A Fine Use of Paper
Just wow: ‘Icosahedron’ by Richard SweeneyRecently I needed to source paper for a book I am designing through K.W.Doggett Fine Paper. Their website is very cute with dogs wandering on and off the screen.
I remember seeing the calendar they produced last year, full of paper sculptures of dogs. I liked one particular pair so much that I took a snap of it. Apparently the company regularly commissions students to produce artwork for their annual calendar.
Here are some other inspiring paper sculptures. (Click images for artist links.)
Delicate as cobwebs: ‘Fern Space Blast’ by Chris Natrop
Fashion dolls by Hazel Buchan
A paper diorama: ‘In the Hedgerow’ by Helen Musselwhite
Out of the Box
Way back in January I applied for a part time job at the Melbourne Theatre Company. I had already been freelancing there for some time as a graphic designer, with plenty of Photoshop retouching thrown in.
As part of the job application, I had to design a poster for ‘The Cybec Readings’ – plays read by the actors sitting on stage. I had some advantage over the other applicants, as I was quite familiar with the established style of all the MTC’s marketing and promotional material. Of course, I didn’t want to be too rigid, but I knew the poster design needed to fit in with their existing look.
The poster would be hung in universities and cafes, etc, so it had to be eye-catching, and I wanted it to be a little bit fun. I incorporated the existing graphics (the white keyline boxes) of the Lawler Studio. It was these boxes that got me thinking. There was quite a lot of text to fit on the A3 sized poster, and I decided to ‘shake the words out of the box’ and have them tipping down the page.
Now that I’m looking at it months later, I’m still thinking, “Hmm, could do with some refining.” But you can’t piddle around forever, and at least I got the job!
Lettuces and Love
A promising cover: big clouds, a blustery wind, and Pookie’s worldly possessions tied up in a spotted handkerchief. What adventure waits inside!
I was very young when I first started browsing in ‘op shops’, as charity stores are called here in Australia. One of my favourite things to do was to visit the local library on Saturdays – I just loved books, and was thrilled to have my very own library card.
After visiting the library, my older sister Star and I would cross the road and go to the Lion’s Club op shop and look at the heaving bookshelves there. I was under ten, so the children’s picture books interested me most.
I would sit on the floor and look through piles of discarded, colourful books and take home my favourites. They were 10¢, 20¢; my sister paid for them.
I particularly remember Ivy L. Wallace’s Pookie tales, about an adventuresome winged bunny, and his friends: fairies, pixies, mice, owls and squirrels all happily living and working together. I loved the cosy friendliness of their lives: outside it was snowing, but inside they were all safe and warm, and merry.
I loved this cosy image: even the owl and mice ensconced on Santa’s lap have their own tiny glasses.
Pookie’s snuggled up in his picnic hamper; how sweet is this ending? He dreams of Lettuces and Love…
I don’t know what became of those books, but I do remember seeing one in a secondhand bookstore a year or two ago. It was well over $20, which I thought a very high price at the time, but I find that is the average price on Abebooks too. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled in op shops from now on!
Art Fair in Canterbury
In the black and white room (with a touch of red) :: Lucifer IV // Cano Cafenol // No flashI went to the Canterbury Art Fair today. My friend Rapunzel (aka Polka-Dot Lisa) had some work in the show, so we thought we’d tram it down to Canterbury and check out the fair.
There was some good, and some very bad art, mostly 2D, but there were some interesting sculptures too in rusty iron and some made from driftwood.
Lisa in front of some her paintings :: John S // Blanko Noir // Laser Lemon Gel
The fair was held in Canterbury Primary School, which was built in 1908. There were lovely stained glass windows everywhere. After we finished the circuit, and browsed in the well-stocked giftshop (handcrafts, jewellery, prints etc), we went to the Canvas Café and enjoyed some homemade lemon syrup cake with our coffee. There were even Crayola crayons on the table for kids to draw on the butcher’s paper tablecloths – a cute touch.
I didn’t buy anything (apart from a little bag of meringues), and it was a pleasant afternoon. It did inspire me, however, to pick up my own oil pastels and get back into the drawing. But I need a studio first.
Stained glass overhead :: Chunky // BlacKeys B+W // No flash
I liked the Paris sign in Canvas Café :: Lucifer IV // Blanko Noir // Laser Lemon Gel
Happy Early April
Well, it’s second month of autumn that dawned here in Melbourne, Australia, although the weather is still mostly pleasant – but it’s not quite springlike as this pretty picture suggests. There certainly aren’t any blossoming cherry trees!
The illustration is Fashion for Light Hearts, by Helen Dryden, and appeared in the Early April 1910 issue of British Vogue. The woman is wearing a Grecian-inspired gown, pleated all over. I am feeling light-hearted myself (despite the lack of cherry blossom), as the weekend is looming pleasantly ahead.
Happy first of the month! I do hope no-one made an April fool of you today.