January 2012
2 posts
Paul Binnie: Where Scotland Meets Tokyo
Here at Sketchbook Magazine our love for illustration keeps us constantly searching for new and exciting artists worldwide. Our latest find is Scottish artist Paul Binnie, whose long enjoyed love affair with illustration and fascination of Japanese Culture has Sketchbook’s art hungry eyes widening. Inspired by his favourite Japanese artist Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950), Binnie explains how Yoshida...
Honour At House Of Amouage
House of Amouage, a leader in the art of perfumery, has recently launched its new “Honour” fragrances for both men and women. Drawing much inspiration from Puccini’s Magnus Opus, Madame Butterfly, Christopher Chong – Creative Director at Amouage – has managed to create two distinct fragrances that share the underlying essence of the Puccini classic - a tale of love, intrigue and tragedy.
Chong,...
November 2011
2 posts
3 tags
London Life, Lagos Living, And Everything In...
As summer comes to an end, and the evenings start to get darker, there are few things I look forward to more than the new season fashions and the start of new TV shows. The influx of lookbooks, autumn reads and coffee-table tomes are other highlights of the month of September onwards; and to get all three types of books in one, is a phenomenon which rarely occurs. So when we heard of a new...
8 tags
Perou's Dirty, sexy... Jeans
“I am the guy that flies around the world photographing the rich, beautiful and famous people” With those words photographer Perou introduced himself at the beginning of each episode of “Dirty, Sexy things” (you can still catch it on Channel 4 OD if you missed it) and those were the words that first came to my mind when the people from Levi’s told me about their Curve...
October 2011
5 posts
3 tags
Françoise Nielly x IRMDESIGN - Paris
The recent Françoise Nielly x IRMDESIGN collaboration opened at la Galerie Menouar in Paris to a well dressed crowd greeted with champagne and canapés.
The collection was based on the literal interpretation of Françoise Neilly’s bright canvas paintings into a series of dresses by Marion Lalanne and Pierre Hermet, the up and coming duo behind IRMDESIGN.
The exhibition also featured...
3 tags
Levi’s® raising the curve
I have been a fan of Levi’s my entire life. You can’t help but admire a brand whose name became synonym for denim; for coolness and design; a brand that was born amongst the needs of hard working classes and turned an item of practical use into a timeless fashion grail. Even back in the day, when my interest in fashion wouldn’t go any further than pink coloured trainers and a highly...
3 tags
Interview with photographer Carol Burri
How did you get into photography initially?
During my first study in post-industrial design, I did a lot of computer graphics, particularly in 3D applications. I played with virtual physical light and for this, I did tests with cameras and lighting. Through this process over a year I mixed computer graphics and photography but ended up being more interested in natural photography. What do you...
Get Gok'd in Gok For Tu
The fashion fairy godfather that is Gok Wan brings his expertise to the highstreet through his ‘Gok for Tu’ (at Sainsbury’s) design debut. Not content with taking the country by storm as a superstylist, the collection proves that Gok Wan the fashion designer can give the likes of Reiss and Topshop a run for their money. Often seen effortlessly customising and revamping a variety...
Rimmel Launches 'Survival (Of The Fittest) Kit'
If you were to spy in most, if not all make up bags one wouldn’t be surprised to find a Rimmel product (or three) nestled in there and referred to as ‘trusted old favourites’. As a self-confessed ‘Rimmel-holic’ with an addiction to their nail varnishes, eye liners and lip-glosses, road-testing some of their new products is a luxury most would die for and one which, I recently had the pleasure...
September 2011
5 posts
2 tags
Lako Bukia S/S12 London Fashion Week Day Two
Lako Bukia’s SS’12 collection showcased some highly structural pieces juxtaposed with more classically feminine, flowing chiffon and silk designs that were a strong feature of the show.
Particular attention was paid to detailing around the neck and shoulders, which gave the pieces a simple yet considered beauty; however the introduction of print may have been an error of judgement. The chosen...
b store SS12 'Inside Out' Presentation - ...
The boys at modern heritage brand b store, designers Matthew Murphy and Kirk Beattie are never ones to do things by halves, and this season was no exception. Taking the fashion week presentation and turning it ‘Inside Out’ they teamed up with visionaries Hellicar & Lewis to create an installation that employs a series of cameras and projectors to transfer the activity of one arena into...
4 tags
Orla Kiely SS12 - LFW Day 1
Someone said on twitter she could have spent the entire day at the Orla Kiely presentation, and once there, I could totally relate to that feeling.Models came in and out posing in rotating pedestals or resting in sun loungers in a nonchalant manner, almost as if overwhelmed by a heatwave of a season that only belonged to the Portico Rooms of Somerset house.Everything was...
Paul Costelloe SS12 - LFW Day 1
It was 8,20 in the morning when I walk through the front door of Somerset house on Friday for the commence of London Fashion Week. Busy PR’s were already running around, carrying the tiredness of days of preparation and some photographers were already preparing their equipment to catch for posterity the stylish efforts of hundreds of beautiful creatures that would stroll throughout the...
LFW SS12 Day One: Corrie Nielsen
On this bright September morning as London Fashion Week SS12 kicks off, Florida born turned London local, designer Corrie Nielsen’s SS12 show ‘Arbiter Elegantiarum’ was the perfect way to greet the day. Meaning ‘a judge or authority in matters of taste’ Nielsen’s feminine yet constructed collection was just that, an elegant, crisp breath of fresh air. Hush...
August 2011
2 posts
First and Forever by Dr Martens
Do you remember your first love? Your first kiss? Your first fashion icon? What was the first thing you bought in your life? Do you remember your first pair of Dr Martens?
First and forever is the campaign that brings the new A/W collection by Dr Martens and searches the mind of the DM lovers and users for nostalgic memories in reassurance of the brand’s quintessential place in British fashion...
3 tags
Introducing Cornelia And Her Aquarius Dreams
Every so often here at Sketchbook, we get a rare opportunity to meet someone who, in our humble opinion, would be classed as a real rising star. So when we met briefly with a Swedish artist named Cornelia (at a New Year party in Paris last year), in an instant it was clear that we were in the presence of a ‘one to watch’. With over a decade’s industry experience under her belt and a record...
July 2011
14 posts
Trend forecast
“Put all your dresses in a trunk and turn it over every 5 years and you will always be in fashion”. That’s the advice an old and well-travelled auntie gave to my grandmother, who passed it on to my mother who passed it on to me. Although highly romantic, the assertion of this style tip hasn’t always been precise, let alone practical and –with all due respect to my lovely relatives- I wouldn’t...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 140:
ELENA BARRIO
“Pretty Lady”
Age: 21
Nationality: American/ Argentinean
Living in: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
“3D”
“Construction”
What is in your sketchbook?
I tend to sketch on random pieces of paper rather than a sketchbook. I mostly draw weird faces with big features.
“Guy with Hat”
“Lady”
Where do you illustrate?...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 139:
JUSTIN WALLIS
“Alright Cool” - from Portraits Project
“Sum Kinda MILKBBI”
Age: 21
Nationality: American
Living in: the deep south of USA
“Sweet Home”
What is in your sketchbook?
Yellow paper
“Baby 1” from MILK Babies Project
“Baby 8” from MILK Babies Project
Where do you illustrate?
On a big tall table in the kitchen because...
4 tags
Catalytic Clothing Seeks To Purify The Air We...
On a breezy morning last week, Sketchbook went to the press release for a truly exciting and pioneering new project: Catalytic Clothing. The brainchild of Professor Tony Ryan, a scientist from Sheffield University, and Professor Helen Storey, an artist and designer at London College of Fashion; Catalytic Clothing introduces clothes with a new purpose – to purify the air around us. Sketchbook...
2 tags
From Germany With Love...
Every so often, the Sketchbook team receives an invitation to an unusual event, which ordinarily would not fall within our usual areas of coverage/’expertise’. So when we opened our inbox to find an invitation to enjoy an evening of culture courtesy of the German Touris Board held with the aim of raising awareness of the range of beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites that can be...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 138:
MAIJA LIDUMA
Age: 33
Nationality: latvian
Living in: Riga, Latvia
What is in your sketchbook?
I don’t have one special sketchbook. I have tried keeping one several times, but usually I start one, but then take another. And drawings in them usually are some notes or one small sketch image which helps me later to remember idea itself.
Where do you illustrate?
Usually at home.
...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 137:
GEMMA MILLY
Age: 30
Nationality: British
Living in: South East England
What is in your sketchbook?
My sketchbook is a mixture of scribbles, notes, and thoughts – I use it to quickly record ideas before I forget, so there’s not really much logic to it. There are ideas for patterns that I might use in an illustration or for a product, sketches of flora & fauna, rough drawings for...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 136:
ADRIANA KRAWCEWICZ
“Best Stories are left untold”
Age: 24
Nationality: Polish
Living in: Warsaw, soon in London
“Movie queens”
“Always bloom”
What is in your sketchbook?
girls, people from streets and magazines, doodles from outer mind
“As usual”
Where do you illustrate?
mostly at home… so my creativity and ideas don’t wander away
...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 135:
LOUBET PAUL
Age: 23
Nationality: french
Living in: buenos aires argentina
What is in your sketchbook?
I don’t have sketchbook. I lost it overtime. So i draw in single sheet paper.
Where do you illustrate
that depends.
What inspires your work?
every kind of crap things. but generally, bad graffiti, adolescent drawing, qsl cards, cheap restaurants...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 134:
AVRIL KELLY
illustrations for Amelia’s magazine
Age: 23
Nationality: Irish
Living in: Wales
“clements”
“Lako bukia”
What is in your sketchbook?
A little bit of everything. Animals, flowers, people, buildings, dreams. And patterns and different textures.
“Jacob kimmi”
Where do you illustrate?
I illustrate in my little...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 133:
GARETH ARROWSMITH
Age: 23
Nationality: British
Living in: UK
“I love Europe Day” poster
Poster design for Bido Lito! @Liquidation ever Saturday night.
What is in your sketchbook?
Sketch work, doodles, writing, Final designs. my sketchbook is where it all happens really, from the start of a project to the final design, this is mainly because I find it easier to...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 132:
ANNIE FOO
Age: 31
Nationality: Malaysian born Chinese
Living in: London
What is in your sketchbook?
Shoes, handbags & accessories sketches, cutted out magazines & pictures, notes etc
Where do you illustrate?
Home, on the move sometimes…
What inspires your work?
Natural form, architectural building, food J
What music do you listen to?
Soft rock, R&B, Jazz &...
2 tags
Art to East Africa Launch Party
Ruweyda Dool invited Sketchbook to join her at the launch party for her new organisation, Art to East Africa, which aims to change the lives of young people through art.
Held on the roof terrace at The Queen of Hoxton, the event kicked off with live art: a group of artists painting, drawing and stencilling while guests were free to wander round and watch. The styles ranged from very vibrant and...
2 tags
Thomas Sabo AW11 - Press Day
Thomas Sabo has gone Oriental with the fine jewellery collection for AW11, taking inspiration from all the traditional Asian symbols: from pandas and dragons, to fans and lanterns. Sparkling zirconia gems adorned stirling silver pieces, which were decorated with shining red and black enamel, giving the collection the allure of an Oriental night.
Necklaces with bejewelled lantern...
June 2011
26 posts
2 tags
Paris Fashion Week Men SS12 - Qasimi
One of the most surprising shows during Paris Fashion Week, Emirati designer Khalid Qasimi presents an aggressive, extravagant and contemporary SS12 ready-to-wear collection.
Covered faces, military uniform-wear and what looks like parachute fabric are accompanied by 17th century Baroque prints, a particularly flamboyant camouflage, and bright orange florals.
The whole collection comes...
2 tags
Paris Fashion Week Men SS12 - Boris Bidjan Saberi
German-Iranian designer Boris Bidjan Saberi presents his latest collection comprised entirely of neutral tones; beige, grey and black. The clothes champion a kind of deconstructed simplicity, or rather sophisticated primacy; something reminiscent of a scene from a post-apocalyptic film.
The SS12 ready-to-wear collection show began with pitch black silence, quickly shattered by models marching...
Rising to the Surface at LCC’s ‘Upsidedown’ Summer...
On the 3rd floor of the Workshop Block at the University of Arts London College of Communication is a maze of imagination and inspiration. Running down corridors and overflowing in rooms are the designs and wares of the University’s current BA Surface Design Programme. An eclectic mix of illustration, print, garments and accessories, furniture, ceramics, carpets, baked goods and more, like kids in...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 131:
ALI PYE
“a walk by the Thames”
Age: old enough to know better
Nationality: British
Living in: London
“crows”
What is in your sketchbook?
Birds, animals. Strange creatures from my imagination.
illustrations for the book “who stole summer?”
illustrations for the book “where is Fred?”
Where do you illustrate?
At home or on...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 130:
HELEN BUTLER
for a pop up book
Age: 22
Nationality: White British
Living in: England
What is in your sketchbook?
My inner monologue. Drawings of people I see in town, on the bus or in cafes - and my thoughts about them.
“courage”
Where do you illustrate?
In my bedroom, in the studio, and out and about.
“Quentin...
Sketchbook speaks alongside Monocle @ LCC
On a sunny Thursday evening earlier this month The University of the Arts hosted an speaker evening entitled New Opportunities in Publishing, to which Sketchbook Magazine was invited, alongside Andrew Tuck – Editor of Monocle Magazine; and Mia Bennett – CEO of Turned on Digital, to present a talk discussing our respective business models and ways in to the industry.
Illustration credit -Andrew...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 129:
ROBERT TIRADO
“Circo Gooo”
Age: 33
Nationality: Venezuelan
Living in: Madrid, Spain
“a bout the suflee”
What is in your sketchbook?
Reflections and thoughts. Like any sketchbook, it all starts with a empty paper sheet. When you’re in front of it, and let your inspiration and your dreams flow
A part of my artwork is done intuitively, because I like to...
Illustrator’s Portfolio 128:
MARIA CALEIS
from a series titled “rectas y curvas”
Age:34
Nationality: Spanish
Living in: A Coruña, Spain
from a series titled “Maria Antonieta today”
from a series titled “Maria Antonieta today”
What is in your sketchbook? :
Mainly female portraits.
Where do you illustrate?
In front of a large window overlooking the sea or on the...
Illustrator's Portfolio 127:
ALEX HEDWORTH
Age: 24
Nationality: English
Living in: Newcastle/London
from the series “spaceman-cometh”
What is in your sketchbook?
Life drawing/ observational drawing and random bits from my imagination
from the series “spaceman-cometh”
Where do you illustrate?
Currently I like to draw in busy areas in the city centre. I also draw a lot at home...
1 tag
London to Brighton Bike ride: thoughts about life...
The sun was shining and I beamed at it after tightening up my trainers and putting my helmet on. It was about 6.40 and I was more excited than scared. 54 miles is not such a big thing and if I was too shattered to cycle up Ditchling Beacon I could always push my bike up… couldn’t I? Nothing to be afraid of. Cool. Got my card stamped and off I went!
This year the London to Brighton bike ride was...
2 tags
Ring it!
A few weeks ago I received on the post a beautiful present from Peculiar Vintage. A gorgeous Bloc Letter Ring with my initial created by Stef Warde and inspired by old printing blocks (which happens to be one of my favourite objects in the world).
I have said before that summer is the perfect time for statement rings. Firstly because it gives the chance to experiment with flamboyant colours and...
Illustrator's Portfolio 126:
FAYE WEST
Meursault
Age: 27
Nationality: British
Living in: Devon
Patrick Wolf
What is in your sketchbook?
Girls and flowers, musicians and fashion.
Andrea Crews for Amelia’s Magazine
Maria
Where do you illustrate?
In front of my PC or in bed.
REI KAWAKUBO for Amelia’s Magazine
Masha Ma for Amelia’s Magazine
What inspires your...
The Future Folk at Goldsmith’s BA Design Show
It’s that time of year again; Graduate Season. When up and coming designers, illustrators, artists and all round creatives are given the opportunity to celebrate their hard work and show their industries just what they’re made of. Here at Sketchbook we’re passionate about exploring emerging creative talent, it’s an exciting time for us and for the designers who are stepping away from the drawing...
Illustrator's Portfolio 125:
KEANO ROSS
My Interpretation of the Beatles track Dear Prudence for a design on a vinyl cover
Age: 18
Nationality: British
Living in: Newcastle Upon-Tyne
MJ - from a series titled Influencers
What is in your sketchbook?
Quirky illustrations with the odd attempt of wit, portraits and caricatures, typography sketches, general doodles
Where do you illustrate?
I still live at home...
Illustrator's Portfolio 124:
PETERIS LIDAKA
From a series of life drawings
Age: 32
Nationality: LATVIAN
Living in: RIGA
Cats 2011 - from a series of cat drawings
What is in your sketchbook?
My Day Dreams
From a series of life drwaings
Where do you illustrate?
At Home
Wolf - from a series of cats and wolves drawings
What inspires your work?
Other great artists,
Movies,
Good weather
Everyday...
Illustrator's Portfolio 123:
KATHERINE TROMANS
Collaboration with Mia Jafari London - illustration of the winning scarf by Florence Bamberger for Sketchbook Magazine
Age: 22
Nationality: British
Living in: Bournemouth
Elle Magazine - Amelia Gregory Portrait
What is in your sketchbook?
I have two different types of sketchbook: a project sketchbook and an adventure sketchbook.
My project sketchbook contains...
Illustrator's Portfolio 122:
ANNIE DRISCOLL
I can hear everything
Age: 24
Nationality: British
Living in: London
What is in your sketchbook?
Doodles, ink splatters and dots. Charcoal portraits and random ink shapes.
Oh and a penguin.
Penguin
Where do you illustrate?
At my desk mostly, most of my work is put together digitally.
Uppercase
African Fashion Tee-Shirt
What inspires your...
Illustrator's Portfolio 121:
At our SB headquarters, we are constantly sifting through illustrator’s portfolios which is why we decided to spotlight our favorites 5 days a week. So far, we have had a great response to our already featured 20. But, we still have some more of our favorites to show you so keep checking them out!
LIKETHAT
Flora and Fauna - Birdy
What is in your sketchbook?
Mostly doodles. Some...
Illustrator's Portfolio 120:
NADIA EL MEALLEM
Debut Fame
Age: 32
Nationality: British
Living in: East London
What is in your sketchbook?
Drawings of sultry, glam girls and faraway places
Fashioning
Circles of Time
Where do you illustrate?
Where ever inspiration strikes, from fashion shows to the comfort of my bed!
Her Pride and Zoro
Catwalk Dreams - London Fashion Week
What inspires your...
Flora and Fauna at tea with Creative Tops and the...
One is the world’s largest museum of art and design, the other is an entrepreneurial company specialising in creative living homewares, design and gifts. Last week in the breathtakingly beautiful Gamble Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum, press, designers and buyers were invited to tea to celebrate the three year collaboration of these creative forces and preview Creative Tops new collection...