Category: Print Design

I picked up a copy of Ready Made Magazine when we were in Santa Barbara and its been a great source of fun DIY craft and art things – I’ve had a go at a few projects, with limited success, but mostly it just appeals to people who like things. There are articles about treehouses, furniture, DIY gadgets and time saving devices, all with thrift shop appeal. There are also interviews with musicians and artists, places to visit and people to meet. Give it a go, or if you want – I’ll lend you my copy.

Jon very kindly completed the dotsandspaces quiz and I’d like you to go and have a look at all his doodles at jonburgerman.com and also Biro web which I really enjoyed. Jon told me that “Biro-web started as a section on jonburgerman.com many years ago (1999-2000) along with things like Flea Gallery and Finger Disko… but in 2001 it became it’s own site as it was out growing it’s space on jonburgerman.com
The other sections died away leaving jonb.com as it is today..” I really like the style and the figures are small and a bit scary, like wicked little thoughts you get during the day. I know that Jon’s work is very well regarded amongst you drawing types, and if I hadn’t been tipped off at The Monkey Nuts, and visited nopaper, then I’m sure i would have come to Jon Burgerman in the end. I’m sure we all wish Jon well and look forward to speaking to him again in the future.

I thought it had only just begun…nevermind eh? There’s a flyer here, but I’m not sure when it ends. Anyway, I heard it was all a huge success. If you want to get in touch with any of the artists involved, then the website is still up and running over hear. Well done everyone, now when are you going to get cracking with the dotsandspaces commission?

I was just making some labels for Andrew’s room and I thought they looked quite fun. I’ve been so tired lately and just wanted to do something cheery. I remember seeing that film of Talking Heads in concert and they had big images on the back screen that looked like this, except they said things like “think” and “modern” and “money”. It also reminds me when me and my friend Andy (another one) spent an entire night labelling everything in a small hallway, and it took chairs on top of tables and a broom handle to add a small sticker with “Ceiling” written on it to the ceiling. I don’t recall why we did that.

ok, this is my chance to mention the excellent Luaka Bop record label which is run by David Byrne.

I saw loads of Moody stuff when I was out in HK. I got a spinning bear and some phone charms that light up, so Hong Kong I started wearing my phone around my neck. Here is a link to Mori Chax the artist behind Moody. I also came across a whole raft of links that include some beautiful sites. You know, I don’t think Moody really wants to hurt his friends, he just can’t help himself. Sounds good eh?

Just returned from a weekend course at The Badger Press which was found in the small ads at Printmaker. This is the first time I’ve printed silk screen since university, and even that seems like a long time ago, so really it felt like another introduction. The workshop has a friendly atmosphere, and we worked well through the weekend to complete a number of prints from two screens. I seem to have come home with a bounty of work, and I feel inspired and creatively refreshed. It was particularly exciting to let the control drift a little and enjoy experimenting with the printing process. I still think my work was a little sterile, and I’m looking forward to visiting again before Christmas and experimenting a little more fluidly. Anyhow, I was really pleased by how much we all got done in the two days at The Badger Press. The image below is a detail from a woodland design I worked on. I’m already thinking about work I’d like to try out for my next visit.

Must mention that there is an open weekend on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November, where you will be able to visit the workshop and purchase from selection of abstract paintings and prints from our patient instructor for the weekend, Michael Griffith.

Kate Sutton is a very talented maker and drawer of things. She kindly spoke to dotsandspaces and donated a lovely banner. Click it and transport yourself to sleepy cow which has much of her work to date, including T-shirt designs for Howies, her own bags,toys, drawings galore and lots more. Kate battled with the dotsandspaces pop quiz. Here are a selection of her answers, including sketch. Pop Quiz Here

kate is currently making felt pigeons with pirate patches and here at dotsandspaces we would encourage this sort of activity. I hope that Kate will keep us up to date with any news which as always, will be a privilege to post.

I’ve been a big fan of Hiromix for a while now, ever since I spotted one of her photos in a copy of the now defunct Face Magazine. She was part of a phenomenon of Japanese girl photographers, and shot her snaps using a Konica Big Mini, blowing them up on a colour photocopier. Her images were put together into a number of books, Girls Blue, Japanese Beauty, and Hiromix. There’s a real feel of cinema with Hiromix, the photos are full of life and breath youth and immediacy. You can see some of her photos here at Photoarts, also good look at the books at Photoguide Japan, also some links here She also appears in Lost in translation as herself.

Oh, I found out that Zwemmer in Charing Cross is closing down. I use to pop in and get lots of great photo and graphics books there. Its very sad. I bought my first Hiromix book there, and the second I got during my visit to Tokyo.

The featured artist at The Royal Magazine is some scruffy chap who hails from Littlehampton and listens to Finnish death metal (oh, I have your copy). imakethings is featured on dotsandspaces every month, so I’m glad to see we’re cutting edge. Anyway, congratulations, hope lots of people send you mail

Oh, and get a haircut!

Saw this in yesterday’s Guardian supplement to illustrate an article called “How to use a Post Office”. This is just a detail, you’ll have to nag me for the whole thing, but again, I really like the textured background and the retro leanings, although its not quite The Jetsons, it does seem to remind me. Remember the Sky+ campaign, if anyone spots anything else by Adrian Johnson, please let me know.