simple is beautiful
Copenhagen Cycle Chic - Streetstyle and Bike Advoc: "bike art"
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Showing posts with label "bike art". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "bike art". Show all posts

Monday, October 6, 2008

A Girl and a Bicycle By The Lakes

Lakeside Vision
She appeared quite unexpectedly, pushing her bike along, heels crunching on gravel. Eyes squinting as she enjoyed the warmth the sun provided. A whole world of emotion inside her head and all around her like an aura.

[I took this photo almost two years ago. I had completely forgotten about it and then I dreamt about it last night. So I thought I'd post it.]

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Art and Things

Janet Karam Funkytown Art
We've been looking forward to the next piece from our favourite artist, Janet Karam. This time she interpreted our most iconic photo:
Fashionista on Wheels *
Thanks again, Janet!

Overtaking Off the Light
Overtaking off the light.
Coasting
Coasting towards the light.
Summer Suit
Copenhagen summer cycle wear.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Artsy Fartsy Saturday

Intersectionism
Been busy today. Guests have just gone home. Figured it was time for some artsy-fartsty cycleliciousness from the Copenhagen Cycle Chic/Copenhagenize archives.
Grainbike

Half

Bike and Skirt

Dual Shadowism

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Guest Photos and Guest Art

Another Sunday round of Guest Photos and even more guest art. Enjoy.
Guest Photo from Christopher in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Lousiana, USA - Christopher looking dapper on his fine ride.
Guest Art from Laura in Chicago
Laura in Chicago was inspired by one of our photos and produced the splendid artwork above - based on the photo below. Thanks for showing us, Laura! It's lovely.
Streetstyle *

Guest Photo from California
California, USA - from Alan.
Guest Photo from Munich
Munich/München.
Guest Drawing from Parimal in India
A drawing from the very lovely Parimal in India - read her other contribution here on cycling in India.
Dear Friends,

I love pictures of victorian women riding on bicycles, but the kind of angle and effect I wanted to capture were nowhere to be found. So I got to work using a stiff paper, dark and light pencils, eraser, and a magnifying glass. The magic I have created is there for you to see and admire. I have named the picture "ELIZABETH RIDES A BICYCLE" : it shows a young English lady riding happily while she waves to a friend. It is supposed to be a classic picture, dating back to the 1920s or so. The image was scanned, and contrast and colour balance adjusted to give the sepia tone you see.

Next time you find something that takes your fancy and is difficult to shoot, try using art to get the effect you want. And best of luck !!

Best regards, Parimal

Friday, May 16, 2008

This and That from Here and There

Painting by Janet Karam from Funkytown Art
Another brilliant painting by Janet Karam, inspired by one of my photos. Art imitates art once again. This one was inspired by this photo:
Classic Copenhagen *
Janet's Blog.
Janet's website - Funkytown Art.

Taking a literary angle, Inge in Antwerpen has a Dutch literature blog called Plankje Ongeregeld and she interviewed me for a new feature on her blog - Bloggers Read and Tell. Now I'm looking forward to photos/reportage about her and her new black Oma bike. :-)

Michael in Brooklyn has a cool blog started up. Drunk and In Charge of a Bicycle. Michael and his roommates have been discussing getting cool 'normal' bikes and they are all casting themselves into the fray. Michael had a poll on his blog about what bike his should buy. Either an Azor Opa [some Dutch contraption] or a Velorbis Churchill [bespoke Danish elegance and exquisite design]. Needless to say, the Velorbis won the Euro-challenge.

Michael will be posting about his new bike and his travels in NYC as they happen. He is also compiling a list of dealers/distributors for various European-style bikes in the States, which should come in handy for those of you who are in the market for one.

Pure Copenhagen in Portland by Patrick Finn
We have a backlog of guest photos itching to get online so we'll start with another photo from Patrick in Portland. Pure Copenhagen.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Guest Photos: From Everywhere.

This whole guest photo thing is really snowballing. It's wonderful to recieve so many photos from around the world. Thanks to everyone who thinks of us and sends them along.
For those of you out there who use Flickr, I've started a group - Cycle Chic Global Pool - to which you can add your photos. That makes it easier for me to blog them. Don't despair if you don't use Flickr, just mail them along to us. Right then. Here goes. A super slough of global cycle chic:


Like so many others, I turn frequently to your blog to see the latest of your inevitably smile-inducing pictures and commentaries on Copenhagen's chic and sane cycling culture. Thank you for sharing the simple joys of daily life on your city's streets and beautiful blue bike paths.
Tom [in Tuscon, USA]



From Lisbon, passing thru London on her way to happiness. The only thing comparable to cycling is watching a girl on a bicycle. Isn't it? Thanks for the photos you give us all. Best regards, Humberto.


Dear Chic Copenhagen Cyclists: Here is a picture of my freind Gypsie, who works at Aaron's Bicycle Repair, in Seattle. She usually rides a beautifully customized all red XtraCycle, but here she shows how a European bag and bike can add some style to an already enchanting ensemble. February in Seattle is treating us pretty well. Val.


Here come some cycle men from Japan! Picture is taken in April 2007.
With best regards, Alo, Estonia.



I must say the site is absolutely astounding. I was in Copenhagen in November and absolutely fell in love with the city because of the people and the mass bike culture. This is a picture of my wife who cycles with me pretty much everywhere. The picture was taken in October, there is snow everywhere now. Edmonton has a wonderful network of MUPs that follow the river valley that twists through the city itself. It makes it quick to travel from residential areas to the University or Downtown core by bike. It also connects to the velodrome! My commute is significantly quicker by bike than car, even in -25C weather.

Keep the information and great pictures coming, it is starting to be seen in the student population at the University. Fixies are disappearing and lovely girls and boys are seen dressed nicely on useful city bikes.
Cheers! Samuel



Another piece on cycling in India - Read Parimal's first one here.
Dear Sir,
I recently drew an illustration for a competition, showing an Indian woman riding a bicycle with her daughter in front. This is a common sight here on the streets. I didn't win a prize, but I feel you may like the picture.

The standard ladies loop frame is common enough in India even today. This kind of frame is preferred by most ladies as it is sturdier, and provides enough clearance for the flowing 'sarees' we wear. I love straddling a loop frame : it makes me feel so womanly. Someone even once told me that a lady riding a loop frame is a romantic sight!

Despite the growing band of women who have taken to the scooterette, I prefer to stay with those faithful sisters who find their greatest pleasure in jumping onto a saddle and riding away lustily.
Best regards, Parimal.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Denmark Land of Smiles and Peace, Apparently

Denmark
Retro tourism poster from the 1950's [we think] promoting Denmark as a tourist destination. Using that quintessential icon of Danishness - Woman on Bike. Once again, once again... it's not just us. We are merely continuing a century long tradition with this blog. The child's seat in the artwork is still in use today. Great to have the kid up front as opposed to sitting on a plastic contraption behind you.
Truth
'The Spirit of the Wheel', above, was one of the many images celebrating the bicycle's liberating quality back in the bicycle boom at the end of the 1800's.

Ironically the artwork is from the cover of the New York magazine 'Truth' back on 22 August 1896. Something went horribly wrong 'over there' between then and now.:-)

And while we're on this retro journey, here's a film still from Hitchcock's 'Topaz', filmed in Copenhagen and, not surprisingly, featuring a girl on a bike.
Hitchcock in Copenhagen

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