David Foldvari

In his lecture given at Grand Parade, University of Brighton David Foldvari made some very good points:

1.   Working in new technology, in this particular case, apps,
      impacted on the way he made his work.

2.        Combining a BIG project with other commitments is a challenge; hence working until 5pm in the morning.

3.      Working on commissions can force you out of your comfort zone, out of what
         you're used to. 

4.   Change the way you work to fit the final
      format/context.

5. Enjoy drawing. Spend time doing it.
6.    The best work is the result of research

7.    Visit the library.

8       Keeping notebooks, rather than larger drawing books, presents an opportunity to have a    
         conversation with yourself.

9. You don't know you can do something until you're asked.

10. Collected all your work together 9possibly over a year or longer) can give you a 
      chance to identify themes.

11. Direct your own work.

Annabel Tilley

SLUICE EXHIBITION & AUCTION 2012 - Hanmi Gallery, London, 22-24 October Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. I am delighted to have one of my 'Old Master' drawings included in The Sluice 2012 Exhibition & Auction - Hanmi Gallery, Fitzrovia, London. 22 -24 October 2012. Please take this opportunity to visit and bid for some of the stunning artworks on offer and support a brilliant project: The Sluice Art Fair 2013. Annabel is based in Hastings and London. She completed her Foundation Diploma in Hastings before going on to pursue a Fine Art degree at Brighton.  I couldn't resist adding this to the blog as it's such great example of a collection of curiosities with drawing so at the heart of the piece. To see more of Annabel's work go to www.annabeltilley.com

David Foldvari

David Foldvari on inspiration and illustration

Hi everyone.


One of my tutors - David Foldvari - has written a piece of advice for illustration students. I thought I would share it with you and get you thinking about what influences play part in your illustrations:

'If you study graphics or illustration, my most serious piece of advice to you would be to stop looking at my stuff for inspiration as soon as possible. if you want to be genuinely inspired or influenced by what i do, then look outside the tiny and insignificant bubble that is contemporary illustration. watch films, read books, look at other forms of art and design, learn about what's going on around you - anything that takes you outside illustration. despite of what your tutors may tell you, as an illustration student, referencing and studying other contemporary illustrators' work is not only going to damage your own work, but it will only help to homogenise and water down illustration as a whole. there is a big problem with illustration students at the moment - they are spending too much time referencing and copying other illustrators' work, and this will end their career before it has a chance to start. i'm only stating the obvious here, but as a student, you should do everything to make sure your work looks nothing like anybody else's out there, otherwise it will never be noticed, and you might as well get a job in mcdonalds.
i and most other working illustrators i know generally go and see a lot of degree shows, and anyone referencing other contemporary illustrators tends to be seen as ignorant and a bit second rate and crap - nobody wants to see the same old, but we all love seeing things we've never seen before, it's what moves this industry forward. as a new graduate, it's your job to move things forward, and by referencing other illustrators, you are doing the opposite.

so if you're using me as your contextual reference (or whatever), then do the following:
- stop looking at my work for inspiration, it is based on my own background and cultural references, and therefore no use to anyone but me
- look instead at your own cultural and personal background for inspiration, it's what i do
- look at 20th century graphic design and see how much of it you really understand. (i wish i had studied that stuff more at college)
- look at every piece of work you've done over the last year - how much of this work do you feel represents you as a truly unique individual, and how much of it is 100% different from what everyone else is doing? unless the answer is 'all of it', it's time to re-think everything. (i'm not saying i'm exempt from this rule, i have to remind myself to do this a lot).'

 

This is a copy of a post made a year ago by Nina Jorgensen who progressed to the University of Westminster after graduating from the FdA Illustration programme. Nina has just started her MA at the Royal College of Art.

Murat Pultar

'I stumbled across him/her (??) on It's Nice That a while ago this is the link I book marked (not sure if it will work but worth a look as he/she?? did a series of cult film / eastern religious iconography that made me chuckle.  Makes me want to do a stained glass church window version of an Ealing Comedy!'  Nina Somers.

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/murat-palta

Pultar plays with the juxtaposition of famous western films and miniature turkish painting... original and arresting.

Book Arts

Book Arts

For those second years interested in pursuing bookarts as your elective the following is a very useful if not indispensable collection of websites where you can find out more about artists' books. You should document anything you find of interest as well as bring it into your own practice where appropriate. Artists books, as you will find, are sometimes about form and sometimes about content AND the BEST are when the form and content are fully suited.

Firstly the University of the West of England has a comprehensive list of interesting book related websites and includes Ed Boxall's website!

http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk

The following are a list of interesting sites:

http://www.wotadot.com/

http://www.assemblyoftext.com
http://www.johndilnot.com/

http://www.thebookproject.org/gallery.html

http://scottmccarneyvisualbooks.com/

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/prints_books/features/artists_books/index.html

http://www.permanentbookshop.com/

http://www.rcom.ru/artists-books/books.html

http://www.reassemble.co.uk

http://www.preachersbiscuitbooks.com
http://www.dampflat.com/
http://www.booklyn.org/index.php

The following  organisations  support and promote artists' books. To find out more go to:
http://www.publishandbedamned.org.uk
http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/index.html

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.

Photofringe in Hastings

As part of the Brighton Photo Biennial 2012 there is a celebration of Photography in Hastings. This is taking place in a range of venues throughout the town.  

Daniela Exley's exhibition of simple objects offers 'mini-narratives, teasing glimpses that tempt our curiosities to delve deeper into the telling traces of their histories and their owners identities'. Intrigued?  Not far to go as this exhibition is in Frank's Front Room just next to college...you can almost see it from the window!

Hastings Museum is presenting a group show entitled, 'Telling Stories'. There are also a series of talks on and around photography being delivered  at Bullet Coffee House in Robertson Street. They re monthly with the next being on 5th November at 8pm.

There are a range of venues for the Photofringe. To find out where, when and what see their website:

http://www.photofringe.org/exhibitions/hastings

Hamish Makgill

Hamish Makgill's lecture at Grand Parade attended by years one and two was a great way to begin the year. For me he made the above points which seem so applicable to where everyone is at the beginning of a new academic year.

A Cabinet of Curiosities

Just a few links to sites which touch upon the theme of curiosities.


http://www.frieze.com/issue/review/collected-works/

http://www.hdrescher.com/

http://petes-curios.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.adolfwoelfli.ch/index.php?c=e&level=17&sublevel=0

http://secretsofajewishbaker.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/cabinet-of-curiosities.html

http://www.brettryder.co.uk/

http://www.heartagency.com/artist/JonnyHannah/gallery/1

The Wellcome Collection in London exhibits a small part of the collection of Henry Wellcome. Everything has a connection with the human body whether in sickness or in health including a man preserved in a bog, early prosthetic limbs, a collection of glass eyes and edwardian head gear designed to discourage a young child's ears from sticking out!

A visit is well worth while but take a look at their website:

http://www.wellcomecollection.org/

Towner Gallery Eastbourne

The Towner Gallery is a contemporary art museum in Eastbourne. In addition to temporary exhibitions it also houses a permanent collection including work by Eric Ravillious and Edward Bawden. 

It is currently showing: 

A Point of Departure

12 May – 11 November 2012 (free)

Inspired by our locality, this Towner Collection display explores the edge of the Sussex landscape. Our coastline has long been an inspiration for artists – from Edward Bawden, John Piper and Eric Ravilious to Turner Prize winner Wolfgang Tillmans. Also featuring the hidden works of forgotten Sussex artist Eric Slater.

Vicky Roberts in year 2 produced this image as part of her summer postcard series.

The Museum of Curiosities

The premise of this Radio 4 programme is the curation of a fictional Museum of Curiosities curated in part by the comedian Jimmy Carr. Invited guests are invited to make a contribution to the museum.  Guests include a fly specialist, someone with detailed knowledge of dogs and death as well as a impersonator of a car door closing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01n0xpx/The_Museum_of_Curiosity_Series_5_Murray_Bondeson_McAlister/