Motion Graphics

One of my many hobbies is playing around with my video camera. Absolutely great how still graphic images can become a moving picture to create a story line. Kate Spade’s blog this month had a nice collection of work by graphic designer Saul Bass used in movie title sequences. I’ve added this one as a personal favorite. Striking how these super low-fi effects could be so eye catching and clear in intent.

Poesia Pirouette

"Some say existence like a Pirouot

And Pirouette, forever in one place,
Stands still and dances, but it runs away;
It seriously, sadly, runs away
To fill the abyss's void with emptiness."

Robert Frost (1874–1963), U.S. poet. West-running Brook (l. 50–54). . .

Caffé Italia

In Italy I am constantly reminded of the tremendous beauty that abounds, however sometimes suffocated by our own reluctance to go slow. Which brings me to one of the things I remember most about being at college was “going slow”. This was done with daily rituals of popping into and lingering in cafes, thumbing through books on shelves left there by some other, riding my bike to the next location, passing over bridges and through parks to the next cafe.

So, this may be the “why” I’ve decided to get into letterpress.

Found this nice article on great Louise Fili speaking about her Italian roots and coming here twice a year to get her mojo on. Her latest project was to collaborate with Rizzoli Publishing to create book cover designs on some of Italy’s most renowned novels to celebrate 150 years of Italian Unification. "I wanted the books to have an authentic yet timeless look, approximating the feel of a custom letterpressed hardcover book with a cloth spine.” Louise Fili

http://www.lanciatrendvisions.com/en/259/interview-with-louise-fili

“Punchy & Beautiful” Typonine

I like the feel of this Croatian type [faun-dree], Typonine

Nothing dry about how they visualize typographic form and transmit it into content.

My Philosophy (Monty Python) Nikola Djurek

typographic posters at www.tipoplakat.com by Nikola Djurek, Peter Bilak, Hrvoje Živčić & Dario Dević

Mistakes///Peter Biľak

Steven Heller’s article on Djurek & Hrvoje Zivcic’s graphic work /// http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/graphic-content-typonine/

Nebiolo /// Flea Market Find

This summer has been dedicated to setting up my home print studio and working on fun print projects for the fall. Sunday morning's bike ride took me smack into the monthly "mercatino delle pulci”. And as the story goes, from across the square, WAM! I came across this much needed (and restored) beauty of a type cabinet, but what makes it such a designer’s find is that it's from the now defunct type foundry Nebiolo ( mid 1800’s -1970’s), once located in the industrial north of Italy, Turin. Amazing type designers such as Aldo Noverese and Alessandro Butti were known to collaborate together and contribute for Nebiolo.

Vespa Woodblock Print

If you hear a summer buzz, it’s probably not the crickets around here, but the sound of motorbikes abound. It’s a favorite subject around here, as I’ve been experimenting with Vespa woodcut blocks for printing.  This one was printed with patriotic blue and red on Fabriano Rosa Spina.

Here’s another wonderful personalization of Vespa--a one day getaway to Ortovero Liguria, we captured this baby. Who would have ever thought of a real papier maché Vespa! Yes, it exists and I want one!