this book is amazing and my graphic designer’s dream! it’s HUGE (use my headphones as a size reference lol). spanning from the year 1960 on forward to today, you can only imagine how much is in here! later on, i’ll share some of my favorite work from each decade in this collection.
i’m so grateful for my boyfriend who surprised me with it <3 it’s been a couple weeks, and I’ve yet to fully digest it all.
I’ve been so honored to be able to create artwork for (and become part of) the dynamic, energetic, multi-talented collective “3SIDE”. Based out of the DMV, 3SIDE consists of many prolific visionaries with work ranging from music, DJ-ing, to fashion, design, and fine art. You can follow the group of artists here! With music being one of my (if not my #1) inspirations behind my art, I am so grateful to be able to create for a group that makes it so easy for me to unleash my imagination and allow my ideas to flow so freely and uninhibited. You can’t help but to be inspired by such a powerful, supportive, and tight group of friends!
Wanna take a ride with some witty wordsmiths? Check out the music video, and stream “Naan Prophet” by 3SIDE! Featuring, and written by, Kilian Fonlon, Vlaad, Tromac, and 3SIDEGOOF.
In celebrating hip-hop, shoutout to the legends, Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Ali Shaheed, Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown, Dinco D, RIP Phife Dawg. Also, shoutout to Jim Swaffield, the director of the “Scenario” music video, who created the visual that helped ME create the cover art visual for “Naan Prophet”.
(FIND ACCOUNTS OF ALL ARTISTS FEATURED IN THE MAKING OF THE VIDEO ON INSTAGRAM)
Produced by @op_flipz & @2ndgenafrican Director: @by.hassan
Editor/ VFX: @by.hassan
Producer: @teazernetwork
Production Manager: @holymamiStyling: @lalatoodope @stylistlalatoodope
Label: @3sidemusicBTS
Photography: @jarrettloefflerLead
Model: @cnormatie
Friends: @hey__st._dismas @lilly_um_sparks @alburrrrto @knyves.escobar @nomiii_ @jarrettloeffler @miiyyakko @doit4theboppers
Makeup/Hair Artist: @lalatoodope
meta graffiti: graffiti art films is a short film series (of about 20 films) released in 2008/2009 featuring artists out of stockholm, berlin and copenhagen. while these short films test the overall framework of graffiti, they still maintain the two key elements of what makes graffiti culture what it is: STYLE and MISCHIEF.
a venusian from planet jupiter, navigating this world– a fantastical world of hidden luck, that challenges my perception of reality. as i navigate this world, i’m discovering my inner strength and resilience before finding my way home.
"there's no place like home… there's no place like home"
-dorothy in wonderland
(below is the short i made titled, lucky you)
at the very beginning of the year, i told myself one of my main objectives is to cater to, and heal, my inner child by doing all of the things i loved to do (and always wanted to do). one of the things i loved as a kid was going to the library, whether it was the local library or the school library. naturally, my first move was to get a library card! pictured are some of the checkouts i’ve gotten since january (i apologize for the sucky quality, these are screenshots from my tiktok).
to my surprise, i was able to find a lot of my comfort movies on my first visit! death proof was one i’ve never seen, but was so excited to find! yes, that movie has been available for free on youtube for so long, but i love watching dvds— i even have my own personal dvd collection that i’ll make a post about one day! while streaming movies is amazing and convenient, there’s not always going to be wifi around… that’s my philosophy— plus, there’s nothing like flipping through the booklet and exploring all the features in the dvd menu (from a graphic designer’s point-of-view anyhow). fun fact, my graphic design professor in college actually designed a lot of dvd home screens for movies!
these are the films pictured (click for trailers):
hausu (1977)
run lola run (1998)
death proof (2007)
paprika (2006)
ichi the killer (2001)
night of the living dead (1968)
i also found a book, 1000 record covers, which was a great inspiration early on in the year when i was designing a lot cover art. this book i want to purchase myself soon! another book i got was style tribes - the fashion of subcultures. this book was super informative and provided great visuals of current (at least up until 2014) fashion trends around the world and their origins.
the gist of this blog post is… SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! why? our local libraries are important to our communities because they offer a wide range of free services, resources, and opportunities that aid in personal growth and community learning. supporting our libraries ensure that the services they provide can continue to run.
also, it’s free information, the internet doesn’t always provide the truth.
here are some ways you can support your library:
1. donate - libraries rely on donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses to fund programs, services, and resources.
2. volunteer - volunteers are always needed to help with various library programs, including shelving books, hosting events, and reading to children.
3. attend library events - attend library events and programs to show your support and enjoy the many benefits of the library.
4. spread the word - share information about the library with others to promote its services and attract new patrons.
5. use the library - make use of the library's services and resources, borrow books, movies, and music, and attend programs to show your support
this blog, ren’s room, is an ode to the amazing satoshi kon animated film perfect blue (1997)… more specifically— mima.
one day soon i’ll write a deep dive on the film, films like it (before and after it’s release), as well as my thoughts and feelings!
for the perception vs. reality obsessed, perfect blue is perfect <3
i watched this documentary the other day, and i’m rewatching it now. it’s called “modulations”, brought to us by filmmaker lara lee. it’s so well done! the visuals, paired with the heart-pumping beats, beautifully encapsulates the time. documenting where humans and machines merge, it traces the evolution of electronic music as one of the most profound artistic developments of the 20th century.
although i was only a baby at the time this documentary came out, watching it now takes me back to my childhood. i was raised by a mom who grew up in germany– and i have a gang of family members who still live there… of course, they are certified electronic/techno/club/house heads! this documentary takes it all the way back to the 1910s– personally, i love electronic music from the late 50s and 60s by the likes of the amazing else marie pade (whom i’ve drawn so much inspiration throughout the years.
modulations takes us on a journey through europe and the states, to hip-hop, to metal. check it out!
“the world is not meant to be good/bad, black/white, one or two, one or zero. it’s not binary. it’s chaos.”
so, originally, my first post was going to be a whole “my story and art journey” type of thing… but i don’t feel like thinking or writing about any of that now? this one isn’t about that. this one isn’t about anything. what’s crazy is the solar eclipse was right over my ascendant about two hours ago, i didn’t have intentions on starting this today, but shoutout to new beginnings! that’s what i call alignment. abracadabra, b!
right now i’m working commissions, and am hoping to have them uploaded here soon. i actually want to have this site updated, and more fleshed out as time goes…we’re gettin’ there though–until then, i’ll be blogging! i figured since i’ve documented my life and art online (a true internet kid through and through), i might as well do it in my own space. whether any of these blog posts are read or not, i’ll enjoy this for the simple act of keeping track of things. life has been an anti-chronological, time warped, fever dream lately. i’m not sure if i’ll read this back afterwards; it’s probably all over the place (maybe because i’m typing and watching a movie at the same time…half baked…of course). happy 4/20! happy taurus season!
-the guy on the couch
