Artist, Sculptor - Dale Mathis

Sculptor Dale Mathis creates amazing mixed media wall sculptures and functional art. Aesthetically stunning, masculine, and in your face; Dales creations demand attention while still being warm and abstract enough for anyone to enjoy.

The mechanical look makes each piece have an almost timeless feel like an old steam engine or factory. The look of raw material, exposed gears, and grunge meets modern style fits nicely with the trendy ideas of urban revitalization and repurposing of old factory spaces as modern loft residences.

Take a look at some of these examples of his work:

These imposing works(some weighing in excess of 80 pounds!) are life size not only in size but in emotional impact for the artist and the viewer.

You can check out more of Dales work at TheArtofDaleMathis.com

From the dig site to your living room. Fossilized Art.

Fossils are traditionally reserved for the realm of scientists, natural history museums and large dig sites in the middle of a sparsely populated area, yet now we can add to that list, home decoration.  Yes, a company called The Green River Stone Company has begun to produce and sell those fossilized wonders for interior design.  The company has produced individual fossil specimens, murals, and other products for a wide variety of clients, and adheres to the guidelines of the American Association of Paleontological Supplier Code of Ethics.

Now while this brings into question: is a fossilized fish art you should hang on your walls, use in your tile pattern or make into a table?  The concept of fish fossils as a centerpiece to hang above one’s fireplace is vast difference from the typical painting one expects in interior design. At this point, while the concept of fine art tends to be relegated to the world of paintings and sculpture in the typical home, a fossilized fish in limestone would create great conversation point for the room.

Going beyond the typical forms of art to the unexpected, as fossilized items are mostly consigned to historical or scientific study, the definition of what is considered art has moved from portraits on oil, to photographs, to images of soup cans to piles of candy arranged in a corner, to performance pieces: who is to say this cannot be considered a form of decorative art. While I do not consider this these items fine art, it is still a wonderful piece of décor for adding to the ambiance of a space.

Coffee Company Logo Design

Take a look at this great logo developed for a start up coffee grounds company.

Notice the subtle gradients that give the coffee beans and the logo as a whole depth and style. Obviously, the mountain and the coffee beans directly represent the company name. But it’s the additional design elements that make this logo great.  The shape, for example, is designed to mimic the cardboard cup holders that are given out at all coffee shops to keep you from burning your hands. The layers of the logo also help to draw your eye back to the company name and reinforce the size of the objects; small in the foreground to large in the background.

Also consider that this logo design is unique to the coffee industry, most coffee company logos have the same starbucks or grunge look and feel. Being different is a most helpful brand attribute in a crowded premium coffee market.