Kettles Yard, Cambridge.

Kettles Yard House, home of former Tate Gallery curator Jim Ede & his wife Helen is possibly my all time favourite place to be, (and my spiritual home I'm sure). By converting four neighbouring cottages they created a dwelling for themselves as well as providing an informal gallery space to display their collection of early twentieth century art. I won't spoilt it for you by trying to tell of its magic. If you can't foresee a visit then their website has an excellent virtual tour.

My urge to always create a 'something' after an afternoon under its spell is a quality I wish I could switch on so readily in my working life. This time I was straight to purchase a beginners gouache set. Clearly it's going to take some practice but the flatness of the paint applied is reminiscent of silkscreen printing. It feels like I'm on safe territory!

Nancys Dad.

'Exit Strategies'

Kate Gibb, 'The End?'

The latest edition of Granta magazine entitled Exit Strategies, arrived at the studio today.

Browsing through a couple of illustrations really caught my eye. Closer inspection revealed the artistic perpetrator as Grantas own Art Director, Michael Salu.

Michael Salu, 'America'.

As if he isn't busy enough, Michael has started the Granta blog. Documenting their varied creative pursuits it offers you a chance to sample them individually. Look for yourself here & worth keeping in check with for sure.

'Winter Solstice'

Today I am working on my accounts. Well that was the case until I chose to become preoccupied by a badge making machine left in my studio. What an addictive gadget that could turn out to be. Yesterday, (like many others) I wished to live somewhere remote and quiet, clean air, clear skies.. the antithesis of London life. If only not to have missed Saturdays eerily spectacular lunar eclipse. Take a few minutes to watch William Castlemans time lapse of the whole event and observe the moon radiate a deep blood red. Spooky.

Stripes & Halftones

A rewarding aspect of working regularly alongside Stussy, is it allows me to hone my skills as a printmaker. Of late, my contribution to them has been as a colourist and mark maker I guess. Revitalising and updating their bountiful back catalogue of stock logos, through additional texture & playing optically with colour has kept me technically on my toes. Some of this work in progress remains purely as that. The prints shown here particularly challenged me but never made it off the board.

100% cotton, utilitarian art?

I couldn't bear to hear myself blog about tea towels again. (Or mention that its our Open Studios this weekend). Feel free to pop by, (emoticon).

'Open Studios this Weekend...'

Try a relaxed approach to the festive period & pop to 'Great Western Studios' this coming weekend for our annual Christmas Open. The studios have grown vastly in the last year so lots of new bits & bobs for everyones perusal. Myself & Sophie Smallhorn have gotten together creatively, (festively even, could be the appropriate word) although there are no Santas hats on our tea towels.. Bah!

December 3rd & 4th, 12 - 6pm both days.

'Living in Patterns'

Pollyn's latest album 'Living in Patterns' holds this weeks grand accolade of being Rough Trade's record of the week. That's pretty high praise in my book. Art Director Adam Weissman is one of the bands three members. Our creative relationship stems mainly from our collaborative work with Stussy. With a title that couldn't feel more apt to oil my creative juices, I relished the opportunity to create their sleeve art. Read what they have to say here, its all good.

'Things & People'

I totally forgot to tell of Sandy Suffields unique little blog 'Things & People'. Introduced to each other via Sophie Smallhorn, a mutual friend & hugely impressive silkscreen artist & sculptor. Her premise is for you to pick a thing that has been influential in your life, accompanied by its story. There are a lot of real weepies.. so tissues to the ready. Not for mine though, its just one more tale of sibling rivalry. A consistent fave of mine is Chris, whose friend grabbed a crisp from a bag that was his doppelgänger. Such luck!

Teatowels

Our combined shows at Blackbough & Material created our first Teatowel, something I have often imagined but never gotten round to. Albeit a last minute exercise whilst finishing off Prints & hanging the shows, I'm most proud of our linens. Available to purchase online here.

Le Monde, 'M'

Being a screenprinter doesn't lend itself to the fickle, fast, tight deadlined world of Editorials. But, I still want to do them. And probably for all the afore mentioned adjectives. Unfortunately tears of sheer frustration are often at the ready.. But not this time! Paris based Art Director Eric Pillault managed to point me in his carefully thought out direction, as he had previously for fashion magazine Jalouse. Thank you Eric ; - )

A Magical Evening..

A big thanks to Blackbough & Material Gallery for being smashing hosts for our opening night of 'Unplanned Magic', on at both venues until November 5th. As well as new Prints from both Marcus & myself there are hand silkscreened teatowels & notebooks to peruse, made collaboratively by myself, Marcus, Hayley & Adam. What fun we had and hopefully this is but the beginning.

New (unplanned) things.

See more here, from October 7th.

'Unplanned Magic' in Ludlow.

One of the Proprietors of Blackbough is Adam Withington. It was Adam who successfully & fastidiously ran Great Western Studios for ten something years, nurturing the creative community that evolved from a British Rail lost goods building housed under the Westway. Since his departure he has opened Blackbough. I'm delighted to be showing my latest prints there, previewing next Friday October 7th.

The show runs concurrently with that of another silkscreen artist, the wonderfully talented Marcus Walters. A favourite of mine, Marcus's new prints will be housed just along the road at Material Gallery & bookstore. We've even knocked our creative heads into one and made a few things together. If you find yourself in Ludlow next Friday be sure to join us at both venues and then the pub next door to Blackbough for afters..

Of All the Things..

... I have made with Stussy, these Limited Edition bags complete with a collage style Stars'n'Stripes print I created last year, are an immediate joy.

"Back 4 The Future"

My knowledge of films is somewhat appalling.. my childhood was definitely spent up a tree. The past few years have seen me play slow catch up, but then there's all the new releases to take in to account. Exhausting. When Nike asked me to contribute creatively to their 'Back4TheFuture' Charity Auction, there was an initial moment of panic. The aftermath is I've now seen Back To The Future II, twice. Nike, Original Film Creators & 'The Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation' have combined forces releasing a limited edition of 1500 pairs of the mythical Nike Mag trainers, worn originally and solely by Marty McFly himself. Sold exclusively through US Ebay, all proceeds go direct to Michael J Foxs Charity and his personal quest to find a cure for Parkinsons.

Four Artists reinterpreted the films original poster as part of the Charity Gala Evening in Los Angeles, all of which can be viewed here. However it doesn't end there.. keep an eye out for the Hover boards!

'Nothing Major'

Even with a few friendly Q&A's under my belt now, there's still a fine art to re-reading your own choice words without the obligatory cringe.. At the same time and having gotten over my ego, I love what Pitchfork's very own Art Director Michael Renaud has helped concoct with the newly launched site 'Nothing Major'. Their open Tshirt brief allowed me to play around with a longstanding still life idea. Meanwhile, they were busy customising a Nothing Major brass bike bell. Too cool for school those people and most definitely worth a visit.

new.. Framed Editions at 'Elphicks'

Finally I've gotten round to teaming up with 'Elphicks', one of my favourite London Print Shops, once again. This time I decided to go the whole hog and create customized frames to work integrally with my Prints. Several sheets of sandpaper and many layers of paint later, the results were dropped off to Sharon herself this morning... Always a pleasant way to start my day. Good to see you Sharon, X

'Browsing Copy 2', A Project to Save Used Books

I just received an email notifying me that Roy Poh has collated Series 02 of his wonderful project, 'Browsing Copy'. Check out WERK Magazines contribution. After purchasing their hand made Magazine showcasing fashion designers Eley Kishimoto, I remain a life long fan.

Dream Jobs..

Whilst in Tokyo last Autumn for 'Tokyo Graphic Passport', I was thrilled to reunite with the brilliant designer Paul Boudens, also a guest speaker. Paul & I originally met at the prestigious fashion house of 'Dries Van Noten'. I was commissoned in around 2003 to illustrate their Spring Summer Catalogue. The Menswear Collection was themed around the graphic sartorial style of David Hockney, the Ladies showed homage to the 1940's. On reflection, this still remains as one of my most favourite projects. The attached photos show my silkscreens in situ at Dries's beautiful store the 'Modepalais', Antwerp.

Stussy Beatniks..

It can feel like an age between screening the final colour to an artwork &

awaiting the transition from flat print to wearable garment.

Yesterday a box of samples arrived from the Stussy HQ.

I'd forgotten what the Beatniks looked like although I remember the first guy..

he's a double for Woody Allen no?

I love how they've extracted the patterns I created for the beatniks

clothes & fed them through their classic stock Logo's..

Its all coming together nicely.. & it's a good feeling.

Ah, "Happy Birthday Pop"..

.. It might be the big seven zero for you Dad but I think all the golf is paying off..

Have a lovely birthday & a very happy one too.

X X l o v e X X

'Present Pattern'

My obsession for pattern is getting out of hand.. ideas jumping around the page, not sure which to try and execute first. Sometimes it's easier to transfer this energy in to creating something immediate..
"Ta-Dah", cue wrapping paper & card for Bevans Birthday = instant pattern gratification.
I'm so relieved.
Happy Birthday my lovely friend.

'Stussy'

Whilst randomly flicking through Stussy's website, I finally got to see one of my (many upcoming..) silkscreen designs as finished, fashionable items. All too exciting!
I've been working under the strict guise of the super talented Art Director & Musician 'Adam Jay Weissman' for at least a couple of years now. Conjuring up new patterns from their bountiful back catalogue of logos as well as creating new prints for their classic Tees is a lengthy process but today I spotted a 'cap' and some trunks.. And there is a whole lot more to come. I even heard a rumour about a bag slash rucksack type affair .. gonna keep my fingers well and truly crossed for that one.

New Edition, "Mishmash"

'Mishmash' is one of two new Editions, hot off the press and available online here as well as in the flesh at 'Brighton AOH' - Artists Open Houses. Running every weekend throughout the merry month of May, our host Mark Lane opens his family home at 40 Tidy Street to the public as part of the 'Brighton Festival', hosting a collection of Artworks by some of his favourite artists and illustrators. This aside, his home alone is well worth the visit.

"Mishmash"

Hand silkscreened on 'Archival Quality Black Daler Board',

Colours - 7,

Dimensions - 210mm X 295mm ( approx A4 size )

Edition - 8,

Price - £ 150 incl p&p for the UK, (for postal prices outside the UK please email),

Each Print is hand stamped, numbered & signed,

To purchase, please email - info@thisisanoriginalscreenprint.com