Ligature

Stacy Mar

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 10:46:23 -0700

Every kind of experience holds the possibility of artistic inspiration for Stacy Mar, whether she’s attending a violin recital or gallery exhibit, relaxing in a Paris café, or biking along Manhattan’s riverfront. She translates that inspiration into beautiful, original, and impactful graphic and industrial design, moving skillfully between the demands of two- and three-dimensional planes.

Her work is a testament to the years spent honing her craft, and to her passion for people, culture, and art. When Stacy became the first female to win her high school woodshop class’s “Golden Hammer Award,” she never imagined that this was the start of something big.

Early dreams of becoming a medical illustrator led her to art school, where she discovered that industrial design appealed to her love for hands-on creativity, model-making, and technical drawing (and involved fewer internal organs). From there, she began a successful, wide-ranging career that spans the entertainment, media, and retail industries.

Her diverse portfolio includes award-winning furniture designs for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (2006 Elle Decor Design Excellence Award—take that, Golden Hammer), graphic and prop design for major motion pictures such as "The American President" and "City of Angels," and extensive work for The Walt Disney Company, producing logos and licensed goods for their consumer products division. She has designed for Dessin Fournir and its subdivision companies (Classic Cloth, Palmer Hargrave, Gerard, and C.S. Post & Co.), created store and fixture designs for Carter’s/OshKosh, developed the Canopy Furniture collection for WalMart, and, at eight, inc., contributed to the designs for Apple’s retail stores.

A San Francisco native and graduate of the California College of Arts and Crafts, Stacy has happily called New York City home since 2001.

To see more of Stacy’s goodness, visit:

stacymar.com

Miles Goodwin

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:22:58 -0700

I walked by these two fisherman on an old dock one evening. As I passed them one said to me, “Don't go down that way there are no fish.”

I thought about it for a moment and had a gut instinct to fish where these wise old men knew there was nothing. So I proceeded to go my own way as they giggled behind me.

My line was out in the water for 15 minutes and I was getting cold. Then my rod titled like a twig and I reeled in the biggest fish I ever saw. The fisherman were gone, they did not see it.

“Trust yourself my friend, trust yourself.”

To see more of Miles’ world visit:

Seventh Seal Clothing
or buy some @:
emoda

Dave Straus

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 13:26:36 -0700

I must be trying to relive my childhood – or the childhood I imagined I had. Most of these visuals pour out of my head after a good Osterizing®- blend of ingredients formed from time spent living and working in Japan, viewing too many monster movies and watching my daughters play.

My kids are a great source of inspiration – I’m making animated shorts based on their “adventures”. And my eldest daughter Miona provided the idea for the parade in my first short “Futagoyaro.”

As of now I’m finishing up two projects – one based on Tokyo nightlife and the other, an homage of sorts to Japanese robot sci-fi TV shows, stay tuned...

To watch Futagoyaro in HD head over to Vimeo:

Straus on Vimeo!

John Beach

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 17:56:33 -0800

"As a designer/illustrator/artist, I am constantly trying to find new approaches and avenues to express either my clients vision, or my own. I have found that this is absolutely essential to keep the work fresh and innovative.

Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations—from Fortune 500 companies, to smaller non profit organizations. If there are any kernels of truth to be found in this business, I think one of the most important is finding that piece of the puzzle that brings you the artist, into alignment with the client: that magical thing called a symbiotic relationship.

I have also found it helps to work with people whose opinion you respect (you know who you are...). When it becomes a learning experience for both parties, the true joy of art can become a reality.

For more Beach goodness, be sure to check out:

johnbeachdesign [dot] com

Dan Glassman

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:59:31 -0800

I like to twist things around and then shade them until they look real. I see infinite details and try to create a topography within the faces and bodies I am drawing, in order to create a world where these things I come up with could exist.

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“Lately, I’ve also been trying to create those worlds with simple line drawings and forced perspective.

“I have a kid, you see. I figure I shouldn’t draw him all wrinkly for another 80 years or so.”

For more of Glassman’s goodness, be sure to check out:

danglassman [dot] com

Peter Benarcik

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 14:12:17 -0800

My professional and teaching interests have developed into a multi-disciplined approach to design, which often spans the realms of furniture, interiors, graphic and architecture. As a direct result of my experience in the design, fabrication and education professions, I have developed a method of creative problem solving which comes from looking at a concept from a multitude of perspectives and scales; often embracing alternative materials and methods which continually yield new and innovative design solutions.

Inspiration for my work has always come from the environment - both built and natural. I gain passionate inspiration from both the city streets as well as the wonders of nature. Geometry, texture and form are always around us and we need only to look, listen and learn from all that the world can offer.

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Working in today’s design sensitive world, I constantly challenge my design methodology to always maintain a sense of conceptual rigor during the entirety of any project regardless of scale, budget or programmatic challenges.

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I continually evaluate the work; make any necessary adjustments so as to always comply with my fundamental design beliefs:

Smart design is efficient.
Smart design should not cost a lot.
Smart design requires a lot of thinking.
Smart design should challenge the user.

For more of Benarcik's goodness, be sure to check out: www.fiveplydesign.com

Susan Benarcik

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 11:44:01 -0800

Susan Benarcik is an installation artist and surface designer based in New York City. Deeply rooted (no pun intended) in horticulture and design, her concern for the environment is made evident in both her 3-dimensional sculptural installations, as well as in her rich array of surface designs.

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Part printmaker and part sculptor, Benarcik designs contemplative compositions for interior and exterior applications that are highly tactile and evocative; evincing a fondness and respect for materiality. The artist’s ultimate goal is to provide environmentally inspired and efficient design that “introduces echoes of nature into our everyday lifestyle”.

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In Benarcik’s work, both two and three-dimensional organic patterns become part of our daily cognitive experience and bring equilibrium to our senses. Benarcik takes elemental forms from the natural world into her studio and carefully transforms them by stacking, stringing, knotting, layering and weaving them into multi-dimensional sculptures for public and private spaces. Similarly, the artist’s surface designs and earth-inspired color palette are based on her personal dialogue with natural materials. These designs are applicable to a variety of products such as stationary, printed and woven fabrics - for home and fashion, rugs, and wall surfaces. Always thinking forward Benarcik believes perhaps one day soon, her original and meaningful designs with be used for woven yoga mats and bamboo snowboards.

Benarcik enthusiastically looks for opportunities to work with product designers and manufacturers that share her concern for environment and for conscientious, efficient, and safe means of production.

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For further information please contact the artist through her website: www.susanbenarcik.com or design@susanbenarcik.com

Barbara Kosoff

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 11:27:17 -0700

I create mixed-media works with photographic images taken with my camera or found in magazines and/or other pop culture publications, combined with drawing and painting with oil bars.
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Starting with an idea and responding to chance and serendipity, I allow my instincts to guide me. Working intuitively, I rearrange visual elements and place them in unlikely settings, combining the real to create the surreal; revealing an inner dream, dilemma or desire.
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I recently created an illustration for the L.A. Times that was published in the Food Section, for an article about ingredients found in wine.

This is the kind of assignment that I enjoy best - when I can concept an idea and then create a thought-provoking illustration with a twist.

To view other samples of
my work, please go to www.barbarakosoff.com

Susan Andrade

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:08:24 -0700

I love characters — made up, down the street and right around the corner. Quirks and funny detail are right in front of us.

"Sometimes art can be magic. Sometimes art is fancy. Sometimes I create art so lovely it makes me want to fake cry. But I like art that makes me laugh.

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"So I pile on the giggles and oh, extra cheese, please."

see more of Susan’s work at http://www.citysouppro.com