Returned

Back from Barcelona as pale and english looking as when I left. Alas. I had a wonderful time though despite not speaking a word of spanish (to my shame) and not really being able to function effectively in thirty degree heat. Maybe some photos soon.



While I was away the ever awesome Meighan over at My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses was nice enough to dedicate not one but two posts to my work. Which was a bit amazing. The first was about my worky work and the second was about I Am The Friction; a book that I've been working (for a wee while) with Jez that has FINALLY gone on sale (pick up a copy HERE). The book is split in two with one half being made up of short stories (written by Jez) inspired by my illustrations and the second half being illustrations inspired by stories. Its pretty great. If I do say so myself.

Ollidays

(photo from Flickr, I forget who. Oops)

I'm off to Barcelona with my sister tomorrow morning till the end of the week so I shall be blog free for a bit (I think I need a bit of healthy separation) hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer than the rainy onslaught currently attacking the south west. I should pack.

There's a bit of new work on my site. And there's more to come soon.

Stripes on Sunday

I got me some Stuart Kolakovic badges! These are made of solid gold awesome. Fact. Also a(nother) striped top inspired by the recent travelling shirt project by the Vintage Society.



As promised here are some truly awful photos of my two double spreads in Anorak Magazine (the happy mag for kids!). I managed to travel five hundred miles across the country and left my camera cable in edinburgh. So its slightly skewed photobooth photos till I go back in August to fetch it.

Quiet

Since I've been home I've been a bit quiet on the blog front. Oops. So to resume proceedings...a lovely bowl!


I'm a bit housewares mental at the moment and I love these bowls at Rare Device (its not just the bowls. I love everything in that store!)

This is easily the most lomo-like lomo photo I've ever taken. More on my flickr.

FINALLY check out BIFFblog (short for the lame yet strangely appropriate Best Illustration Friends Forever). Which is the brand new blog for the (almost) fourth year illustration gang. As yet its pretty sparce but soon it shall be awash with illustrative treats from all 17 of us as well as photos, anecdotes and general chats courtesy of the coolest kids in college (ok. maybe we're not the coolest. sculpture is pretty cool. we're kind of awkward.)

Sled Island

Were you in Calgary, Canada this week you might well have attended the Sled Island Festival. If so you may have seen the truly astounding Grizzly Bear playing with Kris Ellestad and our supercool friends Woodpigeon. If so you may ALSO have seen the poster for that show which we did a little while back. Its nice to see it all screen printed up and on display as we just sent over a photoshop file without ever having seeing it on paper. Its looks quite nice in print. Victory to Sing Statistics.

we keep our veins tangled like a pair of mic cables

Its my final night in Brighton (ever in fact as Jez is moving to Edinburgh and thus there will be no need to visit) and we just went to see Why? play at audio. Why? are amazing. Elephant Eyelash is easily one of my favourite ever records (I realise I am one of those people who throws that kind of phrase around but this time it is totally true) and their most recent album Alopecia is pretty special too. Sadly the evening was slightly marred by three guys who thought they'd throw themselves around really violently during the last three tracks making is impossible for everyone else to watch without getting battered by a flailing limb but otherwise agreat show.

Bear Crest

A pattern I designed today. For something. I don't think I'm going to use it but I'm pleased with it anyway. For my first stab at pattern design its ok.

Anorak Magazine

The newest issue of Anorak magazine (art directed by the immeasurably awesome Supermundane) is out now and features four pages worth of illustration by myself for a story about the Moon written by Cathy Olmedillas (photos sooon) Its worth a look (not for my illustrations) but for some great travel tips (aimed at 8 year olds) and supercool facts about Tapirs.

In other news Jez now has another blog. Apparently Its Nice That and Evening Tweed dont quench his desire to spout nonsense online so Woods was born. Its actually pretty good and I'm quite jealous at how nice he's made his humble tumblr look. I'm also sad that he got to those Charlie Duck badges before me. Growl.

Finally I really like this image from Dace. I wish I was skilled enough to dress so minimally.

Together

Last night we watched Lukas Moodysson's 'Together' which is easily one of my favourite films ever and remains as heartwarming and endearing as ever even after a fair few viewings. If you haven't seen it its well worth a watch especially if you have some good people around to share it with and maybe a bit of abba to play in the background.

London

Yesterday I made it to that Tim Walker exhibit I mentioned last week. It was completely wonderful and inspiring and good. Like looking at your favourite songs manifest in hazy, saturated reality. Sigh. A perfect opportunity to post two more of his flawless images.


We also went to the Penguin offices on the Strand to attend the Penguin Design Award prize giving so that Jez could get his second prize treats. The penguin offices wouldn't be such a bad place to have to work. The view from the Balcony pretty much took in every single one of London's thames side landmarks, which was a bit of treat on a sunny evening.

Also at the Penguin awards was Sophie Elm another of my favourite recent ECA graduates. Her super feminine, old fashioned print designs and lettering style made for the most summery degree show I'm sure ECA has ever seen. Surely it won't be long before she's the next Angie Lewin. Or better!

Toys & Textiles

After a long, sunny day running around Brighton I now find myself scribbling away whilst listening to Meursault (who were completely amazing last friday). Its nice.



I am totally intrigued by the idea of Bonbonkakku and am very tempted to submit something. I've long had a craving to do a bit of textile design and this may be a perfect opprtunity.




I am looking forward to the newest comic from Jeffrey Brown. Mainly because of the soon to be released vinyl toys based on the characters (but also because Jeffrey Brown is made of awesome). A girl loves a robot.



Tomorrow its off to London to have a peer at D&AD at earls court. Which'll be interesting. It'll be good to see ECA's fourth year illustrators showing off their lovely work outside of Edinburgh.

yesterday

we piled up some animals.

Imaginary Shopping trip

So if I was to have a little online shopping spree today I would buy....

A wooden ring from Somethings Hiding In Here,



Stuart Kolakovic's first ever badge set (niiice),

Mini print set by Katy Horan,




and if I was feeling especially financially suicidal this amazing bag from Mike & Chris at Chocosho

busy busy busy

I'm off to stay Brighton tomorrow for a week and bit to go to d&ad next week, accompany Jez to the penguin awards, see Why? and hopefully track down some sunshine so posting will be sporadic perhaps. After that its on home to south Devon and some summer adventures.

In the meantime I'm draining edinburgh's finest blogs for things to post...



Via the ever flawless Running Amok a nice film about one of my favourite illustrators Nigel Peake.

Worth a peek is the Topshop autumn/winter 08 collection which I came across thanks to Rosie's lovelier than ever new blog (named after my favourite frightened rabbit song). Below are a couple of my favourites but I'm yet to really delve into it properly. I love winter clothes.

Nice tache!

I'm quite taken with this shirt from Blood is the New Black.




Also the rather tasty looking cushions at Bonjour Mon Coussin.

Tim Walker & Arielle De Pinto

I'm going to be in London to nose around D&AD next week and I'm definitely going to pop by the Tim Walker exhibition at the design museum. I'm excited to see his beautiful photos on a bigger scale than the pages of Vogue.

Beautiful crotcheted jewellery by Arielle De Pinto.

Jez is coming up to stay this week to help me out with School of Language on friday (pluggity plug). I'm hoping the weather picks up as I have a roll of diana film that needs using up.

I love this textile design by Kristina Collantes. Her site is full of intricate line work and really well considered colours. The circle work is wonderful too.


Quick note to say that this week sees the replacement of my wall painting at Analogue. Thanks to all of you who've been to see and who've said kind words. I really appreciate it. And of course a colossal thankyou to Russell and Julie for inviting me to trash their nice white wall (fools).

Tea Lights & Travelling Bands

I acknowledge that I am a colossal loser for being so excited about this but I really love these light fittings from Domestic Construction. I love lights. I love cups. I love cups that are lights. OK? Fine.

As I mentioned yesterday I'm currently having a go at coming up with a childrens book (I want to have one in my portfolio but I dont want to devote my final year to it so I'm trying to knock one out now). Below is one of the images from my first complete double spread. Let me know your thoughts. If you have any.

A Year in Design

I usually try really hard not to post what Jez has already posted on its nice that (its cheating) but today I am feeling tired (thankyou flathunting!) and a bit lazy. SO today I offer you supercool collective Neon Gray. There's some really nice bookwork on their site but its mainly the above image that caught my eye. Called 'A Year in Design' this image really does some up this years rather persistant design trends.

Speaking of the young Mr Burrows you should check out his second place entry (and all the other shortlisted entries) in the Penguin Design Award. I am totally awestruck that Nick Hornby ("my favourite book is stil Cash by Johnny Cash") has nice things to say about his work. I'm so proud.

I'm working on a rough for a children's book (I'm not a children's book illustrator by any means, I'm trying to stretch myself a bit) so maybe i'll post some of my roughs up very soon. I might be in need of some helpful criticism, this really isn't my forte!

Shameless Plugging

I'm organising a gig next friday and in the vague hope that someone who's not one of my parents and is based near edinburgh is reading this I thought I'd give it a bit of a plug. Anyway....
Friday June 20th at the Ark (Waterloo Place) from 7.30pm its School of Language & Meursault. Hurrah!
Meursault are a local treat who mix folky ukuleles and banjos with postal service style beats and glitches. It's lovely, understated stuff.
School of Language is the new project of David Brewis (of the once splendid Field Music). More experimental but equally as endearing as his first musical outlet School Of Language sees Brewis looping vowel sounds and playing every instrument under the sun to create frustrated melodies that are utterly charming.
Please come. Its only £6 on the door and we (I say we...i'm trying to bulk it out...I mean I) will be playing some lovely tunes in between bands. It'd be lovely to see any blog readers. If they exist.

t shirts

So yesterday I began the seemingly endless process of clearing and packing my stuff to move out of my current flat (not that we have yet found a new one but its good to get a head start.) Anyway in emptying boxes and drawers I found that I still have a few of the t shirts I made for the Village Fete in March. If anyone fancies a shirt you can have one for £5 and the cost of postage. Each shirt is hand printed on lovely, soft American Apparel and there are three sizes available (Women's Medium is green, Men's Medium is Brown and Men's Large is Blue). If anyone fancies buying one (or maybe swapping one for something?) just get in touch.

I realised that I haven't posted a sketch or a piece of my own work for a wee while so below is a drawing I did ages and ages ago for one of the many Woodpigeon we've worked on. It was just a rough and ended up being quite far from the one we used but I found it yesterday and I quite like it. There we go.

Anders Soderberg

Oh my! I am totally in love with all of the work on Anders Soderberg's blog. Of course the Russian influenced pieces above are my absolutely favourites (that bookcover! sigh) but I also really like the imagined cover for Sufjan Steven's 'Greetings from Michigan the Great Lake State' which is pictured below. I have a feeling Mr Soderberg (who graduates from HDK Gothenburg University..uh..now) is going to do very well and deservedly so.

More from ECA

What with fleeing to Brighton and then Berlin I have neglected my plan to post my favourites from the ECA illustration degree show. SO I'm going to get back on track now with some amazing work by Alice Duke. Though not usually the kind of work I'm drawn to Alice's digital paintings are astoundingly accomplished and completely absorbing. Definitely a refreshing break from the kind of work that usually comes out of ECA. Alice also has a blog where she scares sketches and explains her working process. Good stuff.

Also:

Loving the hazy photos on Sally Jane Vintage

Dreaming of the beautiful clothes from Mine

and enjoying dreamy colours at Forms & Shapes (below)

Sprechen sie deutsch?

We (Team illustration) have just returned from rather glorious trip to Berlin mainly comprising of ice cream and aimless wandering. A good time was had by all. Above are some very poor scans of photos I took on my lovely Lomo Smena Symbol camera, the abundance of blue sky and brutalist architecture make Berlin a perfect place for a bit of lomography. Rather embarrassingly we didnt achieve a lot in terms of cultural nonsense rather just had nose around and enjoyed the inexplicable heat. We did, however, become rather enamoured with an old photoautomat machine. Below are some rather special (!?) photos of Sarah and I. We were meant to get progressively messier in each one but as it is I just look a bit mental. Oh well.



more photos are (rather unwisely) posted on my flickr