It has been awhile since I did a portrait illustration. I’ve been busy handling graphic design and the business of it that it’s refreshing to finally grab a drawing tool and start working at it. And although it’s not perfect (and merely rendered in minutes), I take pride in it because it’s the first Micron portrait I did (and that any mistakes are left to chance or to concealing them, which is the art, for that matter). I always find beauty in the unerasable; you let your subconscious guide you and there’s no turning back. It is what it is. I hope to do more non-restricted illustrations…

Thank you Professor Steve Jones (Plantain Studio) for the project.

More photos can be found here on my Flickr Set of The Mission Vernacular

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An excerpt from Tibor Kalman and Kerrie Jacobs’ polemic on the role of design in culture, published in Print (Jan/Feb 1990):

Often the best design, the most important design, takes place outside the profession,where this is still a true vernacular. A non-corporate, non-designed vernacular. Vernacular is slang, a language invented rather than taught. Vernacular design is visual slang. More than that, it’s design that’s so familiar that we don’t really see it. Seeing the vernacular is seeing the invisible. It is looking at something commonplace— a yellow pencil, a metal folding chair— and falling in love. Vernacular design is so clear and simple that it seems to be from another time. Often it is. Vernacular design happens when a small business hires the local sign painter, print shop, or commercial artist to take care of its design needs. Vernacular design happens when a business takes care of its own design needs. Appreciation of this sort of design shouldn’t be confused with nostalgia, because the vernacular isn’t a bygone era or a style that can be celebrated or revived. Rather it’s a process, a straightforward one, that creates work which has an unfiltered, emotional quality. These designs are some person’s, some regular human being’s, idea of how to communicate— how to say,

“This is a company that sells shipping supples.”
“This is a store that sells sausages.”

It is the unscientific but clear way to say,

“This is a beauty salon,” or
“This is a bottle of soda.”

The vernacular is designed as if design were a regular thing to do, and not the sacred mission of an elite professional class. It’s design that hasn’t been ordered and purified by the methods of trained practitioners. It’s communication without the strategy, marketing, or the proprietary quantitative research. And that’s what’s good about it.

Original Source: Lab-Zine Blog article of Tibor on Vernacular Design

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More photos can be found here on my Flickr Set of The Mission Vernacular

image courtesy of Penelope!! on Flickr

WHO Steven Meisel
WHAT legendary fashion photographer
WHEN born 1954
WHERE The Americas
HOW through focused inspiration: model obsession and high society

image courtesy of jckonline.com

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEISEL (condensed from Wikipedia)

1. Steven Meisel’s success was attributed to his works for both US and Italian Vogue covers for 2 decades. Perhaps his most memorable piece was shooting Madonna for the 1992 highly-coveted book, Sex, designed by Fabian Baron.

2. He’s notorious for rarely giving interviews/ being photographed.

3. He graduated at Parsons The New School for Design.

4. His model and high society obsession were eminent in his younger years where he would draw women all the time, taking inspiration from the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

5. One of his first jobs was working as an illustrator for Halston (he also taught illustration at Parsons).

6. Meisel was one of the few photographers who doesn’t have a “proper book” solely dedicated to his work

7. Meisel has been a protégé of both reigning queens of the fashion press, editors-in-chief Franca Sozzani (Italian Vogue) and Anna Wintour (US Vogue)

8. He is an advocate of social/political reform (using his connections with the fashion elite to elevate his cause). Some noteworthy examples:

1. for September 2006 issue of Vogue Italia, he played with the concept of restricted liberties post-September 11th America
2. for the July 2008 issue of Vogue, he conceptualized an issue showing  only black models to bring attention to the racial discrimination in the fashion industry

9. Meisel has been “the force” behind the careers of world-renowned hairstylists (Garren, Orlando Pita i.e.), make-up artists (Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Mercier i.e.) and models (Iris Strubegger, Lisa Cant i.e.).

10. You can stalk him at his New York Studio at 64 Wooster Street. (or the rented studio at Pier 59 in NY or Smashbox Studios in LA).

For More of Steven Meisel, Check out the following links:

Image Archive for Steven Meisel, courtesy of  Art + Commerce
Steven Meisel | 400 Photos

On May 10, 2009, we will celebrate Mother’s Day. In honor of this beloved occasion, I went on an Etsy Scavenger Hunt to find great gift ideas for every modern, stylish and discerning moms out there. I personally dedicate this list to my Mama, Anna Marie, who’s currently 7764 miles away (in Manila). I miss you Mom!

15 Awesome Etsy Finds for Mother’s Day (left to right):

1. Orange and Khaki Flowering Origami Bonsai by benagami | Price: $375.00
2. Madonna – Cubist Painting by billoneil | Price: $495.00
3. 09 Angel Jugs by ECCOSS | Price: $150.00 (for both)

4. Emilienne Necklace by elainehaydonjewelry | Price: $330.00
5. Chequer Street Tea Set by EstherCoombs | Price: $360.00 (for all items)
6. Pieta Collage by glamgill45 | Price: $225.00

7. Liza in Red Patent Leather Clutch by morrisb | Price: $465.00
8. Silna: The Large Spring Tote by PravinaStudio | Price: $78.00
9. Silent Film Stars (signed art print) by silentsandtalkies | Price: $10.00 (for each individual print)

10. Ant Bottle by taragilchrist | Price: $150.00
11. The Little Black Dress Bracelet by theBeadAerie | Price: $97.00
12. Gloria Zen Ikebana Vase by TheCeremonialHome | Price: $175.00

13. Moire and Zardosi Pillows by TheHomeCentric | Price: $24.88 (for both)
14. Rococo Shawl II by TickledPinkKnits | Price: $260.00
15. Pink Cloche Hat with Vintage Button by yellowfield7 | Price: $170.00

As my first WordPress blog (since my college Blogger days), I decided to write about my renderings on my Moleskine, my newest and dearest sketchbook today. It took awhile to get here but the adventure of finding that perfect sketchbook was indeed fascinating. Since that history back pages, I’ve utilized other sketchbooks: lined, not lined, grid-based, leather-bound, fabric-covered, stapled pages, ring-bound, pure white, neutrals, darks, smooth-satin finished paper, watercolor paper, Bristol, flaps, no flaps, pockets, no pockets, wallet-sized, desk-sized and everything in between. And then Moleskine, which I consider to be the true epitome of convenience, solidity and quality in sketchbook design.

Moleskine, compared to all the different sketchbooks I’ve had, has the best quality paper: smooth texture (perfect for detailed work) yet fairly substantial that it takes huge amounts of ink to filter through. The binding is also one of the reasons I love it so much. Just the fact that it can lay flat as you’re drawing on it is possibly great reason enough to buy it. I also like the rugged cover (I’m tired of those super fancy yet flimsy sketchbooks). I wanted something I can put in my back pocket or throw it my bag without having to worry about wear and tear. Moleskines also have pockets you can utilize; I tend to pick up little scraps of inspiration anywhere I go and the pocket is perfect for that. And lastly, a good story:

“Moleskine® was created as a brand in 1997, bringing back to life the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two century: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin. A trusted and handy travel companion, the nameless black notebook held invaluable sketches, notes, stories, and ideas that would one day become famous paintings or the pages of beloved books.”

As  you can see from above, I use the pages of my Moleskine in rendering different types of ideas: anywhere from logo/branding ideas, to website layout, conceptual infographics, grid systems, typography and yes, doodling.

Some interesting links:

The History of the Moleskine Notebook

The Moleskine Catalogue of Products

Moleskinerie Fan Blog

MoleskineCity

MoleskineCity (YouTube Page)

The Moleskine Cluster on Flickr