Glorious new Pinnafarina design for Alfa Romeo (( + 3 hours))

Hot on the heels of my last post about 'out there' concepts for Alfa Romeo, here is another that actually is out there. Out there in the wild so to speak. Well, the Geneva Motor Show.

I'm not quite sure what the translation of Duettottanta is… maybe an Italian speaker can enlighten me, and for once Google translate has let me down.
Maybe it's something to do with the design studio Pinnafarina who have developed this concept. Or maybe it just doesn't translate. Who needs to know what it means, when the car looks this good though!
Via Fubiz

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Glorious new Pinnafarina design for Alfa Romeo (( + 3 hours))

Hot on the heels of my last post about 'out there' concepts for Alfa Romeo, here is another that actually is out there. Out there in the wild so to speak. Well, the Geneva Motor Show.

I'm not quite sure what the translation of Duettottanta is… maybe an Italian speaker can enlighten me, and for once Google translate has let me down.
Maybe it's something to do with the design studio Pinnafarina who have developed this concept. Or maybe it just doesn't translate. Who needs to know what it means, when the car looks this good though!
Via Fubiz

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from CrocodileJock's Blog

Audrey Kawasaki

After seeing the post on Nanami Cowdroy, my esteemed colleague Luke pointed me in the direction of artist Audrey Kawasaki.

Although completely different in style, and working in different media; I can see where he's reminded of Audrey's work; it has an equally ethereal beauty about it…  and obvious eastern influences. 

The bio from Audrey's website says it better than I ever could: "The themes in Audrey Kawasaki's work are contradictions within themselves. Her work is both innocent and erotic. Each subject is attractive yet disturbing. Audrey's precise technical style is at once influenced by both manga comics and Art Nouveau. Her sharp graphic imagery is combined with the natural grain of the wood panels she paints on, bringing an unexpected warmth to enigmatic subject matter.

The figures she paints are seductive and contain an air of melancholy. They exist in their own sensually esoteric realm, yet at the same time present a sense of accessibility that draws the observer to them. These mysterious young women captivate with the direct stare of their bedroom eyes."

Limited edition prints and other merchandise from her website shop .

If you have any favourite illustrators or artists that you think I'd like to hear about, please let me know in the comments.

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If I didn't have an Apple, I'd have an Orange.

Orange Amplifiers are an iconic British brand, established in swinging London '68, providing the amplification for a little blues band that went on to be called Fleetwood Mac. The bright orange amps soon attracted attention with stars such as Stevie Wonder, BB King, Jimmy Page, John Mayall, Ike and Tina Turner, and James Brown all wanting Orange Amps. 

Zoom forward 40 years and Orange are introducing something new. A PC. And an amp. Together. The Orange PC (or OPC as they call it) leads the way with a number of ‘Firsts’:

 

 – The first computer of its kind to have a built-in high powered speaker which delivers superb full range hi-fi quality sounds as well as vintage guitar sounds.

 

– The first computer to have a universal input jack enabling users to plug in a multitude of musical instruments (guitar, keyboard etc ) and peripherals such as the iPod, MP3 players and microphones.

 

– A unique cooling system to ensure air goes in and exits only after cooling the internal computer

As a fully fledged computer it has 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, Intel chips, Windows 7 x64 home premium, 8 x USB2.0 ports, is Wi-Fi enabled and has an integrated GeForce 9300 graphics card with an optional dedicated ATI 5670 512MB card for those who may want to play a few games while they put their guitars down. The first models will include modelling software incorporating computer samples of vintage and current

Orange amps and cabinets as well as free branded recording software package. Once plugged in, you can then use the software included to create music or choose your guitar sound and then play, record and hear your guitar through the computer! 

Although the industrial design might not be up there with their 'fruity' competitors, Apple, it sure beats having an ugly beige box on your desk!

If I was of a musical bent, I'd be sorely tempted. More on their website. 

Via RetroToGo

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Some 'out there' designs from Alfa Romeo

I love the cars Alfa are making at the moment, and it's wonderful to see such an iconic marque in resurgence after losing their way for so long. The MiTo, 147, 159 (Saloon & Sportswagen), GT, Brera and Spyder are all fantastic looking cars. I haven't seen the new Giulietta in the flesh yet, but something tells me they'll be onto another winner here, too. And the top of the shop has to be the beautiful 8C Competizione. Shame it's a little out of my price range at the moment.

I'm not so sure about some of these concepts, however. I love elements of them… but I'm not sure just how, erm, practical they'd actually be. But concepts aren't really about practicality are they? The second car, the 'fastback' particularly looks fantastic, I love the almost 'origami' feel of the bonnet and the grill… and then you get about 3/4 of the way back, and then it looks like the designer has quite literally lost his mind!  They do say madness is close to genius, don't they?

Anyway it's nice to see somebody pushing the boundaries… and I'm sure we'll see elements of these styling cues in production cars, even if they are 'toned down' for public consumption. At least I hope we will.

These images came to my attention via Fubiz by the way. 

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Nanami Cowdroy

I have just discovered, via Fubiz, the wonderful work of Australian born artist/illustrator, Nanami Cowdroy. Her signature detailed style reflects a refined monochrome pallette with her name 'Nanami' (meaning 'Seven Seas' in Japanese ) stamped in red. Fluid line-work, watery creatures and Goldfish are some of her favourite subjects, and distinctive forms which are featured in her artworks.

Elaborate and exotic, her work is influenced by her mixed Japanese and European heritage, a heritage that has influenced her style of art and creative expression. As well creating these wonderful artworks, Namani has turned two of her favourite illustrated characters 'Kintoto' the goldfish) and 'Origami Tsuru' the paper crane have been translated into 'wearable treasures' (that's jewellery to you and me!).  as using her work for examples of her work on

The illustrations have also been turned into 'skins' suitable for everything from laptops, Flip video cameras and iPhones; and other items as diverse as cushions and coffee cups. 

Beautiful work, Nanami, beautiful work. See more on her website.

If you like this post, you might want to check out this post about Cheeming Boey too.

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