From Jodhpur to New Delhi, heavy duty trucks of all kinds jam the roads of India decorated in colorful and symbolic art. With kitschy images of everything under the sun–from stylized sunset scenes and Bollywood movie stars to flowers and religious symbols–these handpainted rolling metal canvases enliven the dry landscape as the driver’s take pride in their personal statement.
This funky and functional storage tru(n)ck is handpainted by original “truck artists” with birds of freedom, the sacred lotus and “OK Horn Please”.
It is truly a small piece of national tradition that helps sustain its artistic creators and will instantly transport you to the roadways of Mumbai.
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A modern interpretation of an ancient craft passed down mother to daughter, these one of a finds were handwoven by village women just outside Kampala, Uganda.
The stepped ribs of coiled raffia over banana fiber recall the region’s mountainside farming known as “mountain terraces”.
The craftsmanship of these women provides both an outlet for their creative expression and much-needed income to educate their children. By using one of the few resources available in their remote area, they are weaving their rich cultural past with a future of hope.
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Posted in behind the scenes, tagged antique, architecture, art, craft, decorate, DIY, hint, LA, los angeles, wall art, weho, west hollywood, windows on October 29.2009 | 2 Comments »
Special thanks to todd, store designer in los angeles, who contributed the following words and photos.
Storefront windows have been a staple since the dawn of “shoppe” keepers. Over time they evolved into a form of entertainment and experimentation. Today they have to stand out from the competition, stop you in your tracks–and catch your eye between blinks. (no pressure, really)
Developing a concept is the first and most difficult step of planning windows. After some brainstorming a strong idea emerges to suit the product selection. Next we’ll order the merchandise to stock it, buy supplies and schedule help.
For these ‘carbon copy’ windows we were inspired by the movie “500 days of summer”. The lead character in the movie, an architect, had a chalkboard wall in his bedroom to sketch ideas–including a virtual headboard for his bed.
We incorporated this idea into the window theme–which became ‘grey, black, white and a single hit of bold color’–by drawing elements customers might have in their homes, like a flight of stairs and a vintage French mirror.
To produce the windows we sought local (and hidden) talent within our store. Mark-Austin, Elliot and Erick created the chalk drawn interior spaces–the virtual settings for actual product.
In the end, the most successful windows not only display products in the best light possible, they’re created by a talented and enthusiastic team who participate in the creative process and contribute their skills to the execution. Many thanks to the Sunset team for all their support and hard work!
Are you inspired to DIY? How about hanging an infinity mirror and chalking your own frame? We’d love to see what details suit your personality.
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Whether it’s getting all dressed up in a costume and make-up, or making a statement in all black, Halloween is one party where everyone can have some fun.
To get in the mood, and not break the bank on decorations, it’s not too late to inject a simple element or two into a modern home to spook up festive spirits.
1. all black
2. lots of candles
3. orange accents
4. masks of any kind
5. cobwebs
Hint: create a graphic spiderweb using black electrical tape on a glass top table.
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The naive art form of Madhubani painting has been passed down from mother to daughter, generation to generation, exclusively by the Hindu women in the remote Mithila region of northern India. For centuries, the paintings were created on the walls and floors of village homes to designate auspicious spaces for festivals and rituals. After this agricultural region suffered a severe drought in the 1960s, the women began selling their paintings on paper to help provide food, clothing and education for their children.
This one of a find is a limited edition of 440 original paintings by artist Lalita Devi. Lalita grew up painting at her mother’s side but has been paralyzed for the past 19 years. With the help of family members who steady her hand, she continues to work her craft and share her vision.
In this piece it’s of a jungle where prey and predator live together in harmony. The brilliant colors are made from natural spices, leaves, flowers and soot, and are applied with a cotton-wrapped stick.
It wasn’t easy choosing just one from so many wonderful pieces, but each time we view the painting we’re awestruck knowing there’s so much more to the story depicted, and we’re thrilled to share it with you.
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This original canvas is hand-painted by an almost extinct community of Bollywood artists known for their kitschy, glam movie posters and sets. With the Mumbai film industry’s move to digital vinyl billboards, the talent of these fine artists is no longer in demand. In an effort to keep this art form alive, this limited edition of 228 paintings has been commissioned from the hands of the original masters.
Once required to produce up to 20 posters a day during their movie days, this special initiative provides the artists not only a new source of income, but the opportunity for a slower pace focused on their skills and passion for painting. This portrait of a regal couple painted in black and white with theatrical color highlighting only jewelry and costume details, harkens back to the romance of a lost age…and an iconic art form.
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