I've featured Hagar's work on the blog and in the pages of the magazine and I'm always intrigued by what she'll do next. Her latest explorations involve house plants and recurring triangle threaded motifs added to old house photographs.
Prints and originals are for sale in her shop. Details about a holiday sale are in her newsletter.
'Windrush' (© Liberty) will be available in A/W 2014 in the Tana Lawn range of dress fabrics.
Work/Life 3 artist Helen Musselwhite recently achieved a lifelong ambition as she was approached by Liberty and invited to design a fabric pattern for their collection. Her paper constructions turned into fabric are absolutely stunning! I asked Helen how this collaboration came to be...
In December 2012, I received an email that made my heart skip a beat or two. It was from the design director of Liberty Art Fabric in London asking me if I’d like to design a repeat pattern for inclusion in the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection. Of course I said YES!
The brief was to create a paper cut design inspired by something in the Liberty archive. I’m a great fan of the work of William Morris so his fabrics were my starting point. I used to live near his weekend retreat Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire and I imagined him walking through the summer meadows and along the banks of the Windrush River that flows near the Manor. My design takes some of the flora he might have found that is indigenous to the Oxfordshire countryside and re-imagines it in a multi-layered papercut and modern colours.
I started with a line drawing which I then divided in half and flipped vertically.
I then photocopied several of these and coloured them in to get and idea of how colour would work in the repeat.
It was then divided in half again and flipped vertically to produce the repeat.
I took a high res digital photo of the finished artwork which was then sent to Liberty and they worked some digital magic which resulted in Windrush being printed on their beautiful Tana Lawn cotton fabric in 4 colourways.
A few weeks ago I received a parcel of fabrics and a shirt made of the black background fabric.
Windrush is now the copyright of Liberty London and the paper cut artwork is in their archives, which as I type this gives me goosebumps—I can truly say it is one of my greatest achievements. The process and making was extremely time-consuming and totally in the sprit of the Arts and Crafts Movement. I’m not sure now how long it took me to finish as I got carried away with the making and even though it was a bit mind boggling getting the repeat to work I was in paper-cutting heaven!!
Late last week I had the chance to visit by friend Aaron where he works at Sago Sago. They make cute and fun apps for young iPad enthusiasts: toddlers and preschoolers.
Aaron Leighton sketching characters for forthcoming Sago Sago apps.
Sago Sago apps prominently feature Aaron's character designs and it is fun to see them come to life in the many apps. Sago Mini Sound Box was one of my son's favourites when he was smaller and now he likes to build bugs. Aaron showed me some previews of forthcoming apps and it looks like Finley will have some more fun things to do with his iPad.
Thank you to everyone at Sago Sago for a nice visit and lovely lunch!
Work/Life 3 artist Ekaterina Trukhan has a wonderfully simple and charming calendar available in her newly-launched shop. Check out Ekaterina's pages in Work/Life 3 on her blog.
She also has some prints for sale.
Work/Life 3 and 2 are available in the UPPERCASE shop and make a terrifically inspiring gift for artists, illustrators and those who seek creativity in their everyday lives.
I had a wonderful time last week being a judge for the Society of Illustrators. The best part of the experience was being able to look through their permanent collection. The video above captures some of the fun!
Judges for this year's "uncommissioned" category:
George Bates, Illustrator
Julia Breckenreid, Illustrator
John Cuneo, Illustrator
Aya Kakeda, Illustrator
Alex Spiro, Creative Director, Nobrow
John Martz, Illustrator
Francesca Messina, Senior Group Art Director, McGraw-Hill Construction
Janine Vangool, Publisher, Editor, Designer, UPPERCASE Magazine
Thank you to Jillian Tamaki, Anelle Miller, Kate Feirtag and Eric Fowler.
Avital holds her book in front of the window she drew as part of her Work/Life 3 illustrations.
Avital Manor just got her copies of Work/Life 3 (the postal system took its sweet time to get her parcel to Israel). Visit Avital's portfolio site for more of her work.
What is your life story in one paragraph?
I grew up in a small town by the sea in southern Norway. As a kid I loved to draw, play the tuba, ride horses and make small forts in the woods with my friends. When I got older I studied graphic design, moved to Oslo and studied Art Direction. This is where I met my husband who is a film director and 3D artist. We now live and work in Oslo with our two daughters.
How and why did you become an illustrator or artist?
I've always loved to draw as a kid and even used to smuggle out pencils and pieces of paper during recess at school and find a quiet place to draw. I initially studied graphic design and Art Direction, but after the financial crisis of 2001 I decided to pursue my dream of becoming an illustrator. I applied to art school here in Oslo to study illustration, but I did not get accepted. So then I just built up a portfolio and showed it to publishers and ad and design agencies and I got offered a job as an in-house illustrator at a design agency and it all snowballed from there.
What is your creative process when working on an assignment?
First I read the brief, take notes and start doing research online if there is a particular object, animal or thing I need to include in the illustration. After the research I often print my research material and often go to a café, out on my balcony or the library and start drawing ideas in my sketchbooks. Since I work from home I find going out for a walk often helps the creative process. I may see something on my walk that I can use in my illustrations. When the sketch is finished I scan it in and finish it on the computer.
What personality traits are exemplified by your illustration style?
Hmm... maybe that I never really grew up? I feel like a kid a lot of the time, and doing illustration is my never ending playground. There is so much colour and life in doing illustration, and I love the feeling of emerging myself colour and drawing new "worlds".
If you were to illustrate a portrait of yourself, what would it look like?
Primary colour skirts and dresses, flower earrings, 60s cat eye glasses, blonde hair and bright red moleskine sketchbooks. I also would include my brown leather messenger bag and brown leather oxford shoes.
What makes you different?
I never went to art school and I am used to this hands-on way of doing things. What I know of illustration, I've learned through working hard through trial and error. I've never gotten a "this is how you illustrate" book or lecture, but then on the other hand I've never been told what not to do in illustration so maybe I think more freely?
What is the best thing and the worst thing about being an illustrator?
The best thing is that I can make a living of playing and drawing. The worst thing is all the endless ideas and the limited time I have to do them all.
How do you maintain a balance between your work and your life? (or not?)
I try to spend as much time as I can with my kids when they are not in daycare. I often make up for the lost hours during the day by working again in the evening when they have gone to bed. That way I get to spend more time with them, and still get my work done. The downside is the lack of social life though, but we try to make up for that in the weekends. Also when I feel the stress of being my own boss and the boss of the family (he he) gets a bit to much I try to wind down a bit and do some yoga. Yoga has given me a whole new and better perspective as to what is important in my life.
What is your ideal day?
I get up at 5:30 and get ready for my day. I then make breakfast for my family, and get the kids off to daycare. I walk through our local park and drop our kids off at the other side of the park where the kindergarten is located. I then meet up with my husband at our local café and we have a coffee and talk about our day and projects. We then walk home to our home studio and start working around 9:00. We work till noon and then have lunch, either at home or at some café. We then bring our sketchbooks and doodle a bit and then go home and work some more. At four my husband picks up the kids, and we have dinner, and play with them until they go to sleep around seven. We then either have some friends over and see a movie, or work until we have to go to sleep again.
What would be your dream illustration assignment?
Designing fabrics for Marimekko or Ikea or wallpaper for Hygge and West, that would be absolutely amazing! I absolutely love working with product design and designing things that everyone can have in their home.
What is your benchmark for success as an illustrator?
I really love to illustrate well-designed everyday products that people can pick up at their local supermarket. I designed chocolate pieces for Freia and illustrated cheese packages for Tine, that was one of my favourite jobs. Also illustrating the new circus line for Blafre was one of the most rewarding things I've done. To see other kids at my daughters daycare holding their new lunchbox that I have illustrated firmly in their little hands as they eat their lunch outdoors is so rewarding. To be part of someone's childhood, and to think that they may love their lunchbox so much that they may save it for their own kids, is priceless.That makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Visit Cecilie's website. Purchase Work/Life 3.
Books by Renata Liwska
Panel Discussion
Thursday Oct 17 from 3-5pm
Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre / ACAD
The influence of children's books in culture and society can be easily underestimated, it's kids stuff after all! But children from all walks of life are reading children's books on a daily basis, or being read them, and often over and over (to some parents dismay). This daily diet of words and pictures can't help but have a huge influence on children, and through them, the world they are growing up to be an important part of.
It is a source of pride that ACAD alumni have contributed to this ongoing cultural evolution. The influence of ACAD's alumni has been growing steadily. In the early days, illustration grad Murray Kimber demonstrated through his richly painted books that our alumni can produce world class works of children's literature. This success was further nurtured by former faculty member Carolyn Fisher with her own book efforts and her active nurturing of students and peers. Her example has been carried further by bestselling and critically acclaimed artists such as Printmaking grad Jeremy Tankard, BFA grad Julie Morstad, and Illustration grad Renata Liwska. In the last couple of years the pace of alumni, new and old, being published seems to have reached a critical mass with over a dozen books being published.
We are pleased to be able to have some of these wonderful artists spend an afternoon to chat about their work and the business of making kids books—its joys and challenges.
Participating artists: Lincoln Agnew, Joy Ang, Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli, Jacqui Lee, Renata Liwska, Jessica Phillips, and Kim Smith. With Special Guest Janine Vangool.
UPPERCASE issue 11 with cover by Jon Klassen. This issue has a special feature about the children's book industry.
The Elegant Cockroach written by Deidre Anne Martin and illustrated by Stefanie Augustine. A picture book for sophisticated children and whimsical adults! Designed and published by Janine Vangool, UPPERCASE.
Mark your calendar: Next Thursday from 3-5pm I will be one of many speakers at a children's book illustrator lecture at the Alberta College of Art & Design.
My friends Mike Kerr and Renata Liwska have created the "Alberta Illustration Awards" and will be hosting an exhibition in their gallery, RandM Collective. It opens this Thursday, September 26 from 5-8pm on the lower level of Art Central. They are organizing a series of illustration events over the next month and UPPERCASE will be involved in a few as well. Stay tuned for details.
Carolyn Fisher
Mike writes:
"Alberta is well known for its western heritage, natural beauty, and the energy industry. But what about art? Albertans would be surprised by the success and influence its illustrators and designers have in Canada and beyond.
Kim Smith
This fall we will be showcasing current and former Alberta illustrators and their work through a series of exhibits, discussions, and workshops. It begins with an exhibition of work titled Elevating Alberta opening Thursday September 26, 2013 from 5-8pm at our studio RandM Collective.
Michael Mateyko and Hans Thiessen
Discussions and workshops will occur at various venues around Calgary from September 26 until the end of November with a focus on subjects such as illustrating for publishing, education, and new media. For information on locations and events visit www.randmcollective.com
Laura Bifano
Over 40 artists will be involved and include illustrators from a wide range of genres including magazines, books, comicbooks, videogames, fashion, design, and advertising: Lincoln Agnew, Joy Ang, Tom Bagley, Raymond Biesinger, Laura Bifano, Jason Blower, Tivadar Bote, Scott Carmichael, Byron Eggenschwiler, Carolyn Fisher, Brian Ford, Doug Fraser, Mark Gerviais, Shane Hawco, Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli, Brennan Kelly, Jenn Kitagawa, Karen Klassen, Scott Kowalchuk, Jacqui Lee, Renata Liwska, Matt Luckhurst, Geoff McFetridge, Michael Mateyko + Hans Theissen, Kyle Metcalf, Sandra Mills, Sandy Nichols, Claire Ouchi, Guy Parsons, Thomas Porostocky, Pablo Puentes, Rick Sealock, Genevieve Simms, Kim Smith, Fiona Staples, Kelly Sutherland, Jillian Tamaki, Lauren Tamaki, Danae Thompson, Janine Vangool, Sam Weber, Dave Whamond and Brad Yeo."
Byron Eggenschwiler
I am happy to say that I have worked with each of the illustrators whose work is shown above, either showing their work in my former gallery, featuring them in the pages of UPPERCASE magazine or a past edition of Work/Life or commissioning original illustrations for the magazine.
Linda Solovic's Work/Life 3 illustration.
Linda Solovic created such a lovely illustration for her spread in Work/Life 3. I love the combination of haberdashery and texture within the illustration. Linda has a love of embellishments, textiles and haberdashery so her assignment definitely reflects that.
Linda also has a new product collection to share with us today. It is called Feathered Friends and includes greeting cards and journals, bags and wallets, keyrings, pocket mirrors and an iPhone case. Available through Santoro London.
UK-based illustrator Gabriela Larios has had her first fabric collection produced through Modern Yardage. "It is called Mochi and consists of eight different designs, available in two different sizes, medium and small and two different colour palettes: natural and deep blue," describes Gabriela. "The collection is inspired by my love for nature, imaginary worlds and childhood experiences. The Mochi name itself is inspired by the way my parents called me when I was little ('Mochis')."
Gabriela is understandably excited about the launch of the project, though it is bittersweet. "With all my heart I have dedicated this collection to my mother who unfortunately passed away recently but who thankfully managed to see the whole project finished."
The collection also includes a special touch of fabric gift tags: "It is an extra special piece of fabric that is included with every purchase of Mochi fabric so people can cut them out and use them to wrap up their presents."
Congratulations to Gabriela on a fine entry into fabric design!
Crayon carvings by Diem Chau
Diem Chau's cover of UPPERCASE issue #11.
Diem Chau's incredible crayon carvings are on display at the G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle. "Since the show is in the Pacific Northwest I thought I'd make a tribute to my neck of the woods," Diem says about the work. "Every letter is paired with species that is native to the Pacific Northwest."
We were honoured to have Diem's work grace our cover a few years ago, on issue #11. (Still available for purchase in our online shop! Issue #11 features labour-intensive art-making as well as sharp objects. Click here to flip through a low res preview.)
E is for elk.
Work/Life 3 artist Molly Hatch is in London this week as part of London Design Week (September 14-22). You can see her work in person in the beautiful gallery at the Anthropologie location on King's Road. Of this particular body of work, Molly writes: "All of the works in this group source the historic textile collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum and have been sourced in collaboration with curators of the museum for this exhibition."
There is a gallery talk with Selvedge magazine editor Polly Leonard and Molly today, September 17th, from 6-8pm. RSVP details here. I wish I could attend!
To see more of Molly's illustrations and surface pattern design, click here for her portfolio. Below is Molly's full page image from Work/Life 3:
Work/Life 3 illustration by Molly Hatch
Molly at work on an image.
Molly's studio.
Brad Woodard's illustration for Work/Life 3.
Brad Woodard is a man in motion. During the interview phase for Work/Life 3, I asked him how being an illustrator affected his personal life. "My creative mind never takes a break," he answered. "It is a problem. As a result, I tend to move a lot. And the places I like to move to are generally beautiful. Hence my living in the Seattle, Philippines, Newport Beach, California, and Boston." He can now add Austin, Texas to that long list—Brad and his young family just made the move to a new state. This transition also marks Brad's decision to leave a steady job and delve full time into his illustration and design business, Brave the Woods.
When I asked Brad what his dream assignment was, he replied, "To illustrate a children's science book. That or illustrate the side of a U-Haul truck." Seeing this moving trend in Brad's life coupled with his belief that the best thing about being an illustrator is that “you have the chance to interpret the world around you and visualize it how you see it.”, I wrote the following assignment for Brad:
Illustrate an idealized road-trip of your life, and/or depict your life as the graphics on the side of a U-Haul trailer.
Work/Life 3 is available in our shop and if you order now, you'll also have the chance to get the second edition at a special discounted price!
You may remember when we told you about Lilla Rogers' Global Talent Search. We're happy to provide an update today—Emily Balsley is a finalist! She's one of six finalists in this contest which had over 1500 entrants from 30 countries. Emily is over the moon and so are we!
"As my shaky doodle above shows, I went through a LOT of emotions when I found out the results—I was stunned; I wept; I couldn't stop talk-talk-talking about it; I paced a lot; I freaked out," exclaims Emily. "When I drew this, my hands were shaking so bad. But all of it was out of sheer excitement! I have to say - yesterday's productivity level was pretty low - it was so hard to focus!"
Emily's next task is to create a line of home decor and/or gift products. The winner will be announced on Thursday October 3. Good luck Emily!
Emily is also a participant in Work/Life 3.
Lauren Venell's illustration process is a bit different than most of the other illustrators featured in Work/Life 3. Her work is dimensional and rather than having a set style, she lets the demands of the assignment influence the medium of choice. This variety is interesting—this giant burrito, the wreath made of credit cards, or these meats made from fleece—but her work is consistently high quality and well-made.
I was pretty excited when I came up with Lauren's assignment:
Pretty fun! I'd like to assign that to myself sometime (or perhaps as an open call for the magazine? to be determined...!)
With a baby on the way, family was on her mind. Lauren devised this family tree in which bent wires express the names of her relatives. The little red swing represents her soon-to-be-born child. Read Lauren's honest play-by-play of her Work/Life experience on her blog.
I love it when really talented people introduce themselves! Sidsel Sørensen sent a nice message:
"My name is Sidsel "sizzle", and I am a Danish freelance illustrator soon to be based in London. I recently graduated from the Kolding School of Design in Denmark with an MA in Illustration. I am a big fan of UPPERCASE magazine; I happened upon it this summer in a little shop on the Brighton Boardwalk, and I was instantly charmed. I love the whole look of it, the quirky articles and the appreciation for illustration. It’s a beautifully atypical magazine."
She has created an impressive master project, a full-length animated music video. "It is a hand drawn animated music video for the L.A. based band, Saint Motel. The animation illustrates and elaborates on the themes and development in the intensity and the atmosphere of the song. Based on tales from the Danish island, Fanø, it is a story in three parts about dreams and unrequited love."
Read more about her process for the video in this interview.
Would you like to be featured on the UPPERCASE blog? Please follow the submission guidelines. I personally take a look at everything that is submitted.
Cover by Christy Batta
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UPPERCASE is a quarterly print magazine inspired by craft, design and illustration. A playful exploration of creativity, an affinity for vintage ephemera, and a love of handmade are some elements common in each issue. The magazine boasts high-quality paper and printing, a unique design aesthetic and incredible attention to detail.
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