Gocco Love

Last night I embarked on a bit of a gocco marathon. I love gocco far too much. These are the results. Available to buy from etsy. Of course.



As well as doing a straight run of two colour gocco prints I also did seven of these one colour prints that I've watercoloured so that each one is different. If you fancy an (almost!) one off piece of art then they are also available from my etsy shop.




The image comes from this. Which i'll do a thorough post about soon.

Dress Up In You

Summer is yet to arrive but already I'm waiting for autumn in the hope of getting my hands on this amazing coat from h&m. So beautiful.
via only shallow

Continuing on from yesterdays post on Emily Sutton today my ECA graduate of choice is Sandra De Matos. I really love the above print (in the show there are a couple of colour variations on show) and she has some nice sketchbook work too.

Best Knowledge

I am celebrating the arrival of my copy of Hall of Best Knowledge by the incredible Ray Fenwick. I haven't had the chance to plunder its depths yet but the bits that I have skimmed have, thus far, been completely charming and incredibly well written (both word wise and, of course, in terms of lettering.)

I am also celebrating the presence of a nice new belt with a lovely plastic buckle. Hurrah.

Last week we (the third year students) helped the fourth years set up their degree show. Once all the running about fetching hooks and wire and velcro it was a bit of treat to get a first look at the show all done. There's some really great work and I am hugely impressed with the drawing skill on show. I think that it can be rare on contemporary illustration courses to have such a big focus on straightforward drawing but it's great to see. I think over the next couple of weeks I'll post a few of my favourites so first up is Emily Sutton. Alongside some wonderful drawings Emily has also been making some great 3D pieces with my favourites being in the Highstreet Sculpture project. Each doll has its own distinct (and recognisable) personality and charm. Below is my absolute favourite, I love his jumper.

Again, a bike. Please?

Everyone has posted about these recently but there's a very good reason why. Kronan make beautiful bikes. Really really nice bikes. If I was the kind of person to spend $600 on a bike this would be it. Sadly I am not that kind of person. Oh well.



Designer and illustrator Zsuzsanna Ilijin has made a series of six world maps with a difference. Each map lays the world out according to a different them. Above is the global skyline. I'd love to see these for real, they seem like something you could look out for hours.

There are a fair few very exciting things on the horizon for me at the moment; some are a secret (ssh) and some are a bit less secret but i'm going to save them for now. But soon there will be some new work. Finally.

Lovely stuff from Rachel Gannon.

Us 3rd year illustration kids have an exhibition opening tonight at Owl & Lion on the grassmarket. It marks the launch of a poetry anthology we did the illustrations for but there's also a tonne of other work on show. You can pick up some framed versions of my prints as well as a couple of original drawings. The opening is tonight at 6pm and all are welcome along.

I give you...the Pallas Cat!

You're welcome.
(we went to the zoo)

I love these lights by Hopf & Wortmann.
from SwissMiss.

Chris Ware

I have long been totally in awe of Chris Ware and this animation for season two of This American Life further confirms why he is easily one of the best artists around.

Russian wonders

There are some wonderful images on Антуфьев. All cold and weird and far away and for the most part I have no idea what any of them are all about as it's all in russian. Via the wonderful Camilla Engman.

Buy me a bike please.

If I had a bike (I don't) I would definitely want one of these lovely baskets from FinnishDesignShop. Its tempting to buy a bike just so that I can have one.

I got some new glasses today. They're a bit art school but I guess I AM an art student so I should probably just face up to that and embrace it. Oh dear.

I am quite taken with this pin from Chocosho .

FINALLY Rosie Posie Pudding & Pie is a lovely blog from an edinburgh based student with a good eye for nice things. I'll be keeping an eye on it from now on I think.

Portfolios

This year as well as handing in a regular portfolio we also had to make a sort of proffessional one. This is mine, all hand bound and with a gocco printed cover. I just hope it doesn't fall to pieces before assessment tomorrow (I'm not an incredibly skilled bookbinder).

Books & Barbecues

It's been the most beautiful week here in Edinburgh, all sunshine and summer dresses and so on. Sadly I've mainly been shut away in the studio/my bedroom getting my portfolio ready for assessment next week. We did manage to get out for a barbecue on the meadows last night which was when the above photos were taken.




Whilst clearing out my folders I came across one of my assessment projects from last year. 'A Coney Island Love Story' was a book I made based on ' The Electric Michelangelo' by Sarah Hall. Looking at it now is kind of nice. Now that I have a years distance from the project I actually kind of like it. Which is a rare treat.

All the dead animals

Here's a drawing I did today. It was meant to be for my 'top secret but incredibly exciting' project but I dont think it'll cut it so it'll just remain one of those pictures without a purpose. Whic h is fine. I don't do enough pointless drawing at the moment , everything seems to be for something college related or something book related. Once this term is done I want to get back to keeping proper sketch books, not just books of notes.



Two illustrator loves combine to create a flawless object. Tea + graph paper = joy! Available from Fishs Eddy. I want one.

S&P

Incredibly endearing ceramics from Lola Goldstein. I've never really felt drawn to salt and pepper shakers before but this pair have changed everything.

I lovelovelove pretty much everything on Paperheart by Jessica Williams. Some wonderful college work and drawings but also some really nice, quiet photos.


I would also like to celebrate the crotcheted clementine. This one now lives in Brighton but I very much enjoyed his company when he was in Edinburgh. Who couldn't enjoy that?