Choo Choo
A while ago while browsing in an op shop, I stumbled across a selection of adorable cat postcards in a box of random stationery. They look like risograph prints by the texture, or Victorian chromolithographs, both of which I love.
I had never heard of Jetoy before, a brand that featured pastel coloured illustrations of cats in all sorts of situations; they were too funny and sweet not to purchase the whole collection. There’s just something heartwarming about a cat’s big eyes – they look so innocent and trusting.
It transpires Jetoy is a Korean stationery and lifestyle brand that was launched in 2001 in Japan. The creators were inspired when they saw a languid cat in the yard of a beautiful villa, taking nap in the sun. “It looked haughty, cocky, but lovely, warm, happy. The cat seems to be a dreamer like us....” they say on their whimsical website. Furthermore, Jetoy is a planet existing “on the opposite space far from earth”; the cats that live there are called Choo choo. They came here for a visit a long time ago, and decided to stay!
You can visit their website and browse their products. Meanwhile look out for more when I share some additional cards here.
A New Spin
Whether you need a chuckle, or some colour inspiration, check out this chart of rock and roll paints, putting an amusing spin on musical theory crossed with the colour wheel.
The chart was shared to Flashbak, a Facebook group and is thought to have come from an early-to-mid-70s Scholastic magazine. There are some good ones there – I’m not sure which is my favourite pun!
Click the image for a larger version.
Victorian Valentines
Ahead of this Valentine’s Day, I was thinking of the old Australian film that is set on this day in 1901: Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock, which is based of course on Joan Lindsay’s book of the same name. In one of the early scenes, the schoolgirls exchange cards, and Miranda of course receives the most.
I was inspired to look some up. I just love the graphics of this era: they are cute, kitsch and colourful. Scrapbooking was hugely in fashion in the nineteenth century, especially for women and children (read about them here), and there were myriad types of diecut illustrated graphics used for this purpose. The greeting cards in this style I love the most – they look so tactile too. The last two are termed ‘Vinegar Valentines’, and they are very amusing as well, although you’d be mortified to receive one!
Scroll down and smile. (I have included links were they were available.)
From Pinterest
From Pinterest
Lagerfeld Makes Up
I really enjoy fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld’s illustrations. Some of the shapes in these remind me of Toulouse-Lautrec or Degas’ pastels. What is interesting here, however, is that Lagerfeld uses cosmetics in place of traditional drawing materials. In the 2007 documentary Lagerfeld Confidential, there is a fascinating scene where we see him creating a drawing from his imagination. He draws rapidly, speaking quickly as he goes.
I have always found it fascinating to watch artists at work, seeing which colours they choose, the split decisions of a stroke here, a line there, the concentration on their face.
These illustrations of an imaginary masked ball were featured in a 2008 issue of British Vogue. Click on the images for larger versions.
Words of Wisdom
Australian Madison magazine, 2011. Click image for larger version.When you’re young, you sometimes thing there’s some arrival point where suddenly you’re an older person. But now we know it just keeps unfolding. Getting older – it’s really the greatest gift. And that’s the secret no one tells you.
Here’s an uncommon point of view on ageing from actress Annette Bening, now 53. (I must say she was pretty adorable and gamine when she was young!)
I think for me 30 was the Great Age. I thought that would be when I would know everything, and be the woman I wanted to be. Now that makes me laugh! I’m quite a bit older than that now and know that I can – and must – always strive to be more than I am already, because that is the point of a life well-lived. Go forth and conquer, I say.