The latest animation featuring Craig ‘Rinzen’ Redman’s character creation Darcel is so lovely, each and every detail obviously well considered and beautifully realised. He’s just had his first show in Colette too, this guy definitely gets around. He recently also found some time to watch ‘2 Girls, 1 Cup’, not good.

If you read this blog regularly you probably know by now that I have a bit of a thing for prints. Giclee, screenprinted, foilblocked, letterpressed, photographic, anything goes. In order to keep this fetish under control I’ve decided to post up my favourite print of the week along with some details on the artist behind it and where you can get it before the flippers get it for eBaying. The fact I’m popping it up on pay day is dangerous though but I liked the ring of the title. Anyhoo, onwards.

First up is a piece that gets me laughing every time I see it. Done by the very funny Al Murphy this simple bright print is one of my favourite pieces of his and worthy of any wall. If you’re going to invest you better be quick as there’s only 18 of the original 100 run left. Run rabbit run!

Forget Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, even Stephen Hawking. This is what the future should look like.

It’s that time of year when we celebrate everything that is great about this tiny isle of ours. So, with that in mind, kick back with a whiskey and a pint of the black stuff wherever you are and drink to Ireland, you won’t find a better excuse all year I promise you. Happy Paddy’s Day to you all, may the road rise to meet you, the wind be at your back and the vicious hangover subsided before you even wake.

You’ve got to hand it to Ian Stevenson, his style of illustration is 100% unique and that’s being understated. I found this gem on his recently revamped site and gave me quite the giggle. The wonderland he has created for the guy in the story is much like his own mind should we ever get inside it, a lovely place to visit but you’ll long for your own home if you’re around too long. Bonkers with a capital B.

Revealing the world of a strange small man, who spends his days away from the world. While divulging in strange pleasures he is suddenly thrown into a fantastical journey. Written & Directed by Ian Stevenson & Luke Seomore. Music by Graffiti 6. Illustrator Ian Stevenson, Animator Alex Dobbin.

More here.

How time flies eh! It only seems like yesterday that we got the go ahead to bring Pecha Kucha Night to Irish shores and already we’re up to 4 and planning our 5th edition on April 1st. Our partners and friends on the project, Irish Architecture Foundation, have started posting some of the presentations from the first events so why not while away a couple of minutes the odd time enjoying the diverse ideas and musings put forward.

Interesting story about the French authority tasked with making sure people don’t illegally download copyrighted content off the internet having an identity using two pirated typefaces. It’s like CSI for type nerds but funny nevertheless.

Was just browsing the internet, as one does, and checked in with Karl Toomey’s website to see that he’s updated with some great new work for a wild array of people. Let me just give some snippets from the veritable cornucopia on offer.

An Australian living in Dublin, Renate Henschke is a fashion designer and seamstress with a difference. Sure she can design amazing clothes but what she doesn’t know about making fabric cake seats or weird little characters or huge 3d type or dresses made out of newspapers and much more besides is just not worth knowing. How she sticks the cold and damp here is beyond me though, maybe she’s on the run or something?

Also of note and rather fascinating is the book and web design for what can only be described as a watershed in established thinking about pandas. ‘100 facts about pandas’ sheds some light on the magical little characters and makes for some interesting reading. Like the fact that if a panda is hit by lightning the black parts of them go white and the white parts go black, otherwise known as a negative panda. If they get hit again they’re a double negative panda, or just a standard panda. Make sure you absorb these facts for dinner party icebreakers and buy yours here.

Not had the best day at work? Boss/client/colleague driving you up the wall? Celebrity Big Brother doing your head in? There’s no purple ones left in the box of Roses? Just need a little light relief? Enter Animals With Casts, the antidote to every one of life’s ailments.

For their Christmas promotion, OFFSET2009 speakers Pentagram produced this great little piece which works out what typeface you are. Turns out I’m an Architype Van Doesburg, pretty accurate I’d say. To have a go yourself, type in your name and the password ‘character’ and you’re away. Make sure to post what results you get.