OlymPICS

I was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to go and watch the hockey at the Olympic Park today.

Not being much of a sports fan didn't put me off as I was very interested to see how the place looked and take some photos (I took several billion).

 

Orbit, 2012

I've added a select few to my Flickr page here, as well as some photos taken using my iPhone here (including some using the excellent photo-stitching panoramic app 'DMD')

Guarded, 2012

Going Viral

A few friends contacted me this morning to say that the 'Olympic Expectations Vs Reality' image that Time Out London put together yesterday using one of my photos seemed to have gone viral, with several thousand people having seen it.

As it was only on the Time Out Facebook page at the time, people had been emailing screenshots of it around to each other, so I suggested Time Out get in on the action and post it on their actual website.

And as of this evening, they have!


My photo used as part of Time Out's image

If you happen to see it used anywhere else, I'd be curious to know where and how far it's spread.

Time Out's Olympic Expectations vs Reality

A pleasant surprise for me this evening when I scrolled through Facebook on my phone and spotted this image on the Time Out London feed, which made me smile even before I noticed that the bottom photo was one of my own.



If anyone happens to spot the photo in the magazine, please save your copy for me.

Belle Epoque: Red Coat version

Two years ago Eric, the owner of Belle Epoque (the amazingly good patisserie on Newington Green) commissioned me to draw his shop. Due to the lack of a deadline, I finally got around to finishing it last week and it arrived fresh from the printers this morning.

In total it took about eight solid days of drawing by hand, then digitally colouring and shading. I've just handed it to him and he's already talking about having it printed on postcards and mugs, so I'm incredibly relieved he liked it!


Belle Epoque print (Red Coat version, Artist's Proof), 2012

The illustration is based on source photos I took on a Monday, the one day of the week when the shop is closed. My thinking was that I wouldn't bother the customers that way and no one would notice what I was doing, but within about 10 seconds of getting my camera out I noticed a red blob out of the corner of my eye jumping up and down shouting "draw me! draw me!". It turned out to be Eric, so that's him you can see in the doorway.

If you're interested in buying a print of this, email me on microsketchdesign@gmail.com and let me know. It is available as an edition of 20 as an unframed A4 giclée print on finest Hahnemühle Photo Rag archival paper for £50 (+P&P or free hand delivery if you live in N16) and I've already had two orders, so don't leave it too late.


Belle Epoque (Red Coat version), 2012


Also available is the Pâtissier version of the print.

microsketch in the media: Londonist (again)

On of my photos was used by Londonist a few weeks ago accompanying an article on Ken Livingstone's rail plans (if he wins the next mayoral election, that is).

I took the photo using a Lomography Supersampler, which takes four quarter-sized photos in quick succession, which get developed as one photo.

microsketch in the media: southbanklondon (again)

One of my photos has again been picked as Picture of the Week over at southbanklondon, which is once again an honour!



The previous time this happened can be found here.

Going Postal

A postcard I designed for Search & Rescue, Stoke Newington Church Street's new premier shopping location.

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.

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.

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.

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.

London Plane 2

I had another go at drawing a London Plane and got more carried away this time, finding it hard to stop adding more and more branches. The dangling things look a bit like musical notes.

(NB: you can view larger versions of the images by clicking them)


London Plane


London Plane (Detail)