Artist interview: Laura McKellar
Posted by Melanie Maddison on Wednesday August 25, 2010
This week’s interview is with Laura McKellar, an artist living in Melbourne who has an amazing series of work – digital prints on fabric, which she then hand-embroiders. There’s more to this crafty lady than meets the eye, so read more about her in this interview with Melanie Maddison, our chief interviewer on Pikaland!
Website: lauramckellar.com
Blog: lauramckellar.blogspot.com/
Online Shop: www.lauramckellar.bigcartel.com/
Zine: iloveokay.com/
Zine blog: www.iloveokay.blogspot.com/
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/sirseven
Hi Laura, could you tell us a little about yourself, and what are you currently working on?
I am a freelance graphic designer living in Melbourne, Australia. I’m currently working on artwork for exhibitions, album artwork, illustrated ceramic brooches, some logos and thinking about my next issue of my zine Okay.
How long have you been creating art, embracing your creativity, and working towards developing your current style and output?
As a little girl I was encouraged to be creative. My sisters and I would spend a lot of time drawing and painting and using mum’s Derwents.
My uncle and grandfather were both photographers and I was influenced at an early age by them. I collect film cameras and use my photographs with illustrations. I am drawn to images I find in old 50s & 60s pattern books and have collected many which have had a significant effect on my work.
I studied graphic design for 5 years at college but I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. Learning to use design programs on the computer has definitely influenced how I design my artwork.
How did you first learn to access your creative and artistic talents, and gain the confidence to make art your career?
I grew up in a very creative environment. My aunt is a professional illustrator so from a very early age I learned with a lot of hard work and dedication that it is possible to make art your career. I also learned at school that I could make a living from being creative and have since pursued it!
CLICK HERE to read the entire interview!
Review: Impressive
Posted by Amy on Saturday July 24, 2010
I remember seeing a small machine, almost antique-like that stood at the corner of a big printing house when I was checking the proofs of a magazine I was spearheading a few years ago. I asked the manager about it, and he mentioned that it was a letterpress machine – very old and broken, so it couldn’t be used anymore. It looked regal, despite its age, and very beautiful — it left me wondering about the prints that came out of the machine before it was left by the corner. Thankfully, artisans everywhere are now taking these old presses and giving them a new lease of life; and knowing that has made me feel lots better — I wouldn’t want these old presses to suffer the same fate as the one I saw.
With the resurgence of craft and the handmade movement, letterpressed stationery ranging from bold, typographic promotional items to pretty and cute wedding invitations are everywhere to be found. They’re the perfect accompaniment to the movement – they’re tactile, beautiful, and because they’re hand-pressed, each one is slightly different from one another.
So when Impressive: Printmaking, Letterpress and Graphic Design came in the mail, I was ecstatic. It’s a beautiful book – big (it measures 12 × 9.8 inches!), generous and so very inspiring.
Title: Impressive: Printmaking, Letterpress and Graphic Design
Hardcover: 256 pages
The book covers more than 100 letterpress printing studios and their work, interspersed with interviews with a few of them about their craft. The book is a great showcase of how contemporary designs fits in beautifully with this style of printing, made popular in the mid-15th century. Fun fact: Did you know that back then the impression made by a letterpress machine is not as distinct as they are now? Today, impressions are made deeper to set themselves apart from other conventional printing processes. A badge of honor, if you will!
CLICK HERE to read the full review!
Comments [5]
Lydia Nichols
Posted by Amy on Tuesday April 27, 2010
Feeling a little southern? Well then Lydia Nichol’s recent illustrations might very well be up your alley. The illustrator is based in Pennsylvania and her work is bright, happy and sunshine-y; with a dose of retro thrown in for good measure. She just returned to her Etsy shop, where you can find goodies like prints, buttons and cards – just in time for spring.
Comments [5]
Vintage German Illustrations
Posted by Amy on Thursday March 25, 2010
Beautiful work by Ernst Klinger (1900 – 1962) found on Susalenox’s vintage German illustrations set on Flickr.
Comments [6]
Rand Renfrow
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 3, 2010
Quirky illustrations, zines and posters from Rand Renfrow. He hit the nail on the head with It Seems Like It’s Missing Something — an illustrated book of quotes collected from people’s humorous encounters with outsiders to the design and art world; a collaboration with Shaun Fox. I bet the designer who has these sort of clients are tearing their hair out instead of laughing when told the same thing!
Comments [3]
Giveaway #9: Matou en Peluche set!
Posted by Amy on Wednesday September 2, 2009
Sam of Matou en Peluche is giving out a package filled with goodies from her shop! There’s one big print, three smaller prints, two buttons and a set of two cards + envelopes and they’re all so gorgeous!
Comment below to enter, and the winner will be emailed after the giveaway ends on 8th September!
———————————
And yes, Tuesdays are officially giveaway days from now on, so there’s another giveaway from Vitoria Usova happening right now too!
UPDATE: Commenting has now closed, thanks for participating!
Comments [63]
Andrea Heimer
Posted by Amy on Sunday August 2, 2009
Look at those colors pop! Andrea Heimer’s original paintings are themed around Pop Portraits and are a study of color and pattern, and slightly psychedelic in many respects. Best of all, they’re really affordable – the prices of these paintings start at USD$50.
——————-
+ Interested in becoming a sponsor for Pikaland? Our August spots are now open for those who are interested in getting more exposure for their site! See here!
+ I’m so happy to announce that starting from Monday, we’ll be having contributors on board! We’ll be unveiling a special lady on Monday, so watch out for the news!
+ And remember to enter the Camilla Engman third drawer down tea towel giveaway which will last till Tuesday!
Happy weekend everyone!
Genevieve Dionne
Posted by Amy on Friday June 5, 2009
Love the wood burned images, collages + drawings done by Genevieve Dionne — I also love her items a few years back; she used to go by the moniker “Bittersweet Genevieve”. Good old days!
————————-
Have you entered the Good to Know zine #2 giveaway yet? You have until this Friday! Chop chop!
Comments [2]
Illustrations on plates
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 25, 2009
I love it when old items are given a new lease of life, and I also admire the people who know how to give a proper make-over. Sarah Burden obviously knows how to turn old to gold with her illustrated plates. And if you think old tableware can’t teach you a few new things, well I recommend having a look at her fertility tea sets. How’s that for food for thought?
Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre
Posted by Amy on Tuesday December 16, 2008
I am smiling at the works on Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre helmed by Wilhelm Staehle and T.D.Rio. Scrolling down the innocent looking intricate paper cut-outs set against some serious paintings, I can hardly stifle a giggle as I read the naughty going-ons in the minds of the characters.
The duo has a wonderful shop called The Bazaarium where they have all sorts of Victorian-inspired goods and wares, like these deliciously intriguing mystery mini-books too, in addition to prints from their Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre.
Comments [3]