Water is the new hair.

Water Wigs, a project by Tim Tadder and team

It's hard to look at these silly pictures and not laugh. Bald guys are given the coolest hairstyles made with water balloons and some super fast shutter actions. These 'hairstyles' are priceless. All the different ways the water splashes unto their heads are just phenomenal! 

The artists also used colorful lighting to increase the fun and weirdness of the pictures. The BOOM factors are all there: the colors, the clarity of crystallized water droplets, cheeky expressions of the models, the shape the water makes as it hits the scalp. It's definitely a way to capture the form of water at its best! 

What surprises me is the perfect curves of the water that contours the shape of the head so fittingly. Its the split second when the balloon had just burst and water was still held in the shape of the balloon previously - the shape before it disperses. Not one result is the same. If only we could keep the shape of the water that way longer.. Hmm :)

Images retrieved from http://www.behance.net/gallery/Water-Wigs/4889175

Impossible is Overrated

http://vimeo.com/33423425

This video is a good illustration that possibility and impossibility is something made up by our own minds. It's an advertisement by a telecommunication service company called AT&T. The same designer that came up with the advertisement for Twinings Tea did this creative piece too.

This time its a mash up of real swimmer and some CGI on the underwater scenes and the vast sea. Using the sea as a setting for an advertisement about overcoming impossibilities is an interesting combination, because the deep blue sea holds so much mystery in it. To picture a swimmer swimming in it is not as common. When the designer opens by showing the swimmer diving into the big ocean that sees no end, it grabs attention immediately as I was eager to find out where he's heading and where he'll end up. It turns out he swam on through the night and into a new dawn. Along the way, breathtaking scenes of underwater creatures were shown that created harmony between the swimmer and them. He swims with might and had only one goal in mind which is to reach the finishing line. The video, however, did not end with him crossing the end victoriously, it ended with him still swimming into a landscape of city at the end of the ocean, which could also possibly be the end of his journey.

The video also ended with a tagline, which is "Rethink Possible". Indeed, it is humanly impossible to cross the ocean in a period of time like that. The company, using this concept, tells the viewers that they are constantly breaking limits to achieve greater heights, too. Thinking beyond the possible and touching what no one dares to do. What a way to promote :D

Animation Advertising

http://vimeo.com/33423425

Above is a video of a digital animation advertisement for Twinings Home of Tea. It is seldom to see tea advertisements in Malaysia and I personally am not a big fan of teas. But when I saw this beautiful animation, I felt compelled to go for this brand of tea. haha. It's in the way that it doesn't brag too much on the taste of the tea, but rather it centers around the connection of tea with human emotions.

The beginning of the video, it shows a girl struggling to row her boat among the harsh waves. Help came to her shortly after. Bird-like water splashes carried her above the storm and she overcame the difficulties effortlessly. It's calming to see her arriving at the other side of the storm where everything is bright and smooth - the same feeling when the taster of the tea comes close to savoring it. And when she finally arrives at the shore of an unknown island, it was herself that greeted her warmly. The animation ends with the two girls combining into one. The tagline at the end is "Gets you back to you".

What a beautiful way to promote teas. The setting of the animation is intelligently chosen. Detailed and close up scenes like when the girl touches her feet to the shallow waters really enhances the visual and emotional impact. Not only that, the 'camera' pans from left to right in a perfect angle where two girls disappeared into one. It was a very eye-catching way of connecting. Not too abrupt and not too boring. It fits with the tagline very well. No extra words were needed because the animation itself has already told of the goodness the tea brings to all who taste it.

The Giant Green Canvas

At first sight this tree seems like a really normal piece of drawing to me. I read on only to find out it's actually a tree on a huge piece of canvas -- set on the road! This beautiful installment is set in China, called the Green Pedestrian Crossing. 

A gigantic green ink pad, a huge white piece of canvas, and some everyday pedestrians and you have yourself an awareness raising reminder. Though it's set in the most unlikely place, it's a place where most people come in contact with on a daily basis. Who would actually thought that leaving footprints can be made into a kind of art, eh?

The message that is trying to be carried across is Walk More, Drive Less. As simple as that. Green is the default color used for most nature awareness campaign. I'm sure as the pedestrians walk across it, a gentle reminder will come to their mind and they will remember the contributions -not just to the artwork but- to a greener world. It might also attract more people to walk to their destinations just for the fun of putting down their green footprints. It's such an adorable idea that suits people of all ages. It's so direct. It reminds the youngest to the oldest that age and size is not a matter when it comes to saving our earth. 

images retrieved from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/08/green-pedestrian-crossing-in-china-creates-leaves-from-footprints/

Nature meets Photoshop.

It's always a simple yet connective kind of artwork when nature is involved. Just like this one done by viaframe for an autumn advertising campaign of the Swiss fashion store Charles Vögele.

They adapted the simple elements of nature like leaves, clouds and rain for these inspiring ensembles. The idea is to bring out the autumn tone in every landscape, adding in animals made from the elements mentioned above. Using not the outline of the animals but the shape and movement of it still enables the viewers to make out the animals that're portrayed. It's not an easy task to catch the values just right to make it blend into the landscape. 

The artist also took into consideration the compositions of the artwork to make the focus balance. For example, the animals are not placed directly in the center but at a one-third position. It is as if the animals are overlooking the landscape and directing our eyes to gaze together as well. This creates an overall connection with the artwork that is so simple and natural. Autumn, where everything changes from one colour to another, shows the courses of nature transitioning together into a whole new look. Using this concept definitely fits to the apparel advertising. 

Images retrieved from http://www.behance.net/gallery/Charles-Voegele-Autumn-Campaign-2012/4948463

Surfs up!

I've been following this underwater photographer called Elena Kalis on social networks for quite some time now and today I decided to blog about her works :) The photographs she takes are one of the most beautiful and calming scenes i've seen. It is all set underwater. And her models are some awesome swimmers too!

She features her children and friends in the photos which make it truly inspiring to see a family and close friends star in her own artworks. Not only that, the benefit of water buoyancy is what give underwater phtography a dreamlike effect.

Through her stories and photos, I learned that she is really a sea lover by nature. She could spend all day long just immersing in the waters or basking in its beauty by the coasts. Though she's a full time mother, she is still devoted to her passion to the sea and the wonders that it holds. I am in complete serenity every time i come across her works. Its like sitting on a cloud. It just feels out of this world! Simply beautiful! 

one of those 'wow' moments.

there're so many kinds of creative minds in this world, one of them is the musically creative ones. ThePianoGuys who are widely known in the YouTube community creates beautiful song covers with the piano and cello. I subscribed to them since the first 10 seconds of the first video i saw of them. hahaha. And their latest video involved 5 guys playing 1 piano altogether! it's really one of those 'wow' moments.

Though you can't really say it's a completely original idea to have more than 2 people playing on one instrument at the same time, the composition and arrangement of the song cover is amazing enough to bring a smile to my face. If sounds can come from pressing the piano keys, then sounds can definitely come from plucking the piano strings itself! I once had this curious thought when I was little too. But never had a chance (and courage!) to try it for real. Watching this video of them really making music out of plucking the piano strings impressed me so much and made me flashback to the little naive me again. It is possible. :)

I've played in a full band and sang in a choir team before so I know it's really not an easy task to work with people to make the song sound just nice. Even if it's just a small team of 3. It's really the entire package, from the improvisation of the song to the practices to the real video recording. This's a kind of creative art where it is not possible if one person is missing. Where the team members rely on each other, trusting that each other will play on beat and in tune.

Okayyy, maybe i've not talked much about their creative skills in this post, but I'm more inspired by the way they worked together so passionately. Just look at the smiles and enjoyment on their faces! The true joy of creating art. This is what it's all about! :D

The unhappy cycle.

Saw this piece of work on Facebook shared by my friends and it caught my attention immediately. It's a cycle. An abusive parent, an abused child, growing up in that environment thinking he/she deserves to be abused and never got to escape that cycle. That's what is happening in lives around us, maybe even as close as our neighbors next door. As disheartening as this two scenes are, the concept of the photos are pretty creative. 


The cycle has 5 characters in them, all 5 actually portraying the same person. The arrangement of progression of these characters were nicely put, creating a smooth flow that naturally directs the viewers' eyes to see what the designer wants them to see first, then the next, then the next, ... letting the viewers' "connect the dots" themselves. All 5 characters represent the different stages of growing up, from childhood to teenage years to parenthood. The emotional build-up is strong too. As the designer shows how the innocent victim begins to pile up the hatred and anger in their hearts, ultimately resulting in the explosion of the anger towards their next generation. The emotions are quite vividly shown on their faces and that's why the viewers can understand what's going on. 


The lighting of both of the photos are dim and warm. It sort of sets a gloomy feeling to the entire message. Domestic violence is nothing funny. The low values used in these photos successfully emphasized the seriousness of this issue. The house is dark and living in it, is an unhappy family.


I believe these photos were made to raise awareness to many people, to not take domestic violence lightly. Reminding the vast majority that the way they raise their children is a long chain of circumstances leading down the generations. Many more will have to suffer if no effort is made to break the chain. 


Photos taken from http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/564116_391754137548645_728864165_n.jpg on 7 July 2012

This boy's wonders.

Found this guy on flickr. His user name is Boy Wonder. He's not a boy on the outside, but on the inside, he's still the little kid that everybody wished they could be forever. Everybody wants to stay young. Nobody wants to grow up and face the harsh reality. His artworks brings out the kid in everyone who sees it - well, at least for me. :)

These are just few among hundreds of his works. Although I do not know this artist personally, but through his pictures, I find his character adorably interesting. Few artists actually involve themselves in the artwork, but most of his artworks have his face in it! Not only does his photos look realistic even though they're manipulations, the spirit that the artworks carry are cheerful and light. They're like thoughts that you would find if you dive into a kid's mind. Things that are impossible to find in the real world.

Dealing with the real world can really drain out the innocence and imagination of us. So when there's free time, there's nothing more that we'd long for than escape from it. Everyone has their own little 'oasis'. I feel like I've found mine when viewing his artworks. The mischief and freedom that I can hardly express out socially. His artworks certainly made me realized that the world can try to change you, but you can always choose not to let it win. Be true to yourself and root to what you really love. Creativity really goes as deep as your wonders. Keep wondering, people!

Photos taken from http://www.flickr.com/people/joel_r/ at 28 June 2012.

Shadow magic.

This artist called Kumi Yamashita has used the nature of light to produce her artworks on walls. Now, we all know that light travels in a straight line. When it hits any object that is in its way, the light is blocked and tada! It creates a shadow. Yamashita creatively used this principle to make these following artworks. Take a look!

Looks like just a bunch of post-it notes stuck on a wall. Nothing special there. But I was so wrong.

And if looked closer to each of the papers and its shadow, not one face is the same.

The alphabets are scattered, but their shadows are joined beautifully!

Light from a different angle. Shadow of a different story.

 A different angle again.

My personal favourite among her works. Isn't is just so eerily beautiful?

Not only must the papers cut out be exact, but the light source must be right too. The two important parts completing each other so perfectly to portray the shadow the artist wanted. And the artist had to get them just right. 

Shadows are something so connected to us, but yet intangible. It can never depict any facial emotions, it can never be felt in any form. So then why does these artworks gives off a feel of real human being present in them, when there aren't any? 

I believe it is simply because the shadows are shadows of common people. They're not especially dramatic. Some maybe are even what happened in our lives before. Close to our hearts in a way :) The artworks are just so simple and straightforward, serves to inspire very directly as well. It also implies that everything in life is pretty simple, open up your eyes, look with a different perspective, and there can be so much beauty in it.

Photos taken from http://www.kumiyamashita.com/ on 28 June 2012

Green-ified!

Cut leaf artwork wonderfully created by Legas Delaney for Plant for the Planet campaign.

Once again, I'm gonna share about art that is incorporated with other concepts to bring out a certain message :D 

First off, i'm truly inspired by the fine craft-manship over here. Every detail perfectly cut out. From having the idea in the head to bringing it into life, is always the hardest part for me. Truly, I admire the way the artist took the time to carve these silhouettes. I wonder how many leaves he had to practice on to make it perfect.. The leaves that are turning golden yellow created that beautiful gradient of colours at the edges. As it starts to wilt with the pace of time, these artworks won't have much time left to live. Such short-lived crafts make it all the more unique to appreciate and admire. Even if they can't be kept or preserved, at least in their lifetime they made the smallest impact to the world.

As I continue to look into these pieces of art, I'm beginning to see the meaning unravel. Those parts that are cut out are shaped into buildings, cars, and smoke. The small small elements that contribute to the slow killing of the creations around us. Each new development of our technological world is taking away one little part of the trees. The trees that supply the air we need to live. And as this goes on, soon, the very existence of trees will be consumed and destroyed. We might think it's just one small step we're taking, no harm done. But the truth is, our every action counts. Every piece taken away from this leaf can never be undone. To view it that way, I believe I'll think twice for every time I leave the engine on, or keep the lights on when i'm not around. 

This is simply my own interpretation on this artwork -- how it inspired me to think creatively and raise awareness to people at the same time. To being a green artist! *cheers!*

Photos taken from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/01/cut-leaf-illustrations-for-plant-for-the-planet/ on 19 June 2012

Bloom.

Few weeks ago I came across this very interesting article of an art project that took place in 2003 (yes, I know, such a decade ago). An installation of 28,000 potted flowers were exhibited at a soon-to-be-demolished mental hospital back then. 


Why flowers? Why at a mental hospital? 




(All quotes and images from this point onward are taken from this website) 

Above is the photograph that caught my attention to continue reading the article. Just look at that stretch of beautiful white mums filled up in that corridor. Now that's something you don't see everyday.


"In 2003 a building housing the Massachusetts Mental Health Center (MMHC) was slated for demolition to make way for updated facilities. The closure was a time for reflection and remembrance as the MMHC had been in operation for over 9 decades and had touched countless thousands of patients and employees alike, and the pending demolition presented a unique problem. How does one memorialize a building impossibly rich with a history of both hope and sadness, and do it in a way that reflects not only the past but also the future? And could this memorial be open to the public, not as a speech, or series of informational plaques, but as an experience worthy of they building’s unique story?" 


This beautiful exhibition was opened for visiting for an entire 4 days, countless of visitors (including past patients and employees in the hospital) came and were moved tremendously.


As a reader, I was deeply inspired by such a simple yet meaningful way to remember a place that was once filled with so much sorrow. Flowers symbolize something new and fresh, growth, hope, and a new life. From the first leaf that greeted the sun for the first time, until the many transitions of blooming in life, its growth was full of beauty that comes from within. The artist used this concept in hopes of igniting and bringing hope to the people that walked through the hallways of this building for the last time. There was no need for words or further elaborations, people naturally connected to these blooming creatures through the very sight and scent of it.

Nooks and crannies were decorated with so much life that was never there before. If i could have been there to see it for myself, I cannot imagine how my spirit wouldn't be lifted up. Through this, art was used to touch lives and encourage weary hearts to keep going. Where sadness was replaced with new hopes, closing of one door to open another. Conceptual and colourful, such a beautiful sight for every eye to behold. I admire this project and am truly inspired by the message this piece of art brought about. There was no duplicity, just plainly a sincere and heartfelt art presented in the most beautiful form. 

Dancing jelly beans.

I have a very big appreciation for stop motion productions. Regardless if it's big or small, I personally think they are all masterpieces. From the age of 12, I've been watching the infamous Bob The Builder stop motion cartoon and had fallen deeply in love with it. 


Stop motion (also known as stop frame) is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence. 

                             -Definition by Wikipedia

And just recently I came across a music video that was made in stop motion... with JELLY BEANS. I've seen drawings and clay figures and furniture used in these kind of productions, but not food. They're tiny and come in so many colours. All 288,000 of them.

This is the video of the making of the amazing jelly beans in stop motion

This project was finished after 2 years of hardcore effort and patience. Everyone who was involved in it - from the mapping of story line, scrip writing, storyboard drawing, converting from plain animation to the real thing, jelly bean by jelly bean, frame by frame - are credited less than they deserve. 

The praises given should be more than just to their skills. When you look behind the impressive outcome that is presented which is the only thing most people see, you will see something that impresses and inspires you more. The pure love for art. These people dream for art. They do what they do simply because they enjoy it. When people dream together, great things happen. Joined passions and inspiration fuel the process. I completely admire the perseverance they had till the very last frame. When it is able to bring a smile to whoever sees it, or just inspires them for that one day, to beautify lives, I believe they have achieved their goal. :)