Okuda San Miguel

Okuda San Miguel is a Spanish painter and sculptor known for his distinctive style of colorful geometric patterns that portray animals, skulls, religious iconography and human figures.  After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Complutense University of Madrid he began to produce works in his studio and also began producing sculptures. He is among the most recognized contemporary urban artists and many of his work are located internationally. On an interview with Design Boom he says this about his work:  

On Inspiration:  “Inspiration comes from artists such as Dali, Ernst, Magritte, Murakami,Jodorowsky or Yayoi Kusama…but thumbs up, always, for El Bosco. There’s no one like him.”

I love artists such as Kris Kuksi, Os Gemeos, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Kaws, Eric Parker, Todd James, Interesni Kazki, Piet Parra, Smithe, Nano4814, Sixe Paredes, Daniel Muñoz, Cleon Peterson, Amandine Urruty…some of these are friends of mine which motivates me to grow up and work harder.

My art also relates to old cultures (wicholes, mayans, incas; from india or africa).

On colors:  “When I paint humans or faces with these multicolored geometric patterns, I try to symbolize all skins and races in one. all colors in one. a multicultural world.”

“I love to mix different patterns with organic forms and greys. in doing so, I try to represent the artificial versus nature.”

The artist can be followed on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Okuda San Miguel.

Shiratani Kobo

Been looking at hearts for the upcoming holiday and found these in one of Japan’s lifestyle blog.  The brand, Shiratani Kobo, makes their products using recycled scrap wood from dismantled houses and construction sites. They create household goods, stationery, accessories and furniture.   Each piece is carefully handmade with carpenter’s designs and techniques that have been passed down for hundreds of years. The name of the workshop comes from the place name of Shirotani village where their workshop is located.  

More of their work can be viewed on their website, Facebook and Instagram.  They sell their work in the Japanese handmade market sites, Iichi and Minne.

Images:  Courtesy of Shiratani Kobo (aka Shiroitani Koubou).

Paul Sirand

Paul Sirand is a French Illustrator and creative director. In 2013, he co-founded Le Fruit Studio with Gaspard Silvestre. Based in Paris, he’s inspired by his dogs and nature, and the tailored, well thought out look of uniforms. This Parisian illustrator presents himself as an amateur “of games of shadows and luminous atmospheres” that he tries “to transcribe with fairly simple palettes” . “I try to tell an open story, which anyone can interpret by observing the image. The idea is above all to project people into an atmosphere and a universe”.

The artist can be followed on his website, Dribble and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Paul Sirand.

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