don't know what this illustration style is called, but:

I love it. Some examples:

by http://iamlocksin.blogspot.com



by http://mazakii.deviantart.com/



by http://jupiex7.deviantart.com/

It never fails to amaze.

music videos, #1

This video for the 90s classic 'To the Moon and Back' by Savage Garden is awesome, shot in grainy black and white and with a cyberpunk, futuristic sci-fi theme. I don't actually remember seeing this video back when the song first came out, but rediscovered it on Singstar and was impressed by the intriguing costuming and spacey quirkiness.



Another visually interesting and futuristic looking (though more minimalist) music video that caught my eye when I first saw it was the one for 'It's Not Over Yet' by the Klaxons:



who also have another conceptual and very eye-candy-for-females (and perhaps gay men) video for their song Golden Skans, which features ribbons in a way often seen in anime imagery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYKfX6 (embedding was disabled, so you'll have to click ze link)

Ponyo

Recently I had the chance to see a free screening of the new Hayao Miyazaki film, Ponyo, at Cinema Nova in Carlton.


What can I say, it was fantastic. A sweet and simple story, but filled with rich, detailed and surreal imagery. Think of 'The Little Mermaid', but with a child protagonist and beautifully rendered backgrounds similar to childrens book illustration, happy colours, and just all-round cuteness, sweetness and light. The plot is dream-like and not totally linear, but it gels enough to work, and I really recommend this film.

Minus webcomic and mnem

MINUS http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus.html is a webcomic written and drawn by artist Ryan Armand, aka Rezo.

It's a beautifully illustrated series of vignettes involving a special little girl and her ability to make anything happen, limited only by her imagination. She doesn't shy away from being cheeky and even a little naughty at times, but the pretty watercolour pictures keep it light, providing a whimsical and day-dreamy atmosphere, reminiscent of breezy yet sunny childhood days.

In related territory, while going on a slight Harry Potter binge after seeing the recent film, I came across mnem's art while browsing a HP wiki. Her art can be found here: http://community.livejournal.com/mnem_art/

Although it's fanart, it strays away from the more typical anime-esque or stylised cartoon styles commonly drawn in this fandom, and instead provides warm and enchanting homages to the books, delicately rendered, like Minus, in watercolour, and has a similarly escapist quality to it. Like the comic, it takes you to a different place; this time the fantasy world of Hogwarts. The endearing little illustrations look like they could be used for future editions of the book; in fact at first I even wondered whether her illustrations had been used for foreign editions of the book. But no, just a humble fan doing it for free. Her blog is totally sweet as well.

indeed yes

i think fashion blogs diverted me for a bit
before i realised i am not rich
and dont have 10000 events to go to
so dont need spanking new outfits all the time and shit

ok

i am totally going to try and do a joint exhibition either this summer or next year. one of the artists i have in mind is http://azusachan.deviantart.com , as i think our styles are compatible. we'll see...and i'll keep you posted.

also, i saw a black rabbit nibbling the lawn at uni yesterday. as soon as i reached for my phone to snap a pic/message someone about it, it'd disappeared, presumably into bushes nearby. i couldn't find it.

alice in wonderland anyone?

wow

'When death finds you, may it find you alive.' -Old African proverb

-seen scrawled on the wall of derelict Surf/Ski/Skate shop in box hill

also, i took some pics of water lilies and cute ducklings at uni today, but i must get ze cable for ze camera phone. tis a pity i cannot show you.