What can you make with an old can and a couple wire hangers? Aaron Kramer will tell you, a kinetic sculpture! I like things that move, but typically my thoughts go to animation rather than moving mechanical parts. You would think the opposite, since in some distant past I managed to complete a degree in mechanical engineering. But somehow I was better at the math part of it, which is probably why I now write code instead of designing machines. So anyway, back to the sculpture. Aaron gave a workshop last Sunday on how to make a moving one that anyone can learn to put together.

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RGTV Tiny Inventions Trailer by Red Giant Software Last month I saw posted on motiongrapher a cool short feature animation called Something Left, Something Taken. Twelve minutes of creative bliss. The story is original and so is the animation process developed by the duo Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter from Tiny Inventions. The characters and the sets are all made by hand with found materials, then photographed and taken into the computer for compositing and animation. As if the film itself was not enough, the authors are very open to sharing their unique process and techniques. Above is a trailer for the making of video produced by Red Giant Software. See the full video just released on their website and vimeo. I think I said before how much I love making of's...

RGTV Tiny Inventions Trailer by Red Giant Software

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Last weekend was the Renegade Craft Fair, for the second time in Los Angeles, but for me it was my first experience. It took place outside in a large park north of Chinatown, apparently known as "the cornfield". Events of all kinds easily go unnoticed in a large city like L.A., and I don't remember how I learned about this one, but I'm glad I went, it was quite a huge event with over 200 artists!

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SALVAGED: Aaron Kramer and the Secret Life Of Objects Opening by Craft and Folk Art Museum Here is an inspiring artist, Aaron Kramer. This guy can turn discarded objects into beautiful and intriguing art pieces. His motto: "Trash is the failure of imagination". I wish everyone had this much imagination... but mostly, I'd love to know where he finds such nice trash! See his work at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, the show runs until September 12.

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I found this site, pencil rebel, through newwebpick.com. There is a quite a blend of styles on that showcase, but I was immediately drawn to click on this intriguing clay character. Wow, what an amazing site. It's animated with Flash, that's the digital part, but all the backgrounds, objects, characters are made by hand with cardboard and various other materials, very analogue.

Bert grabs the rope. (stop motion animation) on Flickr by Model No.:1

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