iBlart - a blog of art by Thomas Drake Steffens: 2009

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

EmeROAR Fabulous!!! on "America's Got Talent" 06/23/2009

David Moggia, AKA "EmpeROAR Fabulous!!!" will be appearing on NBC's "America's Got Talent" at 9pm tonight (June 23rd) - he and I went to Cornish College together and I've helped out with some of his posters promoting his boylesque performances in the past few months. Here's the most recent one:

So, help me wish him luck on his performance tonight!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Tulips, Hearts and Swans...

Seattle is known for it's music, rain, and coffee - while I think the music scene is pretty stale around here lately; and we're also having some sort of drought (no rain since May 19th); so I'm proud the coffee scene is still kicking ass, and to be a part of the caffeine cartel that seems to keep this city aloft of the crushing grind of reality.

Plus, it lets me make the world a little more beautiful each day...

Quaff these photos of some latte art of mine while you sip on something tasty; listening to whatever indie-rock, post-punk, garage, experimental, electronica what-have-you for what's being passed off as "music" these days; and stay dry...

This is one of my first real good pours from about 4 or 5 years ago while I worked at Caffe Zingaro in lower Queen Anne neighborhood. 12oz - Vertex cup

This is a cellphone photo of a 10oz latte when I worked at 7 Roasters in Greenwood; they have since closed their doors.

This is a fun little cappuccino that I did for Trabant Coffee and Chai (my current employer) some layering with to create a "tulip" effect. 8oz Bodum cup.

This is the photo I took as reference imagery for a digital piece that I created a few months ago for Trabant. 12oz quad-shot Bodum mug.

This is one of my first "swimming swans" - as far as I know, no one else makes these with the "waves" below the swan; but there are some amazing latte artists out there, so who knows what some creative and talented barista will come up with next?
12oz Vertex mug

Another 12oz Vertex swan, this is one of my all time favorites.

This image was taken by a professional photographer whom was shooting my swans for use on a pamphlet advertising Seattle By Foot tours, there is a coffee tour a pub crawl, and something else that has to do with sports...

Me, making a funny face with a little 4oz macchiato that I did not long ago.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

iPhone app: OilCanvas

Here's a cute self-portrait that my girlfriend took while we were at a sci-fi convention on Easter Weekend, rendered in the app OilCanvas for the iPhone.

It's not perfect: you'll notice the edges appear a little like an old T.V. blurring out the last inch of viewing - but on a monitor this is a fantastic application for the iPhone that allows you create a piece of art at the flick of the index finger - the multiple brush sizes allow you to create a depth of field by simulating the illusion of texture. My tip would be to follow the contours of the image you start with (close-ups, good contrast work best) - so you would trace back and forth in arcs and curves as you would if you were actually painting the subject - a great application for a great phone that lets you waste a little bit of time by actually flexing your frontal cortex.

Here's another cute picture that translated into a great little digital "painting".

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Coffee Illuminati

The Latin roughly reads "Holy Coffee" - but I just thought the Illuminati design and symbolism lends toward coffee culture.
The weird black boxy thing on the lower left is a Clover Brew machine, the "magnifying glass" thing to the right of the mug is a naked portafilter, the star above and to the right of the eye is an espresso grinder's burrs, and the pyramid is the shape which keeps our coffee fresher, for longer!
Just kidding about the pyramid... or am I?

Pastel on chalkboard, roughly 1'10" x 2'4". Taken with the iPhone - not the greatest of shots, granted - but the color is nice.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Some other stuff, for looks and not for-sale.

Chalkboard Art for Trabant! Coffee & Chai

"Cupped Hands" - digital piece for Trabant! Coffee & Chai
original latte art pour by myself, rendered in Illustrator

NOSO Badge design for "Old School Oly XIII" - Feb 24, 2007 - digital treatment to original religious art, re-rendered with event specific text in pen and ink.

OSO Badge design for "Old School Oly XIII" - Feb 24, 2007 - digital treatment to original religious art, re-rendered with event specific text in pen and ink.