The Pixelist Blog

Collaboration with Alex Fischer

Top 10 Instagrammers in Bangkok

Bangkok is a force to be reckoned with. Sure, most large cities have a frenetic energy about them. But Bangkok is a truly unique animal. Eclectic burgeoning on chaotic, a street can house a shanty next to a Maserati dealership. 

The city houses the Siam Paragon, the grandaddy of all shopping malls, and the most Instagrammed location in the world in 2013. Bangkok itself was the second most Instagrammed city (behind New York). Let’s just say that Instagram is the only social media platform that matters here. Everywhere you look, Thais and tourists are clicking away.

Needless to say, it was a daunting task to chose our favorite Bankok Instagrammers. But here goes! 

1) @joy_kanyapak

A great mix of images from modern to traditional, urban to rural, and colorful to subdued. He really captures the diversity of the country and its people.

2)

You can’t walk ten feet in Bangkok without seeing a selfie in progress. So here’s a nearly 100% selfie feed from a musician that won’t leave you bored to tears.

3) @sathapanon

Sathapanon’s gallery shows her transition from amateur to professional photographer. We particularly appreciate her black and whites.

4) @f.brownies

These images are cool and clean (unlike Bangkok), and that’s why we like them. . 

5) @bkbnbkk

How do you like your HDR? If your answer is “all the time,” then this is the account for you. Beautiful and teaming with life, these pics are delightful.

6) @thehumaneyecorporation

Thehumaneyecorporation’s image are moving and powerful. Most of the shots are black and white. But every so often he provides a pop of color to keep us on our toes. 

7) @kiattisuk_pop

Lots of color. Lots of filter. Look at all the pretty, shiny Thai scenery.

8)

We love ssita’s perspective. Her images are quirky and fun, and we enjoy her unique outlook on the world.

9)

A bonafide Bangkok hipster account, khunbunk’s feed gives us a glimpse of how to be cool in urban Thailand. We’re all in.

10)

Thailand is known for its amazing cuisine, so we have to include a foodie account. Ohhappybear will show-and-tell you all you need to know about food in the capital and beyond. 

Who do you follow in Bangkok? What hashtags do you most search?

Our Top 5 Pet Portraits

Kids are awesome. They share your DNA and we’re genetically wired to find little awkward humans adorable. 

But pets… Are we right?! The internet was basically invented to house cute animal videos and pictures. Pets are pretty much the next best thing to creating a smaller version of yourself. Plus, they never get old enough to be too cool for you! 

We’ve had the opportunity to immortalize many clients’ best friends in oil on canvas. Below we have a few of our favorite. Enjoy!

1) Old Skool

There’s no way around it. This pooch has some legit street cred and isn’t afraid to flaunt it. When you roll up on this furry friend, the love is real. 

2) Puddy Tat

Look at this cat! Just look at it! We just melted at our keyboards. 

3) Silly Rabbit, Antlers Are for Deer!

Some people dress their dogs in shoes and sunglasses. Others turn their rabbits into fictional beasts. Everyone loves an animal pretending to be something it’s not!

4) Why the Long Face?

Not all pets comes in small, furry packages. Some come with a little more to love! 

 

5) Tony Soprano

It’s pretty obvious who the big dog is here. This dog throws around a lot of weight, and humans listen. 

BONUS: Dog & Sea

What this title lacks in originality, the artist more than makes up for with his technical precision. You can almost see the photographer in the eyes. To watch the artist in action, check out this time-lapse video of the process:

from on .

Choosing the Best Photo To Paint Part 1: The Bigger, The Better With Faces

It pains us to say it, but every photo does not make a good photorealistic painting. Don’t worry, if you send us a photo that won’t make a good painting, we’ll be sure to find a solution or refund your payment immediately. But for those of you wondering about which photo go get painted, here’s one helpful rule of thumb for portraits.

The Bigger, The Better

Size matters in photorealistic art. The bigger the canvas size, the better the detail. This is why photorealistic painters tend to paint highly zoomed in images on very large canvases. For example, here’s a selfie by one of our favorite new hyperrealist painters, Eloy Morales, in which he’s painting his head at about 6X4 feet. All his paintings are this size so he can capture extreme detail.

This does not mean that only humongous photorealistic paintings look good. But it does mean you should use photos that are zoomed in on the subjects. If we try to paint small paintings (12X12 -15X15 inches) with faces that make up less than 25% of the original image, the faces can come out looking “a bit off” like in this 12X18 inch painting.

If faces are larger, they look much more realistic like in this 12X12 inch painting.

And if true photorealistic detail is what you’re after, then the face should be over 50% of the entire image.

3 Romantic Ideas for Expressing Your Love on Social Media

Relationships are great, and most of us want to share our love, and our loved one, with others. Whether you are in a budding relationship, or been married decades, here are three simple, sweet tips to shout your love from the rooftops in the age of social media.

1) Get Down on One Knee…

…And get engaged!

The foundation principle in showing you care on social media is engagement. Interact with your partner online! Like their photos, favorite their tweets, comment on their Instagrams, share their posts, invite your friends to their events - the list goes on. Welcome to the new-age of PDA. Strong couples support each other in all aspects of their lives, which includes their online life.

2) What A Bunch of…

…Flowers!

Want to do something nice for your significant other, but don’t have time to pick up anything? Not to worry! Use two tried and true cliches: 1) “It’s the thought that counts,” and 2) "A picture is worth a thousand words.“ Post or tweet them a picture of a bouquet of flowers, or a box of chocolates, or their favorite comic book character, or just a heart, with a sweet note. Images and actions speak louder than words. 

3) Oh, You Wouldn’t Understand…

…It’s an inside thing!

Did the two of you spend hours laughing over the silliest thing last night? Or do you have a special memory from your first date? Every couple has special moments they share, just between themselves. Although you might not be completely comfortable with sharing the exact details with all your family, friends, co-workers, and various acquaintances (and past one-night stands) via social media, posting something that makes no sense to anyone else but the two of you can earn you a black belt in relationship karate. (Pro-Tip: Refer back to number 2. Visual reminders are stronger.)

These are just a few basic tips. There are as many ways to exclaim your love of someone as there are people on this earth. Use your imagination and have fun! Love is the great liberator!

Good luck!

12 Instagram Accounts to Follow in Bali

Planning a much needed vacation? Or do you just like looking at beautiful pictures of Robinson Carusoe-like paradises? Bali, Indonesia has been a tried and true holiday destination for decades. If you want to do a little independent research before deciding whether this surf haven just south of the equator is what you the doctor ordered, look no further! We’ve gathered the 10 greatest Instagrammers on the Island of the Gods.

         (photo credit )

favelapunk 

Although arguably the least “Bali” of our list, favelapunk is our personal favorite, because she’s eclectic and cool. Unlike all the other island’s accounts, she isn’t all sunsets, cocktails, villas, rice paddies, and surf. Not that there is anything wrong with those things, we just appreciate the edginess and a little more flavor than the typical tropical paradise. If you want to see real Bali, favelapunk’s got you covered.

         (photo credit , posted on )

thebalibible

The self-proclaimed (and trademarked) “ultimate guide to Bali,” thebalibible certainly is the “go-to” Instagram account on the island. With 127k followers, it’s, well, the bible for everything on the Island.

         (photo credit )

indosurflife 

In case the account name tripped you up, this is your one-stop-shop for all things surfing on the Island of the Gods. Righteous barrel pics and hard bodies await you, bro.

         (photo credit , posted on )

balibucketlist 

Here’s an account offering beautiful pictures (from photographers on the island and/or passing through) and another resource for discovering what the island has to offer.

         (photo credit )

madeardika

Professional photographer for Star Bali Photography, most of these photos are landscapes at dusk. Madeardika is a master of water and relflection photography.

         (photo credit )

agusm123

Another pro photographer on the island, who also offers photography walks and tours. Not all of his pictures are from Bali, some are from other fabulous locales in Indonesia. But since Bali is his home, they make up the majority. 

          (photo credit )

om_santi_santi 

This is a personal account, with lots of cool underwater pics, among your other typical “I live in paradise” sort of photos. 

         (photo credit , posted on )

theluxurybali 

Even if you’re not in the market for posh accommodation in Bali, who doesn’t like looking at pictures of fabulous, lush villas and resorts? It’s okay to dream!  

         (photo credit )

littlebalilove 

If you like your Instagramming with a Pinterest flare, this is the account for you. Littlebalilove is chalk full of bright and colorful lifestyle photos.

         (photo credit )

projectcleanuluwatu 

Want to do some good to protect Bali’s natural beauty? You can start by following projectcleanuluwatu. With over 6k followers, this account is starting to make a difference. If you visit Uluwatu, you’ll understand why it’s worth preserving. It’s absolutely stunning!

         (photo credit )

welikebali 

What a cute and girly island guide! These girls keep their stream full of flirty and fun photos capturing the life of Bali surfer girl.

         (photo credit , posted on )

balithisweek 

Keep an eye on balithisweek for, you guessed it, all the updates on what’s happening on the island from week-to-week, including concerts, film festivals, surf competitions, arts exhibitions, and club specials. Where to go, to be in the know. 

Our 5 Favorite Paintings from Instagram Photos

Though we’re known as “that company that does paintings from Instagram photos,” we actually paint any digital image. Still we’re happy to be associated with Instagram and many of our favorite paintings have come from those little square shots. Here’s our top 5:

1. ’s Hong Kong sunset. We first met Tyson in Hong Kong before he became Instagram’s head of PR and now a photographer for the super cool Tinker Mobile.  Here’s what he had us paint (Photo left, painting right)
2. ’s Chinese farmer. Adam Dean is an old friend and amazing photographer based in Beijing. His is worth a look for anyone interested in photography or Asia. This was a photo of a farmer he ran into while reporting in Shaanxi province. We’ve spent a lot of time in random parts of China and this photo brings back fond memories of farm visits and some of the most hospitable people we’ve ever met. The image is a split between the painting (left) and the photo (right). We love facial close-ups like this because they really bring out the best in photorealistic painting. Take a close look at the wrinkles – so real!
3. ’s kids at an Italian cafe. Great shot by the talented journalist and photographer Erica Firpo. She’s great for all things Italy! This was a photo she did specifically for Pixelist. We love the juxtaposition of her two daughters caught in a vicious sibling battle but surrounded by an entirely civilized old-world European cafe. Our painters took a bit of artistic liberty with the flowers, but we love that too! (Photo left; painting right)
4. ’s lion rock summit. AFP photojournalist, Alex Ogle, is on of Hong Kong’s best photographers. We especially like his work in nature, like this image of his friend atop the peak of Lion Rock in Kowloon. While most photographers focus on Hong Kong’s dense urban landscapes, the city is actually over 70% protected park lands with some amazing nature trails. We hear Alex may be off to India next and can’t wait to see what he posts from there! (Photo left, painting right)
5. ’s deer scene. Robert Jahns, a.k.a. nois7-rj, is a German art director with about a billion Instagram followers. He’s a master of digital art and his images are always a joy to behold. We were thrilled to get the opportunity to paint something for him and hope he comes back for more! This was a great close-up of a deer in a hollow. Simple close-ups with great detail always make for the best paintings.(Photo left, painting right)

To visit our gallery to see more of our paintings, click .

 

Playing With Food: Delightful Culinary Illustrations

How many times did your parents tell you: “Don’t play with your food!”? Well food stylist  has made a living out of culinary illustration. What do you have to say now Mom and Dad?

In collaboration with photographer , Joyce transforms culinary treats into creative portraits. These illustrations are 100% edible. She even frames her artisanal plates with the foods she used to make them, so you can see where all the colors came from!

Bird Food Art

This series is a tribute to the life of Joyce’s pet bird, Budgie. (Great name!) Each design highlights birds’ unique (and often humorous) physical characteristics.

Illustrating Eastern Europe

Joyce and Nieto’s most recent collaboration is a series of Eastern European cities commissioned by . Each illustration serves as a colorful, postcard-worthy snapshot of the destination. 

Drone Selfies: Technology Meets Social Media

#bedroom #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

Humanity has always used technology to advance art, and art to advance technology. One seemingly does not exist without the other. But with the breakneck pace of technological advancement these days, specifically in regards to social media, where is the inherent vanity of our modern selfie-obsessed culture heading? What was once a science fiction writer’s dream is now reality. This has understandably left people bewildered and overwhelmed.  

In “Drone Selfies”, , a collective of four artists, tells a story of an alternative present in which all war has ended. Deprived of their normal reason for being, drones have now become vain and taken to pointing their cameras into mirrors.

Although meant to be humorous, these drone selfies will surely leave you with an eerie technological bewilderment.

We love it! What do you think?

#happyhour #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

#littleangels #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

 

#lounge #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

#shopping #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

#restroom #droneselfie #intimesofpeace

Director of Photography: