Graduation, Summer 2011

"Graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending, however, it is also a time of celebration of achievement and a beginning for the new graduate." Catherine Pulsifer

"You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. " Tom Brokaw

"There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning." Orrin Hatch

I will reach for the stars no matter how hard it seems, and fly like a bird with the knowledge this journey brings. Semetra C. Vanison

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."Anthony J. D'Angelo

"Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement." B. Tracy

"Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference." Arie Pencovici

LET MY FREELANCE CAREER BEGIN

Original Mono-Prints

My degree show preparation is coming along nicely, I've chosen to put on show my 'Colour in Barcelona' pieces. Which demonstrate observations of houses, using pastel and limited line.

I realised that somewhere in my studies I had forgotten how important line work was, as a result I played with some mono-printing to bring the real affect of line back into my work.

Above are a few fresh originals, that I intend to digitally edit and layer upon my pastel imagery, to introduce more line-work into my art.

Easter Egg Making

Home-made Easter Eggs

It's sometimes nice to have a day off from the scribbles on paper and image editing on the computer. Whilst on my Easter break from Uni, making beautiful easter eggs for my friends seems a fab way to shine my creativity!

Here is a very simple but unforgettable recipe for Easter eggs which will make you appear to your guests as this amazingly imaginative hostess, and friend.

All you need is:

• 10 oz (300 g) chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
• Icing for piping/ wafer decorations
• Various sized egg moulds
• Small amount of sunflower oil

To kick off, rub the inside of each mould with kitchen roll damped with sunflower oil. Break the chocolate into pieces and melt gently in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Take off the heat and leave to cool.

Now, spoon the chocolate into each mould, and swirl around until each of them is coated. Then remove the excess chocolate and leave to set for a while, flat side down, on a large surface covered in greaseproof paper.

Wait 20 minutes and then add another layer. Repeat the process 2 or 3 times to build up a good layer of chocolate. My granny taught me a trick to ensure you have a clean edge every time you layer – simply draw a knife across the chocolate and there you are.

Carefully remove the eggs from the mould. Take care not to touch them too much, as they will begin to melt in your hands. Alternatively, you can try keeping your hands in ice and work in this way, but I wouldn’t recommend such a method, as you might end up with a cold.

Plate the eggs of two halves on a heated baking tray for a few seconds, then gently push both halves together. And last, place these eggs in an egg cup while you pipe icing onto the egg to decorate.

It might look a bit hard, and it’s the details that need to be observed strictly to get the expected result. So, no shirking with the minute things, if you are eager to please.

HAPPY EASTER EGG MAKING!

James and the Giant Peach

The Penguin Design Awards

http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/minisites/penguindesignaward/index.php

James and the Giant Peach will be fifty in 2011. First published in 1961, it has become one of the most loved of Roald Dahl’s Stories, appealing to readers of all age. Dahl was a master of language and making up words. His stories are full of fabulous visual twists and turns.

Task

The aim is to design a striking new cover look for the iconic title, reinventing it for a new generation of readers, encouraging children’s (and adults) to revisit it and ensuring that it remains an integral part of childhood for the next fifty years.

While all elements of the jacket need to work together as a cohesive whole, the front cover needs to be able to work on it’s own and be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting.

The closing date for entries is 5 p.m. on Friday 15 April 2011.

Barcelona

Temple de la Sangrada Familia

Barcelona

Temple de la Sangrada Familia

Barcelona

Parc Guell