I have a thing for birds, but not one to own one though. I would have to say that I'm really enjoying these oil paintings by Portland-based artist Meghan Howland, who likes to depict people caught in swarms of birds, flowers or fabric.  It's not quite clear if the people are safe or in a dangerous situation, an ambiguity that leaves each piece open for interpretation. Howland is represented by Bowerstock Gallery where you can see much more of her work.



Source: thisiscolossal

Scott Hansen, a graphic artist who makes beautiful ambient music as Tycho and maintains the equally amazing blog ISO50, has a singular vision of music and art. Everything posted on ISO50 ascribes to an almost soothingly minimal aesthetic feel with his music style. So with that being said “Awake” is the first single from Tycho’s new LP due out next year, Scott has also done the album art as usual. Check it out and let me know what you think.





Source: pitchfork

Fashion in Leaves in a ongoing project by Malaysian Illustrator and artist Tang Chiew Ling.  It explores various forms of leaves and flowers as if they were fashion sketches. Ling previously merged flora with illustration in another series of images called Object Art, and if you liked this, also check out Drawing with Leaves. (via The Jackass Gardener)



Source: This is Colossal

Teen Daze has a new album out as of yesterday called "Glacier" and TCL is proud to have the album streaming on this blog. This album has the type of feel that you would expect of Teen Daze. Its got a lot of different varieties of enchanting melodies to fit any relaxing feel. Below are links to the limited vinyl and the tour dates.  Hope you enjoy the stream as much as I did.  So no waiting, have a listen or pick up a record or see them live on there upcoming tour dates:

I'm liking these animated illustrations by Robin Davey.  Robin who is based in London does work as a freelance illustrator, animator, designer and director. Recently he's been working with Wired Italy, where he's created these awesome animated GIFs. This work was featured in both the print and the iPad editions of the magazine, and Robin says that it was a fun challenge to do something that straddled both new and traditional media. I love it and hope to see more animated illustrations like this in the future.

You can see more work from Robin on his website here



Source: Thefoxisblack

Jeremy Kool created this collection of CG creatures for a print and Online campaign. The client, an industrial fabric manufacturer, wanted an engaging way to showcase their fabrics.  Jeremy did an amazing job on these CG creatures it's like you can tell how they would feel based on the fabric structure of the creatures.

"This job required me to model, texture, rig, pose, light, render and post produce large scale images to be used for print."

Check out the whole collection on Behance.

The Madrid-based advertising and industrial photographer Miguel Vallinas has done a wonderful job on matching the animals to their attire. You may thing well it's just animals in clothes but if you look closer you will see more than that. Aside from the solid retouching, lighting and overall execution, Vallinas took this anthropomorphic project a bit further and imagined what the fully-realized wardrobe of each animal might look like if it were wearing human clothes.

Titled Segundas Pieles (Second Skins), the ongoing series includes some 50+ animals whose personalities seem to be perfectly amplified by their pitch-perfect attire, making the portraits just a bit more human than animal. Picked out a couple of my favorites but feel free to check them all out here.



Source: Colossal

Amy Hamilton is a graphic design student from Ontario, Canada that has a special talent of making beautiful illustrations. It has been a while since I have seen such good work that I wanted to own a whole bunch of it. Her inspiration comes from nature and the belief that beauty can be found in the least likely of places.  So check out her work and help support this talented artist.

If some of you follow my Playlist series you will recall that on Playlist-46 I featured one of Albert Ryan's track "We Meet Again". He was kind enough to reach out to me and provided me a link to his site to download a copy of his new album Pocket Full of Lint, which was release December 7th, 2012.

In reviewing his album I was quite delighted from beginning to end. It starts off like the beginning of an audio book and slowly works its way through until the end in which the climax comes to a bitter end.  It has the styles of various genre's from ambient pop, indie pop, indie hip hop, dubstep and other electronic styles all flowing in smooth succession. As for Albert's vocals it gives me a feel of listening to The Weeknd with his own style of various degrees of fluctuation in style.  I also have to give a shot out to Paul Brown and Sonny Shotz who gives "Orange Lights" and "Mr. Gold" an indie style hip hop feel that works well with each track. So if you're looking for some new music I highly recommend Pocket Full of Lint, which is currently available for Free on his site but as always please support artist like Albert Ryan.

I also had the pleasure to ask Albert a few questions about his album and himself.  So continue reading on and find out what the artist has to say about his album.

TCL: Tell me a little bit about your album Pocket Full of Lint. What was your inspiration behind this Album?

Albert: Pocket Full of Lint to me is an audio book composed of 16 chapters more so than just an album. Each song expresses a different side of me, thought and feeling. The Inspiration for the album came from experiences that I've had throughout my life. During the time I was working on the album, I was going through some rough patches. I didn't know what I wanted to go to school for anymore. I was barely making any money at my job and being raised in a traditional Asian household, chasing your dream wasn't the most reputable decision unless it was to be a doctor. In 2010, I began making trips up to Boston with just enough money for the bus fare and the dollar menu to hang out with my big bro Mik. (Who was part of the group formally known as "The Deans List"). At first it was just my get away from all the stress, but spending time with them helped me realize that music was what I've always wanted to do. I've worked countless hours working on the album to give you everything that I could offer hence the title "Pocket Full of Lint".

TCL: What kind of equipment are you currently using and if you had to choose, which one is your favorite?

Albert: As of now, I produce everything mostly digital. I'm not really proud of it, but when I was working on the album my computer was the only thing accessible. Growing up I've played the piano, drums and guitar. If I were to choose my favorite, I'd have to say the drums. To me It's the best instrument to let your emotions out without having to think too much.

TCL: Where do you get your inspiration from when making your music?

Albert: Music was my escape from everything ever since I learned how to play an instrument. If I was happy I made music. If I was sad I made music. Sometimes I don't even know how I make it, it just happens. My dads side of the family is pretty musically inclined so I guess its in my genes.

TCL: Who are some of your favorite artist right now?

Albert: Hmm.. As of right now I'd say, Passion Pit, Pharrell, Mr. Hudson, Kid Cudi and Toro Y Moi. I believe they all set themselves apart in their own respective genres.

TCL: Who would you really like to collaborate with on a song if you could?

Albert: That's a tough one.. But I'd have to pick Pharrell. He's the man with the plan. His vision is remarkable and I truly hope to work with him someday.

Stream Pocket Full of Lint

Sub Pop Records has announced that Washed Out has just finished up his new album "Paracosm", which will be available on August 13th. In the mean time they have shared this very short trailer to give you a little taste of his brand of hazy, summery pop style.




Source: iso50

Artist Sonia Rentsch has created in her Harm Less series, weapons made of plants. They were created to defuse the power of modern weaponry by constructing guns, grenades and bullets completely from organic objects. The shape and form of each piece are really convincing, yet I also enjoy the obviousness of each plant chosen to resemble various gun parts. Check out more of Sonia work on her site.

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Source: Colossal

Damon Sheeley of The Bear and The Sea had released his full-length album Tress Like You and he has been kind enough to share it with you. I have been a fan of his for a while and each track that he releases puts you into a different space and time. Trees Like You is a lot like its title, the leafy and fleshy stuff of our very existence – you need it in your lives. Also check out his EP Everything is Everything on TCL. So hit play and enjoy and spread the word of The Bear and The Sea.




Source: Nuevaforma

I'm a fan of Owl's and this Owl series is just amazing.  You would think that someone just colored these owl's but really they are near photo-realistic drawings. John Pusateri uses pencils, charcoal, and pastels to create these beautiful colored owls. Pusateri currently has a number of his works available through Seed Gallery.  You can see more from this owl series in his portfolio.



Source: Colossal

Artist Clement Briend traveled to Cambodia to photograph deities and spirits from Cambodian culture to overlay them on trees in several urban areas with digital projectors. As you can see, they look amazing and it would be something that I would like to see in person. Here is what he had to say about the project.

"It’s a beautiful surprise when the projected spirits awaken and reveal themselves at night as though they are made of the towering trees themselves. The photographic light installations echo the spirituality of the few sprouts of nature in the predominantly urban landscapes. It is a visual imagining of the divine figures that inhabit the world, as seen through an environmentally aware spiritual eye."

You can see more images from this series on Briend's website.



Source: Empty Kingdom