And it’s about PIRATES! Squeeeee!!
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
I summon all ye admirers of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run and diverse other Aardman creations to go hither and watch the trailer — also here for “making of” giddiness.
Yarr!
Yes, I’m rather extremely late to this particular party. Better late than not at all.
Absolutely Undiluted Magic!
I know that as a book addict (soften that to bibliophile if you must but judging from the massive quantities of books in my tiny, tiny house I calls ’em the way I see ’em) I cannot possibly claim a shred of objectivity but I do so very much love this little film. Nevertheless I am not alone and it makes me exceedingly happy to see that it has achieved such a wide audience and dearly hope that it wins an Oscar.
If you’ve already seen it, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t seen it go watch it now! There are links at Moonbot and at MorrisLessmore. I just downloaded it from the iTunes store (free) and I originally watched it on vimeo from a link on James Gurney’s blog. The vimeo links don’t seem to be working today but they’ll most likely be restored soonish.
Oh, yes, one more thing — Kleenex alert. Trust me; you will cry.
Posted in book, film | Tagged book, film | Leave a Comment »
Quite a few of the blogs I read have been doing a lot of posts about reflecting on the past, evaluating present priorities and working towards building the best year of work that is possible for that particular person.
I have been lying on the couch watching films. Especially this one:
Rivers and Tides (Working With Time). A stunning documentary about artist Andy Goldsworthy.
This film is an amazing, even revelatory experience. It takes me right into the heart of nature and time, connecting me to the rhythms of growth and the patterns of pulsing water. It is a reminder that everything is transitory, and that the most ephemeral of things have immense strength and beauty.
Watch it if you get even the remotest of chances.
Posted in film, inspiration | Tagged film, meditation | 1 Comment »
I’m really quite too busy trying to finish up Christmas preparations (yes, the tree is up) but please visit this link to Salley Mavor’s Solstice post. It is very beautiful and I just love the poem she chose.
Posted in holiday, illustration | Tagged illustration | 3 Comments »
You may remember that I wrote a post last year about the Black Apple Paper Doll Primer.
Now Emily Martin (aka Black Apple) has very generously made a new holiday paper doll and is giving it away for FREE! Personal use only please.
Is she great or what? If you haven’t already; go buy her book NOW!
Posted in book, ephemera, holiday, illustration | Tagged book, paper doll, toy making | Leave a Comment »
Or, Danger Will Robinson . . . Danger!
Does this face look familiar to you? It reached right out and grabbed me even though it was tiny thumbnail size image on the site where I first saw it. So I clicked it.
Wow! and Ouch! Is it just me or does this doll have more than a passing resemblance to the girls in Mark Ryden’s paintings? She’s a new release named Trisha from D.I.M (Doll in Mind).
I am a huge fan of Ryden’s work and have been since my very first exposure. If you’re not familiar; do a google image search right now — I’ll wait.
It is perhaps a fortunate thing that I can’t afford to buy this girl as I’m certain I would feel an overwhelming compulsion to make her clothes to match Mark’s paintings. Which would be lovely fun and a perfect opportunity to make outfits that are simultaneously dark, twisted and massively sweet. Which would inevitably be way too time consuming.
She would certainly demand a meat ball gown for starters. Dangerous!
Posted in BJD, illustration | Tagged ball joint doll, doll, doll clothes, illustration, low brow art | Leave a Comment »
Here’s a little Thanksgiving present for everyone who’s never heard of Mouseland.
Oh yes, the massively talented and always sure to cheer up my day, Mouseland. If you can stay grumpy after looking at her images, seek medical attention.
Posted in book, doll house, holiday, Uncategorized | Tagged animals, anthropomorphic, dollhouse, felt | 3 Comments »
Evelyn Gathings Rocks!
I’m extremely fond of her particular approach to the art of the paper doll. She seems to specialize in animals which just makes me like them even more.
But the real reason I’m blogging about this paper doll set now is that the little baby sister doll reminds me so very, very much of the fire-setting cat in my last post (yes, the baked apple cat). Seriously, check out that little face. That little “I’m mayhem, go ahead turn your back on me” face. This is a face I’d love to see on a Connie Smith doll.
The costumes in this set are very fine; though they look more Edwardian than Victorian to my eye. Yeah, I’m one of those historical detail people to whom the distinction Victorian/Edwardian makes a difference. Overall the colors and details throughout the set are fantastic as are the plethora of accessories.
I especially love the commentary on the costume pages. It’s borderline snarky while retaining a warm sweet surface layer. Click to enlarge the images, read it for yourself. Enjoy!
Posted in ephemera, illustration | Tagged animals, anthropomorphic, illustration, paper doll | 13 Comments »
Yeah, I’m a Mac . . . big shocker. Most all the artists I know are Macs, we just love the little beasties to bits.
March 1980
Very possibly my first exposure to Apple. From the pages of Omni magazine which exposed me to a myriad of art, fiction and technology back in the day.
January 1982
A personal favorite, unfortunately I only have one half of this two page fire inspired spread. If memory serves; despite the melty condition of the computer, Apple was able to recover the contents of the hard drive. Again from Omni.
Thanks for everything Steve, enjoy your party wherever you are tonight.
Posted in inspiration, tool | Tagged advertising, vintage | Leave a Comment »
Yes, I adopted this raven. No really, this is my contribution for a local art charity event “Art the Flock Up!”. All the embellished ravens will be on display in downtown Adrian both inside and outside of community buildings throughout the month of October. They will then be auctioned off on October 28 at a reception and poetry event celebrating the works of Edgar Allen Poe at 6:30 p.m. at the Adrian Public Library. The money raised will go to support the LCVA and Lenawee Reads.
I was in the library a few weeks ago and I saw this crazy bird dressed like John Belushi as a Bee sitting on top of one of the short bookcases in the lobby area. There was a sign that said “Adopt a Raven” and “In the Spirit of Poe”. Curiosity won, I asked a librarian “What’s the deal with the bird?”. A tenner later I was strolling out with my very own blank raven, OK, my very own blank crow decoy.
I decided to do mine up as, well, Raven. It just seemed like too good an opportunity to do some native american art to pass up. I modified some northwest coast clip art images and made stenciled fabric appliqués which I then glued in place. I used freezer paper stencils to apply white paint to orangey-red fabric. The stylized hands on the wings were fiddley to glue on but I’m pleased with the final effect.
This face mask/moon disk will no doubt get used again, I really like the way the stencil turned out. I had some fun with this and can’t wait to see what other people did with their birds. If you’re in the Adrian area please stop by the reception and join the fun!
Posted in altered art | Tagged animals, charity, fabric | 1 Comment »
The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur. Really crazy, and I’m starting to feel a bit bitey. Arf! (she said)*
On the upside, I’ve accomplished most of the stuff on the priority one task list to overcome the technical difficulties and I think I see some light at the end of the tunnel; it had best not be a train.
My advice: Do Not go four (or more) years with doing some serious backing up of important images and documents. It’s a royal pain. There is definitely a Time Machine in my rather immediate future.
*Yes, I’m mixing my Beatles with my Zappa — yummy!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
More fashion inspiration for Blythe fans and people who just like paper dolls. Missy Go Along is a fun, funky paper doll from 1970. There seem to be several variations on this set, with different hair styles/colors and a variety of different costumes but all with dolls in the same poses. I actually had a similar set of these dolls as a child — having this set in my collection is a real nostalgia trip.
Love that green coat worn with bright pink tights and grey boots. Quite Fab!
The dress pattern I used for the Blythe Birthday outfit would be perfect for the (white-pink-yellow) pseudo mondrian check dress. The fabric could be made fairly easily with applique or paint with ribbon or ric-rac borders. Now I just have to keep my eyes open for some jewelry components for use for the belt.
Even if you don’t have a Blythe (or other doll) who demands new clothes on a regular basis, it’s fun to look at the funky possibilities and know that once upon a time, not so very long ago, actual people were wearing clothes that looked like this.
This is why I love paper dolls. They can be a quite accurate record of what people were wearing. Fashion and costume history books are great for historic (long, long ago) clothes but for the twentieth century — not so much. I’m also very much into the whole packaging, graphic design element of the look of them. Which shouldn’t be a huge surprise as I’m an ex-graphic designer myself.
Plus they’re intensely fun, fun, fun and they don’t take up a whole lot of room which means they qualify as practical too (well . . sort of).
Posted in ephemera | Tagged doll clothes, paper doll | 1 Comment »
pamelavelner.blog 