http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/ Alex Varanese is a San Francisco-based artist characterized by an unhealthy fixation on red and a style that mixes 2D, 3D and typography in ways that he'd like to think are highly original but probably aren't in the grand scheme of things. amv Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:35:39 -0700 Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:35:39 -0700 en-us http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/120 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/120#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/120 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:47:07 -0800 amv store After a year and a half of lame excuses, broken promises, shattered dreams and outright lies, the most excellent Thumbtack Press has saved the day and brought the long-delayed AMV STORE back to life. Seriously, these guys offer fantastic quality...

After a year and a half of lame excuses, broken promises, shattered dreams and outright lies, the most excellent Thumbtack Press has saved the day and brought the long-delayed AMV STORE back to life.

Seriously, these guys offer fantastic quality Giclee prints on archival, ultra-matte paper as well as numerous framing options. I couldn't be happier with how they came out. Enjoy!]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/119 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/119#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/119 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:22:08 -0800 design illustration I found myself compelled over the last couple weeks to put together a fresh set of visual ideas, the origins of which are only slightly less confounding to me now than they were at the start of the process. Note the decidedly minimal use of...





I found myself compelled over the last couple weeks to put together a fresh set of visual ideas, the origins of which are only slightly less confounding to me now than they were at the start of the process. Note the decidedly minimal use of red, the almost complete rejection of technology (except for a single moment of weakness in the last piece), and the abandonment of my usual urban whatever. How this new direction will manifest itself in the future remains an open question, but I felt it was time to stir the blood a little.

Check out The Properties of Identity.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/118 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/118#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/118 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:43:32 -0700 antechamber font type design Behold! For reasons that will be revealed in the coming months, I decided to design another typeface. This time, however, my goal was to create one I could actually release for others to use. The result is Antechamber, a hyperstylized display face...

Behold! For reasons that will be revealed in the coming months, I decided to design another typeface. This time, however, my goal was to create one I could actually release for others to use. The result is Antechamber, a hyperstylized display face that draws its inspiration from architecture, drafting, industrial design and other stuff that sounds cool.

It's totally free for both commercial and non-commercial uses, but I do ask that you email me with a link to anything cool you make with it. Enjoy!]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/117 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/117#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/117 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:21:24 -0700 animation danton music So where have I been for the last 10 months, exactly? Pretty much off the map entirely aside from a couple client gigs here and there. Yesterday, however, I uploaded the reason why: The High-Fructose How-To Adventurequests of Danton Diphthong, the...

So where have I been for the last 10 months, exactly? Pretty much off the map entirely aside from a couple client gigs here and there. Yesterday, however, I uploaded the reason why: The High-Fructose How-To Adventurequests of Danton Diphthong, the 22-minute premiere [and/or finale] episode of an animated series I came up with out of a desire to create something silly, energetic and dialogue-driven.



I definitely succeeded as far as silliness goes, but I'm pretty happy with how the rest of it turned out. In many ways, it was an exercise in creative expression across multiple media; the script, art, animation and music are all original.



You can watch it at its dedicated microsite or directly on Vimeo. I also created a Behance page with a little more information as well.

Enjoy!]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/116 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/116#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/116 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:54:08 -0700 design illustration In a random fit of pseudo-inspiration last night, I extrapolated a visual idea from the 2011 reprise of Drambuie's The Premise campaign and got this: Inside the Edge. Eight new pieces of hyperabstracted design that pit a cross section of the...





In a random fit of pseudo-inspiration last night, I extrapolated a visual idea from the 2011 reprise of Drambuie's The Premise campaign and got this: Inside the Edge. Eight new pieces of hyperabstracted design that pit a cross section of the ocean's surface against a number of shapes, figures and other such things, blah blah blah. You know the drill. Enjoy!

Oh and yes, I admit it—I've clearly incorporated some shadowy blues into my palette this time around, but don't think for a second that this somehow constitutes a violation of my lifelong* adherence to red. I've seen a lot of comments about the so-called "new direction" of this particular series, but I assure you that my chromatic sensibilities remain largely unaltered. Let it be known that I consider any assertion to the contrary to be the lowest form of slander or libel. Whichever one applies here.

Slanbel. Yes. That'll do nicely.

*Probably not lifelong.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/115 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/115#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/115 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:37:58 -0700 clients design illustration I just updated my Client Work section with two new projects: Album artwork for Encore, an up-and-coming R&B group out of England, and, at long last... ...my illustrations for Wired UK's article on the role played by smart gas meters in... Client Work section with two new projects:



Album artwork for Encore, an up-and-coming R&B group out of England, and, at long last...



...my illustrations for Wired UK's article on the role played by smart gas meters in cyberwar. I still haven't managed to track down a physical copy of the issue, unfortunately.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/114 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/114#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/114 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:25:16 -0800 amv store design illustration Gamma Proforma featured works from 12 different artists in its 2010 print series, ranging from lush watercolor and illustration to stark, abstract designs. I'd like to think I fit somewhere in between with "The Interview" from Urban...





Gamma Proforma featured works from 12 different artists in its 2010 print series, ranging from lush watercolor and illustration to stark, abstract designs. I'd like to think I fit somewhere in between with "The Interview" from Urban Cartography II: The Metro which was selected for December.

500 copies of this print are currently on sale for £25.00 at A2 size (420mm x 594mm). As drama continues to plague the oft-delayed launch of the AMV Store, Gamma Proforma has kindly offered an alternative in the meantime. Enjoy!

See more photos of the prints here.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/113 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/113#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/113 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:14:15 -0800 design illustration Check out my illustration work for the Beer Wars article in the January 2011 issue of Playboy. This was my second project for these fine, upstanding people, and they've once again proven themselves as the coolest all-around clients in the...





Check out my illustration work for the Beer Wars article in the January 2011 issue of Playboy. This was my second project for these fine, upstanding people, and they've once again proven themselves as the coolest all-around clients in the design world. Also, I dunno if this was a one-time thing for the January issue or what, but the copy they sent me was full of naked chicks. So there's also that.]]>