Thursday, August 31, 2006

Fall is coming!!!

All sorts of new things going down- including a new and improved Faust Haus site and limited edition prints…among other goodies!! in the meantime, here’s a drawing from the vault!

In other news, Ms. Fiona Clark just launched her first portfolio site Wee-Fi and a new blog that will chronicle her travels and studies in the UK this fall. We’re sad to see her go :(

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Faust Haus for John Robshaw Textiles


Photo by Erin Derby

John Robshaw spent years wandering around India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia studying the techniques of artisans and learning traditional methods of woodblock printing, batiking and hand-dyeing.

Through his travels John established a network of artists and craftsmen who hand block and embroider super-soft cottons, silks and linens. His designs range from suble (the sheets are gorgeous and soooo soft/crisp) to bold and colorful (holy crap that kiwi duvet).

Faust Haus was asked to redesign John Robshaw Textiles' fall catalogue, promotional material and website earlier this summer and couldn’t wait to dig in. We were lucky enough to get our hands on some of John's batik wax proofs, blockprint tests, photographs and vintage printed material to use as inspiration.

Our first promo concepts used these assests (and Benguiat Gothic!) to create the vibe of a travelogue:

Concept Art for John Robshaw Textiles







For the catalogue and website, we were asked to strip down the design and let the textiles themselves tell the story:

Catalogue pages





Website: Coming soon!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Get Schooled by the Intern: Good, Better, Best

Better?
By Fiona Clark


I just can't help but feel frustrated by artists who bail on projects because they are discouraged by “so & so being better.” In fact, I hate how the word “better” is being used in society these days… it always seems like people compare apples and oranges. There shouldn't be any “better,” just different! Wow, I sound like my Mum. ANYWAY-

I was flipping through Mark Wasserman's “Re:think, Re:design, Re:construct” in Barnes and Noble and found the projects to be very liberating. He displays an original poster/packaging item/whatever, then has other designers/firms redesign the same project (a design-remix you may say).



A favorite of mine is “Don't Go Solo AIGA Posters” originally designed by Nessim Higson. Higson wanted to express the necessity to not wander alone and the importance of being part of something larger. The intense vectors were free-formed in illustrator and I enjoy the subtle type combinations (i.e. “aigabham.com go there now” on the left side of the vector form). He commented that the biggest challenge doing this project was “having no limitations.”



Dave Correia of Conduit Studios chose to participate because he had imagery in his head after seeing the original design. This image has two layers: One of a man blasting off into space and the other of a prisoner being executed. This delivered his message of “…it's never to late to save yourself.” He commented about the overall experience, “I had a predetermined idea and look that I just followed into execution. Simple concept, simple life.”




Rachell Sumpter took a more illustrative approach to her poster. The interaction between the dogs symbolizes communication/meeting someone new which is emphasized by the use of negative space. What she had to say about the concept: “One of the greatest benefits of AIGA membership is the chance to meet other designers, and I chose to show that newfound interaction rather than someone who longed for it.”



Linda Zacks of extra-oompH studios collaged in photoshop for her poster. She commented that there were certain feelings that one has after joining a group like the AIGA. The feelings of inspiration are what compelled her to take images and just keep overlaying them. "I usually don't strip anything out of pictures; I just keep adding and adding. Hmmm, is less more or more more?" I enjoy the rough nature of this poster-looks like someone has actually touched it so it doesn't seem as cold.



Area3 became involved in this project by abstracting the original posters vector forms. What came out of this was an island full of detail. “The fine detail in the drawings may not be perceived by all people, but they are there for the ones who look!” This poster was surprisingly done all by freehand drawing, yet the blocked in shapes still speak to the vectors of the original.



Jon Black of MagnetStudio found the original design to be complete, so what he wanted to achieve was simple reinterpretation. Part of the interest behind this poster is how each silhouette has a character due to the details in the clothing, pose, etc. The one not silhouetted is the person that represents those not involved. “…it's a visualization of being alone, but being surrounded at the same time, often how freelancers can feel, even when working in a busy city.”

Each one of these projects brought the same message through. Each person you ask will probably have a different favorite because it is simply a matter of opinion. Be happy to be different.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

A Healthy Obsession With Mike Giant



My upcoming trip to San Francisco is falling 4 days short of Mike Giant’s opening at White Walls and needless to say I’m disappointed. I really wanted to see how giant the Giant is, meet him and get a few words in.

Since aquiring this print several years ago I have a developed a healthy obsession with Mike Giant’s work- from graffiti to fine art.


Print by Sheperd Fairey and Mike Giant

My weekly fix comes from Giant’s blog on Fecal Face, Count Trackula. The Count chronicles his travels, graphics, tattoos, gallery installations, Rebel8 clothing line, biking adventures and fine art. The sheer amount of work he turns out is inspiring and it’s obvious that he is constantly challanging himself to innovate in every facet of his life. Despite all of the jetsetting and hot women, Giant somehow maintains a very chilled out and awe-inspired view of life. Maybe it’s the weed.

Most recently Giant has revealed a more personal and spiritual side of his work, exploring themes of kundalini energy, personal mantras, meditation and ritual sex:


Krishnamurti by Mike Giant

Pretty versatile for a dude who relies almost entirely on black ink!!!

If you drool over Mike Giant’s work as much as I do, you can own a little piece- his recent book Manifestations is on sale for $18.87 at Amazon. There is really no excuse.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Alice In Chains at Starland Ballroom



This was my first time seeing Alice In Chains- although I've been listening to them for over 10 years. Obviously I was used to hearing Alice fronted by Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley… Their music was always haunting, but after Staley's death it seemed to take on a darker meaning.

Some time after losing their original singer, AIC decided to keep playing and hired William DuVall to take Layne's place onstage. DuVall is a member of Comes With The Fall, who were reviewed in 2002 by Rolling Stone:

“The Year Is One (DVL Recordings, CD) by the L.A. power trio Comes With The Fall is a record of vintage kicks: fat melodic riffing and heroically sung vocals. It's no accident that ex-Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has used CWTF as his backing band on tour.”



Yeah, it was no mistake. DuVall has presence. His voice meshes beautifully with Cantrell’s, but lends a different edge than Layne’s, bringing something sexy but still brooding...reviving the music. Did I mention that he’s fine? That too.

B and I saw the band perform at Starland Ballroom, which, for those of you who have never had the pleasure- is only one of the finest rock venues on the east coast. Starland is located in the lovely Sayerville, New Jersey, (hometown of Jon Bon Jovi) where time has stood still and preserved 80’s rockers and metalheads for all eternity. Those who made it to the show were there because THEY FUCKING LOVE ALICE IN CHAINS. Everyone was pumped— and drunk.

We positioned ourselves to the right of the soundboard and I stuffed some TP in my ears (drumming has made me sensitive to loud noise!) and suffered through the opener, Modern Day Zero...they don’t deserve a review or a link. Around 10pm Jim Breuer took the stage and introduced Alice with his best metal yell...





The band was obviously feeding off of the insane energy of the crowd- there were several moments where they let their rock egos fall away to reveal a genuine appreciation for their fans. The only flaw in this performance was something the boys couldn’t help- a good portion of the vocals were lost in the mix because the sold-out crowd was singing at the top of their lungs. A truly memorable performance from Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, Sean Kinney and William DuVall.

Whale and Wasp

Sludge Factory
Dam That River
Rain When I Die
Again
Junkhead
Love, Hate, Love
It Ain't Like That
Rooster
Nutshell
Down In A Hole
No Excuses
We Die Young
Them Bones

Angry Chair
Man In The Box
Would?


Images and video thanks to the Alice In Chains official site and message board