Category: illustration
Today..
On Wednesday night we had a huge storm over London, well, I say a storm – it just kept on rolling in on waves of ear splitting thunder and torrential rain..locally we lost transport, various shops flooded and the internet…I’ve never known anything like it.
Except maybe this morning and the news of Brexit. Astounded, ashamed, depressed. It wasn’t that Europe didn’t have it’s problems, but we’ve now thrown the baby out with the bathwater because we asked people to vote on the EU…and they voted on something else entirely. As an act of rebellion my country has given a thumbs up to xenophobia, racism and bigotry. I thought the Americans had it bad with Trump..the laugh was on me.
Will the last person to leave the country please turn out the lights.
Laters, Kate x
I am Lucky..
Because I have fabulous neighbours, which is one seriously important cog in the life’s life-enhancing machinery. Take this Christmas card, drawn by the visually inspired Jane of her dog, Zsa zsa and all her wonderful puppies taking a leaf out of the Great British Bake Off..Talent, verve and festive giggles..
On Friday I spent the day with another neighbour, Doromy, an ex-actress who knows all there is to know about London and is a visceral, witty joy to be with..we headed to Radio Days on Lower Marsh Street, just by Waterloo to check out vintage dressing gowns for Charlie and to buy deco shot glasses as a present to go with the Sloe Gin I made at Creative Coffee…the place is an absolute treasure trove and well worth a visit if you’re ever in this part of town..
In fact the whole of Lower Marsh Street is a little gem: Vintage shops, food stalls, chi-chi pubs..the gnarly mixed with loftier intentions. Further down and just off to the right is this..the underground tunnel leading to The Vaults, a multi-use underground venue and a spray-painted canvas of guttural dipthongs..
Including female graffiti artists..
And a female fire-eater to boot..
We ended our day, setting the world to rights, eating takeaway kedgeree from Konditor and cook, sitting in Waterloo Station and watching the world go by. There’s not many people you can do that with..simple, effortless and full of the unexpected. It was bliss.
Laters, Kate x
Happy Easter!! xxx
And what better way to celebrate Easter than with the coolest eggs ever?
These are by the celebrity Tattoo artist Scott Campbell who’s inked such illuminaries as Marc Jacobs, Helena Christensen and Penelope Cruz.
Louisiana born Scott abandoned a career as a biochemist to follow his calling (you can just imagine what his parents thought..)
I love that he doesn’t consider skin his only artistic canvas – the street aesthetic of the Tattoo style works so brilliantly against the fragility of the ostrich egg. The snakes and spiders feel like their about to hatch out and all the time there’s an on-going relationship between life and death.
A lady..or a skull?
Refreshing to see talent respected for talent no matter what the roots.
I find them utterly compelling.
Wishing you all a WONDERFUL Easter!
Laters, Kate x
Every Now and Then x
These are the random pics that never make it into posts, but really should..
(All pictures sourced from Tumblr)
Laters, Kate x
Tracing Traceloops..
Artist/graphic designer/ Animator Mathias Brownis re-working the art of rotoscoping – an animation technique where animations trace real footage from by frame to create live-action animations with a hand-drawn feel – and then mashing it up with gifs to surprising effect.
Tumble also choose him as one of their Talents with special access to New York Fashion Week.
A new set of eyes is always liberating.
For more pictures and insights check out his website. I so want to play…
Laters, Kate x
Jenny Liz Rome x
Jenny Liz Rome is an illustrator from Southern Ontario, Canada. I love her realism mixed with a fine dose of fantasy..she manages to get the balance just right.
Cousin Elinor – is that you?!
It’s beautiful work that leaves you wanting more.
Laters, Kate x
Belting up..
In the ebb and flow of life, the Belt seems to have all but disappeared. A bit like hats. I first saw this one in the window of a shop when Christmas shopping and it stopped me in my tracks. I managed to restrain the desire of buying there and then (just) in the hope it would be in the Sale – and it was, reduced from £49.00 to £29.00 which really is a paltry sum for such a peacock piece – You certainly can’t wear it with your hands folded in your lap.
I want to wear it with a loose silk shirt dress in a dark navy blue. But it’ll work with most staples, taking them on multiple journeys (such a win win).
Pieces like this are so important: Mixing opposites, crafting wrong combinations to create something right..they shouldn’t be ignored.
So I say long live the belt!
Laters, Kate x
Secrets..
Do you know postsecret.com? It’s an online community art project where anyone can anonymously send in a postcard with a secret written on one side…which is then uploaded in all it’s gory glory. From the confessions of a disco queen to the thwarted angst of true love, each one reminds me of the Ernest Hemingway six-word novel:
For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.
The perfect illustration of how small things can have a big impact: These are subtly crafted, often poignant bubbles of true and honest humanity released onto the cyber-ether and I love them..
Laters, Kate x
The Christmas Spirit..
Have you seen the rather lovely John Lewis Christmas advert about a rabbit who wants his hibernating friend Bear to see Christmas for the first time?…
……What about the latest copy of Private Eye??
Hehe..
Laters, Kate x
Blog Paaardy!
Do we need a reason to celebrate? NOOOOO! But it has been a smooth transition to this effectively new Blog ‘Maison Bentley Style’..I had no idea you could change your url and still manage to hold everything together, but you can and I am very grateful!……So let’s get this disco ball rolling!!
The rules of the game:
1. You are ALL invited! to accept, please leave your Blog address in the comments below.
2. The party will take place on Sunday 27 October starting at 9.00am GMT but don’t worry if you’re on the other side of the world..because of all the time differences the last party went on for 2 days!
3. Write a welcoming post with ‘Welcome to the Maison Bentley Style Blog Party’ Somewhere on the page..think of it as the welcome mat to your Blog. It’ll make people feel connected and part of the fun, feel free to talk about your Blog and what people can expect to find – the last time we did this everyone experienced a huge surge in stats and followers so it’s really worth doing some house cleaning and tarting up the paintwork..have some nibbles handy and a glass of something special ready..music anyone? If you’re behind UK time, think about putting up your post Saturday night.
4. We live in a virtual world..so this is YOUR chance to wear/interior design/gourmet your food/dream the dream to WHATEVER LEVEL YOU FANCY..that little Chanel number you’ve always lusted? It’s in your wardrobe..in your taylored-to-fit size too..those Valentino shoes? On your feet! You live in in a CASTLE? REALLY? The sky is the limit..put up pictures and let us know because all you need to do is tell us in your post! And quite frankly, the more outrageous..the more outrageous! To give you an idea, this was last partie’s post.
5. This post will stay up till Saturday evening, then I will list all the participants in a new post for Sunday..and then it’s super simple..we fly around on our magic cyber carpets and visit all the names on the list…and try not to get too drunk!
Can’t wait!!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 