THINGS I LIKE: Ian Ruhter

Ian Ruhter's artwork takes the wet plate collodian process (a photographic technique developed in the 1850s) to another level. He spent his life savings transforming a delivery truck into a massive camera and, using the collodian process, is able to capture images onto large coated and sensitized plates. He develops them on the spot as there are only about 15 minutes before the plate dries. 

Below are some beautiful images from his Foursquare Wet Cellodian Project, with a spectrum of landscapes, skateboarders and snowboarders, and an awesome video below for a much clearer explanation of his process, as well as some real inspiration. 

- click on images to enlarge -

All images by photographer Ian Ruhter

Here is the beautiful short Silver and Light by photographer Ian Ruhter.




Ian is driving his truck / camera on wheels across the States. See more of Ian's work here or get in touch through Ian's Facebook page to get involved. 

THINGS I LIKE: Antique Dutch Darning Samplers

I am in the midst of a new illustration project that has me researching everything from sloths to Hmong Hill Tribe fabrics. My brain is having a blast! I was recently looking for some traditional Dutch textile patterns to incorporate into my drawings and I came across these beautiful antique samplers.


Darning Samplers were prevalent in the Netherlands in the late 18th and early 19th century as sewing was a vital skill for 12 - 17 year old girls to learn. Young girls were taught how to embroider by their mothers as well as in school. Working as a linen seamstress could provide a steady living for these young women and their families. It was especially important for the girls in orphanages to master these skills so they would have an occupation to support themselves upon leaving the home. The training was so serious that these darning samplers were considered a sort of final exam in the orphanages. Because of the bright thread used to show the stitches and craftsmanship more clearly, the patterns and layers of color make beautiful combinations!

Sources: Samplers 1-3, Sampler 4, Sampler 5, Sampler 6 

THINGS I LIKE: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson

(Photography by Chris Cassidy / PBS)

To know him is to love him. That's how I feel about Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. To put it simply, he's a super cool dude. He is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, has been hosting Nova scienceNOW on PBS since 2006, and is a regular guest on the Daily Show, Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher, breaking down crazy science for the rest of us! 

He was asked in an interview with TIME magazine in 2008, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This was his answer.

The Most Astounding Fact from Max Schlickenmeyer on Vimeo. 

(Hubble Images)

The man knows how to give a pep-talk!

For more of Dr. NdGT's thoughts, you can go to his site and follow him on facebook or twitter. 

(Photography by Dan Deitch)

THINGS I LIKE: Tools of the Trade

This little beauty is worth a watch. I wish it were two hours long, that's how much I love seeing what kinds of pens, brushes and ink other artists use. NERD ALERT. Mine are Ecoline watercolor inks and Daler Rowney Acrylic Artists ink with the teeny-tiniest pen nibs I can find!

Enjoy!


Toronto Comic Arts Festival: Pencil it In from Toronto Comic Arts Festival on Vimeo.

THINGS I LIKE: Maxence Cyrin

I recently saw the kind of funny movie It's Kind of a Funny Story and was struck by the beautiful instrumental cover of The Pixies' song "Where is My Mind?". I did some light detective work (aka google) today and found the pianist behind it, Maxence Cyrin. This Frenchman makes his covers even more beautiful by pairing them with utterly perfect film footage. Here are the two I was most taken with. For more of his work, you can go here. Enjoy!

THINGS I LIKE: Life in Slow Motion

I am a sucker for time-lapse and slow motion film. There is just something magical about seeing the world move at a different pace. Here are a few of my favorites, some old, some new. Alas, often it's ads that tend to get the budgets to make these things.

Schweppe's ad shot at 10,000 frames per second!



Pedigree ad



Canon Pixma ad



Sony Bravia ad



Bathtub IV by Keith Loutit: time lapse and tilt shift photography



Kuroshio Sea: This one isn't actually slow motion, but it feels like it.

THINGS I LIKE: Estelle Hanania

I recently discovered the beautiful, mysterious and whimsical work of French photographer Estelle Hanania. The images below are from two series 'Demoniac Babble' and 'Parking Lot Hydra', both documenting men in costume at carnivals. In her own words, "I'm attracted by a feeling of disorientation and excitement that you can find in these gatherings and costumed traditions... I love this kind of situation where everything gets confused and uncertain, but you still can define the most familiar shape which is the human figure, vanishing."

More of her work can be seen here.

Demoniac Babble 2007

Parking Lot Hydra 2009

THINGS I LIKE: Dalton Ghetti

I am a fan of all things tiny and artist Dalton Ghetti has taken miniature to a whole new level. Ghetti started carving bark as a kid, then moved on to soap and chalk before settling on pencil graphite. He uses only three tools for his teeny-tiny sculptures: a sewing needle, an exacto and a carpenter's pencil. Without the use of a magnifying glass he carves these incredible Lilliputian works of art.

THINGS I LIKE: La Cueva de Los Cristales

I know sci-fi tries to tell us otherwise, but I think we definitely lucked out with this planet of ours. It's the coolest! Have you ever seen images of crystal caves? Not just hippie-dippie street vendor crystals meant to re-align your chakras while simultaneously emptying your wallet. Seriously awe inspiring, giant crystals, people!

Here are pictures (from our brainy friends over at National Geographic) of the most incredible crystal cave discovered as of yet. It took hundreds of thousands of years to grow these crystals and some are as tall as 36 feet! Incredibly, these aren't photoshopped. Behold!! La Cueva de los Cristales!

p.s. By the way, I love that everyone in the pictures looks like a sort of bored construction worker while they are probably some sort of genius / scientist just trying to look cool.

THINGS I LIKE: The Mighty Eyjafjallajökull

Iceland has been the object of my affection for many years. The natural beauty there is wild, vivid and unparalleled. Here is a beautiful time-lapse film of (the icelandic volcano with an ice-cap hat) Eyjafjallajökull by filmmaker Sean Stiegemeier. This is the infamous volcano that was getting so much bad press due to the wild amounts of ash whirling around the planet and lots of stranded travelers. But if you take a moment to appreciate it for what it is, a mountain with smoke and lava pouring out of it while our planet's plates shift, it's pretty incredible.

I saw this film a couple months ago but I think about it all the time so figured I ought to share it. The soundtrack is a beautiful and perfectly apt song by the Icelandic singer Jonsi (of Sigur Ros). It feels like that song was meant to score a volcano. See for yourself.

Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull - May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.
p.s. I definitely recommend you watch this in full-screen. Just click on the 4 arrow icon at the bottom right of the video.

Photograph by Rakel Osk Sigurda, NordicPhotos, Getty Images

THINGS I LIKE: Ben Javens

I recently came across the work of English illustrator Ben Javens. It was an unlikely spot but I was stopped in my tracks while buying soymilk at the market. Ben was hired to completely redesign 8th Continent soymilk packaging and man, oh man, it worked! I wish everything in my fridge was this awesome!

He has a definite 60s influence but there's something all his own. He has a great palette and clean design but manages to keep the handmade quality in each print. I really love his work so here are a few more for you to enjoy!

For more of Ben Javen's work, check out his site or his agency Unseen Agency

who happen to represent a whole slew of really great artists!

THINGS I LIKE: Inspiration Station!

Hello there,

I recently missed the one night only showing of 'The Tale of the Fox' (Le Roman de Renard) at BAM. It's a famous stop motion film from the 1930s made by Polish-born (French-raised) Wladyslaw Starewicz and his wife Irene Starewicz. Say that three times fast! It's an incredible film and very rarely screened. Luckily, I found it broken down into parts on youtube. What a treat!! Wes Anderson pays homage to this film with small references in 'The Fantastic Mr Fox' - another gorgeous film.

Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

THINGS I LIKE: Hedgehog in the Fog

I never get tired of the incredibly sweet and beautiful "Hedgehog in the Fog". It was made in Moscow in 1975 and it's considered one of the best animated films of all time. I think it's pretty clear why.

Enjoy!