Halftone Def Studios are a studio duo specializing in what they love, design, illustration, and screen printing.

They started printing silkscreen posters in their garage and have since branched out into all types of design areas such as CD art, packaging, logo design, branding, clothing, and skateboards.

If you are intersted in purchasing one of their prints or in having them do some work for you visit www.halftonedefstudios.com or www.gigposters.com

A printer’s nightmare - even the cover is expensive to produce… but a fantastic result - I really want a copy! I need a copy!!
Available from Roaring Brook Press, they don't have a web site yet so try Amazon or something.

From movie stars, musicians, and skate-boarders to toys, technology, and history, Giant Robot magazine covers cool aspects of Asian and Asian-American pop culture. Paving the way for less knowledgeable media outlets, Giant Robot put the spotlight on Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li years before they were in mainstream America's vocabulary.

But Giant Robot is much more than idol worship. GR's spirited reviews of canned coffee drinks, instant ramen packs, Japanese candies, Asian frozen desserts, and mar-inated bugs have spawned numerous copycat articles in other publications. GR's historical pieces on the Yellow Power Movement, footbinding, Asian-American gangsters, and other savory topics have been cited by both academics and journalists. Other regular features include travel journals, art and design studies, and sex.

www.giantrobot.com

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.

Helvetica encompasses the worlds of design, advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day.

The film was shot in high-definition on location in the United States, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium. It is currently screening at film festivals and special events worldwide.

Interviewees in Helvetica include some of the most illustrious and innovative names in the design world, including Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Hermann Zapf, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Hoefler, Tobias Frere-Jones, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, Norm, Alfred Hoffmann, Mike Parker, Bruno Steinert, Otmar Hoefer, Leslie Savan, Rick Poynor, Lars Müller, and many more.

For more info please go to www.helveticafilm.com

This a nice and simple stencil demo using photoshop, I can't hear the soundtrack so I hope it's not to bad!

Shadow's first full-length work, Endtroducing... was released in late 1996 to immense critical acclaim.

Endtroducing would make the Guinness World Records book for "First Completely Sampled Album" in 2001.

The only piece of equipment Shadow used to produce the album is the AKAI MPC60 12bit sampling drum machine.

Now available is a limited edition cover artwork print available on a heavy, coated matte stock approximately 15" x 38"

Go buy online a turntable lab

The next in the Morning After series is the London version and this will be available to buy on Thursday 22nd November at the ‘White Noise’ show at the Black Rat Press Gallery.

Black Rat press on Nick Walker

Nick Walker is one of Britiain’s graffiti pioneers. Working out of Bristol for over twenty years, Nick’s work, like many of his peers, most notably Banksy, has moved away from conventional grafitti to stencil art.
Nick’s work employs a good deal of wry humour, treating iconic figures with a refreshing irreverence. The Mona Lisa in particular comes in for some stick – from being morphed into Marge Simpson to mooning the viewer.
Although the saucy over the shoulder image is starting to be a regular feature of Nick’s work so it might just be that he’s turning into a dirty old man and it’s nothing to do with the art at all. Except of course art’s littered with dirty old men. So let’s go with that and just say that Nick Walker is the Paul Gauguin of street art and leave it at that shall we…

For more information go to http://www.blackratpress.co.uk/

Shepard has joined many of Alain Ket Mariduena’s friends in supporting his on going battle with the NYC courts by presenting an Art Benefit for Alain Ket’s Legal Defense. Art will be auctioned off on July 26th and an event will be held on August 1st in NYC with proceeds going towards the defense fund.

Alain Ket Maridueña is a publisher, writer, Hip Hop historian, activist and graffiti artist from New York City. He was charged in New York City courts (Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan) on counts of felony criminal mischief, possession of graffiti tools, and X., all relating to a search performed on his home in New York City in late 2006.

Alain Maridueña’s arrest had come in the context of a growing anti-graffiti sentiment in city government due to the growing gentrification of New York City and as part of the Mayor Bloomberg’s quality of life push, one started by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Alain’s arrest appears to be politically motivated attack for his involvement with Marc Ecko and Ecko’s successful lawsuits against the city of New York in order to hold a graffiti event and repealing a spray paint sales ban to 18 year olds. Many consider the charges against Alain excessive.

Alain’s court cases are ongoing and his family and friends will be raising funds to pay his legal defense, setting up public events to educate people about the incarceration of artists, and providing financial, logistical, and legal support to Alain throughout his proceedings.

For more information visit www.supportket.org and www.thewallsbelongtous.com

JONATHAN LeVINE GALLERY presents E PLURIBUS VENOM NEW WORKS BY SHEPARD FAIREY A SOLO EXHIBITION

The title E Pluribus Venom which translates Out of many, poison is derived from ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (out of many, one) an early motto adopted by the U.S. Government which appears on U.S. coins and dollar bills. In the opinion of artist Shepard Fairey, many becoming one, or a loss of power and influence of the individual in favour of homogeny is a symptom of a society in decline. ‘E Pluribus Venom’ could be interpreted as saying both that there is poison in the American system and that many individuals are motivated by venom and anger toward this system.

‘E Pluribus Venom’ is comprised of artworks designed to question the symbols and methods of the American machine and American dream and also celebrate those who oppose blind nationalism and war. Some of Fairey’s works use currency motifs or a Norman Rockwell aesthetic to employ the graphic language of the subjects they critique.

Other works use a blend of Art Nouveau, hippie, and revolutionary propaganda styles to celebrate subjects advocating peace. The art addresses monolithic institutional power and authority and the role of counter culture and independent individuals to question the dominant paradigm. Shepard Fairey’s new body of work contains politically-charged paint, screen print, stencil, and collage mixed media pieces which use metaphor, humour, and seductive decorative elements to deliver provocative but beautiful results. These works blur the perceived barriers between propaganda and escapist decoration, political responsibility and humour with the intent of stimulating both viscerally and intellectually.

Dumbo Installation Space Reception presented by JUXTAPOZ and SWINDLE Thursday, June 21st from 7-11pm
Installation Space is on view until July 6th 81 Front Street (at the corner of Washington St) Dumbo (Brooklyn), NY 11201

For more info please visit http://www.jonathanlevinegallery.com/shepardfairey/ or www.obeygiant.com

Say hi to this nocturnal Sydney based street artist. He's got a show coming up at Monster Children that you need to see...

Kill Pixie is a prominent street artist from Sydney. Besides trawling the dark streets at night with a can in his hand, this young chap also also works indoors on these great canvas works as seen below and has shown them throughout galleries in his native Australia. He's also got a show coming up at Monster Children on the 19th of July, and a collaboration show with Edward Woodley on the 21st of September at the Don't Come gallery in Melbourne.

Check out full interview over at fecal face

Art Battles is a live-art competition where artists create work side- by-side in front of a live audience. For six years Art Battles have been a platform for talented artists to showcase their skills in and around NYC in a most unique setting and under tremendous pressure to perform. There's no time to sleep on your ideas, no chance to mull the nuance of each brush stroke. No, with Art Battles, time is as much of the essence as is inspiration and talent.

In May 2007, MTV hosted Art Battles live on the picturesque MTV outdoor deck overlooking Times Square. That evening, 12 artists vied for a chance to have their art displayed in Times Square for public judging.

After almost two hours of paint-induced frenzy, eight finalists were chosen:

Concep, Nick Poe, Leif McIlwaine, Martina Kubinyi, Ben Angotti, Brian Ermanski, Kevin Ragnott and Megan Whitman.

Now, the artwork they created during that Art Battles session has been reproduced onto shades that hang in the MTV TRL studio windows high above Broadway, the most famous street in the world. These artists are veterans of the Art Battles that have been staged all over New York.

The only difference is that this time, the ultimate art jury is you.

Check out the eight finalists and see their work. And be sure to watch the video montage of the May 4 event to see what they did to get into the finals. Art Battles are as much about the finished pieces as they are about the personality and performance of the artist in the moment.

After you've gotten to know the artists and their work, cast a vote for your favorite and tune into TRL on June 11 when the ultimate winner is unveiled LIVE! The winner gets the coveted center shade in our studio windows and bragging rights.

You decide who has the illiest painting skills and whom deserves the title of the 1st MTV Art Battle.

HISTORY:
Created by Sean Bono, Art Battles began in 2001 on a small lot on 45 E. Houston Street in downtown New York City. Since then, there has been tremendous organic growth in the movement with artists battling independently all over the world. It is a means of breaking down the boundaries of elitism and making art more social and tangible to everyone.

At its most basic, Art Battles are a competition in which two or more artists compete against one another in front of a live audience. Painting or drawing on canvas, they strive to create their best piece of artwork in the moment. The artists are limited only by the amount of time each has to complete their painting.

The true essence of Art Battles is the unearthing of the struggle an artist experiences when confronted with an unfamiliar atmosphere and an audience. It is here that the balance of raw talent, creativity and ingenuity can trump an opponent. To the viewer, this is the beauty of watching an Art Battle unfold, often unpredictably.

The connection the viewer feels after being part of the creation process is what compels them to choose their favorite at the end of every competition, with the winners judged as much on the quality of their art piece as they are for their performance in the heat of battle and their personality.

For more information on Art Battles check out www.artbattles.com.

THE FOUNDER
Sean Bono moved to New York City in 2000 from neighboring New Jersey in pursuit of a future in art. He made his first big splash in the NYC art scene at 19 years old, as the creator of Art Battles, a live competitive art show he staged in a junkyard gallery/ performance space in downtown Manhattan. Sean's skills have since become polished, yet still maintains an explosive painting style. At 25 years old Bono is an artist with a very exciting career to come.

April will see the re-launch of the Commodore brand, with a new line in top end gaming computers for home users. Not only will you get a high spec gaming machine but you will also get the chance to customise the look of your PC to suit your home environment.

Gone are the grey and black cases that you get with your standard PC, now you can chose from nearly 100 individual pieces of art. Selecting from image categories such as Gaming, Landscapes, Street Art and Art Photography your pc will take on a whole new look.

It is hoped that in the future users will be able to submit their own artwork, enabling you to give your PC paint job of your dreams!!

Oh yeah and just in case you're getting excited, there are no prices yet but your new sexy Commodore PC is expected to set you back between £1000 and £5000...

To see more of the artwork available visit the commodore site

For more information please visit www.obeyvswk-agnesb.com

New prints anounced on kinseyvisual.com. Featured paintings below are 'The Last Chapter', 'Falling Flower' and 'Untitled Tree 3'

Some more info about Dave Kinsey

Not one for the nine to five grind, Kinsey started the creative design studio BLK/MRKT after moving to the west coast following his education at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Art Institute of Atlanta. Its success has allowed him to pursue his path as an accomplished designer and fine artist.

His work captures the universal essence of the human condition through an energetic portrayal of urban characters. Working spontaneously, and utilizing a range of mediums including wood, canvas, chipboard, acrylic paints, found materials and pen
and ink, he constructs multi-layered, textured environments easily likened to the complexities of contemporary urban life. His portraits depict beings who are both triumphant in their defiant stance to their surroundings, and tragic, as they transmit a visual display of raw emotion and jangled nerves.

The style and substance of his body of work originates in street art, such as his “unlearn” message, and in keeping with his goal “to expose as many people to art as possible and to honor the power art has when it’s created and accepted”, Kinsey founded the BLK/MRKT Gallery, allowing him to provide a crossroads for a new movement of young and electrifying iconoclasts.

In addition to these pursuits his fine art has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide, among these a recent exhibition at the URBIS Museum in Manchester. He has also been featured in such publications as The New York Times, LoDown and Black Book, and invited to speak at numerous institutions such as The Art Center College of Design, UCLA, Montserrat College of Art and The University of Florida.

For more info visit www.kinseyvisual.com or www.blkmrkt.com

‘It’s Pop It’s Art’ is built upon a passionate love both of music and art. Taking their lead from the world’s influential musicians, typographers and the pop art icons of the 1960s. They aim to visually celebrate the many bands that can catapult our emotional states any-which-way with the use of microphone, guitar, drum machine and a trusty pen & paper. The song is where the emotional connection sparks and the lyric is where that whole trip begins.

All fonts have been hand drawn and designed especially for this project. All prints are signed by the designer, numbered, limited to 300 and printed on high-grade 216g astrolux paper. Each print is 100cm x 70cm and fits neatly in a Habitat ‘Birch’ frame. We use the same printers as Damien Hirst and London’s Serpentine Gallery.

They have also started doing custom prints for that special track of your choice. ‘It’s Pop It’s Art’ is a collaboration between Airside and EMI Music Publishing UK. Check out www.itspopitsart.com for more information.

Indeep - Last Night a DJ Saved My Life Print

Check out this really cool animation / stop motion video.

Ljudbilden & Piloten made this stopmotion video for minilogue in summer '06, this is the short version above.
All made on whiteboard so no undo/redo. The long version will be available on the DVD next year, released on crosstown rebels.

In 1998 Nina Braun founded the first and still the only, female owned and operated company in the German skateboarding scene. The idea was to create a lobby for the women in the sport, who at the time remained completely unrepresented, and naturally, to produce the proper equipment. The Sumo Clothing Project took of from day one and could be found in skate shops throughout Germany, as well as in few places in Switzerland, Austria, U.K. and Italy.

Photos from the exhibition at heliumcowboy.com
Nina Braun: sneak like a panther

Since it’s formation, the company has developed into more of a forum in which women come together and express themselves through a very diverse mix of talents such as rap, dj’ing, laying beats, boxing, dancing, soccer playing, skating (of course), writing, thinking, drinking, originating visual or applied arts and many more. Common sense: Don’t be a pussy, be a Sumo!
By the end of 2004, after six quite successful years in the label business, Nina decided to quit.

Photos from the exhibition at heliumcowboy.com
Nina Braun: sneak like a panther

First of all she wanted to work more freely and creatively again, mainly as an artist, not as a designer and chief clerk.
Secondly the handling of the balancing act between economic efficiency and her personal political and artistic demand had gotten from bad to worse.

www.ninabraun.net