Jonathan McHugh Irish Illustrator
Jonathan McHugh is a freelance artist and illustrator living and working in Northern Ireland.
He has illustrated extensively for advertising, design and editorial clients in the U.K., Germany,
Japan and Ireland. After graduating with a BA(Hons) from the University of Ulster, he spent
several years travelling and working as a scenic artist and muralist on various large-scale themed
construction projects in Europe, Ireland and the UK. Eventually, he realised that he preferred a
warm illustration studio to being covered from head to toe in paint, and decided to follow his
muse back to painting and illustrating by returning home to Northern Ireland.
His work reminds me of the painting of the village at the start of Ballykissangel but I can’t find a link to
say that he’s the same artist. Eitherway, I love his distorted angles and use of colour, light and shadow.
Nate Williams
Happy New Year to one and all and It’s great to be back on your Macs and PC’s again.
I’ve chosen to kick off with an old favourite of mine Nate Williams. Originating from Western
United States and now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He’s a prolific artist who has worked
for so many companies and organisations that we’d be here all day for me to name but a few,
but somehow when your client list includes Coca Cola and Microsoft, I think you’ve made it !
There’s more info in a short interview about Nate here and a whole load more of his illustrations here.
Fishinks’ Wintery Walks and Feeding Birds.
Whilst having my breakfast and thinking about toast and snow, I thought about the ducks who live
down the lane from me on a small pond and it got me to wondering what they had around to eat
at this time of plenty for us. I broke up a few rounds of bread and I went for a walk.
It was sooo cold even with two pairs of gloves and three pairs of socks, I was still numb
on all extremities ! Of course the pond was iced over and the ducks weren’t anywhere to be seen,
they’ve probably taken off for somewhere much warmer and continental (more fool me eh).
But the Coots and Moorhens that were around were very happy that I’d made the journey to visit
with my meagre offerings. I even got to see this little fella wandering around.
Take a few minutes to think about the wildlife we all take for granted and clear a space in your garden
to leave some scraps for the birds etc in our neighbourhoods. I know they’ll be grateful too.
Here’s some images from my wintery walk.
For anyone interested in when and what to feed our feathered friends here’s what the RSPB suggests.
Happy Fishmass !
I’d like to thank everyone who has read the FISHINK Blog this year and especially to those
who have left a comment or remark about my blogging here. May you all have a wonderful break,
filled with festive fun and cool tidings for a great new year to come.
If you like my writings, please let me know or pass the link on to your friends so we can
grow together. Peace to one and all and catch up in a few days.
New ranges on the way for F I S H I N K for 2011 but in the meantime…..
Here’s a few other images from my walk yesterday.
This being the well known Pom Pom Ice Plant (rare variety!).
Also a beautiful Christmas card from my friend Sarah, with a great reminder of childhood rhymes.
More of Sarahs’ cut out work available here.
Arthur Leipzig, a classic Street Photographer.
Arthur Leipzig was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1918. He studied photography at the Photo League
in 1942, before becoming staff photographer for the newspaper PM, where he worked until 1946.
During this time he completed his initial photo essay on the topic of Childrens’ Street Games.
In 1946, he left PM. After a short stint at International News Photos, he became a freelance
photojournalist, traveling on assignments around the world, contributing work to such periodicals as
The Sunday New York Times, This Week, Fortune,Look, and Parade. Edward Steichen encouraged him
to teach, which he did for twenty-eight years at Long Island University.
I think he has a great eye for a dramatic moment and also shapes within the frame. He cleverly
captures his subjects whilst they’re caught up in the joy of the moment.
Fishinks’ Camera
For today I have four images that I have taken in the last week that all say something special to me
about the season and the things I see around me. Hope you like them.
A frosty branch.
A sudden flurry.
Ice on the inside of my car windscreen.
A special little tree.
Olivetti Continued….
Many thanks to Jill, who left me a lovely comment on yesterdays’ blogpost about the Olivetti Company.
From her message I did a little more research and found this information and images.
In 1955, the Olivetti Corporation mounted one of their typewriters on a stand outside their New York
showroom on fashionable 5th Avenue near 47th Street, and people lined up to try it out.
Life Magazine photographer Michael Rougier set up a hidden camera behind a screen and took pictures
of people typing short messages. Many just typed the standard typewriter test sentence
“Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party,” but others were more imaginative.
The woman shown above, Seventeen stylist Toni Kosover, decided to go for a rhyme and typed
“I’d give up my spaghetti for this here Olivetti.” (In 1974, Kosover wrote a racy novel called
Diary of a New York Career Girl.) Office boy James Collins, who is said to stop by nearly
every day to leave a different message, typed “Marilyn Monroe is a beautiful girl.”
As I’m presently watching series three of ‘Madmen’, the styling and thought process behind this piece
of clever marketing/advertising, is right where I’m at. Thanks to Life Magazine for the images.
Olivetti Posters
I remember the name of Olivetti and connect it with Typewriters in my mind, I’m guessing that there
used to be one in my home when I grew up, but the memory is a vague one.
The wealth of posters that were designed for the company is amazing. I didn’t see these first time round
(back in the fifites) so it’s great to find them now. Thanks to Ninonbooks’ Photostream Flickr entry.
Wooden Russian Churches
I stumbled upon some snowy images of these wonderful Russian Churches and thought
I’d share them with you. Below is Uspenskaya church constructed in 1694 and located in
Nelazskoye village of Vologda Oblast and known as a masterpiece of Russian wooden architecture.
Apparently many of these churches were constructed without nails, I assume they skilfully created
joints that were interlocking or had very good russian glue ! Beautiful works of art.
Rica Takada Illustrates in a Fifties style today
Rica Takada is another talented Japanese illustrator who works in a retro style today.
Beautiful colour combinations and simple uncomplicated lines and shapes are the trade marks we
associate with this artist. Unfortunately not speaking Japanese, there seems to be little info in
English available, sometimes however, the work does speak for itself !
If you like Ricas’ work you’ll also like the work of Tadahiro Uesugi, I’ve previously blogged about.
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