finding cain

I have always been a huge fan of children's books. As I child, I dreamed of heading on a curious adventure with A Bear Called Paddington . I wanted to fly over the South Downs with The Snowman , and explore Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory with Charlie. Characters like Stuart Little ,  Matilda, and Peter Rabbit have become very popular. The artists who brought these characters to life in illustrations, however, are lesser-known. But what would our beloved children's books be without the illustrations that bring them to life? Quentin Blake, Maurice Sendak, and E. H. Shepard were all my childhood heroes. But there's a lot of talented new artists who deserve just as much praise and recognition. Thanks to Twitter, I discovered the art of Caitlin B. Alexander and am now one of her biggest fans. Based in Austin, Texas, both her life and work are heavily influenced by the aesthetics of the 1940's, '50s and '60s. Aside from digital art, Caitlyn a...

64 kbps. That's how fast our Internet was in 1995. The early web looked so much different than it does today, and your patience was seriously tested every time you downloaded something. Back then, not everyone had access to the World Wide Web. We didn't have Wi-Fi. We didn't even have broadband. We just had dial-up. We only had Internet cafes. The @ Cafe was one of NYC's first cybercafes. Though it turned out to be short-lived, "its story shows what it felt like when the Internet was first bubbling into the public consciousness."

The coronavirus pandemic has seen sweeping changes across the art world. The crowded shows from the finest museums and galleries are over, replaced with online studio tours and virtual exhibitions. Artists, designers, and illustrators have also been keen to adapt to these unusual times, finding new ways to share work with their audiences online. One of my new favorites is Connor Willumsen . The Canadian artist has been drawing portraits of friends and relatives every day since he's been holed up at his place in Montreal. The glitchy images are made during hour-long conversations over Skype and are executed in a way that shouts pure brilliance. Just look at them so you can see what I mean, and don't forget to follow him on Instagram . Thanks, Bridget.

Over a year after the release of his Assume Form LP, James Blake is back on our Hi-Fis with a new record and this dreamy animated music video.

Gica Tam is an illustrator and graphic designer born in New York and raised in Manila. Based on a figurative and contemporary style, she specializes in digital illustrations in beautiful and satisfying color palettes. When I stumbled upon her visual diary, I immediately fell in love with her art. I felt like I was transported into someone else's dream, not wanting to leave. But never mind what I have to say, the work speaks for itself. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Information Design from Ateneo de Manila University. During the past years, Gica has worked for brands and publishers such as Airbnb, Havaianas, Nike, Under Armour, Adobo Magazine, CNN Life, Summit Media, Young STAR, GRID Magazine, and Macmillan Publishers. If you're a fan, like I expect you should be, follow her on Instagram for more art and inspiration.

Wearing of face masks in public places is the norm nowadays. From simple surgical masks and expensive respirators to DIY solutions, people are using anything at their disposal to protect themselves from coronavirus. Creative talents are also expanding the esthetic appeal of the all-important accessory and it seems like there's no limit to their imagination. One of my favorites is Icelandic textile artist Ýrúrarí . Her hand-knit masks are not meant to be protective in any way, but I'd still wear them at home—or outside—when this is all over.

Jack Sachs is back at it again, this time bringing love, sunshine and happiness to Chengdu. How excited would you be if you were out for a walk and came across these giant sculptures? The Berlin-based creative absolutely kills the game when it comes to smile-inducing art. I just wish these guys would come alive so my kids can play with them. These are unusual times. People are dying. We are all locked up at home. We are not quite sure what the future will look like. But artists around the world have found ways to bring joy and positivity—even while staying six feet, or many miles, apart. Thanks, Jack. [h/t: It's Nice That ]

While many of us are using the lockdown for personal time — reading books, binge-watching, and learning to play a musical instrument — others are looking for creative ways to circulate helpful advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amelia Flower , a British illustrator based in London, has created a series of colorful illustrations about social distancing, working from home, and forced isolation. Check them out below. Thanks, Bonnie!

Stepping up its efforts to tackle the impending disaster facing our marine ecosystems, Nestlé Japan has released an 'Ocean Salt' KitKat flavor with four packaging variations that you can turn into origami. The paper-packed white chocolates also have easy to follow instructions on how to create origami versions of sea animals. It's a difficult time. We're in the midst of a global pandemic. The art of paper folding is not only fun but is also an excellent creative outlet that anyone can use to help reduce stress and improve logical and sequential thinking. And you are never too old to learn origami. Whether you are a child or a senior citizen, everyone can learn and will benefit from this ancient Japanese art form. Happy folding!

When the vocals kick in at the start, you somehow have no idea where the song is going. Then the drums come in, the beat picks up, and suddenly it makes sense. KAZU's Come Behind Me, So Good! is an appropriate track to accompany a pharmacological nightcap. But even if you don't care for the actual song, the music video is a visual feast, taking advantage of several recent breakthroughs in technology. The behind-the-scenes processes that went into making this video are just as fascinating as its visuals, so director Daito Manabe shared a breakdown of the techniques they used in choreography, CGI, and photogrammetry, which reconstructs 3D data from 2D still images taken from multiple angles. Kazu Makino, the iconic voice of the shoegaze/dream pop group Blonde Redhead, released the first version of her video for Come Behind Me, So Good! on September 12, 2019. It was shot in Italy by the award-winning director Eva Michon and features the songstress dancing inside a small ...

There's something magical about buying records. Sure, Spotify offers convenience, but LPs provide a lot of things that just can't be replicated in the digital realm. Vinyl is drawing in a new generation of audiophiles and music enthusiasts, and this film by Kevin Smokler explores why the tables are turning again and the background behind vinyl's resurgence.

Blake McFarland takes discarded and strange objects and turn them into remarkable works of art. His creations of a deer, a tiger, a panda, a lion, and many others seem almost life-like. Using unique materials such as recycled tires, electrical wires, metals, plastics and leathers, Blake devotes long hours to complete his detailed art pieces, which are now making waves on the Internet. Imagination has no limits. And when it is combined with a little creativity, it can turn anything into a masterpiece. Here are a few more samples of his work from his Facebook page : Thanks, Julie!

There are few sights more enthralling than a pretty woman with a cello to enrapture a concert hall, especially if her name is Anastasia. She's brilliant, sexy, and has a stunning command of her instrument. This is real quarantine music, by the way. Life has changed immeasurably and everything seems so dramatic right now that Tchaikovsky sounds so good. I've also been listening to a lot of PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, and Daft Punk. I remember staying for a bit more at the thrift shop, the first time I heard Something About Us some ten years ago. Man, it still rips.

Japanese artist Kana Miyamoto is known for her sexualized little girl figures that often end up disturbing the viewer's  mind. She combines cute and endearing with depressing and morbid. In one painting, an innocent-looking girl tries to mutilate a teddy bear. In another, two gals try some transgressive sexual acts. Strange. But stranger women fascinate me even more. If you like what you've seen here, then check out Kana's Pixiv Fanbox  for more disturbing goodness.

I worry about how long this enhanced community quarantine may last and whether hunger and boredom will kill me if COVID-19 doesn't. Room by Lenny Abrahamson, The Lighthouse by Robert Eggers, and Cast Away by Robert Zemeckis are excellent films about isolation, but if you're losing hope and you're a fan of delightfully strange indie flicks, watch Vivarium by Lorcan Finnegan.