Pattern Pulp

The Paintbrush Playbook




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I’ve been a huge fan of Ana Montiel’s work for a long time. Her brush strokes have a unique sensibility to them. They’re both beautiful and influential and have interestingly defined periods in fashion illustration over the past decade.

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Montiel’s latest project is one for artists, as opposed to her typical reel of brands and commissions. She’s created an incredible resource in her latest book debut, The Paintbrush Playbook: 44 Exercises for Swooshing, Dancing, and Making Dazzling Art with Your Brush.

Inside, you’ll find warm-up exercises and guides to experimenting with new brush techniques. The pages are uncoated, and encourage the reader to experiment on the page. Here are layouts that especially resonated: a step-by-step lesson on how to make an all over pattern and an exercise devoted to  negative space. Click here for more info and to buy.

 

July 13, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: London Design Guide




Life’s serendipitously connected, we all know that. As soon as you start noticing something interesting, it pops up two or three times in a row. So it goes with today’s book review. Not long after admiring Peter Crawley’s portfolio, we stumbled upon this book cover. When the content matches it’s packaging, the design world rejoices. Such is the case of the LONDON DESIGN GUIDE 2012-2013.

Following the success of the first edition, London’s only comprehensive design guide returns with a totally updated and rewritten second edition, offering up fresh insight into the city’s contemporary and vintage retailers, design galleries, museums and bookshops.

Shops are categorized by neighborhood and accompanied by detailed maps – plus walking tours written by local tastemakers including Sheridan Coakley, Tom Dixon and Kit Kemp – to help navigate the best that the city has to offer. You’ll find restaurant, bar and café recommendations, selected as much for their design credentials as for the quality of food and service. The book also includes 10 short essays by local experts including Naomi Cleaver, Hugh Pearman and Libby Sellers, each discussing an aspect of the industry. Additional imagery via London Design Guide.

 

May 31, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: The Printmaking Bible




Ever popular, printmaking has been enjoying a vibrant contemporary resurgence and yet there has been no comprehensive up-to-date manual on the subject. With over 400 pages packed with 1,000 full-color photos and illustrations, The Printmaking Bible is out to remedy the plight of the printmaking book hunter and serve as the definitive resource to the ins-and-outs of every variety of serious printmaking technique practiced today.

In-depth instructions are accompanied by profiles that show how working artists create their prints. Historical information, troubleshooting tips, and an extensive resource section provide more invaluable tools. Perfect for students, artists, print aficionados, and collectors, this is truly the ultimate volume for anyone involved in this creative and influential art form.

Imagery via Buy Olympia

May 24, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Visual Mantras by Ana Montiel




I’ve long been a fan of Ana Montiel’s amazing artwork and her keen eye for color, texture and pattern. Her style is unique, engaging and elegant and it’s exciting to share a tangible takeaway with all of you.

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The Visual Mantras Project is a work in progress in which Ana focuses on cycles and repetition. In her repetitive compositions, she meditatively studies the cycles in life, in nature, in relations, in everything and everywhere. The book is a limited edition, with each containing a surprise watercolor drawing enclosed as a bonus. Snap one up for yourself or someone in your life – it’s sure to be a treasured piece.

I’ll leave you with an adorable photo I snapped of Ana while I was last in London. She’s a true talent to the core and as lovely as you can imagine.

 

December 1, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Papercraft 2




When Papercraft was published 2 years ago, it covered the most current innovations in paper art. Since its release, the medium has flourished left right and center, from scenography and fashion design to marketing and advertising. Recently released, Papercraft 2 covers the amazing leap in breadth and level of quality since the early days of the first release. The book documents how techniques such as cutting, folding, gluing, and collage help designers craft innovative communication design, products, and artwork from these materials that reach new creative heights. Click here to watch the trailer.

June 23, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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