Trick or Treat + BOO = Candy Coated Fun

Boo! A little Halloween fun, to get the weekend started. Parties, candy, and dress-up. Oh my. Halloween has become a major holiday, complete with flashing lights, talking ghouls, and dancing ghosts. Who's going to have the best carved pumpkin? This year it's the weekend to escape into fantasy, coupled with football and tailgating. Halloween is going to be that extra accessory that puts fun over the top this weekend. We all could use a little fun, football, and some extra candy. Right?

Moody Blues: Loved

Easy and free flowing like a gentle breeze, in the mood for love. Sharing and caring for all things beyond this moment. Taking it in. Exhale. Breathe. Relax. Repeat. Don't stop until you get enough. Always and forever. Remember or did you forget...

Dresses by J. Morgan Puett

Asparagus

Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle: The Suitcase Chair

Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle. The Suitcase Chair by Interior Designer, Katie Thompson of South Africa is simple and wonderful. It's a fantastic accent piece that would capture attention in any interior space, and it may just steal the show. Recycling just doesn't get any better than this. Once a discarded suitcase, now a classic low slung chair with a cameo print. It's an art piece all in one. Eclectic and memorable. Love this.

Recreate Interior Design & Recycled Furniture

Dorothy Dandridge

Inspiration: Dorothy Dandridge looking casual and marvelous. Her photograph sets the mood for vintage and sepia hues. Simplicity was the underlying direction. Soft and quiet tones, just the opposite of Ms. Dandridge captured expression.

1. Bill Hartmann 2. Alan Gregg 3. Pink Sherbet 4. Kicha

MonaMade Design: Event Invitations

Invitations and announcements for a Lending Product overview, an Annual meeting, a Board Meeting and a Reception were created to announce the dates, times, and locations of the various events. For the annual meeting announcement, two invites were design because not everyone would be attending the board meeting, some guest would be invited to the reception only. All designs were created to peak interest and get a good turnout. Too many times business invitations are plain and underwhelming with zero wow factor. Designing something a with a little extra makes a lot of difference to the event.

MonaMade Design: Logo Test

Most entities are looking for a mark or symbol that makes them standout from the crowd. Something representative of their mission. A well crafted design that gets a second look or third look even. It captures your intended audience and delivers your message. Just about everyone has one that's trying to do any business or trying to have a presence. These are a few, actual and experimental.

There's Beauty In Black

There is nothing like seeing black in graphic design. It almost always accentuates the best parts and adds a touch of elegance to the situation. Guaranteed to make things pop or add drama, especially if something needs extra attention or a little more weight. For example, adding a frame with the Sade magazine cover gave it a little more over the top appeal, and of course over the top has it's time and place. Choose wisely. These various treatments and graphic design projects below are enhanced by the color black thus providing a good visual experience for designing while in the mood for black saturation.

Biggie Small Poster via dubc4kife

This dark and smoky poster gives the illusion of deliberate moodiness and sophistication. The color black is playing a star role for the perfect visual graphic design effect.

"This video is what makes everything in this "Africa is where music was born" campaign, come to a cohesive light. Stunning and award winning.
Product: Channel 'O' Tree Animation

Client: Channel O

Agency: Ogilvy Johannesburg

Art Directors: Suzanne Jenner, Stephanie Symonds

Animators: TX Media and Craig Malan, Rachel Skevington, Stuart Cloete, Shelly Becker, Lex Trickett
Illustration & Typography: Rudi de Wet

A great James Brown poster announcing a concert, that was design with typography. Bravo to the this designer, job well done, and again the strong use of black makes all the type just pop. This is exactly what makes a wonderful souvenir poster. 

"Africa is where music was born." A visual extravaganza by the South African design firm, Ogilvy South Africa. Their work is exquisite and irresistible. The genius of the piece leaves you stunned, amazed, and applauding. This experience was made possible by Kiss My Black Ads who is always bringing attention to the best and the most interesting in the field of design, music, film and advertising.  This is poster is an accompaniment to this campaign.

Shared by shebreathes via hybridchic

Sade is always stunning and amazing when she graces any cover. Born Helen Folasade Adu, a.k.a. Sade, a soulful, sultry, velvet throat mesmerizer and always leaving us wanting more. Well she has returned and is picking up just were she left off. Singing those love songs, I have survived songs, and love will return songs. I am a soldier of love song. But in the meantime I'm living my life. Love that. Beautiful and mysterious, but making music her own way, in her own timing. Not at all pressed by the music industry, guided only by her Heart, Art and Spirit. At 51 she looks totally fabulous as she prepares to go on tour around the world. Sade, doing it her way but isn't that what we admire about her. The Black frame gave the cover, "the in your face" effect.

Light Me

Inspiration: A photo montage that began with the woman, striking a pose for the camera. The overall mood was black and white imagery. Then I saw a photograph of lights, then it all made sense. Lights, action, camera. Found another set of lights. One set of lights had the blue green bulbs, that led to an obsession with balancing the last photo with another touch of blue. Found it.

1. UberGmoney 2. MyBrokenMouth 3. Blue Sample 4. J. Morgan Puett

Presenting: Les Nubians Nü [R]evolution

There is nothing more entertaining, than when photographer Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard shares his concert experience. First, you're already familiar with his work from a pervious post on the Hennessy Artistry Tour: Detroit 2010. Well this video is just as exceptional, featuring Grammy Nominated International recording artist, Les Nubians and their performance at the Magic Stick, Midtown Detroit. These French/Cameroonian sisters have a World Music vibe flavored with Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Hip-Hop and Funk. A totally eclectic sound, like a melting pot of musical goodness. Celebrating their latest work Nü [R]evolution, they are back with another success story. Check out a sample of their music from the free download on their site. But right now, get comfortable and enjoy.

Spaghetti

Classic goodness that never fails to win. One of those crowd pleasers or dinner for two even. Anytime, anyplace. Add a green salad, maybe include some bread, music and life becomes good again or luck could be waiting around the door. Enjoy.

One Fine Day

Inspiration: A woman sitting on a bench with a huge clown-like style bow. Nailing the pose. Suddenly I'm reminded of the circus or the fair. From the circus, thoughts lead to a ferris wheel. Now for some color, to balance the black and white. It's all in the hunt until all ingredients make up a story or at the very least, folly for the imagination.

1. Sir Real Photography 2. Cuba Gallery 3. Luigi Lauro 4. Cuba Gallery

Spaghetti Squash Gratin With Rocket Salad, Simple Magic

There's nothing like coming across a recipe that jumps off the page, and ramekins could play a major baking role. I love all things ramekins. Not to mention that the main ingredient was already in the house; the spaghetti squash. Coincidence? The New York Times provided the inspiration, and it was love at first site. This was meant to be, and it happened. Totally delicious.

A Touch of Blue

random, accidental and experimental. a wednesday moment.

Dirty Means Good

There is no need for any conversation or explanations when you look at a plate like this. A clean plate is a good sign, even if the plate is technically dirty. It was good, real good, sauce and all. Next.

The Housewarming

A lovely gift, that only needed a plain gift bag and tissue. The packaging on the products was very beautiful. A pineapple hand wash and a pineapple body scrub, too divine. Just added a card, plus I included a mixtape/cd. The time gods were on my side. In addition, everyone was also asked to bring a dish, so I decided to bring an appetizer. The salmon spread was my selection. Simple to make with cream cheese, red onions, chives, lemon juice, parsley, and arugula. Add baked bagel chips, and black grapes; perfection. It was a wonderful evening with friends.

WHAT'S ON TAP NOW: Film

What does it takes to be an influencer? To have the capacity to effect character, behavior, development, or even purchasing. There's a short documentary soon to be released titled INFLUENCERS, that will explore this very subject. Watch the trailer.

Who's On Tap:Bilal | New Music | New Video | Restart

New music from Bilal, a little different from his usual but still delivering with a Rock edge. Restart is about trying to start over from a love or life situation that has ended but realizing in the end, that was the thing you wanted all along. This video is a fun, psychedelic haze of imagery. Old familiar story but a nice dance groove in this instance. Because sometimes you just need to dance or even sing out loud as you try to regroup or strategize a course of new actions. Most unfortunate to see the light after every things goes dim, and then having to race to start over. But sometimes we behave that way more often than not. Always the life lessons. Is it too late?

FULL SCREENThe Sounds of VTech / Bilal: Restart   

Presenting: Séraphine, French Painter

Séraphine Louis, known as "Séraphine de Senlis" (1864–1942). She was a French painter and painted in what is called the naïve style. Naïve art is considered as art that is simple in appearance and technique, with no formant training. I don't feel this classification justly apply's at all. Séraphine's work is so detailed and very exquisite, she only painted flowers and nature with this repetitive obsession. Is that not called passion? True enough Séraphine was, "self-taught, inspired by her religious faith and by stained-glass church windows and other religious art." Her faith was her passion, and she strongly felt that she was honoring her calling and doing God's work. Some considered her crazy for listening to voices and living her life by this inner calling. We all know that there is a very thin line between genius, madness, and artistic talent. But her gift is obvious. However, this poor woman who barely got by, made her own paint colors from plants and animal that she developed herself, all while doing menial jobs to keep painting. Remarkable. Her life story was represented in the film by Martin Provost, simply titled Séraphine. This was an excellent film and like most artist, her famed has increased with her death. You can check out the trailer to the film here.

The Best Sandwich: For Your Pleasure

The lunch crew never complains as long as I continue to deliver. Random request still continue to come in from students trying to place an order for a lunchtime sandwich. Isn't this how some of the great ones got started, in the home kitchen. Cooking from the heart. It's all about the yum and the love.

Pasta and Stuffed Clams

Another simple meal with visual appeal. I prepared everything except the stuffed clams. Sometimes you have to get by with a little help from your friends. Your friends at the local grocery store. It's all about the communion anyway. Right? The hearts were smiling after this meal.

Strike A Pose: Nona Hendryx

Confidence, strength, and sexiness are what makes these two photographs standout. The sexiness is based on a look that leaves room for the imagination without being too much. Everything works in perfect harmony.

Hennessy Artistry Detroit: Through One Photographers Eyes, Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard

Hennessy Artistry Detroit from Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard on Vimeo.

Hennessy Artistry Tours are a one of a kind exclusive musical extravaganza. Presented by private invitation only. These events are described as, "unforgettable experiences of world-class music, art and culture." Hennessy the maker of fine cognac does these five city, invitation only tours with special musical curators every year. This years tour was curated by The Roots and Q-Tip. The lucky cities for 2010 included Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York City. To top that each city has a surprise artist that is featured. Too fabulous. Hennessy Artistry Detroit 2010 was amazingly captured by the talented photographer and storyteller, Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard and this is his video. You can see photographs and details from the show here, as well as read his wonderfully told stories about what happened. His stories are colorful, creative, and imaginative, much like his photography. Not to be missed. Oh, and the surprise guest for Detroit was Chaka Khan, and yes she still has it. The line up included: The Roots and Q-Tip, co-curators with musical guest Jay Electronica, Marsha Ambrosius, from Floetry, Big Krit, and Travie McCoy from Gym Class Heroes. Check it and enjoy. To view his complete photographic experience, travel here.

Presenting: Taylor McFerrin

Taylor McFerrin - The Song I Promised You from Simon Benjamin on Vimeo.

Fun + Fabulous. This video by Simon Benjamin is a work of art. In case you wondered about the last name, yes Taylor McFerrin is the son of Bobby McFerrin. Another score for the apple doesn't fall far from... Much appreciation to Saturn Never Sleeps. for posting this.

ART BREAK: Jean Michel Basquiat

 

 

 

Another genius artist gone too soon. December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988. The prime of his life brought to an abrupt halt, and yet the struggle for joy was so intense but never fully achieved. Temporary highs only. What is it about the artist, wanting to be understood but not until death that their gifts are truly seen, appreciated, and respected. Yearning for acceptance by family, friends and society. Many times used and exploited as the flavor of the moment. However, his talent could not be denied. 

Basquiat is one of my favorite artist, his works touches the inner most parts of me. The intensity, passion, and conviction of his work, and feelings is brilliantly projected in your face. So original and ahead of his time is what they say now. Gone too soon just the same. However, he left us with a large incredible body of work for us to get to know him a little bit more.