CREATIVE BRIEFS #22
It’s been a long, long time since my last post, so welcome back to CREATIVE BRIEFS, a list of links, news, and resources related to three of my favorite things: design, photography, and art. My hope is you will find something that inspires you and maybe helps you create something new, in whatever medium(s) you prefer.
“Democracy with its semi-civilization sincerely cherishes junk. The artist’s power should be spiritual. But the power of the majority is material. When these worlds meet occasionally, it is pure coincidence.”? –Paul Klee
If you’re wondering what happened to my semi-regular posting schedule, I had planned to take a short break to focus on a big work project, but that ended in February. Since then, a combination of personal and professional obligations conspired to keep me from working on my own projects, including this blog. The good news is, like the honorable Representative Maxine Waters, I am in the process of “reclaiming my time” and playing catch-up on some of my favorite things.
In case you’ve been living in a cave, you know how upside down the world has become over the last year (and more). The news is littered with stories of trashy people doing heinous things. I’ll do my best to keep things light and relevant to design, photography, and art. But if you notice a link or two that shows how creatives across the spectrum are responding to the times we live in, please read with an open heart and open mind. Please. And thank you.
DESIGN
This Is What Democracy Looks Like (Sarah Holder / CityLab) A gathering of designers talk about the art of creating political brands in 2018. For better and worse.
The Saul Bass Archive looks back on the trailblazer’s rare poster design (Jyni Ong / It’s Nice That) One of my personal favorites continues to inspire.
6 mistakes designers make – and how to avoid them (Creative Bloq) Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
What it’s like to design for Justin Timberlake (Mark Wilson / Fast Company) Pentagram’s Michael Beirut talks about one of his latest pet projects.
8 Graphic Design Trends That Could Dominate In 2019 (UltraLinx) An infographic to get you thinking ahead.
PHOTOGRAPHY
What Vivian Maier Saw in Color (Andrea K. Scott / The New Yorker) The mysterious nanny-photographer strikes again, this time in vivid, vintage Ektachrome.
6 Tips for Shooting Portraits, with Photographer Chris Orwig (Monique Penning / Monster Children) If you’re not familiar with Chris Orwig, he’s been teaching photography for years, at Brooks as well as lynda.com. He’s got a great eye and is an enthusiastic educator and photographer.
Canon vs Sony: Skin Tones in Portraits and How to Correct Them (Michael Zhang / PetaPixel) The tutorial I wish I had had when I made the switch from a Nikon DSLR to Sony mirrorless a couple of years ago.
The Future of Photography is Code (Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch) Having recently upgraded to an iPhone XR (from a 6S), I can definitely see the improvements being made on the software side of photography.
Now Is the Perfect Time for a Flickr Comeback (Brian Matiash / Fstoppers) Flickr has been around since 2004. I’ve been a member since 2005 and, just the other day, started posting photos on the platform again. It’s so good to be back!
ART
How Women Of Color Are Leading NYC’s Art Collectives Moment (Angélica M. Acevedo / Nylon) It’s about time the art world caught up with the rest of the world.
Interview: How an Illustrator Turned Her Passion for Flowers and Art Into a Blossoming Career (Sara Barnes / My Modern Met) Beautiful work, inspiring success.
Sex, Surrealism and de Sade: The Forgotten Female Artist Leonor Fini (Daniel McDermon / The New York Times) I wasn’t familiar with this artist. Until now. Wonderful work and what a great story.
Whitney Museum to Launch Major Andy Warhol Retrospective (Keith Estiler / HYPEBEAST) It might be time for a visit to NYC to see this exhibit by another one of my favorite artists.
Paris Court Finds Jeff Koons Guilty of Copyright Infringement (Artforum) While I’m a Warhol fan, Koons has been on my “shit list” for years. Not sure why I like one but not the other. Whatever the case, this ruling could have ramifications for many contemporary artists.
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to suggest a link or resource, please drop me a line.