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You are here: Home / Archives for art

How About: The School of Art by Teal Triggs and Daniel Frost

October 7, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

schoolofart

This book published in August but officially launched just yesterday at an event and talk held at the Royal College of Art, is aimed at anyone, young or old, who fancies getting a handle on the theory and practice of art in 40 quick, accessible lessons. The audience yesterday consisted of a large number of Royal College of Art students, each of whom will be studying and practising these self-same concepts and techniques, albeit to a much deeper, more intense degree.

Let's-Talk-about-Art-lineup

l-r: Jenny Broom of Wide Eyed Editions, Pam Dix of IBBY UK, Professor Teal Triggs, Daniel Frost and Rachel Williams of Wide Eyed Editions.

The book itself, produced by Wide Eye Editions to their usual high standards of production (the illustrations are by Daniel Frost), is quite wordy, so realistically is best given to children old enough to have developed reading fluency. It would certainly be very useful for KS2 primary teachers, both for helping them to become more able to teach art and design terms and techniques with increased confidence.

Ros Asquith & Jane Ray

Ros Asquith & Jane Ray admiring The School of Art

Although the text is written by one author, Professor Teal Triggs of the RCA (who has other books on art puvblished by Taschen), the conceit is that the 40 lessons it contains are delivered, usually jointly, by five different Professors: the professor of ideas (female); the professor of form (male); the professor of senses (male); the professor of making (female); with the fifth and last professor providing some politically correct ballast. The (male) ‘professor of the planet’ champions “ways in which art and design can improve people’s lives and protect our planet for future generations”.

Full-house-ready-to-Talk-about-Art

 

“Part picture book, part nonfiction guide, this playful hybrid offers a wide-ranging and engaging introduction to core elements that go into the creation of art.” Publishers Weekly

Filed Under: Blog, Books, How About Tagged With: art, educational, picture book

My favourite painting: Jacqueline Wilson – Country Life

August 31, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Long ago, I endured a disastrous book tour of America (just two children and a shopper taking the weight off her feet at one venue). I had less than an hour to myself in Chicago, but I ran to the Art Institute, determined to see its famous Seurat. I only managed a few minutes in front of it because I was waylaid by Renoir’s painting of two circus girls. I’ve never admired Renoir’s salmon-pink fleshy ladies, but I loved these girls in their white-and-gold costumes, collecting oranges as a tribute to their performance. There’s such an immediacy about the painting that it was a surprise to discover it was painted in Renoir’s studio. The real girls, Francisca and Angelina, were 17 and 14, but the girls in the painting seem much younger. I looked at this painting and decided to write about a Victorian circus girl one day. And now I’ve written five books about circus star Hetty Feather.

via My favourite painting: Jacqueline Wilson – Country Life.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, ciurcus, girls, inspiration, painting

“The Moomin Project” Gives Tove Jansson’s World A Creepy New Look

August 8, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Artist Ingela Hallberg has been reimagining Tove Jansson’s beloved children’s books, with a series of artworks called The Moomin Project. And the results are pretty striking.

via “The Moomin Project” Gives Tove Jansson’s World A Creepy New Look.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, illustration, Moomins, painting, Tove Jansson

Picture Book Den: Picture Book People – 1: Laurence Anholt

July 26, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Excellent, autobiographical blog post by Laurence Anholt:

PictureBookDen

One way or another, we were unbelievably fortunate to be working in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s. That was a Golden Time in children’s publishing, when the UK led the world with an astonishing range of imaginative picture books. It was possible to make a really good living by sitting in your studio, listening to Van Morrison and dreaming up weird and wonderful ideas for children’s stories. It felt like it would go on forever and barely a day went by without another Foreign Rights deal or an exciting offer from a publisher. Alongside my artist series I wrote the Seriously Silly Stories (illustrated by my good friend, Arthur Robins), Chimp and Zee and eventually more than 200 children’s titles, many illustrated by Cathy.

http://picturebookden.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/picture-book-people-1-laurence-anholt.html

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, artists, autobiography, golden age, illustrators, picture books

ACHUKAreview; Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine

July 21, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Screen Shot 2015-07-21 at 19.22.18

This is SO good! Absolutely up my street. An economically written YA novel with wryly observed characters and an original storyline that is emotionally engaging to a degree that more overblown, in-your-face writing can never reach.
I want Wes Anderson to discover it and make a movie of it.

Read the rest of the review >

http://www.achuka.co.uk/reviews/?p=589

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: arson, art, death, Fire, friendship, painting, teen, YA, young adult

Rainbows and mischief: Ryan Schude’s California dreams

July 6, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

Ryan Schude

It was good to see a selection of Ryan Schude‘s carefully choreographed work featured in yesterday’s Observer magazine…

Pool parties, teenage riots, trailer parks, vintage Fords and a toaster in the bath … for a decade, Ryan Schude has photographed raucous snapshots of America, making hedonistic tableaux that turn partying into a fine art

via Rainbows and mischief: Ryan Schude’s California dreams – in pictures | Art and design | The Guardian.

Filed Under: Photography/Art Tagged With: America, art, fine art, photography

Kelpies Design & Illustration Prize Shortlist

February 24, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

The winner, chosen by a Floris judging panel, will see their front cover on the new edition of The Hill of the Red Fox, which will be published by Floris as part of their Kelpies range of Scottish children’s novels in autumn 2015. The winner will also receive a cheque for £250.

The award will be presented at a private reception at The Creative Exchange, Leith, on 10th April, where the twelve shortlisted entries will be on display until the 17th April.

The shortlisted artists in full [scroll down to see their work]:

Freya Allan, Glasgow
Lewis Copland, Gray’s School of Art
David Lymburn, Edinburgh College
Brad Newman, Aberdeen
Keith Anderson, Edinburgh
Laura Darling, Edinburgh
Kieren McDonald, Robert Gordon University
Simon Ray, Edinburgh
Rebecca Catterson, Gray’s School of Art
Darren Gate, Glasgow
Jon Nagl, Fife
Anna Elez Rodrigo, Edinburgh College

    • Anna Elez Rodrigo - Student at Edinburgh College
      A
      Anna Elez Rodrigo – Student at Edinburgh College
    • David Lymburn - Student at Edinburgh College
      B
      David Lymburn – Student at Edinburgh College
    • Rebecca Catterson - Student at Gray's School of Art
      C
      Rebecca Catterson – Student at Gray’s School of Art
    • Freya Allan - Amateur Designer from Glasgow
      D
      Freya Allan – Amateur Designer from Glasgow
    • Jon Nagl - Amateur Designer from Fife
      E
      Jon Nagl – Amateur Designer from Fife
    • Darren Gate - Professional Designer from Glasgow
      F
      Darren Gate – Professional Designer from Glasgow
    • Laura Darling - Artist in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art
      G
      Laura Darling – Artist in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art
    • Kieren McDonald - Student at Robert Gordon University
      H
      Kieren McDonald – Student at Robert Gordon University
    • Simon Ray - Artist from Edinburgh
      I
      Simon Ray – Artist from Edinburgh
    • Brad Newman - Professional Designer from Aberdeen
      J
      Brad Newman – Professional Designer from Aberdeen
    • Lewis Copland - Student at Gray's School of Art
      K
      Lewis Copland – Student at Gray’s School of Art
    • Keith Anderson - Professional Designer from Edinburgh
      L
      Keith Anderson – Professional Designer from Edinburgh

http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesdesignprize/

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, awards, illustration, Kelpies, prizes

Why art critic Brian Sewell has written his first children’s book at the age of 83

February 14, 2015 By achuka Leave a Comment

“I’m really worried about children’s literature,” [Brian Sewell] said “It seems to me to be profoundly unserious.”

Art critic Brian Sewell has written his first children’s book at the age of 83 – because he is concerned that the young lack curiosity.

The White Umbrella, which will be published next month, is inspired by the true story of a wounded donkey he was desperate to save when filming in Peshawar, Pakistan, 20 years ago.

via Why art critic Brian Sewell has written his first children’s book at the age of 83 – Life Style Books – Life & Style – London Evening Standard.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, serious

Stephen King on Teaching (&) Writing

September 11, 2014 By achuka Leave a Comment

Atlantic

King: Many writers have to teach in order to put bread on the table. But I have no doubt teaching sucks away the creative juices and slows production. “Doomed proposition” is too strong, but it’s hard, Jessica. Even when you have the time, it’s hard to find the old N-R-G.

Lahey: If your writing had not panned out, do you think you would have continued teaching?

King: Yes, but I would have gotten a degree in elementary ed. I was discussing that with my wife just before I broke through with Carrie. Here’s the flat, sad truth: By the time they get to high school, a lot of these kids have already closed their minds to what we love. I wanted to get to them while they were still wide open. Teenagers are wonderful, beautiful freethinkers at the best of times. At the worst, it’s like beating your fists on a brick wall. Also, they’re so preoccupied with their hormones it’s often hard to get their attention.

Lahey: Do you think great teachers are born or do you think they can be trained?

King: Good teachers can be trained, if they really want to learn (some are pretty lazy). Great teachers, like Socrates, are born.

Lahey: You refer to writing as a craft rather than an art. What about teaching? Craft, or art?

King: It’s both. The best teachers are artists.

via How Stephen King Teaches Writing – The Atlantic.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, craft, teaching, writing

FLIC Magazine | Oliver Jeffers

May 13, 2014 By achuka Leave a Comment

Interview with Oliver Jeffers on Flic Magazine, by Sarah Maclean

How do you divide your concentration?
I write a lot of lists and give myself deadlines, even when there’s not one I’ll force one on myself, and I’ll travel backwards from dates.

Is your mind always thinking and churning on your work and stories?
Yes very much so. Normally I’ll have a notebook in my pocket and will write down ideas as soon as they occur, or think of a better solution for something. Wherever I am I’ll always do it. For me I have to log everything down because of how good an idea it might be as everything in my head has got an equal chance of being forgotten. My hands struggle to keep up with my head at the best of times. So it’s very important to document.

via FLIC Magazine | Oliver Jeffers.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: art, illustration, interview, Oliver Jeffers

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