Browsing Tag

Japan

Artist & Designer Features

Camilla d’Errico is No Ordinary Love of Mine

04/08/2013

As is pretty obvious by my own work and features here, I am involved in and very supportive of the Pop Surrealism movements in Los Angeles and Tokyo. Having seen Camilla d’Errico‘s work at Hello Kitty’s 35th VIP Aniversary Party in LA I just had to promote and feature her work and really wanted to understand a little bit about what makes such a beautiful mind, as communicated on canvas, tick.

How long have you been painting?
I’ve been painting (exhibiting) since 2005.

Did it ever become your main focus?
No, painting has never actually been my main focus, though it took center stage in 2007-2008. I’m a comic book artist, first and foremost, but after I first started showing in galleries, and my work was well loved, I was propelled into the Pop Surrealism movement in Los Angeles and I went with it!

What has been your favorite exhibition?
My favorite would have to be the Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary show in 2009. It was fabulous and so many artists interpreted Hello Kitty (I love HK btw) and it was a very well organized and fun show.

What inspires you most?
I’m mostly inspired by manga and anime.

What has been your favorite painting you’ve created?
No Ordinary Love because it has very special meaning for me. It’s about love, and not giving up on love, but holding onto that hope so dearly … until you are able to be reunited.

Do you have any crazy stories about one of your pieces?
It’s not crazy, per se, but I find it hilarious. My painting, Mountainhead, is a Helmetgirl with the biggest helmet you’ve ever seen. There are bits and pieces of everything on that helmet, completely overpowering her small frame. I painted that for my sister AdaPia because she is always thinking, plotting, planning. In fact, she’s my business partner! So I always like referring to her as Mountainhead.

Favorites
Color? teal
Food? steak
Animal? pug
Music? really into Dubstep right now
Magazine? Shojo Beat
Movie? Spirited Away

Do you have any advice for readers interested in turning their hobby into their main focus?
It takes a lot of determination, focus and willpower to move from hobby to professional. I suggest doing a lot of research about the specific artistic field you want to go into. That’s easy nowadays with Internet, but it’s good to also meet people in person – go to galleries, talk to the curators, owners, directors. Get a good feel for what’s going on. Also, make sure you know and define your own style. Be confident and comfortable with what you are creating. And in the beginning, it’s always a good idea to start slowly; don’t leave your ‘day job’ until you’ve built up a good client base or a collector base. And never give up, even when things seem bad; it’s just a learning phase and you’ll come out stronger.

What do you feel is a recipe for success?
Skill + talent + passion + determination + work ethic and a good dose of people skills!

Are you Miseducated?
Totally! When I was growing up, and even throughout college, everyone tried to persuade me not to go into comics because it isn’t a lucrative career. It’s barely enough for anyone to live off of, unfortunately. But I was obstinate and I wanted to be a comic artist above all else and I persisted in my dream. So first of all, I’m Miseducated because I didn’t do what I was told would be best for me, and also because I’m a self taught painter. Some of my fine art teachers told me I had no skills as a painter, no style … and as much as I am humble, I do get a kick out of knowing I’ve proven them wrong!

Gallery

Artist & Designer Features Visual Splendor

Audrey Kitching Knows Fashion Blogging

01/04/2011

Audrey is one of the sweetest girls I know. She’s always been able to fit in a brainstorm or girl chat into her busily-blogging lifestyle. She’s a cat lover, a fashion addict and a teenage icon. Lately, she has been putting a lot of time and energy into her new lines Tokyolux and Coco De Coeur (if you haven’t taken a peek yet get ready for an eye-candy overload).

If im inspired by something I dive into it without hesitation!

You’re a blogger and always have something new to say, how do you maintain your blog and all of your websites with so little free time?
Its something I love to do. I wake up and I’m thinking of fashion ideas, styles and shoots. I live it. I don’t mind having little free time because I enjoy what I’m doing so much. It’s not a chore by any means, when I’m out of town or away from a computer I crave it.

Ever since we became friends we’ve been totally connected.. is friendship something important to you with your lifestyle?
Of course, I’m just really careful who I let into my life. Living in Los Angeles people befriend you for the wrong reasons and it’s actually hard to find people who just want to order takeout and watch a movie. I have hundreds of acquaintances and a handful of friends.

How do you find new inspirations to blog about?
From everywhere and everything. I’m always watching movies, listening to music, researching, buying magazines. It’s an overload of inspiration everyday. I never have the problem of being uninspired, if anything im over inspired and it makes my head spin!

What’s inspiring you right now?
Marie Antoinette, the ocean, 60s, mods, punks, 90s vogue, japan street style, velvets, lace, tea partys, the germs, cat ladies … I just watched this documentary on cat ladies and it was out of this world. One lady was living with 123 cats! My inspirations are all over the place. Im never inspired by one idea, I take everything and mix it into something new.

Are you miseducated and why?
I’m miseducated because I do things my way. I’m a Leo; I was never a follower. If im inspired by something I dive into it without hesitation!

I’m miseducated because I do things my way. I’m a Leo; I was never a follower.


Escapeland

Making Noise for Printable Designer Toys

10/12/2010
Printable Panda!

Need a new, tiny photo model but don’t want to shell out cash for dolls and vinyl figures? Try a paper model, paper or not, I’m in love. (My husband says I’m like Michael Scott now because I’m in love with paper.)

Toobusytobreathe. I’ve opened back up my web design studio and have gotten so many exciting projects (did I mention we’re moving?) that I can hardly fit in the time to update Miseducated like I should — soon newnewnew. So much new you’ll bounce to the moon!

Speaking of bouncing to the moon, these printable toys make me so happy I could fly. I knew someday this would catch on again and I’m too excited!

Printable Pandas

Jessica and I have collaborated on a cute new surprise for Miseducated, her pandas in PRINTABLE FORM. Print them and you can have your own designer toy as soon as the paper cools. Put some pandas into your own world~

More Printable Designers

3 Eyed Bear
Macula
Fantastic Toys
Speakerdog
Chelstastic
mundosopa!
ROMMY
Shintaka
Sal Azad
CUBOTOY

Paper Toy Books

We Are Paper Toys: Print-Cut-Fold-Glue-Fun
Paper Wonderland: 32 Terribly Cute Toys Ready to Cut, Fold & Build
Karakuri: How to Make Mechanical Paper Models That Move
Papertoy Monsters: Make Your Very Own Amazing Papertoys!

Visual Splendor

Middie Blythe is Here!

10/01/2010

All of the information about Middie Blythe has been officially released from BlytheDoll.com.

A new sized model for your creations and photos awaits!

Middie (Middle) Blythe is here — but she doesn’t have a middle child complex because she has a super cute charm that the other’s don’t have. She can turn her head to the side!

Not too big, not too small, she’s just right!
For everybody who was wondering who Middie Blythe is, your wait is over!
Middie looks slightly younger looking than a Neo Blythe and slightly more grown up than a Petite Blythe.
She is called “Middie” because her size is in between Neo and Petite, but it spells “Middie” instead of “Midi” so it sounds like a cute girl’s name.
Her head is table to tilt to the left or the right with eye move technology enhancing her charming gaze!

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[ Middie Blythe Stats ]
Size (height): About 20cm
Eye color: 1 color (eye direction is moveable from left to right)
Eyelids: Set (do not close or open)
Neck: Moveable to left and right
Arm: Moveable
Waist: Stable (does not twist)
Knee: Stable (does not bend)

1000930_MQP1_ads

.. and as if you needed any more reason to love and want a Middie Blythe of your own, CWC is releasing an exclusive “Macaron Q-Tea Party” in collaboration with Q-pot.

Check out all the information directly from BlytheDoll.com:

Tea time is the perfect time to retire to the garden for a relaxing escape.
The intoxicating aroma of the flowers in the sunshine fill the air.
The light colors of the pink tea roses resemble the color of sweet Parisian macarons.
Once the treats are done baking we will be ready for our luxurious afternoon tea party, make yourself at home and enjoy this time with us!

“Macaron Q-Tea Party” has a soft and welcoming look coordinated with her sweet and romantic styling.
Her strawberry pink dress is embroidered with the Q-pot. brand, signature “Q” and whipped cream print.
Her apron is light and airy, and brings to mind fresh whipped cream.
Her gorgeous little hat is a little tea cup filled with mint tea!
Like any proper tea cup, it features a beautiful rose and lace motif to make it truly festive for our afternoon tea!
Her necklace and earrings have the signature Q-pot.’s “Q” and are made to look like strawberry and mint green Parisian macarons, how sweet!
She wears lace tights and mint green strapped shoes.
Her hair is a lovely honey blond, and has a slight wave perm giving her a romantic and sweet look.
She wears mint green eyeshadow and has fresh pink lips and cheeks, just right for an outdoor party.
Her eyes are blue and are so inviting and warm.
Her skin type is Very fair.

[ Skin Type ] Very fair
[ Make-up ] Eye shadow: mint green, Lips: blushy pink, Cheek: warm pink
[ Eye Color ] Blue
[ Hair Color ] blonde with a touch of brown (two mixed saran colors!)
[ Earrings ] Q-pot. Brand signature macaron earrings in mint green and strawberry
[ The set includes ] Doll, pink dress with decorative print, apron, tea cut hat, Q-pot. brand signature macaron necklace in mint, Q- pot. Brand signature macaron earrings in mint green and strawberry, tights, mint green shoes, bloomers, and new Middie Blythe stand.

Scheduled release Date: October 2010
Suggested retail price: 14,490yen
Limited to 3500dolls

Blythe Character © 2010 Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved.
Blythe Character licensee rights for Asia © 2010 Cross World Connections, Ltd.
Photographs © 2010 Junie Moon-CWC

Event Features Visual Splendor

Sweet Streets LA Brings Kawaii Home to Play

09/25/2010
sweetstpr

I’m happy to show you a little glimpse of the amazing exhibition of Sweet Streets (a Harajuku Kawaii Experience!) in Los Angeles at Gallery Nucleus by my sweet friend, Caro. (Yes, I designed that shockingly bright logo.)

Sweet Streets features an array of magnificent artists inspired by Japanese street fashion. The event featured a fashion show with our favorite sensational shop, 6%DOKIDOKI.

Caro wants to bring the magic of Japan to the States and I’m absolutely thrilled about it. It’s one of my own missions in life and I’m so excited to join her in the inspiration melt-down.

I wish I could buy each and every Miseducated visitor a ticket to Tokyo so you could revel in the inspiration found in every corner and under every stone. Maybe someday? Thanks to Caro you can experience Japan and Harajuku style right here in the States!

All photos of Sweet Streets were taken by BigWhiteBazooka, Tadatime and LA Weekly. Do to my little pregnancy circumstance I could not tear myself away long enough to enjoy the exhibition but I’ll be better prepared next time.

fashion

sweetstreets

dokidoki

artgallery

art

The photos below are by LA Weekly.

Sweet Streets II @ Gallery Nucleus
Lookie who it is! — our good friend, Maria of Locketship donning unicorns as cutely as possible~
painting
drawing
Some more cute friends you might recognize, the 6%DOKIDOKI shop girls!

Magazine Clips Visual Splendor

French Magazine Clippings: MiLK Home Decor

08/29/2010

You’ll be noticing some changes around here.. mostly just cleaning things up and preparing for more change.. there are so many things I’ve wanted to get done but have continually put off!

Don’t throw tomatoes yet! .. remember, I’m a new mother!

I’ve decided that when you’ve figured out how to work with a baby on your lap you must be really driven. Ha!

So here I am preparing a move, trying to work and giving Colette every free moment and busy moment I have. I want to build her a world of dreams and wonderment — color and whimsy. I cannot WAIT to move and finally unpack. I’m starting to forget what my real office even looks like anymore..!

So in the middle of all of this I’ve been feeling the insatiable need to travel again.. and so I’m planning a couple of trips to cities in the USA but I’m having urges for more international travel. I miss my friends and family in Japan and I would love to go on a shopping spree for our new place. A trip back to Paris wouldn’t be so bad either, have you seen MiLK Decor in France? I’ve been EATING home decor magazines lately.

Do you want more??

MILKs
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Magazine Clips Visual Splendor

Japanese Magazine Clippings: Decorate Everything

08/27/2010

I’ve been meaning to update things here for quite awhile! I had an extremely long checklist and had to actually go through each and every one of our old entries.

Whew!

As you know the thing I love about Japan and modern Japanese design is that absolutely anything can be decorated and that even the most minute task is done with the utmost care.

After scanning through a collection of Japanese deco books I decided I would clip out my favorite ideas.

Are you inspired?

decos
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Visual Splendor

Tanabata, the Star Festival of Love in Japan

07/27/2010

Tanabata (evening of the 7th) is a Japanese star festival filled with sweets, wonder and a pride that cannot be explained.

According to the precious legend, the Milky Way (a river made from stars that crosses the sky), separates the lovers Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). They are allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month (July). This is the day of the Tanabata festival, when we can celebrate a tale of love in a festival or carnival setting.

My host sister knew I would love the festival so we decided grab our cameras and go.

Upon arriving I realized I was in the starry sky floating along the Milky Way because I was absolutely amazed with the lights, floats and bright colors surrounding us.

Take a look around.. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself! I know we did.

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tanabata entrance
I remember seeing a doll on camera here..
my excitement exploded into the bright colors you see everywhere.
look away
Where should we go first??
candy stand

masks

neon-o-rama

catch one for me

banana rama

light bright

candy strawberry
Candy strawberries, candy Mickey’s and milky candy apples!
bouncy falls

rainbow liquid

candy floats

catch one for me

cotton candy for me

snard river

balloon animals

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night bright

the end

Visual Splendor

The Cutest Wine You Can Drink

05/04/2010

I know you probably don’t choose your wine by the bottle… but if you’re anything like me that definitely sweetens the deal! Wine bottles (after you share the contents with your best friend over chocolate-covered strawberries) can be turned into vases and lamps (DIY ala Wit and Whistle) to name only a couple of uses!

It also doesn’t help that one of the Hello Kitty Wines comes with a necklace. Are they marketing this FOR us? I’ve heard the rants about inspiring children to drink with the cartoon character but what they don’t understand is in Japan and Asia cute characters are the norm. Your average business man on a train more than likely has a cute character attached to his cellphone in Tokyo — It makes me wish we Americans understood that design can be cute. Cute can be good. It makes you happy and it delights your senses if you let it. (I promise!)

Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs are one of my all-time favorites (pre-pregnancy of course!) and it’s a sparkling white grape wine so no staining your teeth! Perfect size can to fill a wine class and if you’re hanging around outside you wont even want one. The straws were attached, as rumored, so that women could drink the wine without ruining their lipstick, says a server at St. Elmo Steakhouse Indianapolis — a grand place to be served Sofia wine.

sofia
kittywinelg
kittywine