Gizmodo: artists

Disturbingly Cool "Big Head" Papercraft Halloween Costume

Danny Allen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:20:00 EST

Inspired by the big head mode in retro video games, Eric Testroete created this trippy papercraft self portrait for Halloween last weekend. The geometric look uses 370 individual paper triangles, and here's how he did it:

The first step was to model his face in 3D Studio Max. After overlaying a wireframe, he added textures in Mudbox 2010 and Photoshop CS3, before using software called Pepakura to break the model up into printable sections. The effect is genuinely impressive, and he's posted a full run-down on the process: [Eric Testroete via Adam Savage and Kotaku]

Nintendo Wii Anatomy Art Is Perfectly Twisted

Danny Allen — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:45:00 EDT

Created for a project that would encourage doctors to use the Wii for patient rehabilitation (even though they already are?), these illustrations are like something David Cronenberg would dream up, and remind me of those spooky Lego Minifig anatomy renders.

The illustrations were done by John Foester for artist Angela Moramarco. More pics at her site. [Angela Moramarco via WiiNoob] Thanks Jamie!

Google Doesn't Want to Pay Artists for Making Custom Chrome Skins

Adam Frucci — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:40:00 EDT

Google is having artists make custom skins for its Chrome Browser, which is pretty cool. Much less cool, however, is that one of the biggest companies in the world refuses to pay the artists.

Many of the established artists are refusing to hand over their work to Google for no cash based on promises of free exposure.

"I have done gift cards for Target that are in stores nationwide and animations for Nickelodeon that run 24 hours a day worldwide on cable TV," Melinda Beck, an illustrator who is based in Brooklyn, wrote in an e-mail message to Google rejecting its offer. "Both of these jobs were high-profile and gave my work great exposure but both clients still paid me."

It's tough to see Google's position as reasonable here. Sure, these artists will get exposure, but if they can't get paid by Google, who will pay them? The paid-in-exposure deal is something you see offered by student films looking for actors and new publications with no money looking for writers, and it's only justifiable when the employers in question are completely unable to pay for work, and even then it's questionable. But Google? Google can afford it. Exposure is great, but as anyone who's ever tried to make money on the internet can tell you, you can't pay your rent with exposure.

Whatever happened to "Don't Be Evil," Google? [NY Times]

Russian Artists Create Man-Sized, Melted, Working iPod

John Herrman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EDT

The 'WowPod' might not the be first oversized, semi-functioning iPod, but it's probably the strangest. Perhaps taking cues from Salvador Dali (The Persistence of Flash Memory? Anyone? Sorry?), Aristarkh Chernyshev and Alexei Shulgi have not just blown up and distorted an iPod — they've thrown in some functionality. Their site is low on details, but from the looks of it they may actually have the display connected to a iPod Classic's video output. The rest is up to speculation: are the controls mapped? Are the earbuds speakers? What does it mean? What is art? Who am I? and so on. [XLGallery via Make]

Canvas Laptop Computer Concept for Creative Types

Kit Eaton — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:55:57 EDT

The creative brain of designer Kyle Cherry has had a go at reinventing the laptop, with the specific needs of "creative" users in mind. Keeping the design clean and simple so artistic efforts are unhindered, auxiliary controls sit outside of the keyboard area and include a four-way navigation joystick. He envisages it being a touchscreen device with a configurable screen, skinny and attractive enough to make even a MacBook Air look twice. Of course, it's just a flight-of-fancy design, but after a glance at the gallery you too will be wishing it was a real machine. [Yanko design]

Steampunk Virtuoso Creating Masterpieces in His Modern Victorian Workshop

Adam Frucci — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:45:00 EDT

I showed you an incredible steampunk laptop this morning — perhaps the coolest steampunk gadget I've seen — now take a look at how it was made and the man behind it. This WSJ video profile shows us exactly how Datamancer makes his steampunk contraptions. It also goes into a bit of the background behind steampunk for the uninitiated. Fascinating stuff. [YouTube]

Piles of Trash Light Up Into Fantastic Art

Charlie White — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:30:00 EDT

Here's what happens when British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster toss a pile of trash in their living room. Somehow it stacks up so perfectly that when they shine a light through it, glorious, and sometimes even pisstastic, artwork results. Big names on the UK art scene since their highly acclaimed exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2000, they've been coming up with these spectacular compositions ever since. [Slightly Warped]

Sony Releases Colorful Vaio FZs Designed by Maya Hayuk

AddyDugdale — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:44:40 EDT

Sony's latest Vaio is a limited edition FZ designed by New York artist Maya Vayuk. There are a couple of designs to choose from: the flower power-esque Grow; and the trippier Never Stop. Each laptop has co-ordinating wallpaper, a limited-edition etching, and a certificate of authenticity signed by Maya herself. The Blu-ray recorder laptop will cost you, though:

Just 600 of these $2,500 special edition machines have been made. They sport a 15.4-inch screen, Blu-ray Disc optical drive, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, XBRITE-HiColor technology and NVIDIA GeForce 8400GT graphics. They should be shipping on Friday. [SonyStyle via ]