:) POLLEN :)

WELCOME !

2012-01-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Browse with the subjects on the right
Naviguez avec les rubriques (subjects) à droite

Hi everybody !
I'm Solène Chan-Lam aka POLLEN. I'm a 2D/3D computer graphics artist and Illustrator, London based. I'm involved in many kind of creation like animation, commercials, feature films and videogame. I'm a generalist but I'm rather specialised in concept development and texturing.

If you want to commission an illustration, all the details are in the "Shop and Commissions" field. If you want to know more about me, go to "About".

Whatever information or request you need at : solenechanlam@gmail.com

Let me bring colors in your life. Adopt me, you won't regret it !

Bad Guys for La Salle polyvalente collective

2012-01-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

Texturing Reel 2012

2012-01-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

Solène Chan-Lam Texturing Reel 2012 from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Musée du Quai branly - Paris - December 2011

2012-01-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

Here are the two great exhibitions I saw. The maori one was about the whole Maori culture. These people from New Zealand have great traditions, sculptures, houses, tatoos and religious thoughts. This is definitely a must see.

The "exhibitions" is an exhibition about the human zoos. Yes it unfortunately did exist. This goes from the primitive population to the curiosity like freaks. Sad and interesting though.

John Carter 2nd trailer

2011-12-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

You can quickly see some of my work on that trailer, here, mainly on the ships and legs.

Nathalie's Commision - The oriental forest

2011-12-11T12:08:00.001-08:00

Nathalie wanted an illustration in the brown/green colors, close to the nature.

The Monsters of the forestfor La Salle Polyvalente collective

2011-10-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Here's my second contribution for La Salle Polyvalente collective

The white haired muse in SUPA GIF

2011-09-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

/ Photoshop
Available in : A4, square format (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The blond muse SUPA GIF

2011-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

/ Photoshop

Available in : A4, square format (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

2011-09-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Illustrations Prices
Prix des Illustrations
- A4 : 40 euros
- A3 : 60 euros
- over A3 : from 100 euros, depends of the fixes needed for such a big resolution. Au delà d'un A3, à partir de 100 euros en fonction des ajustements à faire pour une grande résolution.
- Commissioned illustration : custom price, depends of the complexity of the request (landscape, several characters, theme, numbers of elements). Illustration réalisée sur mesure à partir de 120 euros : prix sur mesure en fonction de la complexité de la demande (paysage, plusieurs personnages, thème, nombre d'éléments).

I don't provide the frames anymore, but I sell the printed work. All the illustrations are printed by a professional printer in high definition. It can take several months to draw a commissioned illustration. All the payments are safely made by Paypal. If you don't have a Paypal account, click on the label to create one.

Je ne fournis plus les cadres, mais vends toujours mon travail imprimé en haute définition par un imprimeur professionnel. Vous pouvez compter plusieurs mois pour la réalisation d'une illustration sur mesure. Les réglements sécurisés s'effectuent online via Paypal. Si vous n'avez pas de compte paypal, cliquez sur l'icone pour vous créer un compte.

Illustrations for sale and availability
Illustrations et disponibilités
Let me know if you're interested in an illustration which isn't in the list or isn't in the size you want, so I can edit it for you. N'ésitez pas à me contacter si vous êtes intéressé par une illustration qui ne figure pas dans la liste ou qui ne se trouve pas au format que vous souhaitez. Je peux l'éditer pour vous.

- Monsters of the forest : A4 ( square format )
- The white haire muse : A4 ( square format )
- The blond muse : A4 ( square format )
- Summer : : A4 ( 16/9 format )
- Over the rainbow : A4, A3, A2
- Popsicles : A4, A3, A2
- The egyptian girl : A4
- La parade des vieux : A4
- Ballon's festival and the graceful girl : A4 ( 16/9 format )
- Jungle Fever : A4 ( 16/9 format )
- Capuccino : A4, A3, A2
- Happyland : A4, A3, A2
- Housing causes : A4, A3, A2
- Das Traum für kleine Mädchen : A4
- Looking like a Gap ad : A4
- The women with the necklace : A4
- The Sport : A4
- The Music : A4
- The Reader : A4
- The Tyrolean : A4
- Poses Clés : A4

and also :
- all the Tea party pictures : A4, A3 ( 16/9 format )

For any questions, you can contact me at solenechanlam@gmail.com.

Lali Puna / Move on music video

2011-09-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

I did the 3D background (houses, wheel). The music video was directed by the talented Yu Sato.

About

2011-09-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

My name's Solène Chan-Lam. I like to use the name "Pollen" for my work. I'm a french native and I have got a cultural mix due to my asian origins as my father's chinese. I was born a koala. I have early shown an interest in drawings as I couldn't speak being an animal. When I was young, I had a revelation after seeing "Les yeux clos" from Odilon Redon, who still is one of my favourite painter. My first drawing was a donkey from front. Then I went to a mixed technics courses for children at the Fine Arts. I felt good in black and white drawings, that's why I decided to apply to the oil painting adult course in order to improve my skills. I had great teachers there and after five years, I felt comfortable in the oil painting technic. I also played violin and theatre.

I passed my A'Level in economics with a minor in history in german language. This is the logical path to become a 70's famous singer. That has always been my dream, but I've never been able to come back to the past. Nevertheless, I'm still a fan of France Gall.

Well, I finally droped my 70's singer carreer. I did several contests for different schools of art, advertising and design. Then I had a better idea of what I wanted to be : A GEEK. That's how I chose to enter the Supinfocom 3D school in Valenciennes. I discovered the decibel and car tuning contests specific to the north of France culture. I worked hard to become a geek, but it's not that easy. I had to become a nolife, learning 2D and 3D animation, giving birth to a teamwork short film called "Josephine" (using 3DSmax). I developed an interest in concept devlopment and color.

After my graduation I've worked at Ubisoft Montpellier, in the video game industry. I was very inspired by all these geeks around and met great people there. I worked on "Rabbids go home" on Wii doing modeling and texturing. I begun to sell illustrations by my own and developed an "Art Nouveau" and "Bauhaus" inspired style.

Then I decided to move to London to meet an other kind of geeks and for shopping obviously.
I codirected a short film called "tea party" with Vincent Techer. I also did the artistic direction, designs, modeling, texturing, matte painting, compositing and animation (using Maya). The german christmas markets were my main inspiration for this project as I'm fond of Lederhosen and tyroleans.

Then I worked at Passion Pictures, which is a major production company. They did the Gorillaz music videos for instance. I've worked on Meerkat ads and on a Lali Puna music video. I mostly did modeling, texturing and camera mapping (using XSI). I've tried the fish and chips, the pubs, the cheescakes, cupcakes, carrotcake, toffee pudding, sausages and decided to go to the gym.

And so far, it's been one year I've been working at Cinesite as a 3D texture artist in the film industry. I enjoy so well what I'm doing. After all, why not just being me, wearing my mom's 70's dress, simply being a geek from the past.

John Carter of Mars Trailer

2011-07-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm still currently involved in John Carter's movie doing texturing at Cinesite. The movie will be on screens on march 2012. It's directed by Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo, A bug's life, etc). The original comic book is from Edgar Rice Burroughs who wrote famous earliest sci-fi books. He is also well-known for creating Tarzan.

SUMMER - for La Salle Polyvalente collective

2011-07-02T02:22:00.000-07:00

/ Photoshop
Available in : A4, 16/9 format (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).
The common theme was Summer, perfect for now !

And the studies :

Grand Palais - Paris - Juin 2011

2011-06-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

WOW ! It's the first time I have the opportunity to see an exibition about Odilon Redon. As he's the painter who made me wanna paint, I was very excited about this event. I knew some things before going and I've learnt some things after leaving the museum. For example, I prefer he's colored paintings and I thought there would be a lot of them there. But Odilon Redon started to exibit he's colored works in his late life. I missed seeing "Les yeux clos" painting at the Musée d'Orsay when I was 10, because it was exceptionnally moved to USA. Now I feel very happy and I still enjoy his color work, his designs and strange compositions.

Come back to traditional painting

2011-04-23T02:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the thing is when I go from the base sketch, it works. But I always need to make some shapes smaller by going to painting. Like here... I should have done the chin smaller. ... I should'nt have expected more of a 30 minutes painting.

Showreel 2011

2011-03-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Showreel 2011 Solène Chan-Lam from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Alice Madness return @ Passion Pictures

2011-02-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

I did some modeling and texturing (some characters and environment).

Annnnddd an other Meerkat with some characters I've textured

2011-02-12T04:55:00.000-08:00

I did some characters texturing and props modeling.

Latest Compare the Meerkat I worked on

2011-02-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

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Compare the Market - "Retirement" (Passion Pictures) from Guillaume Cassuto on Vimeo.

I've textured two characters for this Compare the Meerkat ad : the old lady and the blue coat guy. This work was done at Passion Pictures, London.

Tha MUG !!!

2011-02-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Improvised drawings ;) I love you all !

Rings and broaches

2011-01-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I spent some times with Vince to create these jewels in order to offer it as Christmas gifts.

O2's ad Making of at the Mill

2011-01-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

Hey, you can see me briefly at 02:00, enjoy !

O2: The Making Of 'Niggles & Narks' - The Mill Visual Effects Studio from The Mill Visual Effects Studio on Vimeo.

Compare the Meerkat

2011-01-16T08:02:00.000-08:00

This is the ad I worked on at Passion Pictures, mostly doing Characters texturing and some props modeling and texturing.

And here are some works in progress of some characters I've textured.

Happy birthday Xavier !

2011-01-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

Lady in supa gif

2010-11-18T15:41:00.001-08:00

Puzzles

2010-11-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

Jess's commission : Over the rainbow

2010-10-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Popsicles

2010-10-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

/ Photoshop
Available in : A4, A3, A2, (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

evening painting

2010-10-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Alice Madness Returns

2010-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Trailer and cinematic for Alice MADNESS RETURNS' video game directed by Strange Beast (The tale of How) and done at Passion Pictures :

- Part of environment modeling (Buildings)
- Part of environment texturing (Buildings)

Alice : Madness Returns (part 2) : Shy The Sun from Strange Beast on Vimeo.

Interview on VDM

2010-09-11T04:55:00.001-07:00

Here is the interview :
http://www.viedemerde.fr/blog/848

Here is the illustrated VDM :
http://www.viedemerde.fr/inclassable/1373528

Tate Britain - London - July 2010 -

2010-08-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Nice permanent exhibitions about british painters which deal often with british litterature (like William Shakespeare). Really fantastic temporary exhibition about Turner and quiet big. This museum is less popular as the Tate Modern, but this is even though a great museum, and not the smallest one. Actually, I've seen an other temporary exhibition there. It was about the british sculptor Henry Moore that I discovered at the Tate Modern. Several works of him from several time of his life are exhibited there and we can see his style evolute during de World War (before, he mainly sculpted mothers and children). I'm a fan of what he did at the beginning of his work, I mean at this specific time, with round shapes.

Royal Academy of arts - London - July 2010-

2010-08-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here I've seen an exclusive exhibition about Sargent and his close admiration for the sea. This is the less informed part of Sargent's life. Really tiny exhibition, but how great ! We can feel his passion for Turner's work.

Guillaume's birthday wishes (the Egyptian girl)

2010-08-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

Available in a A4 format (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

La parade des vieux

2010-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

/ Photoshop
Available in : A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Turntables O2

2010-06-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here are turntables I did at the Mill for the making of for an O2's ad directed by Simon and Mc Bess. You can see the entire ad here.

- posing
- lighting
- rendering
- compositing

Turntables O2 from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Tea Parties are my favourite meals

2010-06-05T14:39:00.001-07:00

Weird Candies, creative jewels and sewing kit

2010-06-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

I've received my wonderful earrings jewels created by the talented ODELIE CHAN :
http://www.odeliechan.com/

This week end I went to chinatown and bought some caramel coco pearls. Miam ! I prefer them cold.

This is a gift from someone who knows me very well. Indeed, i love cheerleading wearsuits ;)

For Christmas, I had a great sewing machine and a sewing kit. Just used it for little broken stitches, but soon for real things.

By walking in convent garden, I stumbled on a teashop, which sold tea balls with flowers. These balls open in your cup of tea while it infuses, showing up the flower. A real show to see in a transparent cup, obviously.
The result looks a bit like that but the flowers don't go that high up. Here's an example of teas you can drink at the Ping Pong restaurant.
And here's an example of what you can eat at Ping Pong. I think it's really creative asian food. The colors are cool, the food is good, the atmosphere is lounge. Nice to chill out, even if it's a bit expensive.

At Covent Garden, there's a special candyshop which sells some rare and weird candies coming mostly from Japan. I was looking for Kit Kat tea, but couldn't find it. And I got a Lucky Charms box ! The rainbow is everywhere.
My flatmate spent two months visiting Australia. When he came back, he offered me a cute canned koala. First, i thought it was koala's meat to eat and I was astonished he could bring it back to London. And when I opened it... what a surprise !
This is my violin. I sold my classic violin a long time ago. Then I stopped playing. And I decided to play back few years ago. I bought this really nice violin at Paul Beuscher (Paris) : Yamaha Silent. Never played with an electric one before.

My neighbour's daughters

2010-05-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Cooking

2010-05-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

For Halloween, I cooked peaches muffins and nutella cupcakes. Cupcakes are really fashionable.

Plants

2010-05-20T06:38:00.001-07:00

Here are my little plants :
an eggling, nice concept of breaking an egg in which grows up a plant. Here it's a petunia.
And a nenuphar. It has been growing up very well until one week ago. Now, I don't know why, it's becoming all black and dying although I often change the water.

Montpellier's Aquarium

2010-05-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

I met Doris at the Montpellier's Aquarium

My mother's cat

2010-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

My mother's cat is so funny

Strawberry

2010-05-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

I've found an odd strawberry with a human's hand shape.

Lunaret's zoo

2010-05-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Everything's in the title

My neighbour

2010-05-10T03:21:00.000-07:00

This is the real story of my funny neighbour

Whatever

2010-05-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Pollen !

Supinfocom Links

2010-05-09T04:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.arte.tv/fr/mouvement-de-cinema/Court-circuit-le-magazine-du-court-metrage/Court-circuit-_23472/3841788.htmlThe News on TF1 deal with Supinfocom at min 6

Supinfocom's jury 2008 with Shelley Page (Dreamworks) as a jury's member

Frédéric Mittérand at Supinfocom

Supinfocom 20's birthday at the Annecy's animation festival

France 3 and Supinfocom, directing the emagiciens' festival and the Nathalie Kosciusko-Moriset's visit

A french ex-student from Supinfocom at Pixar

Pretzel

2010-03-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

A pretzel is a type of European-descended baked good made from dough in soft and hard varieties and savory or sweet flavors often in a unique knot-like shape. The archetypal pretzel shape is a distinctive symmetrical looped form, whereby the ends of a long strip of dough are intertwined or brought together and then twisted back onto itself in a certain way (“a pretzel loop”). However, some varieties are instead made in a more plain stick or rod shape. For seasoning and decoration glazes of lye or sugar, coarse or fine salt or sugar, various seeds and nuts can be used. Larger pretzels are typically consumed singly while small pretzels are served in multiples.

Variety of pretzels

Pretzels as a food are associated with different backgrounds, cultural purposes and ingredients that include a variety of glazes and coatings. Pretzels made of sour or yeast dough are assumed to be of Christian Medieval European origin, possibly initially to replace pagan customs. Today, they are still used in southern Germany and adjoining German-speaking regions on Christian holidays and in local customs.

Lye pretzel with the typical "pretzel loop"

A bread pretzel popular in southern Germany and adjoining German speaking areas as well as in some areas of the United States, is basically made from wheat flour, water and yeast, glazed with lye, usually sprinkled with coarse salt, hand-sized and made for consumption on the same day. To avoid confusion with any other pretzel kind, German speakers call this variety "Laugenbrezel" (lye pretzel). The sweet pastry varieties have no special purpose or background, come in many different textures, toppings and coatings and are part of the wider selection of pastries and cookies. The crispy hard pretzels, e. g. pretzel sticks and a variety of shapes basically made from the same ingredients have evolved from the same lye pretzel by baking out excess moisture thereby increasing shelf life and a crispy taste. They originate in the United States and have become popular in many countries.

History

An illustration from the 12th century Hortus deliciarum from Alsace may be the earliest depiction of a pretzel, shown at a banquet with Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus

There are numerous accounts on the origin of the looped pretzels as well as the origin of the name. Most of them agree that they have religious and/or Christian backgrounds and were invented by monks. According to The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, in 610 AD "...an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards")". However, no source is cited to back up these details. Another source locates the invention in a monastery in southern France. The looped pretzel may also have evolved from a Greek ring bread which was served in monasteries for the Last Supper 1,000 years ago. In Germany there are stories that pretzels were the invention of desperate bakers. Meyers Konversationslexikon from 1905 suspects the origin of pretzels in a ban of heathen baking traditions, such as in form of sun wheels, at the Synod of Estinnes in the year 743. The pretzel may have emerged as a substitute. The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for "bracelet"), or bracchiola ("little arms").

Emblem of the Baker's Guild in Germany

The pretzel has been in use as emblem of bakers and formerly their guilds in southern German areas at least from the 12th. century to this very day.^[5] A 12th-century illustration in the Hortus deliciarum from the southwest German Alsace (today France) may contain the earliest depiction of a pretzel.

Within the Catholic church, pretzels were regarded as having religious significance for both ingredients and shape. Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent, when Christians were forbidden to eat eggs, lard, or dairy products like milk and butter. As time passed, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just like eggs are hidden today and are particularly associated with Lent, fasting, and prayers before Easter.The classic pretzel's three-hole shape begins to take form. The three holes represent the Christian Trinity of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," and pretzels are thought to bring luck, prosperity, and spiritual wholeness. The wedding phrase "tying the knot" got its start when a pretzel was used to tie the knot between two prominent families. The pretzel's loops stood for everlasting love.

Pretzels in German-speaking countries

Variety of Southern German lye breads (Laugengebäck)

Pretzel baking has taken most firmly root in Southern Germany and adjoining German speaking areas and pretzels have been an integral part of German baking traditions for centuries.

Varieties

The custom of using lye in baking is thought to have evolved by accident in the 19th century. A baker dropped a tray of pretzels ready for baking into a trough of lye, which was used for cleaning and disinfecting baking utensils. After baking the pretzels nevertheless, the appealing colour and renowned flavour was discovered. Lye pretzels are popular in southern Germany, Alsace, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland as a variety of bread, a side dish or a snack and come in many local varieties. Almost every region and even city has its own way of baking them. Examples for pretzel names in various German dialects are “brezn”, “bretzel”, “brezzl”, “brezgen”, “bretzga”, “bretzet”, "bretschl", “kringel”, "silserli" and "sülzerli". Baked for consumption on the same day, they are sold in every bakery and in special booths or stands in downtown streets. Often, they are sliced horizontally, buttered, and sold as Butterbrezel or come with slices of cold meats or cheese. Sesame, poppy, sunflower, pumpkin or caraway seeds, melted cheese and bacon bits are other popular toppings. Some bakeries offer pretzels made of different flours such as whole wheat, rye or spelt. In Bavaria, lye pretzels accompany a main dish such as Weisswurst sausage. The same dough and baking procedure with lye and salt is used to make other kinds of "lye pastry" (Laugengebäck): lye rolls, buns, croissants and even loaves (Laugenbrötchen, Laugenstangen, Laugencroissants, Laugenbrot). Yet, in some parts of Bavaria, especially in lower Bavaria, unglazed “white” pretzels, sprinkled with salt and caraway seeds are still popular. Basically with the same ingredients, lye pretzels come in numerous local varieties. Sizes are usually similar; the main differences are the thickness of the dough, the content of fat and the degree of baking. Typical Swabian pretzels for example have very thin “arms” and a “fat belly” with a split and a higher fat content. The thicker part makes it easier to slice them for the use of sandwiches. In Bavarian pretzels the arms are left thicker so they do not bake to a crisp and contain very little fat.

The pretzel shape is used for a variety of sweet pastries made of different kinds of dough (flaky, brittle, soft, crispy) with a variety of toppings (icing, nuts, seeds, cinnamon). Around Christmas they can be made as soft gingerbreads (“Lebkuchen”) with chocolate coating.

Festivals and customs around the pretzel

New Year's pretzel in a Stuttgart bakery (Swabia)

In southern Germany and adjoining German-speaking areas Pretzels have retained their original religious meanings and are still used in various traditions and festivals.

In some areas, on January 1, people give each other lightly sweetened yeast pretzels for good luck. These New-Years-Pretzels are made in different sizes and can have a width of 50 centimetres (20 in) and more. Sometimes children visit their godparents to fetch their New Years pretzel. On May 1, love-struck boys used to paint a pretzel on the door of the adored. On the other hand, an upside-down pretzel would have been a sign of disgrace. Especially Catholic areas, such as Austria, Bavaria or some parts of Swabia, know the Palm Pretzel made for Palm Sunday celebrations. Sizes can range from 30 cm up to 1 metre and they can weigh up to 2.5 kg (6 lbs.). An old tradition on Palm Sunday dating back to 1533 is the outdoor pretzel market (Brezgenmarkt) in the Hungerbrunnen Valley near Heldenfingen.

In the Rhineland region sweet Pretzels are made with pudding-filled loops (Pudding Pretzels).

On Laetare Sunday in Luxembourg, the fourth Sunday in Lent, there is a festival called Pretzel Sunday. Boys give their girlfriends pretzels or cakes in pretzel form. The size symbolizes how much he likes her. In return, if a girl wants to increase his attention, she will give him a decorated egg on Easter. The pretzel custom is reversed on Pretzel Sunday during leap years. This custom also still exists in some areas of the Swabian Alb.

On the same occasion in Rhenish Hesse and the Palatinate, people have parades carrying big pretzels mounted on colourful decorated poles.

Popular during lent in Biberach are Lent Pretzels which are shortly boiled in water before baking and afterwards sprinkled with salt.

Prezel from Burg, typically carried around the neck

Schloss Burg is renowned for a 200-year-old speciality, the Burger Pretzel. Its texture and flavour resembles rusk or zwieback. A local story says that the recipe came from a grateful Napoleonic soldier in 1795 whose wounds were treated by a baker’s family in the little town of Burg. The cultural importance of the pretzel for Burg is expressed by a monument in honour of the pretzel bakers and by an 18-km hiking trail nearby called “Pretzel Hiking Trail”.

A variety typical for Upper Franconia is the ‘’’Anise Pretzel’’’. The town of Weidenberg celebrates the Pretzel weeks during the carnival season when anise flavored pretzels are served with special dishes such as cooked meat with horse radish or roast. In the city of Lübeck, the 500-year old guild of boatmen on the Stecknitz canal call their annual meetings in January Kringelhöge (Pretzelfun). The elaborate affair with about 200 participants is celebrated as a breakfast with beer and includes mass in the Lübeck Cathedral and a presentation of songs by a children’s choir. In older times the children were very poor, coming from an orphanage and each received a kringel (pretzel) as a reward. Hence, the name “Pretzelfun”, because this gift was considered highlight. Today the children come from schools but they still get the pretzels.

Fountain in Speyer with pretzel boy statue

The city of Osnabrück celebrates the anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and organizes an annual hobby horse race for grade-four children. Finishing the race they are presented with a sweet pretzel.

The lye pretzel is the theme for a number of festivals in Germany. The city of Speyer prides itself to be the “Pretzel town” and around the second weekend of July, from Friday to Tuesday, it holds an annual funfair and festival called "Brezelfest", which is the largest beer festival in the Upper Rhine region and attracts around 300,000 visitors. The festival includes a parade with over 100 bands, floats and clubs participating from the whole region and 22,000 pretzels are thrown among the crowds. On the market square of Speyer, there is a fountain with a statue of a boy selling pretzels. The pretzel booths on the main street are permanently installed and were specially designed when the whole downtown area was re-done for the 2000th anniversary. One-day pretzel fests and markets in other German towns are in Kirchhellen, a borough of Bottrop, or in Kornwestheim.

In 2003 and 2004 “Peace Pretzels” were baked for a UNICEF charity event and other charity purposes in Munich. Instead of the typical pretzel loop they were made in the similar shape of a peace symbol.

The pretzel as figure of speech

Kepler's 'Panis Quadragesimalis diagram.

In 1609, the German astronomer Johannes Kepler stated that "[if] one puts all of this information together in one bundle, and at the same time believes that the sun truly moves across the Zodiac over the space of a year, as Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe believed, then it is necessary to concede that the circuits of the three above planets through ethereal space are, as it were, a complex of several movements, that they are actually twisted; not like piled-up cord, with coils in a sequential order, but rather in the image of a lenten bread, as the following diagram shows..." (panis quadragesimalis or lenten bread is a pretzel).

"Pretzel" Beetle, Model 1950

In German the term “Brezel” is also used synonymously for anything made with lye: a lye stick, which would be a Laugenstange, can be called a Brezelstange, a lye roll would be a Brezelbrötchen etc. Its quite common in German to say: today the sun is really pretzling down ("the sun is really stinging"). Bavarians have a number of expressions related to the pretzel. A Brezensoizer (pretzel salter), perhaps originally a baker’s term, is a person doing lowly work. Saying I’m not your pretzel salter! would mean, I’m not your servant. Occasionally it is meant to be an insult.

Another saying is he got pretzeled (gebrezelt), meaning he crashed, for example skiing down the mountain or falling off a bike. One can also say I pretzeled him one, meaning, I gave him a punch in the nose or face, or he pretzeled down the road at 100 km/h, meaning, he really stepped on it. On the other hand, a pretzeled appearance means very stylishly dressed or combed. An electrician might say: the wire pretzeled me one, meaning I got sizzled.

In the early 1950s the Volkswagen Beetle was nicknamed Pretzel Beetle because of its rear window. Because of its shape, the pretzel gave its name to an inflatable United Nations research platform, “SolVin-Pretzel”, which is placed in the canopy of rainforests.

Pretzels in the United States of America

USA Philadelphia PA Style Soft Pretzel

In the 19th century southern German and Swiss German immigrants introduced the pretzel to North America. The immigrants became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch and in time, many handmade pretzel bakeries populated the central Pennsylvania countryside, and the pretzel's popularity spread.

In the 20th century soft pretzels became extremely popular in other regions of the United States. Cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York became renowned for their soft pretzels. The key to success was the introduction of the new mass production methods of the industrialized age of manufacturing techniques to increase the availability of both quantity and opening up multiple points of distribution at schools, convenience stores, grocery and entertainment venues as movie theaters, arenas, concert halls, and sport stadiums. Prior to that street vendors used to sell pretzels on street corners in wooden glass enclosed cases.

In particular it became iconic with Philadelphia and was established as a cuisine of Philadelphia for snacking at school, work, or home and considered by most to be a quick meal. The average Philadelphian today consumes about twelve times more pretzels than the national average.The baking skill of the large immigrant Italian American populations in Philadelphia played a significant role in pretzels being established as a local cuisine of Philadelphia. Other Italian centric populations in the USA have furthered the popularity of pretzel production and consumption.

Pennsylvania today is the center of American pretzel production for both the hard crispy and the soft bread types of pretzels. Southeastern Pennsylvania, with its large population of German background, is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry and many pretzel bakers are still located in the area. Pennsylvania produces 80% of the nation's pretzels,

The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $550 million. The average American consumes about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of pretzels per year.

The privately run “Pretzel Museum” opened in Philadelphia in 1993. In 2003 Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26 “National Pretzel Day” to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.

Pretzel bakers of United States of America (historical timeline)

1861: Sturgis Pretzel House in Lititz, Pennsylvania becomes the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States.

1889: The Anderson Pretzel Factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is founded. Today it calls itself the world's largest, producing 65 tons of pretzels daily.

1935: The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company introduced the first automatic pretzel twisting machine.

1963: The largest pretzel of its time, weighing 40 pounds and measuring 5 feet across, is baked by Joseph Nacchio of the Federal Pretzel Baking Company.

1978: The first machine-produced soft pretzel was created at Federal Pretzel Baking Company.

1993: The Pretzel Museum opens in Philadelphia, operated by the Nacchio family.

2003: Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declares April 26 National Pretzel Day to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.

Places, physical or meta-art forms, groups or organizations in the United States named for pretzels

A Place: The Philadelphia Recreation Department memorialized the Philadelphia style pretzel cuisine of local bakers. A facility formerly identified as Manayunk Park located on the 4300 block of Silverwood Street was renamed by the City in 2004 as "Pretzel Park." The park design has pretzel like looped pathways and includes a public statue symbolizing a pretzel.
In Dance: The pretzel dance move developed in Swing dancing which dates back to the 1920's, where the African American community, discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop, while dancing to contemporary Jazz music. Also adopted by Salsa dancing.
In Design: The Pretzel Chair furniture designed in 1952 by George Nelson who numbers among the most important and influential figures in American design during the second half of the twentieth century. During the 1950's he developed an expressive range of seating pieces, several of which have long since achieved classic status.
In Design: Roller coaster elements. While going through a pretzel loop, the rider is upside down at the beginning and on their back and going backwards at the bottom. The rider then regains normal flying position at the exit of the loop.
In Music: Pretzel Logic is the name of a single released by the pop music group Steely Dan from their album Pretzel Logic, originally released in 1974. Pretzel Nugget is a 1994 EP by the Beastie Boys, released on the Grand Royal records label.
An Expression in Music: French horns are sometimes called “pretzels” by their players, and a “pretzel bender” can mean a musician who plays one, a wrestler, or a man who drinks too much.
An Expression in Politics: Americans use the phrase "Pretzel Logic" in reference to political thinking in government actions that are looped without an outcome.
An Expression in Pop Culture: In the 1990's American TV situation comedy Seinfeld, supporting actor Cosmo Kramer landed a speaking part in a Woody Allen film and he practiced his line with his co-stars Jerry, Elaine, and George. The line was "these pretzels are making me thirsty." Eventually the phrase is used as a general expression of frustration by cast members.

Pretzels in other countries

Although not as popular as among German speakers and Americans, the looped pretzel is known in other European countries and in other countries around the world. In the Czech Republic the pretzel is known as “preclík”, in Finland as “viipurinrinkeli”. The Spanish, French and Italians call it “pretzel”, “bretzel” or “brezel”, the Dutch favor sweet variants called "krakeling", Norwegian and Danish call it a "kringle", in Polish it's “precel”, in Hungarian "perecz".

Pretzel sticks and varieties

Party pretzels

Viipurinrinkeli, a pretzel from Vyborg (Finnish: Viipuri), Russia

Crispy pretzels originate in the United States where, in 1850, the Sturgis bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania, became the first commercial hard pretzel bakery. Party pretzels can be shaped as sticks (around 3 millimetres (0.12 in) thick and 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long), loops, braids, letters or little pretzels have become a popular snack in many countries around the world. A thicker variety of sticks can be 1 centimetre (0.39 in) thick; in the U. S. these are called Bavarian pretzels. Unlike the soft pretzels, these ones are durable when kept in an airtight environment. In Europe, party pretzels are usually sprinkled with salt but also with sesame seed, poppy seed or cheese. In the U. S. they come in many varieties of flavors and different coatings such as yoghurt, chocolate, strawberry, mustard, cheese and others and chocolate-covered hard pretzels are popular around Christmas time. In the Philadelphia area, crumbled hard pretzels are a common accompaniment to ice cream as a cone or topping.

Personaly, I've tasted a cheesy Bretzel in Colmar or Strasbourg, I don't remember. But I remember it was soooooo good !!!

Weihnachtsmärkten

2010-03-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany and Alsace but are now being held in many other countries.

Christmas market in Jena, Germany

History

The history of Christmas markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in the German speaking part of Europe. The Dresden Christmas market, first held in 1434, is one of the oldest Christmas markets. It attracts between 1.5 and 2 million visitors a year and has over 60 stalls.^[1] The Bautzen Christmas market was even older, first being mentioned in records in 1384.^[2] The Vienna "December market" was a kind of forerunner of the Christmas market and dates back to 1294.^{[citation needed]}

In many towns in Germany and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas market or "Weihnachtsmarkt". In southern Germany and Austria it is sometimes called a "Christkind(e)l(s)markt" (German language, literally meaning "Christ child market"). Generally held in the town square and adjacent pedestrian zones, the market sells food, drink, and seasonal items from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. On opening nights (and in some towns more often) onlookers welcome the "Christkind", or boy Jesus, acted out by a local child.

Attractions and stalls

Toulouse, France

Popular attractions at the market include the Nativity Scene (a crèche or crib), Zwetschgamännla (figures made of decorated dried plums), Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers), Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread), Christstollen (Stollen), a sort of egg bread with candied fruit, Bratwurst, and for many visitors one of the highlights of the market: Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy), or Eierpunsch (an egg-based warm alcoholic drink). Both help stave off the cold winter air which sometimes dips below freezing. Many other handmade items, toys, books, Christmas tree decorations and ornaments (and in recent years less useful gadgets) can be found at a Christkindlmarkt.

Markets around the world

Chicago, United States

Sibiu, Romania

Famous Christmas markets are held in the cities of Erfurt, Nuremberg, Dresden, Stuttgart and Augsburg making them popular tourist attractions. The Nuremberg and Dresden markets draw about two million people each year; the Stuttgart market attracts more than three million visitors.

Strasbourg, France has been holding a Christmas market, "Christkindelsmärik," around its cathedral since 1570, when it was part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.

Christmas markets are traditional in Alsace (an area of France with a heavy German influence) and most of the towns have their local Christmas market.

In 1982 Lincoln, England established an annual Christmas market in early December, and this remains the most extensive such market by area in the United Kingdom, with a claimed total of over 300 stalls attracting more than 100,000 visitors over its four days. Large Christmas markets are also held in England in Leeds and Birmingham, with visiting traders from Frankfurt.Glasgow, Manchester, and Nottingham also hold similar markets; with Manchester having around 200 stalls in 2007, attracting nearly 1.2 million visitors over five weeks.

German immigrants also brought the Christmas market celebrations to the United States.

Since 2007, a traditional Christmas market is held for the first time in Sibiu, Romania. The first of its kind in Romania, it is inspired by Viennese Christmas markets. It was held in the "Lesser Square" (Piața Mică) had 38 small stalls, a small stage and an area dedicated to children, having several mechanical attractions installed there. The 2008 edition was held in the "Grand Square" and had the same number of stalls, but a bigger stage was installed, where Christmas carols concerts were held. A new attraction was an ice skating rink. The third edition, 2009, is also held in the Grand Square of the town Sibiu, has over 70 stalls where merchants from all over Romania sell their goods. A stage, an ice skating rink and an area dedicated to mechanical installations for children are installed.

Glühwein !!!

2010-03-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. Nowadays, it is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.

Mulled wine

Glühwein

Glühwein is popular in German-speaking countries and the region of Alsace in France. It is the traditional beverage offered and drunk on Weihnachtsmärkten. It is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. Fruit wines such as blueberry wine and cherry wine are rarely used instead of grape wine in Germany. Glühwein is drunk pure or "mit Schuss", which means there is rum or liqueur added. The French name is vin chaud (hot wine).

The oldest Glühwein tankard is documented in the high noble German and first Riesling grower of the world, Count John IV. of Katzenelnbogen around 1420. This gold-plated lockable silver tankard imitating the traditional wine woven wooden can is called Welcome.^[1]

In Romania it is called vin fiert ("boiled wine"), and can be made using either red or white wine, sometimes adding peppercorn.

In Moldova the izvar is made from red wine with black pepper and honey.

In Italy, mulled wine is typical in the northern part of the country and is called vin brulé.

In Latvia it is called karstvīns ("hot wine"). When out of wine, it is prepared using grape (or currant) juice and Riga Black Balsam.

Glögg

Warm mulled pear juice, alcohol-free drink.

Glögg is the term for mulled wine in the Nordic countries (sometimes misspelled as glog or glug); in (Swedish and Icelandic: Glögg, Norwegian and Danish: Gløgg, Finnish and Estonian: Glögi). Non-alcoholic glögg can be bought ready-made or prepared with fruit juices instead of wine. The main classic ingredients are (usually) red wine, sugar or syrup, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit or brandy. In Sweden, glögg spice extract can be purchased at the chemist. To prepare glögg, spices and/or spice extract are mixed into the wine, which is then heated to 60°-70° Celsius (140°-158° Fahrenheit). The temperature should not be allowed to rise above 78.4° Celsius (173.12° Fahrenheit) in order to avoid evaporation of the alcohol. When preparing home-made glögg using spices, the hot mixture is allowed to infuse for at least an hour, often longer, and then reheated before serving. In Sweden ready-made wine glögg is normally sold ready to heat and serve and not in concentrate or extract form. Glögg is generally served with raisins, blanched almonds and gingerbread, and is a popular hot drink during the Christmas season.

All over Scandinavia 'glögg parties' are often held during the month before Christmas.^[2] In Sweden, ginger bread and lussebullar (also called lussekatter), a type of sweet bun with saffron and raisins, are typically served. It is also traditionally served at Julbord, the Christmas buffet. In Denmark, gløgg parties typically include æbleskiver sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied with strawberry marmalade. In Norway gløgg parties with gløgg and rice pudding (Norwegian: riskrem) are common. In such cases the word graut-/grøtfest is more precise, taking the name from the rice pudding which is served as a course. Typically, the gløgg is drunk before eating the rice pudding, which is often served with cold, red cordial (saus).

Glögg recipes vary widely; variations with white wine or sweet wines such as Madeira, or spirits such as brandy are also popular. Glögg can also be made alcohol-free by replacing the wine with fruit or berry juices (often blackcurrant) or by boiling the glögg for a few minutes to evaporate the alcohol. Glögg is very similar in taste to modern Wassail or mulled cider.

British mulled wine

Cover of Mrs Beeton's book

A traditional recipe can be found in Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management at paragraph 1961 on page 929 to 930 of the revised edition dated 1869:

1961.-TO MULL WINE.
INGREDIENTS.- To every pint of wine allow 1 large cupful of water, sugar and spice to taste.

Mode.-In making preparations like the above, it is very difficult to give the exact proportions of ingredients like sugar and spice, as what quantity might suit one person would be to another quite distasteful. Boil the spice in the water until the flavour is extracted, then add the wine and sugar, and bring the whole to the boiling-point, when serve with strips of crisp dry toast, or with biscuits. The spices usually used for mulled wine are cloves, grated nutmeg, and cinnamon or mace. Any kind of wine may be mulled, but port and claret are those usually selected for the purpose; and the latter requires a very large proportion of sugar. The vessel that the wine is boiled in must be delicately cleaned, and should be kept exclusively for the purpose. Small tin warmers may be purchased for a trifle, which are more suitable than saucepans, as, if the latter are not scrupulously clean, they spoil the wine, by imparting to it a very disagreeable flavour. These warmers should be used for no other purpose.

Navegado

Navegado is a kind of mulled wine typically from Chile it is also called Candola in Concepción. The word navegado comes from the Spanish navegar meaning to navigate or sail. Navegado is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and sugar. Almonds and raisins are often added.

Personaly, I've tasted a very nice new Glühwein which is based on white wine and cherries in Strasbourg. I think it may be better than the classic one.

Tea Party

2010-03-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

3D/2D short film picturing a French famous children song with Vincent Techer :

- Codirecting and artistic direction
- Animation
- Character and environment modeling/texturing
- Designs
- Matte paintings
- Part of compositing
- Montage
- Storyboard
- Part of sounddesign

Tea Party from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

2D Animatic of Tea Party :

2D Animatic Tea Party from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Josephine

2010-03-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

3D graduation short film about the famous black dancer of the 30's named Josephine Baker. Directed by Nicolas Decatoire, Nicolas d'Haussy, Martin Uyttebroeck and Solène Chan-Lam.

- part of storyboard and animatics
- characters modeling : big lady and generic male
- props/environment modeling : swing with wings, fruits, bottles
- texturing : big lady and handpainted props (fruits, feathers, bottles)
- skinning
- sheduling

Trailer Josephine Supinfocom Solène Chan-Lam from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Showreel 2010

2010-03-04T13:08:00.001-08:00

Showreel 2011 Solène Chan-Lam from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Bave Circus

2010-03-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

Full 2D traditional animation of the ending credits of "Bave Circus" which is an ending studies short film of SUPINFOCOM 2008 directing by Philippe Desfretier, Nicolas Dufresne, Sylvain Kauffmann and Martin Laugero.

Official website here : Bave Circus

Générique Bave Circus Solène Chan-Lam Supinfocom 2008 from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

Emagiciens 2005

2010-03-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

Ending credits for the Emagiciens' event : meeting of students in digital creation and professionals.

Official website : Emagiciens

Générique Emagiciens 2005 Solène Chan-Lam Supinfocom from Solène Chan-Lam on Vimeo.

3D

2010-03-04T12:41:00.001-08:00

Tea Party : http://vimeo.com/9869522
A short film picturing a French children song. Directed by Voichon (Vincent Techer) and Pollen (Solene Chan-Lam) :

- Codirecting and artistic direction
- Animation
- Character and environment modeling/texturing
- Designs
- Matte paintings
- Part of compositing
- Montage
- Storyboard
- Part of sounddesign

Tea Party's pics' prints are available in HD : A4, A3 (details in the shop and commissions' subject).

Directing steps of Tea Party :

Character designs

Deer's house design

Ending credits matte painting

Deer's inner house matte painting : it's all blured because it was far away from the camera

A matte painting for a shot which doesn't exist anymore in the final short film. I didn't put the other matte paintings I've done because they're already above in the final 3D composited rendered pics.

3D work :
Modeling, Lighting

Josephine : http://vimeo.com/2861384
3D graduation short film about the famous black dancer of the 30's named Josephine Baker.
Directed by Nicolas Decatoire, Nicolas d'Haussy, Martin Uyttebroeck and Solène Chan-Lam.

- codirection
- part of storyboard and animatics
- characters modeling : big lady and generic male
- props/environment modeling : swing with wings, fruits, bottles
- texturing : big lady and handpainted props (fruits, feathers, bottles)
- skinning
- planning

3D work :
Modeling, Texturing, Shading, Lighting

3D work :
after having learned 3DSmax at school, Maya on Tea Party, now I feel comfortable with Softimage XSI

Rabbids go Home / Ubisoft
Environment and some interactives props modeling

3D Training course at A3 Plus :
Part of modeling (shared with an other trainee) and shading

Photography and 2D Pro

2010-03-04T12:18:00.001-08:00

Personal Works

2010-03-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Ballon's festival and the graceful girl

/ Photoshop
Available in a 16/9 format integrated in an A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Jungle Fever
/ Photoshop / Painter
Available in a 16/9 format integrated in an A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Cappuccino
/ Photoshop
Available in HD : A4, A3, A2, A1 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Happyland (for BeBrainy alternative social network)
/ Photoshop
Available in : A4, A3, A2, (the bebrainy banner can be deleted details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Housing causes (for BeBrainy alternative social network)
/ Photoshop
Available in HD : A4, A3, A2, A1 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Das Traum für kleine Mädchen
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Looking like a "Gap" ad
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The women with necklace
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The Sport
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The Music
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The reader
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

The Tyrolean
/ Photoshop
Available in A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Daily training
/Photoshop

I'm a practitioner but not a believer
/ Photoshop

Become fan of God
/ Photoshop Still life with three teapots
/ Oil painting Still life about music
/ Oil painting Still life with apple
/ Oil painting Still life with a tint of the south of France
/ Oil painting
Plants study
/ Oil painting Paris and the cloudy sky
/ Oil painting Still life of an oriental chemist work's material
/ Oil painting

Mix of imagination and real sea's landscape
/ Mix of pastels and India ink

Mix of Mont-Saint-Michel and what you want
/ Oil painting

The tree butterflies
/ Photoshop

Still life of pitchers
/ Watercolor

Easter's colored eggs and spoon
/ Watercolor The Rainbow
/ Coloring pens Still life with an artichoke
/ coloring pencils

Perfumes in my children room
/ Pastels

Still life of countryside
/ Cuted paper

Still life with top hat, umbrella and luxury chair
/ Charcoal

Sitll life in the kitchen
/ Charcoal Still life of the easel and cloth
/ Pencil The contemptuous girl
/ Pencil The Muse
/ Pencil Poses Clés
Available in HD : A4 (details in the Shop and Comissions' subject).

Monochrome of a sculpture
/ White pencil

Mix of observation drawings
/ Charcoal Hands studies
/ Charcoal Tap
/ India ink Portrait
/ India ink Teddy bears
/ India ink

Citrus fruits /
Gouache

Victoria Ãlbert Museum - London- / February 2010

2010-03-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

Awesome !!!
Fashion, Jewellery, cultural art like Arab carpets, Indonesian figurines, Asian traditionnal wear ...
It's a bit like our "Quai Branly" parisian Museum, but less primitive and more current. It's opened to every kind of art, even like painting (Titien, and other famous painters).

The National Gallery - London - / February 2010

2010-03-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

Stucked on the National Portrait Gallery, it's one of the most beautiful collection I have seen in London's Museums. What a surprise when I saw 2 paintings of two of my favorite painters artists : Odilon Redon and Gustav Klimt. Furthermore, there are so many artistic movements here and very famous painters for each mouvements. Like Van der Weyden and Van Eyck (Les époux Arnolfini) for the Flemish art painting, and Monet, VanGogh, Toulouse Lautrec, Pissaro, Cézanne for the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Seurat for the Pointillism ... It's a really big Gallery !

The National Portrait Gallery - London - / february 2010

2010-03-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

A huge collection of classical portraits on the 2nd floor. On the 1rst floor, focuses more about the british royal family (Lady Diana, prince Charles and sons, and then a great portrait of Queen Elisabeth by Andy Warhol), with more famous artists. And downstairs, it's more photography, really interesting.

The British Museum / octobre 2009

2010-03-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

a bit disappointing regarding the notoriety it has got.
Nevertheless, there's a great asian and greek ceramic collection.
My point of view is that is nicer for tourists.

Playing like children

2010-01-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

Le petit Nicolas / Mairie de Paris mai 2009

2009-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Very nice panorama of Sempé's illustrations and Goscinny's stories. Funny real children pictures
This is a recent event with the movie's release on screens.

Size of an A4

2009-07-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

2009-04-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

2009

Prague's Synagogues :

Jews cimetery, spanish Synagogue, ...

2009-03-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

2009

The Czech Cubism's Museum :
Situated in the city of Prague, you can learn here, that only Czech artists, applied the cubism artistic mouvement to the architecture and the design of furnitures. Very little Museum like most of Prague's Museum, it's a very interesting place to see nice unusual works.

2009-03-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

2009

Mucha's Prague Museum :
Works of the famous painter Mucha.
I like Mucha a lot and Art Nouveau too by the way !
I enjoyed it and advise this to you !

2009-03-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

2009

Prague's Toy's Museum :
barbies, robots, dolls...

You can't visit this museum without feeling young again !

Mon beau sapin !!!

2009-02-11T06:17:00.000-08:00

Oh Tannenbaum

Oh Tannenbaum, oh Tannenbaum
Wie treu sind Deine Blätter
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit
Nein auch im Winter wenn es schneit
Oh Tannenbaum, oh Tannenbaum
Wie treu sind Deine Blätter

[Oh Tannenbaum, oh Tannenbaum
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft zu aller Zeit
Oh Tannenbaum, oh Tannenbaum
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren]

((Ich kenne ein Bäumchen...))

Ich kenne ein Bäumchen
Gar fein und zart
Das trägt euch Früchte seltener Art
Es funkelt und leuchtet in hellem Schein
Weit in des Winters Nacht hinein

2009-02-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

Rezept Kulleraugen :

Zutaten:

175 g Mehl
1 gestrichener Tl. Backpulver
60 g Zucker
1 Päckchen Vanillezucker
1 Prise Salz
2 Eigelb
100 g Butter
2 Eiweiß
ca 75 g gehackte Mandeln (Dekormandeln)
Marmelade, z.B. Erdbeer oder Johannisbeer

Mehl und Backpulver in eine Rührschüssel sieben, Eigelb, Butter, Salz, Zucker und Vanillezucker nacheinander dazugeben und mit dem Rührgerät mit Knethaken zu einem Teig verarbeiten. Den Teig zu einer Kugel formen in Frischhaltefolie wickeln und eine halbe Stunde kühl stellen.

Ein Backblech mit Backpapier auslegen. Das Eiweiß und die gehackten Mandeln in eine kleine Schüsseln geben. Backoffen schon mal auf 180 Grad vorheizen.

Den Teig aus dem Kühlschrank nehmen und aus kleinen Teigstücken Kuglen mit ca 2 cm Durchmesser formen. Zuerst in das Eiweiß tauchen und anschließend in den Mandeln wälzen. Die Kugeln auf das Blech geben und mit dem kleinen Finger oder dem Stiel eines Kochlöffels in jede Kugel ein nicht zu tiefes Loch für die Marmelade drücken.

In den vorgeheizten Backofen geben und bei 180 Grad (160 Grad Heißluft) etwa 15 Minuten backen. Während des Backens einen Blick in den Ofen werfen und gegebenenfalls die Löcher mit dem Ende eines Kochlöffels nachdücken.

Nach dem Backen die Marmelade in die Plätzchen geben, z. B. mit Hilfe einer Spritztüte.

Am besten geht es zu zweit. Einer taucht die Kugeln in das Eiweiß und gibt sie in die Mandeln. Der andere wälzt sie in den Mandeln und drückt auf dem Backblech das Loch hinein.

2009-02-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

When I was young

Gaùdi buildings and construstions in Barcelona, Spain :

I remember the happy colors. I like this colors, i like to touch a works and use it as a sit under the spanish sun.

2009-02-02T16:22:00.000-08:00

...so many times

Centre Georges Pompidou Paris :
Modern Art Museum

I went there when I was young. An other time with my plastic arts teacher with my college and with a guide. An other time as accompanist for children (the best time) with a children guide, who choses very well the works for them. An other time for the "journée du patrimoine" : visit about the architecture of the Museum.

2009-02-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

2005 and an other time, I don't remember when...

Le Musée Grévin Paris :
wax's statues

Funny to come with friends !

2009-02-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

2006

Paris Carnavalet Museum :
sculptures, paintings...

Such a weird Museum. I went there for curiosity, it's a free parisien museum. It's as if nothing was lined up. The rooms are small and are full of objects, it's like a loft. The works are not so great but I found this very funny to visit this alone :)

2009-02-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

I went there too many times, that I don't remember of all.

Musée d'Orsay Paris

It's here where I falled in love with an artist and his painting : Les yeux clos/Odilon Redon. That's when I was ten. Many impressionists, many sculptures. The Museum was previously a railway station and there are so much tourists.

2009-02-02T15:51:00.001-08:00

1996 and 2006, both with my teacher of 1996

Auvers-sur-Oise et Van Gogh :
a great part of Van Gogh's life

I went there first as a child who's visiting and learn. Then I went as an adult and accompanist for children who were same years' old that I was.
Learning through children eyes is so exciting. We've seen the church Van Gogh has painted, but this time we saw this in real life. We walked after him to the cimetry where he is now, next to his brother Théo.

2009-02-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

May 2005

La Piscine de Roubaix :
sculpture, paintings, sketches...

The landscape was amazing. What i found desappointing was that the exhibitions weren't so beautiful than the environment.
Especially the temporarily exhibitions of De Niro's paintings. I'm not really a fan. Nevertheless this Museum is so special that i would like to come back.

2009-02-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Summer 2007 and Summer 2008
The Tate Modern in London :
Modern Art Museum

I really like this museum.
Free and good things to see.
Some pop art paintings, some cubist one, some abstracts one, ...
Very different things and that's what i like in this museum. Everything in a big space :)

2009-02-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

Summer 2008
Anne Frank House Museum in Amsterdam :
life of two hidden jewish families during the second world war

I felt totally as if I were still studying german history in the european class. The house was sooo small, i can't imagine how they could live there...

Very instructive

2009-02-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Summer 2008
VanGogh's Museum of Amsterdam :

A very big museum : with many famous paintings not only from Van Gogh, but some single works of Picasso, Matisse and other famous artists.
The higher floor was dedicated to Malevitch, pioneer of the suprematism art until a new modern art Museum open not far away.

So cool !!!

2009-02-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

Summer 2008
Amsterdam's Riksjmuseum :
Museum of Art and History.

Magnificent selection of Dutch paintings from the Golden Age including great paintings of Vermeer. Very impressive colors and very small size of works.

:) POLLEN :)

WELCOME !

Bad Guys for La Salle polyvalente collective

Texturing Reel 2012

Musée du Quai branly - Paris - December 2011

John Carter 2nd trailer

Nathalie's Commision - The oriental forest

The Monsters of the forestfor La Salle Polyvalente collective

The white haired muse in SUPA GIF

The blond muse SUPA GIF

Other Links

Lali Puna / Move on music video

About

John Carter of Mars Trailer

SUMMER - for La Salle Polyvalente collective

Grand Palais - Paris - Juin 2011

Come back to traditional painting

Showreel 2011

Alice Madness return @ Passion Pictures

Annnnddd an other Meerkat with some characters I've textured

Latest Compare the Meerkat I worked on

Tha MUG !!!

Rings and broaches

O2's ad Making of at the Mill

Compare the Meerkat

Happy birthday Xavier !

Lady in supa gif

Puzzles

Jess's commission : Over the rainbow

Popsicles

evening painting

Alice Madness Returns

Interview on VDM

Tate Britain - London - July 2010 -

Royal Academy of arts - London - July 2010-

Guillaume's birthday wishes (the Egyptian girl)

La parade des vieux

Turntables O2

Tea Parties are my favourite meals

Weird Candies, creative jewels and sewing kit

My neighbour's daughters

Happy Cooking

Plants

Montpellier's Aquarium

My mother's cat

Strawberry

Lunaret's zoo

My neighbour

Whatever

Supinfocom Links

Pretzel

History

Pretzels in German-speaking countries

Varieties

Festivals and customs around the pretzel

The pretzel as figure of speech

Pretzels in the United States of America

Pretzel bakers of United States of America (historical timeline)

Places, physical or meta-art forms, groups or organizations in the United States named for pretzels

Pretzels in other countries

Party pretzels

Weihnachtsmärkten

History

Attractions and stalls

Markets around the world

Glühwein !!!

Glühwein

Glögg

British mulled wine

Navegado

Tea Party

Josephine

Showreel 2010

Bave Circus

Emagiciens 2005

3D

Photography and 2D Pro

Personal Works

Victoria Ãlbert Museum - London- / February 2010

The National Gallery - London - / February 2010