Sunday, January 16, 2011

Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration

So, Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration (featuring the very best in ethical fashion design).
I has a copy, you should get one too.


It is a very special book, not least because the concept behind it is so exciting and unique - showcasing illustrative talent and also at the the same time showcasing ethical fashion designers.

This is important. We need more people to know that the alternative is out there and sweatshops are not the only answer. As well as the wealth of pictures there's also interviews with all those included which adds a whole other dimension. I can't comment much on these not having yet had time to read them but I've heard good things.

I made these pictures of SOME (note - really, only some, there are loads more) of the best bits.

A lot of the work is stunning, it's a treasure trove of illustrative and design talent.
In places, a part of me (the minimalist junkie part) feels less would have been more, but the overwhelming feel is one of brimming with content - like opening a jewelery box full of beautiful bling, and the effect is gorgeous, more than worth the price tag.

I remember when I was what? 16? when Fashion Illustration Now came out and there was a copy in our local library. between myself and my friend Ellie Cryer (the genius illustrator), we must have had it out in shifts all year. Now there's a lot of fashion illustration books available, there may have been then, I don't know. Small village, 16 year old lack of knowledge. Believe me, I teach them now, don't see the nose on their face ;). But I never find them as exciting as that book was back then, it seemed like a window of possibility, the sheer variety of approaches (and I don't say I liked them all) and freshness of the work was like a revelation to me at the time.

more highlights.

Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration is like that. It is full of possibility and promise and hope. I love it. But enough of words, I'm sure you want to see some pictures. Trying to choose my favourites is impossible - we'd be here all night as theres so much awesomeness. But here are some of the pictures what are in it.
haha, this one is by me.
This one is by Jennifer Costello

this one is by Lesley Barnes


This one is by Yelena Bryksenkova
This one is by Zarina Liew

OK no I am going to stop now, although I am already feeling about how much stuff I am not including, talking about how much I love Junesees' self portrait in the book - it's so her, and Lisa Stannard's creepy eyes and all Erica Sharp's beautiful collages, and Jo Cheung's printy patterns and Natsuki Otani's colours (always), Bex Glover's amazing natural poses, Katie Harnett's smouldering elegant charecters and Emma Block's super charming painted papercuts. I could go on.

nothing for it kids, you just have to check out the book yourself.

(I am in it too, did I mention that)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

This post is brought to you by the letter C, and the number 59.

fall off a log kids! it's the end of the Cs in my project of drawing all of my facebook friends in alphabetical order.

last time this happened I did a little meaningless stats round up so lets do that again.

Claire

so so far, I have drawn 59 people out of a potential total of 341.
It may not have felt like it when I was drawing 8 people called Chris, but the girls have it with 34 to 25.

Friends from Sunny Sussex (by the sea), land of my birth and youth, are just in the lead with 22 friends, narrowly beating friends I met in Southampton at 19. In the last 2+ years i've lived in the shining capital of grande brittainia (London) I've made 9 friends beginning with the letters A-C. Not bad going I think you'll agree. I have also drawn so far 4 friends I met whilst traveling the world and also 4 friends (6.8%) who I have classified as OTHER. Make of that what you will.
Craig

8 friends were drawn primarily in pencil, 11 in pen, 13 in paint or ink and 10 were coloured on the computer.

17 friends will be entered into the category of MIXED MEDIA. like all the best things.

13 friends so far could be categorized in their drawing as being in fancy dress. (22%)
Cynthia.

These stats may not actually add up, i'm not counting again tho! like i don't have better things to avoid doing.

Maybe when I've finished the Ds I'll be so desperate to procrastinate that I'll do some cool info-graphics. That would be sweet.

Maybe I could make more interesting stats if I actually knew more information about my friends, can't do a graph about guessed sexuality or forgotten ethnic origin and career status. I am a bad person (at small talk, and remembering things). Or, actually, I am an awesome person who does not judge people by such things and so does not think to find them out by devious gossiping and boring conversation. Yes.


Hooray for Friends.


For extra joy, here is a collage I made out of things I did during the Holiday Season as
an example for one of my Year 8 classes who are doing collage.


It is supposed to tell the story of my holiday so you can see that I had beer, and a cold, and chocolate and got some pyjamas. Also there are some goodies on there from the Super Christmas Market at Somerset House, which I have to say was a fairly mental event.


Saturday, January 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW EAR!


hello. i wanted to do a new years post last night and still havn't so here is a quick one.

fireworks and irish jigs and joy to you all in 2011.

here is a nice gingerbread picture i did for the excellent they draw and cook.

i like drawing. and cooking.

my new years resolutions are, um, to be better. at stuff. like being more productive. and more organised.