Well things have been a bit busy of late and really just recovering and getting straight after a series of shows, the most recent being The East London Design Show. It was a great event, and I was really pleased to show some new work that sold well.
I’m really excited to be visiting UWE next week (Bristol art college in simple terms), working on a project with Gary Embury on the illustration course there. I really love working with the students, helping to get their minds working on developing ideas and moving away from literal thinking and into narrative concepts. It’s such an important skill to have for an illustrator, especially for editorial work. It’s always heart warming and inspiring to see those that really ‘get it’ thrive on the short deadlines and having to work their brains visually.There are so many brilliant examples of illustrators who are inspiring in that way. To name a few one of my all time faves is Jim Sillavan, his mindset is awesome, he always inspires me with his way of looking at the world. There are so many brilliant illustrators, some of them younger and some of them older. I’ve always thought a really good ‘young un’ is Paddy Molloy who has done some great work, and then there is the superb Adrian Johnson of course. I could go on, but now is not really the time for a compendium of illustration….to be continued..
I have finally sorted out the studio space at the historical Iliffe Yard, which will be open for artwork viewings for both commercial and private sales. The yard is only a few minutes walk from the controversial new Strata Building, currently dividing opinion both locally and globally; personally I quite like it. The yard is full of creative businesses and has open studio events twice a year, so watch this space for further information.There is also The Electric Elephant cafe and gallery serving up tasty food and good coffee. Izzy the dog has settled in nicely (and those cushion covers may soon be available to purchase!)
Situated close to both Kennington and Elephant & Castle tube stations, there is also a fleet of buses that pass close by from both Waterloo and London Bridge stations. If you would like to stop by then please contact me:
Things have been intensely busy of late. I did the Palace Art Fair in early November which wasn’t particularly good but did sell some good pieces from Gary S Holt and Anna Marrow again.
© Gary S Holt
I’m dividing time between A Little bit of Art and getting the legal issues worked out for GAS Art Agency, so there’s a lot to do.
Gordon Robertson’s pewter plates are hopefully going into Elle Decoration for the January edition, along with Jonas Ranson’s amazing screenprinted mirrors.
Gordon Robertson Pewter Plate
There’s a lot of lovely new work on the A Little bit of Art website – the next show being Mid Century Modern where I will show a selection of screenprints and other items.
Also very excited to be working on a new project with the brilliant Clifford Harper.… so watch this space.
It’s been a pretty eventful time at Tent for the past 3 days. There is only 1 more day left. Have seen some really inspiring works from a variety of disciplines. I really love these trays by Ary Trays along with barbed wire upholstered chairs by Curiousa & Curiousa. Deeply weird but really wonderful erotic tile paintings by Mark Boyce. made me laugh as I went to get a cup of tea.
Response to GAS has been good and I’ve combined it with selling a few prints from ALBOA too. Yesterday a lovely woman bought several prints from me by Delphine Lebourgoise and Gary S Holt – it was after she had left the stand someone told me she was Colin Firth‘s wife who runs a business Eco-Age.
Yesterday I was filmed for Bloomberg TV for a news piece on ‘micro businesses’ – ie one person businesses that have started up during this recession. It was a funny experience, and the questions I was asked made me realise how happy I am doing this. Apparently ‘I’m brave’ but I really don’t see it that way, what with being surrounded by brave people right here at TENT – all of us taking risks and believing in something enough to try and make it work and get the right sort of interest. I was asked if it feels lonely doing this, but it feels that I’m just one among many – can’t get a job so make your own!
Me being light-metered!
I’m really delighted to be representing Hannah Bays’ work at GAS ART AGENCY. I have long been an admirer of her painting work and styles along with her collage pieces. Her work will be shortly on the new, hotly anticipated (ie, will it every arrive!) website… Hannah is really keen to work on publishing projects along side painting commissions. Hannah has created artwork for The Dirty Pretty Things and Babyshambles, alongside working on personal painting projects and commercial packaging design.
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I’m really excited about showing Jonas Ranson’s beautiful screenprinted mirrors at TENT London and representing his work at GAS Art Agency. The website is very nearly finished and will be live by tomorrow!There will be further artists, illustrators and designers being added to GAS over the coming months, so watch this space.
Demetrios Psillos has worked for over 20 years as an artist and illustrator. His witty and irreverant approach to life is reflected in his original style and use of colour in his illustrations and designs.
Having worked for John Galliano at the start of his career, he moved into Illustration and found success in New York where he established a studio and some high-profile clients including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The New Yorker, Wallpaper and The New York Times. On returning to the UK, he continued working as an illustrator for The Times and Vogue. His successful illustrations for Nigella Lawson’s Food & Lifestyle columns led Demetrios to create the animated title sequences to the multi-award winning ‘Nigella Bites’ series and the follow up ‘Forever Summer’.
Demetrios has developed his work across product design and packaging, having worked extensively with the Ritzenhoff Group, creating a collection of vases, champagne glasses, tumblers, tea lights, ash trays, bath linens and watches – all produced as limited editions and unique artworks.
In 2005, Demetrios was awarded the Pegasus Award in recognition for his outstanding exhibition entitled ‘Soggetti e Oggetti (Subjects and Objects) which showed at internationally celebrated musical event The Spoleto Festival . He had been personally invited by Composer Gian Carlo Menotti to exhibit there. Psillos returned in 2006 and exhibited a selection of paintings and resin sculptures.
Demetrios has been working on a series of patterns and surface decoration designs, using motifs and strong colour which are indicative of his style and approach.
© All images Demetrios Psillos.
We visited Gordon Robertson in his studio on Friday as he busily prepares work for TENT London next week. We will be showing his new body of work, comprised of limited edition and one-off pieces of etched pewter, zinc and metal. Gordon creates his imagery on the computer from original drawings which he then abstracts and uses traditional etching techniques to transpose his designs on to the metals. For TENT he has produced a range of pieces, each one hand rendered. Also on display will be a very special limited edition relief print. Make sure to find us at Stand E06!
Anna Marrow is an artist, printmaker and illustrator who has exhibited and sold her work widely. Her beautiful artwork pieces range from large scale paintings and screenprints alongside smaller paintings and prints. Anna’s prints are of limited editions, and often hand finished in crayon/glitter/paint – thereby making each work unique. Increasingly Anna’s work is being used in interiors projects as well as her limited edition prints and one-off paintings selling well.
Her work has been commissioned and bought by Selfridges, Heals, Alias Hotels and the BBC. Anna recently completed a large commission for the Four Seasons resorts in Portugal, creating a series of prints for a property development of holiday villas.
As a commercial illustrator, Anna’s work often features motifs that reappear, using birds, old television sets, buildings and dancers. These motifs transfer well to the application of surface design and decoration.
Anna also fulfills commissions for editorial illustration and other commercial illustration projects. Her clients include The Guardian Newspaper, The Big Issue, Don’t Panic Graphics,