Advertising Fail – Say NO to Canary Islands

No matter what where you fall on climate change issues, it’s an undeniable truth that polar bears are not surviving the loss of their sea ice habitat. A fact I’m reminded of each time I see this ill-conceived image – so far, one billboard plus these London Underground platform posters.

To the creative/s who came up with this marketing campaign – great job. These are the best global warming propaganda posters I’ve seen yet.

Secret Garden Magazine Cover Shot

A shot inside the walled garden at Fulham Palace, (London SW6) has just been published on the cover of a glossy local lifestyle magazine. In the past I’ve been at work in daylight hours when it’s snowed, so photography hasn’t been a possibility. But this was a proper ’snow day’ off work. In a lecture at Camberwell, illustrator Russell Cobb advised on being selective when teaching oneself to observe, i.e. take photos of cafe’s in Paloma, rather than just taking photos of Paloma. So this is my local Bishop’s Park. I concentrated my efforts there rather than roaming further afield. There are more here in my London Flickr photo set.

Thank you to SW6 Editor, Lorraine Crighton-Smith. I really like the green and gold.

Private View at Artspace, Mayfair

Tonight I caught up with Joe Beale (below centre) and Paul Giles who are exhibiting at Artspace, just along from the Apple store and Nero’s on Regent St., Oxford Circus. I snapped them with Elli Chortara in front of some of Paul’s work. Artspace has a bright, contemporary feel and it provided welcome respite from pushy commuters and Oxford Street’s busy late night shoppers, (I’ll be back for decent pics of the lights another evening). On the way there, I ran into Nikki Gamble and we got talking about IBBY – next week I attend my first meeting regarding the 2012 Congress to be held in London, so right now I’m busy familiarising myself with some of the writers and illustrators from around the globe who are past IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Award Winners.

Pixar and IMAX look great together

I haven’t seen A Christmas Carol yet, however I did see  Pixar’s Up at the recently refurbished BFI IMAX. Visually intense, the story at the heart of the 3D illusion is of course where Pixar really delivers. There’s always a sense that it takes years, (which it does) to develop a movie like this, with nothing rushed or left to chance. I’m working my way through a book on Pixar, and I look forward to reading more about the story editing process as a script goes into development, how much visual design is done in tandem with writing, if at all, etc. Up was preceded by a stunning 3D trailer for Alice in Wonderland and the enchanting Pixar short film, Partly Cloudy - here’s the best quality full version (for as long as it lasts up on RuTube!). Enjoy.

Photo: BFI IMAX, situated on a roundabout outside Waterloo Station on the South Bank.

Richard Long at the Tate

New online technology at the Tate - a nice interactive addition which includes close-ups, artist statements, glimpses of people in the gallery, etc.

MA Summer Show Private View

The Camberwell College of Art MA Summer Shows went off really well last week, though it’s sad to see a lot of great people leaving from Illustration and leaving a few of us part-timers kicking around the place! The work from Illustration was exciting, and as predicted, very diverse with editorial illos, children’s books, graphic novels, animation and more – something I really appreciate in this course. Group crit sessions and regular meetings meant that we all had an inkling of who was doing what, but most went an extra mile towards the end and a few suprises lay in store.

500 people came through the door in the first 15 minutes, and around 2600 through the evening. See some of my photos here and get more on ‘09 MA Illustration grads here (thanks Tom). The crowds made it a bit tricky to get photos so above are a few Illustrators except for the guy with the toast – a printmaker – who gave out an edition of ‘toast prints’ at the door.

Camberwell MA Illustration Show 2009

I’ve got the best week coming up – the last week of school (day job) before we’re out for summer, but firstly, two-thirds of my Camberwell contemporaries (those on the full-time programme) will graduate. Check out the Grad Show details here, and see who’s exhibiting from MA Illustration.

Spitalfields

I love the look and idea behind this store in Spitalfields, North East London – A. Gold – which sells English produce. It’s the kind of place you wish inhabited London’s more ubiquitous High Streets.

Jonny Hannah’s Hot Jazz Special

One of the great aspects about being a student at Camberwell is having the opportunity to meet some of Britain’s best illustrators. Yesterday Jonny Hannah gave us an insight into the way he works, entertaining us with a wide array of examples; books and jackets, advertising and theatre work, and screenprints sold through his  business, Cakes and Ale Press. 

I first came across Hannah’s work displayed in the V&A Museum’s Illustration Awards in 2005, and subsequently purchased the book, Hot Jazz Special  (this photo shows one of the most popular spreads) which he graciously signed for me. 

Last night I did some very un-Hannah like drawings of a large Linzer biscuit. (These are little practice drawings for Hansel and Gretel, part of my MA project – anything with hearts or faintly biscuit-y/cookie-ish in nature will do….)

 

Crystal Palace Children’s Book Festival

I have a break from work next week – good timing as I’ve come away with a list of ‘to do’ notes from a tutorial with illustrator Anne Howeson yesterday and loads to prepare for The Crystal Palace Children’s Book Festival. Writer-illustrator Alex Milway is the super-organizer-creator, and thanks to Garen Ewing, we’ve got some starter artwork. A bunch of illustrators and publishers are lined up for this South London event, and I’m expecting the time between now and then to disappear way too fast….