I've been a fan of Travis Louie's work for a few years now. Travis Louie's Curiosities is a book I always go to when i'm having a dry spell with my artwork. His work is subtle and beautiful but still has a visual impact.
Louie's works generally consist of a portraits which have the air of the Victorian/Edwardian period about them. The mythical beings and creatures are created on wooden surfaces and begin with a detailed drawing in graphite and then a series of acrylic washes are applied to give the atmosphere of a different time.
Have a look on his website for more examples and try to get a copy of his book if you can!
I've made it no secret that I love Orla Kiely's work and own her previous publication Pattern as well as some of her children's books. I was so excited when Orla's new publication, Home, popped through my door!
The cover is a hardwearing canvas that gives an indication of the level of quality in the book before it's even been opened. I am a sucker for a good quality publication and I absolutely hate it when I pay around twenty pounds for a book only for it to be of poor quality. This book doesn't disappoint on that front.
The book is split into different chapters with each one looking at a different property from England to Norway. Each property has been selected by Orla because of its appreciation of mid century modern design, the kind that is a direct influence for the designer.
One chapter, of course, gives readers a sneak peek into Orla Kiely's home and illustrates how she combines her own products with others. She also refers to compromises she had to make with her property in terms of design because she needed it to be functional family home rather than a design showcase.
If you are looking for a book that looks at Orla Kiely's work and design products this may not be the book for you. However, if you are genuinely interested in how people use a particular theme or inspiration throughout their homes then this makes for a great source of inspiration.
If you'd like to pick yourself up a copy, you can do so here.
