Hastings goes to YCN

Throughout February, a collection of Hastings-based artists and designers will be offering their wares for sale in the YCN Shop & Library at 72 Rivington Street. Curated by YCN with local lighting designer Phillip Oakley, “Tasting Hastings” sets out to celebrate the burgeoning community of craftspeople living and working in the seaside town.

Artists will include the ceramicist Judith Rowe, Leigh Dyer with his metalwork and Susan Elliot who creates mosaics.

YCN curator Lucy Kenyon says:"....Hastings is one of the most curious and charming of England’s seaside towns. It’s an honour to host this group, and we hope to please as many people as possible with their products”.

To take a look follow this link:

http://shop.ycnonline.com/news/post/6188/tasting-hastings-the-seaside-comes-to-shoreditch/

Leo Fitzmaurice

Take a look at this work by Fine Artist Leo Fitzmaurice who makes his work by recycling found objects. He says there are too many objects in the world already to want to add to the supply so instead he reviews what is there already.

Here's a nice little football shirt made from cigarette cards.

http://www.northernartprize.org.uk/2011-prize/shortlist/leo-fitzmaurice-1

Creative Quarterly call for entries

http://www.cqjournal.com/callforentries.html

This looks pretty good, and is relatively very cheap to enter.

stop-frame advert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKxUqgStyKk&feature=youtu.be

issuu - artists' magazines

http://issuu.com/garethc/docs/viewer_09_final_issuu

Jellymongers

For those making illustrations based upon food....take a look at this:

http://www.jellymongers.co.uk/

Call to Artists

Pop-up Brighton have a new exhibition coming up in May and for this show artists will be required to work alongside musicians. They will pair up a visual artist and a musician for three months and the visual artist will produce a video / painting / installation piece to the music, ending in a one off event in Brighton of a night of live music and art.
They need to get video artists, illustrators and fine artists involved and want to give the opportunity to Brighton students.
After selecting each artist and letting the music artist choose the visual artist they will marry the pair together for three months so they can collaborate and make something spectacular.
This will end in a night of live music and visual art merging together in a venue in Brighton during April / May 2012

If you are interested send jpegs of your work to popupbrighton@gmail.com with the title 'music&art'

For more information visit www.popupbrighton.com <http://www.popupbrighton.com>

DEADLINE 27th JANUARY

Jerome Ince-Mitchell

Merry Christmas everyone

Merry Christmas everyone

Day Trippers

Day Trippers

The last of the summer....... And what a stunning place to live in. Year 1 students out drawing on East Hill with Peter Quinnell.

Kids drawings made Real

Kids drawings made Real

http://thechive.com/2010/04/06/moster-engine-brings-childrens-drawings-to-life-11-photos/

Just stumbled onto this interesting and hilarious article which features kids drawings made up by professionals.

It's interesting how quickly we forgive children for some of this stuff, because some of it is downright terrifying.

'Wonder Woman' is my own personal favourite.

josh

George Hardie Illustrator and Collector

George Hardie Illustrator and Collector

Professor George Hardie teaches on the postgraduate Illustration course at the University of Brighton as well as teaching internationally. He is an avid collector of objects which take his eye. As he has said, they choose him rather than he them. This has led him to make collections of any object which can easily take the form of a tree and objects that take the form of hands. This interest impacts on his work and can clearly be seen on some of the images you can find on the following links.


http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/staff/hardie,-george


http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=George+Hardie&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=oNvcToikHsHBhAeZup2RBw&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=850

Ami Freed's dog (or someone else's).

Ami Freed's dog (or someone else's).

Ami has just completed this drawing as an informal commission.

Captain Pugwash at the Stormont Studios in Rye - A Retrospective

Captain Pugwash at the Stormont Studios in Rye - A Retrospective

19 November until mid February 2012

'John Ryan, the author, illustrator and animator, who died on July 22 2009,in his home town of Rye aged 88, created Captain Pugwash, who became much loved on children’s television in the 1970s; he also devised The Adventures of Sir Prancelot and Mary, Mungo and Midge. Launched by Ryan in the first issue of Eagle comic in 1950, Captain Horatio Pugwash soon became a children’s favourite and an eight-year stint as a comic strip in Radio Times followed. In 1957 Pugwash and his crew aboard the Black Pig — Tom the cabin boy, Willy, Barnabas and Pugwash’s deadly enemy Cut-Throat Jake — made their debut in Ryan’s long-running series for BBC Television. During his long career, he created many other characters and produced a large body of work including numerous books and artworks. This exhibition celebrates his life and work through his art.'

Self-publishing

http://www.hexjibber.com/2011/hexjibber-hobbies-vol-1-out-now/

This person seems to be pretty sorted out

The Apple and the Egg

Take a look at this blog which is dedicated to children's book design and illustration. There are lots of video clips and examples of beautifully illustrated books. Particular favourites are Mark Boutavant and Lele Luzzati

http://twisted-genius.squarespace.com

You might be interested....

For those of you who love comics, and to those in the second yrs for your essay.

http://coveredblog.blogspot.com/

Newish agency - have signed Hannah Rollings

http://www.eyecandy.co.uk/index.htm

2 Cool Things

Here are two things that might interest everyone -- the first is just a video on doodling that I thought was brilliant:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sunni_brown.html

The second could be good for anyone who wants to do some freelance work as a part of their professional practice, or just in hopes of making some extra cash in general:

http://99designs.com/

Enjoy!
Julie Plantecoste Year 2

Artyfacts

Artyfacts is a monthly newsletter for artists and designers. It carries job vacancies, exhibition opportunities, details of awards, competitions, commissions, and residencies etc. It is particularly useful for art and design students who want to continue in professional practice after graduation.

Current students and staff can also access Artyfacts on studentcentral (login required).

Animated Films

Take a look at this site where you can see a range of contemporary animated films. An inspiration for the animation unit which will be delivered starting before Christmas and also for illustration in it's own right. www.animateprojects.org/films

YCN

For those in year 2 who are looking for placements you MUST make regular visits to the YCN site. They are currently looking for students or recent graduates to work on a project. To apply you will need to submit a digital portfolio or direct them to your website. Even making an application, if fully documented, will count towards your professional practice.
I found this opportunity very quickly and would think that there are many more on this site. In addition it has lots of useful advice and information for anyone studying illustration. If you're serious about your subject make frequent visits.


http://awards.ycnonline.com/
http://agency.ycnonline.com/

Hannah Rollings - My Travel Journal

28 June 2011

DESIGN LONDON: Hannah Rollings - My Travel Journal

DESIGN LONDON: Hannah Rollings - My Travel Journal

Andy Smith's exhibition

Andy Smith is having an exhibition of his work in Bristol over the summer. If you're in the area take the opportunity to drop in.

Sunny Side Up'
Exhibition by Andy Smith at Soma Gallery, Bristol
25th June 2011 - 20th August 2011

Take another look at Andy's work on these websites:
www.somagallery.co.uk
www.asmithillustration.com

The Legibility of Type

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Olny 55% of plepoe can

Andy Smith

Andy Smith is based in Hastings. Whilst he comes into college to use the printmaking facilities to make screenprints and books which he sells on his website he generally uses photoshop to fulfill illustration commissions. They have a strong printed quality which is conveyed through a broken printed texture and dramatic compositions. He's particularly good at taking small scale, almost doodles and then enlarging these; he does this in a way which maintains their freshness and life. He's in big demand for his lettering.

You've probably seen his work around. He frequently works for the Guardian.

More illustrations from the New York Times.com

And if you enjoyed that you may enjoy this. The New York Times.com have compiled this collection of editorial illustration. Again the concepts ring loud and clear. Here, however, you can see how the illustration works within the visual context of the page. This is quite different form seeing just the image: in situ it has to compete with a sea of type.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/12/28/opinion/20091228_2009-OPART.html?hp

Illustration Highlights from the New York Times.com

The New York Times.com are showcasing outstanding editorial illustration from 2010. The illustration shown by Edel Rodriguez accompanied an article entitled 'Prosecuting Crimes Against the Earth". The link is unmissable; the illustration makes the point directly and succinctly. This is the challenge which editorial illustration offers. See more examples using this link http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/30/opinion/20101230_notableart.html?ref=opinion

beutifuldecay.co

Came across this site accidentally but its definitely worth a look, features the work, interviews and videos of some top illustrators and graphic designers,with some real nice art work on the site. http://beautifuldecay.com/

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on

Take a look at this cute cute animation and think of life from the point of view of a snail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF9-sEbqDvU

Peep Show

Peepshow was organised in 2000 by a group of graduating students from the University of Brighton as a way of promoting their work and working collaboratively on joint projects. They've done some exciting work in more traditional areas of illustration but have also produced some very accomplished mixed media work.

Take a look at their website:

http://www.peepshow.org.uk

Ed Boxall's Christmas Open Studio

On Saturday 18th (11 to 6) I’ll be part of The Workship Christmas Open Studios on West Street, Old Town, Hastings- stroll down George Street on the day and you’ll find us.

My work is on sale at the usual places such the De La Warr Pavillion, Made in Hastings, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the iO gallery in Brighton ….and from Ed Boxall's site! http://edboxall.co.uk/

Hannah Cousins

Here is the link to Hannah Cousins who is now following the BA top-up at Camberwell School of Art after completing the FdA Illustration course. She says she doesn't add to it often but her angle is always an interesting one.

The above illustration is from a current project 'The a - z of Endangered Community Life'.

http://letsdrawmore.tumblr.com/

Escape from illustration island!

http://escapefromillustrationisland.com/

as recommended by Alice Larkin who is now following the BAtop-up delivered at SCCH.

Made in Hastings

If you haven't been already (and even if you have) you must visit Made in Hastings, a small but perfectly formed shop on the High Street in the Old Town. It is run by a group of creative people who are collectively working together to create a venue to sell their work. They also sell the work of others. Indeed they have just showcased the work of Jasmine Lapper Goodrum who graduated last year from the FdA Illustration course and that of Laura Burton who graduated from the FdA Graphic Communication course.

Selling work oils the process of making it in the first place. There are a range of ways this can be done and Made in Hastings sets an inspiring example.

Mark Olroyd and Battle Bonfire

This year Battle Bonfire is on the 6th December. Last year about 20,000 people attended the street procession and the bonfire itself. For those who missed the Hastings bonfire try to make it to this one. A particular attraction for illustrators is the work of Mark Olroyd who each year designs and makes the effigy. He chooses a topical theme which is always a closely guarded secret. The effigies are enormous. They explode in a dramatic fire storm at the end of the event. All this is a real contrast to Mark's illustrations which are very intricate.
See more about the bonfire on this previous Eyespy posting: http://eyespywithmyeye.blogspot.com/2009/10/mark-olroyd-and-battle-bonfire.html
And see more of Mark's illustrations: http://www.arenaworks.com/Artists/thumbsMarkOldroyd.html

You will need to get to Battle at about 7pm. The bonfire is lit at about 9.30pm. There are street stalls selling food.

Andrew Mockett

Andrew Mockett will be delivering a two day relief printmaking workshop. Andrew worked for many many years as a commercial illustrator. He works in relief printmaking using quite coarse plywood. Frustration with working to the briefs of others led him to start producing some very very beautiful hand printed books and more lately cardboard sculptures.

You can find out a little more about Andrew's work on this Made site.

http://madeuk.blogspot.com/2009/04/artist-of-week-andrew-mockett.html

Remember to take some imitation japanese paper to the workshop. You can buy it from the college shop.

Hannah Welch

Hannah chose to illustrate a series of passages from a trilogy of Vampire books. They told the tale of an earth populated by vampires and humans and a third group who, whilst human would soon to become vampires. This group were followed by a tracker who acted as a guardian. Hannah's interest in these books runs deep and she wanted to give expression to this in her illustrations. For the final show the artwork was reduced quite dramatically in scale and incorporated in a book layout. This gave more of a sense of how they would work in a published context. As always, Hannah's use of line has a real elegance.

Sofia Haider

Sofia Haider was provoked into making a response to a newspaper article about the uprooting of a community to make way for the World Cup juggernaut in South Africa. The people, generally poor and powerless, were moved from their homes to make way for the building of the stadium in Cape Town. Whilst football was the starting point Sofia's work became more about the oppressed and the powerful. Her work ultimately achieved a directness and accessibility as well as a distinctness of approach.

Environmental Disaster in Hastings by Nina Jorgensen

Disasters happen somewhere else. Or that's the impression given in the media. Here, however, Nina brings a disaster to Hastings. A overly exuberant plant takes hold and consumes the Victorian seafront. Familiar haunts are transformed. Nina worked on a vast scale; her piece of work was some five meters or so in length. All of this gave the impression that you could walk along the drawing passing shops and buildings drawn with intricate detail as if walking along the street itself. Nina's research was immense. She even went out in Peter Quinnell's dinghy to try to take photographs of the seafront from the sea but found that just photographing from the promenade did the trick just as well. A brave achievement.

Eastbourne High Street and Daniel Guest

Daniel Guest took a cold look at Eastbourne High Street. In particular he wanted to draw people who somehow conform with vague stereotypes of people from 'different classes of society'. He drew and drew, tried different approaches to drawing, recorded overheard snippets of conversation. By the end everything looked more subtle and more complicated and really very very subjective. However, in the meantime Daniel had drawn a whole host of very recognizable characters.

Anxiety by Holy Carman

Holly Carman took the theme of anxiety for her major project; she tried to get as close as she could to the experience. Anxiety is presented as a heavy weight to carry, one that necessitates the repeated pouring over and over of the same troubled thoughts. It carries with it a fragile heart and a dislocation from those around. Holly tried in the way she presented her work to express all of this but inevitably the individual drawings shone clearly and poignantly, all on scraps of paper as if desperately trying to exorcize these feelings.

Silas Mortillo's Ephemeral Incarnations by Ivan Bellew

'Silas Mortillo was an eccentric Victorian Entomologist who was respected in his field and had an ordinary life collecting and studying species of insects until his love of the latest trends in fashion (being mercury lined top hats at the time) warped his mind. Slowly losing both his memory and sanity he began to hallucinate and in his feverish state created these creatures. Upon waking he remembered nothing of his delirium. He only had a faint memory of his missing possessions until he discovered them bound together to form these new creations.

Still driven by the obsession of his craft he began to study these mischievous objects excited by his new discovery he decided to share his revelation with his colleagues and the scientific community. However, when he displayed them for the world to see he was ridiculed and threatened with Bedlam. He escaped with his creations and spent his remaining years collecting more creatures and displaying them in small shows as he travelled until his death at the age of thirty-eight.'

Tattoos by Jasmine Lapper-Goodrum

Jasmine has made tattoos. This is a very commercial project and one which takes an innovative look at tattoo designs. Gone are the stereotypical tattoos with which we're all too familiar and instead Jasmine has taken a fresh look at how transferable pictures on the body could work. There are, for example, a set of frames to frame those pimples and scars, light switches, windows and finger faces for children to play with. And her working drawings showed that her collection doesn't stop with the ten examples shown. A great idea but also beautifully executed.

Jasmine wants this project to take off. So anyone out there reading this you have the chance to support Jasmine in this venture by going to her etsy site to buy some of her lovely tattoos/works of ART. And tell your friends and relatives....an ideal alternative to a birthday card and an ideal gift for a party bag.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/fancybus

I have just checked Jasmine's etsy shop to see that she is selling them for £4.68....so I think you can afford the set!

Lyndsey Knight and a morning in the life of an obsessive compulsive.

Lyndsey Knight took a bold step and created an installation piece for her show. A brave move as even with the best planning an installation is a last moment commitment and if it doesn't work ideas have to be unpicked and reworked. Whilst there were some technical difficulties Lyndsey successfully resolved her piece.

Her work essentially created the bathroom of someone suffering from an obsessive compulsive disorder whereby daily routines are imbued with the pressure to constantly be better and to conform with an idea of perfection. Whilst the work can be seen as a whole complete with sink it is also about the pictures within a picture with the collection of framed reminders of how to achieve a better life. Lyndsey hit the right note with the choice of frames; they are ordinary and domestic but painted white so as not to get in the way of the framed photograph. Even the repeat circles in the wallpaper pattern is appropriate to the subject.

A question arises as to whether this piece should ultimately be an installation or whether it could work equally well or better as photographs.

How to sell handmade books including Ed Boxall

http://www.handmadeandbound.com

Havoc in the Secret Garden by Jake McDonald

Jake McDonald has long been developing something of a very extended family of monsters but in his final project he chose to let his band of monsters loose on a traditional ladybird story book called the Secret Garden. They proceed to trash the book in a whole host of different ways from crushing letters, throwing them and generally being disrespectful to the inhabitants of the original story. Aimed at children just at the threshold of reading it becomes a fun way to introduce words and an opportunity for a parent and a child to discuss a story rather than just read it. The concept is an original one and there's plenty of room for it to grow.

Jake's book was printed by Martels printers in the old town allowing the viewer to appreciate the telling of the story and visual sequence. He also had some illustrations enlarged to A3. These looked particularly stunning. The monsters were originally drawn as monoprints and when enlarged the grainy line contrasted well with the sharpness of the type.

You can see a lot more of Jake's work on his blog:

http://shakeyillustrations.blogspot.com

Olivia Henry Turning the Tables

Olivia Henry has made a magical book about rats who move in and who then turn the tables on the humans who meet with a rather grizzly end. The story has a basis in real life as a family of rats paid a visit to Olivia's home last summer. However, in Olivia's book each member of the family has different thoughts as to what the rats might be doing in the attic whether belly dancing or playing drums. Poison is laid but the rats carefully collect it and poison the humans. All this proves the saying ' Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you'.

The work is charming but the approach to storytelling means the final twist comes as a surprise; you just don't see it coming. The drawings are a lovely mix between rigorous observation and whimsy. Olivia uses what has for now become her trademark mix of media and eclectic use of type.

See more of Olivia's work on her blog http://oliviashappyapples.blogspot.com/

Catherine Grimaldi

Catherine Grimaldi gave a talk at University Center Hastings about her varied career and practice. She has a background in textiles, puppetry and illustration. She has done a great deal of work with Creative Partnerships
who specialise in placing artists within schools with the aim of introducing a more creative approach to delivering the curriculum....and yes this might be maths. Both Ed and Peter have worked with Creative Partnerships in schools in Hastings and Eastbourne and if you are interested in working within education they would be well worth looking at. Catherine has also written and illustrated a number of books for Tango publishers. Whilst it doesn't seem to have impeded her creativity the books are linked to the national curriculum and reflect concepts with which a younger age group are becoming conversant. Catherine remains a puppeteer working with her sister. Inevitably they are called the Grimaldi sisters.
Whilst we didn't know it beforehand the session was also about developing a sense of what it was that you wanted to be doing in the future and Catherine asked people to write a postcard to yourself which listed five things you would like to have achieved in five years time. She gave us information about Keri Smith's scheming and dreaming site and livingthecreativedream.com/becoming.html, both sites which concern themselves with achieving your aims
Information is everything and we all need some support and inspiration. Brighton Illustrators group is ideal if you live in or near Brighton. But there are others including the Association of Illustrators and Arc- http://www.aspex.org.uk/arc.htm
If you are wanting to establish a studio or need money for developing a project it is well worth looking at the Princes Trust The aim of the trust is to support people aged from 16 years to 25 years often with ventures which develop their careers or career opportunities. The Arts Council is also another port of call in the quest for information and opportunity. Finally for business advice which is arts specific try ArtQuest and Cockpit Arts

Andrew Mockett

Andrew Mockett is a Brighton based artist/illustrator. For many many years he worked as an illustrator for a range of top draw clients but then decided that working to someone else's brief just didn't quite cut it anymore. Instead he produced a wonderful collection of woodcuts which were then compiled into books. He had an major exhibition of his work at Brighton Museum. It was a stunning show. From this point he has worked on a range of projects from exhibitions, animal sculptures for Paul Smith and painted wardrobes.

Andrew has agreed to do a one day workshop which will be aimed at year 1 illustration students on Tuesday 27th April. There are a few places left for year 2 students and for Graphic Communication students. Nina has reserved a place and if you want one please email me

You can see more of Andrew's work at

http://madeuk.blogspot.com/2009/04/artist-of-week-andrew-mockett.html

http://www.r-h-g.co.uk/artists/view/andrew_mockett/103,0,0.html

http://www.thehussy.co.uk/mockett-castor-pollux/03/

Jake McDonald

Hi my name is Jake McDonald and I am on the FdA Illustration Degree (University of Brighton). I enjoy creating characters, making up stories and working from really life using different medias like etching, photography, screenprinting, monopriting and many more. To see more of my work visit http://shakeyillustrations.blogspot.com/

Daniel's Surprise Project

My surprise project is finally ready for public viewing.
Please follow the link.
Surprise Project.

Hello, my Blog is back up and running now with my updated portfolio.
Take a look.

thebiggerproject.blogspot.com

Daniel is a graduate of both the FdA Illustration and the BA top-up delivered at SCCH.

Front Row

Front Row has , in large part, been organised and promoted by Maika Crampton who is a graduate of the FdA Illustration and BA top-up

FRONT ROW Recycled Catwalk Fashion Show & Boutique Shopping 2009

Press Release

After the success of last year’s FRONT ROW Ethical Fashion Show 2008, the FRONT ROW SOUTH COAST creative team is launching the FRONT ROW Recycled Catwalk Fashion Show & Vintage Boutique Shopping to take place at the beautiful St. Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings, on Saturday, 21^st November 2009. This year the focus is on the appreciation of clothes that already exist and how to create a unique and eclectic style by matching and transforming second hand garments. This fashion show will be an inspired showcase of the best in vintage, recycled, re-worked and customized fashion & accessories.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. where guests will be able to reserve their front row seat, grab a little something at the bar and find a beautiful one-off piece of evening wear or jewellery at our eight selected vintage clothing boutiques nestle into the alcoves of St. Mary’s auditorium.

The catwalk show starts at 8:00 pm, featuring an exciting mix of outfits created by fashion students, local vintage shops and Brighton designers, donated by the St. Michael’s Hospice and Relief Fund for Romania charity shops and styled by our creative team, who will throw a selection of dramatic one-off showpieces constructed by Respond Academy, St. Leonards and Hastings artists in for good measure. After the show guests are invited to stay for music, drinks and more boutique shopping.

Tickets for this night of fashion extravagance are £6.00 in advance / £8.00 at the door and available from Hastings Information Centre, Pomegranate (Old Town), The Bullet Café (Robertson St), Bar Bla (Marina Building) and St. Mary-in-the-Castle (Seafront).

The release of limited edition PINK tickets has already begun, which entitle the lucky ticket holder to a fabulous goodie bag full of gorgeous gifts and surprises on the night. Only available at ODD, 68 George Street, Old Town).

For more information visit www.frontrowrecycled.blogspot.com

To see more of Ed Boxall's work...

To see more of Ed's work go to htt://edboxall.wordpress.com/

Ed Boxall's ipod Drawings

Hello Everyone

I'm sure this is old hat to most of you but I've discovered this fabulous drawing application for my ipod touch.

What I really like is that I can work with a full colour range and loads of markmaking tools without carrying anything with me. Drawing with my finger on a tiny screen is limited in some ways but I've got to really like it. What I really really like is how you get little whimsical ideas down in quite a finished form really quickly. 'Fenland landscape' was done in Morrisons carpark while my boy was asleep in the backseat and 'nightshade' was done wallking between the co-op and my house.

So, I thought I'd use this blog as a way of getting these sketches out there.

Ed Boxall in a tutor on the FdA Illustration course.