First year illustration students recently exhibited new hand printed work at the National Library of Scotland. The artist books on display here were inspired by a visit to the Library where students viewed a number of original items being prepared for the Book Beautiful treasures display. This experience was important, the opportunity to touch, smell and to …
Waverley Stories with William Goldsmith
Recently our second years undertook a four-day sequential illustration brief with talented illustrator and writer William Goldsmith. The project was named ‘Waverley Stories’ and was a way of getting students to think of themselves more as storytellers and writers, as well as image-makers. “Using Waverly Station as a setting, the students were encouraged to hone their …
New work by programme director Jonathan Gibbs at the Curwen and Open Eye Gallery
Jonathan Gibbs has been putting together his drawings, paintings and prints for exhibitions in London and Edinburgh. ‘Life is But a Dream’ currently fills two rooms of the Open Eye Gallery. At Curwen and in the Open Eye, commissioned engravings and studio pieces have been intermingled in a display of his current practice. He just …
Word on the street: New printed typography by Stage 2 Illustration
We are surrounded by print; bus tickets, books, billboards, newspapers, business cards, clothing, timetables, calendars, money, bills, leaflets, crisps packets, wrapping paper, graffiti, tattoos, postcards, maps, magazines, artworks, contracts, instruction manuals, litter, bumper stickers. All are imprints made on the world. Some are permanent, preserved as part of the world forever. Others are temporary, ephemeral, throwaway. Our …
Night Swimmers: New Exhibition by 4th Year Illustration
Friday night saw the opening of six of our Stage 4 Illustrators’ new exhibition ‘Night Swimmers’. These gifted students together make up the new Commontongue Collective. Using a limited colour palette, format and process, the silk-screen prints in this exhibition present a coherent and subtle examination of theme ‘water’. Yet despite the tight framework, the body of work is wonderfully …
The One and Only Beautiful Book: 1st year zines illustrating the works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Based on a recent trip to a National Library of Scotland exhibition, our Stage 1 students recently designed and printed their own books illustrating selected texts by the great Geoffrey Chaucer. ‘Beautiful Books’, which runs at the National until 3rd March, features illustrated texts from 19th and 20th Century, ‘ edition of Chaucer’s tales, alongside ‘La Hypnerotomachia’ …
Bundles of drawings by Paige Collins
A sneak peak at some development work of 4th year Illustrator Paige Collins These blue subtle and delicate drawings in blue and red are from a work in progress book called ‘Sleepy Town’. Can’t wait to see the finished product! Dec 1, 2015
Work from recent project ‘Herbarium’
Stage 2 recently completed a research project all about plants. Herbarium asked students to investigate plants through in-depth observational drawing and associated research, then develop their findings into applied illustration. The results were a vibrant mix of editorial illustration, product design, decorative work and responses to film and literature. Have a look at the results below, a …
Modernist Posters by Stage 1 Illustration
After studying the work of Modernist designers such as A.M Cassandre and Alexander Rodchenko, first year illustration students have created their own posters promoting event venues across Edinburgh. Each student chose a different venue and headed out to collect research images and sketches. They returned to the studio to experiment with collage and monoprint, simplifying …
Field Trip: Oban 2015!
Thirty three students of Stage 2 Illustration recently travelled to the West coast for a four-day drawing trip in Oban. The ‘Gateway to the Islands’ provided students with a varied landscape from which to draw and collect artefacts, ranging from farmland and beaches to cathedrals and shipyards. ‘Logbook’ was the project they were set, asking …
