PoPS!

POPS!
Platoon of Power Squadron! Awesome youtube series. This is how it's done, people! In this little update of behind the scenes- he talks about getting organised to film another episode. Way to be a really great producer, dude!!! Almost makes me want to do this channel thing all over again. Almost.


Watch the show here: http://www.youtube.com/user/pineappleboyfilms?feature=watch

oh. and they need some fan art for episode 7.. I'm seriously considering it! haha. Who doesn't want to draw Wheezy Waiter being Mister Doctor Electricon? haha.

Brillaint vlogger- WheezyWaiter explains.

Herringbone Stitch

LOVELY How-to knitting video!

William Morris at II Temple Place :: Unit 6 Visits.

See big here.

William Morris is my favourite. So much depth. I spent all day there and did 15+ A4 drawings/notes.

tapestry weaving videos.

and a guy talking about textiles.

Booklist.

I like listening to a novel about dystopian societies or strange human abilities. Even if some are silly and made for teens- there tends to be hidden weight and meaning in them.
(5 star means favourite)

*****Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
*****The Giver. Gathering Blue. The Messenger. by Lois Lowry
*****The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
****The Hunger Games. (3 books) by Suzanne Collins
****The Uglies. The Pretties. The Specials. by Scott Westerfeld
****The Time Travellers Wise & Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
****Anthem by Ayn Rand
**Maximum Ride. (6 short books) by James Patterson

On the list to listen to soon:
Young Wizards series.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
John Wyndham- the chrysalids
World of Earthsea series.
Eragon.
Dark Materials (read the first one.)
The Handmaids Tale
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
1984 (I know, I can't believe I haven't read it either!)
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks
Looking for Alaska
Gregor and the Underland
Anything by Diana Wynne Jones
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Summerland by Michael Chabon
Yelena Zaltana novels by Maria Snyder.
Neuromancer by William Gibson
(many series) by Robin Hobb.
The House That Sailed Away




p.s. I recently asked my twitter followers for recommendations- thats why there are so many on that list! So sweet. I specificly asked for Dystopian, Magic and clever teens. Has anyone read any on that list?? Did you like/dislike? DISCUSS! :]
p.p.s I like to listen to books because I like to knit to them. two birds with one stone, yeah.

just stumbled upon this.

BY: daphne van den heuvel
proper lovely.

And this:


Documentário Helen Rödel - Estudos MMXI (english subtitles) from Helen Rödel on Vimeo.

I saw some medieval tapestries and felt better. :: V&A Bluebeard.

So, I went to the V&A to see the Postmodernism show, with my group. I tried really really hard to understand and appreciate it- but generally I feel like the 80's were a mistake. So feeling very uninspired and like the whole world had everything upside down- I wandered around trying to find the Textiles room- to draw some beautiful handmade embroidery or brocades. I desperately needed some craft and wholesomeness and the honesty of workmanship to make everything feel sane again.
Unfortunately. The textiles room is gone. They are putting it into storage and we now have to make appointments to see it, once it's all fixed up again. Bummer.
But, I did stumble upon some magnificent stained and painted glass- with an endless supply of pattern upon pattern. (see above sketches) That lifted my spirits somewhat.
And then I found the Tapestries room. Oh! What a joy. A room with high ceilings and lots of empty space. Air Conditioned, cool and dark with benches all along the middle. I had found my new favourite spot.
The actual tapestries themselves are too big and too wonderful to put into words. They dwarf any sense of power or importance you have and humble you to the core. The amount of work gone into these astounds me. Fair enough, they were commissioned by some ridiculously rich guy who probably hoarded it in his castle of dreams. But I appreciate it. I feel like somehow, the makers of them should get a warm fuzzy feeling of worth when I look at them, even though they are probably just dust by now. To have something live on. oh. marvels of marvels.
I took watercolour paper with me and my handy little waterpen. I got so far (see above) and then was informed that it's dry materials only. gutted. but i understand. these are so old. so I continued with pencil. Kind of a fun surprise.Didn't stay for too long this time, but I'm sure I could lose whole days to that room.
I added some 'colour notes' when I got home.
Just the dose of inspiration I needed.
See you soon, Tapestry room,
Kimxo

Metropolis. :: Films& Bluebeard.

Some of my favourite scenes/moments/shots/faces from the movie. It truly is a masterpiece:





















The subtle movements. Slow. Impact. Big facial expressions. Gestures. Dwelling. Quick cuts. Back and forth. 'Horror' girl faces. Transitions. Fades. Experimental.

I'd quite like my project to have the same feeling. Not nessisarily black and white. or moving. or silent. but, holding some of the qualities.

Lord Byron. :: Research for Bio

(engraved after G.Sanders 1807)

Lady Caroline Lamb.
Detail from an engraving by W. Finden

Margarita Cogni, Venice 1817

Mary Chaworth, Age 17.
(images found in a flickr set named: 'Lord Byron 1788-1824, poet, philanderer and romantic hero')
There are a lot of great portraits there. I believe they are taken from a compilation for a book to illustrate Byron's life.

Lord Byron and his relationship with Mary Chaworth has sparked my interest a bit. It was his 'first' love and although they spent a lot of time together at the Newstead Abbey (she was a neighbour), they were merely friends and she broke his heart. Later on, when she was unhappily married- she tried to make contact, but he shut down her affections. There is a lot of mention of her in early poems- and his life seemed a lot less complicated back then. Even though, his struggle with his club foot and advances of a nurse lady was worrisome.

Thinking I may focus of an 'innocent' aspect of his life. Maybe look at his childhood- the schools he went to etc. All of this scandal and travel in his life doesn't excite me, like it does others.

Analogue vs Digital.

Someone posted a link to this article on twitter. It chats about young artists who are going back to older methods of technology to produce a slower, more 'real' sound/look/piece. Made me smile a lot. I support these kinds of adventures. I think that craftsmanship can be directly linked to the way in which an 'artist' goes about creating something. I also think that the older means of production allow the artist time and head space to really think deeper about the subject or life while he/she is creating it. For example, producing a print in a darkroom takes time, skill, patience, knowledge, the ability to stick with something for longer- and you get a beautiful print. Something that has been considered and loved and I think that warmth really shows through in the end result. Getting it printing off of a computer is too 'instant'. (but can also be great for mass production and a time saver)

I do, however, love technology. I think used in the 'right' ways it can be an incredible tool to aid your lifestyle/work. Not to mention a great platform for people to communicate with each other and to express opinions- like I am doing, right now, with this blog.

I was reading the comments of this Guardian article- and I saw a lot of 'haters' there. Saying that we are idiots for ignoring the digital processes available. Saying that it doesn't matter what you use to produce something. (come on. a process should be considered and used for appropriate reasons, whatever kind of process you end up with!) Even saying that the modern technologies outstripped the older ones because it does everything and more. Hmm.

Honestly- I think you need to have a happy balance. That goes for anything in life. And, I'm a somewhat expert at that- dealing with CFS teaches you to realize that too much of anything is bad for you. It applies directly to art as well. Spending all your time on the process will eliminate you from the chance to get involved in the online community- a really valuable resource waiting to be tapped in to. But if you work solely on computers (or what have you), you will also get sucked into what I call a 'screen coma' where you are really blind-sighted by the 'false reality'.

So, I say- Go and do stuff by hand, it really is magical. You will learn so much and feel way more connected to what you make. But also, learn this new technology! It can be a great tool to aid you in your quest.

(I don't like arguing points. I don't like debates and when people use mindless hurtful phrases to try and 'shock' people into believing 'their side'. I try and avoid these things. But I thought it was helpful to post my thoughts and opinions on this, as a 20 year old studying Illustration and very involved in Craftsmanship. This is what I think right now.)

The Giver Chapter 9

Re-listening to this book (which is written for young adults).

It's about a society with lots of rules and it is peaceful. The story follows a boy who is singled out at the Ceremony Of the 12s (or coming of age), when duties or roles are given out (jobs).

Appreciation of individual talents.

Roles given to individuals so they can serve their community best.

Precision of language.

Rituals- The telling of Dreams, Sharing Feelings.

Suppression of 'love/lust' (called Stirrings)
No doors in are ever locked.
Family Units. Dwellings. Sleeping Room. The book of Rules.

The language and words used to describe things may be helpful when writing our manifesto.

This chapter is quite a good one if you've never read it- it's right after he is given his special job.

KASPER HAUSER- WERNER HERZOG :: FILM/TV

The first Herzog film I think I've ever seen is: Even Dwarfs Started Small. They showed it during the Cinema Season last year(2010) during my Foundation at Camberwell. It was one of the films I enjoyed the least at the time. I think the shock factor of it being so radically different from what I would normally watch just threw me off- I remember saying to Peter 'this is soooo weird!' a dozen times during it. Luckily, we had a long conversation about it afterwards and saw one or two of his other films since then, and I have truely fallen for Herzog's directing. In fact, I would love to go back and watch the Dwarfs film again and see if my impression changes- I think I would appreciate the filming more.
I digress...

I found this film while I was researching Cuban Film Posters for our essay (seen above).
Peter came over (my film buddy) and we watched it tonight.


What captured me most was the story- a tragic but beautiful one- told in such a realistic manner. Kasper Hauser's peaceful, quiet, and trusting nature, the subtle but effective styling, the nearly-painful slow scenes, the interaction with animals, the impeccable ease that Herzog captures a life apart from societies normal 'rules', the beautiful german with subtitles, the tension slowly built up in places, the dream sequences, when he first sits at a table and every distraction is shown to us one by one and we feel overwhelmed like he would... plus the way this mans brain worked, the things he said. So wonderful.

"Why can't I play piano like I breathe?"
"The apple is tired. Let it rest... See it is smart. It jumped over your foot and ran away... Smart apple."

"It feels strong in my heart... The music feels strong in my heart... I feel so unexpectedly old..."


"It seems to me that my coming into this world was a very hard fall."


I also thought it might be relevent for our society we are making- he was not concerned with how things were meant to be- but wanted to learn and be and he found beauty in simple things (like the garden).

P.S. there were a few scenes where it looked like he was knitting or crocheting. made me smile.
This is one of those films that truly captures my attention. No crocheting allowed while watching it!

THE PRISONER :: FILM/TV

I came across this show while browsing LoveFilm for some free things to watch. They have quite a great selection of of old films/tv shows.
Beyond it's hilarious serious nature and the james-bond tendencies, it has great style, great filming, and a pretty interesting plot.


Today, I mainly wanted to point out the wardrobe styling. Those capes keep popping back into my mind when I think about my costume project. The colours, then uniformity, the simplicity and the rounded shape.

Apparently this place is a real place in wales???? I need to go there. Need!


And because I can't not say it:
INFORMATION!
INFORMATION!
INFORMATION!
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK WE WILL!
I AM NUMBER TWO.
YOU ARE NUMBER SIX.
I AM NOT A NUMBER! I AM A FREE MAN!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!

KNITTA PLEASE

I can't even tell you how freakin' excited this makes me. Magda Sayeg is the lady that first started Knitta Please! (In New York, I think... I've read so much about different knitted graffiti ladies that I forget who started where.) Basically she covers stuff in knitting. Beautiful, glorious, delectable, chevroned, granny squared, striped, knitting!
Here are some of her earlier stuff from her website: (be careful if you click that link- it's like a crazy light show of knitting)

She's been all over the world and get other people to help her knit or sources blankets from thrift/vintage stores. She's covered cars, buses, bikes, scooters, buildings, trees... the list goes on and on. Keep up with her on her blog.

colour and paint.

SALVATION MOUNTAIN.
In America. Painted, beautiful. So obviously happy to be alive and to love where you are and what you've got.



I don't think you need to be religious to appreciate this. (I'm not)
These photos are taken by Elsiecake. See her set here.