Kim (in print)

Pinkit is a group of 5 Chilean visual artists who have begun their 'Pimp It' revolution - pimp in the transitive verb sense - with a Cupcake - Pimp It!Gallery. As I'm working on some Hansel and Gretel colour experiments right now, pimping a cupcake seemed like a fun idea... and now it's on Pinkit's 'Pimp It' Wall. Visit Pinkit's homepage and pick up a 'cupcake template' to embellish.

Loading mentions Retweet

Here's my response to EDM challenge #161 - 'draw something that smells wonderful'. You can see more illo's of the strawberry tart - before I got hungry - at flickr.

Loading mentions Retweet

The Crystal Palace Children's Book Festival went really well yesterday - the weather didn't pack in as forecast, which made walking between events at the gallery, library and bookshop very pleasant.

Today I'm in the studio - drawing, writing and catching up on some overdue scanning and organisation. Here's my response to EDM challenge #161 -'draw something that smells wonderful'. More of these at flickr.

Loading mentions Retweet

This week's Illustration Friday topic is Celebration so here's a taste of Retro Strawberry Cake. True, it's a little on the gaudy side... it could definitely do with some photoshop magic, (maybe a moire pattern?) as it's currently in all my usual media - pencil, coloured pencil, watercolours, inks and gouache, but heck, it's past midnight here and nearly the end of this week's challenge... enough already!

Loading mentions Retweet

I finally signed up for the Yahoo Group - Everyday Matters, and the flickr EDM pool, as well. I uploaded the cookie I drew on Tuesday evening - and posted here yesterday. If you like drawing everyday, or every day mundane stuff, Everyday Matters, by New Yorker Danny Gregory, is worth a look - and he tells an interesting story in journal form.

Loading mentions Retweet

One of the great aspects about being a student at Camberwell is having the opportunity to meet some of Britain's best illustrators. Yesterday Jonny Hannah gave us an insight into the way he works, entertaining us with a wide array of examples; books and jackets, advertising and theatre work, and screenprints sold through his  business, Cakes and Ale Press. 

I first came across Hannah's work displayed in the V&A Museum's Illustration Awards in 2005, and subsequently purchased the book, Hot Jazz Special  (photo shows one of the most popular spreads) which he graciously signed for me. 

Last night I did some very un-Hannah like drawings of a large Linzer biscuit. (These are little practice drawings for Hansel and Gretel, part of my MA project - anything with hearts or faintly biscuit-y/cookie-ish in nature will do....)

         

Click here to download:

Jonny_Hannahs_Hot_Jazz_Special.zip (2265 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet

A new Westfields mall (shopping centre) opened down the road yesterday, so I popped in with a friend for a glimpse at the largest shopping centre in Europe. I live in a neighbouring suburb, and I'm generally positive about anything which brings regeneration to White City.

Visit official website
Transport links - Excellent. Leave the car at home and go public transport. 
Cafes/Restaurants - Stylish food, (no McDs or KFC) but long, long queues/lines. Even for coffee, and it wasn't overly busy. Barristas working hard, just not enough cafes. I talked to a manager in M&S and he was saying, 'Oh it's just new, so there are more people' but they are expecting 60,000 a day here, so that doesn't really wash. It's no different to finding a bite on Oxford St/Carnaby St during lunch hour. 98% of stores at Westfields opened on time, but not restaurants - quite a few not open yet so maybe this will improve? 
Cinemas - 16 screen multiplex; not open until 09.
The Look & Feel - It's a mall. Designed by Australian company, a woman from Essex told me. Lot's of hype about the upmarket 'Village' . Which has a champagne bar. If you can stand the cold surroundings. The aircon is set around 18C (64F) which is on the uncomfortably chilly side. We left our coat/scarf on - many other shoppers did the same. Bound to be pleasant in August's humidity, but way too cold for now. It was much better on the upper level where the heat is rising, and walking around there gave us a chance to warm up.
Shops - Mostly clothes. Nice looking gift shops, and some child-friendly toy stores. A lot of standard UK High Street stores, with a few yummy surprises like Desigual which sports one of the few imaginative looking windows/entrances. Spain is well represented as is Downunder: Kathmandu, (yet to open) Pumpkin Patch and Canterbury - all from New Zealand - and Leona Edmiston, Uggs and BB's from Australia, plus gifts and fashion from mainland Europe and touches of US fashion too.
Culture - Zip, beyond fashion. Two bookstores (WHSmith, Foyles) and HMV. Foyles, while adequate for general gift books, is nothing like the stores in Charing X Road or South Bank.

In essence, if you're planning to shop for clothes or general gifts, you've got plenty of choice in one spot. If you don't want to see another Next or department store concession, exit Westfields, jump onto the Central (Red) line and get off at Tottenham Court Road Station. Exit the tube to Charing Cross Road where you'll find books, music, coffee and... heating.

         

Click here to download:

New_mall_in_London_town.zip (261 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet