Ashmolean Museum

Tasting China: Images of Food in Chinese Art

13 Oct 2015 to 14 Feb 2016

With images of various foods and related rituals and activities, this exhibition looks at representations of food within Chinese art.

From daily meals to celebration banquets, festive ceremonies to religious offerings, food is presented in many contexts.

Image: Liu Xiling (1848?1923), Rustic cuisine, 19th-century

When I visited the Ashmolean recently I found these ink paintings by female artist "" I love the simplicity but careful line work in these pieces. 

Sheffield: Window Art.

I recently visited Sheffield and walked past this window display which I just thought was really simple, drawn just using white, but looked really effective and added a really imaginative and creative atmosphere to the shop and the street.

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/138235587140/280116-sheffield

The Pitt Rivers Museum

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/138232005535/280116-the-pitt-rivers-museum-oxford

Recently I visited the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. I love this museum because of it's extraordinary range of artifacts from all over the world and time periods. There was even a display of English accessories that included modern day fake eyelashes, which will one day be an interesting and unusual object!

Anthropologie Artist: Amelia Herbertson

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/amelia+herbertson/home-feature-ameliaherbertson.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURE-AMELIAHERBERTSON#/

Personal Website:

http://ameliaherbertson.com/

Contact:

a_herbertson@hotmail.com

I contacted this artist (as I did with all of the other Anthropologie artists researched on this blog) and I got some feedback from her husband in an email: 

"Hello Alice, my name is Harley McAlister, and I am Amelia's husband.

Thank you so much for your email, and sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.

Amelia is dealing with a couple of very big life and business changes at the moment, so we have been a long way behind in our correspondence. 

I will try and set aside some time with Amelia this week and get some advice out of her for you! 

I can appreciate how difficult and intimidating it can be to enter a creative industry, as I have left my career as a chef to study Industrial Design. You see other peoples work and you just cannot fathom how they do it! 

Ironically, Amelia often has the same questions as you have posed to her, and in fact, she has gone back to University this year to study illustration further.

Thank you again for the message and the kind words, you will hear from us again soon.

Regards,

Harley and Amelia.

P.S. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask!"

Anthropologie Artist: Bridget Bodenham

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/bridget+bodenham/home-feature-bridgetbodenham.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURE-BRIDGETBODENHAM#/

Personal Website:

http://www.bridgetbodenham.com/

All images - Copyright © 2015 www.bridgetbodenham.com

Anthropologie Artist: All Roads

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/all+roads/home-feature-allroads.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURE-ALLROADS#/

Personal Website:

http://www.allroadsdesign.com/

I contacted this artist on the medium of Tumblr and they messaged me back describing their influences as coming straight from nature. I think this really impacts their colour palettes as well as the textures they choose to combine and use in their work. Personally I love the combination of rich and neutral tones with the metallic hues. This reminds me of the colours of a shell etc. 

PO BOXES!

SO... 

In order to get my work out there, I have decided to send some of my illustrations to PO BOXES. These will be ranging from shops, companies, vloggers/bloggers etc. 

Tanya Burr (Blogger/Vlogger)
PO Box address:
Gleam Futures 6th Floor,
60 Charlotte Street,
London,
W1T 2NU

Zoella (Blogger/Vlogger)
Zoella,
6th floor
60 Charlotte street
London
W1T 2NU

This isn't a PO BOX but its an email address to another blogger/vlogger and I think she does have one but I'll have to investigate a bit more to find it... 'Sprinkle of Chatter'
louise.pentland@hotmail.co.uk 

Anthropologie Artist: Michelle Morin

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/michelle+morin/home-feature-michellemorin.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURE-MICHELLEMORIN#/

Personal Website:

http://www.michellemorinart.com/

Anthropologie Artist: Holly Frean

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/holly+frean/newcollaborations-hollyfrean.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-NEWCOLLABORATIONS-HOLLYFREAN#/

Personal Website:

http://www.hollyfrean.co.uk/gallery_526138.html

I have found looking at other practitioners websites really helpful for me when creating my own - I can recognise what I would love and avoid for my own branding.

Anthropology Artist: Sullivan Anlyan

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/sullivan+anilyan/home-feature-sullivananilyan.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURE-SULLIVANANILYAN#/

Personal Website:

https://www.sullivananlyan.com/blog/

Anthropologie Artist: Molly Hatch

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/molly+hatch/home-features-mollyhatch.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURES-MOLLYHATCH#/

Personal Website:

http://mollyhatch.com/

Anthropologie Artist: Nathalie Lete

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/nathalie+lete/home-features-natalielete.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-HOME-FEATURES-NATALIELETE#/

Personal Website:

http://www.nathalie-lete.com/#!products-of-the-moment/c9zl

Anthropologie Artist: Starla Michelle Halfmann

Anthropologie Link:

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/category/starla+michelle+halfmann/artfulpieces-starlamichellehalfmann.jsp?cm_sp=LEFTNAV-_-SUB_CATEGORY-_-ARTFULPIECES-STARLAMICHELLEHALFMANN#/

Personal Website:

http://www.starlamichelle.com/

Anthropologie Artist: Sally Muir

Personal Website:
http://www.sallymuir.co.uk/

Exhibitions on in Oxford

http://inoxford.com/arts/arts_details.html

The Old Fire Station gallery...

Two Days At Oxford
Friday 15th January - Saturday 27th February 2016: Oxford-based artist John Goto turns his attention to the city’s turbulent past in his latest exhibition. Prompted by John Betjeman’s stereotyped view of town and gown in An Oxford University Chest (1938), Goto offers a divergent account of the locale and its people during the nineteen-thirties, in his series of photo-digital artworks. Open: 10am-5pm. Entry: All exhibitions are free to visit.

http://www.oldfirestation.org.uk/gallery/

Unfortunately the Modern Art Oxford is closed during the time I am there... I will probably go and check anyway...
https://www.modernartoxford.org.uk/event/installation-period/

Ashmolean Museum Beaumont Street, Oxford. Tel: 01865 278000. www.ashmolean.org Visit the redisplay of the 19th-century Western Art in three magnificent galleries on the Museum's second floor, featuring Sickert and the Camden Town Group, British Landscape painting and art by the Pre-Raphaelites.

Homage to Ganesha Until Sunday 24th January 2016: One of the most popular Hindu deities, the elephant-headed Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles and the source of all success. As a powerful deity of good fortune, Ganesha is invoked at the beginning of any endeavour. This display presents diverse representations of Ganesha from the Museum’s collection. Time: 10am - 5pm. This exhibition is ticketed.

This Ganesha exhibition is one I will have to see in regards to my India project! I am gutted I couldnt make it to London for the Textiles of India exhibition at the V&A because that would have been amazing for my project!

Cornerstone Arts Centre

25 Station Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7NE. Tel: 01235 515144.
www.cornerstone-arts.org

Cornerstone has a fantastic array of facilities for you to enjoy; an auditorium for theatre, shows, gigs and performances, a visual art gallery, a welcoming cafe, bar and restaurant, a dance studio, an visual arts gallery and various multi-purpose spaces for meetings and workshops.

Robert Strange: Collecting Art
Tuesday 12th January 2016 - Sunday 21st February 2016: During childhood Robert Strange kept scrapbooks and diaries of thoughts, aspirations and images which led to a fascination with collecting objects from these experiences. From dice to plastic cracker toys, this playful and colourful exhibition features detailed drawings alongside paintings, prints and photographs of everyday familiar items that we regularly use and throw-away. The exhibition will also feature displays of the found objects; showing where the practice of collector and artist combine. Meet the artist and get closer to the exhibition through talks and interactive activities on Saturday 30 January, plus half-term activities for children. Please see our website for more details. Tickets: Free Entry. Sanders of Oxford - Rare Prints & Maps 104 High Street, Oxford OX1 4BW Tel: 01865 242590 www.sandersofoxford.com Sanders of Oxford has long been a landmark on the High Street. Our collection of prints and maps, dating from the 16th to the 20th century, is extensive and encompasses a wide range of subjects, engravers and prices. Subjects include Topographical, Portraiture, Sporting, Caricatures, Natural History, Literary and Japanese Woodblocks. December: Whats On New stock for Christmas includes: Japanese woodblocks, regional and world maps, caricatures and new work by contemporary printmakers, alongside a wide selection of beautiful and unusual Oxford prints and photographs. Let our friendly, knowledgeable staff help you find a unique and personal gift this Christmas. January: Lord Leighton and the Photogravure in Pre-Raphaelite printmaking This January Sanders presents an exhibition of rare and beautiful prints by Frederick Lord Leighton alongside the leading Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite exponents of the photogravure printmaking technique. ONLINE SALE We are offering 15% off online purchases throughout January. See our website for full details. Sarah Wiseman Gallery 40/41 South Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JL. Tel: 01865 515123. www.wisegal.com Open: Monday to Saturday Exhibiting a wide range of original contemporary art, this is the largest commercial gallery in Oxford hosting six formal exhibitions a year, working with emerging and established contemporary artists. December Exhibition: Christmas Exhibition January Exhibition: Sarah Spackman - A closer look

Carefree Drawing

After finishing my COP module and all of my dissertation work I decided I needed to do some drawing that really had no pressure or emphasis on it, so I just drew a few cute animals using line drawing and metallic pen. I think its important for me to remember to draw whenever I like, without worrying about the outcome. This is why keeping a blog such as my A Wasp in a Wig tumblr, is so good. There is no pressure for finished perfect work.

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/137697842320/200116-havent-drawn-in-a-while-so-getting-back

aBlog - Anthropologie's Blog

I really love Anthropologie's blog, particularly the create section, which has loads of fun and creative ways to decorate your home. This is something I really enjoy looking at and doing myself and I do a similar thing with my SunD.I.Y section on my Tumblr.

http://www.anthropologie.com/uk/en/blog/category/create/

http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/tagged/sundiy

Brainstorming Session with Fred

(To Do List)

What I have done already…

• Contacted illustrators (no response)
• Made social medias (Instagram, FB, Tumblr, Linked in, Pinterest etc.)
• Promotional Pack with Business cards etc. 

What I need to do over the next term…

• Contact 100x more illustrators, companies, agencies and publishers. 
• Create a website (which links to social medias and is a good professional platform for my online portfolio). 
• Re-design promotional pack (banners, logos, fridge magnets, stickers, business cards -simple and gold/copper embossed? Focussing on missing chapter A Wasp in a Wig theme from Alice in Wonderland.)
• Research illustrators, studios, companies in Brisbane. 
• Find illustration/art studios in the local area. 
• Look into London sharing spaces with studio.
• Create work that I am proud of, that I can see being on Anthropologie etc. 
• Keep my blog up to date throughout the year. 
• India and Germany books finished to give some base to travelling work. This could then be proposed to publishers/ businesses.
• Art groups for children assistant. 

What I want to have done over the next 5 years…

• Create work daily that I am proud of.
• Have a respected reputation for my art and online presence. 
• Have good professional relationships with brands that I have created good quality work for consistently. 
• Have travelled lots and documented this through my illustration.
• Have experienced working abroad.
• Have an agent in place or be working for a company etc. 
• Have a supportive following.
• Have a client list in place. 

5 Key Statements for the Next Two Weeks

1.     Create a website with all professional social medias linked and a platform for my online portfolio.

2.     Re-design promotional material and branding to link to the theme of A Wasp in a Wig – the missing chapter in Alice in Wonderland.

3.     Contact relevant artists and research them. Collect inspiration in scrapbook to motivate own work. Personally this relates to Anthropologie-style artists.

4.     Research and contact local and Brisbane based artists, studios and companies. Also look into arts clubs/activities to assist with.

5.     Start travel illustrations and design books –large fine art for India and smaller scale ones for my Germany trips, and potentially New York. This will give a good base for any potential travelling in future.

Germany: Eibsee Lake Photographs

Another reason I enjoy keeping a blog is that I can put up my photography up on here without it being judged as professional photography - It is a good way of storing my inspirations and influences.
http://awaspinawig.tumblr.com/post/136608756005/040116-eibsee-lake

Fab India!

Fab India was the only 'high end' shop I visited during my time in southern India... and it did not disappoint, it was filled with beautiful designs and crafts.

The shop was not big, but I spent hours in there looking at all of the items because of the amazing colour schemes and detailing on everything! I absolutely love Indian style and fashion, during my time there I was constantly in awe of the Indian peoples everyday saaris - the colours and combinations shocked and inspired me... in England people would avoid wearing even a black shoe with a brown bag! The textiles in Fab India were just as inspiring- I couldn't help myself and bought 3 cushion covers and a bed throw! (I am now a grown up -eek).

Another reason I love this shop is because they platform products that are made from traditional techniques, skills and hand-based processes. Fabindia links over 55,000 craft based rural producers to modern urban markets, thereby creating a base for skilled, sustainable rural employment, while preserving India's traditional crafts. Their products are natural and craft based.

http://www.fabindia.com/