My First Crush

Hannah has also recommended this short animated film called 'My First Crush" by Julia Potts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY4Epc2XSGc

It's Nice That

This website has been recommended by Hannah Rollings. It celebrates creativity by publishing some exciting work including 'student of the month', recommended books and recommended links. First hand research is the best BUT looking at the work of others and being informed by contemporary practice runs a very very close second.

http://www.itsnicethat.com/

'Cuts' exhibition invitation

Hi everyone!

I am writing on the blog to invite you to an exhibition set up by myself and 15 other illustration students from Westminster uni. It is to be held in Space 54 in Shoreditch, London from the 25th of March to the 30th from 12:00 to 18:00. It is about the government spending cuts and the private view is open for everyone on March 24th from 18:00 to 21:00 free drinks to be provided.

Here is a link to the blog http://cuts-exhibition.blogspot.com

And here it is mentioned in The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/arty-political-protests-against-coalitions-budget-cuts-2244727.html

If you have spare time I hope you can make it!

Pick Me Up at Somerset House London

Until 27 March
Daily 10.00-19.00, Thurs until 21.00
Embankment Galleries, South Wing
£7/£5

Join us for the second edition of Pick Me Up, the UK’s first contemporary graphic art fair. Due to popular demand after the fair’s successful launch in April 2010, Pick Me Up takes place in the Embankment Galleries until Thursday for a celebration of graphic art.

The best, most innovative and avant-garde graphic artists, collectives and galleries from the UK and across the world are exhibiting and offering an exuberant mix of artworks for sale. Somerset House is once again a platform for the graphic art and design community and a great place to experience first hand the energy and excitement of the graphic art scene.

For further information http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual_arts/pick_me_up_2011/default.asp

Joe Sacco

If you like graphic novels, as do I, then you really should check out the work of Joe Sacco. His approach to journalism is truly inspiring. In fact, the man's a genius!

Here is a piece written about Sacco, which is really rather interesting!

http://www.cartoonpicayune.com/?p=164

Marion Deuchars

Marion Deuchars creates a texture with type, changing from upper case to lower case, from outlines to solid. In all of this she scatters illustrations. The words are in a hierarchy of importance; some words you pick out before others. This is a great way to get your audience to read in an order you establish.

http://www.heartagency.com/artist/MarionDeuchars/gallery/1/image/1466

Rob Ryan

Rob Ryan's work is so fashionable that he has many trying to emulate his style. Is this sad or a compliment? Using scissors and paper he achieves a particular quality to his line. His pieces are unashamedly decorative, charming and evocative. He has his own blog where you can see the various applications he has found for his work. He has his own etsy site but also sells his work on a mass scale at shops like John Lewis.

http://rob-ryan.blogspot.com/

Jonny Hannah

Jonny Hannah is another successful illustrator who is noted for his great lettering. Like Andy he uses screenprinting a lot but also I suspect just straight drawing and photoshop. His approach acheives an almost 50's quality in that printing at this time involved colour separation whereby each colour was printed individually one at a time. One colour could therefore be seen through another.

Jonny has a passion for Jazz and has produced a wonderful illustrated boofk on the subject. He's also written and illustrated a story about 'Rocket Man" based on his son's toy. Believe it or not he works in a shed in his back garden on the south coast.

Take a look at his work on the Heart agency website http://www.heartagency.com/artist/JonnyHannah/gallery/1
Alternatively Castor and Pollux in Brighton frequently have exhibitions of Jonny's work.
http://www.castorandpollux.co.uk/cakesandalepress/index.html

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.

http://www.asmithillustration.com/