Monthly Archives: July 2009

One degree of separation

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Who needs six?

We’re in there with Barack and Hugo and all because of a book.

Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, was ranked 54,295 on the sales charts of bookseller Amazon.com back in April but it has since risen to number two. Why? Because President Chavez presented the book to President Obama at the Summit of the Americas.

Savvy UK publisher Serpents Tail immediately snapped up the UK rights and we were asked to create the cover at high speed – quick work Wardle!

Edward Bawden

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I couldn’t mention Eric Ravillious without giving Edward Bawden a little plug too. They studied at the Royal College together under the skilled eye of Paul Nash the WWI artist and were part of the same generation as the sculptor Henry Moore. Bawden was a prolific printmaker – Kew Gardens, Brighton, Liverpool Street Station, London monuments and markets were all subjects that attracted his printmaking. I think these two of Covent Garden and Borough Markets are so beautiful, especially when you consider each line is cut from lino.

Eric Ravillious

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One day I’m going to make the time to follow in the footsteps of this man.

Maybe it is partly nostalgia because we both grew up in the same area and the Sussex Downs were some of Eric Ravillious’ favourite subjects. But I also admire the lightness of his work, it isn’t overlaboured and he uses such subtle colours. For a relatively short life he accomplished a great deal, not only as a painter, but also as an illustrator on various books, London Underground posters, Wedgewood ceramics and latterly as a WWII war artist where he tragically lost his life. Thankfully he left a wonderful legacy.

I’m in Sussex at the weekend and will be revisiting my childhood walks on the Downs and who knows maybe I’ll be inspired to create some artworks of my own. In the meantime, limited edition prints of his work are available from Kings Framers online store Gorgeous Things Ltd.

Quirky and classic

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‘Recycled’ and ‘stylish’ don’t always go hand in hand. But Berlin based Schubladen have hit the nail on the head with their unique furniture. They reuse drawers from defunct furniture and incorporate them into new bodies. What a great idea, rescuing them from the scrap heap and giving them another bite of the cherry, albeit with a little nose job along the way. They may be too much of a mix match for some, but I think they’re fun and über stylish.