Photo source: Minjae Lee | www.grenomj.com
When first observing what Minjae Lee does, you think wow. Then you look further into it, and think even more wow. This is what Minjae does.
If you go to Minjae’s website, and look at the about page, you can see a variety of pens, and I highly suspect there is also watercolor there on the originals. So, clearly Minjae is using mixed media. It also looks like it’s done on watercolor paper and who knows what else. Maybe coffee stains?! Continue Reading →
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
October 18th was the launch of a local events group called Tangoo (rhymes with dew). I was asked to join them to capture the event with my camera, and enjoy in some of the fun as well!
It was actually a pretty interesting experience, going to three different local establishments and feeling each’s respective vibe. Continue Reading →
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
Vancouver burlesque stars Lola Frost, Cherry On-Top, and Burgundy Brixx one year ago had a vision to create something they had been all collectively thinking about. The dream was to build a place to share their burlesque with the world. They dreamed of their own studio where they could teach their own classes on sass. Something most dance studios shy away from, or teach it with instructors who don’t dance burlesque themselves. What these three women offer is more than a dance class. They offer their hearts. Read their schedule to get an idea of what they do. It’s really no joke. Continue Reading →
Photo source: Bret Taylor | http://howyadoingraphics.com/shows/dinosaurs/
Bret Taylor of Howyadoin Graphics hosted his third solo show [see the last one I attended] [with the help of his agent] called Dinosaurs. If you ask me, the show was a success, but that’s not my duty to define. Most of his works sold out immediately before I arrived there, the place was filled with many admiring fans, and he was a happy camper.
It was held in a Cambie and 4th Ave artist space that fit the atmosphere perfectly. One of my favorite pieces was his Velociraptor, which ironically was one of the 3 pieces that hadn’t sold by the time I got there. He has a very interesting way of keeping the background very prominent, while pulling attention into the foreground, the main attraction of the work.
Will you be at Bret’s next event? I hope you head to his website to make sure you don’t miss his next one! If not for the fun time, go for the to support the art!
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
Photo source: Ned Tobin | www.nedtobin.com
For the full set of images, head to Ned Tobin’s fotoblog.
At first I fell in love with the sleek designs produced by Amanda Hamilton Interior Designs, with their strong contrast and bold corners, then I read the bios of the team at AHID. Amanda Hamilton and her tastemaker associate Ashley Dasent are creative, bold, active, seeking, and intelligent women, easily making me feel like entrusting them to altering the landscape of my home.
AHID offers both residential and commercial designing, but today we’re only going to focus on their residential work, as it is truly inspiring. For their commercial work, please head to their portfolio. Continue Reading →
Photo source: La Vida Romana | www.lavidaromana.com
Accessory designer La Vida Romana embodies the edgy gypsy; a first nation cross bohemian style that COT oh so loves. Bones and leather, and feathers that dangle and tiny skulls that jingle with bronze chain links and strong emerald or turquoise eye shadow. This is the beautiful kind of stuff that makes the warm setting sun of mid summer so very enjoyable. Continue Reading →
Searching through Curioos artist Januz Miralles, who also goes by Nuestra was found.
His work is jaw dropping. It’s mostly done in black and white, with scenes of persons mixed with the smears of distortion or destruction. It really reminds us of our other friend Jaybo Monk’s work we’ve profiled a few times.
Blakbird | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
unyo | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
His work touches on life and death. On inanimate and animated beings. It explores the imaginable, as well as the fantasy. Mixing this with wrinkles and drips, and thick brush strokes, this art becomes real, really quick.
Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
increpe | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
increpe_ | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
From the best of what we can tell, Miralles uses a combination of acrylic painting on paper or canvas which he then scans and combines with photo manipulation to get some of the images he’s looking for. Something like this would be very beautiful to see a live example of, hoping it wasn’t just a print.
Non-return | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
Pet | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
Q | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
Untitled 012 | Photo source: nuestra.tumblr.com
We look forward to any future work by this artist, and you can bet we’ll be keeping a close eye on it. Sometimes you see an artist’s work and you realize how solid an image they have made for themselves, and you really wonder where they will go from there. That’s what we see here.
For more information on Januz Miralles head to:
Kara Mann is a designer based out of Chicago and New York. Her mood is traditional laced with contemporary. Her mood is very old, with solid wood and beautifully simple contours everywhere, which are they controlled with amazing centerpieces.It also seems to be more rich colors. Colors that make you want to inhale deeply through your nose to get the last smell in of the rich furniture before you.
Photo source: www.karamann.com
Once and a while you run across some great videos that inspire you and get your knees shaking and the sweat and gears turning.
This is an introspective into the man/blogger known as The Sartorialist.
I find it great when he stops the girls and the one is like: “Which blog?” and the friend is like THE SARTORIALIST! haha.
Thanks to Baron S. Cameron, a brilliant photographer and writer himself, for sharing this.
Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com
Swedish born Kristian Matsson is truly a folk singer. His lyrics are mesmerizing, his voice is capturing, and his guitar styles make all memories flow forth fluidly. Kristian Matsson is known to music fans as The Tallest Man On Earth.
In 2008 The Tallest Man On Earth released his first full length album Shallow Grave, which is packed with finger picking that will make the best of them stop and take note. Since then, he hasn’t stopped.
Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com
The Tallest Man On Earth really gives one a feeling they just dropped back into the 60’s folk music scene. Really eerily, Matsson sounds like Dylan. Being a huge fan of Dylan, I am now a huge fan of The Tallest Man On Earth.
Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com
Stunning finger picking, great lyrics, melodic voice with that raspy edge to it, and.. AND LYRICS!
This entire article could just read just as song lyrics. In fact, that is what it shall read like.
Shallow Grave
Come see the ripples on the water
As I throw pebbles in the pond
To let the sky go past its surface
Empty my pockets filled with stones
My pockets filled with stones
Come see the sadness of the sailor
As I will scratch his deep blue floor
Already in my years of bad luck
Oh, I broke his mirror long before
Oh when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave
I found the darkness in my neighbor
I found the fire in the frost
I found the season once claimed healthy
Oh, I need the guidance of the lost
But when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave
‘Cause when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave
It’s just a shallow grave
Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com
Honey Won’t You Let Me In
Now the snow will fall and the lover’s call
Will be drenched out by the shatterin’ of verse
As the seasoned shifts lonely minds will drift
On the ocean in a build above its lore
As I knock your door from inside once more
How I wish a soothin’ breeze would let me in
Shake my tambourine at your glowing dreams
So honey won’t you let me in, oh
As we cease to know where our fate will go
We won’t see the rivers tied up in the vines
Branches will untie every mumblin’ lie
Every frayed word in your lullaby is heard
Oh when I catch the ? of our ?
How I wish the turning sunset could record
Blow my engine steam at your glowin’ dreams
So honey won’t you let me in, oh
Now the dust will rise, dress the olden skies
Just a gallery of words we’ve used much
It’s a ? but what if it’s too late
To be building up our muscles in ?
Put me on the mornin’ ship and I will take the trip
To return with all the treasures of the past
It will always seem like a glowin’ dream
So honey won’t you let me in
I said honey won’t you let me in, oh
Honestly, this man is already a legend in my books. What do you think of him?
Reading further in to The Tallest Man On Earth, he is notorious for recording his albums with a portable recorder, wherever he is. Recording vocals and guitar at the same time. When one listens to the recordings on the albums, you can hear this, but to be honest, it fits right in. There is no loss in quality, in fact, there is more attitude given to the songs. It’s a great style. It’s a smart choice by Matsson.
The Tallest Man On Earth has three albums out.
We here at COT surely hope that The Tallest Man On Earth doesn’t stop any time soon making this beautiful music. We support him.