Sat 18th June: Tom Vek's illustrated gig posters

Danny Sangra

Mark Ward

Kate Moross

Ferry Gouw

Stevie Gee






Harking back to the original tradition of bands having unique adverts drafted up for each specific gig, Tom Vek asked 5 illustrator/graphic artist friends to design a poster for his 5 UK shows. Tom wrote down the 5 names of both the artists and city venues, tore up the paper and put the tickets in a hat to delegate a random outcome of pairing the place to the person. The A3 artworks were printed using the Risograph technique at Ditto Press on Shacklewell lane, just round the corner from both of our studios. Using this process in place of screen printing meant that a restricted colour palette has resulted in the disparate designs appearing as a distinctive harmonious collection. The limited run of 100 per piece have been sold at each show with the final remaining concert happening tonight in Brighton.
Tom completed his first album whilst studying Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins where his network of contemporaries have all followed suit to become successful talents practising today. Luckily this means he has an immediate resource to tap for collaborations on the visual side of his musical enterprise which came together neatly for this particular offshoot venture. The mouse drawing for Thursdays headline show at London's heaven is by Ferry Gouw who is also known for the art direction of Mad Decent - most notably the comic strip style for Major Lazer. Ive included Ferry's video for Tom's first release from “Leisure Seizure” here which was put together as an ode to the genre of boy-racers who like to see their girls hair fly from the sheer amplification of car soundsystems! It was a concept the two worked on closely together in the edit to execute a tight coreography of hair flicking to the strong beat element of the track. Its this attention to detail that marks Vek's identity ........... also taken thru to the composition of live visuals which he has constructed with a cross beam projector to match the colour of the lights to the rest of his palette. If you missed this condensed run of dates, be sure to check his tour diary to catch the next slots at festivals and cities internationally over the summer.
Any posters left over from sales at these select dates will be appearing online in due course..........

Images from "Tom Vek gig posters first collection" - Tom himself, Ollie Evans (director of 'A Chore'), Mark Ward, Danny Sangra.

Friday 17th June: 'Bortusk Took a Trip' Report by Emily Beard

'Bortusk Took a Trip' is the first solo show by UK artist Bortusk Leer. Bortusk has been spreading his rainbow tinged vision on the streets of New York and London since 2007, creating monsters that shine a bit of colour into the dark corners of the cities. Pasted over newspapers, naturally. Bortusk's work is explored over a variation of mediums, with knitwear, painting, sculpture, not to mention crawling across the floors and walls in vivid and UV hues.

The exhibition presents a peek into the carefree and colourful days of childhood, with the intention to 'put a smile on your face and brighten up your day'.


68 Sclater Street,
London,
E1 6HR
Weds-Sun 11am to 6pm

www.tonysgallery.com

Thurs 16th June: A Day With Jason Evans

Jason Evans a.k.a The Man From The Daily Nice asked me to take part in a string of guest tutor slots to students on "Photography for Fashion and Advertising at University of Wales, Newport". I spent the day starting with an introduction into my world of prop styling and bespoke accessories to give insight into this facet of the industry. We then concluded the experience with a hands-on workshop for some first hand experience of how tricky it is to pull a rabbit out of a hat when under constraints of limited materials and time. It was great fun and in addition to the colour created in class, I couldn't help snap some of the random hazard tape markings around the art school which looked like Jason might have been responsible for!!! Here is his own collection of Japanese work-men helmets which are not only an incredible facet sculpture shape but a cosmic palette of colours. Here is also a recent example of album artwork executed in Evans signature aptitude and sensitivity of treating and arranging colour. Jason art directed and shot this latest release for The Wild Beasts which is a glorious follow up to the beautiful artwork for Four Tet last year. Keep a look out for posters appearing from the Arctic Monkeys to see yet more of his masterful imagery for music .............

Thurs 16th June: Mention in The Metro

I have been at Ascot all day and missed picking up the paper - thanks to Ryan Parry for sending me this snap of a mention about the Lazy Oaf collab! Exciting times!

Weds 15th June: Rad Jacket

Here's something I picked up recently, purely on the merit of the cosmic applique. It was a giant denim jacket that Ive taken in to fit over my threeASFOUR denim suit. I'm really looking forward to blinging it up a bit more with extra studs............ perhaps something along the lines of the YSL pin badge covered number I wrote about for AnOther..........

Weds 15th June: Shingai's Challenge

For the last few months I have been working with bespoke bike engineer "Super Ted" to design a unique frame for Shingai Shoniwa to complete a sponsored 72 mile ride from London to Brighton. Shingai set out on the challenge to raise money for her mother's own Breast Cancer charity and asked Nike to get on board to help her with a training program that could fit into her busy summer festival season schedule. With a personal trainer and use of a synched app, she has been fitting in work-out sessions inbetween rehearsals. All the while, Ted and I have been constructing her a tailor made bike to practice and be comfortable for the final journey! From her measurements, specifications and wishlist of design ideas, we collaborated to conjure up a dream machine.
Film maker Grace Ladoja has been documenting the whole process (of which you can see the first installment here) so I wanted to make the paint effect shimmer as Shingai would be filmed cycling in the sun. It turned out that she was already thinking about Gold, as if she had won the golden ticket like Charlie in The Chocolate Factory. I interpreted her vision for Leopard print in a vinyl cut-out effect and scanned her heart signature for Ted to weld into the frame. He then made holes throughout the body for me to weave yarn in a cat's cradle to replicate the string-art that Shingai and I loved from our childhoods to evoke that nostalgic "Cities Of Gold" vibe!!
Since completing the bike, I have sewn a special bike helmet to match, so check back to find out how the ride goes and how she looks on the wheels of steel.................

Tues 14th June: Ted Draws

I'm going to see Prince play in July and need to be suitably attired in a Prince related T-Shirt and specially for the occasion I have discovered "Dirty Mind" by Ted Pearce. This illustration is part of Ted Draws triptych Spring collection alongside Raekwon & Madonna. You can visit WAH Nails to see the tees or buy them online which I did ............. and received some unexpected bonus material ......... including an original drawing, penned onto a CV! I really love the Madonna illustration - I bet the girls at Vogue would too!

Buy yours here.

Sun June 12th: BFC New Gen = Craig Lawrence

Alongside the Elle Launchpad award from the BFC, is New Gen sponsored by Top Shop which funds 17 emerging designers to exhibit at London Fashion Week. This season's winners were announced earlier in the week, with Craig Lawrence receiving a slot for a presentation for the third season running. Here are snaps from one of my recent visits to Craig's new digs which show details of production from his A/W collection, demonstrated to full effect by Daisy Lowe at last months BAFTA awards!! These pieces have just been bought in by West London's newest boutique "The Village Bicycle", so you too can get your mitts on Craig's knits!
Craig and I no longer share studios but do still hold court together in one house - in the form of our magnificent representatives Ella Dror PR - who have just uploaded their website - click over to check out who else is on the books.............. here.

For more information on the New Gen scheme and the current designers, click here:
Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, David Koma, Dominic Jones, Felicity Brown, Holly Fulton, James Long, J. JS Lee, Jordan Askill, JW Anderson, Louise Gray, Michael van der Ham, Nasir Mazhar, Palmer//Harding, Sister by Sibling, Thomas Tait, Tim Soar Women

Sun June 12th: Yunus & Eliza vs. T.E.E.D

At the close of London Jewellery Week, I bring you an entry on the winners of "The Treasure Designer of the Year Award" - Yunus & Eliza. I have got to know the designers through their collaborations with musician Totally Extinct Enormous Dinosaurs which I first blogged last July when both of our accessories appeared in his video for Garden (styled by Nina Ribena). A year down the line (also picking up the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad Award) their latest intricate and incredible headpiece constructed for T.E.E.D is covered in crystals courtesy of Swarovski elements. Here you can watch a documentary clip which recorded the making of the the welded and gem encrusted wearable sculpture. To see the final piece in motion watch the "Trouble" music video here........ and discover your summer sunrise anthem at the same time!

For more news on Yunus & Eliza, follow their timeline on Twitter.
To see the whole kit and caboodle live, get tickets for T.E.E.D's headline show at Scala this Thursday.