beards + tattoos okeas

Have you heard them say that nothing happens without reason? I believe that. That life just falls into place, what will be is meant to be and that the little links you see along the way are all a part of the master plan. That the song you hear on the radio today, versus tomorrow and the green lights and the stop signs are all in front of you because of fate and a great power is drawing you towards a future that is only yours and is down a path that was chosen before you even knew you (or it) existed. Like finding an illustrator you like, who does beards and tattoos in massive bouts of saturation, fires and skulls and the ocean. Subjects that have consumed me for the last 10 weeks and will consume me (if I'm lucky... except its already chosen) for 100 years more.

Look: http://www.ricardocavolo.com
Buy: http://cargocollective.com/ricardocavoloart
Talk: ricardocavolo@gmail.com

The long and the short of it

Once upon a long time ago, I cut my hair to the shortest of lengths. It seemed on a whim, spur of the moment. But really it was the critical point where changing my world was badly needed to reaffirm me to me through the depths of my early 20s. I loved it but I loved the lush of long and so have been growing it since.

I'm so in a rut with it as I launch into 20's Part II and have been debating the cut off until seeing Erika Altosaar's art and seemingly hair obsession. The Montreal based artist gave me re-newed eyes to look at my hair in a different light when I found one of her beautiful drawings which reminded me of a pic someone once took of my hair.

Altosaar's zine "L’Étranger" (GB03 Price: $8 / Signed $20) is an unbound portfolio of 12 drawings printed on 35# newsprint, each copy is numbered by hand and is collectible. Expect bigger things from Altosaar - her latest project? Afterzine - curated by Hamish Robertson and filled with the stylings of Altosaar as well as contributors including Alexa Chung.

hairspiration 1

hairspiration more

Bright like

I'm currently obsessed with neon against neutral. The bright lights against the big city - slicing things up in a unique and unexpected way. I find myself bower-birding towards threads in weaves, the book on the shelf, the glimpse of a handful of bright nails. And it was by pure coincidence that I found the site of current artist numero uno Leif Podhajsky. The man behind the psychedelic rapture of Tame Impala and Gypsy and the Cat record covers, also created an insanely gorgeous little paper of color theory - Spectral Paper. I'm in love.

In swirls and ribbons

Sometimes when you dream something hard enough, the thoughts materialise themselves into reality. The right people show up out of the blue and give you clarity, the right call comes just when you need it most, an opportunity puts itself right down in front of you. All of these things and more have left the last few weeks in a constant state of creativity overload, inspiring and driving, sucking me through a vortex of excitement.

Part of that has been the constant measure of art and advertising and looking for opportunities that were always there but just had to be grasped. Somewhere in the middle of that is this campaign, done to launch the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack series.

A collaboration between Nike, YesYesNo (an interactive projects company) and DualForces, software was developed allowing runners to create dynamic paintings with their feet – or more specifically their Nike+ GPS run data.
Over a two day workshop, participants recorded their runs and then fed these details into unique software. The output? A gorgeous visual based on the speed, consistency, and style – unique to each person. Taking personalisation one step further, each participant was given a customised shoebox - laser etched with their name, distance run and run path – containing a pair of City Pack shoes from their city of origin.

Nike City Pack is a collection of unique LunarGlide2+ designs that celebrate the world’s greatest running cities, and all those who charge through them.

Remember Me Not

Moments. So many in a lifetime. Making up your personal story.

It's amazing how some things stick in your mind so vivid, more than others, and all it takes is a tiny spark to set off the chain reaction that conjours up a time past. But where do those spirals backwards take you? To a different moment now, and a different path for the future? Whatever that journey, nothing detracts from that single moment. Where time stood still, just for an instance.

This season, We Are Handsome draws on special moments - a catalyst for taking you into the smallest pockets of your imagination and your memory, and lets them play out in the now. We Are Handsome's latest collection "The Memories" imposes beautiful, strong, nostalgic prints on bold, modern but timeless cuts of swimwear - as well as (for the first time) mini dresses and leggings (a wardrobe staple).

Launched from a Sydney base in 2009 by fashion babes Indhra Chagoury (ex Oscar & Elvis) and Jeremy Somers (People Like Us), We Are Handsome is truely Aussie and can be found in the worlds most incredible boutiques, including Opening Ceremony, Colette, Harvey Nichols, plus online (Net-a-Porter.com) to name only a few. Photographed for Vogue, Grazia, Elle, Harpers and worn by some of the worlds most fashion saavy women (including the likes of can-do-no-wrong Diane Kruger and Rachel Bilson) We are Handsome is fashion for the beach and for after.

What's On: Daniel Askill "Modern Worship" exhibition

Daniel Askill is co-founder and director of the very excellent design and film studio Collider based in Sydney Australia. With recognisable work running the gauntlet from things such as Sia's "Breathe Me" vid clip (you know the song - the one they play during every reality tv breakup du jour), short film "Concrete Island" for ACNE, commercial work in between for Dior, Xbox and personal installations, Askill is one busy cat.

If you're in Sydney tonight, check out his new exhibition, the first for Gallery A.S. - a transient exhibition space run by Joseph Allen Shea. Titled "Modern Worship" the mixed media work brings together two modern events, the death of Michael Jackson and the 9/11 attacks, in a way that questions the viewers sentiment on modern ritual. And shows Askill's own perception of it.

Get there.

DANIEL ASKILL - MODERN WORSHIP
Wednesday, April 20 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH, DARLINGHURST
Cnr Liverpool St and Forbes St, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia

Bratski

Some nights you just need to break free. Be a brat and a little bit naughty. The pot stirring friend who sets the wheels in motion and watches them turn. And lets it all be funny and smart.

Created by Sapling Press and dearblankpleaseblank.com these funny cards are an excellent random present for someone with a great sense of humor.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shopsaplingpress

Random

Sometimes the best type of fate falls in your lap. It just happens. It's like one drop in an ocean, causes a ripple and then you're off on a completely different path from where you started. This year already feels like the calmest sea but underneath the currents are dragging me to exactly where I need and want to be. And along the way things are already falling and landing upright. New friends pop up, and whether it's because the drop landed and the motion was set or because of terribly unromantic technology making it so I'd kind of glad that Mia Oatley and her art came from no where.

Mia Oatley
"Dirty Pretty Things" - 19 February - 2 March 2011
Richard Martin Art
98 Holdsworth Street - Woollahra NSW 2025 Sydney Australia
P: +61 (0)2 9327 6525

new? year

What was your new years resolution? Mine was to master the art of simplicity - to pull things back a bit and take a harder look at the bigger picture with the aim of Alice-ing myself right through that looking glass into a more relevant place.

It's ironic then, that I stumbled on the name of the artist of some incredible vehicle paintings, whose aesetic seems to lie firmly in enhancing anarchy in the world. Kevin Cyr seems to stand against the "culture in which people are easily lured by the appeal of status-enhancing symbols", instead finding relevance and beauty in the trashy urban around his NYC abode. His focus in taking vehicles from their original and everyday context to give them them portrait status, while capturing the imperfections perfectly is simply gorgeous.

If you're in Canada, check out Cyr at Show&Tell Gallery
ATROPHIC EXISTENCE
December 11, 2010 – January 10, 2011.
Show&Tell Gallery, 1161 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, CANADA

Nouveau Sceno

Graduating fresh is a hard slog. Being out in the big world, wide eyed, wanting to roll. It's hard. Unless you are Dane, Jacob Dahlstrup Jensen. The old world right now sailor boy obsessed with skulls and boats and slicked back do's.

Using a tattoo machine like a pen, which disorders the paper structure, Jesen outlines incredible designs on heavy water color paper - in the same way you would work the skin. A combination of drawing and installation and merging material and context helps Jensen explore and discover his own the visual language.

On a Sailors Grave (no roses grow) from Jacob Dahlstrup on Vimeo.

Mad

Katie Thompson's website reads... “It is more comfortable to be mad and know it than to be sane and have one’s doubts.”

Is being creative mad? Or is seeing the world a little differently a more sane approach to being? It may be a stretch, but when you consider the jealousy many feel for those who like things a little bit more free and un-confined around the edges, maybe being slightly mad is a better way to live.

South African designer Thompson thinks so. Beginning her furniture, interior design, and consulting firm Recreate after graduating from Design Time School of Interior Design in Cape Town, her Suitcase Chairs are made from a classic tufted chair inside a beautiful and well traveled Samsonite shell. Upholstered in 100% white linen, these would be a beautiful, simple, unique addition to any type of room.

on a (h)Ian

My absolute favourite favourite artist - Ian Francis - has popped some new work up online. The man is amazing, referencing pop culture in a beautiful, and very mod-classic way.

I love his style and rarely see a piece that I wouldn't want to hang on a brilliant white wall, over a wrought iron fireplace paralleled with two tan, lace up leather armchairs and cornered off by beautiful natural brown and grey weave low line couches. Throw in these incredible Spanish mustard coloured tea glasses I picked up two weeks ago (that have a tan leather cupping them), filled with a gorgeous deep, yummy Tempranillo and fresh green olives, beautiful friends and that's a night from heaven.