Susie Ghahremani

Susie Ghahremani - Lantern Giclee print, 5" x 7", $20.00

(left) Treetops Giclee print, 7", US$25.00 and (right) Maurice Giclee print, 6", US$20.00

At Sea Giclee, 8" x 10", US$40 (also available in 5"x7" - US$20)

Susie Ghahremani's livejournal was I think the second blog I ever read and loved and bookmarked... before I really understood what a blog was. (The first one was Loobylu, which I stumbled on quite by accident a few years ago... and haven't looked back!)

Boygirlparty is Susie's professional website - here she shares her many skills.... and she's one versatile lady! She calls herself an 'illustrator, musician and stuff-maker'... and she sells a huge array of wonderful handcrafted things in her online shop... from badges to stationary to T-shirts to pouches... and of course original artworks. Her paintings and prints are often tiny in scale (she's a regular Tiny Show Case artist).... which means they're affordable - even gift-able (and what better gift than an original artwork?).

I'm trying to stick to the theme and just focus just on Susie's artwork here... but do browse her website thoroughly, because her illustrations and other work is gorgeous. Even her music is gorgeous. I'm sure she'll be famous one day very soon.

Must apologise - these tiny tag paintings aren't current... Susie posted them on her blog a long time ago and I just loved them so much I couldn't resist sharing them here... love the background textures/patterns especially....

affordable art online

There have been so much wordiness already this week... I will try to be brief today :) Here is a little round-up of good places to find 'affordable' artwork for sale online...

There are so many more... the internet is a big place! Anyway this is a selection of my favourites.

Tiny Show Case

Tiny Show Case is an online gallery that specialises in artwork that is, well - tiny. This idea is such a simple approach to the problem of affordability. The solution - encouraging artists to create smaller pieces of artwork. The result - limited edition artworks for the price of a book or CD. Genius!

Each week a new piece of tiny artwork is selected and turned into a limited-run print production. Each run is printed on archival Hahnemühle German Printmaking Paper. The archival ink is specially treated and sprayed, giving it an archival lifespan of over 60 years.

Also, its worth mentioning that Tiny Show Case structures their pricing so that a percentage of the money from each print sold is donated to a charity chosen by the artist! win win and win.

Some Tiny Show Case current favourites below:

ghostpatrol - Bear in Socks and Gloves
4.35" x 6" print from original artwork
limited edition of 100
US $20.00

Nathan Abels - Island
5" x 7" digital print of original artwork
limited edition of 100
US $22.00

Tin Lark

I have only recently discovered Tin Lark gallery. They're based in California, and they represent a great range of emerging American artists... including a couple of my favourites - Laura Normandin, Saelee Oh and Scott David Johnson. To be honest I am not sure if Tin Lark sell through their website... I was positive they had an online shop section, but now I think perhaps I was imagining things. Anyway... there are some beautiful pieces on the site if you browse through the artists work... I'm sure if you emailed them they could arrange shipping etc. They have such lovely things I couldn't leave them out!

Laura Normandin - (Left) Bottle of Tears
(Right) Painted Bottle Series: Hair, Grater, Ironing
Board, Burr Pod, Skirt and Livestock

Scott David Johnson - Urban Development 50

Etsy

I find Etsy hard to navigate sometimes... there is a lot to wade through before you get to the really good stuff! But perseverance is the key... there are some fantastic craftspeople and artists selling through Etsy... and they often sell a mix of original works, limited edition prints, open edition digital prints etc etc. A few Etsy goodies below:

Erin Tyner - Yellow
photograph - 8"x8"
US $24.00

Matte Stephens - Happy Owl Print Neat
Digital print of an original gouache drawing - 8.5" x 11"
US $35.00

...and even the super-famous UK paper-cut artist extraordinaire Rob Ryan is on Etsy!

Rob Ryan - Bird Lady
Handprinted 3 colour screen print, printed on "Heritage Woodfree" paper.
Approx image size - 280mm x 410mm
Edition of 20.
US $600.00

Artstream

Artstream Studios is another online gallery and shop with a good selection of original art and limited edition works for sale at very reasonable prices. Examples Below:

Ashley Goldberg
Kristof - from the very popular Bearded Men series
Digital print - limited edition of 10
6.25" x 5.5" in size
US $35.00

Heather Smith Jones
Works from the Pieces of Mama's Letters series.
US $225.00 each

NYC gallery - Charmingwall

Last week I got an email from Katie McClenahan, who is the director of a small independent gallery in NYC's West Village. 'Charmingwall' specialises in a curated collection of open-edition fine art prints, and lucky for those of us outside the US, they have an extensive collection of work available for sale through their online shop. I'm assuming from their very reasonable prices (ie prints for US$20!) that these are mostly photographic prints of the original artwork? But Charmingwall does also sell the originals and limited edition prints by the same artists... (you may need to email them for more specific info about original works).

Charmingwall represent artists from a variety of backgrounds, from fine arts to comic-book culture and everything inbetween. Most of the work has an illustrative feel and is largely figurative in style, however this is where the similarities end... the work on offer covers a broad range of aesthetic influences - there are elements of street-art, fashion illustration, and very decorative, ornate detailing which reminded me of traditional folk arts and even textile design...

Grey Dog by Fred Chao

Barnacles and Butterflies by Evan B. Harris

Briar Patch by Andrea L. Peterson

The brand new Charmingwall website is a little work of animated art in itself - I'm always a sucker for hand-drawn type, and the animated element is really effective and, well, charming :)
To keep up with all Charmingwall news be sure to bookmark their blog as well as their website.

More of Charmingwall in the press here and here.

Whale & Innards by Evan B. Harris

a week of 'affordable' art

This is a first for The Design Files, but I have a theme in mind for this week's posts - and its all about 'affordable' art. I have noticed a lot of interest recently in this idea - and although 'affordable' is a very broad (and subjective!) term, I think it's worth featuring artists and artworks that are accessible even to those of us on a budget! (and really, who isn't?). So I hope you'll forgive the generalisations... and that you'll enjoy a week of articles about researching, buying and collecting original art for your own home. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

- a two-part interview with Melbourne art consultant Sophie McNeur, who offers her valuable advice on buying and displaying original artwork, and shares her own shortlist of emerging Australian artists to keep an eye on!
- a little round up of online galleries offering limited edition prints, original works on paper and photographs at very reasonable prices.
- a look at one of the very first artist/bloggers I ever bookmarked many moons ago when I first discovered the amazing world of blogs... I still love her work and hope you will too!

Interview - Arlene TextaQueen

I guess comfortable may be an overstatement (Amber) for Texta's Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY, 2006.

Some things never change (Leah) and It could be anyone (Vanessa), both 2007 - for the exhibition
and publication If you see Something, Say Something

Texta drawing in her sketchbook

Its not really stealing if it were meant to me mine (Michelle) from the Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY.

Arlene Textaqueen is part super-hero, part artist-performance artist-art curator, and general all-round kooky Melbourne cultural character.

Texta's artwork is inspired by many things, but some of the key themes in her most recent work are queer and feminist culture, Australian national identity and voyeurism. Her work is an eccentric blend of at times quite politicised subject matter, balanced by a playful, cheeky aesthetic. But don't underestimate the power of the Texta - her work might be rendered in a naive style, but Arlene Textaqueen is a serious (and prolific) artist. She's completed an Australia Council residency in New York, collaborated with many artists and organisations both here and abroad, has an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Brisbane scheduled for later this year, and is currently working with Rebel Films on a documentary about her TextaNudes series. A friend recently recounted to me one occasion when she was asked what type of artist she was... Her reply - 'a professional one'. Yeah!

ANYWAY I know I say this all the time but THIS interview is seriously one of the best yet. Mainly because Arlene Textaqueen (Texta for short) is just so goddamn funny. I mean, what other artist describes themselves as 'a super-hero who draws naked women and has social anxiety', aspires to guest-star on Sesame st, and dances around her studio to Jane Fonda Aerobics videos in between creative bursts? Read on for a glimpse into the crazy, creative world of Melbourne's very own superhero.

Arlene Textaqueen in superhero-mode

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I guess my artistic career begun entering colouring-in competitions in the weekend newspaper as a kid. Once I won a swing on a high trapeze, $100 and a coke bottle radio for a fauvist rendering of marine animals. Oh and then I went to university and did a Bachelor of Fine Arts in which I mostly made experimental film and photography, though I always drew in a sketchbook. It wasn’t until after uni without a darkroom or edit suite that I embraced drawing as my main practice. I would draw daily, a dozen pictures a day, of people I talked with or spied on whilst on the train. I began drawing with ball point pen, but someone gave me a multi-pack of kids textas and I was hooked.

I began drawing nudes following meeting someone at a party who saw me drawing portraits and asked me if I wanted create pics for a website that would be like a soft porn manga site but in a different style. I only really draw from life so I asked friends to pose but the site never happened, instead the ‘Textanude’ series began. I’ve now had over ten years experience drawing women un-dressed-up in their bedrooms, homes, gardens and lately in the natural landscape.

In addition to creating and exhibiting your own work, you’re involved in a variety of other projects… (Naked art camping etc?) what have been some of your most fun/notable projects and exhibitions?

My latest series is Naked Landscapes of Victoria in which I’ve drawn women posing in reference and re-interpretation of Australian history and culture in regional locations throughout the state such as Mary at the 12 Apostles, bunyip hunting in Bunyip State Forest or a feminist bushranger in Kelly country. On individual trips, a model and I travel in a campervan and create the picture over a few days on location.

Other than my portraits on paper I’ve made many things from them such as playing cards, collaborations to create animations such as for ARTV on SBS, zines, murals, postcards calendars, and once a surfboard.

An amazing experience I had last year was to tour across America, over 30 locations in around 30 days, on the Sister Spit tour organised by the writer Michelle Tea. Alongside 6 amazing queer woman writers reading their work, I showed slides of my drawings and told the stories of the people in the pictures. I got to see so much of America that I never would have visited and the response to my work and tales was incredible especially from other young queer woman was amazing.

We Separate Ourselves (Francesca) 2007 - for the show If you see Something, Say Something in Sydney

You also curate exhibitions at Brunswick Bound. How did this collaboration come about? How has it worked out so far? What are your goals with this ongoing project?

I love curating the shows at Brunswick Bound. My friend Christie Petsinis did the design of the shop fitout and recommended me for the job to Rob and Susie, the lovely proprietors.

I’m really happy with the shows that have been on and the response to the afternoon tea parties that are held for the openings. It’s really lovely to create events that aren’t centred around the consumption of alcohol and instead around sugar and caffeine! I love tea and I love baking and I get to make lamingtons, chocolate crackles and sometimes fairy bread. It’s a kid friendly and delightfully social environment in which to experience art.

Brunswick Bound opening for artist Tom Civil's exhibition 'Strategic Bombing', featuring one of Texta's famous tea parties! (image from Tom Civil's Flickr)

I love being able to choose art that I want to see and work with artists who I like as people also. In terms of the art, I tend towards figurative illustration that has an edge, often by local Brunswick artists. It’s great that we can launch publications in conjunction with exhibitions of the artwork inside them. The gallery takes a commission but it’s free to exhibit so it’s a great opportunity for emerging artists to show without having to shell out hundreds of dollars for a space, or with having to write extensive applications. I have offered people shows on seeing one or two of their artworks online or elsewhere because the images I’ve seen have been so strong.

How would you describe your artistic style? How has this style developed over time?

My pictures surprise me everytime I do them. I draw on huge sheets of paper over a metre tall and I think that I’m drawing realistically and all of a sudden I’m out of space and I have to squeeze the people’s feet into 5 cm. I don’t consciously distort my portraits. I draw straight onto the paper with black texta reasonably quickly so I have to be confident in my line and the distortion just happens.

I have noticed my style evolving over time, my backgrounds becoming more decorative and elaborate, my understanding of colour evolving, my style becoming more stylised somehow without intending it to. I got carpel tunnel in 2005 while on an Australia Council residency in New York; bad timing, but actually in some ways the RSI has focused my style a little. Previously I had done the entire outline of the pictures on site, but now I often leave elaborate details, such as the wallpaper pattern, until I can take my time back in studio with a photograph.

Texta with her self-portrait at her Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY in 2006

I shouldn't have put it there to tempt you (Dana) from the Felt-tips Forever show in Brooklyn, NY.

Which designers, artists or creative people do you look up to or are you inspired by?

Taylor Mac, a musical, theatrical and burlesque performer in NY, Gurlesque Lesbian Strip Club has hosted incredible kooky performance for years, Simon Yates is one of my favourite Australian inventor-artists, Sprinkle Magic, Gilbert and George, Sista She, Hey Willpower!, Annie Sprinkle’s playing cards, Michelle Tea, Breakdown Press, Alice Edgeley who designed my costume (image below), Daniel Boyd and my sister Keg.

Arlene TextaQueen in superhero-mode again - costume by Alice Edgeley (see text above)

Where else do you find inspiration – travel, books, the internet or movies etc?

I’ve been doing lots of research for Naked Landscapes on the net, its good for secret histories and fictions. I choose my people with trust they’ll turn out a good idea for the portrait and we spring ideas of each other that might come from their life or mine. People I know are easily my greatest source of inspiration.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Coordinating future drawings, exhibitions, residencies and stuff via email and phone usually takes up a chunk of the morning. Then I’ll uncover the latest picture I’m working on as I have to protect it from the paws of my cat with an Alf sheet over the table. I’ll often test colours out on a small photocopy of the picture before carefully colouring the page. I’m still recovering from carpel tunnel so I can only work for half an hour at time depending on the kind of detail I’m doing, so I’ll usually read parts of a book (I’m reading the Ultimate Guide to Winning Scrabble by Derryn Hinch at the moment) or punch out a letter on the typewriter with my left hand or dance around to a Jane Fonda aerobics video or other nonsense in between.

Texta's studio

What are you most proud of professionally?

I’m very proud of co-founding Squatspace in Sydney at the Broadway Squats in 2000, a free to exhibit gallery in a squatted venue that was part of an incredible squatted community and still exists as a productive collective. I had my first solo gallery show at the Squatspace venue and being part of that supportive and wonderful team of people creating community was empowering. I am generally proud of my Textanude series as I think of it as a showcase of wonderful and creative women in the world. The pictures are created in an intimate process and even though they are naked the connection between model and artist is the strongest dynamic that the viewer often witnesses as an outsider. I draw my peers; performers and queer women who reflect politics relevant to myself, and I think this is evident. Realising that many people make a living from voyeuristically capturing people they consider very different from themselves, I am proud that I don’t. I make my artwork for my community though it also does make me a living.

What's the best thing about your job?

My job involves getting paid by an ArtsVic grant to go on camping trips where your big dilemma is figuring out how to make a teddy bear and a can of tinned spaghetti look like your model, who is un-dressed-up as a puma, disembowelling a wombat. I am a lucky woman.

And the worst?

That people expect you to be vivacious because you’re a superhero who draws naked woman, but you actually have social anxiety in crowds of more than 5 people so might come across as mean and tough because of your grimace!

What would be your dream project?

It used to be guesting on Sesame Street but now it’s being paid to do a television series of Naked Landscapes of Queensland. I borrowed the camper for Victoria and an independent film maker called Claudia Rowe for Rebel Films is making a doco, but I want to find my own dream camper so I can continue. The TV series would be Lleyland Brothers meets Greatest American (Australian) Hero due to my camping bumblingness experiencing Australia.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

The show I’m in at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brissie at the end of the year – I’ll have an 8 metre long wall! Printing a 2009 Textanude calendar teatowel with Third Drawer Down, and completing my new set of playing cards. Personally: Taking my karaoke skills to the next level, I’m starting a band with my neighbours. We’re called Suzanne Grae and the Katies (I’m Suzanne). I’ve been op-shopping for outfits in country Victoria and I’ve been writing songs with my models while campervanning with such titles as Moccasin Man, Dirt Bike Diva and Undercover Butch. I hope we can perform when I exhibit my landscape series next year.

Melbourne Questions –

Best galleries/spaces to see new contemporary art in Melbourne?

I love Sticky, the zine store under Degraves in the city. They are my hub to the creative world. Oh and of course, Brunswick Bound, the gallery I curate! There’s still people whacking up good stuff in the street too, I hear.

Where do you buy the tools of your trade – ie papers, textas, etc? (ie a specific art shop in Melbourne? An online shop?)

I bought most of my markers in North America, I haven’t had to reload yet. Markers are one third the price over there. My next lot are coming from Japan (via a friend) where all my favourite markers:Zig and Tombo are made. If anyone knows the online store for these though, pass it along.

Texta Rainbow! Have you ever seen so many felt-tip pens?? Texta says each of those pens cost between 4 and 6 dollars! She reckons a bit low on the indigo / violet at the moment...

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

I hardly eat out because I love to cook, but when I do its usually at Friends of the Earth on Smith Street for there most-often-delicious $6.50 organic lunch. I love Yoyogi on Swanston Street in the city and The Uleg Indonesian Restaurant on Sydney Road in Brunswick.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Weekends are the same as every other day for me, I barely keep track of what day of the week it is because I work to my own schedule, but if it was the morning of a Brunswick Bound opening I might be dipping lamingtons in chocolate and rolling them in coconut. If it was not I might be at the gym, as there’s hardly anyone there on a Saturday morning for some reason.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

That you don’t get paid compensation if you have a traffic accident while riding your bike if you’re not wearing a helmet or are wearing headphones. That you can swim for free at your local council pool if you’re a pensioner.

Claire Nereim

Claire Nereim's 'forever' calendar (ie no dates) screen-printed on recycled paper. Available on Etsy.

I bookmarked the website of designer and artist Claire Nereim a week or more ago now... I wish I could remember how I stumbled across her site... anyway.... she does lovely drawings, illustrations and screenprints... Her screenprinted posters are particularly lovely. If I had to summarise her aesthetic in 5 words they would be :

- retro
- thoughtful
- playful
- restrained
- clean

Let me know if you agree :)

A variety of Claire Nereim's screenprinted posters - I love these! They remind me of old paperback covers from the 60's or something. Really restrained and carefully composed.

Another 'forever' calendar with no dates - hand-printed on recycled paper. Sold out

I think my favourite thing is that her work is so un-fussy, and not over-done as is the case with so much graphic work these days. Also her fantastic sense of colour and the mix of muted and vibrant hues is really unique I think. Stunning stuff.

Madeleine Stamer of Little Circus Design

3 - limited edition of 15 giclee prints

Girl from Takadanobaba - limited edition of 15 giclee prints

I got a lovely email from Melbourne artist Madeleine Stamer the other day... I hadn't visited her website before but I'm sure I've seen her work around town... she does these gorgeous prints and works on paper under the name Little Circus Design.

Madeleine's illustrative style reminds me of traditional folk arts with its detailed, decorative flourishes... She is also influenced by Mexicana, natural history, skeletons and vintage fabrics... you can see elements of all these influences in her beautiful, intricate work.

29200 - limited edition of 15 giclee prints

When she's not devoting her time to Little Circus Design, Madeleine divides her time between freelance illustration, working part time as an art teacher and being a (very busy) Mum!

Madeleine has just put this beautiful new print up for sale on her site :

Half Angel, Half Bird - limited edition of 15 giclee prints

For more do visit her website! Her work is also available to buy through Modamuse.

Interview - Lara Cameron

Melbourne textile designer Lara Cameron - photo by Marcel Lee at Bulb Studios

Lara's latest pattern design (just posted on her blog last week)

my favourite of Lara'a patterns - 'Riverside Birch'

more pattern design - 'seaweed'

cute kitchenny pattern design

a gorgeous lamp Lara made using one of her own prints - this pattern is 'adventures with riverside friends'

'Riverside Birch' lamp

gocco-printed notebooks printed by hand

Somehow, Lara Cameron slipped under my radar until only a few weeks ago. I've seen her stunning work around town and on the web... but for some crazy reason, it took me a little while to stumble across her blog. How does this happen? Shameful! I must make more effort to keep in the loop!

Lara studied Multimedia at Swinburne in Melbourne, and after graduating started work as an interactive and graphic designer. She still does all that grown-up computer stuff... but her true love is fabric design, and her stunning work is gradually gaining her a lot of fans. Her work is a careful balance of Japanese-influenced playful illustration, with Scandinavian-inspired clean lines and unfussy patterns. Her colour combinations are always spot-on - my favourites are her mustard yellows and deep teal greens... but I've always got time for a bit of dusty pink too!

Melburnians (and possibly Sydney-siders too?) probably saw Lara featured in The Age's M magazine last weekend in a feature about young Australian designers to watch! There's also a lot of Lara on the web.. get your fix at her gorgeous blog, her online shop, or trawl her beautiful photos on Flickr. But first - read the interview! An insight into Lara's creative inspirations and her blossoming business, plus, of course, a round-up of her favourite spots in Melbourne.

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I started off studying for a Bachelor of Multimedia majoring in Media Studies, at Swinburne Uni. Once I graduated I worked for myself as an interactive and graphic designer, which I still do on the side.

Then about 2 years ago I started a design blog, where I was posting about random creative stuff that I was doing. It was supposed to be a means of encouraging myself to experiment more – I was feeling a bit stale. I began experimenting with pattern design, and really enjoyed the mix of creative & technical skills that it required to get a design to repeat seamlessly.

Anyway, I got so many positive comments from my blog reader about my patterns, that I decided to do something about it! Textiles was actually the most viable – I could start off with a short run, unlike other printed products. And hence my textiles business began!



Your work is so varied! From illustration to corporate graphic design work, to working on your own range of gorgeous fabric designs… How do you balance these different elements of your business? Do you find they complement each other well?

I really enjoy working on a wide range of projects – it keeps me on my toes. Currently it’s a good mix of the more ‘boring’ work that pays well, and then the more rewarding, personal work that doesn’t pay quite so well. There’s a lot of overlap in the skills required which is good.

Lara's workspace - photo by Marcell Lee at Bulb Studios

You are one of a growing number of home-based designers with popular blogs! Do you see your blog as a way to connect with other like-minded designers, or with potential customers/clients? How much of your web-presence is a personal outlet, and how much of it is based on promoting your work?

My blog is definitely a key way that I connect with both like minded designers, also potential customers. I’ve met some fantastic fellow textile designers through my blog (Shannon Lamden, Kristen Doran, Bianca Van Meeuwen, Danielle Smeets) and heaps of other lovely creative folk around the world. I do also use it as a way to connect with potential customers, but I try to just be myself at the same time. I don’t use it as a place to talk about my personal life and problems, but I do try to keep it from being too salesy.

You have had some really interesting international collaborations – such as your letterpress cards printed in the US, and your work available through Moo in the UK. How have these international contacts come about? Do you have plans for any other creative collaborations in the future?

All of my international collaborations have come about through blogging / online communities. Lynn from Satsuma Press and I used to read each other’s blogs. As for Moo, I uploaded a photo of some Moo cards I had printed to a Moo Flickr set, and they contacted me as a result!

How do potential clients/customers find you? Do you ‘market’ yourself?

Apart from posting on my blog, I do no promotional work at all – it’s great! People find my blog and my work through word of mouth. If they like it they keep coming back and tell other people. ‘Sidebar links’ on other people’s blogs also help people to find my site.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

All of the other designers in our little fabric mafia (Shannon Lamden, Kristen Doran, Bianca Van Meeuwen, Danielle Smeets). Also Cloth Fabric Australia, Spacecraft, Holly Daze and Heather Moore (Skinny La Minx) from South Africa.

Where else do you find inspiration?

I’m generally inspired by Melbourne city: it’s people, architecture, cafes and fantastic art/craft/design communities. I’m also inspired by nature & organic forms, and urban environments. Most of all I’m inspired by all of the fantastically creative folk in the blogosphere.

some of Lara's sketchbook pages

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Ooh I’m not sure if there is such a thing as a typical day! When I’ve just received some fabric back from the printer my days are spent rerolling bolts of fabric, taking product photos, listing items in my shop, cutting and packing orders and lugging them to the post office. It’s a nice change from the other days where I spend a lot of time at the computer.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Hmm that’s tough! I guess I’m most proud of how much I have developed professionally in the last year. Where I was then and where I am now are two completely different places – it’s changed me as a person too. I’m a lot more confident and content in myself.


What's the best thing about your job?

Complete creative freedom and control :)

And the worst?

Currently, probably the isolation of working alone. But that’ll change soon when I finally move into some shared studio space.

What would be your dream project?

Oooh, probably to collaborate with someone like a wood worker who I could make awesome homewares products with. Like beautiful wooden handmade benches with printed seat cushions on them, and lampshades with beautiful wooden bases or lampshade frames.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Just seeing where my business goes next. I can definitely see how it could grow and improve, and I look forward to making that happen, bit by bit.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

It wasn’t the fanciest meal ever (still delicious), but it was the environment that totally did it for me – a bowl of soup for lunch at the new Auction Rooms café in North Melbourne. The fitout is awesome.

Best fabric shop in Melbourne?

Hmm, I don’t actually frequent fabric stores that often! Some of my favourite crafty stores in general though are Meet Me at Mikes, Thread Den and Patchwork on Central Park (they’ve all been very supportive).

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Ideally, having brunch with my girly friends at The Hot Poppy in North Melbourne :)

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

The derelict yet beautiful, parquetry floored ballroom inside Flinders Street Station. I’ve only ever seen photos but I would LOVE to set foot inside that room one day.

Thanks so much for your time Lara! - Lucy :)

Tom Kane

Tom Kane is a successful advertising art director with secret ambitions of being an artist/illustrator. After 25 years in advertising he is finally pursuing this original dream.

I always like to peek inside artists/designers sketchbooks... I often prefer seeing these 'working drawings' than the finished product. Tom's blog is full of colourful illustrations that are super detailed yet almost somehow almost comic-book in style... I like the international aspect of this work... these sketches are taken from his travel journals.

Brian Dettmer

It's been an interesting weekend with lots of interest in the interview with Nicholas Jones... I'm so glad his work has received such a great response from so many people, and has reached a such a wide audience! Thank you for all your comments and emails... :)

A lot of people have drawn parallels with the work of US artist Brian Dettmer, so I thought I'd throw in some shots of his work today.

images - Centripetal Notion

The similarities are clear... although Dettmer seems more concerned with the subject matter of the books, and his work is more illustrative I guess. Beautiful all the same.

more images here

Head Case - Call for Submissions

My friend Skye Luckins is organising / curating an art exhibition called Head Case, to raise awareness about Acquired Brain Injury. The exhibition is a collaboration with Brain Injury Australia, and will take place in September at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne. The artworks will be auctioned to raise funds for vital research into ABI, and there will also be a People's Choice Award with a cash prize of $5000 for the winning artist.

If you're in Melbourne you may have read this article about Skye and her Mum, Carol, in the Saturday Age over Easter. The article tells the heartbreaking story of the Luckins' experience with Acquired Brain Injury. Five years ago, at age 55, Skye's Mum, Carol, was struck by an extremely rare virus — herpes simplex encephalitis — which attacks the brain. The virus can occur any time, at any age, and affects one in 500,000 people. Because the virus is so rare, diagnosis can be difficult, especially when the onset is rapid, as was the case with Carol. The virus nearly killed her and left her with an acquired brain injury. She slipped into a coma for 3 months, and when she opened her eyes again, Carol could no longer recognise her family, could not swallow, chew, speak or walk.

Skye's experience with this debilitating illness has driven her to raise understanding and awareness of the condition. She is inviting artists / designers / illustrators and photographers to respond to the theme of loss, with works that are inspired by the experiences of people affected by acquired brain injury. A panel of judges will select the best 30 pieces to be exhibited at The Sofitel, Melbourne in September.

The Head Case website is under construction but should be up later this week. In the meantime you can contact Skye (skye@buronorth.com) for more info. If you're a creative person please consider donating an artwork to this very worthy cause.... You'll be in the running for a generous cash prize, your work will reach a wide audience, and you'll be supporting a fantastic initiative.

maps x 3

Oberg White, 2006 by Ian Hundley

I got some lovely comments about my illustrated map for the Gertrude st Shopping guide... and it got me thinking about maps in general. Don't know why but everyone seems to love a hand drawn map. Seems I'm not the only one.. here are 3 more nice examples...

ONE
Brooklyn based Canadian artist Ian Hundley makes amazing quilted artworks based on Maps.

Bray Lake, 2001-2006 - by Ian Hundley

Neuringe Red, 2003 - Ian Hundley

TWO
Paris-based photographer Ami Sioux' is the author/photographer of REYKJAVIK 64°08N 21°54W - a book in which she asks 50 people from Reykjavic, Iceland to hand-draw a map leading to a special place in their local area. Sioux then follows their directions, finds and photographs these secret places. The book documents each map alongside the resulting photograph. Great little concept, and more books are planned for Paris, New York, Berlin and London. Available from Scintilla Ltd.




and THREE
Did you all see this gorgeous illustration by Lena Corwin for Elle Decor Magazine (Lena recently posted this photo on one of her contributions to BlueLines). I love it! I would like my shopping guides to look more like that. One day in my dreamland perhaps I can commission gorgeous illustrations from Lena for this site. yes please.

Image - Lena Corwin

(Also... just spotted Matthew Picton via MocoLoco, if you haven't had enough already)

Anyone got anymore? Let me know :)

Maira Kalman

All images in this post unless otherwise specified are by Maira Kalman - for The Principles of Uncertainty column (The New York Times).

Maira Kalman is an illustrator, author and designer living in New York.

The more I read, the more things I like about her. These things include:

1) She's prolific, and her work is fantastically varied. (that's 2 things actually)

She's written and illustrated a number of children's books and other publications, designed and illustrated various covers for The New Yorker magazine, designed fabric for renowned NY fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, designed textiles and accessories for Kate Spade, designed sets for the Mark Morris Dance Group, and has also designed a range of clocks, umbrellas and other high-end accessories for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Phew.

3) There's something incredibly engaging about her painting style.

Maybe it's because each illustration tells a story. Thoughtful handwritten observations accompany her detailed, vibrant and slightly naive renderings of everyday life. She gives the most simple of subjects a life of their own... and she paints everything - portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and food. I really like the food pictures actually.

3) She looks friendly