SEAN TINER

(Shepard Fairey by Tiner ) No hanging chad here. Shepard Fairey is the visual artist of year. (Obama by Fairey) Throughout the year Fairey's iconic portrait of Obama has solidified his reputation as a prominent 21st-century artist. From having the portrait featured on the cover of Time to posted on millions of social networking profiles, Shepard's portrait of Obama has been viewed all over the world. Ironically, it was the public that previously helped Fairey rise to prominence in the art community over twenty years ago. While attending RISD in Providence, RI, Fairey started posting images of Andre the Giant around North Eastern communities. Fairey dubbed the campaign an "experiment in phenomenology." Interest in the experiment grew and soon Fairey's admirers were posting images of Andre the Gian t on billboards, walls, and behind crosswalk signs. (Andre the Giant, source: globalgraphica.com ) As more images of Andre the Giant were posted throughout the world

The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali, 1931 Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion, Advertising Agency: DDB, Berlin, Germany, 2008 "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done there is nothing new under the sun" (ECC 1:9 RSV) Volkswagen's new Polo Blue Motion advertisement illustrates how using use nostalgia can engage target audiences into a marketing campaign. In 1931, Salvador Dali painted The Persistence of Memory , one of his most famous surrealistic works. The painting is one of Dali's most recognized works and is frequently referenced and parodied in contemporary culture. Over 75 years after Dali painted the masterpiece, Volkswagen has parodied the painting with its "Absurdly low consumption" tagline and surreal creative concept. As the global marketplace moves further into economic uncertainty, it will be interesting if more companies incorporate artistic masterpieces into marketing promotions. According to an article in th

From my family to yours, Wishing you a Happy New 2009! Fight On ! Another year is finishing and I'm amazed how fast this one went. 5 Memorable Moments from 2008: 5) Faces Series. From meeting Perez Hilton in Los Angeles, CA to Greg Verdino in Cambridge, MA, my portrait series has opened diverse doors for me. (Soul Cole, KLAS FM Radio DJ) (Perez Hilton, Media Blogger) (Leone Barezzi, Couture Designer) (Greg Verdino, Social Media Strategist) 4) Surfer Magazine. In March, I was invited to attend Rick Iron's 40th birthday party in Carlsbad, CA. Prior to the party, I visited Irons at his office in San Juan Capistrano. (Rick Irons, Publisher of Surfer Magazine) At the time of my visit, Surfer was writing an article about the Trestles Toll Road initiative. While I was discussing the proposal with Irons, I showed him an aerial photograph I captured of Trestles. Irons really enjoyed the photograph and purchased it for the magazine. It was always a big goal of mine to have a photogr

Enjoy a creative holiday commercial from AKQA. "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Stockings were hung by the chimney with care, as the microwaves' thrum was filling the air." -AKQA

Last weekend, I attended the Imaginary Foundation Art Show at Suru in Los Angeles, CA. I really enjoyed seeing some of the company's original paintings on display. The paintings are created by artist Nick Philip who is regarded as pioneering the surreal Photoshop aesthetic. In an era of logo dominance, Philip is relying upon his art to speak as the main marketing element for the Imaginary Foundation . In addition to his paintings, Phillips had the Cosmic Drummer preform a drum solo outside the exhibit. It provided a comical sidebar to the abstract imagery of Phillip's designs. I first discovered the Imaginary Foundation line at a small clothing boutique near the end of 2006. I was really impressed by the company's strong use and range of color. While most competitors offer silk-screened t-shirts that typically offer one to four colors, Imaginary Foundation's t-shirts offer 8 to 20 shades of color. The company is really utilizing new technology to offer customers un

(Gemma Louise Ward by Tiner ) (Nana Ichikawa by Tiner ) (Anna B Barros by Tiner )

Last Sunday, Pete Carroll was featured on 60 Minutes . The program highlighted how Carroll spends his free time life coaching inner-city youth. Carroll's A Better LA supports inner-city youth, provides encouragement, and renews validation in hopes and dreams. Recently, Validation , a 16-minute short film, was streamed on YouTube and features a charismatic parking attendant giving positive compliments to everyday people. From managers to photographers, the attendant renews hope and happiness in the average person. As schedules become demanding, it's easy to become absorbed in daily routines and forget to acknowledge the positive qualities of others. The holiday season allows us to reflect on the year and appreciate the impact that family and friends make in our lives. From gifts to holiday cards, constant reminders of appreciation are traditionally sent to acknowledge a core group of friends. As the year concludes, take a moment to acknowledge someone outside your immediate gro

Constantly pushing the envelope, Rémi Gaillard's latest prank brings Nintendo's Mario Kart Video Game to life.

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy." -The Dali Lama As the stock market continues to fluctuate and the financial crisis continues to affect different sectors of the global economy, it is important to create marketing campaigns that positively inspire. Consumers want to connect to campaigns that motivate and illuminant on happier qualities in life. A brand can choose to remind consumers about the economic crisis and instill fear or it can make consumers feel happy and that they are part of something bigger then themselves. The Stand by Me video illustrates how different street performers can unite and be part of a global project. As the media continually reminds us of global problems, it's refreshing when a song or marketing campaign can positively in

(LA Coliseum (C) Tiner ) Congratulations to the USC Trojans for capturing their 7th consecutive PAC 10 football title and clinching a trip to the 2009 Rose Bowl.

One of my favorite brands, The Imaginary Foundation , is hosting I Dream, Therefore I Become , a fun night of art and music. "Drop by if you're near Los Angeles on the evening of Saturday, Dec 13th. Music supplied by LA's DJ Nitedog, Darkhorse of Radio 360 and a special one-time live performance by the 'Cosmic Drummer.' The fun starts at 7PM and the event will be held @ Suru (7662 Melrose Ave, LA, CA 90046)."

(Newport Beach (C) Tiner) Enjoy an aerial perspective of Newport Beach, CA for December's complimentary desktop. This limited-edition photograph is available for purchase at Gary's in Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660).