22 August 2012

When in Beijing...

I feel so so lucky to have traveled extensively, today being no exception. Hopefully this works in China (as much social media doesn't work here...), but I'm currently on day 4 of my trip with my family to Beijing. From here we'll be here another two days and then move on to Shanghai and Guangzhou for a total five days before heading home. I had planned to blog while I've been here, but alas, I've been away from my baby MacBook and there's excruciatingly bad Wifi in my hotel at the moment... I'm not even sure if blogger works in China! However I am keeping a (another) sketchbook while I'm here, and I will sure be sharing as many photos as I can with you! Shall keep you all posted.

From Beijing with love,

V

N.B. and here we are on day 12... I wish that I could have blogged through this trip, but it seems that blogger isn't permitted here for reasons unknown.ill be catching up as soon as I'm home but in the meantime, check out my tumblr, the-sound-of-rain, if you so wish.

15 August 2012

FRIENDS. pt 1: Richard









As a little personal ongoing project, I've decided it's important to draw my friends. Richard in particular is one of my 'muses' if you like, although in all honesty I have a lot of beautiful friends... I've always loved drawing people, and I think it really helps to draw them; it's a great feeling to be able to convey personality and the liveliness of people... otherwise why have an illustration? I think part of it is capturing true life, as opposed to something that one shows a camera for example. Photography is still an art form that I absolutely adore and have much respect for... but somehow a few pencil lines can just convey that little bit more. It doesn't matter so much if it doesn't look like them...because they feel like them.

14 August 2012

Diana Shepherd.





Here are the prints by Diana Shepherd in Alex's house. Aren't they just beautiful? Especially that greyhound...simply stunning.

New York Sketchbook













Personal projects.

I'm the type of person that constantly needs to be busy, otherwise will encounter a depression. Truly.

Determined to ensure I can still draw, I've been making/starting a lot of sketchbooks, large or small, all for different purposes. I'd like to think I'm becoming a person who lives and breathes what they love. I just feel that whenever I can, I will be drawing, for my own pleasure and collection. Maybe one day I'll have a whole bookcase of various sketchbooks, of all different subjects and dates and materials, documenting all the aspects of life that I love.

All the work posted on this blog is from Summer 2012 onwards. There's no point in looking back. I can only keep improving, keep innovating, keep refreshing my interests.

Scraps.


















Thomas Heatherwick


I think from a designers point of view, the London 2012 Olympic cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick was the ultimate star of the show.

Seriously... Ennis, Bolt and Farah are just miniscule in comparison.

I watched all 3 hours of the opening ceremony, and God I was glad to have got to the ending just for this torch. I was wow-ing and ahhh-ing and oh-my-God-ing at how bloody gorgeous it is. There's no other torch that I can think of that will be this memorable. I also think the idea of the copper petals was genius, holding symbolism in the 'countryside' theme of the opening, the movement of the torch opening and closing referencing to the opening and closing of a flower. Genius, genius, genius. I think that this Olympics has been lovely for uniting all the different countries; you can see the chemistry between the athletes, and you can see the true friendship that has taken place between them. It's so...nice!

I hope that this cauldron isn't forgotten. I'd love to see it lit so beautifully again. It proved just how innovative and beautiful British design can be, triumphing over other countries as much as we triumphed in medals this summer.

13 August 2012

Upritchard sketches and Moleskine notes.



Window shopping.

Passing through Hockley today with Richard, and it's difficult not to notice the shop windows being adorned with some artwork... Some were a bit 'graffiti' -esque, and really didn't appeal to me, but I really enjoyed the ones that seemed to have some relevance. I hear that the DJs in Stealth had been round to promote artwork in Hockley, and I guess secure it as a more niche area... it does hold the Design building for NCN I suppose!
After this FMP, I can't help but LOVE filigree frames and designs, especially with a modern twist. The artwork in the window of A Vintage Obsession is no exception.