Who needs wrapping paper when you have collage?
Ammo - Issue 6
Bought a few copies of ammo a while back and meant to write up about them back then, but never quite had chance. Photos are from the cover and inside covers and an illustration by Harriet Gray. I really love all of these illustrations because of the really beautiful pencil work. Good inspiration for the winter themed sketchbook I’m doing.
Started doing some illustration for The Sketchbook Project, this is my favourite so far. I’m not totally happy with the rest and still have plenty of pages to fill! As my theme is ‘It’s Winter Where You Are’ I’m definitely wanting to hold out a little longer until Christmas fever starts spreading everywhere and I think that’ll call for a trip to the German market for research, of course!
InStyle ‘Best Beauty Advice’
This little magazine came free with September 11’s edition of InStyle. I always love the beauty sections in magazines anyway - especially when it’s the start of a new season, but the amazing illustrations just past the centre of this magazine made it even better! I love how the illustrations have transformed the whole of this layout, I think this is the perfect use of illustration in editorials.
The illustrations were created by Lucia Emanuela Curzi, and very much remind me of the work of one of my favourite illustrators Rebecca Wetzler - both of these illustrators mix ink, pen and pencil to create beautiful high fashion work.
This is a really exciting project taking place in America, with participants from all over the world. The idea of this project is that you sign up, pay a small fee and choose a theme, then get a small sketchbook delivered to you, which you then fill completely and post back by the end of January. All of the completed sketchbooks that make it back in time are then exhibited all over the world in a tour. You can pay a little extra and have your book digitalized so that it can be viewed on the internet too.
I’ve signed up and received my book the other day, I chose the theme ‘It’s winter where you are’ and have already started buying fashion magazines for inspiration.
Make Shift Arts and Crafts Market
On the 20th August just by the Custard Factory in Birmingham, there was a whole array of different crafts on show, from illustration, card making, soap making, hand made preserves and cakes as well as vintage clothing stalls. The market was full of talented people who had created inventive items to sell. Two fellow graduates from my course were there, including Chloe Cook and Ellie-May Malin, who’s work I had to purchase of course and is shown above!
My favourite stands (other than the two aforementioned illustrators) were a woman making crafts right at the front, with adorable ‘sos sewing jars’ for students off to uni away from home, the creative soap-making stall, with unusual soaps with things in them, building block shaped soaps and even soaps shaped like slices of cake! As well as a lady selling candles inside decorated glass jars. Really hoping they’ll be another one soon, and I’ll remember to take cash this time!
Another program from channel 4’s urban/street collection. Amazing documentary, I recommend it even if you’re not into sport, the filmography is amazing.
Roald Dahl Week
Some more illustrations I’ve done for my Mom’s library for Roald Dahl week, in the style of Quentin Blake. I don’t usually feel that comfortable venturing away from my style, but I’m really enjoying this project. I’ve got Sophie from the BFG and characters from Fantastic Mr. Fox and James and the Giant Peach left to do!
Watched this program last night on channel 4, really interesting show about Banksy’s rivalry with a lesser known graffiti artist ‘Robbo’. An interesting look into a different perspective of Banksy and interviews from people you’d never normally hear from, including ‘Blek’ the pioneer of stencil graffiti.
