The time has come, where I now feel I have warmed to the stranger that was once a blog, and I can finally welcome you into my world of collage, sketches photographs, pen-and-ink drawings each of which amounts to a potted visual autobiography.
Whilst in previous blogs have been filled with frivolous thoughts and chats about the weather, I think I should start to introduce the core and the original intention of my blog - Design.
(Although I cannot promise there won't be more mentioning of weather, books, train journeys, and blustery days at the seaside)
'Walker, 37, loves, he says, turning 'funny daydreams into funny photographs,' adding that he lives much of the time 'in an imaginary world', a world rooted in real-life and memory, specifically the British countryside of his childhood: the manicured landscape of Surrey and the wilder downlands of Sussex and Dorset. He admits to a subscription to Country Life and 'a very happy childhood'. His days at Exeter Art College were happy, too, spent making for the camera 'crowns out of wheat and going round junk shops and making things in the kitchen. I liked to walk through the countryside with a camera and photograph the people I knew. When I had a camera there was always a reason to go somewhere.'
'Page from scrapbook 'Vogue Pantomime', 2004, British Vogue. The fashion editor Kate Phelan recalled that she 'went by the rule that anything went as long as it had a theatrical twist. I was free to go mad. This was not the shoot for the Little Black Dress.' There was little chance of that, Vogue agreed: 'Next to the clothes rails sat a grinning Cheshire cat, a wolf’s head, a giant squishy pumpkin, bags of wigs from the BBC costume department, fake silver armour, hats from the milliner Stephen Jones's archives and 20 tulle ballerina skirts.'
Did I mention that Autumn is just around the corner - My favourite season of them all. I am plunged into colours of burnt rose and firewood, home-made ice cream, and earth.
(Personal reminder: Head to the shops and buy yourself a pair of warm, cosy, winter-proof gloves, add a knitted hat and scarf and we're away. All set for the fields and other adventures, crucial accessories when headed to frosty lands on early sunset, amber stricken mornings. Re-introduce camera to desolate but breathtakingly beautiful landscapes.)
OK, on the design front,
I have been speaking to my friend and fellow colleague Emma. We met at college, where we both we undertaking a BTEC National Diploma in Fashion Design. We had always been admirers of each others work and always held the same passion and determination. Although each choosing to specialise in different area's, Emma - fashion design, and mine in illustration and photography, we always had the same idea to collaborate and pursue a project. So we did just that.
A couple of days of criss-crossing emails, and brainstorming, Koroko Cafe was born. Although we are only working on the foundations at the moment, I have a brilliant feeling and just know that this could work out well. Based souly on our love for individuality and customisation we expect to work on vintage clothes and unique design styles. There are currently idea's of birdhouses, cuckoo-clocks and teapots on my end, but also on a flip side, Emma is contributing idea's of the 80's and glam rock. Now this could get creative. There will soon be a blog created for KC to monitor the progress and development, and perhaps a myspace to spread the word. All we need to do now is put our heads together and get to work. I'll let you know how this goes.
Heading back to Uni on Wednesday, as far as I know we are expected to get straight into work. So, I better take a deep breath and delve right into the depth's of graphics and design. I have actually started to right myself a brief already, which will be combined with my outside project, Koroko Cafe. Surprisingly confident already, which is unlike me, but I think I am starting to realise, it's time to get serious.
- I may have encountered a problem. I have discovered an artist that I intend to base my future work on. He is one of the most inspirational photographers that I have ever laid my eyes on. I feel as though I have stepped into his world and there is no way out. Not only do I wake up every day wishing with all my heart to live one of is visions, but I have set the bar for my work, and will from now on, strive to create something even mildly as striking and original. It is the one and only highly thought of, and famous fashion photographer Tim Walker.
Quotation taken from an article from www.telegraph.co.uk on the 17/05/08:
'Walker, 37, loves, he says, turning 'funny daydreams into funny photographs,' adding that he lives much of the time 'in an imaginary world', a world rooted in real-life and memory, specifically the British countryside of his childhood: the manicured landscape of Surrey and the wilder downlands of Sussex and Dorset. He admits to a subscription to Country Life and 'a very happy childhood'. His days at Exeter Art College were happy, too, spent making for the camera 'crowns out of wheat and going round junk shops and making things in the kitchen. I liked to walk through the countryside with a camera and photograph the people I knew. When I had a camera there was always a reason to go somewhere.'
'Page from scrapbook 'Vogue Pantomime', 2004, British Vogue. The fashion editor Kate Phelan recalled that she 'went by the rule that anything went as long as it had a theatrical twist. I was free to go mad. This was not the shoot for the Little Black Dress.' There was little chance of that, Vogue agreed: 'Next to the clothes rails sat a grinning Cheshire cat, a wolf’s head, a giant squishy pumpkin, bags of wigs from the BBC costume department, fake silver armour, hats from the milliner Stephen Jones's archives and 20 tulle ballerina skirts.'
As if that wasn't enough information for you to understand the amount of pure creativity and imagination that Tim Walker creates at his shoots, Here's a couple of my favourite photo's by TW. I'm hoping to see the likes of these at the Tim Walker picture exhibition at the Design Museum based in London, next thursday. Can't wait. Absolute genius.
Photo's taken from http://www.thomastreuhaft.com/Tim_Walker/tw.html
I have also been introduced to Lily Cole since entering the wonderland of Walker. He has used lily for his surreal, dreamlike scenes, because she has a sort of, clumsy beauty, an awkward dexterity and grace. I feel as she has the atmospheric presence needed to bring a Walker set to life.
These pictures of Lily Cole are all also TW photo's. Mmm, Embrace.
One of the best places to look for inspirations ( apart from outside my window and the people around me) I feel, is most likely magazines like VOGUE. They have some of the best articles featured, about exhibitions and events, and often I am introduced to online galleries etc.
For example, in the Sept 2008 issue of VOGUE, (with red haired model Karen Elson on the cover, who also wanders into Tim Walker wonderland, and is described as having glacial imperiousness) I stumbled across a piece titled 'Show and Tell'. Forty well known names, such Margaret Howell, David Shrigley, Jack Penate, Paul Smith, Quentin Blake and Philip Pullman, were asked to illustrate some of their favourite things, in the style of the victorian parlour game. I can say in my opinion that I thought this was extremely interesting and I thought that the outcome was very effective. There are images of lace up shoes, raspberries, spectacles, bicycles, polaroids, imaginary letters, autumn sunshine and chests of drawers.
'While you may or may not be able to tell who has done which illustration, there's no mistaking the very british flavour of much of this show. A gentle eccentricity runs through it: pleasure in the simple joys of naps and books, trips by steam train and blustery days at the seaside. There's a certain flourish and an unforced charm which accord with the best british design.'
VOGUE Sept 08, pg 109
"What are you like?" runs from September 09 to December 14, at Dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Check it out, you might just like it :)
On the media and press end of things, today I discovered a new interesting international fashion magazine, DISTILL. It was the launch copy of a fashion photography and style editorial. In my hurried back to front flick through I was totally tempted to sit on the floor right there and plunge myself between it's pages, but alas i was ushered along with the flow of busy faces. However, next time, when equipped with copper and paper, I intend to buy and plunge. As an alternative I did source this beauty...
www.distilldigital.com
For any one who may actually still be reading this (woo) then I think I shall finally end my finger tapping here. For today anyway. I will be back soon with tales of new artists and musicians another day.
Until tomorrow x
Ps. http://www.myspace.com/happiestlion - Perfect.
1 comment:
There is an increased use of the song, My Favorite Things, as an anthem of Christmas and I think it’s just wrong. Dan played a saxophone solo on that song when he was in an amusement park band for a summer job.
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hennry
transmitter
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