Amelia’s Magazine | An Interview with Illustrator Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes, aka Hyoos, is an Illustrator and Designer whose favourite word is ‘blimp’. Studying Animation at Falmouth, he’s currently working on some great projects, including cover art for Music Producer KickRaux and Singer-Songwriter Elly Jupp. Having trademarked his alter ego Hyoos, he’s hoping to spend the next few years building up the brand. Tom has plans to start collecting watches and a love of outer space and Wales, he’s also about to take the first steps towards forging a career in illustration. With all things comic and creepy as part of his signature style, you can’t but help be drawn (geddit?!) into his scary and intriguing world.

Tom Hughes

Whether it’s a panda wearing a giraffe Kigu-style onesie (with a sprinkling of superhero), a dinosaur indiscreetly parping, or a grimacing planet earth, his drawings are always raw, grumpy and, most importantly, engrossing. I spoke to Tom about the first time he picked up a pencil (a Tuesday) and his plans for post-university life.

Tom Hughes

Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I am an aspiring Illustrator and Designer from Falmouth, Cornwall.

How would you describe your illustration style?
Quite creepy and realistic but with a touch of humour added in some places. I love a bit of wordplay.

Tom Hughes

What are your influences?
Anything different and unusual really, at the moment I love looking and finding animals that people forget exist and drawing them

What’s your dream career?
To be a full time Illustrator, maybe selling my designs on T-shirts…

Tom Hughes

How do you make your images?
I usually draw them freehand on paper with my trusty pencil and then scan them/take a photo of them to then put them on the computer to make them digital and add colour.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt from uni?
It’s all over WAY to quickly. I did get some experience on freelancing which will hopefully help me in the future.

Tom Hughes

What do you have lined up for the future?
I am working on making my name HYOOS known around, and getting it an ‘internet presence’. Fingers crossed I get a lucky break someday.

What kind of projects have you contributed to in the past?
I have contributed in many different random projects, too many to mention. My favourites are ones where I get the creative juices flowing and design fun and quirky things!

Tom Hughes

What would win in a fight: a pencil or a computer mouse?
Pencil any day!! The mouse is a boring piece of technology that would probably just flip over and struggle to find its feet again..

Do you remember the first time you got your hands on a pencil?
I do, I think it was a Tuesday. I haven’t looked back since.

Tom Hughes

Favourite Illustrator?
Mr Keaton Henson.

Fill in the blank. You find illustration____________
EXCITING!

Tom Hughes

You can see more of Tom’s work on his portfolio site www.hyoos.co.uk

Categories ,Animaltion, ,comic, ,Cornwall, ,coverart, ,creepy, ,dark, ,Digital Art, ,Elly Jupp, ,Falmouth, ,Hyoos, ,illustration, ,illustrator, ,jessicasrcook, ,Keaton Heston, ,KickRaux, ,pencil, ,Technology, ,Tom Hughes, ,Tuesday

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with Johan Lindström: Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion featured artist.

DudeLove_Lila
Swedish illustrator Johan Lindström is a multi-talented father of three who trained in animation but also draws, knits and sews. For Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion he was inspired by varied modes of transport to create a fantastical road full of people from all walks of life.

Johan Lindström
Johan Lindström
I believe you only came to illustration relatively recently – why only now and what were you doing beforehand?
I´ve always done creative things like drawing, painting, knitting and sewing, and when I was little I wanted to be a fine artist. But during art school I discovered computer graphics and wanted to learn more so I went to a 3D graphics program at the university and fell in love with animation. After graduation I worked as a character animator in the games industry for several years and when I one day found myself without a job I decided to start freelancing as an animator. Being a freelancer made my creativity explode and I started to draw and paint again for the first time in years and I realised that what I had really wanted when I was little wasn’t to be a fine artist but an illustrator!

Johan Lindström
Tourists_JohanLindström
How do you juggle your commitments to your family with being an illustrator?
I have always considered it a great advantage for me to have children in my life. I became a dad in my early twenties and that influenced me to become more structured than I was before and definitely more focused on what ever I take on. One of my biggest inspirations are my children, they remind me of what´s important in life and I try to spend as much time as I can with them and since I’m freelancing I now got the freedom to do that.

Malesport_JohanLindström
Man_JohanLindström
Who taught you to knit and is this a common thing in Sweden? what kind of things do you make?
Haha, no I don’t think it´s that common in Sweden to knit, not for guys at least. My mom taught me when I was in my teens, I just thought it was cool to be able to design my own winter clothes. Since it´s cold and snowy for six months a year here in the north, warm hats, gloves, and scarves are kind of a big deal.

Johan Lindström
What is it about the handmade touch and happy accidents that you think make a good outcome?
When I was younger I could spend hours and days on remaking my drawings and paintings, I was never satisfied with the result. It was a big turning point to realize that (for me) it´s the imperfection that tells the story and makes art interesting. I try to keep my work as handmade as possible, I love the happy accidents and wonky feeling of a not-so-perfect drawing. So I usually draw and paint everything by hand and scan it and then put it together digitally.

Astronauts_JohanLindström
I discovered your work on instagram and invited you to take part in this open brief, what is your favourite thing about using instagram?
I guess it´s for the same reason that I love illustration and animation – using images to tell stories. Instagram is a great place to meet new people around the world that share the same passions in life and it has become my number one source of daily inspiration.

FourBirds_JohanLindström
What kind of animated videos do you make?
I mainly do motion design and explainer videos for companies and advertising agencies. A long term goal is to start doing more personal work within animation too, and further integrating my illustration style in my animations.

Johan Lindström
Who do you design patterns for?
I hope to design patterns for companies to be used for fabrics and home decor in the future, but at the moment you can find my patterns at Spoonflower and Society6.

Men_JohanLindström
You have said that you like to explore the roles of gender in your illustrations, why is this important to you and how do you set about doing this in your personal work?
We live in a society that still wrestles with inequality, which is quite apparent in visual language where men and women are often portrayed differently. I try to break these stereotyped patterns in my illustrations to challenge the norm of genders. As a man it also feels relevant to challenge the idea of masculinity that I think can be harmful to both society and people in many ways, but also (the lack of) fatherhood in art is something that interests me a lot.

Emotions_JohanLindström
Why have you decided to portray men as reptiles and lizards in your series about the way men deal with their feelings?
Well I wanted to do illustrations about the absurd notion that men can’t express their feelings by nature or that we don’t have the same need for them as women do. I thought portraying us as lizard men with our lizard brains made the absurdity even more obvious.

DoubleSpread_JohanLindström
Who is featured in your artwork for my colouring book and where did you find your source material?
I love drawing real life people doing real life stuff and I think it´s funny how different ways people choose to get from one place to another, so I did an illustration where different people uses different ways of transport. My references and inspirations are a mishmash of my own photos, library book and the good old internet.

Mopeds_JohanLindström
Enjoy Johan Lindström‘s work and that of so many other talented artists in my upcoming colouring book Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion, available soon from Kickstarter!

Categories ,#ameliasccc, ,Adult Colouring Book, ,Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion, ,Coloring, ,Coloring Book, ,Colouring, ,Colouring Book, ,Fatherhood, ,Gender, ,illustrator, ,instagram, ,Johan Lindström, ,Kickstarter, ,Parenting, ,pattern, ,Society6, ,Spoonflower, ,surface design, ,Swedish

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Amelia’s Magazine | All I Want for Christmas is cards!

AllIWantIllustration by Peskimo

The Christmas festive season is now upon us and many artists are selling festive products. However few are initiated to help the poor, physician the downtrodden and the destitute. All I Want For Christmas Cards 2009 is one such group of creatives whose latest project is in support of the Bristol based charity ‘Young Bristol’. 20 local artists’ and illustrators’ specific works for the project are being used to create a limited edition run of Christmas cards that will be sold as packs containing each of the 20 cards.A competition, information pills with the brief to create a piece of work based on the phrase ‘All I want for Christmas’ took place and after receiving an overwhelming response, information pills the final 20 artworks were chosen, each on their individual merits and included in the final 20 cards. Initially created with the idea of promoting the charity Young Bristol, All I Want For Christmas Cards has also brought together artists and illustrators local to Bristol for this exciting illustrative project. Here is an opportunity to support those who need! We are today interviewing a few of those illustrators who very kindly lent their creativity to a good cause.

4061092197_f3b40cd591_oIllustration by Sam Bevington

Valerie Pezeron: Hello all. I would like to know who came up with the idea for such a wonderful project and could they tell our readers a little bit about themselves?

Creator/Organiser Ben Steers: The idea for a project like this had been rolling around in my head for a while but I just didn’t know how to best implement the concept. After moving to Bristol to kick start my illustration career and spending some time building contacts with local artists and illustrators I realised the huge concentration of talent that Bristol had to offer and after doing some voluntary work for Young Bristol I saw the opportunity to launch the idea and bring established and aspiring artists together and at the same time help benefit a really worthwhile cause. We have been really blown away by the response from everyone involved and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and having the pleasure of meeting so many positive and friendly people.

VP: There are many charities out there? Why pick “Young Bristol” charity for this project? What is the aim of the charity?

Ben Steers: I have recently helped Young Bristol put together a quarterly magazine on volunteer work and events in the area. There are so many great charities out there doing outstanding work every day but I think in the case of Young Bristol I felt that I could offer my creative services in some way and they also focus on helping disadvantaged individuals of my sort of age through media and arts courses. They aim to give those who didn’t have the opportunities that a lot of us take for granted, the chance to further themselves in creative fields and I think that is really something.

VP: The competition was very popular. Was there a jury and how did you select the final 20?

B S: It was a really difficult selective process as we didn’t want to turn any of the designs away simply because people had made a real effort and in the end we had over 40 design submissions to choose from. We both sat down and went through all the designs trying to select 20 on their individual merits and on how well they would sit against the other 19 as a collection. We were very aware of how all 20 cards would look if we sat them all next to each other. In the end we were very lucky in the response we got and selected 20 great designs which are varied in both style and content.

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BenNewman1Illustration by Ben Newman

VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

Ben Steers: Ben’s enthusiasm made it very difficult to say no and it’s always fun to take part in Bristol projects especially when it’s for a good cause.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

Illustrator Ben Newman and former Amelia’s magazine contributor: I’ve been involved in a few charity projects raising money for hospitals and endangered animals but my involvement always depends on whether my other projects allow me enough time. I’m really pleased that sometimes I can use a skill to help raise money.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

BN: My card was inspired by some of the designs on Record company advertising banners from the 1950’s.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

BN: Booze, food, friends and lot’s of sleeping.

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BjornLie

Illustration by Bjorn Lie

Name of Illustrator: Bjorn Lie

VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

BL:  The fact that it was for a local charity. I normally do work for clients in other countries, which is nice, but makes me feel a bit detached from where I actually am, Bristol. This was a chance to be a part of something positive, by just doing my own thing.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

BL: Not actively, no. I would like to do more of it in the future though.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

BL:  I’ve been doing a lot of wintry scenes recently for a picture book, so I was already in that frame of mind! My card features a guy on a “spark støtting’, which is an old school means of transportation back in Norway where I’m from.

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Rich T

Name of Illustrator: Rich T

VP: What motivated you to apply for the competition?

Rich T: I thought it was a great idea for a project, a good brief and most importantly fun. If you want people to do stuff for free you have to make it fun, you can’t rely on good will. Kids today….

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

Rich T: I have donated artwork for charity auctions in the past.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

Rich T: I didn’t want to draw anything to do with Christmas so for me the opposite of Christmas is probably Pepsi, always forgotten in the festive period along with Jesus, job done.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

Rich T: All I want for Christmas is loads of expensive gifts, preferably ones I can sell on E bay, and a dog but I don’t want it forever, just Christmas.

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Name of Illustrator: Chris Dickason

CD: More than anything else the brief sounded like a fun way to spend some time away from commercial work and a chance to get a little Christmas over nostalgic whilst I looked for inspiration. There’s a fantastic wealth of talent in Bristol and consistently the artists and designs here produce work that’s as innovative as it is clever, funny and engaging. I’m really interested in being involved with projects that help promote the city as a creative hub. And obviously it’s great to be involved with a local charity as well.

VP: Have any of you ever been involved with charities before?

CD: I’ve worked commercially for charities and raised a bit of money from sponsorship for just about plodding myself around some marathons but I’d been looking for a project that consolidated my own discourse and a worthy cause. The ‘All I Want for Christmas’ project ticked a lot of boxes in my head when I received the email. It’s very much a win-win situation for the artists. Projects like this offer creative freedom are chance to see work viewed along side your contemporaries as well as providing a healthy dose of the ‘feel good factor’ as you get to support a charity to boot.

VP: It is so easy to fall into cliches when coming up with a concept for Christmas cards? Those cards are truly original and infused with humor. How did you find inspiration for those cards?

CD: Christmas is a great time of year because it provides some very personal memories but these experiences are similar to that shared by most other people. I was motivated to create an image that was based on occurrences that are typical of my Christmas experiences (over indulgence, goodnatured gluttony, sharing & caring) and hoped that these ideas would resonate with the audience.

VP: I know what I want for Christmas and it is to welcome lovely kittens into my home. What about you, lovely people?

CD: The main thing I want for Christmas is in fact free and that is a nice chunk of uninterrupted sleep. If I had my may I’d turn into a big grizzly bear and snooze all winter long and wake back up when the temperature is back in double figures. Alas I’m yet to master this skill.

shop

So now you know what these chaps all want for Christmas. How about you? You might just want to escape the usual uninspiring, tacky and overdone festive art on display this season and treat yourself to fun, cheeky and sustainable charity cards. The Christmas card packs are a limited edition of 500, each containing 20 cards individually designed by 20 of Bristol’s finest illustrators, litho printed on 100% recycled card, 20 envelopes and an A2 poster. They cam be purchased on www.alliwantforchristmascards.com. Price per pack: £15 + £2.99 p&p

Categories ,art, ,charity cards, ,craft, ,exhibition, ,illustration, ,illustrator, ,interview, ,london, ,Young Bristol

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with illustrator David Doran

TheWeekendsStartHereSpots_DavidDoran1

Illustrator David Doran is a recent graduate of Falmouth University and was one of the standout graduate illustrators discovered at the 2014 shows (read more in my New Blood review)… I caught up with him to talk inspiration from the USA, working with new clients and how to engage with the commercial world before graduation.

DavidDoran_Studio
How has your recent trip around America informed your work?
It was great to get out and about, see new sights and meet new people. Illustration is one of the few jobs that you can do from pretty much anywhere. After finishing University, my girlfriend and I felt the need to travel to new places. We had a few contacts in New York, Boston, Portland and San Francisco, and decided that it was the perfect time for us to just head off. I met with clients at newspapers and magazines, and together we also managed to meet up with other creative people. It was great to make more personable relationships with clients I’d been working with and to realise how international illustration and the industry is. Visually, the American landscape is incredibly inspiring. We took a few days to drive down the Highway 101 from Portland OR to San Francisco, taking in the wild coastline.

NYTimes-Upshot_DavidDoran
NY Times

Why have you decided to stay in Falmouth after graduation – what are the benefits of staying put? (other than the fabulous scenery!)
After seeing other places and spending time in a lot of cities, Falmouth felt like the most perfect place to return to. There’s something very unique about the town, it has a brilliant close-knit, creative community and there’s nothing quite like being so near to the coast!

WIRED_DavidDoran
WIRED

How do you like your studio space set up?
I’m really enjoying having a studio. After a few years of working from home, I found that it was important for me to get out of the house in the morning and to have a routine of going to a different place to work. It also helps with the work/life balance. I try to stick to normal working hours, but occasionally a deadline will mean that there are a few late nights! My studio is set amongst other creative spaces, with architects, artists, jewellery designers, graphic designers and a print studio all working either side of me. There’s also a ping-pong table nearby, which is the highlight of every day.

TheWeekendsStartHere_DavidDoran3
The Weekends Start Here

What or who have been your biggest influences in illustration?
I’ve mentioned this a few times before, but travel posters from the early 20th century have always been a large influence visually. I enjoy the traditional printing techniques and love seeing how tactile the posters feel. There’s plenty of contemporary illustrator’s making really great work at the moment, but I find inspiration from a wide range of artist’s, including Eric Ravillious, David Hockney, Barbara Hepworth, Mark Rothko and Henri Mattise, to name a few!

NYTimesBookReview_DavidDoran
NY Times Book Review

During your degree what was the best way of learning about commercial world of illustration?
There are so many resources available for students to learn about the commercial world of illustration, such as the libraries, illustration annuals, creative magazines and websites. I read lots of interviews with illustrators, art directors and graphic designers, and was always fascinated with the commercial world and the process of a job. Most tutors at Universities will also have a wealth of knowledge about the commercial world and the different areas within illustration, so it’s always worth making the most of them and asking as many questions as you can!

TheQuarterly_DavidDoran
The Quarterly

You have unsurprisingly had a lot of success, despite having only graduated last year – what tips would you give other illustrators graduating this year?
Get your work ‘out there’ and seen as much as possible. Attend the graduate shows and make conversation with people, the people that commission work are regular people and putting a face to a name is always helpful. There may be quiet moments once you graduate, but you never know what you’ll be commissioned for in the near future, so keep on going! I think it’s important to keep your illustration work interesting for yourself by working on personal projects whenever there’s the opportunity between projects. I find this can complement my commercial work and keeps me inspired to make more work. As an illustrator you’ll often be working as part of a team with art directors and designers, which is great, but your personal projects are a nice opportunity to be in complete control of one area of your work.

TheWeekendsStartHere_DavidDoran2
The Weekends Start Here

How did you get involved with the project to illustration London: The Weekends Start Here and what was the process in researching and creating the images in the book?
Elen Jones, an editor at Ebury (Penguin Random House), got in touch with me last summer. She had seen my work at one of the London graduate shows and thought my work would fit nicely with the book concept. The process was very natural and collaborative: I was sent Tom Jones’ manuscript and I went through selecting what I’d most like to illustrate. There were a few places I hadn’t visited before, but Tom was able to help with his photographs from the research for the book. We had a meeting where we went over the list of illustrations and checked that we matched the criteria. Once we’d settled on the pictures, it was simply a case of making sketches for each of the illustrations and then working with Sophie Yamamoto, the designer at Maru Studio, to make the right adjustments to the illustrations. I then went through the list one by one making the final images. I was still in the States while I working on the book and Sophie was in Japan, while Elen was still in London, so we became quite an international working team… The time zones were very confusing! It was great to work on a larger scale project, especially compared to editorial projects, and it’s now very satisfying to be able to hold the final book and stumble upon it in bookstores.

TheWeekendsStartHere_DavidDoran1
The Weekends Start Here

What has been your favourite editorial project of recent months and why?
I enjoy almost all editorial projects, I think there’s always the possibility to make an interesting image and the process of getting to that right image can be really fun. The added adrenaline of tight deadlines means that there’s always something new to be getting on with and keeps the work fresh. A recent editorial project that I particularly enjoyed was creating a series of illustrations for the next issue of Smith Journal magazine, based in Australia, which should be coming out very soon! The magazine has a great aesthetic and the articles had a large amount of scope for concepts; the images came together very naturally.

TheWeekendsStartHere_DavidDoran4
The Weekends Start Here

What are you working on next and what would your ideal project of the future be?
I’m currently working away on editorial projects and am slowly developing a children’s picture book of my own in between jobs. It’s in its very early stages, but hopefully one day it will be revealed to the world… watch this space! I would love to explore publishing more and work on book covers in the future. I’m excited to continue working on editorials and developing concepts too!

Categories ,Book Review, ,David Doran, ,Ebury, ,Elen Jones, ,Falmouth, ,Falmouth University, ,Highway 101, ,illustration, ,illustrator, ,interview, ,Maru Studio, ,New Blood, ,NY Times, ,Smith Journal, ,Sophie Yamamoto, ,The Quarterly, ,The Weekends Start Here, ,Tom Jones

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with illustrator Katrine Brosnan

Tricolore by Haiku Salut. Design by Katrine Brosnan
Tricolore by Haiku Salut. Design by Katrine Brosnan.

Illustrator Katrine Brosnan first came to my attention as the designer of the wonderful Tricolore album artwork: she then contributed another exclusive illustration for my interview with Haiku Salut, so I decided to find out more about how she collaborated with the band, as well as her work practice, techniques and plans for the future. Read on to be inspired.

hand_watch_booklet by Katrine Brosnan
Hand watch booklet.

What was the best bit about studying at Nottingham Trent University?
I loved working alongside people studying different disciplines; my housemates were graphics and fashion students. My fine art course allowed people to experiment with any medium to create their ideas, the freedom was liberating and there was a lot of crossover with disciplines, which was encouraged.

What have you learnt since you left university?
It really helps to have an art, work, life balance! Specialising can lead to more commercial opportunities but the joy of creating is only realised when you can be free with ideas and the medium you use. I try different techniques to make work and often feel inspired when I learn something new. Three years ago I went back to printmaking attending a few courses at a local print workshop and this really inspired the direction of my work.

Tricolore booklet page by Katrine Brosnan
Tricolore booklet page.

How did you hook up with Haiku Salut?
I’ve actually known Gemma from Haiku Salut since we were wee 16 year olds and I was always incredibly impressed by her amazing musicality. I remember a night when I came to see their uni band the Deirdres and managed to win the best jumper award, what I wouldn’t give for a trophy.

Piano hands tee & tote by Katrine Brosnan
Piano hands tee & tote.

I got properly back in touch when I saw Haiku Salut play in Nottingham a couple of years ago. They were really supportive of my new screen-printed and watercolour illustration work and I ended up making some tees and tote bags with the piano hands design to go alongside their EP. After a trip to the peak district with a visit to an expansive second hand bookshop, a fantastic Sunday roast and a lovely time with their dog Pi, I was asked to work on designs for their new album Tricolore.

What was the brief for the creation of your artwork?
The original brief was very loose to create something a bit detached from reality and using the primary colours associated with the band. They also suggested linking to a song title and I chose Leaf Stricken. I was pleased to achieve final elements which don’t sit realistically together, the leaves are hoovered up by the cloud rather than blown around by the wind.  

Pantoman booklet page by Katrine Brosnan
Pantoman booklet page.

How did the process work with the band members?
We first spoke about it at a gig and then through emails back and forth. I gave them some mock up ideas and developed these from their feedback. We chatted again at another gig about the songs and their direction. They are very creative as is their record label How Does it Feel to Be Loved? so there was lots to input and evolution to get to the final version. Drawings that didn’t make it onto the cover have made it into the online booklet that accompanies the album; like a cheeky panto chap with lampshade headwear and some patterned beetles.

How was the work produced?
The back of the album has a lino cut tree I printed, a bit reminiscent of Japanese woodcuts with far less detail, the leaves are hand drawn, watercoloured and then digitally arranged with a geometric patterned watercolour cloud. I wanted the artwork to be simple and a little bit messy with different elements coming together reflecting the variety of instruments which play alongside each other in the music.

Petite pastries by Katrine Brosnan
Petite pastries.

What else are you working on at the moment?
I started getting into using printmaking and design by working to briefs, which has sometimes meant that the medium and end result lead me. Now I’m taking some time to think about my personal project ideas and where they can take me.

I am working with a couple of artists to get together an unusual residency. We hope this will give us a bit of time and space to make some interesting ideas happen and share it with people in a nice setting probably with lots of tea and cake.

Folks that do coffee
Folks that do coffee.

I like to draw people I see and bring them together into collections. I’ve recently changed my pattern for getting to work and realised that the new people I see will soon become regulars on that little chunk of my morning; the lady with the lovely fair isle hat and rosy cheeks and the man who wears shorts over leggings who crosses the road at 8.11am. This collection of ‘new regulars’ could find themselves coming together as a print or zine like my ‘folks that do coffee’ and ‘homage to catalonians’ prints.

Homage to catalonians by Katrine Brosnan
Homage to catalonians.

I have recently experimented with making screen-printed laser cut jewellery including slug brooches, which people really like or really hate. Useless things and or sad creatures like slugs often become my subjects. I have also used food in quite a bit of my work and breakfast has taken over with my petite pastries jewellery. I am working on a range of screen-printed jewellery in this way and hope this will be ready for public consumption by the summer.

Slug brooch by Katrine Brosnan
Slug brooch.

I am also working on private commissions including some special screen-printed wedding invitations.

Categories ,Deirdres, ,Haiku Salut, ,How Does It Feel To Be Loved?, ,illustrator, ,interview, ,Japanese woodcuts, ,Katrine Brosnan, ,Leaf Stricken, ,Nottingham Trent University, ,Pi, ,Tricolore

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with illustrator, textile designer and author Jane Foster

Jane Foster toucan
Jane Foster is an illustrator, textile designer and author based in Devon. She and her husband run a studio in which she designs, prints and sells a range of products in her distinctive style. On top of all this, she has recently found time to share her talent through a series of craft book and help classic children’s book character Miffy celebrate her 60th birthday. Jane’s success as an illustrator is down to the unique, joyful style of her work. A mix of clean shapes and lines, bold colours and playful, charming characters makes each of her creations something truly special which you can’t help but smile at! With this being such a busy and exciting time for Jane, I couldn’t wait to find out more about her inspiration, process and plans for the future.

Jane Foster owl
Can you tell us a bit about you and your work?
I’m a self taught illustrator who also screen prints, sews and collects fabric. My initial career was in music – I studied the violin at music college for 5 years, followed that by a 1 year PGCE and then taught music for 15 years before changing my career.

Jane Foster mugs
Can you tell us about your creative process? How do you document ideas and then take them forward to end products?
I always carry a note book in my bag and usually sketch and think about future ideas when I’m in a cafe. I’m very good at going to cafes on my own in order to do this, and most of my designs would have been sketched in a cafe somewhere before I then return to my studio to work on a neater version on better paper. I work with fine black line pens and my designs are then scanned into a computer in order to then be transferred onto acetate and then exposed onto a silk screen for screen printing.

Jane Foster teapot
You choose to screen print your products by hand. Is there any reason you choose to produce them this way?
It might not necessarily be the most cost effective way, as owning all your own screens etc. can be very costly, but I love the whole process. I find it very satisfying and therapeutic. I love the way every print can be slightly different, I like the way the ink sits slightly proud on the paper and I like experimenting with short runs for prototypes. Doing all the processes here is very liberating as I can design something in the morning and in theory, have it exposed on to a screen within the same day to then screen print on to fabric or paper in the evening.

Jane Foster lion drawing
Jane Foster lions
You say your work is influenced by Scandanavian design. How did you come across this sort of design and what is it that appeals to you about it?
My parents loved Scandinavian design in the 70s so I think they were a huge influence. My mum loved bold designs in primary colours, even at a time when Laura Ashley flowers might have been the trend. She shopped in Habitat and Heals and had a few Marimekko duvet covers. I like the freshness and simplicity of Scandinavian design – it’s not overly fussy and it’s often geometric.

Jane Foster ABC
What else inspires you? Are there any artists, places or objects from which you draw a lot of inspiration?
Fabric from the 50s and 60s inspire me, especially those designed by Lucienne Day and early Heals designers. I draw inspiration from ceramics, vintage children’s illustrations, like the work of Alain Gree and Dick Bruna, and also from the internet – Pinterest!

Jane Foster miffy bag
What is your studio like?
We now have a studio at home in our garden that we have just spent the past 5 months building. It’s a wonderful light and airy space, white walls and floors and full of colourful fabrics, prints and handmade toys!

Jane Foster cat apple plush
If you could see into the studio of any artist (dead or alive) who would you choose and why?
Probably Henry Mattise – I love his use of colour, especially his huge collages like his famous ‘Snail’. I think he seemed like a wonderful, interesting character and I would love to have a snoop around his studio!

Jane Foster Miffy cushion
You have produced a few products using the classic children’s character Miffy. What appealed to you about this character? And why did you choose to use it in your designs?
I grew up with Miffy books and started to collect them. Over the last ten years, I was lucky enough to source several pairs of Miffy curtains from Holland dating from the 70s. I made some cushions and bags for my daughter and a few friends and more recently, started to sell some of these items on my Etsy shop. I have always loved the simplicity of Dick Bruna’s Miffy books and think he has a real skill at not making his work too complicated. I love his simple use of outline and colour and think he’s a genius to create a character who seems timeless and is still incredibly popular today all over the world. I really enjoy combining Miffy fabric with my own fabric and 70s vintage fabrics to create purses, bags and cushions. I’ve been fortunate to sign a contract with Miffy headquarters to allow me to sell handmade Miffy items. It’s Miffy’s 60th Birthday this year so I shall be making 60 limited edition items to sell in July!

Jane Foster creative craft with kids
You have recently released your second book Creative Craft With Kids. Can you tell us a bit more about it and what inspired you to write it?
I was fortunate enough to sign a 3 book deal and this was my second one. My first book Fun With Fabric was really for adults so I thought it would be great to make my second book dedicated to projects to make with and for kids. My daughter is now 7 so I’ve had plenty of experience being creative with her these past few years so wanted to share some of my enthusiasm and ideas with others.

Jane Foster 123
Finally, what is next for Jane Foster? Any creative projects or future goals you would like to mention?
I’ve the first of my 2 pre-school children’s books out this May which is very exciting. A 123 book and an ABC book. These are published by Templar. My designs are going to be added to kitchen textiles, placemats, coasters, fine bone china mugs and glasses. These are produced by the company Make International. I’m also working on some secret commissions for next Christmas which you will discover towards the end of the year.

Shop Jane Foster products here, and see more on her blog here.

Categories ,60th Birthday, ,Alain Gree, ,Author, ,Creative Craft With Kids, ,Devon, ,Dick Bruna, ,etsy, ,Fun With Fabric, ,Greg McIndoe, ,Habitat, ,Heals, ,Henry Mattise, ,illustrator, ,Jane Foster, ,laura ashley, ,Lucienne Day, ,Make International, ,Marimekko, ,Miffy, ,Pinterest, ,Scandinavian design, ,Templar, ,Textile Designer

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Amelia’s Magazine | An Interview with Illustrator Tom Clohosy Cole

tomclohosycole_Financial_Times_editorial_2

Financial Times editorial.

Since I discovered the unique and wonderful work of Tom Clohosy Cole at his Kingston University graduate show in 2011 his career has unsurprisingly gone from strength to strength. I caught up with Tom to find out what makes him tick…

What was the best bit about growing up in Brighton and was it a conscious decision to leave town to study? (I hear there is a good university there…)
The best thing about Brighton has to be the Palace Pier. I thinks its good to move away from home and try out new places, I applied to a few different Universities including Brighton but chose Kingston as it was somewhere new and the course had a good reputation.

tomclohosycole_Financial_Times_editorial_

Your graduate showcase was termed around insurance and I can’t help noticing that you have recently done some commercial work for an insurance company – was there a direct link between the two, and have you done a lot of work for the insurance industry?!
Ha yes well spotted. My degree show work was a comment on the stranger and more extreme end of insurance so its funny that I was commissioned to do some work for an insurance company. It’s only been the one job and I don’t imagine that will be an area that my work will feature in much more, but you never know??

tomclohosycole_Financial_Times_book_review

Who do you share your studio space with and where is it based?
I share a studio with Robert Hunter, a brilliant illustrator who I’m sure you’ll all know, and Elliot Dear, a very talented director who has been responsible for some great music videos and short films, and recently the John Lewis Christmas Ad. We’re up in Dalston.

tomclohosycole_Wired_Life_On_Mars_

Can you tell us more about your Life on Mars novel? What is it all about?
Sure. Its about a group of people who agree to participate in a ‘Big Brother’ style reality show on Mars, whilst also learning about the planet and testing its potential to support life. As the show becomes less popular on Earth the funding is cut and the participants are left to fend for themselves. The story was written by Andrea Curiat, and was for Wired Italy.

tomclohosycole_THRONE_Album_Artwork

Throne album artwork.

Space seems to be a theme that runs throughout your work – what inspires this passion and what is the most exciting thing you have learned about space on your research travels?
I find space fascinating, probably because I know so little about it and because it’s so vast. It’s sometimes nice to put everyday problems in the context of space and be reminded how small they are. One of my favourite space stories is that of the golden record. It was sent into space containing all sorts of greetings and sounds from earth. The spacecraft that holds the record is still travelling further away from our planet into the unknown in the hope of being found by another intelligent life form.

What is the process of working with a band on imagery?
With the project i’ve just finished the band are having a fantastic music video created by their lead singer Nicos Livesey and animator Tom Bunker. We decided to tie the artwork in with the video so it uses the same palette and I recreated elements from the animation frames. The process overall was collaborative, there’s lots of communication between you and the band as its really important that the feel of the artwork reflects them and their music. Keep an eye out for their video; its embroidered on denim frames.

tomclohosycole_GIF_Personal_work

You also work in animation, how do you work across mediums and is there a lot of cross pollination?
Yes they constantly cross pollinate. When I’m not working in illustration I like to be trying my hand in animation, it’s a lot of fun. I think more and more they are becoming one and it’s good to keep up with things as much as possible.

You have a very identifiable style, where does your inspiration come from and how do you create your pieces?
I like to get my inspiration from all sorts of places, but try to avoid looking at other illustrators. I like looking at the work of D.O.P’s and photographers and painters. I create my pieces using a mixture of hand drawn and digital elements, all ending up being arranged and coloured in the computer.

Tom Clohosy Cole Space Race

Space Race.

In what way did Kingston University prepare you for the world of work?
Kingston puts its emphasis on ideas, rather than the technical side. It was very important leaning how to ‘think’ about what I’m doing, especially in an industry where you have to be so adaptable.

Who are your favourite type of clients and what are your favourite projects to work on?
I always love doing book covers. My favourite projects to work on are Picture Books, it’s great having 6 months to work on one thing and loose yourself in it.

Tom Clohosy Cole Nobrow issue 6

Tom Clohosy Cole Nobrow issue 6.

You have worked extensively with Nobrow, how did this relationship come about and what have you got coming up next?
We met at my degree show and I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute to their magazine. Coming up next is a big map of London…

tomclohosycole_WALL_book_preview

Wall book preview.

I see you have a new book due out this October… it all looks very intriguing. Can you share any preview details with us?
Yes it comes out on October the 1st. Exciting. It’s my first full picture book and it’s published by Templar Books. The book is called ‘WALL’ and is the story of a young boy who’s father is stuck on the other side of the Berlin Wall. I spent most of 2013 beavering away at it and I’m excited for it to come out, it feels like so long ago that I made it now but we’ve been waiting for the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down to release it.

What have been the high points and the low points of pursuing a professional career in illustration, to date?
High Points: Being told I can make ‘Space Race’ and ‘WALL’. Getting a studio. Working on animation jobs with lots of friends of mine.
Low Points: Loosing Pitches, especially when you’ve already decided what your going to spend the money on in your head. Working from home. No longer printmaking.

Thankyou Tom Clohosy Cole!

Categories ,Andrea Curiat, ,Berlin Wall, ,Big Brother, ,brighton, ,dalston, ,Elliot Dear, ,illustrator, ,interview, ,Kingston University, ,Life on Mars, ,Nicos Livesey, ,Palace Pier, ,Robert Hunter, ,Space Race, ,Templar Books, ,Tom Bunker, ,Tom Clohosy Cole, ,WALL, ,Wired Italy

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Amelia’s Magazine | The Warmest Chord

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza by Catherine Askew
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Catherine Askew.

Ponytails, viagra sale red eye make up, cure close fitting suits, dosage black, lots of black. A male model with razor sharp cheekbones and a hilarious female model with superlative head throwing posing skills. This is what Jean-Pierre Braganza showed at the Northumberland House, a new grandiose LFW location.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young.

After loitering in the magnificent reception area we were ushered into the huge ballroom, passing by the backstage area which looked suspiciously like the back of a Hollywood lot.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme.

Positronyx was a sexily provocative collection dominated by sharp tailoring and beautiful pattern cutting in a predominantly monochrome palette, bar a nod to that boldest of colours, pillar box red. This cropped up in dashing geometric tiger-like striped print and on bam bam look-at-me suits for both men and women, but it was across the breast and curving around the hips of a particularly stunning embroidered dress that it enthralled me most.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala.

A quick scan of the show press release reveals that when designing Jean-Pierre Braganza had in mind strong female warrior leaders, perhaps existing in a future world where “tribal affiliation has replaced the current societal controls, and clothing becomes even more imperative for identity, security and culture.” He certainly designs for the bold and assertive lady – creating sexy armour that wouldn’t look out of place on the prowl at a cocktail party.

I was less keen on the sponsored fur elements. But let’s not mention those, eh? It was an otherwise fabulous collection.
Jean-Pierre Braganza by Catherine Askew
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Catherine Askew.

Ponytails, order red eye make up, price close fitting suits, black, lots of black. A male model with razor sharp cheekbones and a hilarious female model with superlative head throwing posing skills. This is what Jean-Pierre Braganza showed at the Northumberland House, a new grandiose LFW location.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young.

Northumberland House
Northumberland House.

After loitering in the magnificent reception area we were ushered into the huge ballroom, passing by the backstage area which looked suspiciously like the back of a Hollywood lot.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme.

Positronyx was a sexily provocative collection dominated by sharp tailoring and beautiful pattern cutting in a predominantly monochrome palette, bar a nod to that boldest of colours, pillar box red. This cropped up in dashing geometric tiger-like striped print and on bam bam look-at-me suits for both men and women, but it was across the breast and curving around the hips of a particularly stunning embroidered dress that it enthralled me most.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala.

A quick scan of the show press release reveals that when designing Jean-Pierre Braganza had in mind strong female warrior leaders, perhaps existing in a future world where “tribal affiliation has replaced the current societal controls, and clothing becomes even more imperative for identity, security and culture.” He certainly designs for the bold and assertive lady – creating sexy armour that wouldn’t look out of place on the prowl at a cocktail party.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory

I was less keen on the sponsored fur elements. But let’s not mention those, eh? It was an otherwise fabulous collection.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Jean-Pierre Braganza by Catherine Askew
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Catherine Askew.

Ponytails, viagra 60mg red eye make up, cheapest close fitting suits, approved black, lots of black. A male model with razor sharp cheekbones and a hilarious female model with superlative head throwing posing skills. This is what Jean-Pierre Braganza showed at the Northumberland House, a new grandiose LFW location.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young.

Northumberland House
Northumberland House.

After loitering in the magnificent reception area we were ushered into the huge ballroom, passing by the backstage area which looked suspiciously like the back of a Hollywood lot.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme.

Positronyx was a sexily provocative collection dominated by sharp tailoring and beautiful pattern cutting in a predominantly monochrome palette, bar a nod to that boldest of colours, pillar box red. This cropped up in dashing geometric tiger-like striped print and on bam bam look-at-me suits for both men and women, but it was across the breast and curving around the hips of a particularly stunning embroidered dress that it enthralled me most.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala.

A quick scan of the show press release reveals that when designing Jean-Pierre Braganza had in mind strong female warrior leaders, perhaps existing in a future world where “tribal affiliation has replaced the current societal controls, and clothing becomes even more imperative for identity, security and culture.” He certainly designs for the bold and assertive lady – creating sexy armour that wouldn’t look out of place on the prowl at a cocktail party.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory

I was less keen on the sponsored fur elements. But let’s not mention those, eh? It was an otherwise fabulous collection.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

You can read Matt Bramford’s superb review here, and view more of Emmi Ojala’s work in Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration.
Jean-Pierre Braganza by Catherine Askew
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Catherine Askew.

Ponytails, stomach red eye make up, close fitting suits, black, lots of black. A male model with razor sharp cheekbones and a hilarious female model with superlative head throwing posing skills. This is what Jean-Pierre Braganza showed at the Northumberland House, a new grandiose LFW location.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Jane Young.

Northumberland House
Northumberland House.

After loitering in the magnificent reception area we were ushered into the huge ballroom, passing by the backstage area which looked suspiciously like the back of a Hollywood film lot.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Kerri-Ann Hulme.

Positronyx was a sexily provocative collection dominated by sharp tailoring and beautiful pattern cutting in a predominantly monochrome palette, bar a nod to that boldest of colours, pillar box red. This cropped up in a dashing geometric tiger-like striped print and on bam bam look-at-me suits for both men and women, but it was across the breast and curving around the hips of a particularly stunning embroidered dress that it enthralled me most.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011 by Emmi Ojala.

A quick scan of the show press release reveals that when designing Jean-Pierre Braganza had in mind strong female warrior leaders, perhaps existing in a future world where “tribal affiliation has replaced the current societal controls, and clothing becomes even more imperative for identity, security and culture.” He certainly designs for the bold and assertive lady – creating sexy armour that wouldn’t look out of place on the prowl at a cocktail party.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory

I was less keen on the sponsored fur elements. But let’s not mention those, eh? It was an otherwise fabulous collection.

Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia GregoryJean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. Photography by Amelia Gregory
Jean-Pierre Braganza A/W 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

You can read Matt Bramford’s superb review here, and view more of Emmi Ojala’s work in Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration.
Emilio de la Morena by Faye West
Emilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Collection: Illustration by Faye West

Apparently Emilio de la Morena has lengthened his silhouette. His pieces are now touching, this site or over the knee, decease ‘signalling a new direction that is stricter and more refined.’ The body con is still there of course, check remaining tighter than a wetsuit, and both wigglier and feistier than Mad Men’s, Joan. That’s exactly what the collection made me think of: Joan and Jessica Rabbit. This translates to: HOT… but sophisticated.

Red Charlotte Olympia shoes featured throughout the show. Now, I’ve always been a fan of red shoes. From ballet to sky scraping, red shoes are sweet vixens, minxes, all playful and naughty. But less; “stop it Roger” and more; “Roger I want champagne, oysters and Chanel. Get them!” She needs a man, not a wimp. She will wear her shoes in the bath, and probably won’t speak to Roger much before or after – whatever happens between them. She’s an old school dressed WOMAN, not a girl, and she expects to be treated with respect. Like the stroppier ones in James Bond films, this woman can kick some ass. And answer back with cutting looks and witty, snappy words.

Emilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia Gregory
Emilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Collection: Photography by Amelia Gregory

Other Charlotte Olympia shoes included a suede ankle boot and platform sandals in three colours, black, red, powder pink and ivory. All utterly lust-worthy. Heaven. The colour palette mirrors Emilio de la Morena Autumn/Winter collection, which focuses on black, dark purple and RED. The sombre tones of this show, inspired by the work of the American photographer Francesca Woodman and the circumstances surrounding her suicide in New York, in 1981, aged just 22. Her photographs are hauntingly beautiful and predominantly black and white. Emilio de la Morena wanted to reflect these sad circumstances, with his use of passionate, bruised and mourning colours. These give way however, to ivory and powder pink, making for delicate prettiness, next to the block melancholy. Together, the designs look classy, serious and fantastic. I see these beautiful women by the graves of Italian gangsters, weeping. They are hard, stunning and controlled, but what they love – they adore with all their hearts.

Emilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia GregoryEmilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Amelia Gregory
Emilio de la Morena LFW A/W 2011 Collection: Photography by Amelia Gregory

Victoriana also featured within Emilio de la Morena’s collection, but with a modern, sheer twist. Bib decoration and high necklines created from sheer, frayed and tufted organza, make it lighter, sexier and contemporary. The longer length, wool pencil skirts also featured sheer organza. With panels, embroidered in swirling, zig zagging ribbon, created in the material, as well as silk inserts. The additions allowing for fluidity of movement.

The collection felt serious and respectfully attractive. Not flirty, terribly young, overly romantic or precocious. Instead very sensual and confident. The red stole the show. However, like red lipstick on a make up less face, it looked the most alluring, when it was paired with the other other colours. The eyes and lips are too much – alone they are beautiful. Such a bright red needed the other colours to avoid being lost, and to stand out as a solitary statement. And you know, if the three women were sobbing by the grave, each with an accent of red, just imagine… scandalous, stylish, powerful and mysterious RED.

This screen print by Franz Vesolt accompanies the release of Wild Nothing’s ‘Evertide’ EP.

Music and art have always made the best of bedfellows, for sale so it seems only natural to create a record label that aspires to have musicians and artists support each other through bespoke collaborations. Here’s the premise: each full Warmest Chord release consists of three exclusive tracks and a limited numbered A3 screen print designed by an independent illustrator in direct response to the music. Go to their lovingly prepared blog and you can read about their new inspirations, physician ideas and designs, whether it be for a screen print, cover art, a jigsaw or knitting pattern that will accompany their song releases. (And it was a real treat for us to see that the Warmest Chord logo and headermast was created by the illustrator Hannah Warren, whose work featured in Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration). We talked to Becky Randall, one of the founders of Warmest Chord to learn more about this highly creative endeavor.

Tell me the premise behind the idea of the Warmest Chord Record label.

The label was pretty much born out of a desire of wanting to collaborate, create something from scratch, and to offer up something a little different from the standard somewhat cold digital download. We wanted to play around with some ideas and explore other possibilities by adding a craft and handmade element into the mix of download releases. We felt it was only right to offset downloads with beautiful physical artwork that you can own, admire, hang and create attachment and a visual counterpart to the music.

For the second release we introduced downloadable liner notes and also Warmest Chord ‘Calling Cards’ which are handpicked images from scrapbooks, old publications, vintage community magazines, old postcards etc. Each one is a one-off and handstamped by Warmest Chord. We do an edition of 50 per release and we put them in at random with purchases of the screen print. This visual and physical element is really important to us and we want to create a trusted home for new music adding different art ephemera and collectibles with each release.

Who do you have signed at the moment and what type of music are you hoping to sign in the future?

Warmest Chord is still very much a fledgling label as we’ve only had two releases out so far. Our first was the ‘Evertide’ EP from Wild Nothing coupled with a phosphorescent screen print from French illustrator Franz Vesolt. Our second release was from newcomer Slow Talk hand-in-hand with a print from Micah Lidberg. The overwhelming support and little messages from well-wishers and fans was really positive and highlighted just how open music lovers can be to new ideas and combinations. As for the future, our doors, eyes and ears are truly open.


Tell us a little about the artists that you are working with on the screen print side.

For the Wild Nothing release we brought Franz Vesolt on board, an illustrator who focuses on characters and figures, and has an unerring ability to stir up the emotions with a simple line drawing. We felt that he complimented and aestheticised the emotive music of Wild Nothing perfectly. And in comparison to that, there are the bold songs from Slow Talk with just a hint of menace and vulnerability in the mix, which illustrator Micah Lidberg aptly manifested with his twisted vision of nature run wild with colour.


This screenprint by Micah Lidberg is sold alongside the new release by Slow Talk

For each release we’re going to be introducing a new illustrator, and carefully pairing them with the music to ensure they go together like the finest bread and cheese. We also invite them to make-over our logo/ headermast to essentially ‘christen’ each release. Each run of screen prints is limited to just 100, and we endeavour to make each one a beautifully crafted piece of collectible custom-made art that adds value and attachment to the music.



Wild Nothing’s haunting interpretation of the iconic ‘Cloudbusting’ can be brought from the Warmest Chord shop

Turning to the business side; what was your background before this, was it art, or music related?

A little bit of both actually! I studied art at university, tried to write for a living but got very very poor in the process, worked in music promotions then at a couple of labels big and small. I continue to be a fairly free floating entity with fingers in lots of honey jars, including managing the bands Still Corners and The Proper Ornaments

The other half of Warmest Chord spends most of his time begging DJ’s to play records on the radio, as well as running a great little 7”-only label called Make Mine. We both kind of landed on our bellies into the world of Warmest Chord and we’re very pleased that we did.


Steven Ross from Slow Talk. Photograph by Jane Anne Duddleston

How was this label set up, did you receive funding?  And is this a full time job for everyone at Warmest Chord? 

We’re both based in London, and had to dig deep into our pockets, bumbags, piggy banks and sofa cushions in order to make Warmest Chord happen. There are just two of us at the label and we wrap it around our day jobs using every stolen moment we can fit in our Warmest Chord swag bag in order to indulge another little facet for the label.

What is your long term goals with Warmest Chord?

To keep Warmest Chord a very free and mutable entity, keep building on the craft and visual element, provide a forum for interesting music and always keep an open mind and a flirtatious eye. We’re currently busy working on our next rather special release. But we’re fond of surprises so won’t say any more or the broth will be ruined.


Another example of Micah Lidberg’s stunning illustrations.

Categories ,Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration, ,art, ,Cloudbusting, ,craft, ,design, ,Franz Vesolt, ,Hannah Warren, ,illustration, ,illustrator, ,interview, ,Jane Anne Duddleston, ,Make Mine, ,Micah Lidberg, ,music, ,Record Label, ,Still Corners, ,The Proper Ornaments, ,Warmest Chord, ,Wild Nothing

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with Foreign Slippers and review of album Farewell to the Old Ghosts

Foreign Slippers by Sam Parr
Foreign Slippers by Sam Parr.

Melding Scandinavian iciness with immaculate story-telling skills, Sweden’s Gabi Froden is the latest songstrel to win my heart. Farewell to the Old Ghosts showcases her gorgeous voice, by turns sweet as sugar and strong as steel. With skills learned in the church choir of her native town of Norrkoping, and then honed on tour singing Tom Petty and Pavement covers with previous bands, now is the perfect time to unleash her new guise as Foreign Slippers. From the soaring melody of Thank the Moon to the yearning of Two People in You and the melancholy of What are You Waiting For… this is an album that you will listen to again and again, as I have done in recent weeks.

ForeignSlippers
How does your worldview affect the way you create music? 
I guess your worldview only really is a worldview if it influence what you do, or it is just a lot of empty opinions. I suppose subject matter and priorities affect the way I make music. So I will write about something I believe is important and I do so while working in a cafe because I believe it is what I am supposed to be doing right now even if it doesn’t pay.

Foreign Slippers by Zyzanna
Foreign Slippers by Zyzanna.

What kind of stories do you write?

I hope my songs are stories of love, loss, resistance and new beginnings. When I write children’s stories I write about creatures or people who I hope could move and amuse both children and adults.

Foreign Slippers by Jacqueline Valencia
Foreign Slippers by Jacqueline Valencia.

What do you remember most from childhood and how has this affected adult life?
I remember the sea and running around on islands on the coast of Sweden. I remember our cabin by the lake and playing cards with grandma and granpa during long light summer nights. I remember drawing in my room and singing while mum  played the piano. There were difficult times too but the things above are the ones that light up my heart and gives me a feeling I want to recreate in my music.


Foreign Slippers
foreign-slippers-by-adopted-design
Foreign Slippers by Adopted Design.

Where did you learn to sing? How else do you create music?
I learned to sing in church and school and when mum played the piano. I write on guitar and piano mainly.
 
Foreign Slippers by EdieOP
Foreign Slippers by EdieOP.

Describe your earlier bands…
They were full of boys who wanted to play their instrument but didn’t want to write or sing so I did that and it was always great fun. They were my best friends, we created something together and I learned a lot.

 
YouTube Preview ImageIt All Starts Now

Why Foreign Slippers?
Because I was drunk when I decided it and then it kind of stuck. The idea is that you can put on shoes depending on what you want to be. I have put on my foreign shoes in the UK. 

ForeignSlippers
What better things are coming your way for 2012?
Hopefully more shows, more travel, more songs to write and more people to meet and befriend.
 
foreign slippers album
Farewell to the Old Ghosts by Foreign Slippers is out now on Izumi Records.

YouTube Preview ImageAvalanche
 

Categories ,Adopted Design, ,Avalanche, ,EdieOP, ,Farewell to the Old Ghosts, ,Foreign Slippers, ,Gabi Froden, ,illustrator, ,It All Starts Now, ,Izumi Records, ,Jacqueline Valencia, ,James Round, ,Norrkoping, ,pavement, ,Sam Parr, ,Swedish, ,Thank the Moon, ,Tom Petty, ,Two People in You, ,What are You Waiting For, ,Zyzanna

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with Foreign Slippers and review of album Farewell to the Old Ghosts

Foreign Slippers by Sam Parr
Foreign Slippers by Sam Parr.

Melding Scandinavian iciness with immaculate story-telling skills, Sweden’s Gabi Froden is the latest songstrel to win my heart. Farewell to the Old Ghosts showcases her gorgeous voice, by turns sweet as sugar and strong as steel. With skills learned in the church choir of her native town of Norrkoping, and then honed on tour singing Tom Petty and Pavement covers with previous bands, now is the perfect time to unleash her new guise as Foreign Slippers. From the soaring melody of Thank the Moon to the yearning of Two People in You and the melancholy of What are You Waiting For… this is an album that you will listen to again and again, as I have done in recent weeks.

ForeignSlippers
How does your worldview affect the way you create music? 
I guess your worldview only really is a worldview if it influence what you do, or it is just a lot of empty opinions. I suppose subject matter and priorities affect the way I make music. So I will write about something I believe is important and I do so while working in a cafe because I believe it is what I am supposed to be doing right now even if it doesn’t pay.

Foreign Slippers by Zyzanna
Foreign Slippers by Zyzanna.

What kind of stories do you write?

I hope my songs are stories of love, loss, resistance and new beginnings. When I write children’s stories I write about creatures or people who I hope could move and amuse both children and adults.

Foreign Slippers by Jacqueline Valencia
Foreign Slippers by Jacqueline Valencia.

What do you remember most from childhood and how has this affected adult life?
I remember the sea and running around on islands on the coast of Sweden. I remember our cabin by the lake and playing cards with grandma and granpa during long light summer nights. I remember drawing in my room and singing while mum  played the piano. There were difficult times too but the things above are the ones that light up my heart and gives me a feeling I want to recreate in my music.


Foreign Slippers
foreign-slippers-by-adopted-design
Foreign Slippers by Adopted Design.

Where did you learn to sing? How else do you create music?
I learned to sing in church and school and when mum played the piano. I write on guitar and piano mainly.
 
Foreign Slippers by EdieOP
Foreign Slippers by EdieOP.

Describe your earlier bands…
They were full of boys who wanted to play their instrument but didn’t want to write or sing so I did that and it was always great fun. They were my best friends, we created something together and I learned a lot.

 
YouTube Preview ImageIt All Starts Now

Why Foreign Slippers?
Because I was drunk when I decided it and then it kind of stuck. The idea is that you can put on shoes depending on what you want to be. I have put on my foreign shoes in the UK. 

ForeignSlippers
What better things are coming your way for 2012?
Hopefully more shows, more travel, more songs to write and more people to meet and befriend.
 
foreign slippers album
Farewell to the Old Ghosts by Foreign Slippers is out now on Izumi Records.

YouTube Preview ImageAvalanche
 

Categories ,Adopted Design, ,Avalanche, ,EdieOP, ,Farewell to the Old Ghosts, ,Foreign Slippers, ,Gabi Froden, ,illustrator, ,It All Starts Now, ,Izumi Records, ,Jacqueline Valencia, ,James Round, ,Norrkoping, ,pavement, ,Sam Parr, ,Swedish, ,Thank the Moon, ,Tom Petty, ,Two People in You, ,What are You Waiting For, ,Zyzanna

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