Exciting Upcoming Projects!

The other day my friend Bambieyez said something along the lines of: "blah blah blah my blog... blah blah etc" (where the blahs and etcs were actually rivetting details about her blogging escapades that just happen to be irrelevant to this particular story)

My response was something like "blog.... Oh-mai I have a blog... blog!! I haven't been blogging!" ..... we had a giggle at the fact that due to the massive amount of projects and happenings overcrowding my mind over the last few months, I had in fact forgotten I was quite regularly maintaining this blog. Underneath the giggles and amusing banter I was secretly quite terrified that something I was so very fond of and dedicated to could so easily slip my mind.

But, here I am - back in the land of the big orange B. I'd now like to share with you all a few good reasons to explain why perhaps the afore mentioned forgetfulness may have occured...

I'll start with some rather exciting news from a few months back - I thought I'd mentioned it, but can't seem to see any posts about it! So, I received possibly one of the best emails ever in my inbox one morning.... a lovely little note from YEN Magazine saying they'd love to feature my work on their website! Yay! You bet I pinched myself repeatedly til I bruised.

Then the planning began for the 2nd round of Explicitly Graphic exhibition goodness... we are opening in Brisbane (white canvas gallery, fortitude valley) on Friday 28 October. Despite the fact that we are all very excited to put on another show... it is a LOT of work and needless to say a little stressful and busy at times, but it's always so rewarding to see it all come together on opening night. Head to our website for more deets.... tickets are selling fast for this one as it is a little bit more of an art party feel - DJ, food, goody bags, possibly fairy lights strategically placed for maximum sexy ambience! Hurry go get a ticket online for 9 bucks, or if you're a gambling kid you can wait and see if you can grab one at the door for $15!

www.explicitlygraphic.com.au

Then in the midst of exhibition planning I managed to score an amazing job in a small but awesome design and print studio in new farm. The people I work with are amazingly talented and friendly and I am so happy to be in a fun team environment again. The commute from the coast has been a little crazy but I am moving down next weekend, can't wait to call Brisbane my home for a while and finally immerse myself in some city culture again. (a little spoiled after Tokyo times and often miss the hustle & bustle of city living!)

My explicitly graphic girls are coming tonight to talk all things  OPENING NIGHT!  So stay tuned for some exciting developments...

Oh, and please excuse my messy mix of lower and uppercase letters, lack of punctuation and overall disregard for the Engish language.... this is a real speed post where I throw caution and preciseness to the wind and twirl around in a carefree circle (in a field of lilies, gerberas & irises) until I get to the next project.

I promise not to leave it so long between posts again!

Tiff xx

Girl.Houyhnhnm Magazine Japan!

I am so excited to have been approached for an interview by the lovely editor of Japanese online fashion & culture magazine GIRL.Houyhnhnm! I have been a big fan of this online mag ever since stumbling upon it via hello sandwich (she designed it, the clever girl!) so to be asked to contribute something was beyond flattering! I'm afraid it's only in Japanese, but my good friend Maho from Takara Gallery is working on a translation for me. (I have been practicing my Japanese by attempting to read it but I always get stumped on the Kanji!) Oh, and even if you know not a word of Japanese, there are some pretty awesome videos up from some very interesting characters and a lot of them speak English so you can enjoy those, as well as all the amazingly inspiring imagery.

Tiff xx

Fashion Inspiration

I don't usually post about fashion (for no other reason except living & breathing art!) but today I stumbled across some incredible images that I just couldn't help but share. For those of you who are into fashion illustration, you will understand how images like these make me scream 'I WANT TO DRAW THIS' in my head, even before the 'I WANT TO BUY/WEAR THIS' kicks in! So when I first laid eyes upon these images I immediately put the kettle on and settled in for an afternoon of illustration. The colours, patterns, flow of fabric, makeup, shoes, hair... they are all just so lovely and I kind of even want to print them out and eat them. Weird? Totally.

Love the eyes and birds-nesty hair ~ Source: Lady Petrova

The pale tiffany blue teamed with lemon yellow is super delish ~ Source: Chictopia (by fancy tree house)

 

Pinup, pastel & a flamingo in the same shoot - need I say more? ~ Source: Miss Georgie Dawson (Damian Smith photography)

I'll be sure to share the art that comes out of this afternoon fashiony-inspiration fest! Enjoy!

Tiff xx

***UPDATE*** here's what I'm playing with after getting all inspired by the above images! Work in progress!

Like these little doodles? Grab them on a postcard or print right here

Tiff xx

Vintage newspaper ads

Stumbled across some great old newspaper clippings while looking through some old historical tidbits for a conference I am doing graphics for... I love that everything was illustrated, even product shots, and the headers and splashy slogans are so very typographically delicious! Enjoy!

If you've spotted any neat examples of vintage newspapers/flyers/ads/graphic design/typography etc, do feel free to share them in the comments! :)

Tiff xx

Vintage Wedding Dress Illustration

I am currently working on a commission for a dressmaker who specializes in vintage creations! I'm lucky enough to get a few jobs here and there that are so fun they don't actually feel like work, and this is definitely one of those jobs! Here's a sneak peek... will share the finished piece very soon!

Tiff xx

-------------------------------------------------------
+UPDATE+

Here's the finished piece from the sneak peek above! See a slightly larger version here.

Tiff xx

"Stray" for Stray Magazine

My submission for Stray Magazine ~ the theme was 'Stray' ~ I've had this bunny-kini lass in my head for some time now and this seemed a good opportunity to bring her to life.

Tiff xx

Cute stationery from Chibi Run!

I was definitely spoiled for craft & stationery supplies living in Tokyo. So much so, that I didn't even buy that much when I was there... kind of a 'plenty of time to get it later' kind of attitude. Don't get me wrong I admired a LOT, everyday, sometimes in 5 hour Sunday browsing sessions! I definitely filled a suitcase or two of crafty stationery radness in all my trips there over the years... but it's only now that I'm back in Australia that I keep thinking "WHY DIDN'T I STOCK UP ON **MORE** AWESOME CUTIE CRAFT TIDBITS?!"

So, this is mind, I was super chuffed when I stumbled across the cuteness that is Chibi Run online store, recently. AKA Germaine Tan, Chibi Run is based in Melbourne but ships internationally. She stocks a range of sweet little crafty stationery bits and pieces imported straight from Japan. And the best part... unlike some online stores that sell similar wares, her prices are delightfully cheap. She even wrote to me personally to refund a few of my shipping dollars because she managed to send it in a cheaper envelope. Now that's some good ol' fashioned service right there!

Did I mention how adorably wrapped it was? Argh! I almost (ALMOST) didn't want to unwrap it ;)

Can't wait to use these on my next project!

Thankyou little Chibi, I love my masking tape sticker packs! And finding your gorgeous little store has taken away a bit of the sting of no longer having an unlimited supply of such cuteness at my fingertips everyday! ;)

Tiff xx