Mark Pernice, an artist based in Brooklyn, New York, created a mask of his own face for a self promotional poster. He used Apple’s Photo Booth as inspiration to create a tangible face in a real environment. He says, “Using Photo Booth on the mask itself may create some sort of paradoxal shift where I cease to exist.”

In a process that can take up to a year, the specimen’s body is bleached, then a chemical is applied to make the proteins transparent. The bones and cartilage are then dyed magenta and blue. These animals have become popular as interior design and art collections.

Shy the Sun combines hand-made and computer generated artwork to create detailed, imaginative videos. They post how they made each video so you can see their process from start to finish. You can check out their videos here or on their website.

The EyeWriter is an awesome, inspirational research collaboration between Members of Free Art and Technology (FAT), OpenFrameworks, the Graffiti Research Lab, the Ebeling Group, and Tony Quan, an LA graffiti writer, publisher and activist. Together, they are building an open-source, low-cost eye tracking system that will allow patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to draw. ALS is a condition in which the cells in the central nervous system start to degenerate, leaving the victim unable to control all voluntary movement. Muscles that are responsible for eye movement are sometimes spared. Visit their website, http://eyewriter.org, to learn more about the project.

I came across this, obviously it’s completely novel and totally awesome. I’m interested to hear how the audio gets amplified through the cardboard. Read Gizmodo’s relatively short article here.

Here is a smattering of cool stuff from Russian design firm “Artlebedev.” The first is a super dope ultramodern analog-armed digital-reading clock. Click here to see it in action. It’s pretty sexy. The second should need no explanation. This is how I personally feel about the rain, and this umbrella sends the perfect message to the powers that be. The third is a tie, in which the pattern tells you how to tie a tie. Awesome.

Space. The final frontier. Here are some super-dope images from the ‘Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive.’ I’ve chosen samples from the beginning of the year to the day of this writing; as there are thousands of images to check out, the archive extends back to July, 1995. Peruse, and behold the mysteries of the universe!

I came across this guy’s stuff, and thought it was pretty awesome. Matte painting has always interested me, this guy makes it look effortless. Here is a very detailed tutorial on his process. He’s also posted an .abr set of the brushes he uses in his artwork, which you can download here. How cool is that!? Oh, did I mention he’s only in his late 20s?

Here is a very small sampling of artwork by Illustrator Scrojo. He’s done a poster for nearly every band that has played at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, my hometown. Check out the other hundreds of posters here, and shell out a couple bucks for one.

These albums are my favorites for 2009. I’ve listed them in no particular order, because all of them are awesome! I’d like to thank Ryan Richter for introducing me to DAWES, and Doug Lloyd for St. Vincent. Good calls, boys! Click on an album above to view in iTunes.

1. Wilco – Wilco (The Album) // 2. Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Dollface Honey // 3. DAWES – North Hills // 4. The Bird and the Bee – Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future // 5. Zero 7 – Yeah Ghost // 6. Richard Swift – The Atlantic Ocean // 7. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion // 8. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast // 9. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix // 10. Obits – I Blame You // 11. St. Vincent – Actor // 12. Michael Giacchino – Up Soundtrack // 13. Melanoid – Asleep in the Wake // 14. Tijuana Panthers – EP // 15. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic // 16. Justin Grennan – Things I Should Have Said

It’s not too late to see U2 perform, there are still many dates left. Please go to Hooky Interactive and U2′s official U2 360° Tour Site: http://360.U2.COM. Here are a few photos we snapped.

LittleCartoons.com says:  Brandon Ragnar Johnson makes stuff. Pictures, paintings, books, cartoons, toys, fonts and other things. When not making stuff he’s with his wife Jill and their three children: Oliver, Izzy and Monty. If he’s not
making stuff or spending time with his family he’s, probably fishing or reading comic books.

I say: Every once in a while I run across an artist that makes me want to give up. Ragnar is one of those artists. His color palette, his style, and his compositions are all completely spot-on. Here is a delectable sampling of his works. Do yourself a favor and follow everything this gentleman does via his website or blog. He’s got some really cool limited edition prints and a few books for sale, as well.

She could’ve won the “Ukraine’s Got Hot Girls” competition, but instead won for her incredible talent of painting with sand. Very cool stuff!

DanMumford.com says: Dan Mumford is a freelance illustrator/designer/screenprinter working out of his studio in central London, Goodge street, and screenprint studio in Dalston.

I say: WOW! Check out this sampling of artwork from Dan Mumford. I’m very impressed by what I saw on his website. I am confident should you visit, you will be too.