French gems

FAVOURITE AUDREY TAUTOU FILMS

1. Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain AMELIE

Is this not the most perfect film ever made?  I am more than a little bit fanatical about this film (the man who used to play Yann Tiersen songs on a bluesy old piano in Bath hasn't returned in a while.  I fear I might have something to do with this) and insist on watching it at least twice a year (usually shortly after hearing snippets of the soundtrack in shops or sighting a man with an accordion).  Every time I see it I notice a tiny (magical) detail I've missed on a hundred previous viewings.

2. Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

I'm going to say that this is my second favourite Audrey film, where as in truth, I can't really remember very much about it.  Except that it was superb.  And that Jeunet is a genius.  So I think I need to watch it again.

3. Hors de Prix PRICELESS

I loved this film!  It is lots of fun and great to see her in a role so far removed from the films above.  She is a fierce character who romanticises with wealthy old men who can afford to give her the luxurious lifestyle she desires, until she accidentally seduces a hotel bartender by mistake (who is fabulously French looking and extremely funny).

4. HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT

A bit of a sinister one, but pretty entertaining with lots of twists!  I will say no more.

5. BEAUTIFUL LIES

When I first started watching this a couple of days ago, I thought to myself, 'I wish Audrey Tautou was my hairdresser' until I realised how fierce she is in this film!  It is a bit of a comedy of errors, set on this majestic looking island in the south of France, where, having received an unwanted love letter from a stranger (in reality, a guy who she employs), Audrey's character redirects it to her mum who is in desperate need of a revival, after struggling to come to terms with the fact that her husband has left her for a younger woman.  You can probably imagine how this might go badly wrong.  Not my favourite of her films, but certainly very entertaining!  I love how the male protagonists in her films are quite unconventional, 'real' people and not shiny Hollywood actors.

6. Ensemble, c'est tout HUNTING AND GATHERING

This would probably be third on my list if I could actually get hold of a copy!!  It appears it was only released on the other side of the globe (if anyone can find me a copy, I will be eternally grateful!).  All I can do is recommend the book, which is superb.  It is essentially an awkward romance set in a neglected, but very grand Parisian building, where the lives of four unlikely characters become intertwined.

I'll add to the list when I've watched some more!  I wasn't charmed enough by The Divinci Code to add it to the list, but perhaps I'll give it another go.  Please send me your recommendations!

sketchbook

My desk is covered in pens and mugs once again, and I am enjoying the heat from my angle poise lamp and the sound of Jono McCleery, and the smell of spices coming from the kitchen...

...Quite relieved that my attempt at a raspberry was chopped off in the scanner.

Not to scale

One of the nice things...

...about working in an art supplies shop, is collecting these little scraps of paper...

Sometimes I find heartbreaking sentences, written in small pencil letters. 

'Why didn't you hire me?'

It's coming...

Winter is on its way...it's almost acceptable to wear woolly hats again and I'm getting excited about hot soup, and Christmas shopping (okay, it's a little early for that).  But let's not forget about Autumn, my favourite season.  There are certain songs that sound even better in Autumn (like this one).  And the sun is shining but it's refreshingly brisk.  Bristol looks especially good in Autumn.

And breathe.

Yesterday, after recouping from only two hours sleep, a portfolio hand-in and a night on the town, I did what any normal sleep-deprived person would do.  I did a massive desk tidy.  Totally gutted the thing of design books, tea stains and degree related ephemera and breathed a long sigh of relief.  It is out of my hands now!  Which is also a little bit scary.  Similarly, my friend Kat used her first day of freedom and general exhaustion to paint her hallway. What is it with us creative types?  Do we always need to have something to do?

Saying that, I've got a to-do list that's taking up half of my pinboard.  We have an exciting degree show opening next Friday at Sion Hill, which is up until 15 June (I believe) if any of you lovely people would like to come along and enjoy some art.  I will be showcasing a little book that I have made (lovingly sewn by my mother) in response to this incredibly beautiful album.  If you haven't heard it, you must seek it out immediately!

Ooh yes, lots of music to look forward to this month...you can grab a couple of songs from Ninjatune's finest here and here.  And speaking of Ninjatune, the delightful tea applauding animator extraordinaire Mr Scruff is playing at the Bath Komedia in August!  Eee!

Right - off to put my mega list into action!  See you on Friday *wink*.

zzz

Hang in there Dawn.  Just a couple more days of frantic degree work, then you can stay in bed after nine, watch Amelie, drink hot white chocolates and guiltlessly look around shops.

the cowshed

New stuff is materialising every day in the mad rush that is the final month of my degree!  Just gotta finish it!

Had fun with Joanna in the studio today.  Although I'm guilty of grumbling sometimes, I will miss being draped in fabric and trekking out to desolate fields with you when all this is over, Miss Cranwell.

Enjoying image making whilst sipping orange juice and listening to folky tunes this morning...

around the world

I am having lots of fun generating book cover roughs at the moment, even if it is preying upon my desire to travel!

over the hills...

Really enjoying this image and a couple of others by Riikka Sormunen.  The way they are composed is beautiful and so clever and I'm in love with the sepia hues in this illustration.  Awed.

wellie season

For those of you who are interested, I have updated my website with more images from this month's Milk magazine.

white stuff

I was super excited to find several fresh new copies of Milk magazine on campus this week, featuring a handful of my illustrations and Spring cover design (try and look beyond the chipped nail varnish if you can!).  I will be sticking some more images from Milk on my new website very soon, so look out for those!

let's drive to brighton

One of my favourite places to be.  And perhaps where I will one day end up.

closing time

Thank you to everyone who wandered down to the Chalk and Cheese exhibition this week!  I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed watching people peering at the artwork whilst chomping on stilton and cheddar.  I am in deep admiration of Amber Grayson (and her team of helpers) for fusing the whole thing together.

If you missed it, please have an ogle at the blog to see what the illustrators of Bath School of Art and Design have to offer...!

chalk and cheese

Come and feast your eyes upon  some lovely, clever illustration by the peeps at Bath Spa!  BE THERE - or miss out on free cheese!

Poster design by Tor Sindall

isn't it good, norwegian wood

I thought I'd better let you all know that I'm still here!  It's been a busy old month of screen printing (don't get me started) and quick deadlines.  I've just completed a magazine cover for a competition (watch this space) and a quick entry for Don't Panic's Norwegian Wood poster comp.  I'm not hugely proud of this one, but the book was so beautiful, I felt compelled to give it a shot!  

And I feel a little guilty admitting it, but I'm pretty massively excited about the film adaptation!

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WORKING ON: Chalk & Cheese exhibition

ENJOYING: Lizzie Stewart's London adventures

LISTENING TO: Radiohead's new album, The Tallest Man on Earth

This week I've been getting really stuck into my Black Swan poster project, for which I have been hastily illustrating twenty five stamps.  So, I thought I would share with you some of my favourites...

stumbled across a beauty

Currently drawing stamps for a poster exhibition taking place at the Black Swan in Frome on 25 March...but I dearly wish I had designed this beautiful, beautiful stamp from 1963 (found here).  Sigh.

salamano

I have just finished illustrating Salamano, Mersault's old callous neighbour in The Outsider, who is transformed into a delicate, melancholy soul when his poor mistreated dog finally runs away from him.

pretty little gifts

I quite fancied doing a little pre-valentines etsy round-up...so here goes!

misterrob

KnitsbyJess

girlhula

gugaw

KarolinSchnoor

Lisa Jones Studio

cardandenvelope

MarviesWorld

bangbangyourethread

winter feels like...

mr. mersault

* Note: Sorry for re-posting this so many times...there was a very irksome spelling mistake in the title and I just had to get rid of it!

I am sad to say that I missed yesterday's deadline for the Folio Society's illustration competition for Albert Camus' The Outsider.  But here is a quick illustration I've put together, post-deadline, in response to Mr Mersault's prison experience, upon remembering the familiar sights and sounds of Algiers from outside his cell.


I am mainly just pleased that I've managed to put a person into one of my pictures that isn't a silhouette or a tracing, at last!  This guy was inspired by Petra Borner's lovely figure drawing.  She may have saved me from an on-going struggle.

a hint of summer

After a couple of truly unsuccessful attempts, here is the image I've clawed together for my Fringe poster submission!  I'm up against some pretty stiff competition and there are more than a couple of niggling tweaks I need to do, so I don't know if this will cut it, but it should add some vibrancy to my portfolio at least!


I will update you all on my New Year adventures in Scotland very soon...I am eagerly awaiting the collection of my photos tomorrow (though I fear they may be reflective of the grey, dreary January weather) and of course, the hand-in of the dreaded dissertation (I can recommend these guys for binding, they seem to have done a splendid job).  In the meantime, I have a scary amount of work to do and a kettle to boil!


Happy New Year!