Totally excited to see one of my May ’68 inspired shirts for sale at Colette in Paris.

COLETTE! I’ve been wanting this to happen for ages.

http://www.colette.fr/#/eshop/article/29319742/blood-is-the-new-black-t-shirt-turn-on-by-keren-richter-man/120/

A few weeks ago I went to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and LA for James’ birthday. He had been dying to go to the desert since we first met and I can now see why. A bagillion amazing photos, great weather, prop sourcing for a Virgin Suicides themed shoot, and a fantastic stay at the Ace Hotel followed. There is a healthy dose of photos from our trip on his blog, but I’m just going to post the pictures of me. This is my blog and I can do what I want!!

See more here: http://www.jamesryang.com/blog/

Two fridays ago Ami invited James and me to join Coolhunting on a sailing trip around the city. I’d never been on a sailboat before, nor had I ever seen Manhattan from the water. It was spectacular. Perfect weather, setting sail at sunset, free champagne and a Pimms Cup or two. Fancy times.
James took all these photos. You can see more here.

James has been posting some amazing photos from our epic trip. He turned 30 and I turned 28 and we found cheap tickets and our excuse to get out of New York. In two weeks we managed to cover major cities and the Greek Islands. We traveled to Rome, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Milan, Florence, and Venice in that order. Even though at times it was a whirlwind it managed to be relaxing.

Perfect weather. Delicious pizza, pasta, and cheeses. Gelato every day. Fantastic Leather bags and gladiator sandals. Donkeys and cute stray cats. Electric blue and bleached white architecture. Teeny tiny cars driven by insane Greek drivers. I’m normally not a sun worshiper, but it was so spectacular I made an exception.

Here are some of my favorite photos James shot. You can see more on his blog.

These photos, shot by James, are from the second of my three tour events. Instead of posting up at Nordstroms along the West Coast (like June’s events) these were at various Vans stores. Way cooler kids, way cooler environment, way cooler soundtrack.

This painting was created by drawing the graphic on one side and painting on the reverse. It’s a technique I don’t usually use (enamel, gouache, and silkscreen is my default). But it was a good solution for viewers; it’s more interesting than sitting at a table or seeing the backside of a slab of wood. I like the way it turned out, so I may use this technique more often.

Oh, and the paint is totally opaque when it’s against a wall or lit from the front. I couldn’t figure out a way to iron out that kink.

This just appeared in the new issue of Nylon

My sneak! Two pages. And my name isn’t teeny weeny itsy bitsy this time. yesssssssss

So, for the last week I’ve been on tour for Vans promoting my second signature sneaker.

I guess I should have announced it, but I was swamped before leaving! I spent the night before my flight whipping up a new piece to paint for each event. I ended up at events in Denver, San Francisco and Phoenix shilling my wares, painting inside each store window, signing things.

Halfway done with the piece already, Denver

Here’s the digital sketch I whipped up

The best part of the trip was going on road trip along PCH to Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur and a night on the beach in Santa Cruz. Hello! Epic. We took lots of photos and I’ll post them soon.

There are some really cool art projects on the horizon and things are all snowy and white in NYC which feels so bizarre because, literally, yesterday I was hanging out in 78 degree sunny Arizona.

Last night my friend and old studio mate, Rebecca Turbow, had her Fall 09 presentation. It was her biggest collection to date and the event was a total success, building on the momentum from last season’s Bowery Electric showing.

Usually I’m in the thick of all the preparations, the fittings, the drama; but now that I’ve moved out of our hectic studio, I got to experience everything like the rest of the audience. It was so nice to see her collection as a total surprise.

She’s showed a lot of party dresses in rich fabrics, grey and black (yessss!) blouses, wool coats and swingy capes, well-tailored slacks, menswear, and some interesting jewelry and distinctive hair accessories. Super wearable, very cute, I will own a few most definitely.

It all took place at the Moeller Snow gallery, on Bond street. Totally packed full of friends and really cute kids. Unfortunately my camera’s battery died, so I only have documentation by other people.

That is some epic chain headgear ala Yokoo. Although, I’m certain Rebecca has no clue who she is.

Unfortunately, the boys’ looks are lost over there in the corner

Oh, look who it is. That’s Andrew next to me, thinking, “halp! don’t do this to me!”

Dude. It was Packed the entire time! I am so proud.

First two photos from Best thing today, more photos here and others by Rachel

James took some photos of my place this afternoon. His photographs really put my previous attempts to shame, so even though this is a tad redundant, I’m posting them. Plus, we finally bought some plants and a rug for the bedroom. Looks much more… healthy with some green.

I used some old rope to tie back my curtains. I like how they play against my straw hat.

In my last apartment all the picture frames were painted to match my bedroom’s super graphic stripe and filled with sixties photographs and advertisements. I am not sure if it’s laziness, but I like them “open.” You can call it “After Hang Up” by Eva Hesse.

The print is by Igor Pantuhoff. The little bowl I saved from Morocco.

The chalk portrait of the boy matches his sister. I found both upstate for a song. They remind me of Don and Betty’s kids in Mad Men. I have that show on the brain lately. Did you see Hamm on 30 Rock? “I want to go to there.” Best. Moment. Ever.

Oh, and this little owl is a 60′s transistor Radio. Very Clash of The Titans, no?

The pastel portrait we also found upstate. I wouldn’t have put him there, but he hides an ugly converter box. Theodore’s quite a patriot; enjoys staring at our flag all day.

My wall of necklaces. Having them displayed encourages me to change them up.
The dream catcher I don’t wear, but he’s cute.

My kitchen’s floors are all distressed, but I like that.
We use the magnetic letters to create impromptu menus when we have friends over.

Metal Peacock feathers, James’ copy of Nirvana’s Bleach

I never sit here and read, because mostly I just internet. 2009 goal: books.

more photos of my place on le blog de james.

My apartment projects never feel “done.” After all, I am still in need of a rug to cover the ugly gray carpet, a coat rack, curtains in the kitchen, and to wire the school house pendant lamp that hangs over the dining room table. My bed is on the floor all bohemian style. I like it but a headboard is probably in order.

You can’t tell what’s missing in these photos because I’m only showing you bits and pieces. And maybe you wouldn’t notice anyway.

What you can see however is the great plank floors, my metal peacock feathers, some of my CT and PA flea market finds, and the cheap couch I cleaned and repainted. Enjoy!

Greg at Mishka tipped me off (and then luckily loaned me his copy) of Gustav: Urban Influence. In this month’s issue they’ve written a feature about the Vans artist collaborations, and in particular about my work and first sneaker. Pretty sweet.

Taken at the Chanel Mobile Art exhibit in Central Park. Last day, minutes before it closed.

I’ve been a tad m.i.a. this week because I’ve been:
1. packing up my old apartment (it never ends)
2. painting the place (this took way longer than it should of)
3. finding a subleter
4. freelancing
5. getting yelled at multiple times by my new landlord
6. finishing my Fulbright application

The last one is a hoot because I had given up after someone at Konstfack said they didn’t want to offer a letter of affiliation. Still not quite sure why. So I didn’t meet my school’s deadline last week and figured that was that. But tonight they sent me an email imploring me to submit by the midnight deadline.

So much for having my parents and my editor friends look over my handy work and iron out the kinks. I literally whipped up an edit and submitted it with four minutes to spare. I figure I have nothing to lose at this point, and if I don’t get it… well, it was a last ditch effort to squeak by. Who knows!

Rebecca and I just had our photos taken for a Keystone Design Union NYC Creatives book. It’s supposedly an “immense book that aims to portray New York’s creative scene as a single, cohesive cultural force” featuring people like Au Revoir Simone, Mark Ronson, people like ALIFE, the Sartorialist, and I guess Rebecca and Me. Phil Knott said he’s been shooting several people a day for five weeks- definitely sounds huge.

I didn’t realize how much work trying to get a Fulbright is. Ok, I sorta knew. But it’s becoming a year long process complete with information sessions, pre-applications, regular applications, reviews, edits, slide making, recommendation asking, research, and letters of support from the proposed country. I’m worrying that, even though it’s due in October, I don’t have enough time.

James and I are taking a trip to Stockholm before the month’s over. I’m currently looking for cheap flights, hostels, places to visit, and hoping I can meet with some professors at Konstfack when we arrive.

During the research process I’ve come across some Swedish finds.

1. 1950′s art director and graphic designer Olle Eksell
2. Stig Lindberg. An illustrator and painter, he also worked in ceramics, glass, textile and industrial design.
3. Ylva Källström-Eklund
4. Staffan Wiren
5. The Swedish illustration agency Woo
6. The houseware, furniture, and textile store Hemmingson

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Some of these photos are from pikaland. More information on Eskell can be found at sfgirlbybay. And Wirén is via Klockarp’s Flickr and Grain Edit.

In September I’m hopefully moving out of Stuyvesant Town and into a pre-war apartment. I’ll sublet my brightly colored sixties bedroom so I don’t have to worry about my furniture and can start relatively fresh. I felt inspired by Todd Selby’s series of photographed interiors and figured I should document where I’ve been for the last few years before I leave it all behind.

This is me. 27. New APC dress. Lots of Golden acrylic paint. At Nordstroms, about to work on my huge plexi glass painting.

James took this in Mission Viejo on the second date of my “sneaker tour.” I have yellow paint on my nose, but I don’t know if you can tell.