Pembrokeshire long weekend
I spent a lovely looong weekend in a little place called Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire last weekend. This was the view from the chalet and on the nearby beach (3 mins walk away) on the evening we arrived.
Some great drawings from illustrator Sally Seymour in this 1971 publication about the local area.
We started the trip with a visit to local author and publisher David Lewis and his wife Penny. This is the view from their home.
David not only has created two very prestigious volumes of local artists paintings and photography, but has also formed ‘ Young Voices’, which is the largest school choir organiser in the world and currently gathers together over 14 capacity concerts a year in the UK & Ireland’s leading Arenas. Each year over 2,500 schools, 90,000 children 6,000 teachers and 120,000 family and friends assemble to enjoy music and celebrate singing.
David’s book ‘Pembrokeshire Art’ features artist such as Grahame Hurd-Wood, John Knapp-Fisher, Mark Raggett, Monica Groves amongst others. The latter two artists (featured below) are even relatives. What a talented family !
We started our walk in St Davids. Surf inspired shops and beautiful picture postcard sights.
Within 5 minutes we had the sea for company, and superb views.
Plenty of foliage and a couple of wildlife sightings. I think one could be a Northern Wheatear but not sure about the other bird, grasping hold of its lunch. Any guesses ?
There are stunning views around every bend and we were thankful for the windy, yet, sun filled weather too.
I love seeing the small twisty pathways set out the walk and line the hills before me.
Dramatic coastline. Feel the grass. Time to connect with nature, whilst still being careful to not loose your footpath or footing altogether !
We reached our destination, in the beautiful harbour at Solva and had tea and welsh cakes mmm.
The bus (with the traveling themed seat covers) took us back to St Davids where we had parked the car. The Cathedral is staggering in it’s size and one member of our party visibly gasped when she saw it for the first time. There has been a church on this site since the 6th Century.
The following day we walked from Little Haven to Nolton Haven. Some dramatic rock formations on the beach. For all you budding Geologists, did you know that Pembrokeshire’s coast displays a greater variety of rocks and scenery than any equivalent area in Britain with over 250 miles of exposures. Quite impressive.
Large open beaches, largely deserted at this time of day, apart that is, from the odd Sphinx ! (above)
We ended up at a favourite place of mine The Druidstone, which is a haven for artists work, great food and relaxed and friendly service. My kind of place.
Who wouldn’t want a back door with a view like this ?
You can even ride horses on the beach, how great is that !
Many thanks to my friends Julian, Johnnie and Emma for a great weekend. I’d like to leave you with my version of the old and the new. Salty old seadogs with excited young scamps lol
Helen Borten A Creative and Illustrative Genius.
Helen Borten was born in Philadephia, PA in 1930. She produced the main body of her well loved Children’s picture book illustrations in the 1960’s, working alongside writers like Franklyn M Branley and Augusta Goldin to create scientifically interesting books for children. These concentrated on themes such as Nature, the Weather and tried to answer the questions that children often ask.
She attended the Philadephia Museum College of Art for four years.
There’s a beautiful collaboration between woodcut, collage, paint, printing techniques and wonderful colour, that for me makes her work so rich and visually desirable.
She has worked as free lance artist and illustrator of books, record album covers, and greeting cards. Her books have won several awards.
In 1988 Helen changed careers and worked in the field of Radio where she wrote and produced 44 national radio documentaries.
The New York Times devoted a major article to Borten and her work when the premiere season, distributed by NPR, made its debut (First Arts Page, August 18, 1997). “If ‘think radio’ has a future on a dial clogged with music and conventional news-talk programs,” the Times says, “it is because of innovators like Ms. Borten. She has a keen ear…is gifted with a mellifluous voice…and an ability to ask a seemingly simple question that draws memorable responses from her subjects.” Station Manager Ruth Seymour says, “We love Helen Borten’s work. She brings passion, imagination, and emotional resonance to a vivid portrait of American life.” (Taken from an article on PRX.org)
Helen has also worked as a Lecturer/ Instructor at Philadelphia College of Arts. It appears her creative talents are endless.
With thanks to Stickers And Stuff, Black Eiffel, Fineza and Studiosmith for helping out with the visuals on this post. More about vintage books in the weeks to come.
Clare Curtis grew up in Felixstowe, Suffolk and traveled to Dundee to study Illustration and Printmaking at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art back in 1991.
She moved to London, establishing herself as a freelance Illustrator whist teaching at an evening class. She says that looking back to that time, London life wasn’t that creative as the main focus seemed to be on personal survival.
In 1997 she decided to return to Suffolk and start the process of printmaking again. Gradually acquiring equipment and knowledge as time went on.
Today she lives in her grandfather’s old house and with relief printmaking as her main focus, Clare not only has returned to her roots, but has found her style and medium to work in. What beautiful images she creates. I love her book covers and breakfast cereal boxes below.
There’s a great article written about her on the Suffolk Craft Society site here.
Valeria Petrone. The busy life of an illustrator.
Valeria Petrone began her art education in her native Italy and then moved to London, to pursue further studies.
Valeria zooms around on a motor scooter, dividing her time between the historical center of Rome and the more modern area of Milan. In her wonderfully successful career, Valeria juggles high profile clients like United Airlines while always working on a children’s book.
So far she has illustrated over twenty books that have been published in Japan, France, Italy and the U.S. Although Valeria has won many illustration awards, it was a especially exciting to receive a 2008 Gold Medal 3×3 for her book Il Pittoré. Valeria also does illustrations for magazines.
More images from Valeria here.
Mikhail Belomlinsky Children’s Russian Illustrator.
Mikhail Belomlinsky was born in 1934, started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil and has never stopped since.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mikhail received his MFA in illustration from St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Art, one of the most respected art schools in Europe. Soon after graduation, Mikhail was given an opportunity to illustrate JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” and his journey began. He has worked in the illustration market ever since and has been commissioned to do books, posters, greeting cards, caricatures, cartoons, and digital illustration in addition to a variety of other art-related jobs. Thanks to Kidpix for scanning Mikhail’s wonderful illustrations from the 1967 book ‘Wonders Under the Feet’ by Gleb Gorbovsky.
In 1989, Mikhail moved to New York City and has worked as a creative director of Novoe Russkoe Slovo, the largest Russian daily newspaper in the United States. He has over a hundred books published worldwide and Mikhail’s work has been featured in numerous galleries and exhibitions.
In this new age, the means of communication and information sharing has shifted towards web-based content. The desire to add vitality to pages and deliver joy and wonder to generations of readers drove Mikhail to create an online art gallery, which helps Mikhail to continue doing the thing he loves most-illustration. I particularly like this space poster created in 1963, issued to commemorate the Vostok-5 and Vostok-6 group flight. The pilot of the latter spaceship was Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to fly to space.
You can find more of Mikhail’s work here.
Manchester Wanderers.
After the buzz of the Degree shows of last weekend, I took a wander around the Manchester streets just near to Quay Street. Like most city centres across the world, Manchester has it’s share of derelict areas and spaces that need renovation, but also signs of it’s broadcasting past and developing futures.
I do hope the cats brought their own ladders ! I like this screen to hide the scaffolding, what a great idea. Plaques on the bridge that remind us of the early days of Industry and labour around this great city.
Some Art Deco and Sixties architecture, and then time for something more up to date and a coffee at Carluccio’s in Spinningfields.
Impressive displays and great environment. You can easily loose yourself in there and think that you’re elsewhere. Try it out.
Manchester School of Art Degree Show 2012 Part Three
This forms the final part of the Manchester School of Art Degree Show 2012. Charli Palmer started us off with some interesting Origami jewellery and Autumn Grace Etherington had some beautiful ceramics.
Dominika Laszkowska treats us to more sophisticated ceramic work, beautiful colours.
Some interesting fusion of wood and glass from Asha Diveney-Clegg.
Maja Piechocka showed some lovely rings, and Alexandra Parkinson had some stunning bracelets based on microscopic plant observations.
Stunning Glassware from Kira Meyer.
Ceramics with keys from Katherine Lees and simple yet beautiful kitchenware by Joseph Hartley
Definitely a talented crop coming forward this year. Hope you enjoyed the degree show coverage on Fishinkblog, drop me a comment and please share this with your friends.
Manchester School of Art Degree Show 2012 Part Two
Part Two of my trip to the Manchester School of Art Degree show 2012 kick’s off with some wonderful illustration by the talented Alice Tobia. Alice has a quirky, fresh and fun style, like the work of Amy Marsh.
Hannah Wheeler reveals her Man On The Moon.
Ria Smythe‘s work is based around the time in 1984 when Queen Victoria opened the Manchester Ship Canal.
The whimsical work of Shuk Yin Law made me smile and will have great appeal to children of all ages.
More odd figures from Laura Nash-Green, and beautiful pencil drawings from Joanna Houghton.
Great graphics from Laura Jackson, Jonathan Buschenfeld and Olympic Board Games with a twist from Laura Stanworth.
Posters from Nick Yates, Jennifer Hambleton, Anna Heron and Hannah Thornton.
More eager public enjoying the event. Part Three coming soon
Manchester School of Art Degree Show 2012 Part One
I went to the Manchester Metropolitan Degree Show on Sunday, which finishes this wednesday at 4pm. I was mainly interested in seeing the Fashion, Textiles, Illustration and Graphics shows. They had swapped their usual venue off oxford road for a smaller space at Quay House on Quay Street, just off Deansgate. In the foyer I was treated to a visual embroidered feast by Ayasha Wood and some rather risque beer mats by Graphics student Katie Lawes.
Some great imagery and printed textiles from the likes of Emma Alviti, Sabah Butt, Jessica Chandler, Laura Binyon and Naomi Hiett.
More from Anna Paton McGilp, Hayley Godfrey, Vicky Mellor, Natalie Simone Davies, Francesca Guarracino.
Textiles for Fashion from Leanne Alladice, lovely dreamy prints and photography from Emma Bee, Amie Waiting, Eve Horton, Eleanor Shore, Melissa Chappell and Conall O’Brien.
Bethan Lumb’s pencil drawings and her mark makings have developed into a sophisticated range of scarves and Chloe Hamill‘s work exploring the representation of female refugees through the visualisation of birds.
Kate Berry and Hana Awwad show us some decorative and 3-D Wallcoverings.
Here’s a quick feel for the space, look out for part two of this blog in a couple of days.
Momo Takana Japanese Illustrator
Momo Takana was born in Shiga, Japan in 1983 and since then has always wanted to become an illustrator. Nowadays with at least two books under her belt, one called simply ‘Wunsche‘ (‘Wish’ in German) and another you may well know called ‘Snow White’, it seems that her desire has come true.
With a soft quirky style that reminds me of a mix of Chagall, Max Ernst and Michael Sowa, Momo’s work is both beautiful and strange at the same time.
Many thanks to The Art Room Plant blog for bringing Momo’s work to my attention.
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