good on your wall

Retro Optical Art by Riccardo Sabatini The next stop in our Arty...

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:30:06 +0100

Optical Wave

It's big.

and stripy

and rough

Retro Optical Art by Riccardo Sabatini

The next stop in our Arty Days Around the World feature is Bonn, Germany, however we’re yet to find anthing that has grabbed us yet, so suggestions welcome.

Somehow though we came across the work of Italian creative Riccardo Sabatini.

This is our favourite print from his OPTI LABS series. It has a great mid century retro influence to it. Not too over the top or ‘crazy’ pyschadelic though.

The print is massive; 1m x 1.5m. It’s printed on a 450 gram Stonepaper which gives it a rough texture (for that extra retro effect woodchip wallpaper effect!).

We don’t think the print or any editions are available for sale at the moment but we’ll let you know.

See more of Riccardo’s work here and check out his tumblr blog which is also worth following.

Sarf London Ilustrator Tim Easley We first came across the work...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:00:30 +0100

City Attack

Sarf London Ilustrator Tim Easley

We first came across the work of illustrator Tim Easley via the tweets of another talented illustrator, Liam Brazier already covered here.

First up Tim is a voracious tweeter and we’re enoying following him. Keep an eye on him as he does a few give aways, although we think the latest give away may have just passed with his thousandth follower (we have our fingers crossed!).

Like goodonyourwall, Tim’s roots are in South London, although this statement is quite broad. If pushed we’lll own up to being from Croydon, which doesn’t quite sound the same -although we have a love hate relationship with it -Tim?!

The two featured prints above are our favourites. First up is the hand drawn typographic print quote from one of our, and many others, favourite films, the ultimate duvet day movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The bad news is that this edition has sold out, the good news is they are still available as part of a postcard set with other 80’s classics. Hopefully Tim may do another version of the Ferris print…

Second up is City Attack, monsters going mad in the city. A great graphic print with a hint of the 80’s and Tim’s Tokyo influence. Only $20 for an A2 signed lithographic print in an edition of 200.

See his website for more.

Monster, monster.

Postcard from Lille (and South Wales) - Arty days around the...

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:30:06 +0100

Eye of the Tiger

Office Warfare

One Blind Mouse

War Games

Postcard from Lille (and South Wales) - Arty days around the world #2

So, after leaving Roanoke we arrived in Lille, France. The country’s fourth largest city and home to a bizarre yearly tradition where restaurants chuck all the mussel shells from peoples plates into the street creating huge piles. Restaurants compete for the biggest pile thus demonstrating they’ve had the most orders for moules frites! Here’s a video of it. Anyway….

Unfortunately we didn’t have too much time to look around as goodonyourwall is moving home shortly (very exciting) so things are a bit busy, but there was plenty to see.

We came across The Dirty Cream, an online gallery and shop. Check them out. They’ve got a good range of stuff from prints to cushions.

It was at The Dirty Cream we came across the work of designer and illustrator Rhys Owen, transporting us from Lille to South Wales. Rhys’s work has been decribed as ‘urban’ however he says himself “I’m about as urban as caravan holilday at Butlins”.

Whatever you want to class it as it’s great. Above is a taster and you can check more of it out at his website (including cushions) Hidden Moves. Prints are available from £20, plus canvases, t-shirts and more.

A Cracking Print 2009 University of Brighton Illustration...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:22:03 +0100

A Cracking Print

2009 University of Brighton Illustration Graduate Kyle Bean is a rising star. Since graduating he’s built up an impressive client list and portfolio; Wallpaper Magazine, New York Times, Diesel, Selfridges….

He is already well blogged about on tumblr and beyond so this is a quick pick to let you know some of his work is now available as limited edition prints on his rather splendid website (designed by the equally talented Josh Emerson).

Our fave is ‘What Came First’, Kyle’s playful visualisation of the age old question. It’s really worth checking out his other work as well, such as the evolution of the mobile phone.

‘What Came First’ is available as an A4 signed limited edition of only 100 and only £22. A good one for the kitchen wall and one to get while you can.

Eggcellent (sorry, second ‘bad egg’ pun - actually that kind of makes it three now. I’ll shut up).

Return to Roanoke - goodonyourwall interviews Toobz

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:06:29 +0100

So we were just about to leave Roanoke, and make our way to Lille, France when we managed to secure an interview with our featured artist Scott ‘Toobz’ Noel.

So read on to find out what makes Toobz tick…

GW: Tell us a bit about yourself, we understand you are completely self taught, did you not study at school or college?

TZ: Well I soon realised early in life that most things have a similar process. It starts raw then we add all of our influences and that little bit of ourselves into it then you are accomplished -whether it be the success of a goal or personal contentment. I am self taught. I like it that way but there are techniques I lack so one day I’d like to study for the interaction with teachers and other students. My life is completely backwards in the way things are patterned out. So I just float around till time makes a slot for me to fill the hunger.

GW: Tell us a bit about Roanoke - did you grow up there, what’s it pluses and minuses?

TZ: No. I was born in a town about an hour away and then left to explore the East and West Coast. I ended back over here near where I started and am growing to like the seasons and the quietness. Roanoke has its nature/beauty but lacks in the artists category. I can count on one hand the amount of artists I admire here. However there is a growing awareness of the arts and good heathy food so things are looking up!

GW: What’s the art and creative scene like?

TZ: Its desolate. But I’m slowly staring to educate and carve myself way a future here.

GW: From what we can see there doesn’t seem to be much urban or graphic art going on in the city. Your work really seems to stand out - any other local work you like?

No I am the only that I know of in town, doing what the rest of the world is doing so well. It’s kind of nice to own the city this way but I need company sometimes and friendly competition. I like my friend Calvert Lafollette… I would like to work with him more in the future…

GW: You’ve talked about moving away from graffiti in its traditional sense and hoping to develop your work for exhibitions, commissions and sales. How’s this going?

TZ: I just go back and forth. I get bored with a medium and then find something else to learn. I doubt I will ever stray away from anything that has led me awareness and the fulfillment of true happiness. Like skateboarding, I will always forever feel the love for that because I spent all of my younger years trying to master it but I don’t spend hardly any time on keeping up with it or doing it now. But when I do I never lose the feeling or skill that I earned. I’m always looking around for something and always will be doing graffiti. The galleries, exhibits, and commissions are a way to pay bills and soon hopefully lose the job. I just want to spend most of my time becoming a more accomplished artist.

GW: What are your future plans?

TZ: I see glimpses of things to come but the timing is too unpredictable. I can force options to happen but it just doesn’t feel as natural to me so I am just letting things happen on their own. I really want to do big projects that will make a difference to me and the handful of people that will appreciate it.

GW: What or who inspires you?

TZ: Everything. Moments in time that catch my attention.

GW: What’s the background with the animal hybrids - some seem quite serene while others slightly ‘dark’?

TZ: It has a lot to do with me trying not burrow to deep into the dark around here so I gradually bring an acceptance to the public then ease them into the understanding that darkness is part of us all and we need to accept this. Animals are perfect and humans have come to believe that they are not. We have chosen this attitude to form excuses when we fail. We are very similar to everything around us and shape ourselves into the resemblance of things that are perfect or things that don’t have to be perfect.

GW: Are you working full time as an artist, what pays the bills?!

TZ: No not yet it is hard living in a small town with minimal opportunities. But every year gets closer and better. I have a full time job, I work at nights and sleep during the day. I awake for a few hours to get things done. It is a struggle but hopefully it will payoff.

GW: Where can we buy your work?

TZ: Right now I am working on a website but time is an issue here as well so hopefully soon! But networking on Facebook and email. I also am building some fans so occasionally they buy.

GW: Do you produce any prints as well as originals?

TZ: I’m working on getting some prints made for things that I think are worthy to duplicate. But I’ve only really been driven within the last couple of years. I did graffiti for a while and sketched at life and now I am seeing things evolving before my eyes! It’s exciting!

GW:Have you ever worked in digital art - Illustrator etc or is it all about the spray can for you?

TZ: I love all mediums but spray is love of mine. Oil and acrylics are becoming one of my favorites too. These are new mediums are growing on me fast. I just need to acquire techniques to achieve the affects I’m looking for. Digital is fun and I think it has huge potential but I don’t like to sit completely still staring at a screen for hours. I split it up. I work for an hour then ride my bike for 45 mins then back to it till things are done.

GW: How can we stay up to date with your work?

TZ: By going to this blog and Facebook. Hopefully soon with my site if I ever get it done. Word on the street.

GW: Familiar with any UK artists?

TZ: I like Mode 2, that’s the first to pop in my head. There are others and I know there are ones doing incredible work that i don’t know about or will soon find out!

Toobz - thanks so much, stay in touch.

Next stop...

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:49:10 +0100

Arty days around the world #2 - We’re on our way to Lille, France. We’ll let you know when we have arrived safely.

Wish us bon voyage.

goodonyourwall x

Postcard from Roanoke - Arty days around the world #1 Our first...

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:31:06 +0100

Postcard from Roanoke - Arty days around the world #1

Our first stop in our travels around the world feature took us to Roanoke, Virgina, USA. Before we get on to our find, here are a couple of facts about Roanoke:

It’s home to the world’s biggest freestanding man made illuminated star
It has an amazing architectural salvage place called Black Dog Salvage. If you fancy a pair of six foot tall sand cast glass wings you should visit them. The have a range of weird and wonderful salvaged items.
Roanoke is 3823 miles from goodonyourwalls home

We read that Roanoke had a cultural hub area and was informed there were lots of galleries in the downtown area, however we found them quite hard to find when searching the Internet highways. We are sure we missed some stuff (let us know) on our flying visit and late on we found Roanoke Revolution which seems to pull all things creative together for the city and also provided more info on our chosen artist.

But, we were very happy with our first find on our whistle stop tour of the globe.

Scott “Toobz” Noel is a talented graffiti artist who like a lot of other urban/street artists (however you want classify it) is moving in to galleries and producing work that people want on their walls. From what we can gather though he seems to be fairly unique to Roanoke.

Above is a video interview him and there more to see here. These videos were shot eight months ago and Scott talks abouts work and his plans. At the time of interview he said unless you know him or can essentially track him down apart from one small local framing store his work is hard to come by. Unfortunately this still seems to be the same, as we couldn’t find them available online. We’ve contacted Toobz to find out more and where you might be able to purchase his work. If we here back we will be sure to update you.

Below are a couple of our faves. Toobz produces striking images mainly from a spray can, which is quite remarkable given the clean lines he can produce, all from his spray nozzle. If your interested in finding out more check the videos out.

Special thanks to @soapdeli, @HireYourGuns and Roanoke Revolution. We’re now off to……

Film posters not Poles apart

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:28:00 +0100

The very cool independent movie magazine Little White Lies (thanks to @drtjam for this lead) is hosting an exhibition of specially commissioned illustrations of iconic films from the 70s, reimagined in the style of their own mag covers. Here are a couple of our favourites:

They’re all £45 giclees, printed on archival paper and hand embossed with LWlies logo. A good price we think.

The free exhibition is at Kemistry Gallery (very good), in East London and runs from Friday June 17 to Saturday July 2.

If you’re interested in these then you might also enjoy looking at some of the classic Polish film posters. After World War II Poland was under the control of the Soviet Union and Communism. Western consumer culture and advertising unsurprisingly were not too popular so Polish designers and illustrators did their own thing with some fantastic results . If you’d like to learn more about the interesting history here’s an article from Smashing Magazine. Below are a couple of greats. Many of the Polish posters are highly collectable now and according to cinemaposter.com (which seems to be the definitive site) prices range from $100 to $5000. Get in there!

“The best works should reach the $10K range within a decade, and an average price may easily quadruple.”

Arty days around the world

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:07:00 +0100

goodonyourwall has decided to travel the world - from the sofa - in search of prints and other creative coolness

In an occasional series we shall be using the rather fun geo-pick.com to select a random city and country and go exploring.

We will be looking for creative individuals to report on from wherever our travels take us. We’re not looking for big name artists with galleries and loads of press simply creatives who we think deserve a mention.

To keep things simple the search for now will be limited to North America and Europe. Still a fair bit of ground to cover I’m sure you will agree.

If we are struggling to find anything in the chosen city our search will extend into the surrounding regions until we find something.

Ok so our first destination is….(drumroll, oh the excitement)…. Roanoke, Virginia, USA (Nope me neither.)

Vorticism, Futurism and Darth Vader

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:43:00 +0100

The recently launched Vorticism show at the Tate Britain reminded me of my time studying Cubism and Futurism at school and college, both art movements I’ve always liked.

The Vorticists were a bunch of British painters working in the years leading up to the First World War. It was a kind of British alternative to Futurism.

Their head guy was a dapper young fellow named Wyndham Lewis. Look how cool he was; he knew he was cool. Although apparently he did decide to drop the name ‘Percy’ which he didn’t think was that cool, especially if you were going to open an art workshop called The Rebel Art Centre. 1915 -Very Punk.

Unfortunately things didn’t pan out too well for Percy and his pals - sorry Wyndham, but I like the alliteration. They only published two issues of their magazine and had one exhibition, then the war broke out which put a bit of a damper on things.

I’d never heard of the movement until the Tate show and to be honest from what I’ve see so far I’m think I’m more interested in the back story than the art, but I will look into it more.

Futurism, I do like though especially Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase, No 2. My fondness probably relates to it relationship with photography and film which I studied too.

“But what of Darth Vader?!” I hear you cry. Well, the various ‘isms’ of above reminded me of the illustration work of Liam Brazier I came across a while ago.

I’m by no means the first to blog about Liam’s striking series of Star Wars prints, but if you haven’t come across them their well worth checking out. My favourites are the Dark Lord shown below and Bounty Hunter Boba Fett. They combine my (and mosts) compulsory thirty-something love of Star Wars with a very effective nod to the Cubist and co. art movements. There’s a lot of naff fan art around for movies and sci-fi stuff, however I think Liam’s work transcends this with a classy ease.

They are all available at very affordable prices, see his website for more details and his other work.

In a strange coincidence I’ve also discovered that me and Liam went to the same Uni and graduated the same year! So hello Liam and congrats on the good work, looks like things are going well.

May the Vorticists be with you (sorry.)

The Future of Crufts - Brighton Grad Show Pick #2

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:58:00 +0100

More animals, I like artwork with animals.

My second pick from the Brighton grad show is graphic design graduate Mark Matcham’s series of prints The Future of Crufts.

Mark writes “This project looks at how the most popular breeds of dog may look at future Crufts shows after years of selective inbreeding, developing certain peculiar characteristics and showing how crazy dog owners have become in their quest for the weird and wonderful.”

Here is my favourite; The German Shepfrog.

The German Shepfrog has become a very strong swimmer through years of inbreeding. Its back legs are flipper like and has gained the reputable nickname ‘Half Dog-Half Frog’.For the owner who has a swimming pool.

I like the wry humour in these prints and the underlying truth of the real criticisms Crufts have faced over the years. I can’t say I tune in to watch Crufts but when I have seen it I’ve always found the whole thing very bizarre but strangely watchable. I don’t know whats weirder the strange poses the dogs are trained to make or the the owners… well the owners in general. I must see Best In Show. it’s meant to be good isn’t it?

I contacted Mark to find out a bit more and he kindly got back to me. Following a design brief around commemorating an event, Mark spent a weekend at the 2011 Crufts Dog Show and noted the attraction that some people have to dogs with strange characteristics and wondered where this will end.

“I didn’t want to take the subject of Crufts too seriously so i tried to create a balance between an affectionate celebration of Crufts and a comment on the excesses of dog breeding.”

The prints were one offs Mark printed out at home - on his A0 printer. An A0 printer at home!? Nice. Despite the reference to the future they have a vintage 30s/40s feel to them which I think gives them a nice touch of gravitas (Can you have a ‘touch of gravitas’?) and fit his brief of commemorating.

There are ten breeds in all and he’s currently looking into producing some giclees. I’ll keep you updated.

You can see the rest of the series and Mark’s other work on his website.

Woof.

gracemayballantyne: What’s a bear to do? Grace May...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:15:25 +0100

gracemayballantyne:

What’s a bear to do?

Grace May Ballantyne was my top pick from the Brighton Uni Grad Show. I had gone to the show most expecting to see some prints from the graphic or illustrator areas I might like. I didn’t expect to be blown away by a 190cm x 170cm original canvas of a giant brown bear from the Fine Art course.

I went back to see this painting three times. It was great to find on Grace’s tumblr pics of the bear as he ‘grew’ The photos do show it well, but I think as with most originals you have to see the real thing.

Now, being in the process of moving house, and one with more and bigger walls to fill I really wanted this. I had an idea how much it would be and told Mrs B. When I pushed Grace to give me an idea of her prices, I found I was spot on. I won’t say what it was as I think Grace hasn’t quite decided yet and there was a lot of interest. Let’s just say the price was right. Unfortunately I don’t think our moving budget will be able to accomadate it right now.

Grace’s work wouldn’t have the same impact on a smaller scale but some large giclee prints would be fantastic and probably sell very well.

As well as her Bear, Grace had a whole menagerie of animals on display. All very impressive, go see.

Brighton Uni Art Grad Show 2011

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:20:06 +0100

Friday evening me and Mrs B secured a babysitter at late notice so we were able to attend the launch of the graduate show at Brighton Uni.

It made me think back to my own degree show. I’ve been to grad shows since I graduatued, but it was the significance of it being ten years ago.

I remember us setting up our email accounts to put on ‘business cards’. No one really had them beforehand, email was all still quite new. Macs, also had just arrived in the studio, you were considered pretty groundbreaking if you used Photoshop!

The impact the Internet has made in such a short space of time, has opened up so many doors for creatives to get noticed and leave Uni with often already established commercial awareness and success. Art and Design graduates can now blog, tweet ,tumble, stream, vimeo, etsy, big cartel, society6 and flickr… away. Not only does it give them more opportunities it gives us viewers the chance to see so much more. Yes, I know this is all pretty obvious stuff - we’ve all heard of various you tube ‘talents’ making it big, but it just really hit home as as I walked around. Good stuff.

Anyhow, enough rambling…onto stuff that would look good on our walls.

In the naïve style I suppose. Of which some people say...

Tue, 17 May 2011 23:28:58 +0100

In the naïve style I suppose. Of which some people say “dat’s shit init, I could draw that, easy”. They couldn’t.

By James Barker, a young illustrator from Norwich currently doing an MA at Central St. Martins (I went there too! Although only on foundation and spent far too much time in the pub.) Reminds me of David Shriglely’s stuff.

From a series of prints called Imaginary Exhibitions availble on Society6. Gicclee prints from $26.

Mucha remixedAlphonse Mucha, an art nouveau legend. If you are...

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:25:00 +0000

Mucha remixed

Alphonse Mucha, an art nouveau legend. If you are ever in Prauge make sure you check his museum out, well worth a visit.

These images are by Tim Longthorn, a uk hip hop head and graphic designer.

Not currently available to purchase but I’m working on it -Tim?!

Eat my goal statsIf you read the sports pages you may have come...

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Eat my goal stats

If you read the sports pages you may have come across similar looking images in the paper. However, designer Adrian Newell’s elegant Scoreline posters elevate infographics to a different level. Each poster graphically depicts all goals scored in a game.

The ‘66’ world cup game is shown here. A great print for any England fan’s wall.

As well his World Cup series there are others planned. There is a great one for Arsenal fans, all 226 Thierry Henry goals. It looks like Newell also takes requests which could lead to some interesting bespoke prints.

Affordably priced, from £30 and are available from online gallery Blanka in a range of sizes up to A0.

Brighton Blue by Nick PatchitScreen printLtd. Edt of 40£55 Love...

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Brighton Blue by Nick Patchit
Screen print
Ltd. Edt of 40
£55

Love this print by Nick Patchit and Good On Your Wall has it hanging up at home.

Can be found in the North Laine, Brighton at the wonderful pop up shop Unlimited Editions, a graphic design studio.

Clever and humorous use of icons capturing the best of Brighton and a great print for locals and visitors; a London version is also available. Would be interesting to see other cities and homages perhaps with a more cynical outlook.

In a similar but more sinister vein is Pure Evil’s print Murder Mile. Although as Pure Evil says of Hackney nowadays, you’re more likely to find it murdertrying to find organic houmous after 9pm.