When I first met Rachel Simone Weil years ago, we chatted about educational writing over lunch, talking little of our creative pursuits. As the years passed, I saw this talented artist, video game developer and design historian amass an amazing portfolio of work. Not to mention, she operates FEMICOM Museum, a celebration of femininity in the realms of 20th century video games, computing and electronic toys. When we caught up again earlier this summer, I couldn’t wait to ask her about her creative projects, as well as our shared love of ’80s design…
Favorite Pins: Pastels
You may have noticed that pastels are kind of a thing these days, especially in the worlds of art and design! But this time around it’s not about frills. A perfect combination of candy colors and modern style has emerged. Many a Pinterest enthusiast has a board dedicated to soft hues, and today I’m sharing a few of my favorite pastel pins…
’80s Art Picks: Fashion Posters
In today’s edition of ’80s Art Picks, we take a look at 6 retro-fabulous fashion posters currently for sale through eBay and Etsy. From Nagel-esque creations to the work of artist and advertising illustrator Michel Canetti, the selections below showcase both firm lines and fluid strokes. Enjoy…
Still Life Style: Colorful Objects
Today Mirror80 presents a special edition of Still Life Style, highlighting a collection of simple colorful objects that create still life magic when combined. In my living room, I keep an IKEA glass display case that serves as a canvas for my rotating installation of still life vignettes. I’m a big fan of simple, easy-to-find materials, as well as vibrant colors such as blue, red and yellow. Below you’ll find a few snapshots of my favorite objects and combinations…
Still Life Style: Summer Breeze
For today’s edition of Still Life Style, we’re celebrating all things summer. Many of today’s most vibrant still life photographs feature refreshing motifs, from tropical greenery and blue water to pineapples and other sweet treats. Like the striking photo above from the Powder Paint Plants series by Victoria Ling, the images that follow just might lower your blood pressure and put you in a summer state of mind…
Decadent Pastels
This week at Mirror80, it’s all about the pastels. Rather than using a modern minimalist approach, we’re taking things in a decadent direction. From a post dedicated to the pink and purple Deco-modern interiors of the 1982 film Tootsie to an original photo shoot featuring a variety of 1980s ceramics, this week’s posts will offer a richly layered approach to pastel design. Today we’ve put together a sneak peek of things to come, as well as pulled images from past Mirror80 posts that celebrate the style at hand. Read on for details…
Pattern Play: Dark Outlines
Today we launch a new series called Pattern Play. Similar to our Still Life Style series, Pattern Play will take a look at top trends in patterns. If you haven’t yet noticed that patterns are having a moment, just head on over to Pinterest. Or Tumblr. Or Society6! Whether you’re looking for artwork to display on the wall or you need desktop wallpaper for your laptop, there’s a LOT to choose from. Today we focus on dark outlines…
Retro-Modern Roundup: Colors and Forms
For today’s edition of Retro-Modern Roundup, we’re taking a look at new designs that channel Memphis style. Vivid colors and bold forms dominate the images above, and the styling is so fabulous, the featured items look good enough to eat! Read on for links and details…
Still Life Style: Color Blocking
In today’s edition of Still Life Style, we take a look at what’s going on behind the action. More often than not, still life backgrounds seem to involve some sort of color blocking, like the image above from Wessel Baarda. We’ve definitely seen a lot of this diagonal/geo color blocking in home decor and DIY projects as well. If you’re interested in how to celebrate color blocking in the realm of interior design, check out this recent post I wrote for Decoist. For this post, however, we’re keeping our feet firmly planted in still life territory. Let’s take a look at some vibrant photographs, shall we?…
’80s Patterns and Prints
There’s no denying that patterns have made a comeback. Designers and illustrators are creating some amazing patterns and prints for textiles, wall art and more (and don’t get me started on the pattern phenomenon on Pinterest)! In light of recent developments, I thought I’d take another look at one of my favorite books: 1980s Fashion Print by Marnie Fogg. Here are a few patterns that seem as relevant today as they did back in the ’80s!…
