Miami Ink tattoo guru Ami James is back, this time taking New York City by storm with a brand new crew. His dreamteam turns out some amazing work at the Wooster Street Social Club, including Tim and Tommy who bust out some spectacular master portraits. Several episodes of NY Ink have already aired on TLC, following their strong case to have tattoos appreciated as a higher art form. Of course all of the shop tears and drama are thrown in, which gets too be a little much at times, but some of the stuff these guys can do with ink and skin makes it worthwhile to check out!
Take a Tour of NY Ink with Ami

Sometimes extraordinary people serve as inspiration for art and design. In this case, a magazine photospread, inspired by a group of people who's dedication to fitness and well-being is its own tale of triumph.

For the photoshoot each person was not available at the same time, so they were shot separately (by Stephen Dominick) and pieced together afterwards by me. Strong rim lighting against a black backdrop was used to give it that determined hero vibe. Afterwards, further dramatic lighting affects were added in photoshop, along with the background atmosphere.

I just got finished reading a real eye-opening book on the search for authenticity. The Authenticity Hoax, by Andrew Potter explores the concept of society's modern search for a truly authentic way of living. It's conclusion: if something is marketed as authentic, or you have to say it...it isn't. Through delving into topics such as tourism, politics, consumerism and philosophy, Potter exposes the search for the authentic as nothing more than exclusionary status seeking. It really caused me to stop and reconsider exactly why I make some of the choices I do, and if it is for the right reasons or not.

Of particular interest is the chapter that explores authenticity in art. For example, if after visiting an art gallery with some famous works, you found out that one was a forgery, it would be natural to feel cheated. Despite the fact the forgery was indistinguishable to you from the real thing visually, a painting's perceived value is that it holds with it a certain spirit of the moment, that doesn't exist in the fake. The chapter goes into detail about how the best art authenticators in the world mostly really on an overall sense, or gut feeling from a painting, as opposed to signature or lab analysis tests.

Another interesting theoretical question is the status of a piece if it has been remade based on an original. In the 90's, British shock artist Damien Hirst sold a work featuring a giant tiger shark in a case, pickled in formaldehyde. The tank had not been properly sealed and a decade later when the owner resold the piece, Hirst offered to recreate it and properly seal it this time. So the question remains, especially if the original was not destroyed...which one one is the real "Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" and which one is the fake.

Whenever the really hot summer weather in Ontario hits, and the humidty has you practically drinking your own sweat, it brings to mind tropical climates which deal with the relentless humidity year round.
 But then, at least they get crazy ten minute rains several times a day to break up the heat and nice oceans to swim in aren't bad either. Here's a quick sketch of a typical Cuban farm house which, frightening to many, doesn't even have air conditioning.