This Wednesday a new solo show by our programme director Jonathan Gibbs will be opening to the public at the Curwen Gallery in London.
The show will feature work commissioned by Hamish Hamilton, Penguin, Whaleback, St Jude’s, Jonathan Cape, Folio Society, Techné and Granta.
Also shown will be studio prints on a variety of themes with a series of drawings and paintings in oil and watercolour.
Not to be missed!
In the Grass and River Mouth.
First year illustration students are really getting to know Edinburgh now, and this week they completed a unique map-making project. They were set the task of creating a map that would communicate their relationship with the city. The maps did not have to be geographically accurate and could depict any area or aspect of Edinburgh as they have experienced or perceived it.
We began by visiting the Central Library on George IV Bridge and were treated to a look at some of the maps in the library collection. We then explored the various passageways and rooms around the library and sketched the views of the city from these vantage points. We also visited the ECA Library to look at the fantastic collection of artists’s books. These gave students inspiration for the physical format their map might take.
The students then developed their research drawings into maps of their own. The class produced a varied body of work, including intricate hand drawn ‘memory’ maps, digitally made board games based on their adventures around the city and fabric collages incorporating hand-stitched routes and motifs.
Proud to announce the book launch of ECA Illustration grad Maria Stoian’s new graphic novel Take it as a Compliment!
Blackwell Bookshop, Edinburgh
24 November at 18:30
Take is as a Compliment! illustrates the experiences of victims of sexual abuse in a powerful collective graphic memoir.
Do come along!
See more of Maria’s work here:
http://www.mariastoian.com/
Okularki is the first in a series of books called Small Catastrophe that celebrate family life.
When she’s not making beautiful illustration Kasia teaches here with us at ECA Illustration.
Have a look at her amazing portfolio here:
http://www.kasiamatyjaszek.com/
Okularki. Written by Ewa Madeyska, published by Dwie Siostry
A new group of first year illustration students have arrived in Edinburgh and begun to explore the city. Their first project was a pattern making endeavor, and we decided to head to Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens to gather observational drawings and inspiration. We spent the morning drawing flowers, plants and naturalistic forms as well as the architecture and characters populating the gardens. Students also collected leaves and paraphernalia they found along the way.
We returned to the studio and began to research the history of pattern design, looking at motifs, colour palettes and techniques from all over the world. Students gave presentations on their findings before trying out various techniques themselves. We also looked at the ways in which patterns may be applied, including furnishings, textiles and books.
After demonstrations in relief printing and mono printing, we looked at how to make a repeat pattern by hand and using digital methods. The students then developed their drawings and prints into patterns of their own. The students embraced the new techniques with enthusiasm and as a class they produced a varied and impressive range of repeat patterns. This project involved the first of many observational drawing trips and was a great start to the semester.
A number of our very talented fourth years recently exhibited artworks made in response to the works of Luigi Pirandello.
Pirandello was a dramatist, novelist and Nobel Prize winner whose tragic farces were written with great spontaneity and dealt with identity and fear of materialism.
The exhibition was organised and curated in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh Italian Language department, as well as with the Society of Pirandello Studies.
Felix Miall’s image for Henry IV
works by Molly Soar, Saskia Cameron and Peony Gent
The exhibition is available to see in the Languages department of the University of Edinburgh in George Square.
At Somerset House with his work and his award and his glass of wine.
Doesn’t he look handsome?
Meet Sarah Bissell, artist in residence here at ECA Illustration.
Sarah’s work uses a combination of the hand-drawn and hand-cut to create striking and intelligent images.
Have a look at her portfolio below:
http://www.sarahbissell.co.uk/
Hello all, I am Andrea, one of ECA’s recent graduates in Illustration and an Artist in Residence.
As a result of frequent visits to my favorite café-bar Joseph Pearce and a few conversations with the owners, my most recent work is up that bar, situated on Elm Row, top of Leith Walk, for the next six months.
Not only will you have a chance to have a look my collages based on south American short stories, and my cocktail screenprints, you will see them all in a very informal ambiance, while having a one of their delicious Swedish cocktails or simply a Gin & Tonic; they’re quite an amazing drinks bar.
You will also learn a bit more on how to make cocktails yourself, possibly meet a few Swedish regulars or Leith locals and hear some great live music – if you go on a Sunday evening.
There will be more pieces going up in the next weeks, so you could go even a few times, which I recommend.
How to get to the bar?
Just cross the North Bridge and then head down in the direction of Leith/the Omn i Center. As soon as you walk past the Omni center continue further down until you reach Elm Row, and Joseph Pearces is right at the corner of that street.
Some work by Stage 2 illustrators for a project based around satire and editorial work…
…and work by the brilliant jack-of-all-trades (his words, not ours!) David Faithful who came to talk about his varied career this afternoon, which includes printmaking, icon design, photography, artist books and much much more!
