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Honestly I can't say I ever recall seeing a TV ad for Levi's? They must be a European thing or something.


Definitely acquiring The Swimmer to watch this weekend though

They're on all the time... mainstream channels too like ESPN etc. Usually involving fireworks and people on a beach.

Disgustingly adorable creatures.

Poetry + sword fighting in the air + best trio of songs = Amazing video

^love those. Japanese ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) had a big influence on French art in the 19th century. Some interesting info about ukiyo-e:

The ukiyo-e print contains many design elements that are in contrast to Western art of the same time period. Western illusion of depth (perspective) usually does not exist. The Japanese print is flat space on a flat piece of paper meant to be unframed and without any illusion of Western style of depth. Japanese mastery of flat space was derived in its art from Chinese classical painting. The Asian artist usually sits cross-legged above his paper and sees it as flat. His finished work is intended to be held close to the eyes, in contrast to the Western canvas intended to be stood in front of at eye level and at a distance. Ukiyo-e artists were experts at the handing of line drawing gained from the value placed upon fine handwriting. Writing as calligraphy and painting are inseparable for the Japanese. The same Japanese word is used for both processes: the skill of handling line with a pointed brush and black ink to form ideographs is taught from early childhood. Ukiyo-e prints use clear color in a flat, opaque and two-dimensional manner. The prints usually tell a story with scenes from life in the houses of prostitution or in the theater, posed as a tableau or scene. Details such as fabric and hair style had to reflect the current fashions of the time. The emotional content of the ukiyo-e involves the use of a very complicated system of iconography. Symbols are represented through color posture, and use of animals: birds, fish.

Some east meets west

Van Gogh



Degas



Gauguin

Wasn't it Monet who discovered Japanese prints in a fish store where they were used as wrapping paper ? He was so impressed that he bought the whole lot on the spot. Or so goes the legend.


Also relevant

was looking for this



and found this

La Mine de l'Allemand perdu / Le Spectre aux balles d'or is a masterpiece.

I have lost count of how many times I've read the Blueberry series, that's my childhood right there.

I'll try to make a more fleshed-out Moebius post later


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steveoffice's lego boba fett reminded me that Ralph McQuarrie, the concept artist behind the original star wars films, passed away sooner this week too.

McQuarrie is basically the man responsible for most of the Star Wars visual universe as we know it, his paintings turned Lucas rudimentary concepts and sketchy ideas into something visually tangible (and were instrumental in convincing the studios to green light the first film). With his background as technical illustrator for Boeing, McQuarrie brought a realistic, used-future style to bear on the project.

McQuarrie's style was characterised by competing strains of industrial realism and aesthetic grandeur. "I've always had sort of a dreamworld approach to sitting and sketching for myself," he said. "I go for the romantic and what looks interesting while half my mind is occupied with practicality."

Nowhere was this more apparent than in his design of Darth Vader, the terrifying Dark Lord from the Star Wars films. "The first thing I thought was, 'Shouldn't he have some sort of breathing apparatus if he's entering the vacuum of space?' I asked George and he said, 'Fine, give him a breath mask.'"

Click to expand...

I've had that Blueberry book on my computer for years...perhaps now's the time to dig in.


Here's Whispers, the latest mini-series from one half of the Luna Brothers, artists soon to enter my personal canon. (Their 24-issue series Girls is one of the most compelling things in comics, ever...)

shannon ebner

All the comic love on this page brings a smile to my face.