microsketch in the media: Time Out

One of my photos went live today as the header image on the Time Out blog. It should there for a couple of weeks.

I took it at the Wellcome Collection; it's of the ceiling in the cafe, which is adorned with lights in the shapes of flasks, beakers, and whatever the pointy things are.


My photo (top), used as the header image for the Time Out blog, August 2011

The full version of that shot, as well as a few others I took that day around King's Cross are available here on my Flickr page.

microsketch in the media: Londonist

A recent photo of mine taken during sunset at the South Bank made it on to the home page of popular London blog Londonist yesterday. While it's since been pushed off this hallowed page, it still lives in their Sunday Seasoning section which is described as such:

Every week we select a photo from the Londonist Flickr pool, taken in the last seven days, that illustrates this season or time of year in London.

For the purists out there, the colours in my original are far more flattering than in the version that they kindly posted on their site!

My photo, shown in its glory while still on the Londonist homepage

microsketch in the media: The Guardian

An article recently appeared on the Guardian's website with my Agit illustration for an app I recently designed the icons for. I now wish I'd spent more than five minutes on it, but it's nice to see it there all the same!



The app itself continues to win praise; If you'd like to know more about it, please see my previous post on it.

App-solutely Fabulous

I recently had the honour of being asked to create some icons by Roberto Tyley for his just-released app for Android, Agit (Buy it here!)

If you're a fan of the version control system Git, it allows you to do some very clever things with it on an Android device. If you have no idea what any of this means, it's all about checking files out, and then back in again (it's the virtual equivalent of the hokey cokey).

Here's a video of Agit it in action.

Did I mention that you can buy it here?

Pitzhanger Manor

I was fortunate enough to attend a wedding over the weekend in the very pleasant surroundings of Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing. As a wedding present for the happy couple I produced this illustration of the entrance to the building.


Pitzhanger Manor, 2011

The manor was once owned by a hero of mine, Sir John Soane, who was an architect during the end of the Georgian era, and most famously designed the Bank of England (although most of his design has since been demolished). He also designed his own tomb, which was then an influence on Giles Gilbert Scott's design of the red telephone box.


Pitzhanger Manor, 2011


Pitzhanger Manor, 2011 (original drawing)

Along with Pitzhanger Manor, the 'dream house' he set out to build and subsequently used as a weekend retreat, I'd highly recommend a visit to the other house he designed and lived in towards the end of his life which is now open to the public as Sir John Soane's Museum (nearest tube station Holborn). This contains an eclectic collection of architectural features that he liked and encouraged students to draw at the time (something which still happens today). There's also a seemingly empty wood-panelled room which, should you find a helpful member of staff, can be transformed using its hidden compartments to reveal the original copies of Hogarth's 'A Rake's Progress'. If you're lucky enough to have a member of staff explain what is happening in this highly entertaining series of pictures, you will perhaps see why those such as Robert Crumb hail Hogarth as being one of the pioneers of the comic strip.

Both venues are free to visit, although you'll probably want to leave a contribution if you enjoyed them as much as I did.

Hear that noise?

I've just been trawling through an old hard disk and found this poster in the archives, back when I did most of my work in 3D. The main shape represents the concept of 'noise' in 3D. I quite like the font that my younger self created.


Hear that noise? 2003

Shoreditch Safari

I recently added a new Photography section to my website at www.microsketch.com (which in fact links to my Flickr page). To celebrate this, I ventured into the wilds of Shoreditch on Saturday. Here are some of my favourites. (The full set of photos is here).


Trois Garcons, 2011


Gals, 2011


Man with Pram, 2011

Minding my business

I recently ordered some business cards and am very pleased with how they've turned out (I have never had one before, so feel like I'm a proper grown-up now). There are six different designs each with a small version of one of my illustrations/photographs.

Let me know if you'd like one and I'll try and get it to you somehow.

I've stopped pickling my nose

I attended the anti Valentine's Day event at the Hunterian Museum on Monday. If you've not heard of the place, it's a free museum (well worth making a donation) within The Royal College of Surgeons on Lincoln's Inn Fields and contains thousands of jars of pickled human and animal body parts.

Unfortunately you can't take photos of the exhibits, although you can draw them, which I plan to do at some point.

As part of the evening there was a 'pickle a body part' session - here's my effort.



Pickling my nose, 2011

Not the most lifelike of things, although it might just get me a job in a sweet factory.

Brian

A quick sketch of my Dracaena Marginata, also known the dragon tree, more often know as Brian.


Brian, 2011

The New Photographer

I recently treated myself to a new camera. You can see my latest efforts on my Flickr page here.


Jellyfish, The London Sea Life Aquarium 2011

The Peoples' Prints

A recent and unexplained surge in orders for my prints sees these limited editions fresh from the printers. These are both approx. A3 in size and are currently £65 (not including postage and packaging, but hand-delivered if you're in London), each of an edition of 10. If you'd like to order one, email me on: info@microsketch.com


A Little Horse


A Little Horse


London Plane on Hampstead Heath


Please note, pencil sharpener not actual size.

Logo development: The Exchange Project

Another one from the archives; the development of a logo for The Exchange Project at Stoke Newington School. The bottom right logo is the one that was used.

Elbbub, elttob

All has gone a bit quiet on the illustration front from me of late, as I've been busy with other things (mainly a new job). But the guilt at this has been racking up, so I figured that I needed to put something on here for my own sanity. I've added a few photos to my Flickr page recently, including this one taken no more than an hour ago...


Elbbub, elttob, 2010

RScruffVP

RSVP for a friend's wedding. Definitely more than a hint of Mr Scruff about this drawing now that I look at it again...

The writing's on the wall

I carried out a commission today in South London to paint a mural based on one of my London Plane drawings. Somehow it took half the time of the original drawing, which was a fraction of the size, so perhaps I need to up the scale of my work.

This is for a baby's bedroom - I hope it's not too terrifying for him.

Thanks for coming

Thanks to those who came along to my 'for one night only' exhibition at Motive at The Book Club. Thanks to the Motive head honchos, Jon and Louis for letting me take part - if you're interested in design, I recommend heading along to one of their future events, which combine talks, music and art (and it's all free).

Mini exhibition at The Book Club, Thu 1 July 2010

For one night only, some of my drawings will be on display at trendy design meetup night, Motive, at The Book Club, 100 Leonard St, London. There should be plenty of other interesting things happening that night, so come along!

You may need to sign up here to attend, or if you can't be bothered, pester me and I'll add you as a guest.

Stoke Newington Schools' Carnival Banner

The banner I designed for the Stoke Newington Schools' Carnival 2010 has gone up!

The birth of a logo

I recently found these printouts from a few years ago, of ideas for a logo for e-TASC (an online educational tool). I like the way the ideas at the beginning are fairly random and independent of one another, but become more finely honed as they evolve to the final design.

Even though I say it myself!

(I've added this photo and a few others showing some of the printed materials I've designed over the past few years to this page on my main site)

There's no business..

..like no business.

A recent business card design turned down as being "too much of a cliché" by my own flesh and blood. I ask you.



Just as well I only spent about half an hour on it.

Fingers

I was inspired after seeing Jeffrey Lewis in conversation last night (at the Old Queens Head in Islington) to try combining drawing from life with whatever else pops into my head, which is what appeared to fill many of his sketchbooks.

Is this drawing I've just finished a commentary on the state of affairs that large corporations / banks leave the rest of us in? Is it my subconscious acting out following the letter I received today from the Royal Academy letting me know that, despite one of my pictures being shortlisted, I've not made it into the Summer Exhibition? Or are the fingers actually doing the 'peace sign'?

I just don't know.

But I don't think it's that last one.


fingers, 2010

Hairy like the Wolf

I'm not sure why I just drew this, and it's not even that good, but perhaps one day I'll look back on it and work out its profound meaning. But I doubt there is one.


Wolfie, 2010

Monsterous blue things

A monster created for Stoke Newington School 's carnival.

A Little Horse

This image popped into my head about an hour ago, so I had to get it down on screen.


A Little Horse, 2010

iCan

A logo and tshirt I designed last year for the iCan drumming group at Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form.

Snap Happy

I've just started a Flickr account for some of my more arty shots. I have loads of photos I've been meaning to do something with, and never get around to developing them, so at least this way I won't feel they're sat on my hard drive doing nothing.

More photos will be added as and when I feel like it.

On display in N16

Being the cutting edge Banksy-style street artist I am, I've just bombed my tag on a dark and gloomy underpass near Croyden.

Not really - that's not my style. I have, however, recently hung a selection of my pictures on the walls of London(the World?)'s finest patisserie, Belle Epoque (37 Newington Green
London N16 9PR) map.

Even if you're not interested in my pictures, it's well worth going there as they make a darn good mocha. And the chocolate almond croissants are amazing. And the cakes...and...just try everything.

Omar Little

Amazing Feet

The results of me playing around with the 'Women and Nanotechnology' drawing I did a while back


Amazing feet, 2009

Paper Michael

I did this to frighten my girlfriend the other night.


Paper Michael, 2009

'She Laughs' at Nexus Art Cafe, Manchester

If you haven't made it along to the 'She Laughs' exhibition at Nexus Art Cafe in Manchester yet, head along before it ends on 21 October. I have a few things on display there, and prices start at £2-£5 for some of the prints, so what are you waiting for?

Thanks to those who came to the opening night on 11 September, and to the folks at Nexus who put the whole thing together.


'She Laughs', Nexus Art Cafe (exterior)*


'She Laughs', Nexus Art Cafe (interior)



*photo taken by 'big bozo'!

Micro in Japan

I recently spent a month in Japan, which was thoroughly amazing and I'm still digesting it as there was so much to take in. While I'm doing that, you can have a look at some of the sketches from the diary I kept there

'She Laughs' at Nexus Art Cafe, Manchester

Some more info on the 'She Laughs' exhibition in Manchester, which I have a few drawings on display at, starting this Friday - come along for the opening night if you're in the neighbourhood:

SHE LAUGHS 11^th September – 21^st October 2009

Opening Friday 11^th September 7 – 9 with performance

What does humour do, what does it say or can it simply function as something to be enjoyed?

Nexus is constantly changing & developing the ways in which it approaches visual art. Not being a ‘white cube’ adds a number of things to the work that is shown in the space & this exhibition, designed by Liz Gaunt & Dylan Thomas takes that forward in its installation. This space has been transformed as a heightened reflection of its Northern Quarter surroundings. There are many visual references to the shabby chic vintage shops & record stores all around making this exhibition something familiar. The visitors to this show know how to flick through records & are welcome to use the same action with the 12’ mounted pieces. Like there rest of the northern quarter enjoying the comfort of nostalgia, rummaging through like old records, absorbing their images the way you might next door or across the road.'

Exhibitionist

I have a couple of drawings on display at the forthcoming 'She Laughs' exhibition at the Nexus Art Cafe in Manchester which opens on Fri 11 Sept 2009. I'll be there for the launch, and I think there will be some interesting things happening that evening, so please come along!

(I'll update this blog should I hear any additional details)

Not quite as shockingly bad iPhone art #2

Another attempt at drawing using the iPhone app 'Brushes'. Animation of it being drawn here. (and previous attempt here)

This is a pretty awful attempt from memory at drawing Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, having seen him at the Ghibli Museum, Tokyo.

I'm glad to see that the Brushes app was updated the other day with the introduction of layers, which means it'll be much easier to use, but I'll now have even less of an excuse if the next picture I draw with it is shockingly bad.

Drawing on the back of a bus

I've done some ads for Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form to appear on the back of 20 London buses throughout August (I'm not sure which routes but they're probably based around Hackney). If you see a bus with this ad please take a photo of it and email it to me. The person who sends the highest number of photos of different sightings (no cheating allowed!) wins a small prize, not yet decided.

Antifreeze / Trade City

I'm taking part in Manchester's first 'art car boot sale', Antifreeze, this Saturday (4 July 2009), as part of Trade City and the Manchester International Festival. If you're quick, you should be able to pick up one of my masterpieces for £1 or £2 at the 'She Laughs' stand (organised by Nexus Art Cafe).

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it up there, so please take a photo of the stand for me if you do go!


Saturday 4th July 2009
12-7pm
Free entry

CHIPS Building, Upper Kirby Street, off Old Mill Street, New Islington, Manchester, M4 6EB

http://www.multimap.com/s/M7wfs331

Further details, including directions:

http://www.citylife.co.uk/arts/news/13628_antifreeze__the_alternative_art_car_boot_sale

http://antifreeze2009.blogspot.com/

Life Drawing

I've just attempted to tidy my room, and instead ended up trawling through some old drawings and scanning them in. Here are a couple of sketches from a life drawing class in late 2007.


Sitting man, 2007


Man with quiff! 2007