Artist 146: Jennifer Saul

Another London based artist for you now with the sublime line work of Jennifer Saul. Jennifer has a pared down style that instantly conjures up the feel of the grime revolution, clean lines and dirty music, sharp style and graphic lines like the curve of a hat peak, give you the idea and the context without the extraneous detail. It must be her photography background that gives her this edge, her work is framed well with crisp composition and poses that draw the viewer away from the concept of the drawing and into the character of the subject.

Her work is like a photo, mechanically etched a record of the London scene, makes me miss it, though not the mornings after.

Jennifer is one to watch and I'm pretty positive that with the right exposure her images will be ripping up 2013.

Who are you:

I'm an Artist and Illustrator born & based in South London.

What do you do:

I draw beautiful people, buildings, animals & anything else that takes my fancy and regularly take commissions. I'm currently working on a series of porn-esque images for a future exhibition. Plus a gallery of beards, because beards are cool.

How did you start:

I started drawing out of frustration of getting nowhere with my photography.

A Personal statement about you or your work: 

I have always created things, from a young age, whether it be with fuzzy felts, play-dough, paint or colouring pencils. I always found it hard to study art, and didn't enjoy being told a particular way of doing things. I'm learning to experiment with my vocation to the absolute maximum, as I look to create images that provoke an emotional reaction. I want to be producing art that is effective, original and constantly evolving.

Links:

Portfolio
facebook
@saulartphoto

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Feature: Pins By Lydra

Have a really great feature now, on Pins by Lydra by the amazing Linda Vydra where fashion meets illustration and everyone wins. Linda Vydra has a great concept where She collaborates with artists to put art on legs, leggings to be more precise, and you can get involved too. The collaborations are truly breathtaking and the designs are pin sharp. It's a really wonderful project with some great aspirations and some really talented collaborators. She is a force to be reckoned with so please take the time to read about Linda and her amazing project here.

Who are you?
I am Linda Vydra the designer behind Lydra and Pins By Lydra. I originally studied advertising and worked in the industry for 9mnths. I found that it didn't fulfil my passion for what I was wanting to do, so I went back and studied fashion design. Whilst studying I started making purses and selling them on Facebook and I guess it just grew from there.

How did you start Pins By Lydra?
I had a fashion parade about 2 years ago and it was definitely the beginning of Pins By Lydra. I made leggings to suit my outfits and it just got me really excited about the idea of using your legs as a canvas for art. I received a lot of compliments from people and finally got around to launching the label. It's been fantastic collaborating with artists and putting their artwork onto leggings. Each artist makes a commission of each pair of leggings and you can apply to become involved online here.

What is the plan for future?
To continue diversifying and growing. I recently received a grant for $30,000 from the City of Melbourne. The grant is to start a Creative Hub in the City of Melbourne. Designers will be able to come and use our services, laser cutting machine, a digital fabric printer and hire out sewing machines. I really like the idea of diversifying and growing the business.

What is your manifesto?
To continue making Australian made products by members from the local community. To foster continuing relationship with other artists and to continue being creative everyday.

Links:
www.pinsbylydra.com
How to submit to Pins By Lydra
facebook
@Lydra

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Exhibition News: JCRUZ retrospective and group exhibition

News time now with the fabulous JCRUZ, whose scarves are fast becoming hot property. With the launch of RISE & FALL  Joe Cruz has pushed his designs to new heights with their vivid colours and pop themes. A kind of sardonic swipe at modern candy-floss celebrity culture with more than a touch of great craftsmanship. Lovely objects by a great artist that you can see in person as now we bring you news from the Debut Contemporary in Notting Hill where JCRUZ will be taking part in a group exhibition between 6:30 and 9:30 on Wednesday the 7th of March. The images above are a retrospective from the launch of the new RISE & FALL collection. Below is a short press release from JCRUZ.

"During London Fashion Week February 2012, JCRUZ will launch its first ever collection, RISE & FALL, featuring a range of beautiful silk printed luxury scarves. The scarves are Made In England and feature the artist’s signature. Inspired by the bitter sweet highs and lows of a celebrity obsessed nation, artist Joe Cruz, presents his ideas in textile form using classic forms, bold line and bright colours."

So what are you waiting for! Get out there and see a slice of fresh hot art!

Links:

portfolio
@JCRUZ_ART
flickr

Debut Contemporary

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Interview: La Mode Outré

It's time for an interview here on the Rally and we have a great interview feature now on James Bent the creative mind behind La Mode Outré, Asian street style photography site that showcases some awesome new trends and brings out the best looks with a twist in their latest collaboration with fashion illustrators that takes the concept and amplifies it giving context to the illustration and holding up a mirror to both the photography and the style of the subject. So without further ado over to James.

1. Who are you?
Good question. I'm a 33 year old British guy who has been travelling for the last 13 years, now living in Asia. I have a job as a Learning Consultant which allows me to work remotely while living in cities that I like. And I run a site called La Mode Outré which is an Asian street style photography site that also collaborates with fashion illustrators.

2. How did you start La Mode Outré?
I studied English & Creative Studies at University (Portsmouth, UK) and loved writing fiction for which I used photos of people to base characters on. One day while in a book shop looking for photo books of people I came across the Sartorialist and fell in love with it. About three months later just after moving to Singapore for work, my partner said "why don't you take your own photos". So I did and the site kind of developed from there.

3. Why Asian street fashion?
Coincidence. Just how it happened. Realising that its still quite niche. Loving living in Asia. A whole bunch of reasons, none of which started with any kind of plan.

4. What is the idea behind the fashion illustration project?
Just like the site and the photography, it all happened when a friend told me that their friend was an illustrator who wanted to do a collaboration. So we did it, I liked how it worked in with the site and added something cool - I mean, people illustrating photos of people that I had taken, that's neat! - so I just carried on with it. I'm not sure I have an idea of anything, it's just if it works, if its cool, then keep it going! I look forward to what the next thing might be to add into the mix. Maybe fashion design collaborations!?

5. What is the plan for the future?
Just keep it going!

6. Any messages for our readers?
I think you can go at life and projects and stuff with the attitude that "I must be perfect at this before I try, I must make sure that I'm successful right from the start", but I think in reality you've got to be prepared to jump in at the deep-end, to give it a go, to learn on the job and to make mistakes so that you can rework it and make it awesome. Plus, I think things seldom happen on day one, or on month one, or even year one, it's like there are so many people doing good stuff now that the difference is who's still doing it after two years, five years, ten years. Aim big, collaborate, participate, get active and do awesome stuff.

And never think that to do something you need permission. The only thing who's permission you need to do something, to be something, it's yourself, your own permission. You know?

Links:
La Mode Outré

@LaModeOutre

La Mode Outré on facebook

The names and links of the illustrators, clockwise from top left.
Natsuki Otani  (UK)
Carol Ryder (UK)
Rachel Wilkinson (UK)
Vita Yang (Taiwan)
Agita Meidiana (Singapore)
Ruth Marbun (Indonesia)
Jamie Lee Reardin (US)
Jude Chen (Taiwan)
Amanda Keisha Ang (Singapore)
pandapanda (Singapore)
Kristie Storm (Singapore)
Peggy Tsalikis (Germany)
Danielle Shepherd (UK)
Lily X (Singapore)
Hisyam Abdul Rahman (Singapore)
Vic Riches (UK)
Edi Kuo (Taiwan)
Sara Ligari (Italy) 

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Fashion Illustration Rally No.1

By Rhuturaje Yadav

@rhuturaje

Do you want to join our Fashion Illustration Rally?

Read here for submission guideline!

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Fashion Illustration Rally, in collaboration with RedRock!

This rally is now closed for submission.

Among our community we know we have some truly fantastic fashion illustrators and we are really pleased to announce a rally that will hopefully whet your appetites! We bring you our first ever fashion illustration rally in collaboration with our lovely friends at RedRock who will be judging the entrants and awarding a goodie bag to the winner!

RedRock, created by designer and stylist Kiran Lall, has a real gift for creating trend grabbing clothes as well as timeless indie pieces all crafted by hand at their studios in Northampton. They pride themselves on their hand made ethos and unique style,. The up and coming label has been gracing some of the hottest boutiques around and the slim shoulders of Lauren Pope, Audrey Kitching, Paloma Faith and E4's Skins. Featured in Sew Hip Magazine, Drapers and Company Magazine, they held their first show in London's Brick Lane. So with that in mind here's a little bit about them, by them!

"RedRock is for girls who like to have fun with fashion, stand out from the crowd by wearing something a little different that can't be found on the High Street. RedRock is not about following trends but looking great wearing WHAT YOU WANT...and still FEELING A MILLION DOLLARS $

More recently RedRock has be involved with re-working vintage clothing from the eras of 60's, 70's and 80's for something a little extra special and timeless!!"

As for the submission we are looking for some great interpretations of their designs using the pictures below for your inspiration. So crack out those pens, inks and wacoms, put a brew on and crank up the tunes, because it's going to get tasty!

Submission Guidelines 

• Images to be inspired by the photos above, though feel free to use any techniques or materials you choose.
• Low res, 72 dpi jpeg file please so that we can get them up easily at web quality.
• Don't forget to send us the links to your portfolio sites, (blog, facebook, flickr and etc) if you are sending us your product, send us a link to the pages you are selling your products.
• Send us a link to your twitter account if you have one, so I can promote you on twitter effectively.
• Please send your work to illustrationrally[at]hotmail.co.uk with the title "Fashion Rally Submission"
• Deadline is Friday 2nd December.
• Announcement of winners tbc.

RedRock's info
shop
facebook 
blog
@RedRock_Fashion

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Africa Fashion Guide: Book and Website Launch Retrospective

Annie Driscoll

Abby Wright

Erica Sharp

Joana Faria

Avril Kelly

Natsuki Otani

Another retrospective for you now, barely recovering from the Vogue Fashion Night Out, the very next day, we were in London again snooping out the launch event for the fantastic Africa Fashion Guide, book and website launch. We were treated to passionate in depth panel discussions as well as a showcase of African fashion on a night filled with fashion debate and delicious smelling food. Such a massive event in aid of a really wonderful book deserves real praise especially since the author Jacqueline Shaw achieved all of this for her final major project of her masters degree.

The book itself is a great read with some fantastic illustrations by a number of our contributors and a wonderful showcase of the latest styles from and inspired by Africa.

This wonderful book is available to buy here! 

Get the latest on the project and more about the book and event from the site here and on their facebook page you can see some of the professional photos from the night or follow them on twitter.

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