plush patterns

2010-03-08T05:54:00.001-08:00

The Kemistry Gallery has a show on of work by Warsaw based design studio Homework . Some great film poster design, my favourites are below (the Annie Hall is great and made me rewatch the film, I think the style icon status is justified)

BEING A LAZY OAF TONIGHT

2010-03-04T04:21:00.001-08:00

I am living up to the name by being a Lazy Oaf and not re-writing this post. Hope you can read it, New lazy Oaf store opening off Carnaby street tonight. Thanks to LeCool for the tip off. Just a little sample of their greatness below.

THE WALLS ARE TALKING

2010-02-15T02:20:00.000-08:00

I was tipped off about an exhibition at Manchester's Whitwoth Gallery called the Walls Are Talking. It's got some great wallpapers that I hadn't seen before and of course the classics that it's great to see again.

The first room's walls are covered with this really intense Ivy wallpaper. There is no room to breath in this print - luckily it's a huge room with massive windows. It really does feel oppressive which is strange considering it's just little green leaves. Well worth the trip to Manchester.

Below Efeu by Thomas Demand

Below Mao by Andy Warhol

Below Right Hand Lady by Allen Jones
Below An Impression of Everything by Michael Craig-Martin (this is a huge wall display, not done justice by this image - really worth going to see)

A new one for me includes David Shrigley's "Industrial Estate" wallpaper

FRIENDS WITH YOU

2010-02-10T07:52:00.001-08:00

Friends With You have some lovely silk screen prints back in their shop after selling out recently. Here are a few of my favourites (I nearly ended up putting the whole store on the blog - I love them all so much)

Below Plasma Eyes Print

Below Miami Sound Machine Print

Below Friendship Flag Print

Below Once Upon A Time Print
Below The Guide Print
Below Plasma Boy Print

YELLOW OWL WORKSHOP SF

2010-01-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO - the tour continues to the west coast. I have seen some fantastic stores, prints, murals and characters since being here. I've learnt about Anna Conda the drag queen running for Supervisor and becoming the next Harvey Milk. I've seen more evidence that people care about the environment than ever before. And some seriously lush vintage furniture stores. (I spent an hour looking through old postcards and ancient faded photographs from over the decades in a store just off Valencia) I'm ready to move here and that's after a day and a half.

Images below I found in a store called the Eco Citizen and they are all environmentally friendly cards (on recycled paper) by a talent local San Francisco artist at the Yellow Owl Workshop

CHICAGO 2

2010-01-27T19:34:00.001-08:00

The view from 18th floor on to Navy Pier Chicago
The Boring Store Wicker Park Chicago, sells everything for your secret agent needs but sshhhh don't tell anyone. Less secretly it uses the back room for a non-profit writing and tutorial centre. and this friendly pigeon greets you on the way in.

I love all the old signs in Chicago.
Offically the best burgers in Chicago come from Hackney's, which also happens to be on Printers Row - this street just keeps getting better.

CHICAGO

2010-01-26T03:48:00.001-08:00

Below is Printers Row in Chicago. These great old buildings used to house the cities printers and now there's some great book stores in their place.

This is the Bongo Room down in the South Loop of Chicago - I just love the colours and I can't say anymore about it.

TORONTO

2010-01-26T03:45:00.000-08:00

Just visited Toronto, and met some friends.

2010-01-19T02:57:00.001-08:00

New Dewolf Prints t-shirt printed this weekend in my first try at teaching 'print class'.

CURWEN AND NEW ACADEMY GALLERY

2010-01-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Curwen Gallery has a new show featuring some of my Pigeon prints. These same prints also popped up in Printmaking Today magazine. Pigeons get everywhere.
The show is on until 30th Jan.

Below are photographs from the private view at The Curwen Gallery on Windmill St. Thanks to Ros Morley for the photographs.

Below are photos from the Rectory Road Gallery private view. The Gallery is in one of those beautiful Victorian houses, in between Spitalfields market and Brick Lane, that I dream about owning one day. I often press my face against the windows to look inside. So it's a double treat to go inside the property and have my work on the hanging on the walls.

Please see The Curwen Gallery for more info on prints shown above.

IF I COULD COLLABORATE

2010-01-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

I have blogged about these guys before because they did a print collection in previous years. Last night If I Could Collaborate Private View was packed. The truely great curatorial talents of Alex and Will also behind the blog Its Nice That

Some photos below, I would strongly recommend getting down to see the show before it ends on 23 January 2010, 12–6pm
(open late on 21 January, 12–9pm)
A Foundation Gallery at Rochelle School, London E2 7ES.

above Craig Ward & Sean Freeman & Alison Carmichael

Fred Butler's work above was a collaboration with the very talented graphic design duo No Days Off It was a campaign for an eighth day in the week - their badges and manifesto get my vote any day.
above Jorre van Ast & Damien Poulain

above Sam Messenger & Bart Long

above Jesse Auersalo & Jesse Pietilä

above the beautifully crafted “Op-Art medieval-like tapestry" by Hvass&Hannibal & Anne Werner (oh and the back of Max Lamb's head)

above Praline & The Model Shop

above and below the amazing work of Oliver Jeffers & Aaron Ruff You can find all contact details, more info on each person and piece from If I Could Collaborate

STUDIO DRINKS - COME ON DOWN !

2009-12-09T02:19:00.001-08:00

SUTTON HOUSE

2009-12-09T02:12:00.001-08:00

This is our table at the Sutton House craft fair, which was by all accounts a very christmas-y day!
This is Dan and Laura my studio mates who were selling Dan's fantastic circus inspired decorations and cards. Which can be seen here The Shop Floor Project as see the wallpaper department for more of his lush designs.

I HEART TRIANGLES AND CHRISTMAS

2009-12-04T05:19:00.001-08:00

Peepshop

present and correct

Yellow Owl Workshop (not strictly christmas but still lush)
Ok Interrupt

Mr. Bowlegs

STUDIO REVIEW : WE MAKE T-SHIRTS

2009-12-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

Recently met Mike from We Make T-Shrits It's the fox design that I especially like. They've been printing a lot at print club There seem to be lots of screen printers lurking behind closed doors (or should I say screens) in East London right now.

2009-12-02T12:11:00.001-08:00

CARDS ON THE TABLE

2009-11-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

These are the cards that will be on sale at Sutton House on Saturday 5th Dec.

BIG NEWS

2009-11-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

As I now share a studio with a group of other printers, we have got together and decided to sell our prints cards and all things Christmasy at Sutton house fair. Come along it's going to be lush!

CRIMBO !

2009-11-25T09:25:00.001-08:00

Christmas cards being printed now. News to come soon. x

SUBURBIA SUPERBIA

2009-07-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

As I was finishing my own MA, I didn't get to see the Royal College of Art show. I've just been checking it out online and came across the pieces below by Claas Gutsche Although in black and white his prints still really remind me of Peter Doig (and any excuse to post a doig image). There's definiately a new interest in the Suburban going on at the RCA as quite a few works have references to the outedges of cities. I think urban birds would fit into this category of everyday subject matter.

WATCH THE BIRDIE

2009-07-20T05:55:00.001-07:00

Below are some more photos from the Urban Birds print series. There is also a Seagull print of mine, winging it's way to Austrailia as it was purchased and requested to be sent there (There is something quite satisfiying about the thought of it).

My other news is that, after a long time of being jealous of print studios and studio's in general, I have now taken the plunge and joined a group of silk screen prints. I move in next week so photos to follow. I'm can't express my excitiment about this - they are such an active and knowledgable group. There is talks of doing a show for London Design Week in the pub that the studio is ajoining (it doesn't get better than that)

Also starting to create new prints for t-shirts and a series so there'll be some new photos soon.

THE WORK IS UP!!!

2009-06-30T06:40:00.001-07:00

My final show was last week, many thanks to everyone who made it down, including Keith and Mark from mini moderns!!! I was fantastic evening and everyone seemed to be responding well to the work. More pics to come x

LE PIGEON

2009-06-20T10:10:00.001-07:00

The pigeons are multiplying! This T-shirts were inspired by my good friend and photographer Anna Leader who told me she calls her boyfriend Le pigeon as it means fool in French - hence the french style striped tees.

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH

2009-06-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

check out my new print website www.dewolfprints.com

2009-06-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

www.minimoderns.com have launched a collection of stationery - which includes 3 A5 notebooks, and 2 handy jotters. All made in the UK with 100% recycled paper. See more info.about the books below. They will also be a Bubble London, this sunday at the Business Design Centre, Islington.

The books feature our original pattern designs, and offer suggestions of their usage.
'Memorabilia' - features the much talked about "Ruby" photograph album print
'Let's get Busy' - features the "Nana" jigsaw print - which is perfect for planning projects
'Go to Town' - is backed with the Mini Moderns' print of houses in one of our signature colours - milk chocolate

And the jotters - which are ideal for satchels or handbags -
'Timely Reminders' - features our 'Tick Tock' print
and 'Let's make a List' - features our "Six of One" print

EVERY MINUTE SHOULD BE ENJOYED

2009-06-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

EVERY MINUTE SHOULD BE ENJOYED - This is the instruction we were given at the start of our MA printmaking from University of Brighton. In a tongue in cheek referrence to this we have chosen it for our graduation show name. Of course on the night of the private view every minute will be enjoyed! Come down and join me for drinks and prints.

SUSIE Q AND THE OWLS

2009-04-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here's some lovely screen prints from Susie Q and the owls, which I think would be a great band name as well, should she ever want to diversify. Here's what she has to say :-

"Susie Wright aka 'Susie Q and the Owls', works across multiple disciplines, from screen-printing to typography to 3D. Her Scottish heritage has greatly influenced her as an illustrator, with landscapes, animals and plants featuring heavily in her body of work: 'I see it as a way of being closer to the landscapes in the highlands, which I experienced so much growing up'. Whilst she is inspired by the abundance of creativity she's stumbled across in London and the contrast 'between the built up environment of London life and the sparseness of buildings and people in the highlands', she refers to her drawings as a 'coping mechanism' for being so far away from home."

WRONG WOOD

2009-04-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

This work by Richard Woods is like a dream - it's colourful, hyper real cartoon images placed into domestic settings. Imagine living with floor boards in black outlines and bright blinging colours that pinging out at you as get out of bed in the morning. The fact that this work manages to cross several boundaries makes it even more intriguing. The sideboard below is a collaboration with Sebastian Wrong for established & sons. However Woods has also existed in artworld, showing in galleries for many years now. The most recent work is part of "The Nature Show" at Rubenstein gallery in New York until May 23rd. I'm not sure I could live in Woods world but it's extremely refreshing to visit and be bould over by it's pinging colour.

OMEGA wallpaper

2009-04-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

I had a fantastic heads-up email from Keith at Absolute Zero Degrees about their newly commissioned wallpaper from the Courtauld Gallery. They have created a wallpaper based on the Omega workshop. The offical information is below but I just wanted to say it's another example of the inspirational work created by the guys at Absolute Zero Degrees! It also reminds me of the fantastic day I spent at Charleston House last summer.

OMEGA wallpaper
A specially commissioned wallpaper designed by Absolute Zero Degrees inspired by the work of the Omega Workshops to commemorate the Courtauld Gallery exhibition Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19 which runs from 18 June to 20 September 2009.
Available in the colourway shown
52cm x 10m roll £49.95
Printed with waterbased inks in the UK on paper from sustained and certified forests.
Available exclusively from The Courtauld Gallery shop.

LUSHOUS ILLUSTRATIONS

2009-04-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

Paul Willoughby

"Paul graduated from Loughborough in 2001 with a 2:2 in Illustration. After an impressive run on job seekers allowance he began illustrating for Adrenalin magazine. On the strength of that work they gave him some commissions for their sister magazine, a golf magazine called Bogey. Then on the strength of that work he got to illustrate some covers for the Guardian’s review section. It all grew from there!"

What a great list of inspiration and influences he has:- "Polish poster design, early Milton Glaser drawings, Saul Bass, Cuban poster art, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Diane Arbus, Roger Ballen, Geoff McFetridge, David Hughes, Japanese woodblock prints, Hokusai, old photographs, Paper textures, Seymor Chwast, William Eggleston, Robert Crumb, Egon Schiele, David Hockney, Alan Cober, Eduardo Paolozzi, Kew Gardens, Terence Malick, knackered old craft books, Kurosawa, Manga, cake, Lomo’s"

WALLPAPERS BY ARTISTS

2009-04-09T08:17:00.001-07:00

This is work from a France based Wallpaper company WALLPAPERS BY ARTISTS - I can't resist the sausage dog print !

"Wallpapers by Artists was created in 2006 with a mind to offer an original collection of high quality wallpapers open to widely different creations and providing contemporary artists with a privileged scene. If you are a collector or an art-lover, you may now acquire a multiple, original, made-to-measure artwork. The offered rolls of wallpaper all have the same size of 21.2 inches by 30 feet (or 53 cm by 10 meters). They are printed and figured in a traditional workshop. Each creation is a limited series."

GUESS THE BEATLES SONGS

2009-04-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here's some great work by Karolin Schnoor (not just because there's pigeons!)

This is a really nice project, where Karolin Schnoor has illustrated Beatles songs to go with the records called "Guess the Beatles Songs".

WISH YOU WERE THERE

2009-03-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came down to Riverside Studios last night for the show. Here are some images. more news soon x

WISH YOU WERE HERE

2009-03-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

One last quick post for today. Upcoming exhibition showing my pigeon prints, you are welcome to join us for drinks at the private view on Wednesday 25th March at Riverside Studios London, 6:30 until 9:00.

SIMPLY PATTERN REVIEW

2009-03-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Simply Pattern published by Victionary aims to "reveal how inspiring and creative patterns delight surfaces and become undividable in our everyday life". It contains a good wide scope of modern pattern makers, which includes a broad international selection which I find refreshing. For example Tsang Kin Wah from Hong Kong and Assitant from Tokyo, both who's work has a graphic quality to it that makes it a good choice for a 'simply pattern' book. I recommend taking a look if you get a chance.

WHERE I'VE BEEN

2009-03-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have in the print room every spare moment on the count down to several shows coming up. Above is a little snap shot of what's in store - no close ups yet I'm affraid. It's safe to say I'm using all available space at London Print Studio though ! Below is a visual diary of my moments out of the print studio (which means Sundays, until I find a print studio open then as well)

DUMPSTER WALLPAPER

2009-03-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I really like the idea of this project. C.Finley's Wallpaper Dumpsters make me smile at the idea of the biggest symbol for the domestic being put out in the urban environment. I've just finished writing my dissertation 'The contemporary Art of Wallpaper' so not sure I can write anymore on this subject for a bit.

RIBBON WALLPAPER

2009-02-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

Studio Ditte brings us new ribbon wallpaper to go with their Scrap wood version. I like that there is some back story to scrap wood see below. Also reminds me a little of Louise Body.
"Authentic ribbons, lace and straps from grandma’s needle box decorate this cheerful wallpaper"

"Each board is unique and has its own history. Where does it come from? What was its function? Studio Ditte copied the history and beauty of scrap wood to wallpaper."

FOCUS ON ABSOLUTE ZERO DEGREES

2009-02-12T02:02:00.001-08:00

Having been a follower of Absolute Zero Degrees and minimoderns for awhile now and having posted about them often - I thought it was about time I found out some more about them. Keith Stephenson kindly agreed to answer some of my questions, in order to get a bit of an insight into the company's inpsirations and workings. It's great reading hope you enjoy it as much as I did! (posted in 3 parts)

1. Can you tell me a little history of you business, what are your backgrounds and how did you come to start a creatively diverse business? How did the twin companies idea come about?

I started Absolute Zero degrees in 2001 as I was disillusioned with big branding agencies and felt stifled by the structure of the agencies that I worked in. My experience had always been diverse, working predominantly in the fashion industry as a graphic designer and print designer, and I felt that any expertise and experience that I had was always overlooked. So from the start Absolute Zero Degrees was created to utilise all my skills and not be seen as a pure graphic design company. This meant that the fledgling company took on diverse projects from branding, retail interior design to commissions for textile prints for fashion companies.

When Mark Hampshire joined a short time later, the offer became more diverse as although his experience was as a brand strategist, he had also been a partner in an interior and furniture design business, featuring in the very first edition of Wallpaper magazine. So even though both Mark and I had very defined roles in larger design and branding agencies – we had an opportunity with AZD to explore our skills and interests, and to also create a seamless process from brief to delivery.

In 3 years AZD gained in reputation – and we were commissioned in 2004 to create a collection of wallpaper designs for innovative design store Places and Spaces in South London.

The collection featuring the now classic ‘Swallows’ was an immediate hit with press – appearing 9 months consecutively in Elle Decoration, and eventually being short-listed for their design awards in 2005.
The wallpapers appeared in international publications and on television. Following the success of ‘Swallows’ wallpaper, we wanted to create another collection, which would appeal to what we saw as an untapped market. At the time we felt no one was producing wallpaper for contemporary kids , that parents would also like – most of what AZD found through their research was too twee or was a marketing vehicle for toys, TV programmes or films.

As proof of principle of our experience as a branding agency - Mini Moderns was born. The patterns are good sellers and manage to straddle the kids and kidult market successfully.

2009 will see the launch of Mini Moderns first clothing collection in collaboration with Clothkits, who have used our print catalogue on their collection of classic shape children’s and women’s wear.

Mini Moderns exists as a privately funded, stand alone project and has its own website, which now sells a collection of 16 wallpapers, chinaware, plastic tableware, textiles and accessories, as well as wholesaling to numerous design stores in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Australia and the US.

Absolute Zero Degrees is responsible for all the designs as well as continuing as predominantly a design and branding agency using their pattern making expertise in our work.

We were also recently commissioned to create and produce wallpaper for Southbank Centre – featuring the classic carpet design ‘Net and Ball’ designed for the 1951 Festival of Britain.

We have have also co authored 6 books on design, four of which make up the ‘communicating with pattern’ series which have sold 100,000 copies of each, internationally, and have been translated into 10 languages.

FOCUS ON ABSOLUTE ZERO DEGREES cont...

2009-02-12T01:57:00.000-08:00

2. What is your design philosophy, if you had to describe in words how you go about starting and developing your design process?

We don’t have a direct design philosophy as such, though we are reluctant to take on work that we don’t feel interested in or that doesn’t exploit our talents or experience to the full. Our client list is very diverse as a branding agency and we are quite discerning about who we work with. With regards to the Mini Moderns part of our business – we are constantly designing prints for the collection which are stored in our ‘print bank’ – we are never influenced by trends or contemporary design in our collection – so the prints are unique to us – and tend not to date. The design process for this is fairly loose – a design concept can be triggered off by a TV show, films, travel, a conversation or vintage design finds.

3. You seem to have a diserning eye when it comes to design, What are some of the best pieces you have seen recently, exhibitons or old pieces that you have newly remembered? (from all areas of the design world) Do you consider yourselves collectors?

We have both just visited the Hussein Chalayan exhition at the Design Museum – and were blown away by his intelligence and creativity. He really is an artist – but whereas a lot of artists have a thought provoking ideas behind their work – the execution often is less than satisfactory – Hussein Chalayan’s resulting pieces - be it film or fashion are always incredibly beautiful. A lot of designs that we find exciting are things that feel have longevity, so we don’t always love the latest thing. We love textile designers of the 1950’s like Lucienne Day, and Marian Mahler,
and surface pattern designers like Susan Williams-Ellis, whose designs for Portmeirion pottery in the 1960’s is a great influence on us. We also love the life enrichment panels by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller, in the late sixties and seventies. We never copy or appropriate their design work - it just has an influence in the way we see things.
Contemporary designers who we feel are interesting are Jonathan Adler, People Will Always Need Plates, Donna Wilson’s original doily rug has proved very influential to new designers, and for us Peter Saville is will always be the king of Graphics, and I am a great admirer of the work of Build. The illustrative work of Kam Tang and Sanna Annukka featured previously on this blog, are also something that we admire as well as the illustration work of the late Charley Harper, which we are lucky enough to have 2 ltd edition screenprints by him, which we managed to get from the US just prior to his death. One of Mark’s favourites is the lino cut aesthetic of Stanley Donwood’s work. With regard to collectors - hoarders would probably better describe it - we collect lots of things from magazines to vintage crockery. It all goes into the 'inspiration pot'.

FOCUS ON ABSOLUTE ZERO DEGREES cont...

2009-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

4. What advice would you give to someone buying wallpaper, what are the main factors they should look out for in a design?

We produce all our wallpaper using a traditional flexo method –using paper from sustained forests, and printed with water based inks. We would say look out for paper produced like this or created using a production method that you feel comfortable with. We have always produced this way, and the feel of the paper has much more warmth, and visually has much more depth, than say, digital wallpapers. Hand screened wallpapers are beautiful but tend to be expensive – which is something we try to avoid. Depending on what look you would like to achieve – always check that you understand what the repeat is of the pattern, and what scale the overall pattern will be, and always read the hanging instructions carefully. Be aware that when choosing a wallpaper with a very dark base that before you unroll the paper –you colour the edges in the same colour as the base colour – otherwise dark wallpaper will have white edge strips once its hung – ruining the effect. The best policy is if you haven’t hung wallpaper before is get a professional in. It is always a good idea to get a swatch of your selected paper so you can make sure it co-ordinates with your overall scheme.

5. And Finally if you could install or exhibit your wallpapers in any building where would that be?

We have already been incredibly lucky with where our wallpapers have been used. The ‘Net and Ball’ wallpaper (shown in previous post) in black and gold, lines the entrance of one of our favourite restaurants, Skylon, in one of our favourite London landmark buildings, the Royal Festival Hall. Our Mini Moderns ‘Town’:-

‘Sitting Comfortably?’:-

and ‘Tick Tock’ wallpaper :-

has also been used in the bedrooms of new Conran hotel, Boundary, in Shoreditch which we are really excited about. We love it when we see our wallpaper used anywhere – our ‘Bees’ wallpaper from the collection for Places and Spaces is in our local pub – so we love that too as it really makes us feel part of the community.We also feel proud when someone we admire has our wallpaper on their walls too – People Will Always Need Plates - have our town print which we spotted when The Times featured their flat.

TRIBUTE TO CHARLEY HARPER

2009-02-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

These are a recent set of prints in tribute to Charley Harper - the illustrator that has inspred many people. He worked to a form of minial realism and mainly seemed to draw animals and birds. I often look at his work and couldn't resist doing a these prints to pay respect to his draftsmanship.

"Fox Family"
"Dirty Mouse"
"Starling"
"On a Zebra's back"

Nostalgia for the east

2009-01-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

This is a wallpaper in a Vietnamese restaurant in Old Street, that I always used to walk past and love!I was back near my old house today visiting the studio of the lovely photographers Mishkin Mishkin - the special ladies treated me to some serious youtube flights of the conchords action.

It made me very nostalgic being back in that part of town - especially seeing this image from the new Times ad campaign (actually this reminds me more of trips to Brighton whilst at university but it's all starting to blur into one!?)

On the way home I couldn't help popping into a private view. Some interesting work from Abigail Reynolds she uses old tourist books and slices into the surface of the prints. All of these reasons make me miss living in east London.

MINAKANI WALLPAPERS AND TEXTILE PRINTS

2009-01-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Cécile from minakani for getting back to me this week about their current collections. Minakani have quite a diverse range of styles in their designs - the first two images below are from their textiles collection and the last two are from their wallpaper range. The Parsian duo say they "produce strong and simple designs with a candid vintage quirky optimistic and poetic feel". As a cyncial Londoner I find this a refreshing approach and enjoy the honesty behind the designs. (I do find some of the teeth are a little phallic or is that just my mind?)

minakani

WHO NEEDS IKEA!

2009-01-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

After posting my last blog, I saw these drawings and designs by Skinny La Minx which seem to fit into the theme of using consumer goods in designs. This series is called "I wish I had Ikea"

PACKAGING WALLPAPER

2009-01-19T09:44:00.001-08:00

I'm noticing a bit of a trend for packaging wallpaper. Andreas Samuelsson for Studio Nommo:-
Andreas Samuelsson is a Swedish illustrator from Stockholm. Working with cut paper collage mixed with watercolor and computer graphics in sharp colors. His ideas tends to turn into geometric forms, stilistic symbols and handwritten letters. He has recently been working for clients such as Adidas, Dagens Nyheter, Arkitip and New York Times and producing limited prints for "If You Could" in London and Analogue Books in Edinburgh. In 2008 he finished his first childrensbook called "Red, Green, Blue and You" for Rollo Press in Zürich.

(credit for this image to come)

YOU'RE HAVING A BUBBLE

2009-01-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Today I did a silly thing - I was on my way to Bubble London to see the great work of Mini Moderns, after buses pasted without stopping and tubes were cancelled I finally arrived only to realised I was at the wrong exhibition hall D'oh! Instead I have some lovely pics from the Mini Moderns website of their fantastic cushion collection. With names that make you want to hug them (the cushions that is, not the guys at mini moderns - although maybe that too?) Nana cushion being my favourite name ever for cushion (1st image below). Good work as ever guys and hope to see you at the next Bubble in June?

SANNA ANNUKKA NEW SCREEN PRINTS

2009-01-15T04:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.sanna-annukka.com/

BAVARIA SERIES

2009-01-14T03:57:00.001-08:00

This is the Bavaria Series by Studio Job for Moss Gallery - not strictly prints but so cool I couldn't help but post about them. http://www.mossonline.com/quick_search-exec/

PIGEON PRINTS

2009-01-12T09:17:00.001-08:00

These are my latest prints - a tryptic of pigeons. These are silkscreen prints 28 x 38cms.

The print below is part of an edition for a box set called "Origin of The species" to celebrate Darwin's 200th anniversary. It will be on show at London Print Studio as part their Darwin exhibition - date tbc.
On this print I screen printed glue and then used foil to create the iridescent area. This was a painstaking task as printing glue isn't easy to print, however it was worth it as my edition of 35 prints all have iridescent foiling on them. Many thanks to Fred Butler for her advice and enthusiasm about all things iridescent ! http://fredbutlerstyle.blogspot.com/

SALLY ELFORD PRINTS

2009-01-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Sally Elford print's remind me a little of Charley Harpers birds. See more of her work at www.boxbird.co.uk a print gallery and studio in Brighton.

MINI MODERN BAGS and christmas card

2008-12-23T02:18:00.000-08:00

Here is the best virtual christmas card I recieved this year. And below is the mini moderns studio and house (also Absolute zero). The very talented designers behind the wallpapers and now bags ranges - soon to be expanding into tea towels and more. The images below are from a design*sponge sneak peek back at the beginning of December. see link below to find out more. (can you spot the Charley Harper print in the back ground - magic!)

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/12/sneak-peek-absolute-zero-degrees.html

£20 available from http://www.minimoderns.com/ in January. Made in the UK.

Eric Ravilious: The Story Of High Street

2008-12-15T01:50:00.001-08:00

These prints of the High Street are from St. Judes (details below). It's nice to know I'm not the only one with a shop front obsession. It's given me inspiration for some new prints. More news soon. Here's what St. Judes say about the work :-
"Seventy years ago Country Life Books published High Street, a children's book of shops, featuring twenty-four exquisite lithographs by the English artist Eric Ravilious (1903-1942). Although the book was not a limited edition, the destruction of the lithographic plates during the Blitz meant that only 2000 copies were ever printed. Subsequently High Street has become one of the most highly-prized artist's books of its time.:

ART AT THE CLAREMONT

2008-12-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Brighton is very beautiful on a sunny winter Sunday. The light is amazing on the coast and considering the finicial uncertainies of late, it's a good reminder of what really makes us happy.
Above is my friend Antony Valenti a graphic designer from Brighton. Below is the regency terrace houses in perfect combination with the sky. It's a colour palette waiting to happen!

The Claremont Hotel, 2nd Avenue Hove, is once again hosting a show including my prints. One day I hope to fill all the rooms - until then I'm happy to fill the dining room.

Above is a fellow exhibitor Emily Warren from "thestealthyrabbit.blogspot.com" She makes animals from recycled materials. They are really charming pieces, that a sense of character to all the animals she makes. Below is me with my favourite print called 'chestnut leaf'

PRIVATE VIEW AT THE CLAREMONET

2008-11-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

I'll be down in Brighton next Sunday for a private view at the Claremont Hotel. The exhibition includes work by moi. This is becoming a regular slot for me which is great as it's such a nice hotel. More print work to follow soon.

Stanley Donwood

2008-11-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

from Creative Review blog and available to buy at slowlydownward.com.

Artist Stanley Donwood, who is perhaps best known for his Radiohead artwork, has created this beautiful linocut which depicts his vision of Fleet Street being destroyed by fire and flood.

Charley Harper Prints

2008-11-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Charley Harper Prints are in the UK for the first time, at phick's, a lovely little gallery on Columbia road market. http://elphicks.wordpress.com/
Harper was a Cincinnati-based American Modernist artist. He was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations.
Imagine this as wallpapaer ! I know I'd by it.

colour tests

2008-10-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

I've been testing colours for a while now - I'm starting to see squares in front of my eyes! Maybe you can see where my interest in Pixel patterns has come from as well.

More designs soon.

SuM design

2008-10-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

COLOUR

2008-10-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

I have been doing many colour swatches and samples recently. I am looking at everything in terms of colours - which with all the leaves changing colour is quite a visual feast. I have loved the mixure of colours in the work of Cristian Zuzunaga for some time now. With all my samples being squares and rectangles it reminded me of his work. It seems to be going from strength to strength - would be interesting to see pixel wallpaper!? I wonder if this will happen? I can imagine that peoples fascination with maximal patterned wallpaper can't go on forever so will a more modernist approach to wallpaper start to be seen. Basso and Brooke's collection for Graham and Brown (last image) started have that feel although it was still bright colours to be fair.

WALLPAPER UPDATE

2008-09-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have been squirreling away lots of interesting wallpaper research so here is a few that really that couldn't wait to be posted : -

Anna Hill Textile & Wallpaper

Vicki Fong

Trove

Hanna Nyman

Lizze Allen on YouTube :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EGi8_qJAbQ

FEW AND FAR

2008-09-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Not strickly print or wallpaper but I went to the Few and Far (run by Priscilla Carluccio - wife of restaurateur Antonio and younger sister of Terence Conran) late night opening during London Design festival - It was so gorgeous I had to post it.

WALLPAPER UPDATE

2008-09-25T09:51:00.001-07:00

Here is some fantastic work by an exciting design duo
Alan The Gallant
They are based in Barcelona and all the cities energy seems to go into their work.

Pattern Tales® wallpaper is reviewed in of New York Times/Home & Garden section, and named as one of the Fall product picks to watch ! Well deserved recognition for this amazing work.

BASSO AND BROOKE

2008-09-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

I am back from my travels and I was lucky enough to go to the Basso and Brooke show for London fashion week yesterday. Here is the luscious invitation. The collection was based on Japanese prints which were simply exquisite.

photos care of http://www.ashadedviewonfashion.com/ If you look very carefully you can see my face behind the supersuper crowd, peeping above the luminous top.

AMERICAN SCENE @ THE BRITISH MUSEUM

2008-09-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

A must see exhibition for anyone who likes printmaking. (and it's free !)

I love this described as "cubo-futurist" style print.

Here's an Edward Hopper etching - I never know he did printmaking. Also there's an early Pollock that's about as far from his action paintings as possible - worth seeing alone. It just goes to show we all have different styles in us.

My obsession with old style show fronts continues :-
Not to give too much away but I was at the umbrella shop to purchase my fancy dress outfit for Bestival (festival on the isle of Wright) this weekend - the theme is 10,000 freaks under the sea. Pictures to come. I also went and stock piled up on Polaroid film as it is going out of production at the end of this year - so get out and buy some now while you still can !

2008-08-28T14:28:00.001-07:00

Here is the invite for the private view this Sunday in Brighton 3-5 at the Claremont Hotel.

SWAPS

2008-08-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

This post is a little late but I had a swap with SOOZIBEE in Nottingham. Some really beautiful prints here, thanks so much Sue - look forward to seeing some more work on your blog soon.

LISBON

2008-08-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

I got a little obsessed with shop fronts in Lisbon, they are just so ornate and appealing. There's one that's just a glove shop - I love it! It makes me want my own shop - with a stylish Lisbon shop front of course.

OLA

2008-08-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

I have just got back from a week in Lisbon - an amazing city and a pattern makers dream, with all the tiles! Here are some of my photographs and some of my brothers who happened to go to the same city a few weeks before.

EXHIBITION AT THE CLAREMONT

2008-08-12T05:02:00.000-07:00

I am showing some work in a Boutique Hotel The Claremont in Hove near Brighton. Private view date to be announced - thanks to my good friend Anna Leader (of Muskin Photography fame) http://www.annaleader.com for helping me slep 5 framed prints down to Brighton. Below are the prints I'm showing, with a close up detail on the right :-

PATTERN UPDATES

2008-07-30T00:59:00.001-07:00

Alice's Tea party by Nendo, Tokyo based design company, this is what they say about it -
"This event was held at Ozone Living Design Center in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of English tea brand Lipton’s presence in Japan. We designed a cafe based on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland. We radically distorted the size of the long table and rows of chairs to heighten the room’s sense of receding depth, and did the same thing with the silhouettes of characters from the novel used as the pattern for the wallpaper. These details let us create a space that felt long and narrow, as though it was pulling in visitors. The scale of the installation changed just like Alice after eating the cake. We shrank some of the chairs so that visitors could barely squeeze into them, and enlarged others until visitors’ feet couldn’t touch the ground."

I just think the illustrative pattern is great and the monotone adds to the surrealness (if that's a word) of the whole thing.

San Francisco Zoo has done this brilliant feature where you up load photos of yourself in front of their animal pictures. Imagine this as wallpaper ! Hours of fun.

This is the Christopher Pearson, Laser etching by Vitrics, at terminal 5. Photos care of terminal5insider's photostream on Flickr

Oak Seasons, 2008
From the Etch Series
Christopher Pearson
Laser etching by Vitrics
3D modelling by Squint Opera
A British Airways Commission for Terminal 5
Curated by Artwise
photo © Alex Delfanne/Artwise Curators 2008

CHARLESTON HOUSE

2008-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is a photo I took in the garden of Charleston House - I visited this weekend to see the paintings on the walls and creative expression of the Bloomsbury group. You can just see the windows of their studio - what a dream garden for inspiration !
Below are some beautiful photos, taken on this same visit by the very talented photographer Anna Leader - www.annaleader.com

I visited this weekend and this was one of my favourite pieces by Duncan Grant called "Clouds".

"la china"

2008-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is the information I got to go with the Swap from Karen Barbé - as if it wasn't brilliant enough already !

"I wanted to choose all made-in-Chile things, which by the time being are really hard to find. I hope you can get that simple or modest feeling from the Chilean manufacture that I'm very nostalgic from. There's a green printed cotton named percala that was used to make the costume dresses for "la china" (the female partner of "el huaso" -typical characters from the central countryside- used when dancing "la cueca" -national dance-). No need to say that all local textile factories have broke, so finding some real and coarse percala in a shop is a rarity. Then, there's a shoemaker measuring tape. How it is used? No clue but found it nice. The bobbin lace made in Chile. Those zippers bought at an old bazaar that probably hasn't renewed its stock from decades. The butterfly crocheted by a woman who was selling them by the sidewalk. A Chilean flags tape. It's weird how I've denied all those items during my life and always been aiming for the imported or foreigner goods. But now that I'm trying to find my own design style I've realised what an important role they have played. I'm periodically raiding these popular neighbourhoods in search of other pieces I can save from falling into obscurity."

SWAPS

2008-07-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

This is my first ever real life bloggers swap - basically what happens is you make a package of beautiful crafty bits spending max £10, some of your own work and swap them with another blogger that you like. It's so exciting to recieve a package in the post with and I actually really enjoyed getting together the package.

I swapped with http://www.karenbarbe.com/ brilliant textile designer in Chile. Here is her package of crafty bits. and below is what I sent to her. I can highly recommend swaps and I'm keent o do more if others are up for it . It's nice when internet/virtual-ness crossing into 'real' world.

SAMPLE PACKS

2008-07-08T16:31:00.001-07:00

I am trying out some packaging for sample print packs.

MY LATEST DRAWING

2008-07-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

NEW DESIGNERS

2008-07-03T03:58:00.001-07:00

Abigail Borg my pick of the show with her beautiful Florence Broadhurst inspired floral wallpapers, excellent use of colour to modernise the style. - http://www.newdesigners.com
Kate Laskey and Jane Taylor from left to right respectively.
Val Hacking, Kate Heart, Maya Holiday from left to right respectively.

I GOT TAGGED !

2008-07-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't been tagged before and I must say I've been trying to ignore it - but it's been niggling away at my mind. Last night I watched the Culture show on BBC two with my friend Fred (the same person that tagged me - I can't escape !). We were watched her friend and colleague Bishi who has now made it to my list. so here goes :-

1. Down in Mexico by The Coaster (from Death Proof , Tarantino does it again)
2. Tu vuo fa L'Americano by Renato Carosone - a spring classic I can't ever stop listening to.
3. All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople
4. On my Own Again by Bishi
5. Squeeze Me by Kraak and smaak
6. Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
7. Bare Necessities by Bruce Reitherman and Phil Harris from The Jungle Book

A weird mix of influences, styles, old and new. Not sure what it says about me but that's what I'm listening to ?

Here's the small print of this tag -
The rules of the game as set by Simon Reynolds: “List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.

BIG POST

2008-07-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

A recent textiles graduate from the RCA Mary Crisp

Beautiful work by illustrator Andrew Holder

Packaging from Tord Boontje - this was sent to me from my friend so not sure where it comes from ?

Loads to post today as I'm looking around for inspiration and there's so much out there sometimes it's overwelling. It feels like everyones done your idea already and if not, I find myself asking if the world needs anymore 'stuff' in it ? I have decided to carry on regardless and put it down to researchers fatigue.

DEWOLF DEBUT

2008-06-23T10:12:00.001-07:00

Here is my production line for business cards to give out at my private view on Tuesday evening in Brightion. My company has been christened 'Dewolf' because it is my mothers maiden but also a cool name with an opportunity to have a drawing of a wolf in the logo (photos to come soon).I had a stamp made at Speedystamps for about £10 which means each card can be individual and have that hand printed feeling.
I didn't want to do postcards as it feels strange to digitally print something I have lovingly screen printed so I have created sample cards instead. These are actual prints cut to A5 with my beautiful new logo stamped on the back. I feel I can say how beautiful this is as the Typography is hand drawn by Claudio Vecchio a talented young graphic designer of "Little Dish" fame (http://www.littledish.co.uk/). I have my very own font that no one else can use. I'm so chuffed! When I look back at the brief I gave it is really spot on, which is a rare thing - I will show this in a later post when I have all the artwork as well. You can just see the wolf illustration below...

NIECES' FLEECES

2008-06-23T10:07:00.001-07:00

Check out my nieces left Lois and Sacha's (on the right) - cute green leaf and pink flower fleeces. Modelled here in at the beach in Brightonlingsea this weekend, to celebrate Lois' 3rd bday. All I can say is it was a BIG day with A LOT of fairy cakes, how can you go wrong!?

BRIGHTON

2008-06-20T14:04:00.001-07:00

Walking along Brighton seafront on the way to work is a great way to start the day !
My work is all hung now - it took ages to arrange and re-arrange the vinyl but I'm chuffed with the outcome.
Some other vinyl in Brighton.
A beautiful store in Brighton called Abode.

HALFWAY THERE

2008-06-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have my interim show for my MA printing making, "HALFWAY THERE". It's down in Brighton. The private view is next Tuesday so I have been setting it up over the last few days.

PORTFOLIO DAY

2008-06-16T08:29:00.001-07:00

It's the first time I've been able to see the surfaces in my room for a long while now !
Why are portfolio's so hard to do ? It's so much easier to make selections when it's someone elses work. My portfolio is currently still empty...

FILLING IN THE BLANKS

2008-06-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

These are some photos to fill in the blanks of what I have been up to. They are from the camera on my phone so sorry for the quality, although it makes some look quite dreamy which is a good look, I feel.

This is the studio where I work for four days in the week for a company called The Future Laboratory. This was meant to be my day job but has turned out to be pretty bloody cool as well so I currently have faith in how things turn out for the best sometimes. Oh yes image on the left is Jasmine my super cool Newyorker colleague. And making a star appearance in image on the right is Jasper the studio dog !

I was lucky enough to be sent to Sweden for a project with the Future Laboratory, I stayed overnight at the Grand Hotel Stockholm as our flight got cancel. The interior was designed by Studio Ilse http://www.studioilse.com who has also recently designed interiors for Shoreditch house and the Soho house group of clubs/hotels around london. In the hotel was a specially comissioned screen from Studio job http://www.studiojob.nl/ - it's not a great image but you might be able to make out the objects that make up the pattern within the screen. skulls, ships anchors and bottles of rum, need I say anymore? Another studio shot here - and some more work colleagues eating wasabi beans on the top deck of a restaurant in a old london routemaster bus near Brick Lane, London.
This is one of my prints for my interim show. I was lucky to be able to spread across two tables, I'm dreaming of having a long textiles table to print on , one day .Below is some seriously beautiful wisteria, on the side of a gallery in Camden that I pass on the way into my print studio. I always seem to be really inspired on the that journey, not sure why as it is an extreme urban-jungle but the plants seem to jump out at me. Maybe it's more about having a moment to look around ?The final 5 metres ! OMG can't believe it's done !I just realised I never said who did the wallpaper in the sunshine studio - it was http://www.pottokprints.com/ that I blogged about a few weeks ago.

SUNSHINE STUDIO

2008-06-15T04:01:00.000-07:00

So amazing to actually go to see some brilliant print that I have previously blogged about in it's final location - here is Sunshine Studio in tokyo.

TOKYU HANDS

2008-06-15T04:00:00.001-07:00

I THINK I'M TURNING JAPANESE !!!

2008-06-15T03:50:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been taken up with printing for my Interim show for my MA printing making, which is down in Brighton next week. I had to have it all finished a week early as I was sent to TOKYO for work ! It's the most amazing place and I only touched the tip of the iceberg . I only really had a day to shop for my own things. I was striaght down to TOKYU HANDS to buy as much printing eqipment as I could get my dirty mits on. (details to come)

ORIGNALS PRINT FAIR

2008-05-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

WALLPAPER IN MAGAZINES

2008-05-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

BUSY DAYS

2008-04-19T12:13:00.001-07:00

This is a couple of my prints on the drying rack - there are a a few more colour layers to be added but I quite like them just simple like this ? erm something to think about.

I made my first ETSY purchase today. A recomendation from bloesem . A beautiful letter press print by ah_yi called "my Garden" - Bloesem is a great blog I read regularly and it's really inspiring to see other great printing work !

PRINTING PRINTING AND MORE PRINTING !

2008-04-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

My life at the moment is all about getting as much printing in as possibl. Here are some of my prints from today - the dahlia flower was an experient. I liked the colour graduation effect that happened by accident one time. I like the colour not being too controlled within a controlled shape - letting the pigments mix themselves a little. I've not quite mastered it yet but I think it has potential.

MISHA handmade silk wallpapers

2008-04-04T01:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some seriously decadent silk hand-painted wallpapers ! I like the fact that traditional techniques are yet still used today. They are all custom made and have a luxurious and exclusivity to them, that fits with the design and style.

BROADHURST LIVES ON ...

2008-03-28T02:45:00.001-07:00

luxury culture

MY LATEST STENCIL PRINTS

2008-03-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I have been influenced by the China exhibition but I'm really into paper cuts at the mo.

POTTOK PRINTS

2008-03-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have been wondering recently about how to weave stories into wallpaper designs - these are some beautiful examples of exactly that ! I love this one above I can imagine staring at this for ages, seeing something new everytime. Hope you can read the above info if not you read + see + buy at http://www.pottokprints.com"> pottok prints

CHINA DESIGN NOW AT THE V&A

2008-03-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

I visited this exhibition to see some inspiration. There were some beautiful wood block prints, in the first sections - And some great artists books. Unfortuately no photography allowed though, so here's all the hand outs and some of my motifs.

PREPARING MY DESIGNS

2008-03-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

WALLPAPER IN THE PRESS

2008-03-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some pull outs from recent magazines of this season's wallpaper collections.

I really like the 'Parasols' wallpaper from the tamarisk collection at Cole & Son.
The image below isn't a wallpaper but it is lovely illustration in the guardian weekend magazine by Alice Stevenson.

FIGS FANTASTIC ! again from Cole & Son. I really like the different textures created in the leaf motif. Also interesting use of drop shadow to create depth and lovely burnt autumnal colours, this is a great an all rounder design.

MY FORGET-ME-NOT PRINTS

2008-03-09T13:25:00.000-07:00