This week on Design Crush: Alex Garant, aka The Queen of Double-Eyes, charmed us with her paintings.
Thinking about going back to school and back to the grind with these rad notebooks.
The studies in shadow and light from Kumi Yamashita are brilliant.
You can just fill up my kitchen with Kähler right this instant. Horyon Lee captures powerful yet fetishized women in paint.
Try burgers 10 ways that are sure to be new.
Tiny portraits in unexpected mediums from Elvira Johanna Duives.
Looks like chambray is making a fashion comeback!
Gorgeous geometric murals from Trek Matthews.
The study of shadow and light is one that is never-ending. Japan born, NYC dwelling Kumi Yamashita has made a career out of it through his sculptures. Each object or series of objects relies on a single light source, the result being comprised of the material (the solid objects) and the immaterial (the light or shadow).
Sydney, Australia-based artist Louise Zhang‘s work reminds me of a very highly evolved Lisa Frank (in the best possible way). She’s not afraid of color or shape exploration, whether those be on canvas or as sculpture. Zhang describes her work best saying that her primary interest lies in the middle ground between what we perceive as ‘cute’ and ‘grotesque’.
01/ Notifly lets you know about a scheduled meeting by blowing a bubble!
02/ Get CallerID for your front door with Peeple‘s wireless camera.
03/ A handy chart sharing how long fresh produce will last once you buy it.
04/ This year’s Serpentine Pavilion honors the London Underground with a secret corridor.
05/ The Mason Watch is like is basically a sculpture for your wrist.
06/ Stefaan De Croock (aka Strook) uses discarded doors to create giant street murals.
07/ Gum, not just chewing these days – check out Maurizio Savini‘s sculptures.
08/ Meet Mr. Head, a vacuum cleaner turned artist.
09/ Jon Alameda throws the tiniest 1-inch scale miniature pottery.
10/ A Philadelphia church was transformed thanks to lots of paracord and Aaron Asis.
This week on Design Crush:
The beauty of domesticity captures in Fuki Koike‘s illustrations. Tatoorary creates the best temporary ink I’ve ever seen.
Colorful large-scale wooden sculptures by CHIAOZZA.
Beautiful small-batch ceramics from Paper & Clay.
Paper gardens that won’t wilt by Anne Ten Donkelaar. Ten DIYs to keep your hands busy this month.
I’m obsessed with the canvas bags and accessories of Tiff Manuell. Colors are the best crayons you’ve ever seen. Tamsin van Essen’s Erosion Series is based on something completely unexpected.
Alternating layers of black and white porcelain are sandblasted to show the strata that lies beneath in Tamsin van Essen‘s Erosion Series. In the artist’s words, “This work explores erosion and the disruption of form. Focusing on biological erosion, I wanted to convey the idea of a host being attacked and eaten away by a parasitic virus, highlighting the creeping spread of the infection as it corrupts the body.”
CHIAOZZA is the combined efforts of Terri Chiao and Adam Frezza. Their colorful large-scale wooden sculptures are happy inducing, and I love how some of them even look like they could be functional! Make one of their lovely pieces yours through their shop.
Chisel & Mouse, besides being a fantastic name, is the place where brothers Robert and Gavin Paisley bring their passion for beautiful buildings to life. Each sculpture is made from plaster and etched metal details through a combination of traditional sculpting, moulding and casting with CAD, and 3D printing. The end result is nothing short of art.
01/ Michelle Wibowo created an anamorphic sculpture of London’s skyline with cookies.
02/ HOT TEA transformed a pool on Roosevelt Island with technicolor.
03/ Intense rope masks by BertJan Pot.
04/ The Ecocapsule is solar-powered, allowing you to live off the grid anywhere you please.
05/ Loving this shadow creating You Are Here umbrella by Nadiah Alsagoff.
06/ Check out the world’s first hanging “zome” – Kodama Zome.
07/ Kickstart this! Vinyl Moon would release mixtape on vinyl! (And they’re pretty!)
08/ Update your phone background with these patterns from Cotton & Flax.
09/ SoAwkward pulls together the most awkward moments from Twitter in one app.
10/ The credit card-sized Light Phone does just one thing – make calls!
I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited to launch a new column as I am to kickoff PGH Maker Profile today. But let me start by backtracking just a little bit. Before I moved back to Pittsburgh (aka PGH) last September I had a few local creative friends, but didn’t know what to expect beyond that. I’d heard good things about the community, but was in no way prepared for just how phenomenal it actually is. I can honestly say that I’ve never met a group of people who are such go-getters, so willing to collaborate, or so welcoming as the crew I’m growing to call mine. It makes me realize that I’m exactly where I belong both in my career and in my life because so many good things are happening. Now I’m looking forward to sharing all of these amazing human beings and their talents with you. Some you’ll know, some will be new, exactly zero will disappoint.
Amy Hamley of Redraven Studios is my favorite kind of business lady, the kind who was following their passion and just happened to trip into business. A girl after my own heart, really. Within five minutes of meeting a few months ago I knew we were meant to be friends. She’s turned her background studies in ceramics into a legit career featuring pieces that you’ve most likely seen as Etsy all-stars and everywhere else on the web. Last month I spent an afternoon sweating and drinking warm Riesling in her studio while we talked life and business.
Greenware drying.
Tell us a little bit about how you got your start with Redraven.
My business kind of happened by accident. I was working at a community ceramics studio teaching wheel throwing classes. I made some work there for myself, but would take clay home and began to make jewelry in my kitchen. I would take it back to the studio to fire the pieces. It evolved from a thing that I liked doing to me opening my Etsy shop in 2008 selling ceramic jewelry that was finished with vintage ceramic decals. I enjoyed making these, but knew that I wanted to work larger and make work that was meaningful to me. In 2010 I started making molds again. I rebranded my store by creating all new listings for items that I had slip cast in porcelain from handmade molds.
Amy stamping her logo on a ring dish. Greenware drying.
What’s your favorite part of the process? Your least favorite?
My favorite part of my process is hand painting my dinnerware collection. My least favorite is refining greenware to bisque fire, or sanding bisque, they are equally terrible.
Redraven’s beautiful dinnerware collection.
What other makers inspire you most?
So many makers inspire me that I don’t even know where to start! First my studiomates, Heather and Myles of Stak Ceramics. They make flawless, innovative, functional work. Ali Gibbons and Taylor Ceramics are also two incredible ceramic artists that I really admire. Fayce Textiles makes the most insanely beautiful textiles and homewares. And, literally, every maker in Pittsburgh.
Stones that were cast as molds for jewelry.
Where do you see Redraven in 5 years?
In five years I’d like to see redraven in some dream retailers with a more expansive wholesale client network. And maybe working a little less!
The ring dish I painted before glazing and firing took place.
What makes having a small business in Pittsburgh so great?
The community. I couldn’t ask for a better network of makers, business owners, and friends. There is a work ethic and pride here that is very special to Pittsburgh, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
