babanangu

weight

2012-02-14T00:48:00.001-08:00

holiday reads

2012-02-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

From Day 2 and Day 7

I’d like to share two books I read over the Summer break that have really stuck with me and that I look forward to readingagain in a couple of years. They’re the kind of stories that will give yousomething new each time you revisit.

The first is Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides in which the imagery kind of blew me away and although I appreciatedthe film adaptation very much it just doesn’t come close to the loadedsentences on these pages.

Matthew bought The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes as a Christmas gift to my mom. We chose it for her because it won the Man Booker lastyear and … we both loved the typesetting and typography on the cover. It's a quick, surprising read and leaves plenty to discuss. I was really slow tonotice it at first but I think the ambiguity in the title really nailed it.

I snapped them with a collection of finds,drinks and gifts from my December beach holiday which was almost too good to betrue thanks to my wonderful parents and M.

Things I make when I need to interrupt myself

2012-02-03T02:02:00.000-08:00

my little pony

Those pony-legs are impossibly stumpy but I think his golden mane makes up for it.

Hello February! What, the 3rd already?

midweek

2012-01-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to concentrate...

Joy

2012-01-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

I hardly know how to describe the immense joy, surprise and gratitude that was felt discovering these delightful creatures on our beach Christmas tree.

Weihnachten

2011-12-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

1 tree planted for every artwork sold

2011-12-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

A mixed media group show at Salon 91 contemporary in association with Greenpop.
It looks like work is already flying off the walls but the show will be up until the 14th of January. Amble up Kloof street if you're in Cape Town over the holidays and remember to check out Steven Miedema's beautiful vertical garden in the gallery window.

Oh and Greenpop will make sure a tree is planted for every artwork sold. Grand!

bird watch

2011-11-25T07:41:00.001-08:00

working in flamingo company this evening

the best kind

2011-11-23T01:26:00.001-08:00

last saturday, two good women

Sunday

2011-11-20T12:09:00.001-08:00

A week in Johannesburg reminded me of my 'green pool' undergrad illustrations (a theme perhaps not yet exhausted). It's a spooky city and I love it.

pretzel ponies

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

the wilderness downtown

2011-11-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

Elle Deco Spring Issue (page 24)

2011-10-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Have you bought a copy of Elle Deco South Africa's Spring Issue?
Get it because its good. I am more than a bit in love with their features on Karen Suskin's Noordhoek house
and textile designer Akira Minagawa's home near Tokyo.

And... turn to page 24 where there's a little bit of me!
No, not The X-Factor bit (I know I'm pointing a little awkwardly in the picture) but Little Wonders - isn't that sweet?
Thanks Elle Deco SA!

Read my interview here.

The illustration above is called 'formative books' - I painted tiny watercolour book covers from stories I loved in my teens.

paper city

2011-10-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

I'm trying out new media. Well, old media in new ways. Unfortunately this little paper city got squashed, but I'm working on a bigger, better one...

Good Heavens, Red.

2011-10-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Matthew produced a beautiful collection of Good Heavens reds while I was away. We had fun naming them: Philly, Roger, Queenstown and Roffey. They're listed on Etsy, have a look.
(If you are in South Africa and interested in buying,
contact us directly: info@goodheavens.co.za)

carb love

2011-10-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

(more on this a little later)

friday in this city

2011-10-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

hi

2011-10-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

hello

2011-09-27T03:12:00.000-07:00

silver birch

2011-09-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

window view

Toe socks

2011-09-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Design and the City 2011 at Helsinki Summer School was special!

I have plenty to share from my month in Finland.

Here's a quick sketch in the meantime.

Liisa Jokinen founder of Hel-Looks chatted to us about her street style finds and sent our class on a mission to find our own 'image of Helsinki'. To me this describes the height of exotic: white havaianas on black and white toe socks. I spotted this on a lady at the second last bus stop of my daily Helsinki commute to the university.

moi moi

2011-08-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

My last evening in Finland, drawing and addressing postcards while the sun sets on Suomenlinna island.

It's been so very very good.

Green on Green

2011-08-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Green is a name for many colours. This is why I love it.

a good colour

2011-08-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

sunnuntai

2011-08-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

Helsinki is bringing it. It's stretching my mind, keeping me awake late, affirming design, making me feel gentle - if you watched the Temple Grandin biopic you'll know what i mean by feeling gentle. So...yes. Finland is yes and Helsinki is yes. So far so good.

suomi

2011-08-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Finland is yes

gusty thursday

2011-08-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

'Gusty Thursday' is available as an editioned archival print (on heavy weight fine art paper) at Salon 91 's Winter Wonderland show - which ends this Saturday afternoon. That means two (and a bit) more days left to browse some lovely wintry prints by lots of talented illustrators. Details here

the safe spaces campaign

2011-08-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Freeworld Design Centre is hosting a Women's Day celebration on the 4th of August in aid of the Safe Spaces campaign where 45 balls by South African creatives will be auctioned for this charity. Details here! And plentiful amazing creations to browse and get ready to bid on here.

I made the illustrations on my "safe = free" ball using electrical tape and my trusty babanangu-bird-scissors.

(The FDC did a very sweet post on me in June - thanks so much Amy!)

yellow landscape

2011-08-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

Postcard: the Gamsberg seen from the Namib

Photo credit: H. Theiss

Upper orange

2011-07-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

I walked all the way up Upper Orange street last week on my way to the Finnish embassy, found a park called the Homestead, sat in the sun under a fruit tree and stuffed these in my purse.

Winter Wonderland

2011-07-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

Last night's opening for the Winter Wonderland show was packed! Loads of pretty stuff. More details here and here

(I cut these asymmetrical 'snowflakes' individually from 1cm label stickers - editioned prints are available through Salon 91 gallery )

Here's a quick sketch I made for the window display. It makes me want to re-watch Fargo for some reason...

(The weather's not playing along - its HOT in my studio today)

one minute seal

2011-07-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

First Editions

2011-07-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

You have two more days to see * this show *

a mini diorama

2011-06-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

a story about swimming lessons

2011-06-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

It must be the coldest day of the year so far here so perhaps not the most appropriate pictures to post... However, these are part of a lovely show up at Salon91 in Kloof street until the ninth of next month which showcases stories, pictures, animations and artists' books created by my fellow classmates and I. You should see it if you're in town. Details here.

postcard painting

2011-06-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Harare postcard, gouache on paper

this tiny gouache painting of flamboyants in Harare is up at Salon91 Contemporary 's Paper is You show until the 25th of this month

1979

2011-06-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Postcard of hotel in Kenya, 1979

trivial pursuit/i virtual stir up

2011-06-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

sometimes I grow unreasonably attached to the inbetween work.
testing lettering, wordplay, layout planning.

inspired by i love saturdays

2011-06-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

This lady's blog is a delight. Those one-colour line drawings make me want to fill sketchbooks too and her image layering mmmm.... here, take a look.

Red hair and hello Winter

2011-06-02T04:46:00.000-07:00

The internet loves reds right? I certainly do. This lady's hair changed colour pretty soon after I gave it to M , I think it may be green now. So we learn. Archival quality else the sun will claim it. Are you out there Lady M? Has it faded away completely?

(It's a beautiful sunshine winter's day in the mother city)

Good Heavens tomorrow..

2011-05-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

is another market day! Happy late autumn neckties in blue and mustard and floral and grey from Good HEAVENS. See you at Designgoods x

Paper is You

2011-05-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Paper is You , a group show I’m participating in opens tonight at Salon 91 in Kloof street. I’m thrilled to be joining such a talented bunch. It opens at 7:30pm and runs until the 25^th of June.

The collaborative piece each of us worked on: Elsabe Milandri, Colijn Strydom, Paul Senyol, Marlise Keith, Andrew Sutherland, Gabrielle Raaff and me.

A detail from one of my works on show…

sammy the salmon

2011-05-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

A Wish This Big

2011-05-11T03:16:00.000-07:00

Ingrid 's lovely storybook is a true Capetonian one - join us this Saturday 11am at The Book Lounge in Roeland street for the launch . I promise to bring some original illustrations along :)

A Wish This Big is published by Tafelberg and available at most Exclusive Books and Kalahari .

Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans: Soos 'n wens, so groot

Main Rd, card players

2011-04-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

2008

2011-04-25T04:10:00.000-07:00

One of many drawings like this I made in 2008.

delicious monsters

2011-04-25T03:51:00.000-07:00

I made these delicious monster leaf cut-outs from circular label stickers (again)

next up: working them into a repeat pattern.

Good Heavens!

2011-04-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Good Heavens has evolved from idea to swatches to beautifully crafted ties - and I am so proud of my Matthew! Have a browse here and let us know what you think.

from this

to this!

It's a tough call but if I had to pick a favourite? The mustard coloured tie with the birdie tipping or maybe the large floral Liberty print...

pale cheetah

2011-03-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

things i saw on sunday

2011-03-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

envelope

2011-03-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

birds

2011-03-15T01:52:00.000-07:00

Hurray for those lovely friends who, when on holiday in Kenya without you, know to choose the old faded postcard of a pink bird to send and follow it up a year later with...

this beautiful print.

Karibu Textile Mills Ltd. Wax design no 786057

animals

2011-03-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

Creatures. I made an animals playlist for a friend. It features Alphabet Pony by the Kills and The Salmon Dance by The Chemical brothers.

sleep

2011-02-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

It is early evening, but I'm off to bed because its oscar night in about 7 hours! Wake me in time.

black paper

2011-02-14T04:01:00.000-08:00

occupational therapy graphics

2011-02-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here's some OT memorabilia from my mom's 'paper bits' drawer.

First is a Manual Dexterity test (suprisingly difficult), second a reference card for pupil dilation with a coma scale index on the reverse and third a printed card (occupational therapy students learn extensive artisinal skills in their 1st year).

untitled

2011-02-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

My wee exhibit is over. Now for 2011 albeit a month late.

Alsterblick auf St. Georg

2011-01-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

Another lovely thing found at Quagga.

forest floor

2011-01-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

Hello 2011

2011-01-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

(photograph from Matthew's first medium format venture!)

Good morning to you darling

2010-12-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

'A happy Xmas & all sorts of good wishes for you
for the New Year'

I am going swimming in cocacola tsitsikamma water

2010-12-17T04:21:00.000-08:00

This is my mother doing just that .

(One of my recent characters kind of reminds me of her)

planets and sweet beets

2010-12-14T01:04:00.000-08:00

one of the Georges

2010-12-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

wear sunscreen

2010-12-01T00:15:00.000-08:00

This Summer I'm going to practice what I preach.

jungles & swimming pools

2010-11-24T00:36:00.000-08:00

favourite subject matter.

A postcard of Max Ernst's La Joie de vivre 1936,
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
I paid this painting many visits when I lived in Edinburgh.

and...
another pool photograph taken just before my parents moved from their home of thirty years.

surplus otter

2010-11-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

This little guy almost worked in an illustration I'm busy with, but didn't. He'll have to live here for now.

chrysanthemum

2010-11-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Polestar

2010-11-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

I've been digging through storage boxes again and found several volumes of Cassell's Popular Educator. I can't find a publication date but from what I can tell its late 19th century. The engraved illustrations are beautiful; the chapters on 'ethnology' exceptionally racist. My favourite pages are those flagged by my grandmother: Lessons in Penmanship and Lessons in Music.

while i'm on the topic of cold climates...

2010-11-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Here's another polar bear. He belongs to Miche , but his family's for sale at Montebello gallery in Newlands avenue this weekend.

swimming bear

2010-10-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

a londonish illustration

2010-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Michelle was so kind to have me do the poster/flyer illustration for her sister's new theatre piece showing in October in London. I had such fun with this one!

More details here.

here she is in full:

thanks M!

rhino day

2010-09-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today is Rhino poaching awareness day

September 22nd.

From:
Tate Etc. Issue 10, Summer 2007, Page 44

'Dali on the set of CBS Morning Show' (1956)
as photographed by Philippe Halsman

(and redrawn by me)

and bees!

2010-09-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

Vicki Thomas teaches the scientific illustration module of our degree course. She's the Grande Dame of botanical illustration in this part of the world, and taught us ways with watercolour (with patience and grace).

These bumblebees are half-way finished but I think I'll leave them as they are. I paid the Kirstenbosch Biennale a visit on Sunday. Lovely stuff; my favourite was Sibonelo Chiliza's painstaking colour pencil work. The show ends September 24th and entry is free.

Leica fotografie magazine No. 3/1954

2010-09-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

feels like this today in Cape Town !

August, I've had enough of you

2010-08-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Nevertheless, today was full of plenty to be thankful for:

A super swift meeting with a good review, a Matthew with a half-day off work, a huge plate of biryani, a post-all-nighter nap and Catherine Keener + mid-century furniture.

practice cactus

2010-08-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Damascene

2010-08-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Matthew gave me this precious thing. This weekend marks a year since he came home.

hello, i'm night owling again

2010-08-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Fort Namutoni

2010-07-21T03:38:00.001-07:00

pretty new old-looking thing

2010-07-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

No need for designs like these to ever change really. Much like Marmite and Mrs Balls.

dear rae

2010-07-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

Karin is a talented jewellery designer, Nicole's sister and a dear friend. See how beautiful her designs are

I helped design her dear rae label in time for Design Indaba this year where she launched her range.

I'm the proud owner of these beauties :) Thanks Karin!

Nicole

2010-07-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Nicole is my oldest friend and since she moved to Pretoria after graduation, I've missed her terribly. She has a lovely blog where I keep up with snippets of her life up north; heartwarming thoughts, words and pictures. Coli, this heart misses you!

cold lion

2010-07-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. Cape Town is freezing today.

And in other news; had a call from Ma & Pa earlier who spotted THREE lions at close range on the farm a couple of days ago (this kind of sighting happens once in a blue moon for us). Oh sigh. I'd rather be there.

tree, TV, pies

2010-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've recently rediscovered my love of making collages from readymade circular label stickers. I spent most of May this year playing around with these for an illustration module and am still discovering tiny sticky wedges all over room, in books, in shoes...

More to come.

we hinge our hopes on the Black Stars

2010-06-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

Ghana is Africa's sole remaining hope at the world cup of the beautiful game . Ayeye.

a chest of drawers

2010-04-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

what's for dinner?

2010-04-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

tikkie box

2010-04-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

mobile phones just aren't that attractive anymore...

goodbye sandals

2010-04-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Guys, it's cooling down in the south....brrr.

about to have a TV dinner...

2010-03-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well I ended up not having a TV dinner after all...

my lovely mother cooked a delicious meal and the

table was laid with all the trimmings and all family

members present. Much better.

party legs

2010-02-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

yellow heart leaves

2010-02-18T06:14:00.001-08:00

one minute parrot

2010-02-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

oh and happy new year! it's already a good one

2010-01-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

this is 'Gilgamaus', a character I illustrated for the friendly, talented folks at Klangmueller Musikverlags

paper jet, bubblehead

2009-12-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

parties must have cake and champagne

2009-12-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

Amelia's anthology of illustration in hard copy :)

2009-12-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

Amelia's Anthology of Illustration has arrived in the mail - all the way from London. It's beautiful; colourful and packed with inspiring ideas. It features renewable technologies as imagined by a collection of illustrators who responded to Amelia's open brief. Here's a peek at my pages. Read Creative Review's interview with Amelia here.

my contribution to Amelia's Anthology of Illustration

2009-12-04T03:48:00.000-08:00

Click on the title to read more and order a copy of Amelia's Anthology of Illustration!

swimming pool season!

2009-12-04T03:38:00.000-08:00