LAB Magazine: Amplifying amazing artists from around the globe.

LAB is an arts journal that features visual artists and media makers. LAB‘s core intention: to amplify the work of amazing artists around the world.All articles can be browsed online. Readers can rate articles, leave comments, or follow links to resources. http://lab-zine.com/about/

Google Unveils Doodle to Celebrate Maurice Sendak's Birthday (Video)

 The 10th of June 2013 would have been illustrator and children’s book author Maurice Sendak's 85th birthday. Google unveiled a doodle that celebrates the occasion. It appeared in New Zealand before it was shown in the U.S.
The doodle starts with the familiar hero Max sailing to the land of Where the Wild Things Are. Then the doodle transforms into the scene of In the Night Kitchen. It concludes with the birthday celebration from Bumble-Ardy. Sendak died in 2012 from complications after suffering from a stroke. His final book, My Brother's Book, was published posthumously.

“It’s the only true happiness I’ve ever, ever enjoyed in my life,” Sendak said about making books in his 2009 HBO documentary Tell Them Anything You Want. “It’s sublime to just go into another room and make pictures. It’s magic time where all your weaknesses of character, and all blemishes of personality, and whatever else torments you fades away, just doesn’t matter.”
http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/06/google-doodle-maurice-sendak-birthday-video

Wayne White incorporates type into old paintings

Wayne White is an American artist who takes old painting he has found at thrift stores, and incorporates type into the image. Sounds easy, but much of the text looks like its just sprang up from the landscape, featuring the same shadows and colour schemes as the background. He also drops cultural observations like "Are You a Boy Or A Girl" and "Beauty is Embarrassin'!"

http://www.lifelounge.com.au/art-and-design/news/wayne-white-incorporates-type-into-old-paintings.aspxhttp://www.lifelounge.com.au/art-and-design/news/wayne-white-incorporates-type-into-old-paintings.aspx

Cartoonist Lynda Barry Helps College Students Tap Innate Creativity

Like most of her work, cartoonist Lynda Barry's class at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, is unorthodox. "No artistic talent required," The course is described as a "writing and picture-making class with focus on the basic physical structure of the brain."

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/29/187079888/looking-ahead-to-the-future-of-cartoons-and-creativity

'Nanogardens' Sprout Up On The Surface Of A Penny

April showers bring May flowers. But in this case, the blossoms are too small for even a bumblebee to see.

Engineers at Harvard University have figured out a way to make microscopic sculptures of roses, tulips and violets, each smaller than a strand of hair. http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2013/05/20/185509508/nanogardens-sprout-up-on-the-surface-of-a-penny

Digital Arts

The Digital Arts website was designed to offer "inspiration for digital creative." It does a fairly standup job of that, offering news updates, tutorials, reviews, features, portfolios, and information about upcoming competitions that will be of interest to those working in a range of industries. First-time visitors would do well to look at the Short Cuts area to learn about new design websites, watch artists work on compelling large format projects, and pick up scuttlebutt from experts in their fields. Moving on, the Tutorials area offers helpful guides such as "How to stop photo noise," "Add texture to retro styled artworks," and "Create X-ray vector art." Finally, the Guides area contains helpful overviews of key fields and programs like Adobe Creative Suite 6, animation, graphic design, and interactive design. 

http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/

Tendrils of the Artist’s Essence

“Fine Lines,” an exhibition of American drawings at the Brooklyn Museum, offers a startling array of works from the institution’s collection.

View slide show:  http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/04/19/arts/design/20130419-LINE.html