Joseph Cornell – Hotel Eden September 18, 2008
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cornell/cornell.hotel-eden.jpg
Joseph Cornell lived a generally secluded life taking care of his invalid brother. He collected little bits and pieces of things almost obsessively, and took joy in making assemblages out of them. He doesn’t refashion these collected items, rather, he reconstructs the context in which they are in, making surreal, whimsical works of art that were originally meant as simple gifts to individuals. These beautifully assembled boxes were made to be examined, to interact with. I found this work by him in a book about Pop Art, in the section which talked of influences on the movement. The preoccupation with Art and Transformation of his collected items would play a part in Pop Art.
Its chief emblem is a caged parrot, the innocent resident of the Hotel Eden. One can argue that it represents freedom, that it represents the whimsical perfection of a child’s mind. However I think that in these works, the parrot is simply to be admired for its beauty, how it is the single inhabitant of Hotel Eden. Also, we can contemplate whether this “hotel” is truly a hotel, or a cage for the bird. Through the bird’s beak runs a piece of black string which is connected to a circular… thing. I can’t be sure if it’s a broadcasting system, or if it is something more symbolic. The string is held down by the bird almost as though it is a balloon. The other elements in the box are equally whimsical, decorative but thought provoking on the whole.
One thing noteworthy is that this was created in 1945, yet it has a certain timeless appeal to it.
Nanyang Book September 18, 2008
I was a bit sian in the library so I took that purplish book that all Sec 2s have and started sketching faces from there. After doing coursework, I feel a bit more confident about drawing faces. the 2nd and 3rd drawing are the oldest and newest single-person photos respectively, so you can see how we’ve become less… like a onion over the ages.
Just as I start getting into the mood for sketching (circa the third face) I had to leave. Oh well.
Hand Drawings September 18, 2008
Been intending to post about this for a while. I do draw more things on my hand but I do not seem to have the photos. The lower one is the most recent thing I did today. Some people always say I will kena ink poisoning someday (And mind you I do use cheap pens) but… I don’t really mind
I like working on skin somehow, the texture is so strange yet organic (which is a huge duh since it’s part of my hand anyway)
Enjoy!
Blog: Photo Booth Fun September 17, 2008
I’ve been owing a lot of money recently, no money for Neoprints! But fear not, there is always MAC PHOTO BOOTH for my camwhoring pleasure! (I took 126 photos total)
One sad thing about Photo Booth is that it flips images horizontally ): ): Anyway I recommend that everyone makes a trip to the Mac Lab just for this amazing application.
(http://peabo4eva.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/in-the-mac-lab-again/)
Jim Lee & Jeph Loeb & Batman September 17, 2008
http://gelatometti2.blogspot.com/
(Only some posts by him)
Flipping through a collection of Batman covers, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of my favourite pictures of Batman was done by Jim Lee. But it wasn’t really that much of a surprise, because after all, he is one of my favourite comic book artists. Typically I only pick up the newer comics on glossy pages with a less… saturated palette from the libraries, so I found a few of his works. Jim Lee is a Korean-American comic artist/creator/publisher that went from Marvel to Image (founder) and then to DC.
I love this illustration of Batman (let’s ignore the presence of Superman because he really sucks) because of the cape. Unlike Clark-I-Can-Disguise-Myself-with-Specs-Kent’s pathetic cape that is there only to be sucked into plane engines, Batman’s cape is an integral part of his character.It gives him the mystery and awe that he inspires as a vigilante. Instead of baring his chest and awesome pecs to the world like Clarkie to Metropolis, Batman prefers to operate alone in Gotham City, being more of a detective and antihero than a conventional underwear-on-the-outside-and-loving-it hero. I love how these two images are almost parallels of each other, but in that they show the difference between these two Greatest Comic Book Hero of All Time contenders. While Superman is a savior by swooping down from his perch into the modern Metropolis, Batman is perpetually brooding, looking out for where crime might hit.
I should really stop being so anti-Superman, but he is disgusting. Just look at that lock of hair. I hope Lois Lane dies and he will emo. Or like someone strap a lot of kryptonite to himself and run amok in Metropolis.
http://www.superherostuff.com/OtherItems/Images/batman_nightwing_poster.jpg
(Actual image here)
Another ALL-TIME MOST MOST FAVOURITE PICTURE from the Batman franchise because I really love Nightwing + Batman because Nightwing > Robin in every single way possible. The action in the picture is absolutely wonderful, and the detailed background tops the entire thing off. It’s monochrome blue, highlighting the gloominess of Gotham and the duo who blend so well into their situation. However this brings me to the next point. Comic books are done with a whole shitload of work delegation. To make sure they can chrun out a million issues of Superman, the work is divided into penciller, line-drawing sad shit and colorist. They do exactly what it sounds like. So sometimes it’s hard to point to something and go, HEY THAT’S FRANK MILLER ART! Or JLee in this matter, because there’s always other people working on it.
Recently, I picked up Batman: Hush. Volume 2 only because I couldn’t find Volume 1.
But the art really blew me away. The lines were beautiful and strong and every panel was extremely well done, leading on to the next to the next. And the colours were what topped the entire thing off. It’s really no wonder it’s a bestselling series because it’s really well done, although I wish it could have been longer with more time in between.
Speaking of the colours, they were done by Jeph Loeb, someone else worth checking out. Apart from Batman, he teamed with TIm Sale to do Daredevil: Yellow, which is the only book from DD that had me going whee because it was so amazing to read and so wonderful to look at.
Look, Jim Lee pencils and a Jim Lee cover. Ah, in love (L)
Feel like there is a lot more to say about Batman, about Joker and about how modern comics are so much more beautiful than the traditionally colourful, happy and corny Batman. And about more artwork from Jim Lee/Jeph Loeb
= DAMN PRO
NYCO Book September 16, 2008
Cover
One day my (gross) president of Chinese Orchestra bounced up to me and asked me if I was able to design these pages for the (Primary School-ish) autography book we’re giving our conductor. That was… the Monday on the coursework week and I was like HUH?!?!?! But later relented because it was going to be pretty fun. I did collages made of paper mache and random fabric/magazine cutouts and a really awesome cover out of buttons.
With a layer of nail polish over them to make them stay.





































