Kim (in print)

New online technology at the Tate - a nice interactive addition which includes close-ups of Richard Long's work, artist statements, glimpses of people in the gallery, etc.

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The Camberwell College of Art MA Summer Shows (University of the Arts, London) went off really well last week, though it's sad to see a lot of great people leaving fromIllustration and leaving a few of us part-timers kicking around the place! The work from Illustration was exciting, and as predicted, very diverse with editorial illos, children's books, graphic novels, animation and more - something I really appreciate in this course. Group crit sessions and regular meetings meant that we all had an inkling of who was doing what, but most went an extra mile towards the end and a few suprises lay in store.

500 people came through the door in the first 15 minutes, and around 2600 through the evening. See some of my photos here and get more on '09 MA Illustration grads here (thanks Tom). The crowds made it a bit tricky to get photos so above are a few Illustrators except for the guy with the toast - a printmaker - who gave out an edition of 'toast prints' at the door.

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I've got the best week coming up - the last week of school (day job) before we're out for summer, but firstly, two-thirds of my Camberwell contemporaries (those on the full-time programme) will graduate. Check out the Grad Show details here, and see who's exhibiting from MA Illustration.

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This is a working colour illustration for 'Hansel and Gretel', based around this piece of text:

'It was now three mornings since they had left their father's house. They began to walk again, but they always got deeper into the forest, and if help did not come soon, they must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it. And when it had finished its song, it spread its wings and flew away before them, and they followed it until they reached a little house, on the roof of which it alighted; and when they came quite up to the little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar.'

My strangely proportioned candy and cake roof suspension of disbelief, as does the story. In an attempt to break away from the traditional Black Forest cottage look, I've gone a bit oversized on the roof, which inspired by the giant roof shape of the iron age round house, peculiar to Britain.

I may need to rethink the orangey gingerbread - not the easiest tone to scan, however it's back to the drawing board for now.

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Click here to download:

Paint-a-Tower-Block.zip (127 KB)

It's been ages - work is full on (exams and marking) and so is the illustrating. My full-time and second yr part-time contemporaries at Camberwell are nearly at the finish line as the July grad show looms.

Meanwhile, I came across these fab photos of painted tower blocks, Russian style, here on Sturman's blog. Worth a look for the McD sign alone. Anyway, some say these look gaudy. Maybe.

Better than grey tower blocks stacked against a bleak, wintery sky?

Infinitely.

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Here's a little glimpse inside NY Academy of Art studios during the Tribeca Ball...

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Click here to download:

Fantasy_Houses.zip (445 KB)

I came across these brilliant photo galleries when looking at unusual dwellings. Check out this sumptuous San Francisco in Jell-O byLiz Hickok... a jelly cityscape which eventually decays - Jell-O Shots gallery, (First Post).  I also love David Trautrimas' collection of fantasy houses, All Mod Cons, (First Post).

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This lipgloss was in my Christmas stocking - and the container is in one of my favourite colours (EDM challenge #180 - fave colour). It's a little youthful and a long way from my current quest  - drawing  'a woman as old as the hills'. This is towards my student project on Hansel and Gretel.

This is the description of the woman who turns out to be a scrawny witch in later versions of Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. I am drawing this one from photos, so I'd be grateful for links to photos from which I can make a composite 'old woman' who might look OK and welcoming at the beginning but eventually looks scary. Thank you.

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As I type, the BBC is revealing snippets of preparations in full swing tonight's Academy Awards. In honour of 'the Oscars' I got up to finish my drawing of a steely gold-cased lipstick - a salute to good old-fashioned Red Carpet glamour.

(Everyday Matters challenge #178 - something Red)

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Today's Guardian (a major UK daily) is running friend Sarah McIntyre'sVern & Lettuce comic strip, so I've already sneaked a peek to see how it looks and it's... fantastic! Of course, humble newsprint doesn't quite do the same justice as the classy matt DFC magazine, home to Vern & Lettuce, however the colour is looking really good. Sarah tells me her comic is running for 12 weeks, so take a look at the Family section of The Guardian (Saturday editions) before recycling!

So much more humble than newsprint is the potato. This morning I sketched some Maris Pipers. Everyday Matters challenge #26: Vegetable. (graphite pencil, marker, coloured pencil)

   

Click here to download:

Hot_Potatoes.zip (448 KB)

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