123Klan Engraved SK8 Boards

Just found this in my google reader. 123 Klan just posted something in StationeryStyle. Will be hard to use it though. Instead, it will end up mounted in my wall.

Herakut in a childrens home in Russia

Amazing work done by the duo Herakut In a childrens home in Russia. It's a great way to introduce street art to these kids. 

The blog of Urban Cake Lady is back!

There was some time that the blog of Urban Cake Lady  was hidden from view from the general public and only subscribed people were granted access. I've now discovered that it is back live for everyone to see.

123klan Reel 2011

123klan, One of the most inspiring figures in graffiti and graphic design have released their product reel via this video. Inspiring!

123KLAN REEL 2011 from 123 KLAN on Vimeo.

Check them out @ http://www.123klan.com/

Urban Cake Lady, Melbourne

A new sighting of this art piece from the Urban Cake Lady

 in Maitai's Riverside Drive, Melbourne. More details on the blog  http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/4774121/Art-attack-on-Maitai-footbridge

BANKSY: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Street art is a predominant force to recon with. It can be compared to one giant icon that stares at you in the face and just leaves you digest it’s meaning. Then you walk along.

After watching Banksy’s film Exit through the gift shop, It really got me to thinking how big of a joke the whole art scene is playing on the masses. Definitely a lot of people got suckered to buying the ridiculously priced “art” pieces, but you can’t blame them. That goes to show how peer pressure is prevailing, or it's just most people want to get a piece of whats popular.

It really goes to show that anyone can be successful in art as long as you are focused to work on your ideas. It doesn’t matter if you hire people to do the execution for you. As long as you can produce for consumption.

The perfect formula for street art: The use of using iconic figures, edited in Photoshop to make the guide for the stencil.

End result? A pseudo work of art that will definitely land in on your living room while it leans on your wall (not hanged) leaving this Just-got-this-off-an-art show-but-haven’t-had-the-time-to-frame feeling for other friends to see.

Still a great film though. A brief introduction to the street artists and their works that you most probably have searched in the net already.

Design: Herakut: The Perfect Merge

The duo from Germany who is known as Herakut has been making cutting edge graffiti art that you don't normally see. You would definitely stand in awe once you've seen their masterpieces.  Obscure but Sweet  is the phrase that I can say as to how their art appeals to the viewer. There's also a certain depth in the characters they often use to depict an emotion. 

The book features their process from pencil drawing, the initial sprays, until the finishing touches of the piece will leave you asking for more. You'll also be drawn by the handwritten pencil text (erasures included) that you don't normally see. If you're not into graffiti art yet, this book might give the best inspiration to create your first piece with the thought that anything is possible. I consider this one of those gems that helped me out of a creativity slump. The spontaneity and raw energy that their art manifests truly says that there is no boundaries in the imagination of man.

*This will be the 1st review in a series from the Design Renegade team.

Just got the camera back from the shop last Friday. I had high hopes but some fell short after knowing the B Setting is not working anymore, as well as some indicator lights that have become faulty due to 2 decades of non use.  The camera was diagnosed to have a lot of oxidation inside the internal mechanism so rust has built up inside. The camera lens was also out of alignment and was pretty obvious once it was put back into place. 

The battery pack was customized to support newer batteries by insetting a larger spring and adding some support on the battery barrel. I actually saw this trick from one website that features a lot of history  about the Yashica camera. 

The camera has a character of its own.  Aside from it's classic design, it is very is compact.

After some time fiddling with the camera when I got home I noticed that if I set the camera under Auto and hit the shutter, the opening gets stuck open for sometime. The problem is gone if I set to Flash setting. One more thing that I got a shock from was the external Flash, and its a literal shock!  I got electrocuted from touching this metal piece thats exposed! I've thought of something to cover it so I don't get electrocuted in the face when taking shots.

A lot of people are asking me why do I even bother with the repairs and developing charges if I can get a brand new DSLR camera with all the cool features. It's the analog feel of using one, and the unexpected surprise that I get from the time the roll has been developed. Nothing beats the grain quality of a developed roll of film.

Pencil Drawings.

I just love pencil sketches. The raw energy of a charcoal on paper has that feel of life in it. If you've seen the works of Herakut you'll be amazed how they can transfer the same energy from paper to graffiti art.

It was just a few months ago that I started drawing again and I realized that I still love doing it. I wished I hadn't stopped.

Time is your enemy. Better start doing what you love now!

Here's a shameless plug to my personal sketches. I would love to hear your feedback.

http://pencildrawingsinfo.blogspot.com

Revive the Electro 35 GSN

Finally managed to send the camera for servicing. The shop said that they could customize the battery chamber so that newer batteries can be used. Apparently the battery that you use for the Electro 35 GSN is now obsolete. The camera was diagnosed really bad as well, but the shop gave me a reasonable price just so that we can revive it from decades of non use.

And I didn't realize it's 2011 already... Yaschica Electro 35

Happy 2011! There are loads of things that I need to fix and start right away. I just acquired my Yaschica Electro 35 camera. It has been with my family since the 1980's. Before I find it really bulky and outdated. But now, it's a classic! It will be a major overhaul because I need to have it cleaned and serviced. The leather case looks like it's gonna give way anytime and there's a lot of dust or mould inside the viewfinder. I recall there were a few problems with the shutter, but looks like it's not there anymore. The lens cover got lost and I need to replace the batteries just so the other settings would work. Hopefully everything goes well.