A bit of my own artwork!

I did these paintings a few years ago, but thought I would share. While they aren't digital they were created using the help of digital tools. Enjoy!

Digital Advertisements and WOM

While I have been focusing on Art in the Digital medium, I would also like to focus my attention on the exciting advertising opportunities available due to social networks, bloggers, websites with the power of WOM. Most recently I was particularly impressed by Stella Artois Black's campaign called the Midnight Chaffeur on Facebook. In addition, this exciting campaign was also covered on sites like Le Cool here in London.

I also found this Heineken campaign to be similar and as exciting as the previous campaign that went from the Digital to the Real World seamlessly causing interest and WOM with that ever popular young adult crowd that all advertisers seem to be keen on discovering how they work and how they use the digital. Heineken had a password "leaked" online for a real life recreation of their popular ad as a pop up for 3 days in Duke of York Square. Heineken's walk in fridge was also successful in creating buzz online through sites like InFormed and through bloggers "in the know". Not to mention they gave free beer!

I am excited by these new advertising strategies and creative real life applications that make even me want to go out and have a beer!

Dissertation Graded! Graduation from LSE in sight...

After all the hard work, I will be graduating from the LSE with a smile on my face. Now, on to exploring the art world on my own terms and as one of my favorite past times.

To begin with I have gone to my favorite museum, the Tate Modern, to check out their most recent and one of their most popular exhibitions Gaughin. It was a wonderful surprise, not just for the paintings, but also as a way to learn about one of the great Impressionists personal life and interests. I especially enjoyed his carvings, in particular the Head with Horns.

I will continue to enjoy London's amazing art scene, as I will be staying on to work here after my graduation! More to come...

Interactive Advertisements!

There seems to be a plethora of creative interactive advertisements on Youtube today... I really enjoyed the following:

NSFW. A hunter shoots a bear!

Expendables

Samsung3devent

More to come!

Dissertation finished! The world of interactivity just keeps getting better...

After officially handing in my Dissertation last week, I just discovered Arcade Fire's interactive film, that was released yesterday! It is a fascinating Chrome Experiment and highlights some of the amazing possibilities to combine the arts with new interactive media.

Please enjoy it yourself The Wilderness Downtown !

Re-thinking architecture and art

It has been awhile since my last post, as I approach my deadline for this dissertation... However, I must comment on my most recent interview with Argentinian artist, Chino Soria. He was a pleasure to speak with and gave me a new perspective on the world of architecture and the visual arts. Trained as an architect and now a practicing artist in London, Chino, has a unique vision on working with materials.

Chino has been focusing his body of work on creating models of slums he has been inspired by throughout the world, giving all materials a purpose and leaving nothing to waste. I think this article on Chino summarizes his work the best Life is more important than Art. One of the few artists' I have interviewed without a website, Chino seems unfazed by trends or marketing techniques of any kind. I would characterize him as a classic artist with the innate ability to work in almost any artistic medium, as well as inspiring humanitarian sensibilities.

His latest installation will be shown in the Argentinian ambassadors home this autumn.

The online world of the selling and networking artists

I had an enlightening interview today with Esther Gutstein. A Houston native, Esther, has been a traditional painter for some years now, but has a passion for the digital and is an active facebook member. In addition Esther introduced me to an artist specific networking platform, akin to LinkedIn for artists, called brooklynartproject.

Esther also clued me into the "sweatshop" art that is going on in China, where a team of factory workers churn out thousands of oil paintings that project instructions for the workers to follow. This seemed to be the epitome of Warhol's theory on the commodification of art.

Esther also introduced me to websites such as etsy, that she believes have changed the art world and for up and coming artists the website deviantART.

It has been an educational evening and I look forward to my last few interviews before the transcription begins!