Yorkshire sculpture Park

Sophie Ryder (until 2nd Nov)

explores sexuality and the female psyche

As this is on the doorstep for us Leeds dwellers it's worth a visit! I'm not really into sculpture but it was worth a look! Quite inspiring! There are a number of exhibitions on at the moment, so it would be a good time to go!  the memory bank project is quite cool. To celebrate 30yrs of the park they invite you to share your favourite exhibits/moments. The website isn't great but gives you all the info you need to get there.

website

Tim Walker

I think Tim Walkers art direction in his photography is just amazing! The images all have a delicate fairy tale quality that makes the clothing advertised look even more beautiful and delicate. Some of his intriguing work can be seen at the design museum at the moment.

Matt Collis

minoita x700s 18mm wide angle

puerto plata, dominican repunlic

cross processed portrait

at home

I love the juxtposition of the distinguised gentleman reading the kids comic, 

(and that I know for a fact it WASN'T staged!)

holga tunnel vision lens

san sabastien, spain

agfa clack 2.5hr exposure (cost £1, older than a colour tv)

in the alpajuras 

One of the reasons I am so inspired by this guys work is because he's my brother, and he now gets paid for doing something he truly loves...taking photographs. However, I realise it's still important to be analytical about his work. I feel one of the reasons the imagery is so striking is the experimentation with different lens and cameras. The photos have an honesty to them that lacks pretension. This may be as many of the images are the capturing of memories/places/people as and when they happen! This ability to always be ready to record something inspiring and visually interesting is something we should probably all take away from this post! I know I should! The diversity of style and subject matter displays the ability to have confidence in trying something new!

have a look at the website

David Callow

I love the mixture of mediums used by British designer David Callow in his illustrations. The collage effect runs through his work, mixing pencil sketches with coloured card pieces to create striking contrasts.I hadn't realised a technique as simple as this could have such impact...defiantly worth remembering. The collage look gives all of his work an inspiring element of depth which is evident in all of his illustrations even though visually they are quite different. 

His website is equally as well designed!

Nate Williams

Was recently introduced to Nate Williams work when I saw his illustrations on someone elses blog, the hand drawn doodley style reminded me of an earlier post of mine on Linzie Hunter. Williams' images show a darker side to this style of illustration through the use of colour perhaps representative of his South America background as opposed to Hunters bright hues. 

Graham Rawle 'The Wizard of Oz'

To be released next month 'The Wizard of Oz' by Graham Rawle is the coolest thing I have seen for a long time! I can't wait to see it for real! He has taken his interpretation of the story and made it into an illustrated book. A fantasy world is created from the use of colour and imagination with these quirky collaged scenes true to original book, interestingly perhaps even more so than the 1939 film! Questions are answered such as why is the tin man tin? and characters are included from the book such as dainty china and the hammer heads that weren't included in the film. This new interpretation of the story has such a strong visual presence that you will never think of the Wizard of Oz in the same way again! The collaged effect gives the impression of layers making the story have depth and levels. It's so unusual..I love it!

check his other work out

Star girl

 (front cover)

"Star girl is like no other. She's as magical as the desert sky. As mysterious as her own name."

From the minute I spotted this book I was drawn to it! The simplicity of the cover design intrigued me...what was the story? who was it for? what genre was it? None of this was obvious from the cover!  From reading the story I discovered it was about daring to be an individual in an American high school and the unique cover which in itself dares to be different is perfect in carrying through the theme of the narrative. However, the way the story is written is ambiguous, as is the cover illustration. The pictogram representing the books title couldn't be more visually intriguing. The story is aimed at young teenagers but the strength behind the simplicity of the design would draw anybody to the book. When the book was originally published in 2000 it received great critical acclaim and has now been through eight printings.

His other books have similar covers, the simple pictogram style is on all of them and the use of just the stock colour for impact is the same on all of them.

The simplicity of daring to exploit less being more definitely paid off visually. This book would hold its on own on any bookshelf not only as a novel but as a piece of design.