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 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:00:03 -0700 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:00:03 -0700 en-us http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/102 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/102#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/102 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:20:09 -0700 press See anything familiar? Notice the two framed pictures in the upper-left. They are, indeed, two images from my Pavement Loop series: A few months ago I was contacted by the set decorator on CBS's The Good Wife, who asked if I could send them...

See anything familiar? Notice the two framed pictures in the upper-left. They are, indeed, two images from my Pavement Loop series:





A few months ago I was contacted by the set decorator on CBS's The Good Wife, who asked if I could send them a few of my prints for inclusion in the show. As you can see here, they've ended up on what I believe is the main set, where the art director says they're "prominently featured". I got the screenshot above from a promotional video on the CBS website, but we'll find out for sure how much of an impact they make when season 2 of the show begins September 28th.

I believe I sent them a total of seven prints, so it's possible that more than the two seen here are being used. I'll post more details as things develop.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/101 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/101#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/101 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:03:09 -0700 design motion press Finally, after months of waiting, I can announce one of the coolest projects I've ever been a part of. Earlier this year I was commissioned by SapientNitroto design and animate a collection of 3D scenes based on my Urban Cartography series. The client...

Finally, after months of waiting, I can announce one of the coolest projects I've ever been a part of. Earlier this year I was commissioned by SapientNitroto design and animate a collection of 3D scenes based on my Urban Cartography series. The client was Drambuie, who was in the middle of a rebranding project and launching a rather ambitious promotional contest in Australia—entrants submit designs for their dream bar, and the winner gets to run it, for real, for nine nights.

Even someone like me, who's rather jaded and hostile towards most marketing gimmicks, has to admit how cool that is.



The sense of freeform architectural brainstorming is what got Sapient interested in my Urban Cartography series, so the style and concept was clear from the start. Check out the results here.



The coolest part is that Drambuie made me a part of the judging panel as well. Here's my stupid face as proof:

]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/100 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/100#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/100 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:25:13 -0700 press Once again I find myself the darling* of the British press. This time, the ace blokes over at Wired UK included a cutout of Alt/1977's Pocket Hi-Fi, a time traveling iPod and ode to ABBA's timeless musical supremacy. As always I'm well...









Once again I find myself the darling* of the British press. This time, the ace blokes over at Wired UK included a cutout of Alt/1977's Pocket Hi-Fi, a time traveling iPod and ode to ABBA's timeless musical supremacy. As always I'm well chuffed about it. Thanks, guys!

*Fleeting novelty.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/99 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/99#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/99 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:29:52 -0700 art design typography A few months ago I was asked by Advanced Photoshop if I'd be interested in writing a tutorial on the creation of "bespoke typefaces" similar to my previous Elektrotrash project. After giving the idea some thought, I decided to do something...





A few months ago I was asked by Advanced Photoshop if I'd be interested in writing a tutorial on the creation of "bespoke typefaces" similar to my previous Elektrotrash project. After giving the idea some thought, I decided to do something similar but with a greater emphasis on 2D arrangement and compositing, instead of creating the entire character set a single 3D space.

The result is Baroquen, a music-themed handset that takes its lovably disjointed inspiration from the quirky, multi-layered world of baroque pop. As usual, I created a number of posters to explore the character set across a multitude of styles and layouts.

Lastly, if you're interested in the tutorial behind the typeface, check out the August 2010 issue of the magazine. It should be on newsstands now in the United States and might still be available here and there in Europe.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/98 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/98#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/98 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:23:31 -0700 press A recent issue of the Guardian's weekend Guide magazine gave two thirds of page 5 to an Alt/1977 feature, placing it ahead of a cover story on Johnny Rotten and multi-page articles on Mad Men and Inception. I can only conclude that the...









A recent issue of the Guardian's weekend Guide magazine gave two thirds of page 5 to an Alt/1977 feature, placing it ahead of a cover story on Johnny Rotten and multi-page articles on Mad Men and Inception. I can only conclude that the entire United Kingdom therefore considers my loosely satirical set of print ads the most culturally relevant of all the aforementioned, probably combined times a billion, in fact.

Or I'm just missing the fact that page 5 is where they stick the latest gimmick that no one will remember by the time they've turned to page 6.

In any case, my ongoing love affair with England is really starting to give America a run for its money.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/97 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/97#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/97 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:21:50 -0700 press The Guardian was nice enough to post a multimedia feature on Alt/1977, proving once again that everything in the UK is cooler than its American equivalent. In related news, my repeated offers to pen a comic strip for The New York Times about an...

The Guardian was nice enough to post a multimedia feature on Alt/1977, proving once again that everything in the UK is cooler than its American equivalent.

In related news, my repeated offers to pen a comic strip for The New York Times about an anthropomorphic motor scooter that solves crimes while adjusting to a new life as the single stepfather of two wisecracking teenagers continue to be ignored.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/96 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/96#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/96 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:28:11 -0700 design fashion I've been dying to share this and it's finally time! One of my biggest projects ever, complete with before-and-after photography and shots of the finished product, all posted here. This month's transportation-themed issue of the excellent...





I've been dying to share this and it's finally time! One of my biggest projects ever, complete with before-and-after photography and shots of the finished product, all posted here.

This month's transportation-themed issue of the excellent Surface magazine (#83, July/August) features 11 pages of illustration and fashion photography brought to life by art director Chris Mozsary, photographer Daniel Bernauer and myself.

The concept was to merge a model shoot with disjointed freeways and parking structures, using my original Pavement Loop series as the basis for the style. In just under two weeks, after getting access to a high-res download of Daniel's awesome photography, I put together the scenes you see in the final pieces using entirely original assets custom-made for the project. It was a pretty huge crunch but both Chris and Daniel were awesome guys and made the process as easy as could be imagined.

Surface is a pretty slick magazine anyway, so pick up a copy at your local newsstand. I've already bought like 9 because I'm a huge dork but you'll probably only need one or two.]]> http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/95 http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/95#view_comments http://www.alexvaranese.com/blog/95 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:39:37 -0700 press San Francisco's own badass collective The Black Harbor was awesome enough to interview me and thoroughly illustrate the whole thing. From Justin Bieber sex tapes to showering in prom dresses, we cover pretty much every relevant topic. Enjoy!

San Francisco's own badass collective The Black Harbor was awesome enough to interview me and thoroughly illustrate the whole thing. From Justin Bieber sex tapes to showering in prom dresses, we cover pretty much every relevant topic. Enjoy!]]>