PARRA

I love getting a peek into artists' homes and studios. Check out this piece about Amsterdam-based illustrator, Parra.

I used to have some of his pieces tacked to my office wall, so watching this makes me reminisce a bit...

See more of his work here.

Queen of Hearts, Acrylic Painting on a 5.8x8.3" old book cover

2006

Queen of Hearts, acrylic painting on a 5.8x8.3" old book cover, (detail), 2006

Hide Seek, pencil drawing on paper, 2007

Whatever It Meant To Be, pencil prawing on wood board, 2008

Whatever It Meant To Be, pencil drawing on wood board, (detail), 2008

Whatever It Meant To Be, pencil drawing on wood board, (detail), 2008

QUEEN ME.

Just some cute-n-creepy work from Brazilian illustrator, Eduardo Recife.

I discovered him a few years ago, and sort of haven't been able to shake him from my memory.

Doesn't that head of hair on Hide Seek seem awfully cabbage-like ?

See more from Recife here.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT:

RADIANT CHILD

Caught this documentary last week, and am so so so glad that I did. If you're unfamiliar with Basquiat's life or work, that's even more reason to catch the flick at Film Forum (where it has been held over).

His handwriting, child-like strokes, vision and message remain unique until this day. The pain and turmoil reflected in his work is heart-wrenching, even if it's splashed with a bit of humor.

This is also a story about New York and its art, immigrants, love, brutality and beauty.

It has been a long time since I've been so touched by a film. I might go see it again.

Check out the opening scene below and read more about the film here.

CHACUNDUM

Just some fun and lovable (lovably fun) type from Brazilian designer, Claudio Reston.

His goal as a designer? "To be typographic, whether commercially or not, and to experiment with diverse languages just for fun." (thanks Atlas of Graphic Designers).

Check him out here.

(click to enlarge)

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: 

PARIS EDITION

I realized that I haven't written a Sidewalk Findings post in quite some time. I'm sure it's due to the fact that NYC has transformed into a frozen tundra, and I simply haven't had it in me to saunter the streets, looking for inspiration.

So, I had to dig deep into my memory (and photo archives) to uncover this image that was beginning to fade from memory.

I found the above poster plastered on the side of a building in a narrow Paris street back in 2005. If you click to enlarge the image, you'll find that that there are countless tiny illustrations that make up the portrait. Skulls and wine bottles, cottages and stars, wild birds and forests....

Quite simply and quietly, it's beautiful. 

Here in the states, its hard to come by a poster that isn't an advertisement for a movie, an upcoming album release, a new condominium building...something.

That's why I love this. Art for art's sake (or l'art pour l'art). 

What a refreshing idea.

Picasso's Light Drawing

Triple Exposure of Picasso Drawing With Light

Running Man

Picasso Begins a Light Drawing

GJON MILI + PABLO PICASSO

Check out Gjon Mili's photos from a series done in 1949 of Picasso drawing with light. They were done using a small flashlight in a very dark room with a very long exposure.

So interesting...the image disappears before it gets a chance to live for just one moment...but his motions are captured for eternity.

For insight on how to try this yourself, here are step-by-step instructions. 

As for Gjon Mili, he seemed to have quite a knack for capturing motion. Here's a piece that I love.

And here's a short film from 1944 that he directed, called Jammin' The Blues. Perfect for a night like tonight...

EUGENE ANDOLSEK

All untitled, ink on graph paper

I'm sooo happy these images found me this morning. Mesmerizing, entrancing and seductive...the patterns coupled with the colors...

Breathtaking. I can't stop glaring at them.

They were created by 89-year-old Eugene Andolsek by using a compass and straight edge. Interestingly, he never considered himself to be an artist, and this work was merely a hobby for him. Once each piece was completed, he'd stow it away and forget about it. When a caregiver at a retirement home discovered his talent, Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum was contacted and Eugene was given the opportunity to exhibit his work for the first time.

Make sure to click on each image to enlarge them. You MUST view them in their full glory.

See more of Eugene's work here.

BROKENKITES + 

HARRIET MACDONALD

Above is a music video for Brokenkites' Touch.

I loooooove the tiny floating heart, the waves, the glowing Buggy, 

the exquisitely detailed city....with laundry lines to boot!

Harriet Macdonald animated and directed this lovely piece. Read more about the Australian artist here.

Also, check out Brokenkites here.

NOUREDDIN ZARRINKELK

Interestingly, Iranian illustrator, Zarrinkelk, received a degree in pharmacology in 1961. 13 years later, he established the first school for animation in Tehran, and hence has been dubbed the "Father of Animation" in Iran.

He's known for his illustration of children's books...but I find that his pieces are probably just as magical, enchanting and endearing to adults as they are to kids. Humorous, quirky and at the same time, undeniably delicate.

Also, I can't help but question if there are some deeper (political? social?) themes in some of his work. Take a look at that second illustration....

Both of the above works were published in The Crows in 1970.

Here's an animated piece called A Playground for Baboush:

Read more about him here.

Also, here's a pretty cool interview that gives insight into his transition from the world of pharmacology to that of art and design.

TIM BURTON @ MOMA

Blue Girl With Wine, c. 1997

Oil on canvas

Untitled (Corpse Boy), 1992

Acrylic on black velvet

Boy With Nails In Eyes, 2002

Boy, are you in for a treat! That is, if you decide to drop in on the Tim Burton show at the MoMA (up until April 26, 2010).

It opened on November 22, and I've been itching to go. I finally made it there 2 days ago. Crammed into a relatively small space are a zillion pieces of Burton's work...from early sketchbook doodles, drawings and writings to fully realized models from his well-known films (Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, and my favorite, The Nightmare Before Christmas).

Once you lay your eyes on a Burton character, it's hard to erase from your memory. His bloody yet lovable (lovably bloody?) monsters find a way to your heart and set up camp. He has an endless supply of imagination and creativity...and with each new project, manages to forge something new with familiar characters that we helplessly fall in love with each and every time.

You really must see this show.

But don't stab yourself in the eyes with nails if you don't. Ok?

IAN JOHNSON

BEAUTY = 

black and white geometric patterns + 

live in technicolor + 

negative space (ahh) + 

wood, wood, wood + 

multi-colored drippy drips

See more of Ian's work here.

DOODLES, POODLES

By Miriam Badyrka

Which one's your favorite? 

Mine is the almond-shaped one with the scalloped edges, at the bottom right corner. And the little lonely dog of course. 

STEPHEN WILTSHIRE / 

A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY @ PRATT

Unfortunately, when I tried to check out the show yesterday at Pratt, they had already closed down for the day. I saw a piece on the Early Show about Stephen, and I HAD TO MEET HIM.

Born in the UK, Stephen was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, and was mute as a child. At the age of 9, he spoke his first word – paper – when teachers encouraged him to talk by taking away his art materials. Very early on, he showed a talent for drawing (cityscapes in particular). It soon was discovered that he had a photographic memory, for he could draw an entire city just after viewing it briefly. Every building and its relation to the surrounding ones, the number of windows in each building, architectural flourishes, plazas, streets, trees...e-v-e-r-y detail.

INCREDIBLE....

Now, at the age of 35, Stephen has traveled the world performing the feat of recording these panoramas: Tokyo, Rome, Hong Kong, London, Jerusalem, Dubai, Madrid, Frankfurt and now his last, New York. With pen and ink, he's drawing on an 18-foot-long surface, and can be viewed while he works until Friday, 10–5. 

By the way...the research he did to complete this task? A 45-minute helicopter ride over the city. 

I'm heading back there either tomorrow or Friday...this is NOT to be missed.

Check out more of his work here.

If you can't make it to the show, there's live streaming on CBS's site.

Lastly, view an interesting piece on him here.