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The Truth's about steam, punk shoutOut 22 hours, 7 minutes ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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The Truth's about steam, punk
If you’re a caffeinista and in Cape Town, you know the Truth. Amongst the finest coffee anywhere, David Donde’s coffee roastery has a reputation for leading the vanguard of expert artisanal bean roasters. More than this, there’s a consistency to the Truth experience that brings people back for more and creates converts on a daily basis. So it’s no wonder that in the coffee cult’s new HQ at number 36 Buitenkant, the authenticity of the Truth experience now has a home. And what a home it is.
Located in a beautiful old warehouse built in 1898 (which till last year was home to white goods, car parts and pigeons), Truth’s new home is nothing less than steampunk brought to life. After all, the design ethic of real coffee lends itself to this aesthetic: for start, there’s those wonderful old machines that are all steam and brass, heat and hiss. So it’s no far stretch to appreciate why, when Haldane Martin was in discussion with Truth honcho David about the design direction for the operation's new home, the steampunk idea came to the…ahem…boil.
Steampunk style in every detail
Restoring the building to its true potential and beauty, the premises live up to the steampunk style in every attentive detail. Where the theme could – and occasionally does, elsewhere - fall flat, at the Truth HQ, it’s spot on. Vintage brass, authentic fittings, mahogany leather banquettes, pressed Victorian panels, custom pipework seating, the longest communal table in the city and staff outfitted by The Little Hattery in period-perfect pieces. Add them all up and you can’t fail to arrive at an impression of consistent attention to detail that completes the look and feel. And at the heart of it all, a vintage pre-steel Probat, the hulking crucible of the entire operation.
What the hell’s a Probat? Around a century when he’s on form. But seriously, it’s the gold-standard coffee roaster – made in Germany, they set the bar for bag roasting, which in layman’s terms means the machine can roast a 60kg bag at a time. To perfection, on account of the addition of digital instrumentation that ensures Truth’s coffee lives up to its reputation of ‘Flavour, not bitterness. No sugar required.’
A coffee cult on Coffee LaneAs if the gods of coffee themselves were leaning down and savouring the aroma, by a twist of serendipity the building backs onto a back alley named Coffee Lane. Really? Really. There’s a touch of fantasy to that, which is in keeping again with the whole package. From the time you walk in and smell the aromas of roasting beans, hear the clank and tinker of baristas and on to the sound of jaunty Prohibition-speakeasy tunes playing in the background, you know you’re in for an authentic experience. So, if you’re in the city, do yourself a favour - head on over to Buitenkant and experience some of that steam, punk. |
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Artist Interview Index: Spotlight On shoutOut on 23/8/12 by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Artist Interview IndexLooking for insightful interviews with artists and designers from all over the world? Need inspiration? You've come to the right place. In the Spotlight On series we find some of the world's leading illustrators and designers and shoot some questions at them which give you the lowdown on their style, their history, their likes and what inspires them. Sit back, pour yourself something and enjoy the read! 1 - Jim Phillips (Pt I)2 - Jim Phillips (Pt II)3 - Alaina Ashley Cooper4 - Robson Borges5 - Ninjabreadboy6 - Glenn Arthur7 - Giampaolo Miraglia8 - vcalahan9 - Gerardo Muñoz10 - Shaun Oakley (aka MrPersonality)11 - Himanshu Sharma (hemu)12 - Sindiso Nyoni (R!OT)
FORTHCOMING INTERVIEWS: 13 - Alastair Laird 14 - Kristian Hammerstad
Keep an eye on this list - there's lots more where that came from! |
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Tutorial Tuesday: Photoshop Shortcuts #1 shoutOut 1 day, 22 hours ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Photoshop shortcuts #1Using shortcuts in design and illustration, as in life, will get you where you want to be faster and easier than the long way round - and hey, let's be honest, who can't do with saving some time? Right - so today's tutorial Tuesday is a roundup of experts tips on how to make the most of quick ways to get stuff done in Photoshop. Need to find fast ways to fill? Hell yes, of course you do. Well, alright - fill 'er up! Fast ways to fillFills are a great way to get a selection coloured in with either a colour or pattern - but they can be time consuming, and often you might not get quite then desired effect if you're using your tool in the wrong mode. Psdtuts+'s Martin Perhiniak has some great insights into how you can cut down on time but still get your filled objects looking great. Keyboard shortcuts, using the Pen tool and the Type tool - it's all here. Onward to Photoshop skill central!
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Great Design Monday: 356A Speedster shoutOut 3 days ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Porsche 356A Speedster - timeless design iconIt's an icon of automobile styling which sits, serenely and entirely appropriately, in the class of 'Elegant Classics'. With sleek lines that call to mind the shapely form of screen sirens of years gone by, it's fitting that the Porsche 356A Speedster is of that age. And, whilst it may not feature sheer brute force or rocket-speed performance of many later models of the Porsche marque (such as the 911, which succeeded the 356), there will always be a place for the good looks and impressive design of this particular model.
Porsche & VW heritage create a classic hybridBrought to life in 1948 as a hybrid of Volkswagen and Porsche design at a time when the two companies were inextricably entwined, the 356 was (and here we will allow the venerable Wiki to inform us) "...created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (son of the founder of the company). Like its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche Senior had designed), the 356 was a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car utilizing unitized pan and body construction. While the 356's body was an original design by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda, its mechanicals (including engine, suspension and chassis) were derived from the Volkswagen."
Unitized body, unmatched aerodynamismAnd what a body it is - designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, the body was initially handcrafted in aluminium and later steel. With the 356 model altered slightly to an open-top model on the advice of Max Hoffman (the same New York automobile dealer who suggested to Mercedes that the addition of gullwings to their 300SL would make the model that much more appealing to the American market), the 356A's popularity exploded in the US and went on to become associated with Hollywood stars and gorgeous women with scarves billowing in the wind.
A collector's dreamWith 76,000 units produced by the time the production run ended in 1965, this model was an unqualified success for Porsche and had continued to sell even whilst the more modern and powerful 911 had been rolled out. Experts estimate that around 36,000 units still survive, making the 356A a collectible which is still within reach of those with a relatively modest budget.
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Video Friday: The index shoutOut 5 days, 22 hours ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Video Friday: The indexOur Video Friday posts feature the best in film, animation and moving image that we can find. If you've seen any of them, you'll know that we cover a wide range of moving picture genius including classics from the dawn of film to the latest in cutting-edge CGI. Here's the list so far - keep an eye on this, we'll be adding more every week! 1. H5 - 'Logorama'2. Salvador Dali + Walt Disney - 'Destino'3. Terry Gilliam - 'Storytime'4. Walt Disney - 'Steamboat Willie'5. Fabrice o. Joubert - 'French Roast'6. Daniel Levi - 'Henry'7. CRCR - ''Les Chiens Isolés'8. Salon Alpin - 'Much Better Now'
Don't touch that dial - there's lots more where that came from! |
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Video Friday: 'Much Better Now' shoutOut 6 days ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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'Much Better Now' by Salon Alpin'Much Better Now' is a short video for...wait. Do you surf? Maybe bodyboard? Read books? Like stop frame animation? Love clever videos? You're going to love this. So, that kinda makes this for...everyone! The video we bring you today here on Video Friday at The Leap is a genius little piece of stop-frame that reminds us all of just how versatile the medium is. This is a very simple story, about a bookmark whose boring existence is transformed by a fortunate gust of wind. Suddenly everything's changed, and with it the way the little bookmark (let's assume here he's a he) sees himself. New horizons open up, surf's up - and the whole world is changed.
Expert stop-frame executionThe real beauty of 'Much Better Now' is in the range of emotion and excitement that the simple tools used are capable of communicating (and hats off to the team at Salon Alpin for their skills), and it comes as no surprise that the team (Thomas Welz, Silvio Canazei, Kris Staber, Simon Griesser. Phillip Comarella) have won awards and earned prestigious screenings at film and animation festivals the world over. A deserted room and simple paper, cardboard books and...not much else really are brought to life and communicate a real sense of enjoyment and hope. But before we go off the deep end and wind up telling you that this is an awesome little short that's about surfing and optimism...drat. Happy Friday, get stuck in!
p.s: wanna watch the making of? |
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Spotlight On: Sindiso Nyoni (R!OT) shoutOut 1 week ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Thursdays mean the week is on a slippery downhill, and you’re in for another in our Spotlight On series of interviews. Today we’re proud to welcome a designer and illustrator whose work is as arresting as it is famous – we’re talking about a self developed artist whose work is up there with the best. It’s iconic stuff. Instantly recognisable. We’re talking high-end! Highly visible! World Cup stuff! Ad campaigns! Film posters! Mobile! Dior! Absolut! Telkom! Hewlett Packard! We’re also talking socially conscious. Unafraid to look issues in the eye. Ground level stuff that connects with everyone. Gritty. Arresting. Insightful. In a phrase, his work is subversive world-class African street art. He's worked with Am I Collective, and is now with Black River FC. He mashes pencil, ink, pastels, gauche, acrylic and digital media into a fusion that’s all his own. Sound good? Wanna know more about Sindiso Nyoni a.k.a R!OT? Of course you do. Read on, dear reader, read on…
SL: Did you study to become an artist/illustrator/designer? SN: I'm a self-taught artist, (been drawing since aged 4) but I studied Graphic Design for 4 years at the University of Johannesburg. SL: What’s your preferred medium, and why? SN: Pen & ink SL: What other designers or illustrators are influences on your work? SN: The arts and the various branches of creative activity have always been a love of mine, with early memories of comic book art, vintage animation and particularly film as influences. As a visual artist I have quite a few influences that cover many disciplines. I'm a big fan of Argentine illustrator Dr Alderete's pop/poster art and also draw a lot of inspiration from legendary Black Panther artist Emory Douglas, and the late South African artists Thami Mnyele, and Dumile Feni.
SL: Name two of your favourite artworks of all time. SN: Kehinde Wiley's portraits are some of the best I’ve seen in a long time, particularly his 'Puma World Cup 2010' series. I'm also a big fan of fellow Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai's work, particularly his 'State of the Nation' collection. SL: What music are you listening to at the moment? SN: BIG FKN GUN - SA's next big hip-hop act.
And there you have it – what the words can’t convey, the images say loudly: R!OT’s work is in a class of its own, yet stands proudly amongst the best in class. You want more? Head on over to his Behance for an engrossing show of skill and range. Enjoy the interview? Check out Springleap's other interviews in the Spotlight On series here. |
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Hemp: Just the facts, man... shoutOut 1 week, 1 day ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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Sure, you’re familiar with that leaf. It’s been blasted into mainstream consciousness for many years as the harbinger of doom, the gateway drug, a warning sign that every parent has learned to recognise. Or is it? That’s the issue with the reputation of hemp - it’s almost always mistaken for smokable Cannabis, and the use of drugs. It’s understandable; the plant and its leaf are virtually indistinguishable to those who aren’t familiar with the differences between Cannabis species. But it’s time that was put to rights, and hemp given the credit it's due. Let’s take a closer look.
OK, the basics first: what is hemp? It’s a long-stemmed, low-resin variety of the Cannabis family. It’s great for fibre, paper, building materials, oil, medicine and biomass. You can’t smoke it, because hemp contains less than 0.3% THC (the psychoactive compound found in other cannabis species). You might as well try smoking your jeans. So, what is hemp good for? To answer that question, we should look at its use in antiquity. If we go back to Mesopotamian times, the long fibres in the stalk of the hemp plant were used to create some of the world’s first woven textiles, around 8,000 BC. Moving on in time, hemp keeps making appearances in different forms: in 2737 BC it is listed as a ‘noble herb’ in the pharmacopeia of the 'Divine Farmer', Emperor Shen Nung of China.
More recently, hemp was the fibre that most of the world relied on for paper, sail and canvas from around 1000 AD till relatively recently - it was hard-wearing hemp sail and rope that made the Voyages Of Discovery possible. The fact that the words ‘cannabis’ and ‘canvas’ sound so similar is no coincidence – they come from the same root word.
These days, there’s a real push to put hemp back where it belongs – as an important source of raw materials for industry, food and medicine. The best way to do that? Getting the world to understand the difference between hemp, and its cousin cannabis. Little-known facts: Various car makers are beginning to use hemp in their cars, including Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Iveco, Lotus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Saturn, Volkswagen and Volvo. The Lotus Eco Elise has hemp in it.
The Mercedes C-Class has up to 20 kg of hemp in each car. Interested in hemp and how it can make the world a better place? Why not enter our Hemporium ‘A New Leaf’ contest, here on Springleap!
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Tutorial Tuesday: Graphic Tee Tut shoutOut 1 week, 2 days ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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So, you've got a great idea for your next submission into one of our T-shirt design contests, you think it's a sure shot at taking top prize, but you're finding it hard to get your image to look the way you want it to? Sound familiar? Don't worry, be happy - the gods of illustration and design have heard your cry for help and are here to help you see the light! Well, actually, it's more like the design gods over at PsdTuts+ but hey, when you're up the creek looking for a paddle, any help will do!
So here's the deal - this is a tutorial for intermediate-grade designers, but whether you're a pro or a beginner this tut still features important basics which ae always worth being reminded of. Amiong these are the use of tols such as Noise, Guassian Blur and Smart Sharpen to maximise the texture effects of your design - something that's particularly important when designing for T-shirts. Remember: when it comes to tees, you're always going to be looking for ways to design that create bolder rather than finer design elements - vectors are great, as are halftones! OK, so onto the tut. Designers, start your engines! Ready Set? GO! James Davies' 'Design Your Own Graphic Tee in Photoshop' Tutorial! |
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Video Friday: 'Les Chiens Isolés' shoutOut 1 week, 6 days ago by travis.lyle1 in peeps |
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In the world of animation, there are many creators who have raced headlong into the world of CGI and taken their tip from the Pixars of the world, producing super-slick work which leaves the 2D origins of illustration behind. It's understandable - the motion, emotion and versatility provided by new techniques opens up a whole new world of possibilities. But in the process, much of the depth of character, dialogue and inflection can get lost along the way. Which is why it's so refreshing to see work of high standard being produced by 2D animators the world over. Work coming out of the Gobelins School Of The Image in Paris is amongst the best in the world, and amongst that output the creators of today's video, the team at CRCR, rank highly. 'Les Chiens Isolés' (which has been nominated for a Vimeo Award this year) is a great example of how traditional animation still stands proud as an artform which requires nuance and insight to master. It's the story of Andrew and Julien, two co-workers on an oil rig - one old, one young - and how their freindship is torn apart by the older man's paranoia that his friend is only interested in leaving. This suspicion takes the form of a phantom dog, who appears to Andre whenever his fears get the better of him. The outcome is a sad end to an otherwise positive freindship. But don't take my word for it - see it for yourself here!
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