Brandon Laskowski Interview!

SD:Where do you get the inspiration for your shoe designs?
BL:Early on in my customizing it began as solid colors so inspiration was not much more than preferring a certain color. Then the techniques and ideas that myself and other customizers used in the early 2000's took cues from patterns or graphics that Nike had used in the 80s and 90s. But now I would say trying to create a new format of a light up design for a new custom or taking a subject and seeing the best way I could translate that topic into shoe form. I also love looking at graphic design books or magazines or websites.
SD:So when did you begin to decide you really liked art?
BL:I remember just enjoying art Fridays during elementary school. As well a few of my friends would sit around and make drawings of anything from basketball players to monsters. Funny thing is a lot of artists that have created random characters I look at like damn I wish I would have kept drawing stuff like that when I was a kid if they are making a name for themselves now. Not to say anything I ever drew was amazing. The same enjoyment kinda grew in middle school where I started drawing original shoe sketches, nothing fancy...more like doodling. And more in high school I just never took more than one or two basic art classes of which I wish I would have spent more time in.
SD:If you could collab with anybody on any kind of art who and what would it be?
BL:Man tough question. I'm not really in the loop with all the famous artists in the pop, street, or graffiti, etc. genres more than being able to mention some of their names. But I think a project with someone who's passion is photography, or someone really into making videos and filming would be a fun project. As well as a slew of other different customizers...most should know who they are...and eventually we'll all work on something in some way or another.
SD:Final question: What future projects are you working on or would like to work on?
BL:I've got some big plans its just a matter of time. More importantly changing my laziness and improving my time management. Starting over the summer and continuing now I've been creating a few new setups with the light up custom shoe concept. They promise to be much improved upon anything I've done before. I should have a few released on the website within the next month, FINALLY.

For a while I've wanted to create a product that can be easily mass produced and I think I actually have a viable idea right now that I'm working on, yes it is shoe related. Aside from that I also own the blog: www.PaintOrThread.com which is strictly about custom shoes. I've run a few contests this year so in 2010 I plan on improving upon those contests, improving the website, and helping to further the subculture that is custom footwear.

IRONMAN2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, Im a huge Ironman fan saw the first one 46 times litteraly. But May 7, 2010 Ironman 2 will be out and will be the best movie since movies!!!Holy crap I can barely type right now Im so fricken excited but heres the trailer!!!!

Name Change!!

Wassup everybody my new name for the clothing line has been chosen.It will more than likely be called "Open Defiance". I think this name fits me and the clothing even better because its different and creative. So thanks for the support and Ill be posting a new logo soon. Have a nice Saturday everyone!

DJ AM Dunks

I cant wait for these to drop.

Diddy in Southfield:King of the Douches

Wats up everybody, Its finally Friday, which means one more week till Christmas break!! Anyway, as some of us know, Sean Combs B.K.A. "Diddy" was here in Southfield to promote Ciroc, and true to belief, he is a douche. Being an aspiring business man myself, I figure I would try to meet him and see if he could help me.....WRONG! My sister had to stand in the store for 4 hours until she finally left, I arrived directly after school and waited another hour and a half. When he arrived, he would only sign Ciroc bottles! Makes sense since he was promoting but still everyone cant buy Ciroc(Yes I tried to buy a bottle..lol). He signed a couple of bottles took a few pictures but 10 minutes passed and he was gone. I was uber pissed I couldnt even get to him because I was getting thrown around like a rag doll. When he was leaving, I tried to hurry up and catch him, we were outside (just me, him, and some bodyguards) and I was yelling "Mr. Combs, Mr. Combs!" The guy didnt even turn around! he just continued to get in the car and they drove off. I was so mad I couldnt even post about it yesterday, he should be glad he even has fans the way he treats them! Even though it was a bad day, I would like to thank one of the camera men there who tried to help me get a picture. Yes, Diddy is a douche but I still respect his business skills and would like to meet him anyway. But why go to Diddy though when 50 cent seems so much less of a douche? Well that was my rant for the day lol, see you next posting!

Only Picture I got with my phone:below (and lol at the bodyguard behind em)

Artist of The Month:Brandon Laskowski

December...a new month and a new artist. This month the artist being showcased is Brandon of Evolved Footwear. He is really creative and has a very interesting taste in shoe design. He has put lights on shoes or just completely changed a shoe. I am an honored member of his global team of promoters and he is only going up from here. So check him out on Youtube, or hit up his site at: www.evolved-footwear.com

So Disrespectful..

Wats up people, Im sorry I havent posted in a while..Ive been super busy with the clothing line, school, and other stuff, but I will definitely be trying to get on here more for you guys. Anyway, I hope all of you are having an awesome Saturday. There's been some buzz for a while now about a double lcd laptop and thanks to a company named V-12, that might be a reality. It has 2 touch screens, one where the keyboard should be and another for viewing information. Sounds awesome right? Especially for multitaskers like me. So check it out...

Nike Dunk High Spring 2010

Those Orange/Blue/Whites are cold. MICHIGAN!!

Jacob Patterson Interview!

Yea I know its been a while but Ive been trying to get this interview for you guys so here it goes:

SD: So, When did you begin to really get into art?

JP: I think I am one of the rare cases of children whose parents WANTED them to do art. My mom would pretty much make sure that I spent time drawing once or twice a week, if I wasn't already drawing more than that. This started before I can even remember.
I remember REALLY getting into art when I started watching Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama is one of my favorite artists of all time, and I would read the graphic novels and watch the cartoon ALL THE TIME and draw what I liked, and make up my own characters and stories.
I learned to oil paint in Christian school in about 7th grade, and it;s been a wrap since then. haha

SD: Haha thats awesome. Dragonball Z was the best! So where do you get the inspiraton for your artwork?

JP: The good thing about being a pop artist in the field I am most known for is that I get to choose from a wide selection of creative universes. Someone will come to me with a request, let's say "Bioshock" (which I am working on right now), and ask me to create a pair of shoes around that theme.
I then design an art piece that feels as though it could exist within (or reflect) the creative universe that is "Bioshock." Inspiration is never something I am lacking in that regard.
For other art pieces (more personal ones), I tend to reflect things that I simply feel passionate about, and use my extensive knowledge of Art History to help me out. I am, after all, and student of Art History about to graduate from UCLA.

SD: Wow thats cool.If you could pick one artist to work with in the future who would it be and why?

JP: Wow that is a tough question.
Hmmmm, if I could work with ANYONE I think I would pick the team at Banksy. They have so many artists that are talented at so many things, and not a single one of them has spilled the beans on who they are . . . and every one of them makes HUGE statements with their work.
If Banksy still is one person, then he is a monster, and the greatest artist of our time. The best since Picasso in my opinion. In terms of technical skill I think that other artists are better, but none has a more emphatic approach to art.

SD: Banksy one (or many) of the most creative inspirational artist of this time....nice choice. So one final question: What future projects are you working on or would like to work on?

JP: I don't exactly plan to be working on customs as a primary source of income/artistic expression for too much longer. I wanna get into more creative places. Everything from custom vinyl toys to clothing to more traditional things such as painting canvas will see Patterson Art's influence as soon as I get some time. haha
That said, I have some HUGE plans in store for custom shoes. Some reconstruction ideas I have in mind will not only change the foundation of custom shoes, but hopefully the way the shoe market is viewed from those both within it and those looking in from the outside.
Hopefully.
haha,

-SD-

Artist of the Month: Jacob Patterson

Hey everybody, today im starting a new monthly post I call Artist of the Month! And what a great way to kick that off than with one of my favorite artist, Jacob Patterson of WiggaTriggaTV. He is a gym shoe artist/painter who has done alot of custom sneakas. Congratulations Jacob you are the artist of the month! Heres some of his work: (P.S. All work belongs to J. Patterson.)

Deja Vu

Hate doing dishes? Don't have a dishwasher? Don't feel like loading your dishwasher? Well Panasonic has a cure to all these tragic problems, the dishwashing robot! It can load your dishwasher without breaking a glass or dropping a fork. It can even sit dishes in the sink!WOW!!! In my opinion, comletely pointless... the world gets lazier and lazier everyday.

Retro Oreo- March 2010

Wats up people. Last post of the week, yea ik that means school and work tommorrow morning but look on the bright side..I post like everyday! Today Im bringing you these Jordan Retro 6's in Black/White. I dont know about you but I am looking forward to when these drop.

Nike Blazer Mid- Spring 2010

I will most definately be gettng all three pairs.Looking forward to seeing them next year.

Off that!

Wats up people! Somewhat good saturday morning! Well I've been real busy lately and havent been able to do alot of searchng on the web but I was finally able to check out the Motorola Droid.Yea Ik Ik Im super late on tis but that phone is amazing. It has a 5mp camera, QWERTY keyboard, Google Apps.,etc. Sadly Im already in a contract :/ Yea ik awful right? But when I get $600 I wil most definately be geting it.Verizon also has the better,(much better)Blackberry Storm upgade, The Storm 2! So check that out also. So check out the phone and have a nice Saturday, Peace..Verizon is back!

Already Home!

Wats up dis ya boy Steve with my very first post. This blog is gonna be about Fashion, Art,Tech, Music, Pretty much everything. Ill be lettin you know whats going on with my own clothing line, NewAge© and other stuff Im getting into. So I hope you like it and Hit me up!