'Hard Choices'

Editorial jobs always feel like a hard choice for me.. but I remain glad to be asked and oh so relieved when its delivered!  US publication Bloomberg Businessweek puts many nifty illustrators to regular use for their weekly publication.  Although it was my first piece for them, they gave creative freedom for me to interpret the article & associated portraits.  Maybe editorials don't need to feel so hard after all. 

On a Reggae tip.

The above pattern was the beginning of a Reggae inspired textile collection for Stussy. With such a flavoursome title I was at a loss, (as usual), to know exactly how to begin. Picking up a chinagraph pencil with its sticky, scratchy quality made the possibilities of applying zig-zags, squiggles and dots to geometric shapes & logos feel endless.

This simple reggae-textile infused Stussy Logo has become a top seller.

My original foray into layering up hand drawn patterns on to images from Stussy's stock Library began a couple of years back with this dinosaur. Sadly he never made the t-shirt he was destined to adorn. Working in & overprinting my hand drawn patterns in to his scaly skin was a labour of love, transforming him sartorially. As well as being a massive learning curve for future pattern based collaborations with Stussy.

SO Proud..

It only seems like yesterday Adam Withington & Alex Barter, proprietors of Blackbough, left London to start anew in beautiful Shropshire. Never idle, their joint passion and commitment to creating a commercial environment for their own take on interiors, art, vintage watches & curiosities saw Blackbough literally pop-up. Read more here in The Financial Times 'how to spend it' section. I'm so proud and inspired by their achievements.. and also because I can see one of my horse prints in the photo!

'Knock knock..'

For some unexplained (and insignificant really I guess..) reason I seem to be annually busy commercially, through the Easter holiday weekend. I'm not complaining and felt welcomed by my studio door this morning as I prepared myself for a day of full-on printing. Last years Easter job was a pitch for one of the biggest US corporations which sadly petered out into nothing. This year I'm officially employed and mid-way through a campaign for another US brand. There's plenty of time for chocolate next week!

"To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success..", Sister Corita. (1960's)

"I'll love you when you're more like me..", Shiv. (2011)

'Jimmy Turrell'

Sporadically over the years I've hit upon and admired Jimmy Turrells graphic illustrations, often adorning an album sleeve or staring confidently at me on a Saturdays cover for the Guardian Guide. But it wasn't until he joined our Studios that I got a proper chance to absorb and appreciate the depth and complexity of his ideas. Creatively he rarely comes up for air, his commitment and output pretty impressive. With a mutual obsession for collage, printed papers and silkscreen we've decided to team up, smash our ephemeral heads together and see what spills out. Our hopes for the resulting splurge would be the foundations for a joint show in the making. More here soon.

'Josh Cheuse'

I was introduced to Josh Cheuese via my work with Stussy. I didn't know much about him but when i did, boy was I impressed. His back catalogue of photographs capturing many years spent hanging out & documenting 'The Clash', Joe Strummer, 'Run DMC', 'The Beastie Boys', 'The Specials' and Terry Hall to name a few, couldn't be more impressive. Currently working as Senior Art Director at SonyBMG New York, he still makes time to take pictures of bands and musicians. For a number of years we have tried many times to team up creatively together but some how, life has always gotten in the way. I popped in on Josh at the SonyBMG headquarters this time last year and we discussed possible sleeve artwork for a 'best of..' box set for Tony Bennett. Stoked to bits and very excited I returned to the studio with a bunch of old photographs and set to work. Once again the outcome never made the shops. But most importantly one day my collaboration with Mr Josh Cheuse will.

'One Year On'

A year ago today Japan & its people were left devastated by the earthquake in Fukushima and subsequent tsunami. It breaks my heart to hear that grief for many people has not been fully realised whilst the bodies of their loved ones remain unrecovered. I've been lucky enough to visit Japan three times and hope to be there again this year. For me, the Japanese people make the country the special, positive, beautiful place that it is. Their resilience shown through the aftermath of this global catastrophe is nothing short of inspiring. At the same time my thoughts and condolences are with them all, today.

The 'W' Project

Today is 'International Womens Day'. In its honour, Teo Connor & Lauren Platt have teamed up for the 2nd year of their annual event, The 'W' Project. Their aim to connect & inspire women working across the creative industries by inviting an exciting mix of female talent to contribute a creative response on a postcard to the question: what are your words of wisdom?

Following a recent visit to the British Library I felt a poster advertising the libraries exhibition spaces adorned with a quote from Polish physicist & Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, most apt. 'Words of Wisdom' runs from tonight at the KK Outlet, 42 Hoxton Square, N1 6PB.