new magic book

Magical Silk Screen Printing

2011-06-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

So much work has gone on behind the scenes of the Magic Show that we can't possibly show all of it, but it would be rude not to mention some of it. The exhibition has involved a great deal of silk screen printing including the production of these posters designed by Kate Hindley. Karoline screen printed the posters at Birmingham Printmakers where she, Kate and Sarah Ray are all members.

Karoline also screen printed 600 covers for the Magic colouring books and zines which she put together especially for the exhibition. The books feature images by nine different illustrators including some of the Magic Show exhibitors. Karoline printed two different covers, a colouring book cover designed by Kate Hindley and a zine cover designed by Gemma Correll but the inside pages are the same.

Don't Miss The Magic Show

2011-06-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

There's not long to go before the Magic Show closes and we don't want anyone to miss out on seeing the amazing artwork that all the exhibitors worked so hard on creating. These beautifully hand painted and sewn characters are yet more examples of Beth Morrison's unique three dimensional illustrations. It's worth a trip to Solihull Gallery just to see all the different things Beth made especially for the show.

Girls Who Draw Illustration and Print Fair

2011-06-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Sarah Ray has designed us another fabulous poster, this time it's for an event at Solihull Arts Complex. As part of their Allsorts Art Fair, we have been invited to have a Mini Illustration and Print Fair of our own. Several of the group will be there selling silk screen prints, hand made cards, limited edition postcard books, colouring books, badges and mirrors. As if that isn't enough we'll also be running live drawing activities all day and everyone is welcome to come and participate whether young or old, boy or girl, good at drawing or not! We need help to create some colourful large scale drawings of magical creatures and places.

Girls Who Draw Mini Illustration Fair

Saturday June 4th 10am - 4pm

Solihull Library and Arts Complex

Homer Road

Solihull

B91 3RG

www.solihull.gov.uk/artscomplex

Magic Show Private View

2011-03-05T04:48:00.000-08:00

This image is one of our favorite postcard designs by illustrator and printmaker extroadinaire Ruth Green. There will be much more of Ruth's amazing work on display at the Magic Show exhibition and we can't wait to see what she has been working on.

The Magic Show private view will be on thursday the 7th of April, 6.15pm - 7.30pm, in the G1 Gallery at Solihull Arts Complex.

Solihull Central Library and Arts Complex

Homer Road

Solihull

B913RG

www.solihull.gov.uk/gallery

Magic Show Poster by Kate Hindley

2011-03-05T04:08:00.000-08:00

As usual the irrepressible Kate Hindley has been hard at work drawing all sorts of wierd and wonderful characters. But, as if by magic, she still found time to create a magnificent Magic Show poster, thank you Kate.

Girls Who Draw invite you to their Magic Show

2011-03-05T03:16:00.000-08:00

Magic Show brings together a diverse group of women illustrators from the West Midlands and beyond including London, Leeds, Norwich and Edinburgh. Exhibitors are Jane Anderson, Mina Braun, Helen Entwisle, Ruth Green, Kate Hindley, Mary Kilvert, Sarah Lippett, Beth Morrison, Sarah Ray, Karoline Rerrie and Daisy Whitehouse, a mix of recent graduates, emerging and experienced illustrators.

Each illustrator has interpreted the theme of magic in their own distinctive style and created new work especially for the gallery. They have used the opportunity to explore hidden talents and abilities which they don’t often get the chance to showcase when producing two dimensional illustrations. The group has stitched, paper cut, painted, printed and conjured up an array of unusual artwork to fill the whole gallery interior ranging from small artists’ books to hand sewn characters and large scale installations.

The magician's head has been created by Beth Morrison especially for the Magic Show.

The Magic Show will be at Solihull Gallery from the 4th of April until the 11th of June 2011.

Solihull Central Library and Arts Complex

Homer Road

Solihull

B913RG

www.solihull.gov.uk/gallery

Magic Show at Solihull Gallery

2010-10-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Since the publication of the Magic postcard book work has started on the exhibition which will accompany it. The Magic Show will be at Solihull Gallery from early April until June 2011, but rather than just exhibiting illustrations from the book, contributors will be creating new pieces especially for the gallery. They will be printing, painting, paper-cutting, stitching and conjuring up an array of exciting artwork ranging from large scale installations to miniature models.

Throughout the Magic Show there will be opportunities to meet and even work with some of the illustrators involved. As well as live illustration and painting, drop in activities and printing demonstrations there will be Magic themed workshops run by Sarah Ray and Karoline Rerrie.

In case you're wondering where the wonderful Tommy Cooper illustration has come from it was an extra postcard design by Beth Morrison which she decided not to use for the book. We love it and so does the gallery, in fact it’s proved so popular they want to use the image for some of their publicity material for the Magic Show.

Secrets behind the Magic

2010-10-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

The illustrators featured in the Magic postcard book are all very different and each one creates artwork in a unique style using their own particular technique.Over the next few weeks some of the girls will be revealing what inspired their postcard designs as well as how they created the finished artwork for the book.

Sarah Ray does magic.

2010-10-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sarah Ray has designed postcards for all three of the Girls Who Draw books and she is one of our favorite Birmingham based illustrators. Originally from the dark depths of Herefordshire, Sarah completed a degree in Illustration in the lovely city of Cambridge and since then has been working freelance, drawing for clients such as Orange, The Artgroup and Friends of the Earth. When she isn't busy creating funny characters in comical scenarios you can often find her screen printing work for galleries and shops around the country. In between drawing and drinking cups of tea she found time to answer a few questions about her Magic postcards.

What are the ideas or inspiration behind your Magic postcard designs?
My first design was a continuation of my 'chicken and egg' series. I decided to use these characters in a magic scene and thought of egg magicking a chick out with a wand. It went from there!

My other design started from the idea of a magic carpet. I thought it would be funny to put two rabbits on the carpet complaining about being there in a very English manner... I like to take situations out of the norm and take inspiration from people - who are all funny onions in their own way!

How did you develop your ideas for the postcards?
Just kept drawing, until it looked/sounded right. Once I decided what they were going to say I worked on the composition. From start to finish it wasn't actually a very long process... the longest part is thinking up the idea at which point I have to work in silence otherwise my brain won't work properly.

And how did you create the finished artwork for the postcards?
I drew the elements of the designs and then scanned them into photoshop. I fiddle about quite a bit with colours/lines/layout see what looks best until I'm happy, and hey presto! they were complete! Oh, yes and this wouldn't happen at all without numerous cups of tea and music!

www.sarahray.co.uk
www.squeakyunderpants.blogspot.com

Girls Who Draw present Magic

2010-10-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Magic is the third postcard book from Girls Who Draw, a group of UK based illustrators who, as the name suggests are all women. The cover of Magic was designed by the remarkable Kate Hindley, who seems to spend most of her time conjuring up new characters to amuse and delight us all. Kate also created two postcards for the book along with a brilliant lineup of regular and new contributors. They are Anke Weckmann, Gemma Correll, Mary Kilvert, Beth Morrison, Alys Paterson, Sarah Ray, Jane Anderson (aka Currentstate), Yee Ting Kuit, Ruth Green and Karoline Rerrie. All the group are already very busy selling the Magic books from their online shops as well as sending them to stores and galleries around the country and even further afield. It's hard work keeping up with everything that's going on but we hope to find time to tell you more about Magic, the illustrators involved and keep you up to date with the group's exhibitions and adventures.