|
Spudnik: The Steampunk Mr. Potato Head by designer Sarah Calvillo. Here’s a quote from Calvillo about her inspiration for the project:
Check out some process shots of Spudnik’s creation here. More photos, a wanted poster, and a construction guide are included after the jump. [Spotted on Neatorama via Instructables] Star Wars: The Baroque Version and Other Works by Illustrator Mattias Adolfsson
Posted:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
in Art, Feeling Creative, People, Spotlight, illustration, star wars
(Above: R2-D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars: The Baroque Version) I’ve just spent the last hour or so flipping through the digital sketchbook of Swedish illustrator Mattias Adolfsson and I can’t help but feeling like I’ve been exposed to the soul of a creative genius. Adolfsson’s style is unique and refreshing, and his entire collection is certainly worthy of a thorough browse. But since time is money, after the jump we’ve abridged his portfolio and included his most impressive complete series (Star Wars: The Baroque Version) and 20 select illustrations. (Most of which, as a testament to his astonishing work process, come from 2010.) Click here for Adolfsson’s blog and here to purchase a print in his Etsy shop.
Two brave, cheeky social commentators, intelligently identifying themselves only by the initials JC + APK, have launched the webcomic series “Hipster Hitler” to heavy fanfare. While still in its infancy, the three-episode-deep strip (the other two are included after the jump) is smart, ironic and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. If you dare wear one in public, the Hipster Hitler guys (gals?) have also made a line of T-shirts based on the shirts he wears and the comic itself. Over the years, Hitler has strangely become an Internet sensation of sorts, with the now-ubiquitous series of Downfall parody videos, which show him reacting to things that bother him in modern popular culture – from LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to Susan Boyle not winning Britain’s Got Talent. Like the videos, “Hipster Hitler” turns the most evil human being in history into a caricature, allowing all of us to step back for a moment and laugh at someone we truly despise. That’s a rare opportunity in life and one of the reasons why I think the Hitler meme has been so successful. More of these comics are sure to follow, and hopefully they’ll be as clever and original as the first three. [Spotted on Animal NY]
Ahead of his upcoming pop-up show in New York City, artist Ron English has released this image of “Resurrection Immorality,” a massive new painting of Frankenstein engulfed by ghostly, skeletal, or otherwise distorted cartoon characters. Arrested Motion has a preview of the event, “Status Factory,” which opens in collaboration with Opera Gallery on Sunday, September 12 at 352 West Broadway. English has reportedly completed 50 new sculptures and paintings for the show. Riva Starr is an Italian house DJ, whose song “I was Drunk” (feat. Noze) is reportedly a huge hit in the European club scene (for obvious reasons). This terrific video for the catchy tune is a clever attempt by Starr to break into the US market, because, let’s be honest, there’s nothing American’s love more than talking babies. [Spotted on Nerdist] CubeDudes™ [40 Photos]
Posted:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
in Art, DIY, Feeling Creative, People, Tech, Toys, mashups, pop culture, star wars
(All photos via MacLane’s Flickr) In his spare time, animator Angus MacLane, who has worked on every Pixar release from A Bug’s Life through Wall-E, likes playing with legos. A lot. He’s constructed over 300 “CubeDudes,” which are these amazing mini-sculptures fashioned to resemble (rather accurately) people from all across the pop culture spectrum. After the jump check out Captain Crunch, Liz Lemon, Mario and 37 others. Conan O’Brien is shown. Banksy recently installed this “reconditioned dolphin ride with crude oil and tuna net” at the Brighton Pier in the UK. A clear statement against BP and/or Japanese dolphin poaching, “Pier Pressure” marks Banksy’s return to art installation after sticking to walls for most of the past few years. I have to say that I’m continually impressed with this guy. If you haven’t yet watched his film, Exit Through The Gift Shop, you really should. Check out a video of the dolphin in action after the jump. [Spotted on The World's Best Ever] Mr. PotatoMash [20 Photos]
Posted:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
in Art, DIY, Photography, Spotlight, Toys, mashups, pop culture, star wars
(All photos via mrtruffle’s Flickr) Mr. PotatoMash by Australian Ashley Ringrose finds our favorite customizable toy transformed, with the assistance of some sculpey and a little imagination, into a who’s who of pop culture icons. After the jump check out how easily MPH becomes Jason Voorhees, Iron Man, Shrek, Mr. T and 15 others. Jersey Circus
Posted:
Monday, August 30, 2010
in Counterculture, DIY, The Internet, illustration, mashups, pop culture
Borrowing from the genius of last month’s meme of the moment, Kanye’s New Yorker Tweets, a group of cultural anthropologists masquerading as ardent Jersey Shore fans have juxtaposed quotes from Snooki, the Situation, et. al against images of Sunday-comics mainstay Family Circus. “Jersey Circus” is witty and works for obvious reasons, mainly by pairing salacious or otherwise irreverent dialogue with photos of innocent-looking children who couldn’t, or at least shouldn’t, be saying the things being attributed to them. I think there’s something really fresh and worthwhile about taking slices of pop culture and putting them in places one wouldn’t expect them to be. Projects like this take creativity, and while I don’t think this meme has the legs of Kanye’s, I’ve still got to give it up to the creators for doing a damned good job of combining two disparate aspects of this silly culture of ours. *Update They don’t watch the show!
|
