Ladies and gentleman, I’ve come to a stark realization at 3:26PM. Today, I’ve realized that text messages are played out. They’re boring. They’re impersonal. They’re generic. Anyone can push some buttons with their thumbs. But who can show you the world through their eyes? It’s a little more work, but if you mean it then it’s worth it. It’s as simple as that. We all send and receive boring ass text messages everyday, me included. The “What you doing tonight,” the “What’s Good,” and the infamous two letter, “OK” response. This technology is great and all but let’s not forget that we’re humans. We’ve got emotions to share and love to give. So let me raise the bar one time. Get with the picture message. It’s ten times flyer, and the girls will like it more.
Some artists show you beautiful things, and others show you things that are truly ugly. Some take you places you never want to leave, and others show you places you wish you never saw. Before his tragic and untimely passing via heroin overdose last year, Dash Snow could do all of the above, sometimes all in the same image. After running away from home at 13, Dash started his photography career to document places he saw, that he might not remember in the morning. Running the gamut anywhere from hilarious to outta pocket to downright nasty, his work is some of the most inspiring art I can remember seeing. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Let’s not play ourselves. Slaps like this are important. Our generation doesn’t really have a Teddy P (RIP) or a Prince, so sometimes cats like Luda and Trey need to come through with the baby-making music. Despite the recent wave of flop decisions on Mr. Bridges’ part (a handful of weak singles, the Justin Beiber feature and one seriously hurt album cover), this joint caught my attention. Props to the big homie Sam, who’s been keeping me thoroughly entertained with the slaps and outta pocket shit of late. Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, Trey’s been killin it for a while now. If this doesn’t hit the radio, it’d be a damn shame.
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So I was sitting in the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The fact that this is one of my favorite cars –why, I have no real idea– has nothing to do with anything. What also has nothing to do with anything is that the owner of the car, my girlfriend, likes the older, squared models better. I detest them; these differences are further away from anything relevant than I thought, but they are funny because she drives a car I love but likes the older models WAY better, go figure. Honestly, the shit I am about to recap is so fucking funny that I have to delay. If you would have seen the look on this Shih-Tzu’s smug little face you would have felt as the title presumes I did. Yes, presumes. I mean I felt, and still do feel, as though my soul was taken but I won’t know ’til Judgment Day. So…we planned to have sex in the backseat of the Jeep to make an episode.
Last year, Damiani Books released HP, an anthology of legendary photographer Harri Peccinotti’s work. As one of the first few photographers to shoot the prestigious Pirelli Calendar, Peccinotti was one of the most forward-thinking photographers of the late ’60s and early ’70s. His work is directly, almost confrontationally sexual, with a strong female presence and a keen eye for aesthetics. Remind you of anyone? In this interview from Vice, Harri discusses his career, his creative process and why he’s not trippin off girls that aren’t “perfect”. Check out the book here, and more of his work below.
“Watch out here comes that playboy
Watch out here comes that playboy”
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“The difference between sex and love? I would say sex is an art form. Love is the caring for the person that you’re performing the art with. How’s that?”
When we throw up out of pocket shit I feel like it’s necessary to explain why we choose to present it. These photos are from a campaign Terry did for Purple Fashion Magazine. I’m fascinated by Terry Richardson because of his ability to portray raw emotions through a picture. Personally, when I’m shocked by something I pay that much more attention to it. Why was something done this way, and not another, and what was the motive behind it? With damn near every picture, Terry Richardson challenges our societal beliefs about what’s appropriate. Should we not show women’s titties because they’re bigger and rounder than male’s titties? I mean come on, shit’s really silly sometimes. Regardless, this is Terry Richardson. He gets the most bloggy love because he simply goes the hardest…
Would you believe me if I told you each of these drawings was done by ballpoint pen? The detail Spanish artist Juan Francisco Casas puts into each of his sexually charged works makes it seem almost impossible, but apparently it’s true. When considering how realistically he renders light, texture and motion, it makes the work that much more impressive. Remember: with pens, mistakes are final. This is the kind of thing you can’t help but be inspired by. If Juan can make something so perfect with just a pen, there’s no telling what you or I could create using a paintbrush, a trumpet or even our own two hands. Sky’s the limit I suppose. Check out Casas’ work below, or by clicking here to go to his gallery.
Greg Williams is one of those photographers that has added to the definition of glamour over the years. Shooting models and celebrities from various walks of life his name has become synonymous with splendor. Lending his talents to various commercials and campaigns such as Agent Provocateur and Esquire, Greg Williams works can capture the essence of a distant time or place. Reflections of the moments as they were lived back then.
“You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She’s not perfect – you aren’t either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break – her heart. So don’t hurt her, don’t change her, don’t analyze and don’t expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she’s not there.”
More work from our favorite photographer of the moment. In a campaign for Vogue Homme International, Terry Richardson goes in again, and comes out with some iconic photography for a spread entitled Autoportraits. You wouldn’t know it off top, but these photos are actually advertisements for a watch brand, featured on the wrist of Richardson. It’s crazy. His photography is so fuckin simple, but allows for so many interpretations. He photographs shit you wouldn’t choose to see. But 7 times out of 10 you’re better for seeing it. Suggestive but appropriate.
How’d the double standard become so real? I can only imagine the pain you feel. It’s like you gotta live on eggshells. When you just wanna have fun. That’s what Cindy said. But you have to choose wisely. And I’m sorry. When I can do you and you, and all it does is make me cool. But not for you. But not for you. You kiss me, you kiss him, and you become one of them. A false label, but one that burns. Don’t you hope the tables turn? I can’t front, I’m guilty too. But I do recognize. There are worse things you can do.
You gotta peep this. I’m slowly realizing the potential of art. It can do so much. Alter the way we’re thinking or feeling, and at best compel action or conversation. It’s the shocking shit that’s the best. Sometimes art can be like walking in on your parents. Jarring, but another part of life. This is strange but cool. Justine Lai is a San Francisco artist who has created oil paintings of herself knockin boots with the Presidents.
Love is a crazy thing. It’ll grip you and make you do the most irrational shit ever. Can’t even describe. But it’s a cool thing that means something different to everyone. We base it a lot off of what we see. On some You’ve Got Mail, Notebook type shit. We see that, and we’re like this is how love should be enacted. But who knows what it really means. It’s just a word. But I’m gonna start writing about love more because it’s real and I feel it. I’ma leave this up for the day.
