Skool

the semester has started, so my infrequent posting will go from a trickle to a few drops here and there (my first class is not until next monday, but I’ll be working on the lectures for the year) So to my 2 loyal readers – Mom, Dad – its been fun…

the mPhone

So, I broke down and bought an iPhone 2 weeks ago. Does everyone need one, no – but it is a pretty damn impressive piece of technology. It feels like you have a portable computer in your pocket. All the complaints people have stated are, for the most part, valid… That being said, if you want a taste of what is to come (convergence of mediums onto one device) the iPhone is a great starting point for the average person…

The Longest Illustration I Have Ever Seen

Thanks to my boy Jay for showing me this site zenvironments.com The illustration/artwork is by Zach Johnson and I think he has tired fingers.

Zombies!!!

Ok, I don’t spend a lot of time playing video games, but Dead Rising has been my favorite over the past year. After a long day in the office, it is kind of nice to slaughter hordes of zombies. Its not the most innovative storyline – kind of reminds me of Dawn of the Dead w/ the setting of the game being a mall. The beauty is that almost everything in the stores can be used as a weapon and zombies are just plain fun to kill!

Do you feel dirty?

Quick post today, since I am still slammed at the office. I found these ads on adsoftheworld.com and thought they were cool as hell. (who knew hyundai could look cool)

Hard Time

I am sure you have all seen this clip, but it is new to me… I have been to the Philippines a few times and managed to stay out of jail, maybe that was a mistake…

Forgive me if I am repeating myself…

My first follow up post! Less than a month in and I am already recycling – I was afraid of that. I just received my book on Marilyn Minter in the mail and it is fantastic. Seeing her progression as an artist is quite interesting. The quality of the book is great, the pages w/ her work look fantastic. It feels a bit like a text book, but I am willing to overlook that.

Read the publicity blurb from Amazon below:

This first major book to focus on the highly respected and influential contemporary artist Marilyn Minter features work from every period of her career, spanning nearly 40 years. Minter’s perennially-expanding reputation was already well established by the 1980s, secured by work that engaged formal aspects of painting with the unexpected subject matter that remains central to her practice. Today her paintings–and, increasingly, her photography, which also exposes the ultimate failure of fashion and glamour to hide either our flaws or the dirty underside of human beauty–are recognized as significant influences on several generations of artists, including many emerging stars. One of her glittery color images recently appeared at the 2006 Whitney Biennial and on the cover of its catalogue, and more of them in a recent solo show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. This comprehensive retrospective catalogue reproduces in full color nearly every painting Minter has made, along with a wide selection of her painterly photographs. It also includes the early, haunting Coral Ridge Towers series of black-and-white photos of the artist’s mother. A major and substantial new text about Minter’s work by noted art historian Johanna Burton is complemented by lively, informative and insightful interviews, a rare opportunity to hear Minter in her own words. A lengthy conversation with painter Mary Heilmann is augmented by “20 Questions for Marilyn Minter,” which were assembled by Matthew Higgs from those posed by a wide range of artists, curators and friends.

But it here

Socially Distorted Strengths

So, I promise that this is not becoming a music site. That being said, I saw Social Distortion last night and they kicked ass. Mike Ness is just an awesome front man. His voice is as good live as it is on record. They played a great tune off their greatest hits album Far Behind:

Now between writing about them and De la Soul yesterday, it made me think about career longevity. How do you keep yourself going in a work environment, creative or otherwise. I came across a great article by Susie Wee of HP:

Use your weekend strengths at work

…An additional tip that I gave was: Use your weekend strengths at work.

My advice here is to think about the things that you do on your weekends and in your free time when you’re with your family and friends. Chances are that you’re spending your free time doing things that you love to do. Chances are that these things use your natural strengths, i.e., your weekends strengths. And, chances are that your weekend strengths can be used at work! Read more.

Now what the hell does this article have to do with either of the band I have posted about in the past 2 days? Well, what better weekend strengths are there than playing music for a bunch of people. Its adapting a party to your job. Now, most of us can’t do that, but I bet there is something that you do outside of work that can help you inside (and no, flasks don’t count).

De La Soul

This group takes me back to being a teenager listening to 3 feet high and rising. Run DMC got me into hip hop, but after Raising hell, they kind of stayed the same. De la managed to tweak their sound on every album. Their live shows were a blast – a great party vibe. Their albums after stakes is high have their good tracks, but don’t do as much for me as their earlier work. That being said, how many hip hop artists/groups manage to stay together and produce work over 2.5 decades. Here is a sampling of their sound. For those who don’t know, you should.

Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)

Ego Trippin pt 2

Stakes is High

Dave Mckean: Mister Sandman

I first came across his work while I was in college. I was starting to use some comic book style elements in my work, so I headed in to the local comic book store to see what artists were up to. I was a super hero fan when I was younger, so comics for an older audience were a new concept for me. Personal history lesson aside, I saw this kick ass cover to a Sandman comic. I was just learning photoshop and Dave’s work has been an inspiration ever since.

His illustration style has branched out into motion graphics and film: