Music Monday - Ode to Joy, Muppet-style

'Cuz some days, you just need a little muppet...

More Bruno Aveillan inspiration -

And since I am apparently on a Youtube roll, Bruno Aveillan continues to construct amazing visual worlds in television commercial form (and win copious awards). From the mythic to the sublime:

Here's a very cool live-action Nintendo-spot put to classical music and featuring a super-model 'conductor':


Why won't this guy make a feature-length sci-fi movie already????


This feels reminiscent of Andy Goldsworthy (one of my favorite ephemeral environmental artists):


Haven't we all dreamt we could fly? Maybe not with cell-phones...


I *love* the visuals in this one! Wow. What amazing interaction with feathers, flight and floating...

And speaking of inspirational hair product commercials...

-albeit for different reasons. This series of atmospheric and mythical Thermasilk ads were done by the insanely talented French commercial director Bruno Aveillan. I have loved every thing I've seen him do. Such completely engrossing visuals - telling entire tales and building complex worlds in such a short period of time. Complete with super models...

This one feels like the visual love-child of Phantom of the Opera and Sweeney Todd:


Fairy tale..


Faery:


This is a low-res version, but it has always seemed like the *perfect* ad to me. Such great imagery, music and edited so tightly:


Here is a longer, higher res version of the same. Again, great visuals, but not as much punch as the shorter one:

Believe in Yourself...

This is an *amazing* Pantene commercial (of all things). An inspirational must-see:



(of course it helps if you have really great hair...)

The Vendor-Client Relationship in Real Life:

I know this has been making the rounds lately, but in case you haven't seen it, it is worth viewing:



It amazes me what business practices are accepted in some arenas when you would never consider them in others. I've lost count of the number of 'offers' I've had for the luxurious remuneration of 'exposure' or 'it'd be good for your portfolio'.... You know, steak/beef - it's all 'cow'...

The wonder that is office supply stores -

Even though I'm not creating art this week, I still can be completely seduced by office supplies that come in pretty pretty colors....


(found this via Vickie's blog)


And this related video is an oldie, but a goodie. The very best usage of pop-song turned commercial theme song. Evar.

Sunday Sketching -

After a fun life drawing session on Friday, I couldn't bring myself to draw the back of heads today... Instead I was thinking of one of my fairy nieces, and it just kind of evolved from there...

(-All weirdly proportioned since I started with a larger head in the upper corner of my page and didn't decide to put on the rest of the body until after I got going - and rather than cut off her left side, she just got short-armed and small-torso-d...)

I can't tell you the last time I just drew. For fun. With nothing in mind when starting....
And then this strange little thing happened as I thought of the other fairy niece. Maybe I've been unduly influenced by the Manga graphic novel I just read. Or maybe it was inspired by the hilarious looking trailer for the upcoming movie Planet 51 (the "Alien" dog just cracked me up). This is going on the 'must see' list.

(you can see a better resolution version at the official site here).

I may be coming out of my burn-out funk. :-)

Oh, Shine already!

Shiny, sunny meadow spot - wishful thinking in gloomy, chilly January weather, when the sunlight is a rarity and grey drizzle, the norm.

But, fret not! Cheer is on the way! In case you have missed the 'Internet phenomenon' that is flamboyant musician Chris Dane Owens with his glittery green guitar and his lavishly cheesy music video, Shine:




If you are now scratching your head in bewilderment (or feel the need to scour your eyeballs), there is help. Hilarious translation of the jump-cut video storyline is provided over on tor.com. Or you can read the 'official' description by the ivory-maned artist here. (which is almost a let down after the first, brilliant explanation).

Shine on, people!

60 Seconds of Fame-

At the end of the summer, co-illustrator Jo Gershman and I filmed a brief little book promo for our publisher, Feiwel & Friends in honor of the newly released Wind Dancers. You can now find it on Youtube.

And here.

(Biggest-dork-EVAR-on-film-alert):



(I am ONLY posting this, under duress I might add, because it has been strongly requested. Let us never speak of it again).

And speaking of frog princes -

-don't think I'd be kissing these anytime soon!



(this is very short - and hilarious in a typical-toddler-mentality sort of way)

Deep breath -

Election's over. I'm ready to think of not such heavy, heady things for awhile.

My brother showed me this lovely, light and frivolous ditty - a perfect musical mix of a capella genre soundtracks by John Williams and fan-boy verbiage. Quite impressive really.

Enjoy. And breathe.