We just wanted to give you a quick, little preview of some of the art and design books that have arrived from publishers in the past couple of weeks. We’ve got a few other blog posts already in the pipeline, but the next Bookmarks review won’t be far off!
During a recent daily fix of Pinterest (yes, I’m still addicted!), the poster above by Graffikheart caught my eye. Isn’t it great how easy it is to find out more about a maker on the internet? In the click of a link I found more of her lovely work up for sale on Etsy. It has that colourful, retro, mid century modern vibe that I love - she’s a great Friday Folks guest!
Who are you & what do you do?
My name is Amanda Shufflebotham aka Graffikheart, I am 42 year old graphic designer/illustrator and mum of two boys. Originally from Oxfordshire now living in Monmouthshire.
How did you get into the business?
I attended Swindon School of Art & Design and from there I went to work for a pharmaceutical communications company as a junior designer. I stayed in the graphic design world for over 20 years, working for agencies in Oxford and Cardiff. I took a break to have my children but remained connected to design via freelance work. I always had illustrative leanings so took the chance to explore that over the last couple of years. I really enjoy what I do and although it’s not far removed from my actual ‘job’ it gives a welcome break from the more corporate work.
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by other graphic illustrators like Charley Harper, Sanna Annuka, Rex Ray and Tom Eckersley. I’m also inspired by my late father, a great artist and my close friend, the paper artist Helen Musselwhite who introduced me to Etsy and has been very encouraging. I love the shapes, colours and textures of mid century ceramics so that’s why some of my work is inspired by certain pieces like Hornsea.
What has been your greatest success?
I was recently contacted by the people who own the rights to Hornsea to ask if I wanted to produce some official posters. That’s in the pipeline. But for now I am thrilled that I’m getting good feedback on the designs and have recently produced some kitchen items that I hope some of the manufacturers might like?!
Have you got any advice for someone wanting to break into the business?
My advice to others would to be to try and make your work as visible as possible via all the routes that social media offers. I am amazed how many people tell me they have seen my work on Pinterest for example. I have also been commissioned to do some more conventional graphic design work from companies overseas that have found me via Etsy.
We bought this vintage marble game last week. It’s a simple little game which involves rolling marbles down the wooden shoot aiming at archways with different scores. We’ve done a little research and found that the game is called “bridgeboard”.
What makes this version extra special are the fabulous illustations by Kenneth Townsend.
The animals will look very familiar to fans of the artist’s “Menagerie” tile series that we’ve blogged about before.
We’ve only just discovered the work of Brighton-based illustrator, Sean Sims.
We had a hard time choosing which of his designs to highlight, they’re all so amazing! He’s got a great style, colourful palette and lighthearted and humorous approach to his subject matter.
David Klein was a hugely talented and prolific illustrator. He’s known mainly for the dozens of colourful travel posters he designed, especially those for TWA, during the 1950s & 60s. You can feast your eyes on many more if you visit his website.
This cute illustrated tray has been getting a lot of views, comments & favourites since we added it to the H is for Home website and Flickr stream last week. We spotted it on a stall when we visited the Lincoln Antique and Home Fair and knew that it would be perfect for our shop!
Longtime followers of our blog will know that we love the art of Charley Harper. This one, entitle “Octoberama” is one of our favourites! He was very prolific and his work can be found as originals artworks, prints, books, calendars, stationery, mouse mats… the list goes on & on… all of which can be bought from either the Charley Harper estate website or Amazon UK or USA.
We’re big fans of postage stamps here at H is for Home and this gorgeous example was designed by British fashion designer, Paul Smith. It’s one of a set he recently designed for the Isle of Man to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Oh, and did you know that Paul Smith is a HUGE cycling fan?
We’re through the holiday season and a couple of days into 2012 but we wanted to share this festive peacock illustration with you. It’s a digital illustration by the very talented Galia Bernstein. She’s a Brooklyn-based illustrator, a textile designer and an amateur ceramic artist and printmaker and blogs about her work here. She has even adorned walls in her home with her beautiful birds!
This print (although without the Christmas bauble in its mouth) is available from her Etsy shop.
With it having been Bonfire Night on Saturday, here’s a gorgeous vintage Brock’s Fireworks advertising poster that will blow you away! ☺
We love the folk art inspired illustrations of Alexander Girard and have just discovered that The Alexander Girard Color [Board Book] is available to pre-order from Amazon.
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2011 is being held this weekend in Manchester city centre - we went to the preview night on Thursday.
It was great to see designer-makers whose work we’ve long admired - there was also the thrill of seeing fresh, new exhibitors.
We featured Ken Eardley, whose ceramics are shown above in last year’s GNCCF blog post - once again, his stand had real impact. Things are going really well for him with magazine features such as this recent one in BBC Homes & Antiques.
Another striking space belonged to Jane Blease who works primarily with bentwood & reclaimed plastic often with her characteristic hand worked thread detailing. A recent artist residency in India has clearly inspired some of Jane’s new pieces. It’s interesting charting artists’ new developments & influences.
The Radiance stand belonging to Hannah Nunn always delivers the goods - her hand cut paper light shades look great when displayed en masse…
…and we loved her new seed pod window hangings.
Ruth Green, who we’ve seen at GNCCF in previous years, also had some lovely new works…
…and she’s also branched out into illustrated books, notebooks & note cards.
With autumn setting in, Andrea Lord’s &made display offered some warm seasonal comforts…
…such as these gorgeous cushions & cosies.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s really exciting to discover new makers and their work…
…we’ll highlight just a couple who made an impact on us.
The first was Gemma Truman, whose hand-blown glass & seagrass hangings and vases are absolutely exquisite - they’re inspired by South African weaverbird nests. We also thought they were very reminiscent of those old fashioned glass fishing net floats.
Second was Louise Hibbert.
Her pieces have a natural feel and use subtle, earthy, yet striking colours.
As you can see from her salt & pepper mills, they’re organic, tactile and oh so beautiful - they just cry out to be picked up, handled and caressed.
The show runs till this Sunday, so visit if you can! We’ve only featured homewares in this post, but there’s also lots of jewellery and fashion on display… and all of it’s for sale… so go on, get your Christmas shopping done early!
I love this bold and funky, vintage-inspired illustration. She was produced by Malika Favre, a London-based, French designer, for Wallpaper Magazine.
We discovered the work of Tomas King through a link on his daughter, Lucy’s (a.k.a. Me Old China, a.k.a. The Bowerbird) blog. What can I say? Thomas is a hugely talented artist & illustrator - and, as the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree - Lucy’s work is also incredibly covetable!
We did a recent post about owls, but forgot to include the illustration below - a charcoal & wash study of barn owls by John Busby.
However, it’s given us the opportunity to blog about this collection of magazines from which the illustration was taken.
They’re vintage 1970s RSPB magazines that we picked them up in a local charity shop - 20 or 30 of them in total.
We’re very fond of birds and see numerous species on our dog walks, but it was the magazine covers that were of initial interest…
…with their varied & striking artwork.
Artists featured in this post include Keith Shackleton, John Paige, Eric Ennion, Kenneth Waterfield, Robert Greenhalf, John Busby, Jean Young, Michael Warren, Ian Willis, Ken Wood, Fulco Pratesi, Philip Rickman and Robert Gillmor.
Some of the work has a real period style - and the magazines are very frame-able as the title & date are kept very restrained.
Inside there are lots of bird related features, stories and advertisements of course… and even more artworks!
It’s virtually impossible to pick an absolute favourite, but it might well be the paper collage below…
…a great spotted woodpecker by John Paige dating from 1973.
We holidayed in North Norfolk over the summer and these woodcuts & silkscreen take us back to that lovely corner of the world.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for some more of these vintage issues.
The modern editions have high-tech photographic covers, with attention grabbing banners & adverts. That’s OK of course - but we think these earlier copies are actually more interesting - and far more charming.
