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
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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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
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
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
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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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
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
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
For over 5 years Andy Gabrysiak has illustrated zines with an absurd humour, American advertising graphics and old-timey showbiz vernacular. He is based in Detroit, Michigan (“The All-Star City”) and has contributed to Brain Frame, Corpus Corpus, Pork Magazine and Black Eye. His most recent publication is “Caves Only” a 16 page drawing zine of organic rock formations. He recommends working with Issue Press for all of your riso printing needs. Feature
Born and raised in South London Remi Rough has been ‘breaking boundaries with a spraycan and paintbrush” for over 26 years. Moving from the Streets to the Galleries in 1989 Remi’s artwork has been featured across the globe and has seen the artist frequently move to print. Drawing inspiration where he came from Remi “keeps his finger in the street art pie” with elements of his current work embodying hints from spray cans in his dope geometric prints and paper collages.
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Joseph Lozano is an Artist/Painter based in the USA. Joseph’s portfolio consists of abstract dream like imagery, beautiful vivid colour tones, reflections of texture and intellectual compositions. Reflecting on his process in his personal statement the Artist explains that throughout his painting and installations he breaks down the narrative structures of elements of reality to create a world of abstract objects.
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Le Noir is a series created entertaining the spills and thrills of life, it’s a play on the fast and disposable living, “here today gone tomorrow”. It’s all about the bold baby. Taking things back to the basics with black ink and ideas. Gio says “it’s really refreshing to work this way, and really frustrating at the same time, it helps capture attention fast and quick with no time for mistakes. The series is my interest in those cold winter nights, depressed grey days and that lavish, rich but sleazy lifestyle we think is cool…is it as appealing as it seems?” Exhibition coming this summer 2013. Feature
Ulrike Zöllner is a Berlin-based Illustrator/Printmaker currently studying at the University of the Arts Berlin. I came across her wicked website that’s full of tactile colourfull vibrant illustrations, comic strips and print making techniques including a dope hand-made illustrated calendar created through letterpress and etching.
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Dorrell Merritt is a London based photographer and writer, who during working as an editorial photographer had worked for the likes of Dazed & Confused, FuckingYoung.es and Sang Bleu Magazine. In now pursuing personal work he continues to create work that communicates both intimacy and solitude; through a range of mediums and approaches. He presents his first publication in the form of a photobook-zine: “The Thames Link”- a collection of documented night journeys on the eponymous Thameslink train line, shot over a period of 6 months. Feature
I first saw Anne’s work when I was at an exhibition in Reykjavik two weeks ago. It was an exhibition combining the work of Anne and Thora Sigurdardottir entitled ‘My Place/Your Place’ inspired by the dramatic wide-openness of the Icelandic landscape. Anne’s work is a combintation of prints, drawings and sculptures. They are tremendous in atmosphere and mark making. My favourites are the ones titled, ’2013 GRAT’, beautfiul black and white images of the domintant presence of the landscapes of Iceland. Seeing them in person and as large prints, gives them such an atmosphere and presence. Feature
We have been keeping our eye on the supremely talented Hattie Stewart for a long time now, I have no idea why we didn’t bring her to you attention earlier. Please take your time to have a peruse of her insanely amazing website of work. Her illustrations are so much fun and she has worked with several impressive clients on some fantastic projects. Who doesn’t like “doodle bombing”? Feature
Sometimes you look at someones design work and you wish they could design all your surroundings for you. Thats the feeling I got looking through Woody Harrington’s portfolio. Some really delicate, clean layout against other more rustic and wholesome pieces. Quality stuff all round. Feature
Danilio Silveira lives and works in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Danilio’s work focuses on illustration, Art Direction and Design for a variety of medias. The Artist’s website demonstrates an exciting variety of projects including interesting reflections of texture in his collaged imagery, bold colour pallets and beautiful type it’s well worth a visit, plus to make it even better there is a fun free font ‘Picnic’ available for download.
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Willow is the creative showcase of Will Connor, a Designer / Art Director based in Belfast, UK. Recognised for his ‘typography-focused and crafted approach’ disciplines of Willow’s work include graphic design, illustration and custom typography. I can’t get enough of his slick letterforms and editorial pieces.
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He quotes “I am Thomas Raimondi aka Thomas Ray aka El Ray, a 31 year old man from a small city near Milan, Italy. I create images from the underground. Like a Wolf Eyes song I wanna burn your house down. No Mercy. No Regrets. No Hope. No Future. No God. No Church. No Fathers. Life’s a bitch, whom I have no money to give.” Feature
