Grown-up scribbling...

Roberto Calbucci, Tokyo based Itailian designer was someone I discovered waaaay back on myspace in 2005. Ive been following his work ever since. He uses a variety of media to create these large pieces of experimental artwork including ink, pencil, oil pastel, gouache, rapidograph and airbrush. Roberto has just recently began using the outlet of blogging to display the drawings of his creative thought processes.  

" TO DRAW AS LIGHTNING AND LIGHT OF SEARCH DEEP AND INTIMATE VISION IN ENDLESS CONCEPTUAL POSSIBILITIES OF TRANSFORMATION OF INTERNAL VISION ".

http://robertocalbucci.tumblr.com/

Surface//Philia Miniture Print Sale

This is a little out of date but Im still moving everything across from my Tumblr. I had a miniture exhibition and print sale for a few weeks back in June at Writers Block in Middlesbrough. It was a nice chance for me to get some simple work out there and sold, these are a few framed prints of what I am working on for my current project. Most of these have sold but Im now developing the illustrations further creating heavily layered placement and repeat patterns...watch this space. 

Onto textiles...yes textiles. Name your favourite textile designer.

Do you have one? Not an artist, or a photographer, OR fashion designer...we are not any of the above P.S.!

I'm always amazed at when asked to name a favourite textile designer, many textile designers have a sticking point. Is it because what we as textile designers produce, is never the end product? The design then has to be passed on and applied to a consumable product?

You do find that it is quite rare for a textile designer to reach such lucky star rankings, but one who did and my all time favourite was Lucienne Day. Married to Robin Day, furniture designer, back in 1946 began working together as a freelance team and set on to making their mark on modern design. Lucienne's vibrant printed patterns started revitalising British homes during the 1950s with her fresh, minimal and graphic style. Her designs were built layer upon layer of pattern and use of a very contemporary and sophisticated skill of repeats.

I love how the designs never dates running through the 50's, 70's to modern day, and even now inspires and is featured in leading homeware stores such as Habitat...and Id even dare say Ikea. Now go and get your own favourite... :)

Monicaaaahhh CanilaooooOOOH!

Where do I start with this one. I discovered Monica Canilao (on my own - I'm very proud of this fact) three years ago whilst dangerously browsing The Tate Modern bookshop. I instantly fell in love with her charming naive hand, confident use of colour and the stunning and bizarre use of college and texture within her work. The book was bought within two minutes flat (is wasn't a Saturday) and three years on I am still falling over undiscovered details on each page. Her work has never stopped inspiring me, and have insisted in showing my teeny book to my second year BA students for the following years after. "weight of lines look!" "use of colour, take note"

"unusual compositions!" "DO IT!"

Monica's work shows ultimate freedom of creativity (jealous), working on whatever scale, with whatever salvaged raw materials and colour palettes... Not only successful as an artist, Monica has the confidence to apply her ideas to anything she turns her hand too albeit huge wooden installations, to embroidered one of hand made wallet purses, hand stitched shoes to large scale drawings, paintings and colleges. I admire the fact her ideas can not be pigeon holed, it just is what it is.

"In the heart of Oakland, California, Monica Canilao spends her days stitching, painting, printing, and breathing life into the refuse that dominates our time and place. Moving across media, sometimes with friends and sometimes alone, Canilao makes a delicate visual record of the personal and communal.

She received a BFA from California College of Arts and Crafts and has shown in galleries, community spaces, abandoned places and Ö worldwide" - Bio, www.monicacanilao.com