BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

I love these images by artist Anna Schuleit. Set over four floors of a mental health centre in Massachusettes, the floral visuals were created to address the absence of flowers in psychiatric hospitals. The now unused, drab and institutional building was covered with over 28,000 potted blooming flowers, all offering an array of different colour's and scents, breathing a little life back into  a tired and worn out building.

Crystalised

I am completely mesmorised by these paintings (yes paintings, I find it hard to believe too) by Toronto-based artist Carly Waito. Not to sound too much like a raging hippy but I'm big into crystals and precious stones at the moment, I bought a huge block of some for my fireplace recently and now I'm yearning after one of these delicate paintings. I love images such as these where you can't tell if they are real photo's or not, it takes great talent which Carly clearly has lots of! - you can view her other beautiful pieces here.

Dem Bones

I've always had a thing for skulls - a bit strange I know but like I've mentioned before I find that they can create very interesting shapes and can be used in a variety of ways to create beautiful jewelery, fashion and artwork. My friends obviously know me very well and for my birthday I received this lovely little book all about skulls and also a crystal vodka skull head shot glass! Both of which I absolutely love! If your as fascinated as me about skulls it's a good little book to purchase, one I shall be drawing some inspiration from in the future.

Stocking Fillers!

As Christmas is fast approaching upon us I took to my laptop last night and started the Christmas shopping!
I really enjoy looking for presents that people will really love, something that's a little bit different.
I came across this lovely Design and Art Sketchbook from Magma, designed by creative agency Studio8.
The book is full of useful tips and measurements and is the perfect gift for any creative mind this christmas....
I may even have to buy myself one!

Lucky Lucy

I am a lover anything from high street retailer Zara so it comes as no surprise that I'm on their mailing list - which is very dangerous - but I like to check out the lookbooks when they come out. Recently I received an email directing me to this lovely short film about Lucy Chadwick directed by The Selby for Zara.  So now, I will admit, I'm slightly green with envy of Lucy, the clothes, the NY apartment, the jewelery, the lifestyle, the barn, the locations, her effortless style - I want it all! Fair to say she may become a new muse of mine! oh and her London home is just as lovely, the girls got it all! - If you want to get jealous too take a look at the film here

Love Unplugged

Love Unplugged – Love Art Launch night from Love Unplugged on Vimeo.

My lovely friend Maddy, a fellow graphic designer, has been greatly involved in a lovely arts and music festival called Love Unplugged which takes place around the Leeds and Bradford area. The Festival raises awareness of different charities and allows local talent to get noticed. The launch night, filmed by the very talented Luke Rothery, took place at Dock Street Market and was attended by lots of music and art lovers who came to view the various cardboard guitars which have been illustrated by local artists and are going to be auctioned off for the charities involved.

I went down to the launch night  (I have a very small cameo in the film!) and it was a great night full of music, laughter and teapot cocktails! One of my good friends Lizzi has decorated one of the guitars so I even made a cheeky bid on hers, fingers crossed I win! To find out I shall be heading down to the next installment of the festival which takes place in Bradford on the 19th November, for more details check the website here and support the cause!

Hope I see you there!

Spooky Shelves

I dropped upon the amazing work of James Hopkins, a UK based designer who uses different perspectives, illusions and objects to create these types of images. At first glance you just see stacks of shelves and objects but when you give them a closer look you realise each object has been placed very carefully with much thought given. I am fascinated with skull's and would love to give this a go, but I wouldn't know where to start?!! Never the less I thought it would be nice to share these to get us in the mood for a spooky weekend! Happy Halloween!

It must be love...

Tonight I went along to Creative Networks at Leeds College of Art and Design with some work collegues and friends to see Richard Wheater give a talk on his neon art. As I've previously posted I'm a lover of all things neon and it was great to hear a professional talk about their love for it and how it all works.

We got to see some great pieces of his work and learnt about his most recent project '12 Months of Neon Love" in which he has collaborated with Victoria Lucas. The project started on Valentines day and since then, each month, a quote from a famous love song has been erected in large red neon letters above the Neon Workshop in Wakefield, visible from the railway for all commuters to see. So far 8 quotes have been erected and there's just 4 more to go until Valentines Day next year when the project will come to an end. After each sign is replaced by the next quote it is auctioned off on Ebay on the 14th of every month - for any hopeless romantics out there, the perfect engagement pressie or what?!

Although these heart felt signs must bring a smile to most passers by whilst on their dreary commute into work, its hard to think the council ever wanted to take them down! But after a protest and lots of petitioning (including a signature from Jarvis Cocker!) they won the battle to leave them up - and rightly so.

My passion for neon has grown tenfold tonight and I'm keen on checking out the Neon Workshop to give it a go myself, and with it being the 100th Anniversary of Neon next year with celebrations and exhibitions being held in Paris, what better time to start?

Fluorescent Adolescent

I love the work of Francoise Nielly, its so vibrant and like nothing I've ever really seen before.
I have a large wall at home where one of these could sit comfortably but I'd have to get saving
if I ever wanted to purchase one! View her other paintings here

Sketchy

I used to draw quite often but finding the time to do so these days can be tricky. I take may inspiration from one of my favourite artists Egon Schiele so most of my drawings are of ladies. This is one I did a while ago, it's not quite complete yet (like most of my drawings) and I'm deciding whether to add colour or leave it as it is, if I can I'm going to attempt to complete it so I shall keep you updated on the progress!