Face The Textures

Florian Nicolle is from Caen, France, where he started his path in graphic design at age 15. During his studies in École Brassart College, majoring in Visual Communication where he developed a passion for illustration. Today, a large portion of his work is based on illustration rather than graphic design. He work in mix media, using fast sketch technique with a ballpoint pen, watercolor, and Chinese ink. Once his illustration is complete to his satisfaction, he then scans his illustration and applies textures using Photoshop to finalize his art.

Suburban Road

The first moment I saw his work, it was unsettling in a voyeuristic way. As I continue to absorb his work, those feelings evolved to calm and stillness. I question the notion behind the lens, and the story it wants to convey, and then I saw beauty.

As Todd Hido explains, there's a story inside every house, looking into someone's life through a window. The feeling of isolation and sadness in his work seems to recall something within him. Todd Hido has a critically acclaimed body of work of suburbia homes at night, overcast landscape, and abandon interiors. Realism is the key to his work, using existing lights with long exposure. Because of the length of the exposure, there could be many interruptions: airplanes, cars, lights turning off, etc.

Todd's landscape photographs came as an accident, when Todd took a snapshot of the suburbia during the rain. Taking his wife's suggestion to print the photograph, Todd liked the outcome of the image and decided to create a collection of work on the same theme.

His permanent collection is displayed at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, New York Guggenheim Museum, and The Whitney Museum of American Art. Todd has published 5 books: Outskirts, Taft Street, Roaming, Between the Two, and House Hunting.

Todd Hido shoots on Kodak Film (Portra 400NC) and printed in the traditional darkroom on Kodak paper. Nothing is digital.

The Intimate Parade

These paintings captured my attention one night, and I was amazed by Nathan Spoor's level of detail in his work and the stories presented. The meaning is subjective, but the visuals are stunning. The complexity and the vibrant colors are captivating as though it was painted under black lighting. The illustrations are surreal and dreamlike. The glass menageries captures every items of importance, like memories stored away, protected. The curves flow throughout, full of life. Opposite to the glass menageries, the air balloons floats away, free to explore the vast unknown, like thoughts of memories. I could continue forever, writing whatever comes to mind...

To my surprise, I ran into Nathan on the following day at the Bergamont Station. I was very impressed with his sincerity and his openness, offering his personal time to speak with me. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about art. Meeting him added another layer of depth to his paintings. When Nathan is not painting, he writes for Hi-Fructose, BL!SSS, and Juxtapoz. I highly recommend viewing his work in person. Tell me, what his your interpretation of his work?

Exhibitions:

Copro Gallery

Santa Monica, California, USA

June 6 - 27, 2009

Sloan Fine Art (group show)

New York, New York, USA

June 20 - July 18, 2009

Planet Illogica

San Diego, California, USA

July 24, 2009