Blanc Kanvass: Aesthetic Division

Horizons

2010-12-21T13:12:00.001-08:00

I’m doing this now because I plan on going off the grid in the next few days. I’m hoping to clear my head and wrap up on what has been a miserable year personally, if a surprisingly good one creatively. But when, in just over a week, the grind re-commences, I intend on having a few projects going for 2011.

1. designbynuff.com:
I already hate the name. Maybe even more than Blanc Kanvass. But whatever. I’ll have it at least til the domain registration runs out. I’m finally getting round to having a portfolio site. I might as well throw a blog up too. Which brings us nicely to…
2. Project 365:
Yes. Me too. I’m still hashing out the details for this one, but basically, Take a picture every day for a year. Ideally it wouldn’t just be photos, after all there’s more to life, but expect some kind of daily action.
3. Street Style:
This is incredibly likely not to happen – but it’s an idea I’ve played with for over a year. There are a thousand Montreal street style blogs, but none that cater to my aesthetic. The idea of photographing strangers still scares me out of my wits, so this one’s going to have to be a team effort.
4. Design School:
I will be taking a very serious approach to educating myself. Whether that’s enrolling full time somewhere, Finding people who inspire me, or working my way through tutorials. In essence, I will be looking for a lot of feedback on my work.

Hopefully, 2010 has been kind to you and 2011 will be even kinder.

A few shots to see the year out.

Life Lessons from a Fire Drill

2010-11-15T12:08:00.001-08:00

It feels kind of foolish to admit that a (possibly faulty) fire alarm has just brought me to an epiphany, but there you go.

When a fire alarm goes off, you don’t worry about where you’re headed once you escape the building, or how you’re going to rebuild anything that may be destroyed. (This is especially the case when you know there’s no fire.) Your first instinct is to emerge unscathed, and worry about the rest once that particular mission is complete.

Yet sometimes, I fail to recognise the gravity of certain situations, situations I simply can’t outlast. I’m worried about the aftermath. What next? What’s the damage? Will I be able to pick up the pieces? The fear can be paralysing, but ultimately, wouldn’t you rather live to fight another day?

I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you smell smoke, get out.

Super Mario, Meet J.Dilla.

2010-11-04T08:22:00.001-07:00

I can’t stop playing this beat right now. Maybe after almost two years working in a game studio, The Geekiness has finally taken over my soul. Or perhaps, it’s just that good.

(Café) Numero Uno

2010-10-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

You might subscribe to the stereotype of Graphic Designers at your local uber-cool, third-wave artisan café, swilling Macchiato, rays of multicoloured light emitting from their MacBooks potent enough to kill a baby panda. I’m here to put that to bed.

Until last month, I had never owned anything made by Apple (software exempted, and even then I use alternatives to iTunes and Quicktime). Nor had I ever had coffee. Until yesterday.

Seeing as I now own an Apple laptop, it only seemed logical for me to take it into a public place so people could make comments like “You must do very impressive and fulfilling work!” and I could bask in the admiration I rightfully deserve. To complete the illusion, I would have to learn to drink coffee.

I always had a plan. My first coffee was to be of such quality that I could neither get hooked on the cheap stuff nor afford a habit. The second was not to follow too quickly (to wit, I have smoked exactly once in my entire life). Months of research (Chowhound) had let me to conclude that Café Myriade was the best espresso in town, closely followed by Café Névé, which won by virtue of being closer.

Of course, the place is full. Probably doesn’t help that it’s tiny. Fine, I’ll go to the place on the corner. I’ll just get a hot choc though, I’m saving myself for you, Névé.

Just as I was beginning to doubt myself, it dawned on me that Romados, also on my Montreal bucket list, was right next door. Fantastico.

Belly full of incredible, I made my way back to Névé (who should be paying me for mentioning them so many times, accents are hard to copy and paste!) and explained my situation. The baristas were incredible, giving me a brief history of coffee culture before declaring it was an honour to be making my first cup.

I know what you’re thinking – wasn’t this article supposed to be about how I don’t fall into stereotype? Well, as I consumed my magic potion (which ultimately might not be for me), it dawned on me – Graphic Designers aren’t at these cafés swilling Macchiato and dazzling with their MacBooks, everyone is. The sequence from door to window: MacBook Pro, MacBook, me, MacBook Air, MacBook, Black MacBook, MacBook Pro, and right in the far corner, ThinkPad.

My Design Process: Unmute

2010-10-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

I’m working on a Behance Portfolio, as well as a Flickr account and a brand new website (ever get the feeling you’re spreading yourself too thin?) I have no idea what that all means for the future of this little blog, but I figured I would at least finish up the posts I’ve had in the works, including this one.

I’m going to try and make the information here different to what I already put on Behance.

I sat down with my co-worker Sergio over lunch to try and understand his vision for the company. Turns out he was still shaping it. As such, the research phase was the longest and slowest part of this project. One thing I’ve learnt is you can’t rush your clients. I’d much rather give someone a few months to get their ideas solid and come back, than try and push something through on the spot. Plus you get to experiment with visuals in the downtime.

Getting back on track, once things were a bit clearer we moved through the gears, picking a colour scheme and arriving at a wordmark in about a week. On reflection perhaps the mark could be stronger, but when your client tells you you’ve found what he was looking for, you stop looking.

This whole “Blanc Kanvass” business is about my lack of confidence in my own ability. There, I said it. I know that’s a major taboo for any designer – let alone a blogging one – but the fact is that sometimes my mind gets a bit cloudy, and what seemed to be an award winning concept comes out as pure dross. The more work I do, the more elusive that inner treasure becomes, and the more I learn that great designers are judged as much on their ‘faking it’ as their ‘making it’. In other words, anyone can be taken by a moment of inspiration. Good designers must produce consistently even in their lesser moments.

It’s funny how when you stop looking for inspiration, it comes to you. After all the stresses of finding a logo, the idea for the business card fell into my lap. It was the very first idea I had (though I kept thumbnailing, shame on you for thinking otherwise) and the client loved my little paper prototype.

My workflow is a very confusing back and forth between Photoshop and Illustrator. I’m a believer in vector but my full time job is so Photoshop inclined that I never have the chance to build any consistency with Illustrator. Not to mention I started out drawing in Flash and Fireworks. Now, I think InDesign could actually be the way to go…

Eventually I had print ready graphics approved by the client. While I probably shouldn’t endorse this, we used VistaPrint. The cards were shockingly good – maybe not quite so crisp on the extremely fine lines and typography, but still very good. The fact that the first batch we sent them contained placeholder text, and we only caught the incident a few minutes after confirming the order. Usually you can cancel a job up to a few hours after ordering, but strangely, this one had already gone to print. VistaPrint were very understanding, sending us the placeholder batch for free and printing up another after ensuring we had corrected the mistakes.

This is my first identity project that has reached full maturity (there have been others but the businesses haven’t launched). It’s also my first project to be featured online (Card Observer). I can’t really ask more than that.

Here Comes the Winter

2010-10-17T18:10:00.001-07:00

As the cold, dark abyss of winter begins to descend upon us, I can’t help but flash back to what seems like an eternity ago.

Old Montreal – Rustic Markets and Coastline Cafes

2010-08-31T09:19:00.001-07:00

Perhaps it’s time to think about setting up some kind of photo-blog or Flickr account or something.

Honestly, I have stuff in the pipelines. I think.

The "I Don't Draw Anymore" Competition

2010-08-06T05:50:00.001-07:00

In the words of a book that caught my eye at Indigo the other day, I miss my pencil.
So I figured I'd give myself some motivation.

I'm offering a portrait to anyone who wants it. You can have it however you like, and dare I say, of whoever you like. If you're local and you want a physical object, you can have it drawn on paper or painted on a little canvas. I also do those jpeg thingies, or even Facebook Graffiti. The possibilities are not quite endless, but certainly ample.
All you have to do, for this slightly-above-mediocre prize, is show me a piece of art you're digging. Showing is better than telling, right?
Winner will be selected at random by picking the only person who bothers to write back, or in case of a major surprise, name out of a hat.
Here. This is from back when I drew.

Rainy Nights

2010-07-27T13:38:00.001-07:00

Is it taking the easy way out when the subject does all the work for you by being so interesting and aesthetically pleasing? I’d have to say yes. So excuse the cop out.

I guess it’s always better to do something – anything – than to sit around moping about your lack of technique.

On (Potential) Set – Film Shoot Pre Production

2010-07-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

I’m not going to give anything away – I couldn’t really even if I wanted to.

A young filmmaker I know is about to shoot a short film. Well, he’s still writing it but whatever. Not long ago, he found a studio in which he would like to film. I was invited to the test shoot to help photograph the location as well as do some work with a model establishing framing and lighting options. All very exciting – especially for a first timer like myself.
Like I said there isn’t a lot I can reveal, but this project could be a real corker. It’s got a very elegant feel to it. Here I present some of my shots. I can’t stress enough that the place will be ‘done up’ for the shoot, and the model in the photos will in all likelihood not be acting the part in the actual film.
I think I’m beginning to get better at this whole camera business. Although regrettably I’m not drawing nearly as much as I would like. Given how busy I am being a Photoshop Monkey, I guess Photography is more immediately accessible. I definitely want to launch myself head first back into drawing though. More on that in the near future.

Seriously Overdue Snaps: Ismism

2010-06-30T11:35:00.001-07:00

Ismism (a Montreal band for those of you living under a rock) are quite the puzzle. At once mature and youthful, equal parts calm and storm, predominantly instrumental yet highly lyrical. I am of the opinion that their music would serve as a fantastic complement to one of those new-fangled jet-set spy movies, you know the kind.

Mixing sombre tones with gritty urban beats is nothing new. Neither is getting all melancholy on electric guitar, bass or keys. To do all that, and then throw in some vibraphone… therein lies the genius.

There is an experimental edge to the Ismism sound, loops channelling their way in and out of the more organic instrumentation, and songs often start or end quite freely.

Here are some shots of the band in action.

Travel Snaps: Airports and Aeroplanes

2010-06-22T12:52:00.001-07:00

I have impossibly itchy feet. I get agitated each month that passes without some kind of travel. Having said that, I’ve been fairly anchored since I got into the whole DSLR thing.

My recent trip, despite the less than ideal circumstances predicating it, allowed me to see somewhat familiar sights in a new light. Here are a few shots focussing on the Air Travel side of things.

Fantastic Wedding Invitation by J&J

2010-05-07T08:31:00.001-07:00

There’s nothing better than two of your old friends finding love. I lie. There is – two of your old friends finding love and celebrating it in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
J&J (as they seem hell-bent on being referred to henceforth) have sent out some very pretty invitations to their wedding, featuring a juxtaposition of frilly ornaments and chunky, colourful sans-serif type. The format is easily digested but comprehensive in information, featuring a little card with sunny day directions on one side and rainy day directions on the other. They thought of everything.

As much as I’d love to take credit for this, I can’t. Way back in the newly-engaged days, we briefly discussed invitations and looked around a bit for inspiration. Fast forward a few months and this beauty arrives in my post box – a million miles away from the earlier ideas but definitely a good change.

The package said to open with care. I steamed it open with the help of some incredibly delicious pea soup by Knorr. Look out for it in the shops – it’s that good.

“Superwoman” Tee

2010-04-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know this project is almost a year old – but I can finally present the Taburava ‘09 tees, modelled here by someone who has already appeared on this blog.

David’s David’s Tea Tea Test

2010-04-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

Product review and a word puzzle in one post.

Way back around Christmas time, I set about getting prezzies for the family. I decided to get my mother som teas from David’s Tea to ‘broaden her horizons’ – in truth I was just curious about this shop I had first noticed in Toronto, and now here in Montreal. As a tea enthusiast (and a David), it slightly offended me that I knew nothing about the establishment. At one point I could have sworn it used to be called “David&Tea” (I’m still convinced about that).

I nervously made my way in, walked around the fairly small storefront for about half an hour, and began to explain my predicament to a cashier whose English was probably about as bad as my French. Eventually we decided on a sampler kit, complete with tea drinking apparatus. She was incredibly patient as I sniffed tea after tea, eventually settling on six – five for ma, one for me.

There’s only one thing to do after buying multiple flavours of anything – taste test. There’s only one way to go about a tea tasting (If you’re me and impossibly abnormal): tea shots. I never use those tiny glasses I picked up at IKEA, and I had the perfect number. Of course, you can’t do a tea shot taste test without drawing up a chart…
Here are my findings:

1. Romance (brew 3 minutes @ 80°C)
- Earthy, fragrant, detox-like, a bit minty
2. Organic Sancha Pear (brew 3 minutes @ 80°C)
- Sharp, fragrant, very ‘tisane-esque’
3. Cinnamon Chai (brew 5 minutes @ 100°C)
- Yummy, sweet, smooth (Their entire Chai range is good)
4. Lemon Green (brew 6 minutes @ 98°C)
- Soothing, clean, ‘Asian’ (a friend from Bhutan used to make a lemongrass tea that was quite similar to this). A green that brews long and still tastes crisp.
5. Cream of Earl Grey (brew 3-5 minutes @ 100°C)
- Extremely smooth, light for a black tea (this was the conservative, ‘safe’ choice)
6. Maté Fruité (brew 3-5 minutes @ 100°C)
- Dreamy, fragrant (this was the one I kept – mate contains stimulants and does a great job waking you up at work if you don’t drink coffee)

I have since been back many times, and my current favourites are the Coco Chai (loved by all), Organic White Tiger, and that mate. Their Tiramisu tea introduced me to coffee (I had never gone anywhere near a coffee bean before that).
This isn’t supposed to be an infomercial, so I’ll wrap it up by saying there are many other fine tea places in Montreal, Camellia Sinensis being the pick of the bunch for really exquisite stuff (these guys travel to the best tea growing spots on Earth for a living). What David’s Tea does better than anyone I’ve seen so far is flavoured variations with a modernist twist.

Photos of Dancers

2010-04-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Having spent much of the past three months in the company of some very fine dancers, here are a few images.

Nujabes...

2010-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Having randomly run an internet search for him, I find out that Jun Seba, more commonly known as Nujabes, has passed away, following a car accident. This article on The Steel Closet goes into more detail.

I had the fortune of being introduced to the wonderful sounds of Nujabes by my Japanese flatmate at university, way back in 2005. I had only recently started to explore Jazz and Electronic music, having been force-fed hip hop pre-university. He was the first person I heard blend all of those sounds, and did so with an emphasis on melody and a Zen-like cool. He was a pioneer in the Shibuya scene which has seen so much innovation over the past two decades.

I'm usually not big on celebrity talk, but I figure now is as good a time as ever to highlight the incredible work this man did. Anime fans will be familiar with his work on the Samurai Champloo soundtrack, while lovers of old-school Jazz will recognise many of his samples. Here's a tune I think represents him quite well.

Little Dragon Are BACK

2010-03-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, Little Dragon played at Il Motore. It was a great show (even though they refused to play my favourite choons), and I got a chance to chat with the band afterwards. They promised to come back to Montreal if I agreed to go see them again, which I did. I didn't think they'd be back so soon.

Turns out they're playing at Lambi on the 29th of March (click here for tickets).

They've been busy touring, as well as recording a few collaborations here and there. If some of the b-sides and remixes are anything to go by, their sound seems to have evolved further.

Here's a new track and a remix to remind you all just how fresh they can be.

Unmute Cards Featured on Card Observer!

2010-03-01T07:39:00.001-08:00

So February was a mad month. It’s crazy how much gets crammed into those 28 short days. It never fails to be the busiest month of my year. It would seem the dividends are already being reaped.

The ever wonderful Card Observer blog has deemed the cards I made for Unmute Productions worthy of inclusion. Have a look and be sure to check out the other incredibly creative and aesthetically satisfying work displayed.

Keeping Warm on the Bus

2010-02-04T13:29:00.001-08:00

I’ve had my rants about Montreal in the past, but any city that does this can’t be that bad. Anyone know who’s behind it and what it’s about?

Unmute Productions Identity Complete

2010-01-08T08:54:00.001-08:00

A project I’ve been working on since the end of last summer. So far, we’ve put together a logo, a MySpace template, and these business cards, which arrived in mid December. There’s a website still to come.

I’ll be writing a bit about the design process shortly, sharing a few sketches and concepts along the way.

Unmute Productions is an audio production company co-founded by a friend and co-worker, Sergio Sanchez.

Grab a Free Chapter of ‘Logo Design Love’

2010-01-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up: the phenomenal David Airey has kindly put up a chapter of his new book, Logo Design Love, for free download on his blog of the same name. Cheers Mr. Airey.

My Street

2010-01-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

I like the dichotomy you get on different sides of the same street. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s all about the ‘streaking light traffic’ shot.

Holiday Cheer, pt.3

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Following the first and second parts of this post, here is my final one of the series, and a little Easter egg (no pun intended). I can’t believe how quickly this year has passed by. I’m hoping 2010 builds heavily on everything that has happened so far.

Alternate year end card (based on a tutorial I did around that time).

Holiday Cheer, pt.2

2009-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Following on from my last post, here is the special Christmas Day card. Where ever you may be, I wish you happiness on what is a very special day to some, and to others… well it’s still a Friday, right?

Holiday Cheer, pt.1

2009-12-23T09:06:00.001-08:00

I’m one of those people who always wants to make their own holiday cards. I usually end up sending out a mass email with some toe-curling graphic adjoined to a pithy pull quote. This season I decided to try something a bit different.

I thought it would be cool to make some modernist graphic prints, a series of 3 to be precise. One generic to ring in the holiday season, one specific to Christmas day, and one to signal the end of the year. They never went to print, as the best deal I found was for a pack of 100 on Vistaprint – who wants 100?

So, I’ve decided to share them here, starting today. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3.

London Town

2009-12-11T10:34:00.001-08:00

There’s no place like ‘home’.

Even if I’ve lived in Canada for the past six and a half years.

Red Ring

2009-12-10T11:31:00.001-08:00

Because it’s snowing right now.

Because I could stroll down to the port and bask in its glory but a few months ago.

Because I want to be a better photographer.

Because I’m not quite there yet.

Live Music Review: Little Dragon

2009-11-23T10:27:00.001-08:00

It happens to everyone: you stumble across a little known band, maybe a MySpace page or some miscellaneous online video. They release an album, you enjoy it. They start to ‘make it’, touring extensively, giving you faint hopes of one day catching them live. They release a second album, different, but still good. Finally, they announce a gig in your city. I have never clicked my way through a ticket purchase that fast.

As you can gather I was excited for the gig. So excited, I forgot to invite other people. I got to the venue hours early to pick up my ticket only to be told they would be stamping hands, and as such I needn’t have bothered.
These things can only go one of two ways. Either you love them more than ever, or it’s curtains. I love them more than ever. Skilful, smooth and surprisingly unassuming (the bassist wandered right past me looking for the bathrooms before they went on stage), they warmed up a brisk November night.
Opening (as they seem eternally obliged to) with ‘A New’, Little Dragon made their way through favourites old and new, throwing up a surprise here and there. “We had really good Indian food earlier today,” says Yukimi between songs. I wonder how much of our fair city they got to see in their brief stay. They had played at Toronto’s Wrongbar the night before and were headed to New York the next day.
Watching Yukimi Nagano sing is an experience many people have commented on; watching her join in the percussive jam sessions is an entirely different thing. At one point, she jumped off stage and boogied down with the audience. Yes. The way she immerses herself in her music, all the while with a slightly frustrated/bemused look on her face (I’m sure it’s just a ‘funk face’) contrasts perfectly with Erik Bodin's super chill drum grooving (is there a better drummer in indie music?), Fredrik Wallin’s unorthodox, superfly basslines and occasional synth work, and Håkan ‘the beard’ Wirenstrand’s meditative, almost hypnotic contribution on keys. It’s actually pretty creepy at times.
My only gripe is that they seem reluctant to play ‘No Love’ or ‘Scribbled Paper’ live, while ‘Twice’ did not feature on the setlist. Perhaps these numbers are too relaxed for a party crowd? I wonder how many others in the audience would be up for a mini chill-session.
After the show the band set up shop by the bar, selling shirts and records. As I queued, I had the chance to speak with the lads. Really good people, promising to come back and even asking my opinion on future venues. I can’t say enough good things about them, as musicians or people. All in all, another result of a gig.

Typical Day at the Office

2009-11-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw this. Perhaps the fact that she was testing iPhone games with her other hand had something to do with it.

They're Here...

2009-11-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

This is too much.

It's no secret I'm a gushingly huge fan of new music from Scandinavia. That said, this year was always going to be an exiting one. Earlier on we had Röyksopp's "Junior" and The Whitest Boy Alive's "Rules", but now The Kings of convenience have gone and done it with "Declaration of Dependence" ... AND - Little Dragon have released "Machine Dreams". I can die a happy man.

Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any more, I find out that Little Dragon is coming to Montreal on the 19th of November... two weeks from now. Yes. Then I remembered that Junior was only half of a double-album project, with the b-side still to come. 2009, I don't know what I did to deserve you.

PS. I only just found out about Koop's 2006 album. Words fail me.

Where's Waldo: The Fantastic Journey OUT NOW!

2009-09-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

Where's Waldo (Where's Wally in the UK) is now available on PC/Mac, Wii and Nintendo DS, with an iPhone and iPod touch version due out soon.

It's worth noting this is the first video game I ever worked on, so, boo-yah. In the future I'll be writing about my contribution to the game, from a nervy first week to some late, late nights.

Naturally, the lads at work are all quite excited. We've just peeled the wrapping off the first commercially available copy of the game.

Look out for the game in local shops and online, or get it from Amazon.

Guess which is mine...

2009-09-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

We've all moved desks at work, so this may be my last opportunity to compare and contrast my warm beverage drinking habits with that of my (former) neighbour.

"Superwoman" badges a success! + TEE UPDATE

2009-08-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote about the process of designing some merchandise for a camp a friend of mine leads. Once the final design was polished up a bit, we sent the files off to Busy Beaver (who I recommend for this type of work) and these beauts arrived in the post shortly thereafter.

As an aside, the edges are surprisingly sharp.

<-UPDATE AUGUST 14->

it's here... stay tuned for info on the complete Taburava '09 collection. Ha.

How Do you Solve a Problem Like a T-Shirt?

2009-07-08T09:43:00.001-07:00

Being an untrained professional is pretty difficult. Being an untrained professional who does professional quality work for his friends is nigh on impossible. That's the situation I found myself in when a good friend asked for my help designing a T-shirt for the summer camp she'll be running this year.

The way I see it, it's either all or nothing, so I offered the full package of conception, revision, refining and pre-press. Here is my brief, in brief:

I would be designing a shirt for a US-based, Ukrainian-run summer camp for girls aged between 11.5 and 17. This year's theme is "Superwoman", or "СУПEРВУМАН".

Philosophical
The message is centred around empowering young women, and draws inspiration from such historical figures as Olga of Kiev. At the same time, ordinary women such as the stereotypical Slavic housewife are honoured for their own superhuman feats, supporting their families through the hardest of times.

Aesthetic
My friend wanted something bold and youthful, feminine without being too girly. She is a big fan of the 'hipster' aesthetic and wanted something the campers could wear at home, without being so fashionable they would be scared to get dirty in it.

Initial Sketches
Often, the obvious solution should be kept aside and returned to only after evaluating alternatives. This time around though, riffing off the Superman logo was the natural way forward. I did a bunch of concepts and came up with something somewhat pleasing, but perhaps a bit too static and corporate looking.

Adding an Edge
This sketch was the roadmap for the final version. I felt the bold edges gave something of an Eastern European solidity to the design.

Finishing Up
My friend wanted badges/buttons done in addition to the shirts. We did them with Busy Beaver who I absolutely reccommend. A tip for rookies like myself: If sending .ai files, remember to create outlines of all your text - that way, font issues are a non-issue.

We settled on a colour scheme we had previously tried to avoid - a very Ukrainian yellow and blue. The pure Cyan really pops and prints like a dream as it's straight Cyan ink, and the more mellow yellow is a good choice for a summer camp that will fade pretty nicely after all the inevitable washing. The slightly modified crown adds a feminine touch to the image

Fierce

2009-06-30T13:45:00.001-07:00

Montreal has to be one of the top cities, anywhere, for attitude. Love it or hate it, people really seem to enjoy being in yo' face. This beastmobile is a fine example.

What I do on the Weekends

2009-06-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

Still not quite there. I know I grumble a lot, but once you see things done the right way it's hard to be content with something sub-par. Own worst critic and all that.

I really should have waited for better lighting though, that back lighting isn't good at all.

Design for the Intellectual?

2009-06-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a Google Books preview of Steven Heller's "The Education of a Graphic Designer" and have been very pleased so far. In fact, it's currently top of my wishlist.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about my education - the fact that I find it insufficient and unsatisfying, and how I could remedy that - but moreso about the intellectual capacities of Design. I find myself hiding behind layer styles and gradient overlays day by day, refusing to get my hands dirty digging deep into the subject matter.

Creating a corporate logo necessitates an understanding of the principles at the very core of an organisation coupled with an ability to accurately and concisely communicate that to a wider audience. Yet as soon as I've read a brief it is consigned to the past as I focus on what shapes and colours please me best.

The reason I mentioned that book is that it speaks volumes on the subject of designers being thinkers first and foremost, and the need to educate them as such. A few choice quotes pulled from the book:

"It is fine to be goal oriented in our description of what designers do, but there are so many goals. Can't we also say 'exercise taste', 'flaunt imagination', 'organise data', 'leave a mark', 'take a stand', 'raise curiosity', or 'heighten senses' ?"

"Designers talk about creating a body of work, but they seldom talk about organising a body of knowledge. They take pride in being makers, but seldom identify themselves as thinkers. They claim to be emissaries of communication - to give form to ideas. And while we would like to believe this is true, it seems to us that all too often, we, as designers, are called upon merely to make things look good - rather than contributing to the evolution and articulation of ideas themselves." (- Jessica Hefland)

Design is understanding. Learn to understand, and Design is easy.

Pink Drink V1

2009-05-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

I have never felt less productive, or creative, in my entire life. With my first year of paid hosting on a website I've never even shown anyone almost up, I'm still debating wether setting up my own website/blog is really worth it. So apologies if I haven't been doing the Aesthetic Division 'thang' all that much.

Now that we're done rambling, here's a very early version of an inside joke from a few days ago. The young lady pictured makes a very delicious pink drink. Upon taking a picture of her enjoying said concoction, we joked that it had 'advertising' written all over it. I couldn't resist.

What I can resist is the urge to throw swirly lines and glowing particles all over it. For now, at least.

There are really disgusting bits that must be changed. For the most part, it's not too bad.

Watch this space?

Little Dragon Rocking Out

2009-05-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

Yes.

PS. I know I'm slacking. My apologies

¡Ay, que Sabroso!

2009-05-12T10:49:00.001-07:00

Just keeping it real for the salseros out there.

Question: Classical Collossus or Modern Master

2009-04-30T15:02:00.001-07:00

This stemmed from a conversation I had with a colleague today - would you rather be immensely gifted in a more classical, realist, oil-painterly way, or an absolute master of modern Art with all of it's deeper meanings and abstraction? May very well be a null argument as the likes of Leonardo, Picasso and Dali show that artistic wizardry crosses many a border. That being said, I'd prefer the classical.

Top Talents: Tetsouille

2009-04-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

There are certain artists whose work you can spend days fawning over online, so when such a talent pops up in your workplace, you dare not ignore it. Remi Vincent, aka Tetsouille, is easily the most talented graphic artist I personally know.

With a stunning portfolio of incredibly diverse material, it's obvious how up to date his design chops are. I was initially worried about his ability to perform outside of current trend, but his abilities extend far beyond fat face fonts and squiggly lines.

Skilled in web, motion, illustration, apparel and more, it seems there's very little this young Frenchman can't do. I'm definitely tipping him to make a big mark in the design scene.

Camera testing: Nikon D60

2009-04-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I wanted a Canon Digital Rebel - mainly the XSi. I'd heard good things about both that camera and the Nikon D60, the D60 being the slightly older, slightly cheaper model. I decided I would see if Future Shop would let me test one with the option of taking it back if I didn't want to keep it. I'm not even sure I'm going to take the Nikon back now.

The kit lens is, as I had been told, pretty decent for a kit lens. Most DSLR owners either buy a body only or trade their 18-55 default lens for something snazzier, but the Nikon one performs quite well, without having a great deal of zoom on it. The autofocus is efficient in all but the most perplexing of situations, and the focus ring is manoeuvrable enough to use as a default anyway.

The default modes again produce satisfactory results and can be pushed pretty far, with the manual modes opening up even more possibility. I found low-light shooting a bit difficult on manual settings, but that could just be my lack of knowledge.

A camera like the D60 obviously wouldn't still be around if it weren't great. I believe it's seen 2 or 3 Digital Rebels released since it's been out. A few issues I had were the absence of super long exposures (I'd like to experiment with star trails) and the white balance calibration, which I couldn't get to work by taking a picture of a white object like the camera tells you to. I wonder if the Canon's sensor could be slightly more vivid and the perspective on the lens more extreme?

Live Music Review: Bajofondo + Khiasma

2009-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

As I walked into La Tulippe on this brisk Monday evening, I knew it was going to be an occasion to remember. See, it was only my fourth (or so) genuine concert experience. I've seen a lot of live music at festivals, in bars, at Universities etc, but that doesn't really count. No offense to John Mayer, Owen Pallet and Rodrigo y Gabriela, but this was the one.

Armed with arguably the finest company one could ask for, I made my way - into Latin America. The lights were dim, the whole place smelt of sabor latino, and so much Spanish was being spoken, my ears nearly exploded. Khiasma warmed the crowds up with a delectable blend of downtempo grooves, Nuevo Tango and the occasional traditional melody whilst Tangueros, experienced and novice, began to glide across the floor.

A bit of perspective - of my four man army, three of us had recently lived in the Spanish speaking world. This was, for hopeless nostalgics like ourselves, a thin slice of heaven. Arriving a bit into the Khiasma set gave us the chance to soak up the atmosphere, sip some Sol, and reminisce.

And then, it began.

As expected from a supergroup that boasts myriad Grammys, Oscars, and everything-elses, Bajofondo know how to make an entrance. Everything was impossibly tight, lights, sound, video all collaborating with devastating effect. After their opener (and what seemed like an hour of applause), the band began to make their acquaintance with their audience, stating that it was their first time in Montreal.

We were treated to crowd pleasers like Grand Guignol, Pa' Bailar and Perfume (although screams for Bruma went unanswered) alongside a few unexpected treats. Bandoneonista Martin Ferres treated us to some Argentine minimalism, and Gustavo Santaollala treated us to an absolutely sumptuous rendition of a tune from The Motorcycle Diaries. Even though a band member, Juan Campodónico, was absent through illness, the sound was full and rich. They even brought along a rapper and a 'yes man' to fill the void.

Oh, and of course, they brought the audience up on stage to party with them.

At times the drums did seem a bit loud, but one can never be too sure of these things standing close to the front. The opportunity to see these seasoned talents work their magic up close and personal more than makes up for any perceived loss in sound quality.

I, for one, will be awaiting their return.

Finally, an Urban Sketch

2009-04-03T13:53:00.001-07:00

I'm assuming it's no big secret I'm a fan of Urban Sketchers and would really like to be a part of that community if I can get my level and frequency of sketching up. With that in mind, my first somewhat Urban Sketch, from a weekly gathering of young artists I've been lucky to attend a few times (more on that another time). Most of the people who show up are into animation/fantasy/concept art, so not a lot of life drawing goes down. As such it's somewhat awkward for me to attempt to draw people. I'll keep trying though.

Lost Tribes of New York, Anthon Berg Chocolate

2009-04-03T07:27:00.001-07:00

Just a few cool vids I though I'd share.

A highly amusing video from Carolyn and Andy London.

The Lost Tribes of New York City from Carolyn London on Vimeo.

An advert for Anthon Berg Chocolate - Some nice motion graphics and a lesser known Little Dragon tune (apparently this one only shipped with the Japanese release of their Album), slightly tweaked for the advert.

Happy April 1 + Sneak Peak

2009-04-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hola y'all,

You probably know it's April Fool's day. What you probably dont know is that it's also the 1 year Aniversary of my move to Montreal (though technically I didn't actually relocate til May last year). To celebrate, I was hoping to launch blanckanvass.com, but it's nowhere near ready. I guess that's what happens when you decide something 24 hours before the deadline.

I decided instead to give you two quick previews of designs I'm planning for the site, one featuring AD's own Zonunpari. Chances are it could all change a lot by the time it goes live.

By the way, It's probably not a good idea to celebrate anything on April fool's day - I've had one of the worst mornings ever. You can read about that over on my journal.

Bert-Dawg and Ern-izzle, in the hizzle fo' shizzle.

2009-03-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you may already have seen this video of Bert and Ernie mashed up to M.O.P's 'Ante Up' - you'll just have to see it again. It's that good. So there.

Top Music Vids

2009-03-24T09:03:00.001-07:00

I promise, this is neither a music blog nor a Youtube link-a-thon, despite the content of the last billion posts. Variety is the spice of life, and at the moment AD's palette is a tad garlicky.

A number of quality music videos have come through my feed reader in the last few weeks, so I thought I'd share some. This is in no way a definitive list.

A guy from work passed this one to me - my first thought was that it was CG animation overlaid on top of a blank flip-book. Not only is that a bit futile, it wouldn't actually be much less work. I can assure you it's 100% hand drawn, and pretty stonking brilliant.

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Technically not a music video, but a video set to music. Highly enjoyable tilt-shift/time lapse techniques employed. Mr. Loutit was aided by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, who let him accompany them on training flights. Song Credits for the Reverie Sound Revue-esque 'Clementine' go to Megan Washington of the band Washington.

Joan Manuel Serrat - Aquellas Pequeñas Cosas from Gidi Vigo on Vimeo.

Another hand-drawn style. Clever pans and zooms obscure the changes in imagery.

I like the Avalanches a lot, but I never imagined them as being so twisted. They manage to visually represent what their wealth of samples would look like as a live performance.

Of course, there's also Star Guitar and more or less all Radiohead, Royksopp or Daft Punk videos, but well... you know.

More Röyksopp: Album Review and links

2009-03-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a link to a preview listen on Röyksopp's album, 'Junior' on MySpace. Today I am happy to declare that they are also offering streaming on their Official Site, along with a few remixes and unreleased tracks, a comprehensive collection of their exceptional videos, and other goodies.

On first impressions, I would say the new album is a further departure from 'Melody AM', still one of my favorite albums. The overall tone is a bit more current, vocal, and altogether more club friendly than the last two, while maintaining some of the darkness from 'The Understanding'. The band instantly accommodate the old fan with 'Happy Up Here', also the new single, evoking memories of 'Eple' before ripping that nostalgia to shreds with 'The Girl and the Robot', a Rhianna-esque club banger featuring Swede-of-the-minute Robyn.

'Miss it so Much', 'You Don't Have a Clue' and 'Silver Cruiser' are some of my favorites with their re-sliced breakbeats, ultra-melodic progressions and picked basslines, but the whole album is definitely listen-through friendly.

The Line of Best Fit recently interviewed Svein Berge (50% of the band). They discuss working with other artists, inspiration, and inevitably, the rise of Danish and Norwegian music - looks like I'm on to something after all. Most interestingly however, Mr. Berge reveals there will be a second half to the new album called 'Senior' (a tribute to the band that brought us Move your Feet?) which will be "more withdrawn and introspective and create an atmosphere and an ambience, to sit down and if you don’t need constant loud information all the time". Looking forward to that.

Röyksopp Album Preview on Myspace

2009-03-12T09:16:00.001-07:00

Röyksopp have made a preview of their new album, 'Junior' available via myspace.com.

Röyksopp opened many musical doors for me. Way back in the early '00s, I saw their phenomenal video for "Remind Me" on MTV New. The musical climate in Nigeria at the time wasn't too conducive to that taste, so it would take me another few years to actually get curious. Eventually I heard 'Poor Leno' whilst playing SSX, and rushed out to find their incredible first album, Melody AM. I've read someone describe it as 'the electronic Pink Floyd'.

As if by chance, their second album had just come out at the same time - it's a bit darker and more vocal, but still very good. Their work with vocalists from the Kings of Convenience and The Knife would eventually lead me to this Nordic Rennaisance I keep referring to.

For good measure here is that video.

Remind Me from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

While you're at it, why not check out some of the other album previews? I've been digging Tonex

All-Time Faves - KoC and TWBA

2009-02-19T08:11:00.000-08:00

So I'm not breaking any ground in declaring my love for the Kings of Convenience or The Whitest Boy Alive, along with every other member of what I'm calling the Nordic Renaissance. What I want to know is how I managed to miss them in Mexico. I still can't believe that I was living there the same time the Kings were hanging out there and TWBA was becoming what it is today. Add this to my complete ignorance to Rodrigo and Gabriela (at least I've seen them live now) and my 6 month exchange almost begins to look like a failure. Onwards, to videos:

'Rules', The Whitest Boy Alive's new album, comes out in early March, on the 'Bubbles' label

Amateur Photography Portfolio Available on Blurb

2009-01-29T08:49:00.001-08:00

Photography Po...

(or things you can...

By David 'Nuff'

Book Preview

As you can probably tell, I'm trying to do a bit more work this year - that includes getting this thing rolling, as well as trying a few new endeavours out. This is a portfolio of some amateur (read 'pretty bad') photographs I have taken since 2006. I just heard about Blurb, an online service that lets you create books through their desktop application, upload them and publish your work. Pretty cool. They've been around since at least 2007, and probably have a few competitors now, but still seem to be the place to go. Their desktop software is alright - I used it to make the portfolio - but I'd rather do my own layout work in a more nimble application like InDesign.

Anyway check out their site if that's your cup of tea. While you're there, feel free to look at my portfolio - you can preview the first 15 pages of all public books. If for some reason you would like to purchase a copy, you can do that too at base price. If I ever publish any professional work I'll charge you for that.

Urban Sketchers dot com

2009-01-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

"Ataturk Airport" by Szaza

In the author's own words,

"Urban Sketchers is a community of artists around the world who draw the people and places of the cities where they live and travel to. This blog is an extension to the Flickr Urban Sketchers group started in November of 2007 by Seattle journalist and illustrator Gabi Campanario."

I believe I came across Urban Sketchers while reading another blog, and have since added it to my Google Reader. The group of sketchers spans the entire planet, with at least one representative per continent (bar Antarctica I guess), and there is a broad range of styles and media, from architectural pilot pen to expressive inks and watercolour.

Sketchers is quite busy, with a few posts coming in per day. The bloggers often write a small blurb, giving the reader a better idea of his or her local context. For those who appreciate the art of sketching or those interested in seeing the world through the eyes of others, this is a great site.

If I can motivate myself to sketch more and improve to a level I'd be happy to publish, It would be an absolute dream of mine to publish a few posts with Urban Sketchers.

Ingrid Michaelson

2009-01-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hello!
Yes - hello to you too Nuff! Its been a while hasn't it? Not to worry, Blanc Kanvass is not lost in my life. In fact, its been a long time coming since I wanted to make a post.
So, on to the post...Ingrid Michaelson - a relatively new and upcoming indie-pop artist from NYC is sweet. Her style is chilled and groovy. Her voice is 'pop'-ish but smooth all the same. Regardless, check her out. Here is her song, 'the way I am' - the acoustic touch to this song completes it! A treat to our ears!
Enjoy

Tornade, The Hair Academy

2009-01-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

I got my hair cut last week. I don't know what it is about the new year, but I always seem to get a haircut in the first week of January, before spending the rest of the year growing it all back. Strapped for cash as I was, I did some internet hunting for affordable places. That's how I came across this place.

Tornade is a school for aspiring coiffeurs, which also offers haircuts to the general public as a sort of internship for students. What this means, of course, is that there is a slight risk of things going horribly pear-shaped during a particular cut. However, there is always a qualified instructor on hand making sure everything is fine.

Making an appointment wasn't too difficult. I had to get an after work slot, which I was able to book two days in advance. Coming in, I wasn't too sure what to expect. The pictures they hang up are clearly of their edgier stuff, and while a lot of the student-stylists were younger, 'scene' looking people, the clientele seemed quite old and respectful.

After a brief wait (and actually a few minutes before my 6pm time slot) the lady that would be cutting my hair came and took my coat to hang up. After a brief conversation in French it transpired that she didn't speak much English, despite which she was willing to battle on. I find that attitude refreshing in a Quebec that hasn't always accepted my linguistic shortcomings with open arms.

After a brief conversation with her instructor, it transpired that she would be cutting my hair a la lambe, a painstakingly meticulous technique. Luckily my stylist seemed undaunted by the challenge, nor by the peculiar texture of my hair.

After two washes, a head massage, and a cut that lasted two and a half hours, I emerged from the chair with a decent haircut, something I haven't had in donkeys' years. The price, seven dollars. You can imagine I tipped in the direction of 100%.

If you're in Montreal and looking for a trim, I highly recommend this place. They have a few locations and while I've heard it completely depends on the student you get, mine was a pleasant experience.

Check them out:
http://www.tornade-coiffure.com/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Academie-de-coiffure-Tornade-Site-Officiel/8773594908

2009 - the Year of the Tie

2009-01-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

That's right brethren, I just went there. I officially pronounce 2009 the year of the Tie.

I'm not suggesting you have to wear one every day, just think about giving them a more prominent role in your wardrobe. This is not the grungy, Avril Lavigne tie that was in fashion a few years ago, but a more mature, "I wore school uniform/worked in sales/was James Bond once" ordeal.

If your skills are a bit rusty, check out Johann-Caspar Isemer's site. Below is a video of the four-in-hand, my current knot of choice.

Now go forth and dangle fabric from your necks. If you're feeling bold, you could jump on the bowtie bandwagon that seems to have slowed down recently.

*Note: this post has nothing to do with the popularity of a certain fictional sitcom character whose last name rhymes with Simpson, or his penchant for 'suiting up.*

Trailer: Freedom - Starring Mari Ikeda

2008-11-29T16:17:00.001-08:00

A sneak peek at a golden oldie.

A little perspective

2008-06-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

On my way to Boston (from Indianapolis), I had a 10 hour stop in Chicago. It was a sunday and seeing that I had 10 hours or so to spare, I decided to roam the streets and walk towards the waterfront.
Nothing I saw surprised me - the tall buildings, the parks, the art architecture...but what caught me were the unexpected glimpses of reality that I came across on the streets.
Here are two of them:I don't know if you can see through the metal - but the ground beneath it is covered with cigarette buds. A large pile of cigarette buds. It seems a bit 'out of the blue' that so many would end up in one place. Then, just the sight of it, made me feel sick. All in all, it gave me much to think about...imagine one person having smoked all of this...imagine all the cash spent on this...imagine.

The second one - first, I walked past it. I did not even notice it. All i remember was that I saw something brown from the corner of my eye. I stopped and looked twice. As you can see, from the other side, the paper is covering the bottle, so i was not too sure what it was. I came back to take a closer look. I was surprised to see a bottle. How it was left standing (alone, unnoticed, covered, used)...in the middle of all the glamorous high rise shiny buildings. I felt a sharp sense of disdain. Who had this bottle? What was in it, if it wasn't alcohol? Was the person sitting at this very spot? Was it a man or a woman? What time of day or night? What was he/she wearing? What was he/she thinking? Where is he/she now?

Needless to say, as I walked along back to Union Station - I witnessed something quite remarkable. A man, jumped out of his sweet silver car, even though the light was green, and ran back to where a lame man was sitting to give him some cash. I don't know if cash was the best thing to give - nevertheless - it was a sight that moved me.

Facebook Graffiti

2008-06-12T08:28:00.001-07:00

Here's a little something I drew for my friend (and fellow blogger) on Facebook. It's a wonderful little application, Graffiti. Everything you need to make a work of art and nothing more - a decent selection of brush colours, sizes and opacity. I had actually just spent an hour or so drawing her only to press the back button on my browser mistakenly!

Live Music Review: Laurent Bourque

2008-06-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

You may be familiar with the concept. A friend of a friend is in a band. A girlfriend of a friend is in that same band. Sooner or later, you are practically in that band too (save for complete musical ineptitude). It is such second-handedness that has led me to Laurent Bourque (http://www.myspace.com/laurentbourque).

I virtually had no choice the first time. I am still making friends in Quebec, and as such cherish every opportunity to see them, or potentially make new ones. Plus said girlfriend of friend was playing a mini-set before the band. The scene was a bit more adolescent mosh pit than Carnegie Hall, and the sound could have been turned down ever so slightly - my eardrums don't like to bleed. However, the music was good enough to pique my interest.

The second show was majestic. Perhaps the fact that it was the last for a while - and their last with leading Glockenspiel exponent Zoe Speed - propelled them to new heights. It was also in an altogether classier joint (not that I'm saying that's important, but I can appreciate a good venue with nice lighting and sound).

Laurent's sound live is altogether more urgent than the chilled, reflective tone of his MySpace page. He plays with different musicians live than he records with, and generally they play faster, harder, more frantically. The chill factor isn't completely lost though, especially on the more ballad-ish numbers.

Armed with witty banter, on-stage dynamics and some extremely charismatic characters, Laurent Bourque and the gang deserve every opportunity coming their way. The real question is: can he take it to the next level? If Mr. Bourque wants to make a career out of this, the substance in the songs he writes over the next year or so will be crucial.

Bortonia.ca - Illustration and Photography

2008-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to see some local talent. Even though I am constantly reminded that I am not, nor will I ever be, in any way Canadian (or Mexican), I can't help but gush ever so slightly every time I discover a wee slice of greatness emanating from somewhere within my reach, at least theoretically. Nova Scotians all around the world must have celebrated Ellen Page's Oscar nommo, and Vancouver still clings dearly to their Pammy.

Imagine then, my delight when, upon google searching the term 'wacom tablet illustrator vector' (I really do have a fragmented mind), an artist living at the time in Winnipeg made page 1. Jennifer Borton had written a very solid review of the Wacom Intuos tablet, complete with samples of her work and related links.

I was very impressed with her website - functional design in all its understated glory, a wealth of work to peruse and even more links of interest. Her selection of photography caught me off guard. Slick, shiny and occasionally homely, what appears to be her secondary skill might just steal the show.

As do most working professionals these days, Ms. Borton maintains a web presence on a few other sites, including iStockphoto and Flickr, so if you're interested, head on over to bortonia.ca and take it from there.

Ian

2008-04-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Ian.

Because I say so.

No step-by-step walkthrough here, this thing was done in about 20 seconds, at which point he reaslised I was sketching him and came over to have a look. He was very upset about the quiff, which he maintains he does not have. I'll let you be the judge of that if you ever meet him.