End Of Term

This was the final week of term. The printroom has been pretty busy with first-years being taught chine-collé; third-years working on their final-minor projects; Charles Shearer making his own collagraphs and Katherine Anteney assembling some very complex Christmas cards.

A good number of us (including Joe Staples, whose papercuts and text I envy), are itching to get in next week if it's open. I have two screenprint studies ready to print, including these acetates for a swimming pool piece, which has been taxing my powers of logic.

Explosive Seven-Inch

Here is one of the products of this month's burst of screenprinting. I love early-Sixties even-inches, and this one is just the bomb.

Magpies for Badgers

Here are a few old sketchbook pages for my illustration colleague Steph Goodwin (Oh Badgers! on Folksy).

The magpie on the left wishes he was a fashion designer, so he collects buttons and frippery.
The magpie on the right wishes he cold sail the oceans. He's building his nest as a ship.


These two work in a call-centre. The world defines them as call-centre magpies, but one would like to be an astronaut, while the other rues his failure to capitalise on his academic achievements.


This fellow is bored at the nightclub. He wants to sit down with a book.

Harriscraft Handmade Cards

Are you enjoying the tips of holly and the red berries peeping through the snow? Is there anyone that you love and would communicate your love to through the medium of the gift card? Are you without the necessary stationery?

I recommend that you look at this Christmas set, which Cat Harris drew and I wrote on, all by hand and all with love.

White Christmas At Solent

December has started with snow and the illustration course at Solent has installed a Christmas tree piece in the main university reception. It's a good eight feet tall; made of wood; gaily painted and covered with doors, making it an advent calendar.

If you can, you'll have to go and see it in situ. As a bait, here are just the doors.


The piece was commissioned by Millais Off-Site Projects at Solent. Jonny Hannah masterminded the project. He and a group of the third-years painted and assembled the tree and made artwork to go behind the doors. I did a bit of sanding. The others involved are Alex Usher, Jen Hainsworth, Ryan Medlock... and here I'll have to add in the two that I don't know. [EDIT: they are Clari Csuk and Kate Wood!]

I'll show the insides later. Go and see it!

Picnic

The most tragic thing I can think of: a ruined picnic.


This is for a one-day project. I've gone a little off-brief. Let's see what they think of it.

Saturday

To the Natural History Museum to revisit the hall of minerals because I was reminded by the work by Boredom Research at Millais Off-Site Projects in Southampton.


Next to the V&A to make a survey of the ironwork for reference.


Then I realised: I'd photographed agate followed by a gate.