BLOG, DIGITAL ART, LATEST

INSA collaboration with Pepsi Max

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We tend not to plug any commercial stuff on this site but we are happy to do this time since the end result is pretty kick-ass.

About

Pepsi MAX asked people to tell them about the Pepsi Max Cherry and then got artist INSA involved in order to bring to life their words and opinions – we will focus here on the animated GIF outcome and not on the taste of that drink 🙂

British musician Charli XCX made the soundtrack for this animation

How they produced the video below?

A 360 degree camera rig was built around the installation using 90 cameras, allowing every angle of the art to be captured simultaneously.

Each artwork was painted twenty four times over, layer upon layer, so they would animate when put together using stop motion.

Millions of people have watched the video now. That is part of what speaks to youths about such collaborations, INSA tells Marketing: “The young people that are Pepsi’s audience are so used to engaging with things so flippantly and getting instantaneously satisfaction, but knowing that that instant took a whole load of time and effort to make gives that human element within the digital stuff.”

This form or art is called “Gif-iti”, Gif- what sorry?

In this other video below, INSA tells us about how what it’s called GIF graffiti (“Gif-iti”) came about and shows us the “behind the scenes” of another project he was involved with involving a satellite from space.

If you cannot be bothered to watch the video, here is how “Gif-iti” is created – GIF-ITI is made via a laborious physical process involving numerous layers of painting and meticulous planning.

Starting where most artwork ends, GIF-ITI entails photographing each layer the artist paints by hand. These images are then uploaded and overlaid to create the final piece, a looping GIF file which comes to live when released to global audiences online.

Read more on Insa & GIF-iti

CONTEMPORARY ART, REVIEWS

Amar Stewart X Lava Gallery

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Amar Stewart steps up to the Lava gallery for his first solo show of 2011.

We first viewed Amar’s work in the East Gallery in early 2010, the show had dark undertones, accented with sections of colour, A mixture of spray paint and acrylic. A different approach has been taken this time, the entire gallery almost devoid of colour, a series of large canvases featuring Black and white photorealistic portraits.

This was a understated approach for show early in the year and to be honest, a welcome one.  It is easy to feel bombarded when you attend opening nights, peering through crowds to look at large canvases. Lava gallery is only a small space located on the first floor of Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street.

Amar and the Lava crew did a great job laying out the space, taking a simplistic approach with the arrangement going with white walls and monochrome artworks.  It had a overall relaxed vibe, even with droves of friends and fans, it was easy to move around and check out all the work.

Amar’s progression in portraiture is developing a rapid rate and we look forward to seeing what he has to offer in the future.

Check out a the rest of the pics here: Amar Stewart at Lava gallery by Chasinghosts on Flickr

BLOG, GIVEAWAYS, PREVIEW

Love is the drug print from RYCA to win

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“Love Is The Drug” print from RYCA to win, yes it can be yours. We are offering to you lucky readers, the chance to win this awesome print which coincide with the artist, RYCA aka Ryan Callanan, upcoming show at Lawrence Alkin gallery

“I love creating work that people want to touch.”

Ryan Callanan

Following his sell out London show in 2014, two solo US shows and being named Artist of the Year 2015 during Brit Week in LA, Ryan Callanan returns to Lawrence Alkin Gallery with Ten Years Later.

Offering a retrospective interpretation of familiar pieces, Ten Years Later presents a brand new body of work representing a transition into a new era for the artist.

Reservoir Dogs Storm Troopers by RYCA | Art-Pie
One of RYCA’s iconic piece – “Reservoir Dogs Storm Troopers”

Callanan commented:

“While the show will reference the work I’ve been producing over the last few years, it will be dominated by the new pieces. Rather than looking back, the show is about looking forward and offers a glimpse into the future direction of my work, where I want to go bigger and madder.”

For the past decade, Ryan Callanan, aka RYCA, has worked tirelessly as an artist and printmaker, developing techniques learned during his career as a sign maker. His use of pop iconography and lyric-based works has garnered wide appeal, with many noted celebrities including Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, Russell Brand, Gordan Ramsey and Jose Mourinho collecting his work.

Marking a move away from the print and canvas works Callanan made his name producing, the show consists mainly of 3D pieces.

Ten Years Later takes the 3D pieces Callanan has previously produced and inverts them to create abstract convex works. He comments:

“Everything I’ve produced before has been completely reversed. Instead of reliefs that dome away from the viewer, the new pieces come out at you. Ironically they draw people in more, as they are curious to know what the works feel like and what they’re made of. The pieces are housed in acrylic casing, so while the viewer wants to touch, they can’t and are left wondering.”

Zen Trooper by Ryca | Art-Pie
One of the artist’s 3D pieces – “Zen Trooper”
BLOG, DIGITAL ART, FEATURE, LISTS

4 awesome photo manipulations by Leo Rocha

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When asking Leo Rocha about making striking images to publicise Ecuador and its tourism, I wonder whether the tourism board of this country knew that they were in for a treat! I do not know for you but we think here at Art-Pie that these are pretty awesome and we definitely want to go and check out Ecuador now!.

Made by Koenig & Partners ad agency. CGI by Luiz Alves and Javier Porcel. Retouch by Leo Rocha, Ramon Saroldi and Marceu Lobo.All you need is Ecuador | Art-Pie All you need is Ecuador | Art-Pie All you need is Ecuador | Art-Pie All you need is Ecuador | Art-Pie

PRODUCT DESIGN

Best designers toys from New York Comic Con 2012

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New York Comic Con 2012 has just happened and we are bringing you our top 5 favorites toys designs – this event is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention.

Comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television fans are mad about the stuff on display.

New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City.

Artist: Dai Tran
“Pandit” and “Bitsumo”

Dai Tran’s big-bellied custom action figures “Pandit” and “Bitsumo” — one a sumo wrestler and the other a panda — have a mythic rivalry that plays out on the graphic t-shirts he’s created for complimentary apparel line, as well as in his line of figurines.

Pandit & Bitsumo by Daitran

Artist: Kaitlin Juarez and Maxwell Yax
“Madknits”

A certain ARTINFO editor (who will remain unnamed) couldn’t resist buying one of these heartbreakingly cuddly monsters herself. Each one is handmade, and comes with a backstory about their assimilation to planet Earth, based on the Madknits comic series.

Madknits by Kaitlin Juarez and Maxwell Yax

Artist: Smoko
“Toast USB”

We wish we had the whole set of genius 4 GB toast-shaped USBs for our office. “Butta,” “Ry Ry,” “Crisp,” and “Tato” fit into a toaster hub, which also includes an SD card reader and works with any flash drive.

Artist: Mr. Munk
“Buddha B Pissed”

According to its creator, this trio of Buddha action figures — complete with big block heads and crazy eyes — was sent out into the world to rid it of its evils, absorbing bad energy and repurposing it.

Buddha B Pissed by Mr Munk

Artist: Pete Fowler/Molvox
“Tribes of Monsterism Island Vol. One”

The natural earth tones used by artist Pete Fowler for his “Molvox” series of devilish tribesman are perfect; details like the felt applique on a textured helmet and the toothy face painted on another figurine’s jacket make his little guys unique finds when bought

Tribes of Monsterism Island Vol. One by Pete Fowler/Molvox

Taken from the Blouin Artinfo website, check there for photo credits

STREET ART

Nikita Nomerz, street at from Russia

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What Nikita Nomerz needs to make his art are walls but not just any wall. His preference goes towards dilapidates ones with broken windows or any sort of holes which he will use in his compositions often depicting a laughing face.

Along a few pictures of his work, I have included below a time lapse video which shows Nikita Nomerz painting one of his now recognizable face somewhere in Russia

He says: “I started in school with classic hip hop graffiti but became more interested in street art and began all sorts of experiments. Now basically I like to play with space and objects. I am inspired by the place itself. I love watching the city and finding an interesting point. Usually I do not spend so much time to create one work, sometimes less than an hour. But it all depends on the size of the object and my ideas. (source: The Telegraph)

Nikita Nomerz

CONTEMPORARY ART

How to Spot Street Art

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If you love spotting street art, but you’re never quite sure where you should look for it, then worry not. There are plenty of ways in which you can make sure you encounter great street art on a regular basis.

Where as street art was once considered to be little more than vandalism, these days it is a hugely popular art form. This means that there are plenty of books, magazines and websites dedicated purely to the subject of street art and where you van find it. Many works of street art are now protected, so you you may find that you have much more time to visit them. Spend time researching an area before you visit, and you are more than likely to be clued up on where to find local street art before you arrive.

However, some street art is far more temporary, and you’ll need to be on the ball if you want to be in with a chance of spotting it. Sites like Twitter can be a great way to keep up to date with the latest street art discoveries. If you’re keen to keep an eye on where new works of street arts have cropped up, whilst playing online games like Partypoker and checking your email from the comfort of your own home, then using sites like this can be the best way to do so. They’re also perfect if you’re on the go, and don’t mind making a detour to see some great street art before it’s gone.

Lastly, it is important to simply keep your eyes peeled. Even street art which may not have a big name attached to it can still be well worth seeing. Certain locations are fairly well known for attracting street artists, so it can be well worth keeping a look out should you happen to be passing through.

STREET ART