ART & DESIGN

Midsummer’s Eve, between sunshine and rain, 2009

Published by
cheryl
at June 19, 2009 in Cheryl's personal style and Crochet by Rita Cordeiro. 3 Comments

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson in black crochet sweater

Black crochet sweater made by my mother, Rita Cordeiro and silk tunic dress by Karen Millen.
Photo © Jan-Erik Nilsson for CMC 2009

Not wanting to give false hopes for Midsummer in Sweden, the newspapers had, about two to three weeks ago, already begun forecasting a grey and soggy Midsummer for the west coast of Sweden.

Karen Millen silk floral 3

Floral print on black, ending in an asymmetrical hem.

Well, the day proved their forecasts accurate with some strange oscillations between sunshine and rain.

Boho beaded chandelier earrings

Boho bronze beaded chandelier earrings.

But regardless of weather conditions, it’s heartening to know that you’ll always find some die-hard Midsummer fans who’ll spread the festive cheer by setting up the Midsummer pole. I’ve seen how this is done and it’s no task for the faint hearted. The pole is decorated with flowers and blue and yellow streamers that trail beautifully in the wind. The hoisting of the pole and securing it into the ground takes nothing less than cooperative, physical strength. Then comes the sight of little children running around the grounds and that is enough to bring a smile on just about anyone’s face.

Swedish Flags on Midsummer\'s 2009

Swedish flags in celebration of Midsummer.

There were bouts of rain both before and after these pictures were taken, but I’m glad that the rain felt warm on the skin! I never understood how rain could be bitingly cold, almost painful, until I came to Sweden.

In Singapore, you have thick, clashing tropical thunderstorms and when the rain hits you, you’re covered in warm water from the equatorial sky. Rainstorms are almost delicious in the tropics!

Crochet sweater and Karen Millen silk top 1

When you can smell the rain before its caress of the skin.

As this is the celebration of the summer solstice, the days and nights during these days are long. And I’m all set to enjoy the festivities, preferably indoors this year!

Glad Midsommar to all!

Rain Cycle t-shirt design, by Caroline Tan

Published by
cheryl
at March 5, 2009 in ART & DESIGN. 3 Comments

A t-shirt design by Caroline Tan entitled Rain Cycle

Right: Caroline Tan

After the Button Tree Caroline’s submitted her second T-shirt design at Threadless.com that’s in the running for votes to be printed.

I’m loving this design for its optimism against stormy weather, with little ‘rain people’ that change shape as they fall and merge into what I see as a cycle of life. The variation in tones and colour of the raindrops also add depth of the visual design and is something that caught my attention with this piece of art.

If you like it and would like to give it your thumbs up for the print process, then please visit the Rain Cycle post on Threadless.com to cast your vote!

Thank you!

Button Tree t-shirt design by Caroline Tan

Published by
cheryl
at February 27, 2009 in ART & DESIGN. 3 Comments

Button Tree t-shirt design by Caroline Tan.

Left: Caroline Tan

The above piece of art is entitled Button Tree, by Caroline Tan. Caroline’s a brilliant engineer with a passion for art. Her art works have captivated me since we were in our teens, where we often found ourselves drawing (she) and writing poetry (me) during class instead of listening to the teacher. That of course got the two of us into a lot of trouble at the Convent in which we grew up, but that’s another story to tell.

The Button Tree graphic design is one that’s a hopeful t-shirt print! I’m loving the design for its vibrant autumn shades and the buttons that adorn each leaf – it speaks to the child in me. It’s adorable! So if you like it and think it’s delightful, then please visit Threadless.com to cast a vote for it to be printed and sitting happy on a t-shirt out there!

A visit to the Schönenberg Church in Ellwangen, Germany, by Kevin D. Cordeiro

Published by
cheryl
at February 26, 2009 in ART & DESIGN, Germany and TRAVELS. 4 Comments

The Schönenberg Church, also the Wallfahrtskirche in Ellwangen, Germany.
Photo: Kevin D. Cordeiro.

The Schönenberg Church is a pilgrimage church that is also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady. It’s a major church in the region of Ostwürttemberg in the southern regions of Germany. In years past, people made their pilgrimage voyages by foot in order to reach the churches and their sanctuary of prayer. These days however, pilgrims are more likely to arrive at their respective churches via buses. Just as well too since this particular church sits atop a 530 m climb.

Photo: Kevin D. Cordeiro.

The foundations to the church were laid in 1682 by Johann Christoph von Freyberg who was then the Bishop of Augsburg. The building’s architect was Michael Thumb Vorarlberger Munster whose design template for this church had great influence over other important buildings of Baroque design such as the baroque pilgrimage church of the Holy Cross built on Gottesberg hill in Bad Wurzach in 1709. Continue reading ‘A visit to the Schönenberg Church in Ellwangen, Germany, by Kevin D. Cordeiro’

In black and white: Haus Schönenberg, Ellwangen, Germany

Published by
cheryl
at February 22, 2009 in ART & DESIGN, Germany, PHOTO and TRAVELS. 3 Comments

In black and white, by Kevin Dominic Cordeiro, cortenography, Haus Schönenberg, Ellewengen, Germany

The compounds around Haus Schönenberg in Ellwangen, Germany.
Photo for CMC by Kevin D. Cordeiro © Singapore 2009

Haus Schönenberg is a charming hotel located in the small historic German town of Ellwangen that lies east of Baden-Württemburg. It’s a throw back in time in its architecture, standing next to the renowned pilgrimage church, Wallfahrtskirche.

By Kevin Dominic Cordeiro in black and white photography, Cortenography

While the hotel isn’t one that is too luxe, visitors will be won over by its rustic appeal. Those who love the outdoors and nature can explore the rather generous grounds of the place. Continue reading ‘In black and white: Haus Schönenberg, Ellwangen, Germany’

Into the heart of the St. Peter’s Basilica – The Vatican City and its treasures in Rome

Published by
cheryl
at November 5, 2008 in ART & DESIGN, Italy and TRAVELS. 8 Comments

Small treasures on this trip to the Holy See – fresh summer fruits and some time away from the mid-day sun. This particular café served a good range of lunches from pizzas to fresh fruit and ice-cream.

We parked our car in Rome and then in all of about 300 meters, it seemed we were standing right in the middle of a different state; the Vatican City.

The Vatican state and its structures, to me, seemed to blend seamlessly with everything else Roman. Large, majestic looking sculptures, passageways and corridors that seem almost too large for any efficient or practical use of space, making one feel almost insignificant when walking about. I can imagine the purpose of the imposing structures from ancient times, that people needed to feel the power of the ruling, for the masses to feel at once diminished, yet safe. The structures work to the very same purpose today, except with a different flavour.

As a tourist, it’s splendid with so much space to conquer during your visit. And the Vatican state allows you these conquests as it invites hoards of visitors into its arms, into its heart which is St. Peter’s Basilica and into its treasure filled museum wings. The high arches and open spaces aid in dispensing with the overly crowded feel; a feel that Venice for example, could not overcome.

A curious feature: an Egyptian obelisk stands in front of St. Peter’s church.

Though small as a state, by foot, the grounds of St. Peter’s Basilica are still vast, with an intriguing sight of an Egyptian obelisk in the middle. Its slightly skewed alignment to Michelangelo’s building is said to have been compensated by Maderno’s nave inside the Basilica. Continue reading ‘Into the heart of the St. Peter’s Basilica – The Vatican City and its treasures in Rome’

Drawing by Welles Tan

Published by
cheryl
at November 2, 2008 in ART & DESIGN and PEOPLE. 0 Comments

A caricature of me, by graphic designer Welles Tan. Welles also does silhouette cutting and you can find more of his work at geocities.com.

Il Canovaccio: the art of Venetian masquerade

Published by
cheryl
at October 9, 2008 in ART & DESIGN, FASHION, Italy and TRAVELS. 7 Comments

A grand carnival Volto mask from Il Canovaccio, Venice, Italy. This dramatically elegant mask has gold gilded eyes, its temples framed with deep turqoise plumes against black.

Mention Venice and what comes to mind are masquerade balls and since 1979, the annual Il Carnevale di Venezia.

The Venetian carnival however, had its origins from the 11th century as a celebration of the passing of Lent, reflecting the etymology of the word carnival, from the Latin carne + vale meaning farewell to meat. Michael Tieuli lends a brief overview of the history of the Venetian Carnival, where he mentioned that the carnival was thought to be an annual celebration of Doge (Chief Magistrate) Vitale Michieli II’s victory over Ulrich II of Treven (the Patriarch of Aquileia) in 1162. Ulric was taken prisoner and his release was conditional, in that he had to pay an annual tribute to Venice in the form of twelve loaves of bread, twelve pigs and a bull. It was during this time that a tradition began of butchering a bull (representing Ulric) and twelve pigs in the Piazza di San Marco to commemorate the victory.

Early documents of mask wearing in Venice could be found as far back as the late 1200s. Though an excellent way of getting attention or simply getting back at an unrequited love, masked men were banned by the Venetian Law in 1268 for example, for throwing of scented eggs at women. By the early 1400s, the wearing of masks and costumes was well the norm at the Venetian carnival. In 1436, the Mascereri (makers of the Venetian masks) had their own guild.

The window display at Il Canovaccio is only a partial display of the fantastic array of masks that beckons to the chimerical realities that await, when you step inside the store.

Masks feature all sorts of practical purposes, the lighter representations of which can be found in the movie Casanova (2005), which was filmed in its entirety in Venice. Whether it is to mingle freely with those in a different social echelon as oneself, to return discreet favours or to have a secret love affair, the use of masks creates and encourages intrigue and mystery.
Continue reading ‘Il Canovaccio: the art of Venetian masquerade’

Asian romantique by Ace Chia

Published by
cheryl
at August 5, 2008 in ART & DESIGN and PEOPLE. 2 Comments

Model: Cyntherea. Photo by Ace Chia.

This picture was taken by Ace Chia, a 17 year old Fashion Design student at LaSalle in Singapore. She’s beginning to explore photography and fashion photography. There are several of her works that have caught my attention, the above picture is one of them.

This picture reminds me of those that you’ll see in French fashion magazines, light contrast, light colours with a touch of drama. The umbrella, the pale dress, the pale skin all spells romance with a hint of dark mystery.

Beautiful!

Book cover design?

Published by
cheryl
at August 2, 2008 in ART & DESIGN. 8 Comments

Design brainstorm / idea for my PhD bookcover.

I’ve been interested in fonts and page layout design for several years now. A Wordpress widget where you have a variation of font and font sizes in which categories were displayed, was also something that caught my interest.

A page at Wordle allows you to experiment with fonts and come up with your own font pages, designs and I tried to do this on Wordle, but my computer hasn’t got Java 6. You can also cut and paste designs that others have made, into your blogsite or use it on t-shirt prints, or wherever else you deem fit. What they want though, is a recognition nod in their direction.

So instead of using Wordle (which is so much easier), I made the book cover design, which is a brainstorm for my upcoming PhD thesis cover, using Photoshop Elements *wry smile*. It wasn’t as difficult as it was just, time consuming.

I’m favouring blues, greys and dark browns for the moment for colours, but I’ve done the above cover in a burst of pinks and reds for a little pick-me-up and energy. I’ve used 3 standard colours for fonts and about 4 or 5 different font sizes on a single font type, to get the design.

I’ll keep working on this idea and see where that leads me. For all I know, the University and department might say, “Nja well… we print all our thesis covers in THIS standard format!” and then show me the university logo + title + author on an A5 page.

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