José Naranja

12/09/2018

Ex-Libris rubber stamp

Time ago I designed my own Ex-Libris. Don't confuse with Sex-Libris.

I also explained the meaning of every symbol here. The general idea is about the 4 ways to get knowledge. I wanted to make it real as a rubber stamp when I went to Bangkok since I remember there were places there which can do it for about 3 EUR. Unfortunately that's not possible anymore, times goes on and I didn't complete this little project. Until now, in Bangkok again.

I'm very happy with the result. The fine details can be seen and the whole feeling is as great as I had in mind. Black areas are balanced and confortable to watch.

Maybe much pressure needs to be applied because of the large surface. A lesson learned for the next time.

Here some photos from the process.

05/09/2018

Torre de Cali

There are at least two ways to be isolated from the noise, pollution and hustle in general in a city: Moving far away to the outside or moving high to the sky. Horizontal or vertical move. Since I love high buildings, finding a nice skyscraper is the best solution: Located in the center and near everything.

The problem is usually there are too expensive. When I arrived to Cali and I saw not only the mentioned points but also the excessive delinquency I had the need to find a safe place. Prices are ok in Colombia so it's a good chance to try these kind of luxury accommodation for a time. First I tried a kind of peaceful hotel with a yard inside, really impressive with 60m2 rooms (very far from 3m2 rooms in Hong Kong). Then, most of the days, I stayed in Torre de Cali, the only and iconic building in the city. Style from the 80s but good quality.

Also huge rooms with massive windows to the city. I felt like a man in his lighthouse. Also protected in the sky and near everything at the same time. This building shaped my memories there.

Good weeks in Cali which I remember with love.

30/08/2018

Short video about my notebooks

People from https://www.loopsider.com/fr/ made this nice video.
Merci!

14/08/2018

Asia travel map

Ah, the art of maps... Many ways to develop a map, many of them fascinating. I'm always tempted to do a new style with risk of reaching nothing interesting but at the same time the only door to innovation. Simple and stylish, easy tools and clear for the eyes. Anyway old maps set the mark in a high level.

This is my route along part of Asia during last year. It looks like Bangkok is a magnetic point and I'm happy for it.

Thai temples

They are always a good reason to do some architecture sketches.
As I often say: "Each thing generates its like". Thai people generate these great shapes and curves same as their nature.

13/08/2018

About developed cultures

Japan is in the top 3 of my list of developed cultures. It's a very subjective list where criteria were selected after a lot of thinking. For example, focus on innovation and Science, an historic knowledge, background in thinking and arts, a certain level of order and cleaning, low impact of religions, etc. Let's appreciate this ramen as an example of dedication to detail. Even the colors have been chosen properly to create the whole work. And all like that.

Japan deserves same respect they practice.

Chinatown in Bangkok

09/08/2018

Galgo paper

Many people ask me which paper I use in my notebooks. I've using laid paper during the last years, cream color, 100g/m2. The brand I still use is Galgo, a classic Spanish brand which shows a "galgo" (a kind of dog) in the pages. It's great quality paper and it can stand fountain pen ink and small watercolors. What I love the most is the texture and feeling when it's touched. Something impossible to describe. I knew it was going to be "the paper" since I used for the first time.

Unfortunately Galgo factory closed not many years ago. It was a surprised for such a brand I remember since I was a child. I was able to keep a stock of paper for many notebooks ahead.

22/07/2018

The pessimistic chess player

Once upon a time a chess player so good he lost all the games.

His brilliant mind could calculate many moves from his adversary in advance. His body was so full of worries he finally surrendered with panic seeing only adversary’s win moves. Play a few moves, then surrender. Always the same. He not only don't win a game but also he don't enjoy the same.

Same as real life. Too many worries and seeing only the worst scenario is a paralyzer mindset. Let life flow with freedom.

Prints in new home's wall

I'm always happy when I see my pages find new homes. Specially thanks to Rita from Arizona (USA) for sending me this nice pictures. She has chosen great frames! Warm colors matching the drawings and high quality feeling.

All models are available now. Worldwide shipping. Buy directly here: http://josenaranja.blogspot.com/2016/07/prints-for-sale.html

16/06/2018

New skyscrapers in Shanghai. The modern cathedrals

During my first visit to Shanghai in 2007 Oriental Pearl (468m) and Jin Mao (420m) were the tallest building. World Finance Center was under construction.

Last time in 2017, ten years later, Shanghai Tower makes a huge different with 632m. And it's so beautiful. In just a few decades a place with not buildings at all has become the most amazing city view the mankind has ever seen. How was the evolution in the future? A Blade Runner scenario could be overcome of things evolve so fast.

Anyways Jin Mao will be always in my heart since it was the first skyscraper over 400m I went up.

Here a couple of photos from different point of views:

02/06/2018

Articles aired in media during the last weeks

I tried to compile here some of the articles published about my little journals.

They are written in many languages and from so many countries. I'm always surprised at the power of Internet. Thanks to the people who put their energy in every letter and took such warm interest in the interviews!

It's a quite long post. I added a link pointing to each website under each screenshot.