The Fox Is Black

Chuck Taylor 1970 HI ‘Woven Textile’ Sneakers

I’m a big fan of high tops, but I’ve never been a Chuck Taylor kind of guy. There’s nothing wrong with a good pair of Chuck’s, they’re probably the most iconic American shoe around, they simply haven’t been my style. That said, there’s an exception to every rule, and these new 1970 HI ‘Woven Textile’ sneakers caught my attention immediately.

I love the loose knit, multi-colored, chunky yarn that envelopes the shoe. It’s an effect that could really go wrong or look quite tacky. It was smart for the designers to go with more muted yarns and only blending in a subtle bit of color, which pairs quite well with the vegetable tanned leather, creating an overall sophisticated, bohemian touch.

They’re not for everyone, and that’s why they’re so great. You can grab a pair for yourself (they’re unisex!) over on Bows & Arrows.

October 28, 2014 / By Bobby Solomon

Matthew Feyld’s Paintings Prove That Colors and Shapes Are Sometimes All You Need

Last week Bobby posted some truly fantastic looping illustrations from the American designer and illustrator Drew Tryndall. I loved them, and they’re bright colors and simple shapes kind of reminded me of this great work by the Canadian artist Matthew Feyld.

Made up of strong blocks of color and bold but beautiful shapes, there’s a naive simplicity to Feyld’s paintings which just works. Whether viewed on their own or viewed as a set, there’s something so perfectly direct about these paintings that I can’t help but love them.

In an interview with Little Paper Planes, Feyld discussed the inspiration behind the shapes and forms he uses in his work:

Some of them started as human figures, or day to day objects that over time have been stripped down and become less and less figurative. Others have come from excessive doodling. I’m interested in the relationships between shapes. And the spaces that those shapes inhabit. And the even smaller spaces between those shapes.

If you’re a fan of nice shapes, then I fully recommend you check out more work from Feyld.

You can view more work from Matthew Feyld on his website.

October 27, 2014 / By Philip Kennedy

Create Realistic Mixed-Media Waterscapes with a Free Guide from Craftsy (Sponsored)

Have you dreamed about capturing the ocean’s beauty on canvas? Discover foolproof techniques for drawing and painting crashing waves, picturesque ponds and much more with Craftsy’s free, exclusive guide: Secrets to Creating Realistic Waterscapes in Mixed Media.

Gain all the essential skills for success when you take advantage of instant access to 21 pages packed with step-by-step mixed media tutorials, tips, and tricks, from artist Antonella Avogadro. From drawing flowing water to realistic water drops, learn everything you need to know.

Download the free guide at Craftsy.com.

October 27, 2014 / By Bobby Solomon

Sophisticated Branding for Fort Point Beer Company by Manual

Crafting unique, standout labels for a new beer seems like an awesome challenge. Making sure that the brew stands out in a competitive market can be difficult as well as creating a look that feels unique and original. Manual, the SF based design firm, has struck gold with this sophisticated look for the Fort Point Beer Company, a craft brewery located in San Francisco’s Presidio.

The brewery resides in a historic Presidio building that was formerly used as an Army motor pool. Their iconic location—close to both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Fort Point National Historic Site—provided inspiration for a modular, illustrative brand identity. The result is a brand that locals can identify with and, as the brand grows and becomes available throughout the nation, can be regarded as the new San Francisco craft beer.

I’m a sucker for gold these days (my team will back this up) and the black, white, and tomato red color combinations really make me happy. The geometric patterns have a playful nature which remind me of the work of Mary Blair, and at the same time honors a San Francisco landmark.

The choice of a Copperplate Gothic-esque font pairs well with the bold, geometric lines that make up the label. It has a feeling of being both contemporary yet classic, bringing to mind the early days of San Francisco. The overall branding is extremely charming and inviting, and when you see the bottle it certainly looks like something new that you want to try.

You can see more images from the project by clicking here.

October 27, 2014 / By Bobby Solomon

David Chang: “I Hate Fancy Beers”

As I write this I’m sipping on a Miller High Life, are is it’s been dubbed, the “Champagne of Beers”. I acquired a taste for it back in 2010/2011 when I was attempting to freelance during a recession. At the corner liquor store near my apartment was 40s of High Life which only cost in the ballpark of $2.50. So long as you kept the 40 oz. cool it was actually a pretty damn good beer. Even Bon Appétit agrees.

Which brings me to my point, this recent article by David Chang for GQ espousing his love for cheap beer. As he says in the article, which I also agree with, rare, obnoxious, snooty beers are great, this is not the reason for his piece. His argument centers around the area that he cares about most: that cheap beers pairs well with food. Here’s the paragraph where he knocks it out of the park.

For all the debatability of my rant here, let me make one ironclad argument for shitty beer: It pairs really well with food. All food. Think about how well champagne pairs with almost anything. Champagne is not a flavor bomb! It’s bubbly and has a little hint of acid and tannin and is cool and crisp and refreshing. Cheap beer is, no joke, the champagne of beers. And cheap beer and spicy food go together like nothing else. Think about Natty Boh and Old Bay-smothered crabs. Or Asian lagers like Orion and Singha and Tiger, which are all perfect ways to wash down your mapo tofu.

Couldn’t agree more. Also, as I tend to find random things when I research posts, I found the really sweet Miller High Life print by Alan Hynes (at top) which you might want to snag. Only $40.

October 27, 2014 / By Bobby Solomon

Everyday Surrealism: Chuck Anderson’s Skillshare Class About Creating Art from Photos

Lately I’ve been really impressed with the creative photography that Chuck Anderson has been posting to his Instagram lately. The aesthetic blends surrealism and blown out lights and colors which make for a visual feast. Now he’s offering a course on how to do similar things with your own photos in this Skillshare class titled Everyday Surrealism: Creating Art from Photos.

Artist Chuck Anderson is known for his surreal, colorful aesthetic and the way he merges photography, design, and art. In this 45-minute class, join Chuck as he photographs 3 scenes—architecture, a still-life, and a landscape—and then transforms each into a collaged work of art using (amazingly) a single mobile app.

Throughout the class, Chuck shares his vision so that you understand the philosophy behind every technique. You’ll refine your eye as a designer, sensibility as a photographer, and imagination as an artist. Whether you want more experimental images for an upcoming exhibit, album cover, show poster, wall print, or even your Instagram feed, this class is the perfect combination of vision, technique, and real creativity.

October 24, 2014 / By Bobby Solomon

Tiga’s “Bugatti” Is A Commercial Break From Alternate, Sexy Dimensions

Tiga may not be as prolific as we (Well, I.) would wish him to be but you have to hand it to the dude for sticking to a very strict aesthetic of high luxury circa futuristic 1986. He hasn’t released anything bigger than a single since his 2009 album Ciao! and, while Non-Stop is one of the best Acid House mixes in recent history, he still leaves you wanting more. Yet, when Tiga delivers, he delivers.

An example of this: his latest single “Bugatti” came out in July and offered a very Germanic, very eighties, and very contemporary fusion of Krautrock and Tech House. Just when the song was gathering a *thin* layer of dust, Tiga released one of his best videos yet that is like watching a mixtape of sexy late eighties commercials from an alternate dimension, where men receive ketchup bukkake treatments and women play backgommon on men’s crotches. Needless to say, some of this video is NSFW.

Directed by Helmi, it consists of quick cuts and dramatic shots edited to the metallic cadence Tiga bases the song on. It’s broken by shots of him in varying outfits shouting “BUGATTI!!” at the camera. Like the song, every “scene” picks up a different piece of debris that results in warping the reality of this eighties world: remote controls spit, sexy legs have lost their bodies, people turn to dominoes, etc. Helmi plays with a visual vocabulary over and over and over again, presenting them in different shapes and forms like parallel universes orbiting next to each other without noticing. The effect is hysterical and absolutely ridiculous—and absolutely Tiga. As the song’s lyrics suggests, the Bugatti at one point was the car to have if you are a macho, aggressive, power suit wearing, ski lodge loving dude who works in finance: the video is a parody of that.

While some has branded the video as “Wes Anderson Movie On Techno And Acid,” I say it’s more of a commercialist fantasy where Tiga gets to grab the tits of models from Esprit commercials while drinking Cold Duck. It’s a fitting follow up to the swank still “Plush” and cable access kookiness of “Shoes.” This is undoubtedly the video of the year. Or 1986.

October 24, 2014 / By KYLE FITZPATRICK

Felipe Pantone Livens Up The Streets With His High Gloss Art

Valencia, Spain based street artist Felipe Pantone popped up in the Explore tab of my Instagram feed and I’m really feeling his work. It’s kind of this blend of geometric black and white overlaid with outlandish neon, metallic colors that bursts off the walls.