from the Design Library . . . Charley Harper

i cannot believe i only discovered Charley Harper last year. where have i been?! i thought i'd discovered a new genius...but no. he was born in 1922 and produced an amazing body of work from the 40's right to the new millennium. and there is a book out there that captures all these years across a whole 400 pages - 'Charley Harper - An Illustrated Life'.

i love his use of simple geometric shapes to create quite intricate scenes. he called his style 'minimal realism' and described it as:

" when i look at a wildlife or nature subject, i don’t see the feathers in the wings, i just count the wings. i see exciting shapes, colour combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behaviour and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures... i don't try to put everything in, i try to leave everything out "

i like this way of thinking. i shall adapt this to my work. less is more.

* you can buy the mini edition book here on amazon for only £13! there's also the full size (it's enormous and weighs a tonne. oh and it costs about £200, although i did find it in Liberty for £70)

* and here's a shop full of Charley's stunning artwork (OMGoodness you can buy everything - jewellery, tiles, puzzles...!)

i love those mad men, i do

this weekend i was away in edinburgh celebrating with my friend on her hen do. a lovely weekend had been arranged - a gorgeous apartment, silly games, lots of food and drinks - and on the night out the dress theme was Mad Men. everyone made such an effort with their outfits! 

so the plan was to do a post based on the Mad Men fashion and lovely accessories...but then i found a Mad Men poster. things changed. i LOVE these graphics! makes me wish i was a graphic designer. love the simplicity and colours and texture. something i think i'll incorporate into my own designs. in fact the more i do these posts the more i am realising i definitely have a style i am honing in on - look at my post 2 weeks ago - the doodle monkey says it all! there's a clear graphicy-simplistic-block-colour-with-texture-thing going on. that's the best way i can describe it. you know what i mean. don't you? ...!

anyhoo, onto these wonderful artists...

1 - made by radio

2 - minimal movie posters

3 - olly moss

4 - malota

from the Design Library today . . . ART NOUVEAU - POSTERS, ILLUSTRATION & FINE ART

so i treated you to one of my favourite art deco books on the last Deign Library post and today is the sister book - ART NOUVEAU.

the book features well known and well loved artists and designers - Gustav Klimt, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh being my two stand out favourites:

the background of the art and design movement is covered very well and the visuals are great, just like with the art deco book.

posters feature heavily - but i don't mind - i love them so much! i just never tire of looking at them :)

the book also features jewellery, furniture and even the underground!

originally bought from past times for only £10 you can pick up your copy here...enjoy!

from the Design Library today...ART DECO - THE GOLDEN AGE OF GRAPHIC ART & ILLUSTRATION

so i've been a little slack on my book posts lately, apologies - it's been very busy with all the marketing events going on! so today i have a lovely art deco book for you...

i absolutely love art deco and this book covers all areas of the art movement including lots of background information

each page is beautifully illustrated alongside photos and prints of well known items across all products:

...including posters and advertising...

 ...ceramics and products...

...artwork and pattern...

...and last but by no means least, jewellery...

i bought this book from the shop Past Times in the sale for only £10! full price £20).  they also sell an Art Nouveau matching book which i will cover in the next Design library post :)

london snaps - part 2

as always lots of interesting things were going on around london today, especially being as it is the start of the August bank holiday weekend (and the weather lived up to it's usual standards - heavy downpours and a rather dramatic thunderstorm!!) 

a bit of a musical theme along the Southbank - lots of wooden huts with musical influences from different countries ...

huge children's blocks suspended outside the Southbank Centre

i was paying particular attention to the 'graffiti' style artwork...

ignore the bin!

my new almost-favourite restaurant Wahaca (mexican market eating)

tiles from Wahaca's toilets - you really can find inspiration anywhere!

there was a rather bizarre tree opposite the National Film Theatre, made of fabric roles ... strange and quite soggy by this stage ... but still pretty!

the calm before the next thunderstorm!

from the Design Library today...NEW YORK NOTEBOOK

i absolutely LOVE this book but now it's come round to writing about it it's really quite tricky!  

it's basically an arty-graphicy-collagey-scribbley-rather random book on New York, but it also a travel guide as to the quirky places to visit, AND you can use it a travel log yourself, adding your own little notes in along your journey! not that i want to write in mine. i'd ruin it.

that's pretty much all i can say so i might just have to let the pictures do the talking on this one...

lots of typography in this book if that's your thang?!

this is one of my favourite pages - there's a breakdown of all diner lingo. who would have guessed 'adam and eve on a raft' was 2 poached eggs?? or that 'dog and maggot' actually meant cracker and cheese?!

cant help but love this palette

unfortunately i can't remember where i bought this book from and it's only available from private sellers on amazon so cannot direct you...so i kind of feel like i've teased you with that one and left you empty handed...sorry!!