Learn to Make Clothes that are Paintings

Forever rummaging the web, a favorite resource over the years has been the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn. They’ll soon be offering a silk painting class that sounds pretty amazing.

In an effort to showcase the various ways one can paint their clothing, we’re sharing imagery from their site. With fabric painting, there’s fluidity that can’t be found in graphic design- it’s freeing from a technical and thematic standpoint.

Isa Rodrigues will be teaching the class, honing in on resists, dyes, inks, spray bottles and salt. Students will be invited to create their own scarves, dresses, tops, pillow cases, bags – ultimately the list is endless.

The class runs through May and is a vibrant kickstarter to the Spring/Summer season.

The silk painted experiments above are by Tracy L. Theriault, CONIMATTA, Kindah Khalidy and Rachel Rose.

April 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Jennifer Daniel

Jennifer Daniel isn’t sure whether she should be considered an illustrator or a designer; but, regardless of the label, the Brooklyn based creator has a bevy of wit and sass that only matches her creativity. Her work has appeared regularly in many publications including The New York Times, Print, Seed, and Heeb Magazine. She was highlighted in Print Magazine’s “20 Under 30 New Visual Artists” issue in 2009 and was named an Art Director’s Club Young Guns 8 winner. As a talented designer as she is, she mostly considers herself to be funny person who loves to express her subversive wit in her work, which is probably what makes her work stand out so fabulously.

April 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Interactive Storytelling at Anthropologie

It’s been interesting to follow fashion’s toe-dip into the digital sphere. While the translation over the past few years has been a bumpy ride for many (some food for thought here as to why), some brands keep innovating, infusing their gift of storytelling through interactive mediums. Currently, Anthropologie is sharing it’s pattern, color and scale story through poetry-like pins.

Directing the eye using bright focal points, a la Lifestyle Mirror, each of Anthro’s home spreads teaches the reader more about the creative process. The patterned page reads like a styling mantra.

Sometimes, a pattern simply speaks to you. Choose a single spot for your print focus- a sofa, a papered wall, an area rug- and use a complementary solid color as a backdrop, and that pattern will do more than speak. It’ll sing.

April 17, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Graphical Homegoods with 56thStudio

Meet 56thStudio. The newest player to the field and the pickings are wondrous. An email recently found it’s way into my inbox decked with adjectives such as “luxe-personified yet kitschy, neo-ethnic, eclectically bold and youthful.” Off the bat, it’s hard not to agree!

Mixing graphic collage, vintage themes and old-school chairs (don’t they remind you of the 80’s? ) a fresh coat of paint paired with a textile refresh has produced a product line of note.

The collection includes chairs, pillows, wall decor, fabric, totes and customized orders and focuses on the caricature as furniture, familiar faces and is a tribute to The Beatles and Hollywood culture.

If you’re in Milan this week, stop by Spazio Rossana Orlandi for their debut exhibition.

So…which one’s your favorite?

April 17, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!

1. Erik Madigan Heck and Mary Katrantzou’s collaborative surreal photography series via Trendland
2. Digging the shape and visual effect of these shelves by Ka-Lai Chan via design-milk
3. Great poster series based on original text & etchings from classic children’s stories via designworklife
4. Interesting DIY copper coil vases via design*sponge
5. I don’t know about you, but I’d certainly like a book igloo via This is Colossal
6. The seamless merging of movie stars from different eras into a single striking photo via Jeannie Jeannie
7. Fantastic use of color in Sarah Brenneman’s paintings via Art Hound
8. DIY painted glass tumblers – love this idea via curbly
9. Hand painted silk kimonos from Abraxas Rex via Honestly WTF
10. Always a sucker for killer embroidery, especially when dancers are involved via The Jealous Curator
11. Fantastical collage art by Jenny Okun via Craig Krull Gallery
12. Love these photo printed scarves from Light as a Feather via Design Crush

Coverage by Emily Gup

April 13, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Christopher David Ryan

Christopher David Ryan is a graphic artist and illustrator who also describes himself as a daydreamer, pseudo-scientist, wanna-be astronaut and untrained intellectual. His wide variety of interests span science, the universe, the human condition and any natural phenomena that occurs in art and design. All of these factors have a major influence on his work, which is easy to see when looking through his expansive and abundantly diverse portfolio. His work has attracted the eye and commissions of Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Gap, Osh Kosh, Howies, SixPack France, Ubiquity Records, Element Skateboards, Obedient Sons, Graniph, New York Times Magazine, Kate Spade, MiH Jeans and The San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival among others.

With all of the bold, imaginative and intelligent work he does under his own CDR moniker, as well the more progressive graphic work he does through his one-man studio Atmostheory, the collaborative studio More & Co. and as a partner and founder of Monolathe Recordings, it becomes incredibly difficult to pick a grouping of favorites that cover his diverse spectrum of work. We picked out a selection for you to peruse, and urge you to dive into the creative rabbit hole of his site to get the full effect of all he can do.