Julian Opie portraits

Julian Opie (born 1958) is a contemporary English artist. Julian Opie was born in London and raised in Oxford. He is a graduate of Goldsmiths College (1979-82) and achieved some early gallery success, which was an incentive for slightly younger artists in the same college, such as Damien Hirst to do likewise.
His highly stylised work, involves the reduction of photographs (or short films) into figurative reproductions (created using computer software). In his portraiture, the human face is characterised by black outlines with flat areas of colour, and minimalised detail, to the extent that an eye can become a just the black circle of the pupil, and sometimes a head is represented by a circle with a space where the neck would be. In this way, Julian Opie tries to present the complexities of the human form by reducing it to its mere basics.
I must say that on a more basic level his portraits of have always reminded me of Hergé’s Tintin cartoons! Hergé:




Opie:



Julian Opie's style was brought into the public eye when he was asked to design the cover for the British band, Blur's best of album. On the cover, the band members Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree and Damon Albarn are transformed into Opie's style. Here they are in that order:













Other portraits:











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BEST wedding video

Oh. Lordy. Max and Margaux's wedding video (by Shark Pig) is the most joyous and beautifully edited wedding video I've ever seen. My heart is all aflutter. Amazing. (Love the dancing feet!)

(Via Once Wed)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Have a happy weekend (+ Bachelorette finale on Monday!)

My sweets, what are your plans for the weekend? Alex and I are having a date night tomorrow and riding bikes to Brooklyn for Mexican food. I'm looking forward to being out in the world with my husband again...but know I'll be texting the babysitter every five minutes. :)

So, the Bachelorette finale is on Monday!!! I'd LOVE to have "live commenting" on Cup of Jo. I'll put up a post on Monday, and then we can all chat and gossip by commenting on the post throughout the show (8-10 EST). It'll be like watching the episode with fifty girl friends. :) Are you in? I'm so excited.

Meanwhile, here are a few great posts from around the web...

Cute ensemble, especially for a 16-year-old!

I do like to be beside the seaside.

Porter got me into wearing comfy moccasins, especially while traveling. I like these.

Ruler stairs.

What a fun jump print.

There's a Bachelor video game?

Random tip: I'm loving Benetint lip balm this summer. It gives you that perfect just-ate-a-popsicle look.

Chris Rock's documentary -- Good Hair -- looks awesome.

Plus, three Cup of Jo posts you may have missed:
* A thank-you note every day
* Audrey Hepburn's pet deer
* Yummy cupcakes

(Fiat photo by The Cherry Blossom Girl)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Friday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Postcards + Love, a fabulous California-based jewelry shop. One lucky winner will receive this delicate bird bracelet. It would remind you of chirping birds all day. :)

For a chance to win, please visit Postcards + Love and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random on Monday. Good luck!

Update: Whimsy Being is our winner. Thanks for playing. xoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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United States cheese boards

How cool are these United States cheese boards? (As a Michigan girl, I'm psyched that they made a separate piece for the Upper Peninsula!)

(Via I Heart You)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Toby's first giggle!

Toby giggled for the very first time yesterday! He was taking a bath, and I miraculously happened to be filming a video for my mom at the exact moment. I've now watched the video about 358,435 times.

Want to see? :)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Anna G & Alessandro M

There's nothing more pleasing around the kitchen than utensils made by the Italian company Alessi. From the 1980s onward, Alessi has been particularly associated with the notion of "designer" objects - otherwise ordinary tools and objects executed as high design, particularly in a post-modern mode, from designers such as Philippe Starck. Most of the memorable "designer kettles," "designer toothbrushes," "designer graters" and so on were Alessi products. For some years we've had an Alessi "Anna G" bottle opener and it's always a pleasure to use, and it works. I do think that the "Anna G" and (her husband) "Alessandro M" range are great fun.




Alessi was founded in 1921 to produce crafted products in metal for eating and drinking, by Giovanni Alessi. In 1935, Carlo Alessi (born 1916), son of Giovanni, was named chief designer. In 1945 he ascended to chief executive and designed the coffee service Bombé, an industrial piece manufactured in four sizes. That same year Carlo's younger brother, Ettore Alessi, joined the company as a technician.







By the 1980s, Alberto Alessi took over the management of Alessi (which he still does today) and launched the Alessi company into the design decade through collaborations with designers and architects such as Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, and Achille Castiglioni.















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Congratulations

We met the wonderful Max Wanger when he took our engagement and wedding photos. Well, Max recently got hitched himself to the beautiful Margaux. Don't you love her chic Morgane Le Fay skirt and top? Congratulations to the lovely couple!

(Photos by Our Labor of Love)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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The SUPER Sex Book

So in an effort to have better sex ,(who the hell doesn’t want that) with the sportsman.
Sorry, I didn’t mean who wouldn’t want better sex with MY sportsman.
I just ment in general who wouldn’t want a better sex life. Ha ha ha.



So I decided that a book might be just what we need.
So I suggested we go and check out the self help books.


You would sooooo  be surprised to know 1) how many weirdos hang out in this sex isle and 2) how many sex help books there are out there. WOW!


My big reason behind the sex “help” book was to better guide the sportsman on how I like to……………….


Well, um what's the word?

FUCK.
It’s not that he sucks at it. Let’s just say he could use some a little help.


The point behind the purchase of the sex book is, I’m hopefully wishing that the sportsman will read the book with me, and then he won’t feel so much like I am “instructing” him.


My goal is NOT to make him feel completely incompetent but to help him learn new things.


Shouldn’t he be open to new things? Shouldn’t he want to please me? Whatever it takes?


I am a firm believer that a good sex life is a big super big huge monstorous part of a marriage/relationship.


No, it’s not  e v e r y t h i n g  but it is very important.


So the sportsman and I went to Barnes and Knoble to look for the book that would be right for US.

The sportsman mostly looked uncomfortable, while I went thru every book on a freakin mission.
I mean come on its not like we were in a damn porn shop.


I didn’t have a problem with it at all. I made sure we looked thru every damn book they had to offer, as to make sure we picked the right one.


Hello, maybe this is part of our problem. The sportsman refuses to loosen up and move out of his comfort zone.


So after looking thru literally every book they had, I found a great one. It’s called “SuperSex”.


Now that’s a freakin title for a book!


It caught my eye that’s for damn sure. Plus there are all kinds of freakin pictures. Love photos!!!!


You know its that visual thing. wink wink

How can you go wrong there?


We have had the book for a week now. Let me just say that my intentions were for the sportsman to learn some new things, when what has really happened is I am learning some new things myself.

Knowledge is power.

So far the book is just making the sportsman horny as hell. Not really what I was looking for. We have already established that he is horny all the time.



So I will keep working on him.
And
keep you updated
on our progress.
Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Chance

I'm really digging the new clothing line, Chance, by Julia Leach, the former creative director of Kate Spade. The whole collection was based around the striped T-shirt. (Be still my heart.)

P.S. The website is such fun to explore; check out her clever timeline of the striped tee!
P.P.S. She also has wonderful essentials.Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Habitat, a shoe boutique run by a husband and wife. Their selection is exquisitely curated, and they even carry our favorite French Bensimon sneakers! Although shoes are their focus, they also have some adorable clothes and accessories (I love this).

They're offering one lucky reader a $100 gift certificate. For a chance to win, please visit Habitat and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! xo

Update: Emma P. is our winner. Thanks for playing.Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Fragment lights

These lamps are made with fragments found on the San Francisco shoreline, and they glow like candlelight. Love.

(Via Unruly Things)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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The Romantic Sportsman

After leaving my sportsman for a couple of days. When I returned the sportsman and I had a sit down.



We talked. Really what I mean is, I talked.  Then I cried.
I expressed myself.
I shared what was making me so unhappy.


Then the sportsman expressed what was making him unhappy.
Then I cried some more.
I hate crying. It just freakin sucks.


 So the beginning of the week was a real tough one.


Then the sportsman approached me and said that he had something special planned for the upcoming weekend.


I was a little leary, of spending a whole day alone with the sportsman. Much less an entire weekend alone.  Since, as I said before we are really struggling right now. But I agreed to it anyways. I am always open to try new things, at least once.


The sportsman never told me what or where we were going. It was all a BIG surprise. Which I have to say I really liked. I love surprises. I give him a freakin A for effort!


So starting off that morning, I was kinda in a funk (as you know from a prev. emotional issue I was having).
The sportsman and I hit the gym first thing and then we went home to get ready for our “special” day out together.


So I asked the sportsman, what did I need to wear/take for the day?


His reply was “wear comfortable shoes and shorts”. My reply to that was, "so I don’t need to wear a bra or panties?" Ha ha ha

I know always the freakin comedian.


Of course his reply was “ panties are opptional”.

So you know me, I went without. It was after all a really freakin HOT day out.


So far that morning we were getting along, so I figured how bad could the day be? We drove for what seemed like forever (not really). We had a good time talking in the car, just the two of us. Alone.

No kids, no dogs, no one but US.
I even turned my cell phone off.
(well at least for a couple of hours anyways)

Our final destination was Lawrence Ks. Which is where the Sportsman went to college. It's a big college town.


They have awesome shops and really cool hippy type places to eat and hang out.


Let me just add that I was soooooo hoping that our day he had planned, was not us going golfing.

Not that I don’t want to eventually, but for our “special” day alone together,  I just really didn’t want it to go golfing. I was sooooo greatly relieved to see it was something else.


The sportsman even researched and found a great place for lunch that had veggie burgers just for me.

Ahhhhhhh, how freakin sweet is that?

So we walked, talked, shopped, ate, and had yummy ice cream. We totally enjoyed the day alone together. Then we headed for home.


The original plan was to go to the Royals game after, ( I l o v e baseball ) but honestly, after walking all day in the heat I just wasn’t up for being out in the sun anymore for the day.



So I guess there might still be hope yet,
 for the sportsman and me?
Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Birth story

My dears, I promise our birth story is coming soon. I have been writing a bit each day, but with a teeny baby, everything takes way longer than expected! Here's a photo from right after Toby was born, which still makes me feel little weepy.

Update: Here's the birth story. xoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Napping adventures

As her maternity-leave hobby, new mom Adele photographs her baby daughter Mila napping. Oh, the adventures she has!

(Thanks, Liz)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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The Sportsman, A Fire Fighter?

Why not to, tell your spouse they should make a carreer change.



So I have been watching “Resuce Me”
( a fire fighter show) on FX with Dennis Leary.

I have to say I just love this show. It reminds me that I really love fire fighters.

My Step-dad used to be a fire fighter and my uncle was a fire fighter.

It’s such a manly tough type of job. And who wouldn’t want to slide down that pole?
Hello!!! Me!
So, to say that fire fighters have been in my head lately is an understatement.


Anyways, last weekend when the sportsman and I were on our special weekend alone together (we had lots of time to talk) I happened to mentioned, that I thought he should be a fire fighter. His current job isn’t all that secure and fire fighters are always needed. No?


So I told the sportsman that he should check into it.
I was dead serious. As a back up plan.


That was the last time we talked about "it"
(fire fighters).


However, that same day and many times previously (in our marriage) I have mentioned to the sportsman that I would like for him to get a motorcycle.
I love motorcycles.


We are getting to the point in our lives(as soon as the soccerboy and my daughter moves outs) where we could go some place for a weekend on a long ride and not have to worry about any kids. Doesn't that sound like an awesome good time?


So the other morning we were in the shower together and I mention to the sportsman again, just joking about the fire fighter thing.


To my surprise, the sportsman turned and looked me dead in the eye and ask me if I was having an affair with a fire fighter, who drives a motorcycle.
I busted out laughing.


My reply was “ are you freakin serious”?
I am soooooo not having any affair with any fire fighter.


Sounds to me like the sportsman is just a tad bit on the paranoid side. What cha think?



Can't anyone take a freakin joke anymore.
Geez.
Chill the fuck out already.
Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Stations of the Cross

In my last blog, about the paintings of Barnett Newman, I mentioned seeing the big retrospective of his work at Tate Modern in 2003. One complete room of that exhibition was given over to one body of his work, a series of fourteen paintings, 'The Stations of the Cross', that he worked on over a period of eight years - from 1958 to 1966, and is widely considered his greatest masterpiece. These are large scale monochromatic works. At the Tate show I thought they were the best thing. Sitting in the room in low lighting surrounded by those works was an incredibly calming experience; they were my favourite thing in the show.
According to the artist, the paintings are not intended to express the succession of events found in traditional depictions of the Stations of the Cross. Instead they reveal the single moment when Christ cried out 'God, why have you forsaken me?' - 'Lema sabachthani', the subtitle Newman gave to the series.



1st Station of the Cross



3rd Station of the Cross

'It was while painting them that it came to me (I was on the fourth one) that I had something particular here,' Newman said. 'It was at that moment that the intensity that I felt the paintings had made me think of them as the Stations of the Cross.'



4th Station of the Cross



5th Station of the Cross

Newman had always defended the spiritual dimension of his work, and here, Christ's Passion becomes 'the cry of man, of every man', and perhaps a mirror of his own personal crisis. 'I tried to project something I felt was very real in relation to the Passion,' he said, 'and I feel that kind of suffering has gotten almost universal.' The series has also been interpreted as a memorial to the Holocaust and the tragedy of war.



7th Station of the Cross



8th Station of the Cross



12th Station of the Cross



13th Station of the Cross
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