Browsing “The Proof”

“I Love Todd. And I love what he does and how he thinks. He’s a firecracker, or even better, a firestarter. When Todd walks into a room, into a project, or into an idea he sets it on fire. As a creative junkie, he pulls ideas in every direction, tosses minds into wondrous places, and then after you are high in a creative cloud, he pulls on the string to bring you back into reality, enlightened and ready to go for it. It’s Todd who knows how to mix the poetry with the concrete. It’s because he finds inspiration in all sorts of corners: from the periphery where you least expect it and those places right in front of you, just outside the doorstep. That’s why we love what he does, because we always see ourselves somewhere in his creative output. An idea, exhibition, event, or product that Todd develops is never really far-fetched because it is always rooted in Us; in our experiences, materials, colours, and shapes. When they are given the “Todd Spin”, they say Hello it’s Todd, but also Hello Me, and Hello Us. Basically, Todd is our biggest fan and a big promoter of “Us”. Hey, thanks Todd, we are kind of swell!”
Cynthia Hathaway – Amsterdam, The Netherlands (droog design)

The Proof
01 The Something Nice project.
This has been my favourite project since moving to Vancouver last year…I launched “Something Nice” at the IDS in Toronto but it didn’t really take. Since putting them up here and getting the online side figured out, the project has really gotten going with hundreds of people printing out their own and getting them up all over the city (and the world).

02 Favourite creative.
I was at Doug Coupland’s admiring his Twin Tower sculpture when this pic was snapped. Vancouver is producing some seriously killer art! The world is watching us and we should feel proud of the cultural life in the city (it is not all fleece, roller blades and rain). If you have a minute drift over to the convention centre and spend a few moments with the massive Rain Drop and Digital Orca, two pieces that confirm Vancouver as an outdoor sculpture star.

03 Work space
This is the small desk (in a repurposed closet) that I plug away at. My office is more den than office and this little outpost is where all the designer tools are stashed – or tucked away if I want to forget about work stuff. Objects include; Country Lumber poster (a grab from a local construction site and a gift for my friend PG, Follow Your Heart stencil, Wally Olin’s classic The New Guide to Identity, a candle from Josee Lepage, my old workhorse of a laptop, and a stack of paperwork and bills.

04 The library.
Books are always a hassle to move, so the library has taken a serious hit over the years as I moved around.  I am a sucker for print and these are the essential books that I have not been able to separate from.  The Eames chaise is no easy chair and only has one sweet spot for lounging but it is such a great piece of furniture, more sculpture than sitting machine (the “Log Cutters ” carving is by P. E. Caron).

05 Desk
This is where I do most of my work…with tons of natural light and fresh air, my Pantone daybook and laptop, a big green plant, an Eames Girard rocker, a little outdoor space with a hammock, and a shipping crate from the Cabin exhibition, a souvenir from the first big event I curated.

06 Desk top
I wonder…if you showed someone a desktop, if they could articulate what the owner’s personality was like? My laptop is everything. It has become the only thing I would grab if my house was on fire. I am unclear what my desktop reveals about me, lots of sticky notes, a black with white grid wallpaper and folders of whatever I am currently working on. I would love to see the desktops of other Vancouver creatives…what do the desktops of Marian Bantjes, Ken Lum, Douglas Coupland, Natalie Purschwitz, and Ian Grais look like?

07 Transportation.
I have had a motorcycle since I was ten, but last year I got the fear and now I am seriously thinking of getting a car. Too many close calls and a stupidly unreliable Ducati are taking the fun out of it.  I still love the feeling of ripping along an empty road with my old lady on the back with only the gear to last a weekend, but this is not happening enough to forget the times I have ended up with my bike on a tow truck heading to a dealership.

08 Bedside table.
Watermelon shaped kleenex box, Muji pen, India Express book, Social Media Report, CAG brochure/membership, Smile in the Mind book, Monte Christo magazine,  all on a light cube side table with a Mac Powerbook plug beside it for the occasional podcast/bedtime story (usually Wiretap).

The Questions
What neighborhood do you live in?
Fairview Slopes, just south of False Creek and up on a steep hill, so we have a monster view of downtown with the mountains behind it…the unfolding weather and shifts from day to night have replaced the television in our household.

What do you do and where?
I am a design consultant, and recently launched a branding firm. I am co-founder of the Canadian Design Resource and write for Azure magazine.

What are you working on?
I am always promoting design from Canada with the CDR, experimenting with projects in branding and advertising with Motherbrand, working on a book deal with Taschen, an exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver and IDS in Toronto, and a project called Penny Smash with a handful of west coast designers/artists.  Vancouver has a fantastic art/design/music scene, so there is no shortage of ideas, inspiration, collaborators, and things to do.
Where can we find your work?
Web: citizen brand, Motherbrand, and Penny Smash
Linkedin: Todd Falkowsky
Twitter: citizen_brand and the_CDR

Dave Delnea (DEL-nee-uhh) was born in Creston or something.  Maybe it was Nelson.  I don’t remember.  Dave was born in one of those places in BC that isn’t Vancouver.  He spent some time climbing mountains and living in snow for some reason.  He moved into the city to find himself. He sold his crampons, his kayak, his telemark skis.  Now he lives on Main St. and takes cabs.  He’s changed.

His catalogue of work features a wide range of adventures.  He went to Tunisia one time and took some photos that people really liked.  He often goes to China to take photos, eat noodles and save children.  When he is not behind the camera or at the computer, he is on the tennis courts or drinking a beer you’ve never heard of.

He’s an entrepreneur.  By that I mean he knows how to get paid for doing stuff that he was going to do anyway. He doesn’t love it when his clients tell him he can just “photoshop that out.”  I once listened to a hotel manager explain to him what a wide angle lens does.  He took it in stride.  He’s a nice guy that way.

All told, I’m proud to have been a friend of Dave’s for the last 11 years.  I’ve seen him make something of himself while he’s patiently waited for me to do the same.  Still waiting though, aren’t you Dave?
- Edward C.R. Phillips

The Proof

01 Moving day at our new office in North Van.
02 I like Vancouver bike culture.
03 You get to travel a lot as a photographer – best. scam. ever.
04 Hard at work in Iceland.  Yes, that’s a flask in one hand and my old-man pipe in the other (don’t smoke – it’s bad for you).
05 On set directing a full motion project.
06 My good friend and production assistant building a prop for an upcoming shoot… which promptly broke on the shoot day (oops).
07 I like scotch – this is a special bottle waiting for the right occasion to be opened.
08 With friends at the Coast Modern Film Fundraiser.

The Questions

What neighbourhood do you live in?
Main St.

What do you do and where?
I am a commercial advertising photographer and work both in Vancouver and Internationally.

What are you working on?
When I’m not drowning in commercial work I try to make time for personal photo and film projects that allow for a bit more creative freedom.  One project in the works right now stars a 15 ft tipi (teepee?)

Where can we find your work?
We’re always updating the blog with new work and the random stuff that inspires us.

Lisa Penz doesn’t belong in Vancouver. She belongs in places like New York, Los Angeles, Miami – locations in which fashion and art collide (which I’m sure Vancouver will be one day).  Her ability to integrate meaningful expressions with vibrant colours is rare talent that can’t be taught, only developed. Indeed, her evolution as an artist is exciting to watch and be a part of – you can see her confidence and energy grow in every new painting she produces.

She’s much more than an artist though. She is also a playful and kind-hearted individual with a quirky sense of humour that comes alive once you get to know her. And she’s creative in every aspect of her life – from performing in musical theatre to making gelato – and it’s that passion for exercising her creativity that makes her so dynamic.

Yes Vancouver, you are lucky that she chooses to live here. And you are lucky that you can experience her art here as well. For now anyway.
-C. Mitchell

The Proof

01 Sneak-peek of a new painting from my Indulgence series which will be on display this October at my Pop-up gallery at: 196 Kingsway (near Broadway).

02 This is my Maine Coon – “Anakin”. He loves hanging out in my art studio, preferably under my easel. I’m convinced he thinks it’s a tree.

03 Photo taken by hair & make-up artist Liz Dungate, from behind the scenes working with awesome photographer Fred Fraser.

04 I love my Pantone mug in lavender 3645 C. Lifelong infatuation with this shade of purple. A thoughtful gift given to me from my bestie in Australia.

05 Magnet schedule. Custom designed by me. I’ve tried a lot of scheduling systems and I think this one is the best for my dominant right brain. If you want to learn how to make one too — contact me.

06 Hand-painted, raven cedar box. So special, the only things I’ve put in here are my dreams and desires.

07 I’ve been on a gourmet smoothie obsession lately… Fresh fruit smoothies with rose water, home-made lavender honey, cinnamon & cardamom.

08 Aside from art and graphic design, and just to make things more confusing, I’m also in musical theatre. This summer I’ll be tackling Avenue Q!

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?
My neighborhood is Fraser & King Ed. Loving observing the evolution of this area. Spend a lot of my time downtown though.

What do you do and where?
I paint contemporary female portraits from my home studio. I also work as Graphic Designer and Art Director under my company: Touchpoint Creative. When I’m not in my studio (which is often the case) I’m on the move getting inspiration and connecting with other creatives.

What are you working on?
Opening up my own Pop-up art gallery on Kingsway & 10th for the month of October! Working on my new mixed media series “Indulgence” that will be featured at the gallery. Email me: lisa@lisapenz.com for an invite to the opening.

Where can we find your work?
my website: www.lisapenz.com

my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LisaPenzArtworks

Pop-up Gallery: 196 Kingsway (near Broadway) — October 2011

Yvonne is a die-hard analog photographer. Originally hailing from Queensville, Ontario, she now lives, works, sews, loves and bakes in Vancouver. I met her six years ago here while we were both attending Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Today, her day job involves program coordination at Focal Point: The Visual Arts Learning Centre.

She is an active member of the 221A Artist Run Centre community and loves cheese in most all its solid and melted forms, owning both a fondue pot and a 6-person Swissmar Raclette party grill. As far as I know, Yvonne doesn’t own any real pants. She gets by in cute dresses, skirts and is almost exclusively in Fluevog footwear.

She has a deep affinity for Switzerland, having spent a semester there on exchange. She packs Moleskines that are fat with Polaroids affixed with self-adhesive, gold photo corners and the biggest, biggest heart you’ll ever encounter.

Yvonne is the ray of sunshine speeding by you on Broadway in a sparkly gold helmet, on the bright yellow Honda Jazz. She’s probably on her way to a camera swap.

-Amanda Huynh

The Proof

01 Home.
This is where I live, and these are the charming gentlemen I live with! We live in an East Van century house complete with glitter stucco ceilings and an elevator on the porch! Here you can see the boys ‘starting the car’; there may have been a period in time where two people and an axe were needed to get the engine going!

02 Photography.
I use the photographic medium to explore my surroundings, people within them and give face to my creative imagination. My work varies between solemn landscapes, stolen glimpses of people, documentations, portrait & studio photography, and my favorite: Polaroid. People are sometimes shocked to find I do not own a digital camera. Yes, I am a photographer and I only shoot film.

03 221a Artist Run Center.
This is my second home! Filled with creative minds & run by dedicated artists; 221a is my winter escape from Vancouver’s rain! This is where I keep studio space and work as a PACT committee member.

04 Food.
I grew up spoiled by good food and never really appreciated the efforts my parents put into the backyard garden until I tried [and failed] at growing green beans myself! We always had fresh eggs from our couple of chickens, perfectly ripened produce from the garden and plenty of …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Alvin Kwan grew up in Hong Kong before coming to Vancouver, where he recently completed his bachelor of Communication Design at Emily Carr University. With his passion in typography, web and print design, Alvin is continuing to strive for innovative design work. Alvin’s recent thesis project, Fabrica is a typeface designed to improve usage and legibility for small mobile screen settings.
- Vince Lo

The Proof
01 A picture of my exhibit at Emily Carr Grad show and I.

02 I was honoured to be part of Emily Carr Grad exhibition 2011 branding team. It was the best team project experience I’ve had in Emily Carr.

03 King Ken from one of my favourite designer James Jarvis. His angry eyes always tell me to get back to work.

04 This is my final year grad project at Emily Carr Unversity called Fabrica. It is a typeface design project aimed to aid legibility on mobile devices. Feel free to visit my portfolio website for a free copy of this typeface.

05 Project Fabrica in exhibit at Emily Carr.

06 During last summer 2010, I launched a graphic t-shirt brand called Panorama providing limited quantity silkscreened made in Vancouver t-shirts.

07 Learning silkscreen was one of the most memorable course at Emily Carr.

08 A picture of one of the photoshoot for the Grad Exhibition. Paint was all over the studio space.

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?
I live in Richmond and spend most of the day around Granville Island.

What do you do and where?
I recently graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a bachelor of Communication Design. I am working on a few freelance project at the moment and am seeking for new collaborations and work opportunity.

What are you working on?
Although my graduate project Fabrica is completed, I am looking forward to continue developing a larger family for this typeface.

Where can we find your work?
My online portfolio work: www.alvinkwan.com

Twitter: _alvinkwan

The Proof

01 Out of all of the illustrations that I’ve drawn, this one is my favorite. It’s also the biggest (if you don’t count wall murals – which I will do for you in your home or work if you contact me, because giant illustrations are awesome!)

02 I love this tree stump. I see it on my walk to work from the skytrain every morning. It has a hole right through it, yet it continues to grow.

03 I saw this bird downtown one day and thought I should take a photo of it. It has this haunting effect on me. Makes me pensive. Part of me wishes I was the size of a mouse so I could strap those wings on and fly around.

04 This is Kingsley, king of the cats. He has his own tumblr and is my best buddy and muse.

05 Comics rule my life. Here are just a few of my favorites. I’m a huge Sammy Harkham fan and also really enjoy the works of Anders Nilsen, Jeffrey Brown and Helen Jo. Best place to shop for comics in Vancouver: Lucky’s Comic Shop on Main street. I want to cry every time I have to leave that place.

06 Homemade potato/sweet potato/beet/daikon chips. Surprisingly easy to make and delicious. The weirdest veggies end up tasting fantastic when you fry them. Weird!

07 This is me working on an stop-motion animated short film with the crew of 1998 Creative.

08 This is one of my favorite photos. I took this on a roadtrip to Portland last year. Pat (see above bio) and I had a film in the Northwest Film and Video Festival so we packed up the car and headed down the coast for what ended up being one of the great road trips of my life. This picture was taken on a stormy day at Cannon Beach. Off in the distance are my fiance Caroline and friend Jessie.

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?
I’m currently living just off No. 3 Rd in Richmond but am looking to move back into the city with some friends this July.

What do you do and where?
I am a creative director and animator/illustrator with 1998 Creative. In my free time I like to draw portraits, comics and animate my own short films. Right now I work out of the 1998 Creative office in the Little Mountain area and on my coffee table at home.

What are you working on?
I’m working on some animations for the Food Network of Canada show called Eat Street with 1998 Creative as well as a web promotion for the new record label Public Records. In my spare time I’ve been working on an animated short called “What Is It?” (no relation to the Crispin Glover film) which I’m hoping to show sometime this summer. I’m always illustrating something as well. Right now I’m putting together a digital comic called “Wut?” and pounding the pages of my sketch book for fun.

Where can we find your work?

http://www.1998creative.com/

http://justinlongozmadeanart.tumblr.com/