Design | Purl Soho Shop | The Purl Bee blog
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Not only do I now have another perfectly good reason to pre-order the new iPhone 4s, I also think I have my new fall challenge lined up: to create a stitched design that even remotely measures up to the beautiful designs of Purl Soho's Erin.
Links: Leese Design | Purl Soho Shop | The Purl Bee blog--- Comment »
Donna Wilson in La Fabrika
Yesterday I visited Donna Wilson's exhibit in La Fabrika, Brussels - a lovely design store known for its carefully selected furniture and home accessories. The exhibtition 'Donna Wilson - A British Design Story', opened earlier this month as a part of 'Design September'. I'm glad I got to see it (and buy myself a little something in the process) because I absolutely freaking ADORE Donna Wilson (as I'm sure many of you do, too).
La Fabrika, located on the 'dodgy end' (so-called, it's not too bad really) of the otherwise very trendy Rue Antoine Dansaert here in Brussels, looked immaculate as usual. Donna Wilson's work was displayed in combination with some stunning handmade furniture that Wilson created with British manufacturers Ercol and SCP. The beautiful, light, space really did the entire installation justice.
My only problem whilst visiting was my sickly looking, pretty much, empty wallet. Otherwise: yay!
UPDATE: I just received word that the exhibition has been extended for another week! So go see it!
Links: Donna Wilson | La Fabrika | Design September
All photographs courtesy of La Fabrika
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La Fabrika, located on the 'dodgy end' (so-called, it's not too bad really) of the otherwise very trendy Rue Antoine Dansaert here in Brussels, looked immaculate as usual. Donna Wilson's work was displayed in combination with some stunning handmade furniture that Wilson created with British manufacturers Ercol and SCP. The beautiful, light, space really did the entire installation justice.
My only problem whilst visiting was my sickly looking, pretty much, empty wallet. Otherwise: yay!
UPDATE: I just received word that the exhibition has been extended for another week! So go see it!
Links: Donna Wilson | La Fabrika | Design September
All photographs courtesy of La Fabrika
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