Guest Post: Graphic Ladies

On my last day of guest blogging on Tam+Sam I'd like to share with you images I collected for some work I'd like to produce in the near future. I'm always thinking about personal projects I'd like to work on when I have more me time. Some being illustrations exploring portraiture, particularly of women. I love the idea of flattening the face (or even the figure) into graphic shapes, so whenever I see great examples from other artists I screen-grab them and add them to my "inspiration folder." Here are a few I've collected in the last few months.

A big hug and thank you to the ladies of Tam+Sam. It was such a pleasure being a part of this amazing site. I enjoyed sharing some fun inspiration and a little behind-the-scenes look at some of my favorite projects I had the opportunity to work on. And a huge thank you to the Tam+Sam readers, I appreciate your time :).

From our Guest Blogger Andrea Pippins of Fly 

Hellz to the Yeah

For Hellz Bellz, the Spring 2010 is dark and lovely ... and we love it! 

With 'Oh Bondage' a collection that 'utilizes zipper and strap details as both loud and subtle statements', the NYC based label will give an unexpected twist to your typical vernal outfits!

Trail Blazers

blaz·er [bley-zer]

A blazer is a type of jacket, synonymous with style and sophistication.

The dynamic duo, does it again with their au courant yet classic Spring 2010 Collection.

Smythe Les Vestes

One Size Fits All

Jennifer Ladd

Print + Pattern

Former designer for Nina Ricca and Olivier Theyskens (at Rochas) digital impressionist, Calla Haynes' soft prints and whimsical palette infuse basic clothing with edge.

Martine Chartrand

Martine Chartrand is an illustrator, classical animator and filmmaker. Technique: painting on glass. Her artistic styling reflects the expression of histories and interpretation of the message while maintaining a spirit-filled and textured imagery. Both humanism and conscience in nature, her labour-intensive films mirror social realities. Martine does it best!

Here is one of our favourites, Âme Noire (Black Soul), which won 22 awards. Watch as a young boy traces his roots through the animated stories his grandmother shares with him about the events that shaped their cultural heritage.

Interview

In bloom

Great collaboration.
Suresh Natarajan x Freida Pinto x Elle Magazine

Mulcair

Created by Juliana Bennett, Montreal fashion house: Mulcair, makes every effort to use eco friendly yet luxurious fabrics and sustainable materials in its designs. The Prêt-à-Porter collections offers a mix of tailored day to evening wear pieces for a discerning clientele. Fresh with a subdued hint of glamour. Sigh.., our label lust is too much to bear.

Easy Conversation: Donn T.

Reared in a creative household and of musical pedigree, everyone ought to know about Miss Donn T.

The sister of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (The Roots famous drummer/ front man), she has shared the stage with notable artists including, but not limited to, Nelly Furtado, Jill Scott and John Legend. She is also about to release her debut album “Donn T/ Kaleidoscopic”, which will showcase a fusion of musical styles.

In her words, "Authenticity always wins." Here is the truth and nothing but...

Photo: Sidney Etienne

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who is Donn T.?
I'm a vocalist and songwriter with beaucoup eclectic bent!! If I were a geometric figure, I'd have a lot of sides but, they're none congruent. Measurable, colorful yeah. but, my angles have never made it easy to fit. Musically, I embrace it. Philly is where I grew up, so it's home. Tho' at present I'm bi-coastal, spending 1/2 time in LA , 1/2 time in Philly. I've been working in the music industry for a few years and most recently behind the scenes licensing music to tv and film. I'm an artist who loves being behind the mic, as much as I love doing spot music for scenes. A performer who gets as big a rush out of performing as I do from writing for other artists which I've also done. I'm aware that some artists come into the game having been songwriters behind the scenes and dismiss that element once they reach their goal. For me, it's 'all' the goal.

What projects are you working on now?
My debut album Donn T "Kaleidoscopic" is my primary project at the moment. It comes out this Spring. Rehearsing the band, doing shows, tour planning, press and promo, it has my full attention. Indie artists, we hustle hard!!

"Kaleidoscopic" has a broad spectrum of styles. It's the album that fits me, in this moment in time. The making of the album was pretty interesting, too. I'd just returned to my hometown Philly when I was introduced to London based French DJ/Producer Simbad on a fluke. 8 days later the album was written, recorded and mixed. A very intense experience. Still, with each song the album really formed itself. Definitely look for the single and for some very dope remixes. But, I can't let the cat out of the bag just yet. @:)

How would you define your style?
Having spent time in London recently, I'm diggin' London street fashion right now. Whatevah's on the fringe! A little color, clever combinations. I'll rock tiny velvet jackets with pencil pants and a tee + stilletoes w/ socks. sometimes, i sport a baby-doll fitted dress in a bold color or fabric with muted tights and heels. if it works I'll throw on a pair of knee highs for layers. There's 2ft of snow outside my door at this very moment so, warmth is key. My hair is doing this rock-afrilly/punk thing. I could have a beehive tomorrow, it just changes. my hair is never a serious statement. Mostly, it's in charge, I just do what it wants.

What's playing in your ipod these days?
Okay, these just came up random today while I'm interviewing: Nneka "Heartbeat", Beach House "Zebra", Maxwell's "Bad Habits" + "Cold", Quadron "Average Fruit", Silhouette Brown featuring Lady Alma "Leave a Note", Donovan's 'Get Thy Bearings". A hodge podge but, that's some of what's on in the background now. Oh, and before I'm done the interview, Fela Kuti's The Anthology will rotate in. These days my Fela CD's are my guilty pleasure. Recently, I saw Fela! The Musical on Broadway. Okay to be real, it opened on Broadway (NY) late Nov 2009. I'm on my 4th time seeing it. Quite an innovative approach to Broadway, my opinion. Basically, if you hate musicals — you'll love Fela! If you love musicals... you'll love Fela! Antibalas is the house band and they kill it every night. That said, a week doesn't go by that I'm not listening to something Fela.

What did you want to be or do growing up?
An architect, as a kid. I was six. For awhile I just liked the way that word sounded. But, as soon as I could write anything, I wanted to be a writer and I found music compelling. The home I grew up in was pretty creatively charged. I grew up in a musical family. Music was either being written, rehearsed or played - all day long, everyday. As a kid, I thought everybody's house was like that. My dad, an artist on Chess Records - and my mom, a singer and tap dancer who studied with dance legends The Four Step brothers and Charles "Honey" Cole, stacked the family music library with everything from soul to classical. My early eclectic musical influences, are what most inform my approach to music today. Much of the music from that library continues to resonate with me as the single greatest influence in my life. My album "Kaleidoscopic" takes it's cue from there.

Describe your creative process, what inspires you?
My creative process is varied. Sometimes, the way a song comes about is, I'm the only one in the room. I hear the lyric and melody all at once, it's just there. Sometimes, another person musician or producer is playing something and I can hear where I fit. Sometimes, I have a very narrow space in which to create in, another artist is certain they wanna say a particular word 'here' or 'there' and they have a piece of a melody and, I have to fill in the blanks. Sometimes, it's like figuring a puzzle. I have written in virtually every situation. With "Kaleidoscopic" though, it was the most mutual experience I've ever had. Simbad and I were like one mind. Regarding inspiration? I'm always inspired. Life inspires me from every angle... from whatever's bright to whatever's shade.

What is your personal philosophy?
Authenticity always wins. I strive to be my truest self as a artist and as a person. Sometimes, it's risky being authentic (so add to that be fearless) that's my life potion. Inspiring a bit more authenticity in the world thru my music, is what I strive for.

What can we wish you for 2010?
I'm hoping for a successful first release for Donn T "Kaleidoscopic" this Spring! (And Wow, is Santa in the midst?!) You can wish me a pair of those sparkly silver boxing mittens that appeared on tam+sam last month! *giggles @:)


We are wishing her much success on her upcoming album "Kaleidoscopic" and we don't know about those gloves but we are on the look out! : )

Stay tuned in...

DONN T'S WEBSITE

FAN PAGE

FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER

RE-CYCLE

Maroussia Rebecq and Andrea Crews clearly knows what it means to RECYCLE. We love what the Paris-based creative team did with these vintage pieces. Eco-Chic!
Buy them here.

For Future Revolutionaries

"The name thenublack comes from the idea that my generation and those born to parents of Black origin have had path paved for them by their parents and ancestors. Although we weren’t around when the MLK’s, Malcolm X’s and other well known Black figures were around – I’d like to think that we’re aspring to be equally as great, as revolutionary and box-breaking as they were." - nublack


Original + Creative

Trendy Tracy

Slip into something comfortable while still looking good.

Tracy Reese: Spring + Summer 2010

Author, Storyteller + Spoken Word Artist: Itah Sadu

Itah is a Canadian award winning storyteller, bestselling children’s author, mother, community developer and the co-owner of A Different Booklist bookstore in Toronto, Canada.

This Barbados-raised Canadian, creates rich works centred on Caribbean heritage, African customs and North American traditions.

One of my childhood favs is Christopher, Please Clean Up your Room. It was later turned into a film in association with The National Film Board of Canada (NFB). Her other best-selling children’s books include Name Calling, How The Coconut Got Its Face, Christopher Changes His Name and A Touch of the Zebra.
Get yours here.


For all Montrealers, you also catch her at Black History Month's The Black Word. She will be reading from her new book, Mathieu Da Costa: First to Arrive.

Easy Conversation: Vashtie Kola

Vashtie Kola does it all! One of NYC promising music videos director, the 20 something Downtown Sweetheart also designs clothes and she knows how to throw a dope party. In other words, everything she touches turns to gold.

We had a little chat with Miss Kola and it went a little something like this...

Can you please introduce yourself who is Va$htie Kola?
I am the immigrant parents dream, the underdog who forced her way in. I am an artist, director, designer, creative consultant, party producer. I make things.

Growing up what did you want to be?
That ranged quite frequently. As a child I believe I wanted to be a veterinarian because

I loved animals. When I was in middle school, I wanted to be a car mechanic because my father was one and I spent a lot of time working on cars. In junior high I wanted to be a pediatrician until I volunteered at a hospital for a summer and couldn't bear to see people in pain. In the beginning of high school I went back and forth between fashion designer, tattoo artist and film maker. I decided to study film because I felt my impact as an artist would reach a greater audience that way.

How different is your creative process when you're working on a video, designing clothes or promoting a party?
It all starts very solitary, with me coming up with ideas and starting from there. In that sense they are the same, but, after that they are very different. Working on a video is always a team effort, there are many cooks in the kitchen. Designing for now is still solitary, and I get to call all the shots because I fund and run my brand. Parties are again, a team effort; however, the gratification is almost always instant when you are at a party and can see the results of your work having a great time!

Who are some of the artists whose work you admire?
Caravaggio, Egon Schiele, Frida Kahlo, Immogen Cunningham, Bruce Davidson, Richard Prince, Jackson Pollack, Elle Von Unwerth...too many to name!

Any directors?
Bertolucci, Fellini, Spielberg, Diane Martel, Anthony Mandler, Chris Cunningham, Mark Romanek, Spike Jonze,

Your clothing line Violette is street-wear but with twist , where do you want to take it?
I hope to see it mirror brands like CHLOE or ALEXANDER WANG with pieces that range from street casual to runway glamour. The Violette girl is multi-faceted...

What are some the projects you're working on?
Upcoming seasons of Violette, my Birthday Party in April, Collaborating on a T-Shirt with Theophilus London, just shot a video for Jaheim and Jadakiss, creative consulting for other brands, making viral content for sites, overall just getting in touch with my own creative roots and making things for fun again. I aim to create a video piece monthly, I just shot a video for Curt@!n$.

What's playing on your Ipod these days?

Theophilus London,

Amanda Blank

Lissy Trullie

Major Lazer

Depeche Mode

The Smiths,

Drake

Deee Lite

She blogs... and she tweets now

Ladies Do It Best

You can call it "ladies do it best" week on t+s. Until next Tuesday, we will be featuring individuals whose creativity and talent have made them excel in their art. Whether it is through words, images, music or a spray can, these ladies rock!

Observe, create and inspire.