Our students recently participated in a challenge to create a series of ‘Exquisite Corpses’. The ‘Exquisite Corpse’ is a collaborative drawing exercise first adopted by surrealist artists as a way for them to create interesting and inventive designs.
We took the students on a trip to the Tate Britain, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. They were asked to copy parts of the paintings on display that would then be used at a later date to invent their ‘Corpses’. See the results of the drawing trip and final designs below.
Graduate AMPER COOPER-DAVIES recently worked with Swarm Dynamics on their animation, JANE AND THE DARK CLOUD. Following Jane and Dan, the short film (featuring a voice over by Josie Long) explores ideas of system change, brighter futures and shows what a truly system changing Green New Deal could look like in the UK and beyond.
Swarm Dynamics is a cross-disciplinary organisation that harnesses arts and effective communications to help engage wider audiences on sustainable futures – focusing on systems level solutions. Drawing on the interdisciplinary talents of artists and experts, they promote rapid transformations towards zero carbon economies, and inform awareness and action about solutions.
This summer our course hosted an online webinar discussing studying Illustration at Middlesex University and how to prepare yourself for working as a professional in the industry. the talk gave viewers a look at current student work as well as touching on the practises of our staff and graduates;
The webinar featured lectures LOUISE WEIR and MARTIN URSELL, graduating 3rd year student LOU KISS and 2nd year student THOMAS ATKINS plus our former GAA and high flying graduate SHAZLEEN KHAN.
We are delighted to hear that 2020 graduate TYRELL OSBOURNE is one of the up-and-coming comics creators to be selected for Self Made Hero’s Graphic Anthology Programme. The programme is designed to find, develop, publish, and promote emerging comic-book artists from diverse backgrounds from across the UK. As well as receiving mentoring, feedback and masterclasses to help them create a graphic short story over the 12-week programme, the chosen participants will have their outcomes included in Catalyst, an anthology to be published by Self Made Hero. Amount the mentors is our Children’s Books and Graphic Novel’s MA lecture Woodrow Phoenix.
2021 graduate LOU KISS as recently been commissioned to work on a number of projects including producing a series of editorial projects for one of the leading Hungarian (political) magazines; 168 Óra. The latest issue’s theme was ‘hatred’, taking a look at Hungary’s increasingly tense political situation and the rise of smear campaigns, political character assassinations and weaponisation social media in the run-up to the coming elections;
Graduate CHARLOT KRISTENSEN is one of the artists to be featured in illustrator Dapo Adeola’s authorial debut HEY YOU! Published by Penguin, this groundbreaking picture book is a lyrical, inspirational exploration of growing up Black, written by award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, and brought to life by some of the most exciting Black illustration talents working today;
And there’s more work from Charlot in the pipeline- next autumn will see the release of Bessie the Motorcycle Queen, a picture book about Bessie Springfield, the first African-American woman to ride across the United States solo, and was one of the few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for the US Army during World War II;
Graduate ELLA GINN recently worked with creative agency Hue & Cry to create this floral, wood cut style design for Trash and Treasure’s Spiced Botanical Rum;
Graduate and GAA SHAZLEEN KHAN recently illustrated the cover for Amra Sabic-El-Rayess’ YA novel THE CAT I NEVER NAMED. Published by Bloomsbury, this memoir tells the story of a Muslim teen struggling to survive in the midst of the Bosnian genocide–and the stray cat who protected her family through it all.
Graduate MIKE O’BRIEN was one of the artists selected to work on Canterbury Cathedral’s BECKET 2020 project. As part of their celebration of Thomas Becket Mike was commissioned to create a graphic novel with writer Liam J. O’Driscoll adapting the story of Ralph de Longvilla as told in one of the cathedral’s Miracle Windows;
You can read the full story HERE. This comic, along with a number of others will be released in a graphic novel by the Cathedral later this year.
Here’s a look at some recently released and upcoming books featuring work by BA and MA graduates;
Graduate JAMES OSES (who now teaches on Middlesex’s Foundation Course) recently illustrated British Cheese on Toast, a new release from HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP featuring over 100 recipes of the classic dish by Steve Parker.
As well as our Illustration BA, Middlesex also runs an MA specialising in Children’s Books and Graphic Novels. This year sees the release of graduate FLORIAN GROSSET’SThe Chagos Berayal which she wrote and illustrated as her Final Major Project for the course;
Through the book Florian examines the poverty and discrimination suffered by the Chagos Islanders when their eviction by the British enforced US military control of their Indian Ocean home. It charts the present-day diaspora of Chagossians, their fight for the right to return through protests and court cases, and the different strategies still being used to keep them away from their land.
The Chagos Betrayal is available for pre-order now.
Also available for pre-order is the latest picture book illustrated by 2013 graduate DANIEL DUNCAN;
Written by Mara Rockliff and published by Penguin Random House, The Girl Who Could Fix Anything tells the story of Beatrice Shilling, a woman whose brilliance and mechanical expertise helped Britain win World War II through her ingenious engineering.
In this post we’ll be looking at some work by course alumni including an interactive exhibition with animations and illustrations by AMBER COOPER-DAVIES, branding work by ELLA GINN and 2020 graduate ELISSE VAHI’s first picture book.
ANIMAL STORIES
Graduate AMBER COOPER-DAVIES created a series of animated images for Hounslow Visual Arts virtual exhibition ANIMAL STORIES. The project follows Chiswick House Menagerie from 19th century through to the present day, exploring how the communities relationship to animals has shaped Hounslow and those who live there. The intriguing collection of stories is told through the memory of local people and research of historical records and archives.
The project features a series of new stories extensively researched and written by Alistair Cartwright, and colourful images and stop motion animations by Amber Cooper-Davies, both of whom were selected by members of the Hounslow Exhibitions Group, which includes local people, artists and library staff.
Having worked for two years as an in-house designer, graduate ELLA GINN is now a freelance illustrator creating digital and traditional work inspired by nature. She was recently worked with the creative agency Agence MonograM to produce this branding for Bitros’ Malt & Roses beer;
2020 graduate ELLISE VAHI has illustrated and publisher her first picture book. ‘Pille Stories: Pille and the Upside Down Day‘ (written by Evelyn Vahi) is available now from Estonia’s Apollo and Rahvaraamat bookstores with a sequel due out this month.
As well as illustration our course also teaches and encourages our students to use animation as a means of conveying narrative and messages. Below are a selection of short films made by our students over the last academic year;
In this frame animation student YULING SUNG explores growing up in Taiwan. Find more of Yuling’s work online;
Exchange student ALICIA BLASCO used a mix of 3D modelling and frame animation to retell the poem THE MAN WHO WALKED. Find more of Alicia’s work online;
2020 graduate ELIISE VAHI explores compartmentalize in a short combining stop motion, frame animation and photography. Find more of Eliise’s work online;
Guides to gouache, picture books and self care- this Summer sees a number of new releases from our graduates. Read on to find out what’s coming up in the publishing pipeline!
“Gouache is a beautiful, versatile medium that’s been much neglected, it’s rarely taught at art school and there are very few books on the subject. I absolutely love using this medium, it’s been hugely influential on my work and my style. I’m so excited to share this beautiful paint with people. The book introduces the the materials needed, the basics of colour theory, and fundamental techniques like drybrush, layering, diluting gouache, working on coloured paper, using negative space and wet on wet technique. This book teaches you to paint everything from people to plants, and every project teaches you a new skill or technique.”
Get Started with Gouache will be released by Watson-Guptill on 7th July in the US and 7th September in the UK.
YOU ARE POSITIVELY AWESOMEis a colourful and practical book for an everyday burst of positivity and an extra dose of self-kindness from Graduate STACIE SWIFT and Pavillion Books.
“We all weather some difficult days, sometimes we need a reminder that nobody really has it all together all the time. This book is for all those days – a rainbow of good vibes, full of self-care prompts and words to live by.”
The WIA Awards are organised by the AOI (Association of Illustrators) in partnership with the USA-based Directory of Illustration. This high-profile, international competition recognises innovation in the field and showcases the best the industry has to offer. It is judged by distinguished professionals from the global illustration industry.
Fred Campbell’s large scale illustration and animation work for Gingerline’s immersive, interactive theatre experience THE GREAT EXPEDITION has been long listed in the site specific category;
Now in its fourth year, the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition celebrates work by new talent and established artists who have not previously published a graphic novel.
Alex Moore’s book, The Fine Art of Destruction was their Final Major Project, written and illustrated as part of Middlesex’s Children’s Book Illustration and Graphic Novels MA.The book tells the story of a man’s ill-fated attempts to save his father’s art gallery which inadvertently set the fractured remains of his family, and those closest to them, on a devastating collision course;
mdx illustration 