January, 2012

Final logo

The Spanish capital – Madrid – released yesterday, 30th January, the logo that will represent the city as a candidate for the Olympic Games in 2020. Just few hours after the release, Twitter and other social networks were full of messages of criticism with a sense of humour. The logo, creation of a 22 year old Graphic Design student, is described by the author as “a log that represents the monument from Madrid La Puerta de Alcala (Alcala’s Entrance) with a dynamic line symbolising the passion of the people from Madrid and Spain towards Sports. The five “doors” from the original monument become the 5 rings”.

For many, however, the logo looks like 5 coloured flip-flops behind what looks like 20020 instead of M20. Aside this, the “i” in “madrid” looks like if it had an accent when it shouldn’t and the black colour from the original 5 ring olympic logo has been replaced for pink, to which some have been joking could be more like the “logo for Proud Day in 20020″.

6.000 euros has been the cost of this logo, far from the £400.000 that the London 2012 cost, but as wrong as bad as this one. No wonder us, Graphic Designer, still cannot get taken seriously as professionals, as many think that what we do is just random drawing and scribbling as inspiration comes to us.

And I have nothing with the student that created the logo, at the end of the day he is still studying. Also, the logo was altered from the original proposal by the student, where the M20 looked clearer (see below). But whoever chose it and paid for it…

original proposal by Graphic Design student Luis Peiret

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Amy Joy Watson/ Boberika

Not long ago I interviewed the brilliant Christa Vi (see http://laurasalesa.com/blog/2011/11/29/christavi/), an Australian / German Singer Songwriter, based in East London that combines her folky, storytelling songwriting style with eclectic instrumentation, electronic elements and emotive vocals. Christa’s EP single ‘Your Heart’ will be released on 23rd March.

The artwork for the EP is as beautiful as her song, and features an sculpture by Amy Joy Watson (http://www.amyjoywatson.com/). The cover art is by Boberika.

Included in this release are exciting remixes by up and coming NuDisco producer Show Your Shoe from Switzerland, UKbass producer Reggie Pepper from South London and East London based indie-electro band The Dark Lights. 

Christa Vi’s debut album release is planned for 2012, produced by George Shilling (Coldcut, Yazz, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream etc). Your Heart EP will be available for digital download and CD via Bandcamp initially and then via other digital retailers such as ITunes and Amazon.

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by Frankula.

I am sure that not even the same Francis Geralds, aka Frankula, would have imagined that after his retirement from the Chemical Industry he would be wowing the world with his extraordinary and unique digital artworks. As he tells me, it all started short after he stopped working, when he was encouraged to buy a computer and was introduced to Photoshop at his home in Cumbria, UK. “I found this programme to be so intriguing I just had to explore more.”, he says.

It is fair to say, however, that he had some experience with the traditional methods of artmaking. “I think I must have tried every medium since I was early school age. I enjoyed every transition from one to more advanced techniques….pencil, water colour, oils,inks….yes! Inks in airbrushing I think were the most exciting of all forms, especially when sprayed on to high quality gloss paper.” After living and experiencing several decades of different artistic moves and techniques, Geralds can also see the advantage of the Digital Age; “I like Digital art from a point of view that there is No Mess, work can be redone or changed without a new canvass and the work is sharp and realistic. For me this is the best form. The digital work is ideal for Advertising but I would prefer a hand painted picture hanging on my wall. As far as I’m concerned I like all forms of Art and can find no disadvantages to any form but, they all have their place.”

The Creative Post: What are you influences, people or artistic movements that inspire your work?
Francis Geralds: I have always loved Art and anything from pop art on Record Album covers,comic book artists to fine art of The Masters. Artists that have had the greatest impression on me. William Blake, The Airbrush works of Michael English…during the 70′s and in the 80′s the wonderful imaginative works of H.R.Giger. Art is all around us and in everything we do.
Shop Window Displays, Product packaging, Magazines and of course Nature itself; the list is endless.

Francis Geralds

T.C.P.: Most of your work, have a Sci-Fi, fantasy theme/atmosphere, what are the reasons behind this?
F.G.: Hahaha well now Laura you have me stumped there…. I suppose Sci Fi and fantasy can be lumped together. This type of Art allows us to break free of the constraints of traditional work such as scenery,still life etc. I think to some extent a lot can be explained away when creating Sci Fi or Fantasy though, the works must still have structural credibility along with perspective otherwise the Picture just doesn’t work.

T.C.P.:How do you see the future of art expression, do you think it has been devaluated because of the use of enhancing softwares like Photoshop etc?
F.G.: All forms of art have their place, there is still a freedom of choice in whatever method that we feel happiest with.The fact that there are so many art programs on the market to-day shows there is a demand.Art should be available to each and every one of us and in whatever form we choose. I feel that the digital programs have brought art closer to us all and a sense of satisfaction in knowing we have created something of our own. The traditional and digital work very well alongside each other.
I know there has been a lot of controversy over the use of Photoshop techniques in advertising particularly where ‘Models’ are concerned.What should we do? do away with digital programs,Computers and for that matter Camera’s! and all because of a few people who are unable to differentiate or separate fantasy from reality.Education is the way forward perhaps a footnote may be better, saying…”The model has been digitally enhanced in order to display the product”. Personally I Applaud the use of digital programs in advertising we do not want to go backwards to the drab dreary days of the 40′s and 50′s. On this matter I feel I have said quite enough.

T.C.P.: What are your current projects?
F.G.:  I just never know from one day to the next what will take my interest. I often find myself creating a picture from doing an exercise or experimenting with different effects and then thinking ..”…Hmmm! I wonder what would look good with this?”….it is then that ideas begin to form. Having produced a basic picture I leave and come back to it in a day or so and, if it still looks good… I continue to add and enhance. I usually spend at least a week on a picture before posting to an Art site.

Thanks Frankula for this great interview.

by Frankula.

Please see below a small gallery with some of Frankula’s artworks. For more please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankula/

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[View with PicLens]

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You can now watch the music video I have directed and edited for the debut single ‘Who’s gonna wait’ by BRIKED, a new band formed by Italian guitar player and singer/songwriter Ed Marvis and Spanish keyboard player and singer/songwriter Iker Lezcano (aka the dRaugHty jaBBeR). The duo met in London few years ago through common friends. Sharing same musical taste and curiousity, they decided to try and collaborate together on their own compositions, and after a few sessions they had written five songs together without much effort. Together they are BRIKED and the music video for first of those songs they wrote together, ‘Who’s gonna wait’, was released on January 2nd 2012.

The video shoot took place in London last August 2011 and had the collaboration of Photographer Boberika (www.boberika.com) as the Lead Camera.

All comments and feedback appreciated! Thanks!

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As every January, I start the new year with some home de-cluttering. This time I came across my old pencil drawings from when I was a teenager. Sadly I haven’t used a pencil since I started doing digital illustration, back in 2005. One of the pics got my attention, the one you see below; my version of James Dean done back in 1995. As I look at it, feeling proud of it, I wonder if I would be able to hand draw something like this again. Maybe one of my 2012 resolutions?

James Dean by Laura Salesa (1995)

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Young photographer and model Nastinka Sam, aka Nastia Samochvalova, keeps pleasing us with her great eye for Fashion photography. Originally from Vilnus, Lithuania, this young artist has already hundreds of photos in her portfolio, including a good amount of well coordinated self-portraits (like the two images below these lines) where you can appreciate her good control of the light onsite and of post-production techniques.

At the Creative Post, we always keep an eye on her work. You can also follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NS-photography/195743347134081

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