Dad’s Night

Doodles and I have Dad’s Night tonight, a pre-school tradition we have loved. One of the best things about it and Mom’s Night has been the artwork produced by the boys about us. The kids draw the picture and tell a story or answer questions which the teachers write down. Here’s Doodles’ latest about me:

This really nails my slovenly Winter slide as seen through my child’s eyes. At least it was Wii Fit with all those chips I guess I ate. It’s always funny to see what details they remember and discuss. You can’t hide anything. I am not saying this is totally accurate, but if perception is reality and my youngest perceives me this way…

Tonight I will get a fake shave with real cream, too. Perhaps I’ll have more on Dad’s Night after the event. I’ll bring the Flip.

The Lost Art

Will album covers become a lost art? In some ways I think the album cover may actually get more attention now as the mp3s shuffle on your iPod. When you hear something you like and glance at the screen, maybe you’ll see a beautiful illustration by Adrian Tomine on this Luna compilation.

I felt I was losing the art of the album cover until I got an iPhone and started listening to much of my music through it, over the Remote program at home, in the car hooked up to the FM dial, and on headphones. I like the Luna album cover because it combines my love for comics like Optic Nerve with good music.

Going through my year end wrap up mix, I pulled a few of my fave album covers. (Only from what songs were in my final fifty.)

Wait, really stare at the Merriweather Post Pavilion cover in a bigger format. Whoa.

And then there’s what I think were the worst album covers of music I liked. Can you spot them? Yes, those last two. Don’t let them escape.

Maybe they were trying to be funny, and they are mildly amusing, but mostly just
ugly.
I think as a rule you don’t want to be pictured on your cover anymore,
let alone holding your instrument,
unless
you are a female pop country star.

How about yours?
Post your fave album covers of 2009 in the comments.
I’d love to see them pop up on my touch screen sometime.

If you need help finding some, check out this handy site: AlbumArt
http://www.albumart.org/

Second Grade Robots

We were visiting another local public elementary school when we came upon this awesome display of talent. You just can’t fake a kid’s artistic style. These are the real deal. Color me impressed.

Untitled

Robert Gober’s Untitled – a seemingly prosaic suitcase on the floor, reveals a portal to a surreal, subterranean vista with the legs of a man and a child wading in the shallow water of a subconscious realm.

I had seen and loved this piece at LACMA when living in Los Angeles. I was pleasantly surprised to find it when visiting my hometown’s awesome Milwaukee Art Museum.

Thwip

Assuming you’re not a comic geek, I’ll tell you that’s the sound made when Spider-Man releases webs from his wrist web-shooters. My friend, Roxie, did a series of prints based on comic book action-sound exclamations. When she asked me for word ideas this one was the first which sprang to my mind. It’s been a favorite for Doodles. He always makes the hand gesture, which resembles what you might hold up at an Ozzy concert.
“Is this what a thwip looks like? Is this a thwip?”

Roxie celebrated her birthday yesterday (and will again today).
Remember to support the local artists you know. Soon, you’ll have a great chance with another new venture from our creative collective, Uptown Market.

ours! get your own!

Books & Boys

Their current fave book was: Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem
(Thanks and Happy Birthday, Jess)

Until they found our Shag art books, now Pablo is fascinated by the prints and asking about what an artist does.
Very interesting development for a boy who doesn’t like to hold a pencil or crayon for too long.

Pablo’s big bedtime book choice last night was Bottomless Cocktail: The Art of Shag.

This is a bit odd perhaps, but makes some sense due to the cartoonish and childlike nature of some of the subjects. Also we have Pink Panther 40th anniversary posters done by Shag, but…well, most of the prints have a very 60s-70s swingin’ cocktail bar vibe. More Rat Pack than Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. But hey, whatever gets the lad interested in the project. He attempted to draw the sport coated animals and other fun juxtapositions he saw here. So I need to explain Shriners (probably likes the fez) and martinis, etc. Small price to pay.

Doodles’ book has been Where the Wild Things Are. Last night he insisted on seeing the film trailer before going to bed.
And we even sampled the audio book version. Why would you make an audio book that is 6 minutes long? The movie looks pretty great even though it’s been rumored to have had a bumpy ride.

But we adults should be reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.
We’ll be discussing it on Tuesday at Books & Bars. See the Books & Bars forum for an early peak.

El Jefe AND a ‘stache

Too perfect.

Thanks to Delaney for the tip. Unfortunately it’s already sold out, but I’ve contacted the artist for more. Check out Tresijas’s shop on Etsy.

le ‘stachebots

 

awesome paintings by Roxie Speth

 

Bottle or Jack (blue) is the bad ‘bot.

 

 

 

Coddle or Patrick (redbot) is the good guy. 

 

Sayeth Pablo. I wondered why they both couldn’t be good, representing each brother. 

These paintings were done my artist friend, Roxie Speth. Please see the link to her Etsy store for more info and check out her others for sale.