Fun With Skype Screen Grabs By James Callahan.

I figured it wouldn't be long until we began seeing more and more 'art' made from the latest tech apps and devices. We've already seen a wonderful series of illustrated versions of You Tube's most popular videos and seen how the New Yorker Magazine has featured covers created with an iPhone painting app.



Now, UK advertising art director, illustrator and photographer James Callahan has had some fun with screengrabs of his Skype video chats. His ongoing project which he calls Screengrabography is simply his superimposing of screen grabs from Skype chats over stock photos or art.

They are not super impressively composed or even that inventive (men's heads on women's bodies), but they are fun nevertheless and certainly simple enough for almost anyone to do. The results are good for a chuckle. And may just inspire you to start making a few of your own.





Extra points to James' friends Daisy and Joseph for being such good sports.


See James Callahan's portfolio here which includes some very impressive advertising and design work.

Clever Helmet Experiment By GOOD! Photoshopped Brain Buckets.

This fun experiment with helmet designs is really more of a photoshop feat. The Kazakhstan-based creative marketing and PR firm GOOD! wanted to try the synthesis of two different objects around one form.

Some are clever visual puns, others just play with texture and objects. Either way, they are a fun little project to peruse. Enjoy!
















all images and info courtesy of GOOD!

Surreal Artwork by Deborah Hamon Combines Photography & Painting In Photoshop

above: Deborah Hamon's The Game combines a painted figure with a photographic background.

41 year old artist Deborah Hamon, born in Adelaide, Australia and now living and working in Marin County (my own home town), was recently named one of PDN's 30 Photographers to Watch and has been featured in New American Paintings, Israel's Picnic magazine, Flak photo, has a permanent piece (Wonderland) in the prestigious Crocker Bank Art Museum Collection, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, honors and mentions.


above: The artist, Deborah, in her studio, alongside Queen of The Hill (also shown below):


Her unusual work consists of both 'constructed' photography and complete paintings. Her surreal photos (c-prints) combine a study of fiction and reality, placing flat graphic painted figures (almost always girls) usually confronting the viewer, with photographic backgrounds of exterior settings. She uses Photoshop to construct her photographs with figures from her paintings.


above: detail of Forever and Ever shows the contrast of the painted figure with the photographed tree, combined in Photoshop.

Here are a few examples of her Constructed Photography:

Facade:

Forever and Ever:

Grandma's House:

Huff and Puff:

Manicured:

Sandtrap:

Snowbound:

Tree Fairy (left) and Walkabout (right):

Wonderland:


It seems as though her photographs have received more attention than her paintings, likely because of the unusual combining of media. But, as you will see from the images below, her large acrylic paintings which consist of similar subject matter, are also very compelling and thoughtfully rendered.

Here are a few examples of her acrylic paintings:
Poolside:

Cowgirls and Butterflies (left) and Rope Swing (right):

He Loves me, He Loves me Not:

Haven:

Red Arrow:

Victory:

Deborah Hamon

Cyber Style For Your Home (or iDecor For Tech Lovers).

Nerd alert! Nerd alert!
Some people just can't get enough technology in their lives despite their being wired 24/7 to their iPods, iPhones, PDAs, mobile phones, laptops, flip minos and other gadgets.

For them, there are a few designer and artists satisfying the need for Cyber style for the home, particularly items inspired by Apple products.

First off, the Brazil design studio Meninos makes decor that is reminiscent of home sweet homepage. Doormats, coasters, lampshades, playing cards, magnet kits and mousepads emulate computer software and hardware from many of your favorite gadgets by using the familiar icons as design elements.

Doormats:
iPhone 'slide to unlock' and Mac Command Key doormats make a Geek feel welcome.




Icon Pendant Lamps and Shades:
Google map pins, computer keyboard commands, rss feed icon, space invaders and more make for illuminating fun.




iPhone Playing Cards add a new element to your favorite card game:



Icon Drink Coasters
Where to put your beer when playing poker with your iPhone cards?? Why on iPhone coasters, of course.

or Adobe Creative Suite coasters:


Or other computer icon coasters:

Ai and Ps Magnet Kits:


If you hunger for more design, your fridge can now have the same look as your favorite computer software with magnets that replicate the screen tools, windows and interface of Adobe illustrator or Photoshop.

Ps Magnet kit:

Ai magnet kit:


Skate Deck Art:
They even make wall-mountable skateboard decks that are decorated with either Photoshop tools or the Mac scroll button:



To purchase any of the above, shop here.

iPhone bedding:
Yes, some people sleep with their iPhones right next to their head. Now they can snuggle up inside a duvet with the same comforting home page as their cell phone.


Available from the Swedish retailer, Ellos, it is only available in a twin size and I am not sure if they ship worldwide.

iPod coffee tables (iTables):


These iPod shaped coffee tables (iTables) were initially made by Italian artist and industrial designer Mirko Ginepro for Milan Design Week. Made of Corian, he designed three of the tables; one in yellow, one in white and one in black. He now creates them to order, if you are interested.



Dimensions: The iTable is about 47 inches long by 29 inches wide (original measurements: 120 x 75 centimeters) and about 13 inches high.

Colors: It comes in classic white, black or sunny yellow. Each table is a one-of-a kind, made-to-order piece of art.
Contact the artist here to inquire about ordering an iTable.

Apple Table:

designed by ilovecode, the apple logo table was a project and is not available for purchase.

Tech Gadget Soaps
How about iPhone, iPod, Palm Pre and Blackberry soaps? Yep, Two Eggplants makes these glycerin based soaps to look just like PDAs, gaming devices, mobile phones, mp3 players and other tech gadgets but they seem to be sold out and not stocking any at present:


Two Eggplants Etsy Store


iPhone icon paperclips:


Handmade by Bear Duck Designs, these are available in small and large sets at their Etsy store here.

Throw Pillows:
I can't forget my previously blogged about throw pillows by Craftsquatch:


and by My Suite Stuff:


and Throwboy:

learn about throwboy pillows here.

Be sure to check out Apartment Therapy's Geeky Gifts For The Home, they've got a selection of items under $50.

Now I have to go wash my face with my iSoap and get into my iBedding.
Sweet iDreams!