Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Blanket Featured Font designers {featured on Smashing Magazine!}






‘Juice’ by Dhany Arliyanti {Blankets Featured Font designer for Issue 17 – The Consumer Issue}







‘Neu Eichmass’ by Ivan Khemelsky {Blanket’s Featured Font designer Issue 22 – The Cosmos Issue}
I was very excited to see that not one but TWO Blanket Featured Font designers have been featured in Smashing Magazines list of 30 New Free High-Quality Fonts!!

Each issue of Blanket we have a specially chosen ‘featured font’ which we use throughout the magazine. I have to admit as a self-confessed typographic nerd one of my most favourite tasks is finding the perfect font that will compliment the theme of each issue and over the years we have shared some classic fonts with our readers. It makes me very proud to see these two designers getting the attention they deserve!

You can read more about Dhany and Ivan {and receive the free fonts!} in the Blanket issues below:

‘Juice’ by Dhany Arliyanti {Blankets Featured Font designer for Issue 17 – The Consumer Issue}


‘Neu Eichmass’ by Ivan Khemelsky {Blanket’s Featured Font designer Issue 22 – The Cosmos Issue}

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Exhibition, shows, news…




Now I have recovered from releasing the latest Blanket issue {have you got your copy yet? No? Then go here!} it’s time to catch up on what’s happening outside of Blanket world! There is plenty of exciting new exhibitions, and shows coming up so here’s a brief run down…



What happens when you ask 38 international artists and illustrators to ‘Play’. Well you can find that out in the upcoming exhibition organised by Michelle and Lisa from Inkygoodness!
The exhibition features over 120 one-off artworks and limited edition prints, many of which are available to purchase in the gallery or on our new online shop after the gallery preview, prices start from £50.
A limited edition issue of Ammo Magazine will also be available featuring a selection of the ‘Play’ artists – available on the opening night and via the online store.

‘Play’ will run from September 3rd until September 12th at the EAST Gallery, 216 Brick Lane, London which is open daily from 1pm – 7pm.


Featuring: Steph Baxter/Dave Bain/Colourbox/Docvek/Marcus Butt/ Stephen Chan/DBO/Camelia Dobrin/Christiane Engel/Good Wives & Warriors/Lisa Hassell/Kate Hindley/ Carlos Garde-Martin/Mister Millerchip/Simon David Mills/George Mitchell/Moot/Olive47/ Tom J.Newell/ Hannah Baber/ Vicky Newman/ Steve Rack/ Log Roper/Steven Silverwood/ Juan Salas/ Matt Saunders/Leila Shetty/Jason Devine/Karin Soderquist/Ben Steers/Mc Bess/Seb Burnett/ Sarah Dennis/ Michelle Turton/Toy Factory/ Simon Wild/ Mark Wilkinson & Gizem Vural.



You can also catch the Print Show of just one of the talented artists who participated in our Cosmos Blanket Project Sam Brewster in three different venues over the next few weeks. And for those geographically challenged the prints will also be on sale after the shows via Sam’s online shop.



Ambush Gallery brings us The Places in Between – a pop up exhibition featuring new work and installations by some of Australia’s best emerging artists including: Ape Seven, Beastman, Ben Frost, Bennet, Bridge Stehli, Drewfunk, Ears, Jumbo, Max Berry, Meggs, Mini Graff, Numskull, Phibbs, Roach, Sam Smith, Shannon Crees and Yok.

The exhibition will be held at HSBC Tower Lobby, 580 George, Sydney CBD, Australia and open daily from Monday to Saturday from 1st to 30th September.
Further info: www.theplacesinbetween.com.au



And last, but certainly not least, is Blanket illustrator Nicola Rowlands! Her new exhibition of illustrations {an array of frightening drawings} will open on Sunday 29th August at The Art of Tea. I’ll be there so pop in and say hi!



SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST, 7:30-10PM
The Art Of Tea {47 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury Village, Manchester}
Exhibition runs until 29th November.

Monday, August 16, 2010

It’s here! Issue 23 is ready for download! {Yay!}


Does the future of art and design actually lie in the past? It’s the subject we are exploring in our current issue the ‘Gone but not Forgotten Issue!

In this issue we explore arts and crafts from the more obscure traditional crafts such as macrame and automata to other traditional crafts (such as embroidery, papercuts and, of course, letterpress) and show how contemporary artists are using these crafts and their skills to create and influence modern art and design.

Surprisingly many of the skills have been self-taught by people who have a real passion and love for their craft. And it’s passionate people like them who will ensure that these traditional crafts are protected and preserved for generations to come. I hope you will enjoy this issue and will enjoy hearing the personal stories from some very passionate artist and designers. I even hope it may inspire you to learn a new skill of your own!

Bec

Scroll down to see what we have for you in this issue!

Blanket’s Cover Art



This issues Blanket cover took artist Katherine Beefheart a staggering 50 hours to embroider! It’s difficult to pick up all of the exquisite details on the cover image so I wanted to show you a closeup – just look at that gold embroidery – amazing! And Katherine’s original words {or word play I should say} is exactly the right theme we wanted to reflect with this issue – it certainly is the ‘Revival of the Fittest’!

Blankets Featured Font {FREE with this issue!}



One of Blanket’s favourite type designers, Vanessa Zoydberg, is back with another beautiful typeface for us to enjoy! Her ‘Redis‘ typeface was actually inspired by the lettering found on an old, metal sugar box – it couldn’t be more perfect for our theme!

We Are Willow {FREE Song Download!}



Remember the song download ‘Save it for Someone Else’ from Butler Williams in Blanket Issue 9 {The Holiday Issue}? Well lucky for us Chris Butler, one-half of the duo from Butler Williams, is back again with another beautiful song especially for us. Chris has embarked on an exciting collaboration project called We Are Willow and for Part 1 of the series Chris has teamed up with the ever so talented musician {and artist} Kathryn Edwards. Together they bring us ‘Saving Grace’ taken from the EP ‘We Are Willow – Part One’.

Letterpress {Feature article}



Australian designer, Alischa Herrmann, from Bespoke Press turned her back on the corporate world and decided to follow her dream of setting up a small letterpress studio. We talk to Alischa about the ups and downs of starting out and how 77 year old retired printer Robert {Bob} Read became her mentor. We also chat to Bob – just how does he feel about passing on 62 years of experience and knowledge to a younger generation?



We also interview Chicago-based designer, Chad Kouri, from the Post Family about his love of type, letterpress and his involvement with the Hamilton Woodtype Museum.

Linocut {DIY Tutorial}



Learn how to linocut this beautiful – but simple – tea towel with the help of our DIY tutorial compiled by Richard Brittain and Rebekah Nathan – the crafty duo behind Bliss In A Teacup.

Also inside this issue you will find:


• Have you ever wanted to change history? Blanket writer, Jonathan Hulme, has {let’s just say in 1995 Billy Ray Cyrus has a terrible mullet accident and can never have children, particularly one’s called Miley}. See how his world would have looked…

• Blanket writer, Gwendoline Watson, teaches us how to embrace our inner child! Who’s for colouring in purple flower stems?

• If you were a child of the 70′s you will already be familiar with the craft of macrame. But if not we are going to introduce it to you with a little help from craft extraodinaire Tamara Maynes.

• The art of Papercutting has been around for centuries but we look at how contemporary artists are influencing a new generation of graduates. We speak to Jonathan Chapman {aka mrYen} about his papercut work.

• Ever heard of the name automata? No? In more laymans terms they are mechanical toys and we see howTory Fiterre has turned his hobby into a side-business.

• Blanket writer, Melinda Woledge, discovers how an old, tatty cookbook is a direct connection to her grandmothers memory. She also passes on a unique recipe for a Bible Cake!

• Re_action!
Artists featured inside this issue:
 Abi Daker, Álvaro Cabeza a.k.a. CAP·388, Anna Cornell, Carla Rak, Diana Santisteban, Emily Chappell, Emma Kidd, Fee Harding, Jason Watson, Jess Racklyeft , Kim Triebsee, Kyle Jorgensen, Laurelin Matulis, Lauren Holmes, Lloyd Stubber, macn (aka Martín Cocchi Nan), Marek Haiduk, Marie Larkin, Michael Barolet, Orlagh Murphy, Sarah Holmes, Stephanie Kubo, Yung Tsai.

• Here’s my work… I hope you like it!
Artists featured inside this issue: Alvaro Sanchez, Anne Cobai, Ashwin Patel, Brandan Gomez, Carla Rak, Christopher M Brock, Claudia Forsbrey aka Claud Forsb, Davi Augusto, Emma Brown, Forrest Elliott, Jon Hannan, Rachel Caldwell, Sarah Lowicki, Stanislav Olehno, Tim Galpern.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Back from Holidays {Iceland photos!}




I snuck back from holidays a couple of days ago and was straight back to work to design Issue 23 of Blanket {a 5 day deadline to finish and release the mag – wish me luck!}. So while I am busy putting the finishing touches on the ‘Gone but not Forgotten’ Issue I thought I would share some of my holiday photos from Iceland.

I seriously gave my camera a workout during this trip and I have a lot more photos to go through but I’ve picked out a few just to show you what a beautiful country Iceland is.

So Here’s my work… I hope you like it.


Now I better get back to designing Blanket so I can release it on time!

See you in the next issue,

Bec

PS/ The Blanket Online Store is up and running again so you can now order back issues of all previous Blanket magazines!