Craig Cutler and IBM.

Taking a small break between projects today I decided to check out the latest from Stockland Martel's uber-talented group of photographers. I don't know if this really qualifies as a creative, but hey, for me looking at beautiful photos is something I wish I could do a lot more than I already do. After their book arrived on my desk in the mail yesterday it's all I have been wanting to do. The book shows a few samples of each of their talented artists and of course is printed on some delicious paper with a most compelling cover and back art.

So this is what prompted me to check out their pick out a photographer and go with it. The first one I clicked on was a talent named Craig Cutler whose recently photographed an IBM campaign which I fell for. Fast. I haven't seen it in any mags recently but that doesn't mean it's not out there right now. It just means I am most likely not reading PC Magazine or INC or another business magazine for PC-users. It's okay because discovering it on Cutler's site was fine by me! I love the campaign as a whole for its simplicity and great photos, of course. And the fun little black lines. How could I forget about those!

A Calm Winter's Morning.

I know it's not snowing here (but may be soon or so the weather people say) but had to share this photo I took on Christmas Eve day at Matt's Mom's house. I love the calm and peaceful quality of it. Which is exactly how that morning was when I took it – the calm before the storm of people that would be over later that day for Christmas Eve festivities. There is something I really like about taking pictures of snow, I don't know why. Chalk it up to still having that New England girl in me!

Here We Are...2010!

Welcome to 2010! Can't believe we are already 5 days into this new year and new decade. With the new year, comes lots of new ideas floating around in my head for myself and this blog. By the end of the week I will have a new project to share with you all that I am oh so excited about.

In the meantime, here is a picture I took at Gaudi's Parc Guell in Barcelona. Bet you would never guess that while I was taking this, it was raining and I was huddled under a Gaudi-made "cave" in the park. I love the way the trees were making a perfect frame, the bright yellow umbrella and then the quintessential Spanish cross all the way on the right.

2010: Pantone of the Year

It's official, 15-5519 is Pantone's color of the year. Read all about its uplifting and tranquil properties of 2010's Turquoise here and here.

Trouble Gum.

Finally I went to see the Society of Illustrator's Children Book Art show on Tuesday night. I made it just in time as the show officially closed on Wednesday. In awe of everything as usual and wanted to jet straight to Pearl Paint on my way home to Brooklyn to buy new watercolors so I could start those children's illustrations I want to start doing every year at around this time. For real, this time, I am going to start. Perhaps if I put it out to the world (aka the internet) then this will be the year I really do this. Perhaps a new idea to refresh this blog of mine. Perhaps.It's crazy how such inspiration stems from the root of my love of art – the basic beauty of children's book illustrations (which, most times isn't that basic at all – it's detailed and wonderful).

My favorite of the show is the book above, Trouble Gum, by Matthew Cordell. Of course I had to check out his website and see what else he has done and ended up reading some of his blog too. Great clean work and he even does illustrations for his wife's YA books (what a talented family they are!). Check 'em all out here.

Anthropologie Household Monsters.

It's a pretty safe bet that whether I walk into an Anthropologie store or peruse their catalog online or in hand, I am going to ooohhh and aaahhh and wish for almost all of everything I see. This recent trip to their site was no different as I discovered some hysterical large-scale embroidered canvas pieces by artist Ruth Ashton. Check them all out here.

Fantastic Mr. Fox & New York Magazine.

Retrieving my New York Magazine from our narrow silver mailbox in our apartment building makes my Monday (though as of recently, it has been coming on Tuesday. Anyone else?). Not only do I anticipate doing the crossword puzzle on the subway the next day (I know, I know. I'm a word geek) but I know the articles and other regular favorite sections (Dining Out and the Intelligencer to name a couple) will make my rides that much faster to and from work.

This week I was extra excited when I saw the cast of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" on the cover as well as an "inside the shooting of the cover". I love the behind-the-scenes information – one perfect single shot is not just taken, it is MADE. Hours of hard work (and in this case 6 hours of prep for these lil' figures) and a cast of specified creatives. I of course had to WATCH the behind-the-scenes which was conveniently on the NY Magazine website.

Townhouse: Miami

Of course the moment you are on the plane landing at your home airport from vacation you are already imagining your next getaway. This was literally happening on the first leg home on our flight from San Jose, Costa Rica to Miami International. I made a medium-sized list of "Places to Go to in the Next 5-10 Years" which now hangs from the side of our refrigerator.

Being at the Miami airport made me realize two things. One, flying in on an international flight and then leaving on a domestic one is quite a process! The second thing I realized is that I have not spent any sort of significant time actually IN Miami. Sure I have used the airport as a layover on more than two occasions, but actually exiting that airport door where the sign says "ARRIVALS" is something I have only done once. And even that was a 16 hour stay that consisted of 8 hours of sleep and 1 hour driving around and around the airport waiting to pick up a friend who was arriving and who then would travel to Key West.

Matt and I have been thinking about our next quick trip (4 day weekend perhaps?) for the winter and are throwing the idea of Miami around. In preparation I have started to do some quick searching for Miami hotels (which I imagine will be quite opposite of where we stayed in Costa Rica). Now let me be frank and say I know absolutely NOTHING about anything having to do with Miami. Nothing about the beaches, the hotels, so everything seems pretty new and exciting to me. One hotel I came upon recently is called Townhouse (in South Beach) and I just loved their graphic look (you know I was getting to something graphic design-related in this post, didn't you?). This is all photography from their website which is nice and clean and chic.

Costa Rica: In Photos.

4 days in from being back from Costa Rica and it still isn't easy to adjust to being indoors all day staring at my Mac. Alas, reality is reality. At least I can keep looking at my pictures as a refreshing reminder. And share them with you of course. Here are a few of my favorites from the almost 300 I took. Thought I would show some flowers (gorgeous and as colorful here as they were in real life), some sunsets, some amazing trees (it was the jungle, people!). Enjoy!

I'm back. And tan!

Hello dear readers! I am back from the rainforest/jungle of southern Costa Rica and to the reality of my concrete jungle in New York. Back to being inside all day long under florescent lighting and behind a Mac all day. Quite opposite to our non-techy vacation! Matt and I had such a great time and were able to be outside as much as possible, which was ideal. Lots of outdoor activities were done as well as some surfing, of course. Lots of photos to come for you all to see, but for now thought I would leave you with this one above – one of the favorites that I took. I just loved the framing I was able to do with the tree leaves above and the crazy birds - turkey vultures – below (they were EVERYWHERE and would hop on their two feet when they were on the ground instead of walk.

Polaroids & Pinholes.

Some fun photography from the UK via Polaroids and Pinholes on Trunkt. The artist uses some unique techniques to get these desired effects. A la this one about the first photo, The Bud and the Bloom:

"This photographic print is a section of virginia creeper vine, ripe with seed berries. The image is part of my darkroom photogram series - created with light from a camera enlarger directly onto colour negative paper, processed in RA4 colour chemistry and contact-printed to create the positive image."

MAC & Artist Inspiration.

by Richard Phillips for MAC

by Maira Kalman for MAC

by Marilyn Minter for MAC

A few weeks ago I found myself in a MAC store waiting to get my make-up done for my friend Kristin's wedding. Though I love the clean design and layout of MAC stores, I rarely go in them. Spending almost 90 minutes (between the wait for the artist and actually getting my make-up done) in the store my eyes had a treat. I noticed up on the back wall was a life-size piece of art from Richard Phillips in striking bold colors (shown above). I asked the artist, Dana, who was working on my eye make-up at the moment, what that was all about. He told me that MAC took three artists - Richard Phillips, Maira Kalman, and Marilyn Minter – to inspire colors for the Fall collections. What a fabulous idea! Art imitates life or now here, life imitating art!

Michel Comte for John Richmond.

Looking through photographer reps' studios websites and/or physical portfolios is one of my favorite "chores" (and I say that completely tongue-in-cheek because I LOVE looking at photography!) that MUST be done as a graphic designer/art director. Currently I am looking for inspiration for some new beauty visuals and one of the first sites I checked out (is one of my favorite photo reps) is Walter Schupfer which is where I just gazed longingly through Michel Comte's photography for John Richmond's fashion line. Loving the energy and of course the cropping the art director did (who? I don't know).

Carnival...on Labor Day...in Brooklyn?!

Being Labor Day yesterday, the day was ours to do with it whatever we wanted. From driving to the beach on Saturday, Matt and I had seen the police barriers getting set up at the side of one of the main roads in Brooklyn as well as various Caribbean flags being sold out the back doors of various vans. A little Googling told us that what we saw was the preparations of the 42nd walking/dancing/running of the West Indian Day Parade. Being it's the one time of year where Matt can get one of his favorites, jerk chicken, just a few blocks from our apartment we were off to the parade in the early afternoon. He mildly prepared me for what I would be seeing and it did not disappoint. The bright and bold colors of the many flags of the West Indies plus the costumes being worn by parade marchers/dancers was quite amazing as well as the smells and sights of all of the food vendors (don't fret, we ate the much-anticipated jerk chicken). I was so glad I had brought my camera! And of the many photos taken, I put some together for you, dear readers, above. Enjoy and I highly recommend taking a trip out to Brooklyn for it next year. This year had an attendance of almost 3 million spectators and marchers combined.

Paris.

I believe that the last time I made a "I must see this movie" mention was also a French film, but honestly, I can't help it. The French movies I have seen usually have beautiful art direction and cinematography, and is one of only a few languages I love the sound of. This latest film on my list is called appropriately, Paris, and just looks gorgeous, even if I think it is going to make me bawl in the theater. I'll just have to go to it with my cry-at-the-movies partner-in-crime, Audra. I recommend watching the trailer, but thought I would show a few film stills from it.