Rabbit While You Can

Something shiny with cute animals and bright colours? I'm there! I stumbled across the Bandito Design Co. (a design collective from Columbus Ohio) this afternoon while catching up on Notcot. I'm really loving the work of Ryan Brinkerhoff - super bold images that tend to leave a lasting impression on your retinas. The above 18" x 22" print (entitled Bunny Farts - read the inscription and you will see why) is only a bargainous $10 in the sale - real art for only $10! It gets even better than that though... For a limited time only they are giving away free prints with every purchase! I'm starting to sound like one of those people on TV who sell home gyms. This art really will give you a six pack!

VIP at YSP

We had the most amazing day yesterday! We went to the VIP opening of the Rob Ryan exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and it was incredible! If you get chance to visit before it finishes you really should - and I'm not just saying that because they are selling one of the best tea towels on the market! We got to meet Sir Paul Smith who is officially the nicest man in the world (he opened the event). We also got to eat the most amazing canapés, meet all the people we have been talking to for the last 6 months and lastly (and most importantly) see some of the amazing work Rob has done during his time as an artist. The Rob Ryan exhibition is on until the 21st February 2010, so you have still got quite a bit of time to visit. Make it a date!

Pictures: Part of the exhibition (top), Paul Smith during his speech (below), Sally in front of some of the artwork (middle bottom) and a one of Rob's trademark birds standing on a hand rail (bottom).

The Adventure...

We just got these beauties back from the picture framer, and don't they look sweet!? On the left is a print called 'Orange' - a 4x6" limited edition print by the awesome Gavin Potenza. It only cost £4 including shipping from the US! How mega ace is that! On the right is a print that I don't really know a great deal about. We bought it in April this year from a pop up gallery called Kin, which had opened for a couple of months in Kingly Court (just off Carnaby St. in London). It cost £30, and is called 'The Adventure Ends Here'. I think the artist is called Adam Gate, but that's all I know. Although the message is a bit sinister, it's so bright and cheery - a juxtaposition if ever there was one.

Shopping Losts

Take a look at Shopping Losts - an amazing collection of lost shopping lists - immortalised in their typographic glory by the Ginger Pimpernel. I know nothing more than that - but isn't it ace!

Dante's Tea Break

I found this amazing print via India Knight's Posterious and I couldn't help myself re-blogging about it! The print, by illustrative genius Jamie Wieck, charts the descent into hell for Dante - as originally described in the poem Inferno (the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy)... reinterpreted using the visual power of biscuits. The print is from a limited edition of 50 - so get one before they are all gobbled up!

Picture from Jamie Wieck's site

Strap On Your Jetpac!

Check out the second issue of Jetpac magazine for an interview with Mr Bingo - mega collector and hair illustrator extraordinaire! The magazine is completely free to download, and chock full of other interesting interviews - as well as some great photos of old matchbox cars!

Things I Like

I bought this super colourful print recently - it turned up, and it is even more awesome in the papery flesh! It's called 'Things I Like', and it literally contains all the things I like - what a coincidence! It was created by US graphic designer Richard Perez (aka Skinny Ships) in a limited edition of 100, and I can't wait to get it on the wall. You better snap one up before they all go!

Roma!

We spent last weekend in Rome for a friend's wedding - the first time I have ever been to Italy (which I almost can't believe). Anyway, I really recommend it - so beautiful, steeped in history, something to see around every corner and just generally awesome. I can't wait to go back again - although I might take things a little easier next time (we walked so far!!!) One tip for you if you do go... you don't need to bother with the fancy schmancy ice cream parlours - head straight to a Blue Ice gelateria. Amazing... Anyway, rather than give you the usual holiday snaps, here's some random Rome graffiti...

Not Just Fluff

I had fun in the sun on Sunday around Brick lane at the Art Car Boot Sale, and the Free Range graduate art and design show. So much fun stuff to look at + it's been a while since I drank beer at lunch time! I popped into the Sunday Up Market and came across a stall selling amazing t shirts - the above was my favourite, but there were loads to choose from. Big Fluff hand print all their super colourful, bound to get you noticed, designs in London! You should also check out their amazing bags!

Music Charts

The geek in me loves charts, so therefore I love this print by Jez Burrows featuring a graphical interpretation of Destroyer's 2006 album 'Destroyer's Rubies'. It's available as a limited edition of 200 from the wonderful Analogue Books. I love their shop (in Edinburgh) where I saw this earlier in the year, but I only just realised that you can buy it online - hooray!

Tasty Design

I saw this image over the weekend on buckstyle.com. The picture is by Berlin based artist Sarah Illenberger - this one uses paper creations to show the ingredients for the ultimate chilli con carne, but the rest of her work is very mixed media. The child in me loves the balloon with a wig on top! According to Buck she is an artist to keep your peepers on, and I completely agree.

Look And Look Again

Inspired by the fact that everyone seems to either be in New York, going to New York or just got back from New York I thought I'd post about these amazing photos I found through the wondrous Notcot the other day. Peter Funch took photos of the same places in Manhattan over the course of 10 days and blended them seamlessly, bringing together similar people in an exhibition called Babel Tales. I love the attention to detail - like the white pigeons among the people all dressed in black. There is another photo with everyone dressed in white with black pigeons. Nice stuff. Now I just need to figure out when and how I'm going to get back to New York myself!

Famous When Dead?

I thought I'd share with you another one of my favourite artists. The above image is called 'The day I failed to notice' and is by UK Based artist Famous When Dead. I came across his work a few years back on Ebay, and was instantly struck by it. If I didn't already own a couple of his images I would be snapping this up!

Bright Week + Julia Pott

I feel super lucky this week to have been chosen by ace blogger Concrete and Honey to take part in Bright Week - a celebration of all things bright and colourful. I thought I would celebrate by posting this amazing print from illustrator / animator genius Julia Pott. You can buy Powerlifting Team as an A3 print currently for only $20 from her Etsy store. I know what you're thinking though... brighter? I'll see what I can do!

1p For A Bansky? Seriously?

I went to a 1 pence auction \ raffle for a Banksy print yesterday in London after seeing it mentioned on Notcot. Needless to say I didn't win the aforementioned print, but I did enjoy some free Brahma beer! Yus free indeed! They also had a human beatbox in which was excellent - I'm sure there will be some video up online at some point as they appeared to be videoing anything and everything. The event was to promote a street art dealer called Artichoke Ltd - check out their site to see some of the work they are selling (including signed prints for 1p).

Wax Lyrical

I love the smell of wax crayons - it reminds me of all those hours of colouring in when I was little. I saw this amazing artwork today - by artist Christian Faur. Made from lots of wax crayons sticking upright, to form a kind of pixel painting. There are a few to see if you link through to his site - I can just imagine the smell from looking at them!

Hi. Bye. Bear

I really like it when designers mix a bit of traditional and contemporary together - which is why I adore this humourous design created by graphic design mastermind Will Staehle (also known as lonewolfblacksheep). Check out his portfolio on the amazing design:related site or his LWBS web site.

We Are Brainstorm

I'm loving the fact that there are lots of amazing illustrators and designers around at the moment that are selling wonderful prints of their work at affordable prices. I've just bought 'Henry the Hoot' from design wonder kids We Are Brainstorm. He is going to look grand in our house (once I finish painting the walls!). They have lots of different designs - in case Henry isn't your cup of tea. Go buy, and support amazing young talent!

Guerrilla Knitting

Now this is an excellent idea! I just found this article on the Guardian web site about guerrilla knitting (also known as yarn bombing). The idea is that you take all your scraps of wool from old projects, and whip something up with them to then adorn everyday objects in the normally wool free real world. You can read more about it and see some pictures on Knitta Please - a website dedicated to guerrilla knitting. This is definitely for all those people who gave up on guerrilla gardening because it wasn't instant enough. Go have some fun!

Upside Down Cat Head

Do you need something new to keep your best pens in? This Ceramic cat head by artist Kiki Smith is available from the eclectic art site other criteria. 'Cat' is a limited edition of 150 and costs £550. I love it - even though it has a slightly creepy feel to it. The other criteria site is also worth a proper browse - just to see all the Damien Hirst artwork for sale. Curious?