The most wondrous home library ever

I watched Jay Walker’s TED talk on his library of human imagination. See it here

The library he built looks pretty awesome, its 3 levels with glass walls/siding that lights up with text and colors and there’s a theatre inside it not to mention 5000 years of artifacts cataloging feats of human imagination.

This talk was kind of a mash up of three different speeches Walker gave but the last bit is pretty interesting.  Did you know it takes the equivalent of 1 lump of coal’s amount of energy to download 1 Mb of information over the internet? That meanS a 200 Mb file is equal to a big bag of coal one buys for the summer barbeque.   We’re living in a “greener” world by relying more heavily on using the internet for all communications and information transfer. Also video conferencing and skyping helps eliminate needless travel and flying. But it’s still important to remember that with everyone being so plugged in, that each connection does require energy and that energy has to come from somewhere.

Coolness at Uniqlo

I’ve always loved Uniqlo’s clothing, unfortunately I can only get it when I’m in HK. They have a new viral campaign out that I saw on Netdiver (not gonna lie that I found this myself). It’s a weather based calender that shows images from cities all around the world and what the weather looks like from various places. It’s all shot with that miniature focus that’s pretty popular right now that makes everything look like tiny model versions of the real thing. It also has a wicked sound track, so happy and jolly I feel like I should be bouncing around on a cartoon cloud across the sky!

check it out at http://www.uniqlo.com/calendar/

cuteness

literal animals

Mermen were so last year. Even though manatees are known as sea cows I think they translate well into a burly friendly man mixture. Putting the man in manatee, enjoy!

literal animals

New Work

Some new work. “Mussel Girl”

Mussel Girl

It took me a while to finish just because the mesh tool is really finicky and annoying. It was a test of patience, but next time I think I’ll just paint my faces in Photoshop. It’ll probably take me half the time.  I also like my original line drawing better, it had a more delicate quality to the face. But everything gets invariably heavier/solider looking once its blocked in with color.

New Work

Still job searching but did some new work

Jason’s site: www.jasonmcnamar.com, development and design. My first “man” site

New illustration: Surface Level

Don’t know if I should make the bg grey or a very subtle gradient for more depth. I originally wanted to go for a straight black and white comic book inking kind of look. Still things I think I need to work on, like her expression. I might make her angrier looking.

I think I spent too much time on the eyes since when you look at it full scale you can hardly see any details I put in.  This is screen shot so its  actually larger than the image seen below.

"Surface Level" graphic illustration by Jocelyn Ng

the importance of keeping a diary

I just watched the two talks by Stefan Sagmeister on TED.com

He really is inspiration and i feel like he truly has found happiness in desing by doing work that a true representation of himself and his ideas while marrying that with a commercial use.

In a way you could say that he actually has people paying for creating his own art works.  I feel like the pieces he created from his diary entries about things he has learned really exist as a form of performance art and dadaist happenings.

It really encourages me to think about design as broader than sitting in front of the computer and creating stationary or websites.  It involve the body more and be more of a visceral experience in communication.

check out his vids for some good viewing , short snippets too so they wont take long=)
Watch Stefan Sagmeister talks about happiness

They don’t make them like they used to

I just caught half of the “Painting with Words” documentary on historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning/ tv host David McCullough and I must say that he is the most charming, inspirational and funny old man I have seen in quite a while.

His passion and enthusiasm for living, for his writing, painting and people are truly inspiring.  I’m not sure how old he is but I suppose he is around 70, but he still acts as giddy as a school girl when talking about all his new ideas and how excited he is everyday to get and go to his type writer and work.

It kind of gives me some hope and drive to feel not so burnt out over school ( only 2 more days!).  I hope I can have half of the energy and wonderment he has towards his work. Life ain’t so bad when you get to do the work that you love.

If you get a chance check out the documentary.  McCullough is so down to earth, humble and easy to listen to, he’s like the Amercian David Attenborough!  I think I have to name my boy child David because apparently they grow up to be well spoken intelligent and charming men.

Awww such a cute old man!

BCIT Pixel8 Digital Arts Gradshow

Hey everyone out there,

Just thought I’d spread the good word and let everyone know that the BCIT Digital Arts program is having its annual grad show.

The name of this year’s show is Pixel8 – Anything but square

The show will be on October 16, 2008 at Radical Entertainment on Terminal Street Vancouver

If you are in the New Media and Graphic Design Industry we would love for you to come on down and check out all the talent and hard work that the new grads have to offer.

The Pixel8 show will be up soon, so keep your eyes and ears open or check back here for an update on the deets!

Check out my site

www.jocelyn-ng.com is up and running!

take a look, i’d love some comments. constructive of course

Want (books)

I want booksbooksbooks. Pretty shiny books.

There’s something wonderful about books. They say that the book is becoming obsolete but give me the crisp crackle of turning new pages and the sheen and heavy feel of good card stock any day.

I just bought the Illustration Now! book but i also want this:
price $ 70.00

This picture totally doesn’t do justice to the beautiful lineny cover with the metallic blue design on front. This one has some more reading in it than the Illustration Now!

And this
price $90.00

It was sealed at the store so I couldnt take a look inside. I always love books by Phaidon and if its impressive weight isn’t a good indicator of loveliness inside, at least it makes one look smart having it on a coffee table.

I highly recommend the Illustration Now! vol 2. It’s only $40 cuz it’s a soft cover but its chock full of good stuff. I wish there was more interview reading material though. Each artist just has one quote or line. It is in 3 languages….if that helps. So I suppose you could teach yourself French and German at the same time. The book is published by Taschen who always has great art books.

If I buy them both tho that sets me back quite a bundle, even with my discount at the store. @_@ oooooo the temptation.

Happy Book Shopping!