love print studio blog

Friday, 26 April 2019

Friday freebie...

A little desktop wallpaper freebie for you all today.

Happy Friday!

Click here to download desktop wallpaper

(image above © Louise | Love Print Studio)

x x x

Well I hope everyone enjoyed the glorious sunshine we had over the easter weekend.
The UK truly came up trumps. We can usually always depend on good old British bank holiday weather to be a complete and utter write off with downpours, clouds and miserable grey skies, but not this weekend.
No siree! Woooooo!

Here's a little sunshiney colour crush to start the week...

(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

Etsy shop finds...a chat with Laura Bird.

This months etsy interview is with London based ceramicist Laura Bird.

With a background in illustration, her pieces have a strong narrative focus with character and beautiful pattern featuring heavily.

Her inspirations are clear in her work; ancient arts and stories from medieval, greek and roman times, yet her ceramics and illustrations feel modern and fresh with wonderful colour palettes.

You can see what Lauras getting up to and have a nosey into her processes over on her instagram account.

Lets get to know Laura shall we...

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background...

I studied illustration at Kingston University, graduating in 2009.

It wasn’t until after uni that I considered working with clay and started an evening course at my local college.

I instantly loved the material and it opened up a whole new world for me to explore!

It’s highly addictive and it was exciting to make pieces of art that could also be useful objects.

I love how endless the possibilities are!

I started selling my work on Etsy about two years later.

2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

I have some big books on ancient art of Mexico, medieval drawings and Celtic art that are always inspiring to me.

I don’t often buy magazines but I love interior design magazines such as The World of Interiors, Apartamento, Elle decoration.

3. Tell us about a typical day for you...

I usually start by doing any computer admin and email replying at home and try to get to my studio around 10am.

It’s in a big railway arch in Hoxton which I share with friends.

Each day is different but I will spend the day making, painting, packing orders.

I work until around 6 but usually later until I’ve finished my tasks for the day.

4. How would you describe your work?

My work is colourful, playful, illustrative, characterful. I like the term “ceramic illustrations”.

5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

Whenever a new idea pops into my head I try to get it down on paper as soon as possible.

I get a lot of ideas when I’m working on something else so I will stop what I’m doing and make a little drawing.

It only takes a second and will be an extremely rough sketch but it’s there so I can remember it later. I tend to draw out ideas on scraps of paper rather than keep a sketchbook, so I have a pile of them in my studio to look through when I need inspiration.

My ideas usually begin as one very rough sketch and then the making process is trying to realise it! The idea can sometimes change and develop during this time but often the pieces come out looking like the tiny drawing.

I usually have ideas for decoration when I can see the finished shape.

6. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?

I’m very into my garden at the moment and spending more time outdoors! I love nature and flowers which are often used in my work.

7. Who are your design heroes and what inspires you?

Dorothy Annan, Roger Capron, Lucie Rie, Ken Price, Stephen Bird, Anni Albers...there are so many!! There are also loads of amazing people I follow on Instagram that keep me inspired.

8. What’s the most rewarding thing about being an illustrator/ceramicist?

Definitely when I meet people who own my work and selling directly to people. It always amazes me that people want to buy my pieces!

9. What five things could you not live without?

Family, friends, my garden, nice food, my kiln.

10. What makes you laugh?

My friends! I have some very funny friends and we always laugh a lot.

- - -

Thanks to Laura for taking the time to be part of the etsy interviews and sharing an insight into her world!

x x x

Giant Pansy...

Alina Tang is an artist from Perth, Western Australia, and currently based in Amsterdam.

She works across printmaking, illustration and floriography for exhibitions, collaborative projects and commissions.

Her work, under the name Giant Pansy, is inspired by an ongoing curiosity and engagement with floral cultures, creating work that is bright, colourful, and full of joy.

She loves creating patterns, details and delicate compositions.

Alina is inspired by beautiful colour combinations, especially including pink!

She loves finding new music, well designed spaces, flower shops, travelling to new cities, meeting other artists and having great conversations, listening to other peoples love stories and seeing her friends pursue and fulfil their dreams.

Alina is currently completing an artists residence programme at Plantage Dok, a creative venue, community and meeting place located in the heart of Amsterdam;

'Every Flower in the Forest' new exhibition and collection.

Alina is exciting to be presenting a new body of work in a small exhibition, created during a four month residency programme in Lapua, Finland.

The work brings together elements of Finnish design philosophy, celebrating organic, simplified forms of flowers, mushrooms, branches, leaves and berries found during walks in the forest.

Real and imagined species are loosely gathered and arranged in simple formations.

Each of the works start as a small idea, turned into a pencil sketch, and brought to life using a bright palette of gouache.

The originals have been translated into a collection of paper goods, including limited edition art prints, postcards and greeting cards. The stationery collection has been produced locally in Amsterdam, ensuring that the quality of the paper and printing are just as bright and beautiful.

She is collaborating with artist run space De Week Winkel, a beautifully curated boutique, gallery and studio located in the historical street Czaar Peterstraat, Amsterdam.

The store is also home to Lian' Aelman's graphic design atelier 'Dare to Wander' where she always greets visitors with a smile and friendly conversation.

The sunny store is full of unique artworks, prints, illustrations, ceramics and other designed goods that are influenced by people, stories and places that Lian has gathered and finds special.

Alina and everyone involved in the event would love to extend a warm invitation to attend the exhibition opening and collection launch on Thursday 18th April 5pm - 7pm at De Week Winkel, Czaar Peterstraat 104, 1018 PS Amsterdam.

The exhibition will run till 4th May 2019.

If you cant make it to the event, why not head over to the Giant Pansy etsy shop and have little look at the gorgeous prints available, and keep up with the goings on with Giant Pansy over on Alina's instagram account.

- - -

***Head over to my instagram where you'll find a super exciting giveaway...

The chance to win a bundle of goodies from Giant Pansy!***

- - -

x x x

Colour Crush...

I'm loving this bright, uplifting palette. You can never go wrong with a turquoise and pink combo in my opinion. Perfect for the spring days that are well and truly on their way!

(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

Lovely childrens books out soon!

The next few months sees some wonderful new releases in the childrens picture book world, including some favourites; Claudia Boldt with her gorgeous 'Animalicious' illustrations in a seriously silly ABC book full to bursting with imaginary animals. Richard Jones with what I'm sure will be yet another book filled with the most beautiful imagery in Paper Planes, following in the footsteps of Town Mouse Country Mouse, The Snow Lion and Feelings.

And I cant wait to see Grace Eastons next book after falling totally in love with her first, Cannonball Coralie and the Lion.

Its a good few months for kids books!