I have just found a copy of a school book that I had when I was 6 or 7 years old. I was brought up in the Midlands of England in a place called Brereton and the school I went to taught International Teaching Alphabet ITA, a phonic system.
I now shudder when ever anyone mentions phonics, for having gone to school aged 5 able to read and write I left that school at 8 unable to read anything but ITA. The books were very limited and only available at 'Boots the Chemist' and my parents couldn't read them.
I have many students with very poor literacy skills, I worry for them and try everything to make them step out of their comfort zone and address this problem, but it is so hard for people after a certain age to have the resilience to try and increase literacy skills.
I follow Michael Rosen's blog as I find his eloquence and passion regarding this aspect of our education system interesting.
This is a problem that haunts me, as so many students are coming out of school without basic literacy skills and I still struggle with my own grammar and spelling demon's.
This spread from 'Cheerful in 3,5 months' a book by Gerard Jansen illustrated by Sue Doeksen's has really inspired me this weekend. Of course it is that winning combination for me of pink and red, and the simplicity and fun. This page is recommending that you 'swim under water with your eyes open'.
These cut out paper compositions of Stockholm based illustrator Tyra von Zweigberg , are bold and fun. This is a great technique for experimenting with shape and composition.
Micah Brenner's collaged works, colide colour, texture, photography and design to creat stunning compositions..
"
Painted and drawn upon papers, lined papers, photocopies, pages out
of found books, magazines, packaging, postcards, envelopes, tape,
fabric... I'm tempted by listings for garage sales that say things like
"misc. paper", but I'm trying to use what I already have accumulated for
the most part or stuff that finds its way into the house--mail, museum
guides, schedules etc... I find that I'm not as interested in collecting
images as I used to be, now it's more about patterns and colors. I'm
drawn to 'vintage' stuff just as much as I am to junk mail as I like
combining elements from disparate origins." Micah Brenner
A nice gentle weekend feeding the ducks, this is what I would like to be doing, so I am using the wonderful Kinako Nagata's collaged paper illustrations to illustrate my imaginary life while I apply self levelling compound to my floors . . . Have a lovely weekend, what ever the craziness you are involved with.
Shnitaro Ohata uses a unique combination of sculpture and painting, depicting everyday scenes but in an almost anime style.
Unique works where the characters have stepped forward from the picture plane and into your space. Shiniaro Ohata is also wonderfully skilled at capturing light sources. (Thank you)
I started this picture on Sunday. I took liberties with the story line, but I liked the idea of Little Red Riding Hood setting up a pack of wolves, all with jam tarts on their noses waiting, like those poor dogs that people train to hold biscuits on their noses, until they are given permission to snap them up.
Yesterday I went on a mini trip to St Andrews with Introduction to Creative Industries students and Furniture students to see an exhibition by Chinese artist Chen Hangfeng an artist who's work in paper cuts is based on long traditions but which at the hands of Chen Hangfeng has absorbed the modern iconography of logos and branding. Chen Hangfeng's work traverses the usual boundaries of art craft and design as he works with film, installation rugs and paper cuts.
In this exhibition I particularly liked the mirrored book forms which expanded his designs, see bottom two images.
My last post about the work of Julio Antonio Blasco Lopez for today blood red and full of hearts.
Julio Antonio Blasco Lopez makes these intricate worlds in boxes. Dioramas to hold and contain fantasies, I think they would be incredible animated.
Old papers layered, painted and then drawn on, I love the quality of Julio Antonio Blasco Lopez's illustrations and especially their treasure spots of colour.
Julio is a Spanish illustrator and graphic designer based in Valencia with a magical way of assembling pictures and unique eye.
I managed a little bit of illustration this weekend, I wanted to work towards Illustration Friday every week, but I have to say that often the inspiration word doesn't work for me. However this week's word is 'crooked' and I immediately thought of the rhyme; 'There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse'.
Playing with the Red Riding hood theme, it was a busy weekend but great to spend a little time painting again.
