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Showing posts from October, 2019

These illustrations were made entirely on typewriters

In this age of touch screens, it's surprising that many still use the good old typewriter. Writing on this intricate machine, however, is not practical for some people. It's heavy. There's no backspace option. It needs ribbons that are hard to find. There's no choice in fonts. No spell check or grammar check. But there's something satisfying about the physicality of typing, and these illustrations by Leslie Nichols prove what typewriters are capable of. I've featured Leslie's art here on Finding Cain in the past , and this time she's back with an array of beautiful new work.  Originally trained in painting, the Kentucky-based artist fell in love with typographic illustrations after getting a typewriter as a gift. Her She Said series is currently on display at LeMieux Galleries in New Orleans. If you're in the area, check out the show before it closes on November 16.

Watch Mireia Belmonte run in a bubble full of Hyundai Nexo emissions

This is a commercial for Hyundai Nexo, featuring Olympic swimmer Mireia Belmonte. The Korean automaker wanted to show how clean the vehicle's emission is, so they challenged the 28-year-old Spanish athlete to run on a treadmill inside a bubble connected to the SUV's exhaust pipe. The Nexo is a hydrogen fuel cell powered automobile that emits water vapor and 99.9 percent filtered oxygen instead of pollutants. So the air in Mireia's sealed space should probably be cleaner than the air most urban dwellers are breathing right now. Hyundai, however, still worked with a sports medical center while filming the promo to ensure the safety of the athlete. Found via autoblog

Morphing Clay

Here's an interesting art installation that was featured during Google Developer Days in Shanghai last month. It's a real-time, interactive display which allows participants to create virtual Chinese ceramics simply by moving their bodies. If the users put their hands up in the air, the pottery would become taller. If they move their bodies in their desired direction, the ceramics would follow them. The textures of the pottery are also influenced by what the people wear.

Let's Pray for Japan

Typhoon Hagibis is due to make landfall on the main island of Honshu today. But, according to my friend who lives in Tokyo, there's no sense of panic in the Japanese capital.  Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecaster Yasushi Kajiwara said at a press briefing that areas from the west to the northeast of Japan would experience "brutal winds and violent seas." More than 1,000 flights have been canceled. The qualifying round for the Japanese Grand Prix has been postponed. The Rugby World Cup has rescheduled two matches. This could be the strongest storm to hit Tokyo in decades. Let's pray for everyone's safety.

Aheneah's cross-stitch is not like what your granny makes

Ana Martins dabbles in street art. But, unlike other muralists who use spray paint, the lovely Portuguese makes larger-than-life pieces using wool. Yes, the textile fiber obtained from sheep. Also known as Aheneah , the 23-year-old artist manages to recreate the effect of cross-stitching on walls, using hundreds of meters of colored yarn and thousands of metal screws. Ana graduated in 2017 with a degree in graphic design and, according to her website, her main objective is to "deconstruct, decontextualize and transform a traditional technique into a modern graphic, connecting cultures and generations." Below are some shots of the graphic embroiderer's recent cross-stitch project in an old town square in Portugal. Astounding. You can head on over here to see more of Aheneah's work.

Porsche partners with Boeing to make an electric flying car

Okay I know how much some of you hate conceptual products, but this one is pretty amazing. What you see here is an official render of Boeing and Porsche's premium flying car. It looks like a Batwing, and in theory the vehicle would be a fully electric car capable of vertical landing and takeoff. Though these so-called urban air mobility vehicles are still mere concepts, engineers from both companies and their subsidiaries are currently in development with a prototype.  This thing would solve Metro Manila's traffic problem. More from porsche.com .

Paintings by famed chimp to go on sale

Congo the chimpanzee learned to draw at two years old when his owner, artist and ethologist Desmond Morris, gave him a pencil and a piece of card. He soon noticed that the ape could draw a circle and had a basic sense of composition. Congo made around 400 artworks during his lifetime, and rose to fame in the late 1950s as the star of British TV show Zootime . A painting by Congo His abstract, expressionist paintings have previously caught the interest of Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. And now Desmond is selling his collection of the chimp's artworks at London's Mayor Gallery. The 55 paintings, which will be priced between £1,500 ($1,850) and £6,000 each ($7,400), will be on view from December 3 through 19. From artnet : "No other apes were controlling the mark making and varying the patterns as he was,” Morris explains in a statement. "I originally picked Congo out as one of the more boisterous at the zoo and felt that his strong personality would respond

Feast your eyes on the making of 'Heisei Mary'

This is a time-lapse video of  Japanese artist  Shohei Otomo drawing Heisei Mary  — a naked Sailor Moon-like figure completely covered in tattoos. The highly-detailed body ink features Spiderman, Darth Vader, Hello Kitty, Naruto, Street Fighter and Dragon Ball characters to name a few. It's really satisfying to see an artist's process, the way their illustration grows and grows out of nothing. Shohei is known for his hyper-realistic sketches using ballpoint pens. Born in Tokyo in 1980, he is the son of Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of the manga Akira . He exhibits his work regularly in Japan and Australia as well as in Mexico and France.  Three weeks worth of work are sped up into less than four minutes.

Seenaeme's Funny, Mysterious, and Adorable Characters

Seenaeme is a South Korean artist whose digital illustrations and larger-than-life murals stole my heart due to their vibrant, colorful, and humorous ways. She has pulled off the perfect mix of funny, mysterious, and undeniably adorable within her imagery, which leaves you with a positive vibe that doesn't shake off. The pretty illustrator from Seoul also does pen-and-paper doodles and character design for postcards, magazines, and posters. Her works have been shown in Busan, Dongducheon, Seoul, Hong Kong and Cambodia, and her clients include Supercell, Busan Cultural Foundation, Gyeonggi Museum, Don't Panic, and Agnet89, among others. Follow  Seenaeme on Instagram  for the latest updates on her projects or get a full view of her work over at  seenaeme.net .

This song made me shut up and listen

He had me at the title. How could I resist something called Pearl Cadillac ? From Gary Clark Jr.'s latest studio album This Land,  the video depicts the musician's real life experience of leaving home to create a new life on the road. The visual also serves as a poignant tribute to his mom, who still owns a pearl Cadillac Deville to this day. Remarkable. Gary's sweet falsetto and dynamic guitar solo really work for the song. 

A look inside the post-production process behind 'Terminator: Dark Fate'

Without good editing, stories don't fully come alive on screen. In this 4-minute clip, the creators of Terminator: Dark Fate share why they use Adobe Premiere Pro and other tools inside the Creative Cloud suite in editing and creating visual effects for the movie.

Sofa that turns into a bunk bed

  This nice-looking sofa from Luonto Furniture is perfect for everyday use and convenient for any time you have overnight guests. It converts into a set of bunk beds in a matter of seconds, and even offers storage space for mattresses, blankets, and pillows.

Canada's Largest Mural

Los Angeles based graffiti artist RiskRock recently completed this massive work of art in Ontario, Canada. In partnership with Monster Energy, it took 860 gallons of paint, an army of community supporters, and more than 1,500 of volunteer hours to create the 74,000 square foot mural. This will surely be enjoyed by the local residents for years to come.

Apple releases trailer for its first TV+ doc 'The Elephant Queen'

Here's the official trailer for The Elephant Queen , a feature-length documentary arriving on Apple TV+ next month. The film, which actor Chiwetel Ejiofor narrates, follows the elephant matriarch Athena as she leads her family across the African savanna in search of a new home. The movie originally premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by Sundance in 2019. Apple TV+ is the tech giant's upcoming subscription-based streaming video service. It will be available to 100 countries starting November 1, and can be accessed not only on Apple devices, but also online . Subscriptions start at $4.99 per month but, if you buy a new iPhone or Apple TV, you get a year of service for free. WATCH:

Why did Apple make Final Cut Pro X?

The release of Final Cut Pro X in 2011 shocked post-production professionals. This documentary from Brad Olsen tells the story of how the world's favorite video editing software changed overnight and how the industry did or didn't accept the complete redesign. Off the Tracks features exclusive interviews with the creative professionals who use the application and the developers who created it. The movie, embedded below, is an abridged version. The full 77-minute film is available to rent or buy on iTunes, Amazon, Vimeo OTT, and Indie Film Hustle TV. Enjoy!

Being John Malkovich has never been this bizarre before

At first glance, the vibrant fiery-red image above looks like Andy Warhol's 1986 self portrait. Then you realize that the man in the photograph is obviously not the American artist, but John Malkovich . The photo is part of a brilliant series by Sandro Miller titled Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters , which is currently on display at the Mac-Gryder Gallery in New Orleans. The series features 62 recreations of the most iconic shots in modern history, all starring John as the subject. The Hollywood legend, who is close friends with the photographer, does an exceptional job of imitating the portraits, regardless of the varying genders, expressions, and skin colors. He morphs into Salvador Dalí, Albert Einstein, John Lennon and Mick Jagger. The pictures were recreated with remarkable detail—same lighting, angle and even the overall feel of the original. Some are hilarious, but all of them are splendid. Here are some of my favorites:

Artur Shirin transforms trolleybuses into moving murals

If you happen to be in Kaunas, Lithuania and you see a bus painted with vibrant colored patterns and designs, there's a good chance it was done by Artur Shirin. Using a fleet of Å koda trolleybuses, the Lithuanian artist recently finished a series of funky murals that feature some of his signature imagery. It's really refreshing to see a work of art on the side of a bus instead of advertising, and commuters can look forward to their daily journey rather than dreading it. If you like fun, dynamic, colorful, and just plain jaw-dropping good art, check out Artur's website . Found via StreetArtNews

Code your galaxy with Kano's Star Wars-themed kit

Kano is well-known for creating tools that teach young people how to code in simple steps. The company's latest product is an $80 Star Wars-themed kit , which helps users learn the way of The Force with a build-it-yourself Bluetooth connected coding system. Through this kit, users will be able to code, create, play, and control lightsabers and other Star Wars-related stuff. Inside the box you'll find a step-by-step storybook, an array of exclusive Kano Star Wars stickers, a printed circuit board with sensors and LED lights, a case, and interchangeable icons, including the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire. To be able to use the Star Wars The Force Coding Kit you'll need a Windows 10 PC, Mac, iPad, or Kindle Fire 10HD with Bluetooth LE connectivity. The free to download companion app is available via iTunes, Windows Store, and Kindle Store. If your child isn't into Star Wars, you can try the Disney Frozen 2 Coding Kit or the Harry Potter Coding Kit . The

Watching an artist create mouthwatering ceramic treats is really satisfying

Like a song I could listen to over and over, I'm stuck watching the videos of  Alice Stewardson . She's a brilliant artist from England who creates realistic-looking pastries that are actually made from ceramics. Alice studied 3D Design and Craft at the University of Brighton, and she currently works from her studio at Phoenix Galleries. Her videos are an absolute delight to watch, and her creations look so delicious that I would desire to eat them. Take a look:

A cool mashup of songs released in 1979

The Hood Internet is back after being quiet for a couple of years. Their latest upload is a tribute to 1979, combining more than 50 tracks into a three-minute mashup. It features songs from The Clash, Blondie, Earth Wind & Fire, Prince, Queen, and Pink Floyd among others. This video holds a special place in my heart because I was born that year. Enjoy!

This vinyl record is made from recycled marine plastic

Sharp's Brewery has teamed up with musician Nick Mulvey to create a limited-edition record from marine plastic found in Cornwall. And what's on the vinyl? A track called In the Anthropocene , which can be purchased at Drift Records  and can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music. Proceeds will go to Surfers Against Sewage to help protect British shores from pollution, including plastic waste.

Microscopically reweaving a century-old canvas

This video from the Museum of Modern Art in New York documents the meticulous process of restoring a 1907 painting, as done by fine art conservator Diana Hartman. The subject of the restoration is a self-portrait of German painter Paula Modersohn-Becker, who was one of the most important figures of early expressionism. Using a special type of glue, eye surgery needles, some linen thread and a microscope, Diana re-weaves the canvas to ensure that generations to come will be able to enjoy the artwork.

Minecraft goes analog

Minecraft is one of today's most popular video games for young kids and tweens. It is also one of the most addictive. You can go anywhere in the game and do anything you want—and that makes it difficult for children to stop playing. Thanks to Ravensburger for this Minecraft-based board game . It's the perfect excuse to down screens, spend quality time together as a family, and allow kids to touch and interact with something tangible. It's a great way to stimulate their brains too. Designed in collaboration with Mojang, the $39.99 game is geared for two to four players and takes 30-60 minutes to play. Well, that beats the average daily time my 6-year-old daughter spends in the Overworld. Product Description: "Minecraft: Builders & Biomes comes with high-quality game pieces including 64 resource cubes, 64 building and Monster cards, 36 weapon tokens, 4 player boards, 4 experience counters, 4 character skins, 4 game piece Bases, 12 overview cards, 1 resource

Take a VR trip into the Palace of Versailles with this new app

Want to visit the Palace of Versailles but can't afford to purchase a plane ticket? Don't worry. Google's got you covered , if you're willing to invest in a VR headset. By using VersaillesVR, an app for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, you can virtually explore Louis XIV's royal residence and take a close look at hundreds of artworks in high definition. According to Engadget , "it's the largest photogrammetry project ever done at the castle, with 21 rooms and 387,500 square feet of internal surfaces captured." For those who are not familiar with photogrammetry, it's a technology that reconstructs 3D models of objects and landmarks from two-dimensional photos. With VersaillesVR, users can visit the Royal Grand Apartments, the Chapel, and the Opera, as well as explore 3D models of things like Marie Antoinette's jewelry cabinet or the King's Bed online. The app is available in English, French, and Chinese.