Peepshow Collective - Graham Rawle

Following some initial back round research on Graham Rawle prior to his lecture at UWE this week I came across a link to the Peepshow Collective, a group of illustrators from Brighton Uni. I was interested in the work of Miles Donovan from the collective who uses a 'collage' style with his high contrast digital illustrations. The illustrations are built up from individual image elements which have been put into threshold, giving the opportunity to build the illustrations in limited colour pallettes. This is an interesting  approach for me to consider in preparing hand built collages into print.

Beatles Gum Cards

I have managed to complete the first set of four Beatles 'gum cards' digital collages. I had wanted to build a set of hand made collages from these old, 1960's cards which I collected as a kid. Whilst I don't retain a full set of these cards in the original folder (so there's no monetary value attached) I still couldn't bring myself to cut these little gems up. The original cards were all poor quality print in reality so I have not tried to suggest any otherwise in the digital prints.

I will make further sets of these in the future, although they are a personal indulgence in terms of period, imagery and 'The Beatles'!

Fountains of Wayne Illustrations

I have now completed the set of three digital 'collages' illustrating Lyrics from Fountains of Wayne that I set out to achieve to further explore the notion of illustration as opposed to purely work for self. Having completed the third one - 'Stacy'sMom' - I reviewed the earlier two pieces of work and realised that I was not being as 'illustrative' in the earlier two. ie. I had not included sufficient visual links to the lyric narrative. Working in this way, to illustrate a piece of text, brings the additional consideration of conceptual interpretation of the narrative. In my hand built collages and earlier digital collages I was considering imagery, and in particular image/element placement and the overall visual aesthetic. When building this illustrative set I have had to consider, not only whether there is an aesthetic balance, but also is the content sufficient to relate to and illustrate for the reader association with the narrative of the song. This brings an additional creative dimension and begins to control the collage content. ie. I cannot just indulge myself purely with the visual aesthetic as with previous work.

This is now beginning to alert me to the differences between personal work and work that might be considered for commission or once again returning to the old friend... the 'brief'!

'Stacy's Mom'

'Mexican Wine'

'Survival Car'

Peter Blake - collage/print Rooks moor Gallery, Bath

Having just dropped in to the Rooksmoor and Rostra Gallery in Bath yesterday while passing,  I was reminded how much of Peter Blake's screen printed work has its beginnings in collage. An exhibition of his more recent prints are based on collaged environments; famous city landscapes, eg Place de la Concorde in Paris from an old etching collaged with dancers and characters from different eras. Seeing this work prompts me to reconsider developing my collages for screen prints, something I have neglected recently in favour of developing digital and illustrative outcomes.

'Sons of Sea' - Calendar/Book, Russia/Bristol,England

My work, 'Tidal predictions' produced earlier in the year as an illustration for the December page of the calendar, 'Sons of the Sea', for the above joint project which is being coordinated at the Bristol end by Sarah Bodman at UWE, is having a preview at the London venue listed below as part of the 'Prospero's Library' exhibition. The work outcomes from Bristol and Russian artists will at some point in the near future go on show in Bristol and in Russia.

The project was proposed and is being coordinated by Mikhail Pogarsky - www.pogarsky.ru - a Russian artist, poet, designer, amongst other things.

STUDIO 75 

75 Hebden Court, Laburnum Street

E2 8BG

www.studio75.org.uk

PROSPERO'S LIBRARY | exhibition of book art | April 29 - May 01 2011 

Friday  2 – 6 pm; Saturday 12 – 6 pm; Sunday 2 – 5 pm

'Tidal Predictions'

BABE at Arnolfini

Having not posted for a while thought I would put up a few things related to BABE.

 As well as having some of my miniature books, folded from A2 sheets with hard covers, on the UWE bookstand at the show I also made gained some inspiration from other contributors there and have followed up some links from their work (images below). Copies of my own books for sale were based on some of my earlier collage collections and a photo' record of abstract imagery from a Welsh coastline walk. Having made up the books for the show in a rush to meet the deadline for submission, made the foolish mistake of not photographing the finished books and as such have no images to post here! When I have made up a couple more samples I will photograph and post.

Some of the work that I was particularly interested in at the show was by 'Frantic Ham'. Collaborative and individual work from Francis Van Maele, based in Ireland and Antic-Ham from Seoul, South Korea. Their books, collage and screen prints, particularly those influenced by DADA and Fluxus wereinteresting.

Work by Bernd Reichert was a starting point for some further research which led me to the red dot project - www.reddotproject.org/ and the work of Reid Wood who uses both handmade/mailart and digital collage.

Also linked from this site was a German artist working under he name of Planet Susannia whose blog contains a range of inspiring collage which on first sight seem hand made but look more likely to be digitally assembled. This work is both visually strong in terms of image but also has a good sense of organisation and balance.

 Another useful link was sujak.com  - based in Korea - who represent various book art, printmakers and collagists.

' Frantic Ham'

'Reid Wood'

'Planet Susannia'

Digital developments and illustration

My digital collage is now developing and having taken inspiration from many contemporary illustrators, such as those discussed in recent posts, I am beginning to enjoy a new found freedom with the digital process. What I thought was to be avoided - to get me back into making things - now has a focus and purpose.

My most recent pieces build on the work of the previous post and there are some updates. I feel that I should now be considering the idea of illustration, ie not solely producing work for its aesthetic but also to consider content in order to communicate content.... eg story, narrative, song lyrics.So here are a few additional pieces, all the starting points of a series within a theme.

...some remain

Mexican Wine

Survival Car

In addition to this work, development of my website is now underway. Progress is good, although the frustrations of using Dreamweaver abound. It is probably my least favourite software program - even worse that Microsoft products!