I came across these images, by different photographers, during two separate Flickr searches and started to think about how much they had in common. The effortless, random swirls of ranunculus and fabric rolls (In particular, the pink and orange flowers elements) are fascinating in their vibrancy and layers. More than anything, I have always loved the eye candy of gorgeous ranunculus and the patterns created by fabric rolls lined up on the shelf.

(images via jessica nichols & robert wallace)

Nope, these electric blue trees aren’t photoshopped! They are part of the Vancouver Biennale, a bi-annual public art exhibition. Three blue forests have popped up in areas of Metro Vancouver – Garden City Park in Richmond, Port Moody Arts and Civic Centres, and Grosvenor Ambleside in West Vancouver. Created by artist Konstantin Dimopoulos, the vibrant trees are painted to bring attention to global deforestation and the importance of trees as our world’s lungs. Dimopoulos used biologically-safe pigmented water that is completely biodegradable. The paint will slowly fade away, creating an evolving piece of art as the trees return to their natural forms. I love this project because it really does highlight the value of trees in our urban areas as well as underscoring the need for nations to address deforestation. Visually, it is also a gorgeous project. I can’t wait to see the forests as cherry blossoms start to burst open. The angular blue branches and fluffy pink flowers will look incredible together!

(images via clayton perry, the vancouver sun, grant mattice & art threat)

To say I am a Douglas Coupland fan would be a rather large understatement. He is one of my true design heros and I plan to do a special post on Douglas under my colour hero feature in the next bit. Although his Digital Orca sculpture outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre has been in place for 10 months or so, it still continues to dazzle and inspire me. For a city where marine life plays at the foot of our urban core while technology, innovation and video games grow as vital industries, it is simply poetic to create an orca out of pixels. We are, after all, a city where nature and urban life overlap but fuse together in harmony. Digital Orca has quickly become one of my favourite pieces of art. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I will see to it that Douglas Coupland designs many more sculptures in Vancouver!

I like the words written on the plaque beside the sculpture: “The digital orca sculpture breaks down a 3D Orca whale into cubic pixels – making a familiar symbol of the West Coast become something unexpected and new. This use of natural imagery modified by technology bridges the past to the future. It speaks to the people and activities that created Vancouver’s thriving harbour culture, while addressing the massive changes reshaping the BC economy. The sculpture’s metal construction and lighting components evoke the daily moods of the harbour and the diversity of those who work here.”

(images via douglas coupland & claire fossey)

I am a big fan of Canadian designer Avril Loreti and her home decor and accessory creations. From moustache handkerchiefs to lobster bibs, I just love that her pieces always combine true design talent with clever ideas and wit. On one of my many visits to her Etsy page, I discovered Avril’s new product – Paint Chip Placemats. Designed to look like one my favourite items, the placemats are available in six colour ranges, are a linen/cotton blend and feature fun colour names in French and English. Yet another fantastic design from Avril that would make the perfect gift for any colour lover. I also think they would make a perfect housewarming gift as paint colours are an inevitable dinner conversation topic!

Vancouver origami master Joseph Wu is one of my favourite artists and his new piece, A Tear for Japan, is yet another beautiful paper creation. This piece is a work in progress and you can watch it evolve here. Just as it is, I love the simplicity and strength evoked. Showing a tear shed for Japan but also a symbol of hope as the tear is small in comparison to the powerful and bright red rising sun.

(via upon a fold)

I guess I am a little obsessed with modern embroidery lately. The work of Japanese-born and now Winnipeg-based artist Takashi Iwasaki crosses all areas of art including painting and illustration but it is his hand embroidery on canvas creations that I just love. The playful abstract shapes, bold bright colours and magnificent attention to detail are incredible. Have you ever seen anything embroidered like this before? Such beautiful, unique and handcrafted work.

It was very windy in Vancouver yesterday and it made me think about my trip to Montreal last year. On a similarly windy day, I spotted a great piece of street art based on dance steps. It was a fairly large and fascinating drawing so I was trying to capture every angle. In one shot, my orchid coloured scarf caught the wind and flew into frame. I didn’t even notice until I went through my photos at home. I love when colour shows up unexpectedly and almost magically. It wasn’t a planned or professionally composed photo but it makes me happy nonetheless!

(photographs by chloé douglas)

I really love business cards. Especially when they are unique and attention grabbing. Canadian designer James Prunean created these business cards when his brother needed new marketing for his painting business. I have seen other colour swatch based business cards but these have such great letterpress details and typography. Love the blind emboss ‘painter’ in the colour swatch and all of the hue options too!

(via lovely stationery)

I always knew the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador was a colourful place but when my friend David sent me a link to the province’s tourism commercial, I was stunned! It is a gorgeous video and it inspired me to research more of Newfoundland and Labrador’s incredible colour palette. Focusing on bright primary and secondary colours, the hues interact masterfully with the rocky coastline and vibrant blue ocean. I particularly love the colourful neighbourhoods in St. John’s, Newfoundland nicknamed “Jelly Bean Row”. St. John’s is a historic fishing city and when sea captains returned from their voyages, they were faced with rows and rows of identical Victorian houses. In order to make these houses standout from one another and insure a quick return home, each house was painted a different vibrant colour. This tradition continued on and as a result, Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most colourful, striking and beautiful parts of Canada.

(I highly recommend watching the Newfoundland and Labrador tourism video. Thanks David for the inspiration!)

(images via brian carey, g.luff, jonathan penney, dr hostel, joanne dale, joanne dale, liyen, 13fridaymjf and elisabeth charmley)

The Toronto Zoo used their beloved polar bears to lead an ad campaign and, rather than simply show photos of the animals, they decided to focus on polar bears’ ability to completely disappear into their snowy native environment (except for black noses and eyes of course). In addition to a television campaign featuring a white screen and black features, The Toronto Zoo created this ingenious colouring book and puzzle. I just love that the colouring book features only six crayons – arctic white, frost white, igloo white, polar white and snowball white (a.k.a. the colours of polar bear camouflage!) The whole campaign is so clever. I imagine this colour book would really expand the imagination of children while also highlighting something amazing about polar bears and their habitat. All of that being said, I am not sure if I would be able to stick to those white crayons for very long!

(images via ads of the world)

Ever stare at the paint chip wall at the hardware store and think that it looks like a piece of art? Canadian artist Peter Combe took that idea a step further by shredding designer size paint swatches and hole punching paint chips to create large art installations. I love the fringe-like texture of the shredded swatches and the reptile skin look of the layers of hole punches. It is really impressive how Peter finds the perfect colour swatches to create such detailed portraits. I think paint chips should be used as an artistic medium more often!

(images via peter combe)

I didn’t intend on making a theme of sight today but it just seemed to happen that way! I guess I have always been fascinated by braille and it reminded me of a paper installation I took a photo of in Montreal last spring. It was a stunning piece featuring handmade paper birds fluttering about. In this case, any other colour would have been distracting from the feeling of peace and serenity.

(photographs by chloé douglas)

In the company logo’s signature red colour, Canadian designers Ibraheem Youssef and Paul Parolin created icons to represent YouTube’s 100 most viewed videos of all time. Amazing how each video can be distilled into such a simple yet perfect graphic. (Also incredible how many times the Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga icons make an appearance!)

(to see a larger version of the poster, click on the image twice)