Joel Rea lives and works in Queensland, Australia. Harvesting ideas from his dreams and life-journeys, the incredible Artist presents narratives through surreal land/seascapes, animals and portraiture ‘interplaying with human relationships formed in our society and consciousness.’ Joel’s spectacular reflection of detail and realism involves intense concentration with some paintings taking upto 750 hours to complete.
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Finn O’Brien has created this wonderful booklet for Peckham Springs, a summer-long bar and gallery space. A top-notch piece of graphical work which has a sexy colour palette. Thanks to this booklet design, we will most certainly be attending the space for a cocktail and a peruse of the artwork. That’s what summer is all about. Feature
Erica Donovan is an artist and printmaker with a specialty in screen-printing and she embraces the use of simple, bold colours. She uses this highly skilled technique to methodically produce multiple layered works which have a unique clear and direct visual language that parallel the concepts behind her work. She is fascinated with the magical and complex journeys that simple everyday objects take from concept to mass-production. These journeys often conclude with a seemingly simple execution from a more complex idea. The notion of having clear, accessible and approachable works is a fundamental part of her practice. Feature
Catriona Gray is a London based photographer and printer. She works both in film and digital, producing visual and intellectually stunning photography. My favourite ones from her prints are the ‘The Might Caucasus’ and ‘The vastness of Mongolia’ both have deep underlying meaning yet still shows the dramatic landscape in its purest form. Catriona has worked with some of the best print houses in London, photographers such as Mario Testino, Nick Knight, Solve Sundsbo, Jacob Sutton and Lord Snowdon. Her work is inspired by post-Soviet counties. Dramatic work photographed in such a technically well yet beautiful way. Feature
The diffusion line and ‘young heart of Versace’ – Versus Versace signifies ‘Iconic, season-less fashion for those that experiment in life, love & style’ never failing to deliver the brand’s SS13 campaign channels energy through a series of wavey bold and psychedelic patterns. It’s ‘Daring & Provocative. It’s the energy and sprit that I want to capture with Versus today and share it with the new generation’ – Donatella Versace
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Deerhunter® was established in 1985 as a direct result of the Engel family’s passion for hunting and outdoor pursuits. Their vision is to develop and manufacture clothing for modern hunters and outdoor individualists for whom freedom of movement and high-technical quality is of vital importance. I really love all of the patterns used on the equipment, particularly the new ‘Equipt’ Digital Camo Pattern. Please Santa can I have one of the jackets? Feature
We really love it when studios run a brief with a limited colour palette. Once again, the Belgian ‘printlab’ Topo Copy have produced a two-colour series of RISO prints with 27 different artists. They pulled the paper twice through their beloved RISOGRAPH (RP3700) duplicator, this time using blue and green cold soy-ink. ‘No Boundaries, a theme but no restrictions.’ It is a beautiful project. We high-five TOPO COPY. Feature
Designer Kelly Angood wanted a ‘real’ medium format camera, but knew she couldn’t afford one, consequently she dealt with it the only way she knew how and made one! After setting up a page on kickstarter to gain funding Kelly has spread the world about her beautiful prototype camera (screen printed by the wonderful Joe Vass) that creates amazing pin-hole images and the best thing about it is you make it all yourself! With the project finishing by 1:30pm on Saturday every last donation counts in the hope of developing the project further and expanding into educational workshops for kids and teenagers and the possibility of more exciting cameras. I caught up with Kelly to find out more about the project.
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The Heretic trio have always been a favourite of ours. They “invite you to plunge yourself inside the pulsating acid tinged continuum of the Spectral Nation. A warped out psychedelic mind trip spiked with irregular print experiments, dissections and mishaps, alongside a series of new works,” at the Coningsby Gallery from 20th – 31st May 2013. “Spectral Nation is a shared consciousness, a parallel mind state reality reversal leading to unknown dimensions and refracted visions, a kaleidoscopic landscape, a layered plateau, a journey unfolding and un-ending. No purpose in sight.” Feature
I am just trying to be nice - NUG from John on Vimeo.
‘I am just trying to be nice’ is a book about the work of Nug, giving a visual overview of the controversial graffiti artist’s pieces from exhibitions to graffiti pictures, video stills and paintings. 2 Editions of the 64 page publication are available, with an exclusive edition featuring a one of the kind cover made from an original piece of artwork cut into pieces or an (equally rugged) edition created by Amsterdam Design agency Undog.
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Sabrina Russo is a freelance Graphic Designer that ‘dabbles in illustration, art direction and copywriting creating designs that are ‘humerous and human’. Based in East London the designer works across a range of different disciplines and developed ‘a love for all things printed’ whilst studying at LCC.
I first saw ‘The Condimentalist’ blog last week and had to share my hype about Sabrina’s dope illustrations of ‘stuff from her kitchen cupboards’
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Johanna Basford is an artist based in Scotland who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone in 2005. Her illustrative style is very distinctive and is widely recognised within the artist world. She specialises in detailed ink drawings of various subjects, from flowers to hand drawn animals. I have followed her work for a while now and absoultely love it, the way she creates such amazing intricate drawings and joins them all together to make up a beautiful one off piece is inspiring. Johanna’s work can be found on a large range of different products including wallpaper, beer bottles and even tattoos! Feature
Andrei Tarkovsky was a very popular Soviet and Russian film maker. I stumbled upon some of his photographs and with the film photography. I found them beautiful and wanted to share his book titled, ‘Instant Light’ which showcases all the photographic work he produced over the years and shares insight into his inspiration behind the fluid free photographs and the process. Here are some of the most amazing ones I found. Have fun being inspired. Feature
Crooks & Castles AW2013 Collection shares the hype for all-over print featuring decadent Rolex and camo designs on tees tanks and caps. Stay tuned via their website for more info with the dope designs set to his retailers this summer. Feature
I made it down to Print Club London’s Group show last week (on till May 24th) and was really impressed by the variety of exciting illustrative/typographic imagery and super friendly Print Club fam who made me feel more then welcome and gave me the chance to catch up with my favourite Artists about their work.
Click + to read about my pick of the bunch including Sam Baldwin, Claudia Borfiga, Hannah Prebble Ben Rider & Josie Malloy Feature
Stussy has teamed up with Craig Fineman, a world renowned skate and surf photographer to produce a wonderful special edition photography book featuring previously unseen work. The book is published by Stussy and Dashwood Books in USA. We want one! Feature
Madeline Mackay is an artist based in Dundee who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone in 2012. She specialises in drawing, lithography and lithography on wood. Concepts relating to place and land informs the work. I find Madelines work very unique as not many artists use wood lithography and she does it in such an expressive fluid way describing the marks of the wildlife and land she takes such great inspiration from. The work is very influential in describing the Scottish wildlife which convey her meaning also of the desolate Highland parts of Northern Scotland where Madeline is native to. Her work is currently on exhibition at the ‘RSA new contemporaries’ in Edinburgh. Feature
A little late with the drop of this one, but nevertheless such an amazing jacket. You know it’s dangerous cycling around the city streets in the darkness of night. Now you will definitely be seen reflecting in the headlights of any automobile that is heading for you. Supreme. Feature
Ryan Thayer Davis is an American Artist currently based in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Ryan’s paintings depict exciting patterns and textures in abundance of vibrant colours through expressive brushstrokes and layering. His exciting portfolio demonstrates oil paintings, lithographs and monographs with his mixed media pieces being created with spray paint, pastels, graphite, watercolour and marker-pens.
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Launching tonight, Print Club London are opening their inky doors in ‘the humble back alley’ of their Dalston Gallery (10-28 Millers Ave E8) for a 2 week group exhibition showcasing the work of 30 of it’s founders technicians and members. The exciting show also offers a chance to get your hands on some limited edition, ‘exclusive, never been seen before’ screenprints featuring illustrative and typographic designs (all created using the studio facilities at Print Club) by Ben Rider Matt Pringle, Jess Willson, Cassandra Yap, Margaux Carpentier, Simon Fitzmaurice, David Shand, Rosie Emerson and many more! Feature
Raised by Wolves is a Canadian Streetwear label that creates pieces with a contemporary approach through their focus on ‘wearable sportswear-inspired silhouettes’ Their dope SS13 Look book shot on film by Photographer Andrew Szeto features pooches print and even a preview of their ‘Jungle Book’ capsule. Pieces from the collection available via the Hypebeast Store soon. Feature
BOTTLE OF SMOKE is another independent t-shirt company based in Bristol which aims to create a non-sequential line of t-shirts that amaze, amuse, evoke and displease. Ultimately becoming ultimate bizarre thrift store finds in twenty years time. BOTTLE OF SMOKE is currently a one human operation and designs are created in house or from time-to-time by commissioning artists. Inspiration is drawn from an appreciation of the under appreciated. Seven official shirts have been released to date, one of which was shut down by ‘the man’. BOTTLE OF SMOKE will occasionally release one-off or small-run shirts that are screen printed by hand in the UK on high quality 100% cotton t-shirts. They are beautiful like Celine Dion. Feature
DEFCAD is operated by Defense Distributed and is a makeshift response to Makerbot Industries’ decision to censor firearm related posts uploaded to Thingiverse. The handgun is assembled from individually printed parts made from ABS plastic with a metal nail used as a firing pin. The brains behind this operation is Cody Wilson who has caused a lot of controversy in the media with his fight for freedom in this manner. Feature
TYRSA for JORDAN from Axel & Julien on Vimeo.
In anticipation for the return of the early 90’s classic kicks, the Air Jordan 5 ‘Grapes’ edition (sporting a fresh new colourway) (out NOW) is celebrated by the dope French Graphic Designer Alexis Taieb (AKA TYRSA) in a video directed by Axel Morin & Julien Capelle) The amazing clip parallels ‘a young man’s hoop dreams’ with Tyrsa’s creative process as he forms his mad heavy hand-drawn type featuring a famous quote from Jordan himself. Feature
Luke Ramsey is a Canadian Illustrator/Designer and the founder of the Artist Residency ‘Islands Fold.’ Luke’s work has been exhibited internationally and is all about ‘finding harmony in organized chaos.’ Luke’s exciting portfolio demonstrates a heavy focus being directed towards collaboration having worked with over 100 Artists as he introduces us to his eccentric colourful characters, 3D hand-drawn & digital illustrations alongside printed tees/hoodies and Street Art. Feature
Brothers of the Stripe are a collective of image makers that work across the UK on a mixture of projects including Art, Graphic Design & Illustration. With focus on image making, type print and 3D pieces I love their hand-drawn approach with bright colour combos and a real sense of personality communicating through their imagery. The B.O.T.S fam includes Artists; Kristian Jones, The Cloud Commission, Stephen Chan, FiST, Will Scobie, Mr The Beef, Joel Millerchip, Patrick Schmidt
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After coming across the amazing 3D ‘Ideas machine’ by Zombie Collective I was lucky enough to meet the friendly fun loving girls behind the Collective who told me all about their exciting approach to both Illustration and Art Direction. The Zombie family was formed when the 5 ladies behind it (Maggie Li, Joely Brammer, Rebecca Jay, Alice Lickens and Frann Preston-Gannon) met at Kingston University whilst studying Illustration and wanted to step into the industry with a fresh and individual approach. Feature
As soon as I saw Anna Lomax’s dope illuminated fried breakfast and ‘We even buy Gold Teeth’ print themed around her collections and ‘Pure Filth’ at pick me up I knew I had to see and find out more. Anna was born and bred in South London, graduating with a degree in Illustration from Brighton University in 2007 she currently works from her studio in Dalston. The vibrant Artist works in the fields of art direction and set design and is fascinated by pop culture, the bizarre, junk, inventions colour movement and scale. Feature
Puck Collective returned to Pick me up this year with their dope transfer Tattoo Studio “Puckleduster” – beautifully set up (of course) with framed designs and chairs inviting the public to get their own tattoo. I was also lucky enough to bump into the amazing illustrator John C Thurbin who was busy working on a Lino – print. The Middlesex university graduate is a London based print-maker and illustrator who makes staggering imagery with attention to detail and precision through his strong focus on Lino-cut and ink – definitely one to watch Feature
Fiona Hepburn who hails from Scotland and was educated at the London College of Art where she studied printmaking. She specialises in drawings, paper work and printmaking. Her lovely prints find inspiration from her Scottish heritage and natural history. She makes work in response to found organic objects, and is fascinated by the architecture of the objects she collects. Feature
