Joe Mills

New Artwork and T-Shirt Store

Well, just wanted to pass along some news on new artwork…

I have a new illustration featuring some of my students form this past year.

I have updated and organized the work on my teacher page to reflect work my students have done this year.

I have a new piece of jewelry I created on my artist page…I also have a new B video that can be seen on YouTube.

Finally…my biggest announcement is my new t-shirt shop I “opened” on Printfection. Even though it did take me some time to get everything together, it is way too easy to get something like that up and running. Anyway, I most proud of my Rickey Henderson quote t-shirts, but I do have some artwork on there as well.

As always…check it out…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Adam Haynes

Image courtesy of Adam Haynes

Adam Haynes has got some great illustrations he did for Nike. I’m really into these twisted perspective illustrations and he puts the viewer into the eyes of an extreme sport athlete right before they take off. The great part about these illustrations is you really feel like you are there as you look down upon the obstacles. Plus, the curved perspective almost makes you think you are on top of the Earth. Finally, the detail of the scene below adds a level of complexity that you do not often see in a illustration like this. Check it out…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Physics Programs – Launchball and Phun

I’ve come across a couple physics based programs recently which are very well done. I’ve been interested in doing a Flash animation or game recently, so I’ve been particularly drawn to well done programs, animations, and games.

Launchball was done by a group called Preloaded. It is a Flash-based game that really makes you think. Basically, you have to get the ball from where it comes out to the goal. To get it there, you have to use devices like springs, slopes, batteries, wind turbines, etc. It looks and sounds easy, but the beauty is in the complexity of each level. It must be checked out…

Phun is a program you must download to play on your computer. This one is much more sophisticated than the game above, but has a slightly different application. It is more like a drawing program that reacts to physics. Fro example, if you were to draw an upside down triangle, it would fall over. Or, you can draw a square and then it turn to a liquid, and it will act like, well, a liquid. Check out the video for more…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Remix Studio Bangkok

Image courtesy of Remix Studio Bangkok

The web site for Remix Studio Bangkok is a little odd for a design studio (I had to scan the above picture froma  magazine), but you can’t dispute the photography and design work they do. If you can’t tell what is happening here, it is an Alka-Seltzer tab blasting through a fatty piece of steak. I think the message, by itself, certainly works, but the execution puts it over the top. It reminds me of those stop motion pictures of bullets ripping through watermelons and playing cards which I’m sure was the intent. I’ll leave it at that…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Paddy Power Advertisement

I’ll let this advertisement speak for itself. Although, I was reading that people were offended that they thought it was talkng about the truck hitting the old women crossing the street rather than them racing across the street. I think the unintentional message it was sending is funnier than the actual…I’m not offended…

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Johnny Cupcakes

Image courtesy of Johnny Cupcakes

Why can I not avoid fashion recently? I guess the statement I made a couple days ago should be thrown out. Anyway, I had bought a shirt from Johnny Cupcakes a while back, and I check out his site every once in a while. I guess they could be put under the category of “designer t-shirts”, but I just think they are really cool. I bought the shirt above a few months ago, but in a different color. The designs are sometimes simple and sometimes complex. And considering there are so many bad (I mean…BAD) t-shirt slogans nowadays (Bro’s Before Ho’s shirts with a picture of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton…anyone?), I like how these designs show a little thought and design skill.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Rebecca Ward Jewelry – More Recycled Fashion

Image courtesy of Rebecca Ward Jewelry

After seeing the Smart Home, I guess you could say I’m on a green kick. Rebecca Ward is another designer using recycled materials to make fashion. This time it is jewelry. I had seen some work she had done with old keyboards, but she must not be selling them on her site anymore because they were not there. Anyway, these are old plastic army men being melted to make broaches. I guess this kind of fashion might never have its place in the stuff we buy everyday from major department stores, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Smart Home at Museum of Science and Industry

Recently, I went to see the Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry. The below paragraph will probably sound like an advertisement (since it came from the museum web site), but let’s just say, I agree with it:

You’re invited to explore a real, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in the Museum’s own backyard to learn about the ways, big and small, that you can make eco-friendly living a part of your life.

The home, conceived by Michelle Kaufmann Designs and built by All American Homes, forms the exhibit Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd and Warmed by Peoples Gas, which is open through January 4, 2009.

Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home offers guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Bring your family to discover the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.

When I went on the tour, the guide told us that almost everything in the house was available to consumers, even though it might not be the easiest to find. In other words, this was not a “in 10 years you will see this kind of technology” pipe dream…what they are showing is possible to every homeowner. So, if you are in Chicago before the end of the year, you should check it out.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Half the Sky Designs uses Recycled Materials

Image courtesy of Half the Sky Designs

I very rarely get into fashion…especially purses, but I really like these bags from Half the Sky Designs. I know they have received some publicity because some celebrities have been seen with them, but I could care less about that. The bags are made from woven juice boxes. They take an item that is easily thrown out, and make something interesting and useful from them. I know recycled items can look just like that…recycled, but I think these bags do a good job of avoiding that stigma. Check out this book for more Cool Green Stuff.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Avenue Q

I recently got a chance to see Avenue Q while it had a two week stint here in Chicago. In case you have not heard of it, here is a short explanation:

The show is largely inspired by (and is in the style of) Sesame Street: Most of the characters in the show are puppets (operated by actors onstage), the set depicts several tenements on a rundown street in an “outer borough” of New York City, both the live characters and puppet characters sing, and short animated video clips are played as part of the story. Also, several characters are recognizably parodies of classic Sesame Street characters: for example, the roommates Rod and Nicky are versions of Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie, and Trekkie Monster is based on Cookie Monster. However, the characters are in their twenties and thirties and face adult problems instead of those faced by pre-schoolers. The characters use profanity, and the songs concern adult themes. A recurring theme is the central character’s search for a “purpose.”

The above video is a Cloverfield -style clip from the actual stage show of the two best characters, the Bad Idea Bears. In short, the show was fantastic. Part of me wonders whether or not the show would have been as good if it did not involve puppets considering puppets give it a different feel from other stage shows, but I’ve decided that is a little short-sighted. The story is straight forward, but very well told. The humor and timing of the actors is impeccable. And, I felt like it was very well choreographed. You never got the feeling that the puppets were in the way of putting on a good performance…everything just ran seamlessly. I think it is touring around the country right now, so if you get a chance…check it out.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites