Creative Café #21 ★

so today i thought it was time for another groovy Creative Café post, so... you know what to do!

get some tea/coffee/cocoa, and some cake/biscuits/sweets, get comfy and prepare to see some very lovely artwork!

i'm kind of excited about this post because it features one of my favourite digital illustrators and artists, so without any further ado, let's get on with it because today it's all about the very awesome and truly fabulous Kei Phillips aka Kinkei

Kei is a British 2D/digital Illustrator, animator and character designer. i first discovered her work about 4 years ago, during my first year at College. my graphics tutor told me to research some digital illustrators and i found her work on deviantART, i've adored it ever since and have to admit that i've gotten a lot of inspiration from her work over the years.

she creates the most gorgeous characters, they're often very girly and cute with brilliant expressions and little details. Her pinups are particularly wonderful, each one has it's own personality and individual look. she also draws her girls in all shapes and sizes which makes them especially fabulous! but regardless of their theme they always look amazing. 

i've always been a fan of characters like Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit but i think it was Kei's gorgeous pinup girls that first inspired me to have a go at drawing some pinups of my own. i just love the way she captures their characteristics, with a saucy wink or sultry pout, her style of drawing and colouring is just so brilliant.

as if she wasn't amazing enough already, Kei is also a really talented animator. check out one of her showreels here... 

pretty super duper right! of course it is! anyway, now it's time for you the have a nice scroll through some of Kei's stuff, take your time and enjoy... because trust me, you will LOVE her stuff!

utterly fabulous! ok it's links time now...

to see even more of Kei's wonderful artwork, be sure to visit her deviantART page here - Kinkei

she also has a blog chock full of lovely sketches and digital pieces - Keiframes

+ to see more of her animation work, visit her youtube stream - Kinkei Animation

you can 'Like' her artwork on Facebook - Kei Phillips

and 'follow' her on Twitter - @kinkei

all that's left for me to do now is to say a mahoooosive THANK YOU to Kei for saying yes about the feature and for being such a fabby-dabby artist in the first place! thanks :)

All images featured in this post belong to Kei Phillips © do not claim, use, distribute, reproduce or trace ANY of her work without her express written consent. All Rights Reserved.

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so another week has started, and we're another week closer to Xmas 2011 (yay!) i've STILL not started my xmas gift shopping since i've been so busy with commissions and college stuff! 

speaking of stuff like that, i've got a few pieces of artwork in a groovy group exhibition at a local gallery over Xmas.  some framed digital prints + some painted canvases.

so if any of you local Manxies fancy seeing artwork from some of the islands best artists (i do NOT mean me... i mean the professional artists!)  then get yourselves to Tynwald Mills and go visit the old courtyard gallery. 

the preview night is tomorrow from 6pm and i think it opens to the public properly on Thursday, but if you can't make it tomorrow, don't worry because it'll be running right through December!

and on that note, i shall dash off and make some tea

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Fashion Post - Mad Men ★

so if you've followed this blog for a while, you might have realised by now that i'm quite a big fan of vintage and retro fashion, particularly fashion from the 50's-60's!

you might also remember that i've mentioned what a BIG fan i am of the show 'Mad Men'

now if you've never seen the show, basically it's set in the 1960s, at a fictional advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City. 

it focuses on the character Don Draper (the creative director at the ad agency) as well as those in his life, both in and out of the office including his friends, family and work colleagues. 

The show follows the public and private lives of these characters and since it's set in the 60's, their wardrobes are just incredible, resulting in what is, quite possibly, the best dressed cast on TV!

the actors and actresses are always dressed to perfection in the most glorious outfits, dresses and suits! and although the story-lines are fantastic, if i'm honest i mostly just watch it for the clothes!!!

and although the guys always look verrry dapper in their suits, i'm not gonna lie, i watch it for the girl's wardrobes more than anything else!!! they always all look so fabulous!

another brilliant thing about the show is that it's not filled with generic style actresses, there are all sorts of wonderful women of all shapes and sizes. The 50's and 60's were a time of curves after all so it's only appropriate that the show's casting should follow accordingly...

right well... it's been a while since i did a fashion based post so today i thought i might post some photos of the gorrrrgeous Banana Republic 'Mad Men' inspired collection designed by Mad Men's fabulous costume designer extraordinaire Janie Bryant

as you can see, the clothes in the collection are just exquisite! ladylike dresses and separates + perfect accessories and shoes! it's all very VERY 'Mad Men' for sure!!!

so SOOO gorgeous! they all look like they've just stepped out of the Mad Men offices of 'Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce' 

and unsurprisingly i want just about EVERY dress from the collection! 

but hey, it's not just the women's stuff that's beautiful, the men's collection is just as divine!!!

my my, any fella in a Mad Men suit like that is sure to set hearts racing! i mean, why can't ALL guys dress like that nowadays!!!

anyway, moving on... quickly, before i start to drool over the beautiful girly dresses (and the guys!!!)

the collection is available for a limited time only and can be found in Banana Republic shops or alternatively, bought via the Banana Republic website.

you can shop the collection here - Mad Men Collection

there's also a whole bunch of accompanying accessories like handbags, shoes, hats, scarves, necklaces and sunglasses

now in all honesty, i would give just about anything to own a full 'Mad Men' inspired outfit from the collection, the only problem is... i don't know how i'd ever manage to pick just ONE dress!!!

(All images sourced from Banana Republic and AMC 

therefore all Copyright © belongs to them accordingly)

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not much else to report on tonight, there'll probably be a new Creative Café post tomorrow night so look out for that

and until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX