Archive for October, 2011
Looking for a little Halloween inspiration? Then you’ve got to check out this light show themed to “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
Resa Blatman is a talented artist and designer that I’ve been following for some time now. She is a pro at integrating her artistic style into her design work flawlessly. But what I’m really excited to share with you is her latest painting series. Consisting of spectacular cut-edge art, her new work comes alive on the wall and takes on a wonderful 3D life of its own.
Outside the Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, a giant Polynesian Moai statue greets those seeking a little tropical bliss. Wedged between a brightly-lit bridal shop and a model store on a quiet strip of Victory Boulevard sits the oldest remaining tiki joint in Los Angeles, dating back to 1958.
The Birth of the Tiki Bar
The tiki bar itself was an L.A. concoction, pioneered with Don’s Beachcomber Cafe in the 1930’s, which quickly became popular with Hollywood celebrities. This ushered in an era of south seas chic that saw the spread of tiki establishments across the country, famous for their exotic cuisine, rum-based cocktails, and wonderful island atmosphere. Created to give late night revelers dreamy island vibes to swoon over, tiki bars served as houses of island kitsch filled with the rich iconography of far away destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Easter Island, Hawaii, and The Cook Islands, to name a few.
I love the ukulele. Since the day I picked up my first uke, I’ve been smitten. A longtime lover of tiki, Hawaii, and all things tropical, naturally ukes became a favorite obsession of mine (specifically pineapple ukes). Why? For starters they’re tiny, they’re cute, and their tropical island sound sends me into a south seas daydream.
Pau Franco is a professional illustrator and graphic designer from Argentina. She lived in Italy where she worked as a graphic designer before returning to Argentina. See more of her wonderful illustrations after the jump…
On a recent trip to Mexico, I came across this beautiful set of hand blown glassware in a tiny shop in Puerto Vallarta called Alfarería Tlaquepaque. Filled with handmade artisan ceramics, kitchenware, furniture, and glassware, I immediately fell in love with these “confetti” glasses. I only wish I had bought more of them!
Details
Alfarería Tlaquepaque
Av. Mexico 1100
Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mexico 48350
Tel: (322) 223-2121
I love a well designed logo. So today I thought I’d share a tiny sampling of logos from my personal design inspiration library.
The logo above for the islands of the Bahamas has been a favorite of mine for years. I love the way the bright beach colors stack into playful shapes arranged like islands on a map.
