Making of: Remi Rough Notorious
This print had been in the planning for a while and I knew I could’t promise to print it unless I had proofed it and was happy enough to pursue and finish it! You ask why, but all is not that appears to be with this design.
Like most of Remi/Roughs art work, everything has layers and depths, some parts appear to jump right at you and some parts are pushed behind others with no heavy boarder or line to hide behind. I really like the fact the Remi doesn’t release a print at a drop of a hat, so I new that this had been cleverly thought about and deliberated and I had to treat this print with the same thought and consideration.
Putting aside the meticulous precision with the regiteration on this design I had to think long and hard with what sections of the print leaped out, what part balanced and what got pushed back. So, to cut a long long story short and about a month of sampling various hand cut artworks, colours and inks, here is the lovely four colour screen print on Somerset Satin paper, finished of with my current obsession, Gloss Overprint Varnish on the Black, just to make it pop!
Notorious will be available to view at the London Original Print fair (Royal Academy) through Scream Gallery from 25th-28th April 2013
Whitecross St party 2012
It was the third year that we participated in Whitecross Street Party. I think having been there from the start, I can honestly say that it just keeps getting better and better.There is just so much to do & it’s really family friendly with lots of activities for the little one’s. Although I am at our stall majority of the time over the two days, I did manage to see a few things like the fire breathing horse and my friends Brassroots performing on the new stage area on the Sunday.
I am sure we will back next year for more rising of the none-conformists!
Sweet Memories-Sweet Revenge
I really don’t need to say much this time, the photo’s explain it all!
It was all decks on hand when the Sweet Toof Sweet Revenge show was getting put up by the High Roller Society. The mammoth space in Hackney Wicks Colour Works building was transformed in to a “sweet delight” in the middle of the Olympics!!!!!
The preparation was immense and everything manged to get pulled together in the final stages, although I did feel really bad in pulling the big Blue shutters down on peering faces just when the show was meant to start! Sorry! They didn’t stay shut for too long though.
The most amazing thing about the show for me was to see all the great works made through the years under one roof. All the past pieces reminded me of the time and place when I had first seen them and the people that had been with me. Sweet memories of times gone by…….
Hope you enjoy the photo’s, and thanks to the High Roller Society and all those who helped with the show for letting me part of it.
Ax
Nelly Duff: Banger Art
Making Of: Holly-Anne Buck Print
Competition winner- Holly-Anne Buck
Little did I know a chance meeting with Holly-Anne Buck who had the next stand by mine at the Other Art Fair 1 that I would end up printing her winning designs a few months later!
To top that, I actually think that Holly-Anne well may be the first lady artist that I have made a screen print edition for!
In fairness, we didn’t begin work straight away on the print, and getting the artwork right was our prime concern.
Majority of Holly-Anne’s work is collage based and she has a great talent of juxtaposing various imagery together to make amazing and sometimes crazy compositions.
This had it’s own little hurdles for us as screen printing is obviously an analogue process, so when you try to reproduce something that has already been processed digitally transferring it back to analogue you really need to handle it with experience and care to no experience too much dot clash (Moiré). Luckily Holly-Anne has a printmaking background so she immediately understood what I was going on about so she was a little more forgiving.
Very bizarrely I had just purchased some140T mesh screens, which are probably the tightest mesh count I have printed through as yet, so I thought I would give it a go!
After we had the go ahead from the initial samples my work continued. Armed with the original artwork close to me, I couldn’t seem to get the Rose in the middle of the deign bold enough! So, I have a little confession to make…..I actually had to add another layer to the print so it became 4 colours instead of the 3! I know, I know, but I couldn’t really let the print leave without me being a 100% happy.
As you could imagine Holly-Anne was very pleased with her print she actually told me that she couldn’t take her eyes of it.
I am so happy Holly-Anne won, well deserved winner.
We really enjoyed running the print comp because I really believed in it, and wanted to connect with other artists and designers. I love being able to make work for other artists as much as I love making work for my self. Thank you for all who voted and thanks once more to the entrants and the runners up. Aida x
The new stunning prints titled “Flowers that Wander & Bloom, London 2012″ will be available from here: hollyannebuck.com
Making Of: Lennie Lee, Dark Angel & Specsaviours
I had been on a well deserved break from screen printing when I received a surprise call from what I call the original “wild child”of found/trash/sculpture/performance/instillation…..the list goes on for the artwork of Lennie Lee. You would think with so much experience and knowledge Lee would have had a Screen Print out by now! But I gasped…..”you have never screen printed or had one made for you?” oh my gosh, “we must see what we can do about that”. I did stress the fact that he was eating in to my holiday away from my squeegee and I was only doing this because I couldn’t bare anyone else making him his first ever release, especially as I adored the images that he had sent me!
For someone who has never had a print out, his work is the perfect companion to the screen print process. The beautiful blocks of flat colour and the heavy key line is any printers dream! It is only in this process, such saturation of colour and quality could be achieved.
I took this one in my stride, apart from spending about half a day getting the colour balance right on the Dark Angel print. Knowing how much Lee loves collaborating and improvising we even spent a day in the Glorious House preparing various backgrounds with paint and other mark making materials for the Specsaviours print. It was a long and some time exhausting day but very enjoyable and I even think Lennie said he learnt something new about the way he works and how he could perhaps develop more of his work to be screen printed in the future.
Lennie Lee will be launching his new Screen Prints- Dark Angel and Specsaviours tomorrow at the Other Art Fair in London’s Ambika P3. The fair is open to the public from the 10th-13th May.
I love these prints and they are very limited so make sure you try and get to see them in real life-
Thanks Lennie for sharing your excitement & experience with me!
Aida’s Glorious Big Bonanza Free Printing Giveaway
Competition Winner: Holly Anne Buck
Shortlist:
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Holly Anne-Buck, Gaetan Billault, Jay Blunt, Hannah Collins, Clare Dewell, Hijak ’85, Adam Jacques,
Sui Kim, Keith Little, Mark McAleese McQueen, Pedro Moreira, Ian O’Dem, Nicola Reed, Sarah Richards,
Mark Ring, Jamie Stuart, Juliette Stuart, Philip Walton
Wow, we have finally got our WINNER ! Congratulations to Holly Anne Buck. We will be getting started
with you print very soon.
Thank you so much to all our lovely entrants for making our first competition such a great success.
We are planning lots more fun competitions for the future so keep your eyes peeled, we would love
to see more of your artwork again.
Thanks for all your support and well done Holly Anne Buck.
Lots of love
Aida x
Behind the Scenes at the “Zoo”
I am sure you have had enough of me going on about this years Pick Me Up (Graphics Fair) by now, but it is because I was so excited to have something in the show. For the last two years, I had visited the fair and was a little envious of all the artists that had been exhibiting.
This years show, didn’t fail to disappoint me. I think I could even go as far in saying, it was one of the best yet, especaially as there was a special focus on drawing and I know in the past it has been quite print based.
Well, there are plenty of reviews of the show on many many other blogs out there, this is not my role, so I will shut up. What I do have is some sneak pics of us helping set up the Nelly Duff “Zoo”, which was so much fun, especially being able to put up the main entrance wall of the Zoo. You wouldn’t think it would be so hard to make something look naturally pasted up and aged- I think it took us about 5 hours or so to achieve the look! Many strategic rips and scratching went on……
Just incase you were in hibernation, you can see my new screen print launches FlamingoRama & Scarlett Ibis now available from Nelly Duff.
Making Of: Flamingorama
Having always looked towards the wilder side of the animal kingdom for inspiration as mentioned in the ‘Left with the Unicorns’ blog post, I knew that I was going to be working on a bird theme collection of prints for the next few months at least. When I heard the news that these were potentially going to be launched by Nelly Duff at their “Zoo” themed room for Pick Me Up fair, the pressure was on and I knew they had to be special and maybe something that I had never done before- lets say I was feeling slightly out of my comfort zone. If you have read the ‘Unicorns’ post, you will know that this version of the Flamingo is the second one which I reflects my personality a little more. Where in the last one, as nice as it was, maybe I was too influenced or even haunted by the history of the past.
With some classical references and taking inspiration from the likes of John Audubon and Basil Ede, I wanted to make artwork that echoed the atmosphere and composition of the original illustrations and give them a new lease of life through digital rendition and screen printing techniques, especially focusing on various processes and finishes to make these birds really sing.
The fist two birds in the collection are specially produced are launched by Nelly Duff in this years Pick Me Up show in Somerset House. Audubon’s classic Reddish Pink flamingo has been given a major rework, with a composition that is reminiscent of “the land of the giants” with a small hint of detail on how some of these birds can now only be seen in captivity and not in their natural habitat like Audubon and his predecessors had the privilege of observing. Again, this is offset by my classic trademark use of acidic Pink and Black Glitter printed on recycled speckled paper with the apt title FlamingoRama.
To view these birds in their new natural habitat, Pick Me Up- Contemporary Graphic Art Fair runs from the 22 March – 1 April. The prints can also be viewed after the show at Nelly Duff gallery.
I will be posting some behind the scene photographs and commentary on Nelly Duff’s ZOO room for Pick Me Up in the next blog post soon xx
Making Of: Scarlett Ibis
Having always looked towards the wilder side of the animal kingdom for inspiration I tried not to fly too far from the nest with the new collection of hand screen printed editions especially made for the Nelly Duff gallery in London.
With some classical references and taking inspiration from the likes of John Audubon and Basil Ede, I wanted to make artwork that echoed the atmosphere and composition of the original illustrations and give them a new lease of life through digital rendition and screen printing techniques, especially focusing on various processes and finishes to make these birds really sing.
The bright Red flamed ruffled feathers of this print can only be the Scarlett Ibis, which sits perched on a silhouette of a thick branch, which is another recurring theme, running through both the Flamingo and the Ibis. The dark Gray background and the thick Black gloss overprint over the beak and tail of the Ibis makes this print very dark and majestic, making it a welcome addition to grace any wall.
To view these birds in their new natural habitat, Pick Me Up- Contemporary Graphic Art Fair runs from the 22 March – 1 April. The prints can also be viewed after the show at Nelly Duff gallery.
New Print Launch for Nelly Duff at Pick Me Up
Dear Friends,
Here is a sneak peek at what to expect from my new collection of prints which will be launched by Nelly Duff at this years Pick Me Up (Contemporary Graphics show) Obviously, I can’t reveal the fully finished prints just yet, you will have to go to the show to see that, so below is a summery of what to expect. More behind the scenes photo’s and “Making of” to follow soon. Hope to see you there xx
Aida- New Print release for Nelly Duff at Pick me Up 2012
FlamingoRama & Scarlett Ibis
Having always looked towards the wilder side of the animal kingdom for inspiration we find that Aida hasn’t flown too far from the nest with the new collection of hand screen printed editions especially made for the Nelly Duff gallery in London.
With some classical references and taking inspiration from the likes of John Audubon and Basil Ede, Aida wanted to make artwork that echoed the atmosphere and composition of the original illustrations and give them a new lease of life through digital rendition and screen printing techniques, especially focusing on various processes and finishes to make these birds really sing.
The fist two birds in the collection are specially produced and will be launched by Nelly Duff in this years Pick Me Up show in Somerset House. Audubon’s classic Reddish Pink flamingo has been given a major rework, with a composition that is reminiscent of “the land of the giants” with a small hint of detail on how some of these birds can now only be seen in captivity and not in their natural habitat like Audubon and his predecessors had the privilege of observing. Again, this is offset by Aida’s classic trademark use of acidic Pink and Black Glitter printed on recycled speckled paper with the apt title FlamingoRama.
The bright Red flamed ruffled feathers of the second print can only be the Scarlett Ibis, which sits perched on a silhouette of a thick branch, which is another recurring theme, running through both the Flamingo and the Ibis. The dark Gray background and the thick Black gloss overprint over the beak and tail of the Ibis makes this print very dark and majestic, making it a welcome addition to grace any wall.
To view these birds in their new natural habitat, Pick Me Up- Contemporary Graphic Art Fair runs from the 22 March – 1 April. The prints can also be viewed after the show at Nelly Duff gallery.
Making Of: Otto Schade Sweat Heart & You Got the Power
Here are the latest new Screen Print offerings from the Chilean artist Otto Schade . They are the classic band illustrated art works.
The “Sweet Heart” is especially appropriate for you lovers out there with Valentines fast approaching….
“Sweet Heart” and “You Got the Power” are now available from The Ben Oakley Gallery (London), both are an edition of 25 printed, 3 colour screen print on Somerset Satin 300gsm paper.
Making Of: Remi/Rough Known
It was about a year ago when Remi/Rough released his first ever screen print Edition “Phenomenon” which was printed right here in The Glorious House of Brag by the infamous, talented screen printer Sam from Mula Printing.
After the success of the last print, Remi was ready to release his second print edition called “Known”. This one was a little bit different from his classic trait mark of clean graphic lines and angular shapes but never the less, still very recognisable as the artist work. I particularly love the large circular curves and and the perfect sphere that lies completely balance on the tiniest of hair line at the foot of the curve.
As a printer, for me, I knew the simplicity and the cleanness of the design would represent many hidden challenges to make sure everything was printed meticulously with all the colours being very much solid with no discrepancies in any part of the print. The colour balance had also had to be right and I did have to make a fair few samples to get this just right.
I think the most challenging part was that, I had no line or key lines to hide behind….it was all exposed, never mind getting rid of all the little bits of paper fluff and dust that kept obstructing the large solid areas of colour. Despite all this, the prints turned out beautifully and I am sure they are going to look fabulous hanging on any art lovers wall!
Remi/Rough- “Known” prints are now available in Two colour-ways, Black (edition of 25) or a very limited Blue (edition 10) from Whisper Gallery (London)
Season Ticket Art Fair 2011
Sometimes you make work and your not exactly sure where it’s destined for or if you would even get to show it. For me, the art show Season Ticket at he Old Shoreditch Underground Station was set to me my destination. As I explained my plans to the curators I could see all my hard work and panic being worth it at the end.
I was delighted to be given the walls of the main entrance of the show and later on, an alter- esque boarded up arch window to place a more permanent robust piece of art work. I had many biblical visions on my mind for that space but as time was short and with my only options of transportation was the public sort, I opted to make a slightly smaller version of the main entrance piece, entitled “3 Wise Men”.
The main entrance pieces ended up taking about 8 hours to put up, maybe this was due to it being a freezing December evening in a cold building with no heat and working with fingers like icicles. Each piece of the instillation is individually Screen Printed on various papers with lots of hand embellishments and plenty of Glitter thrown in for good measure.
I even got to feed my new “money” addiction and covered one of the walls with the “Credit Crunch” wallpaper. We added some larger cut out, folded, 3D money on top, for added effect; a moment of genius from John. Made the whole wall look alive! If you don’t believe it, check out the photo’s.
One last note, I would like to thank Alex Daw and The High Roller Society for putting on, such an amazing show to see the end of 2011 with and letting me go Wilde xx
Making Of: Credit Crunch Wallpaper
I can see why making money can be so addictive as I think I have definitely developed an addiction to “Printing Money”. As I lay there fantasising how great it would be to be surrounded by money I had a epiphany! Make some wallpaper, this was the solution. As it shows in the photographs, it just went on and on and on and on…….delightful.
Making Of: Otto Schade Amy Winehouse Print
There were spooky going on’s in the studio when these Amy Winehouse art works were being printed . As the layers of the art work were broken down, with each layer I printed, I could almost see in to the soul of the subject….never mind all the things going missing and being moved around in the studio! It was the eyes.
Pretty sure this will be another classic print for Otto Schade, with only a limited amount printed (27 to be exact) of the Black & White edition, & only 5 in the Silver and 10 in the Gold. The lips & the nails are all lovingly hand finished by the artist in Amy’s signature Red. A lovely tribute & I ‘m sure these won’t be around for long too.
Making Of: Limited Edition Black ZeVra
So, I had a happy accident one day whilst cutting out my Pink ZeVra’s, one fell onto some Black paper which was lying on the studio floor. This was the start of my mission to try and pull off a print on Black paper. I knew it wouldn’t be easy as this colour can soak up anything which lies in it’s path spitting it out as a murky rendition of it’s former self. As you know, my colour pallet is not a shy one, so achieving this balance was not the easiest of conquests.
It all started well, the Black Gloss printed beautifully on the Black Somerset Velvet paper. Halfway through printing the White, I did actually stop and think, what have I let my self in for, as the ink was getting sucked into this bottomless void. Things got even more hairy as I was laying down the Fluorescent Pink and then having to print the extra think Black Glitter and then hand finishing them with extra Glitter on top of that! Phew, back breaking.
This was probably the longest time I have spent screen-printing a print for myself, and I really needed the time, of leaving them to press, which allowed me the adequate rest bite to fall in love with the original concept & vision again.
They are stunning to look at in my eyes and went on release at Nelly Duff Gallery 2 weeks ago. They are very limited and probably the last in the series of the ZeVra’s.
Aida & The Glorious House of Brag
Making of: Ludo’s e-Lepidoptera Print
I was so excited to be asked to print for Ludo for his first solo show in the UK at the High Roller Society which opened last Friday.
I really enjoyed printing this image, it was such a precise image with lots of delicate half tone dots so I had to make sure that the image didn’t finish too dark as they were being hand finished by Ludo himself.
Overall he was really pleased with them and I grow very fond of the print as I was making them. I think it’s going to be a classic image which is very accessible.
I also managed to get my self one of his signed books which I believe have sold out now! Check out the final finished article on the High Rollers site!
Thank you Ludo & High Rollers xx
Galloping New ZeVras
It’s a wrap for the new Silver ZeVra colour-way which was delivered to Nelly Duff last Saturday……the word is that there has already been some pre- orders so fingers crossed they will soon gallop their way out of the gallery again!
A final note on the ZeVras, I finally managed to get into the Nelly Duff HQ and decorated the cupboard doors in the office……thought it would cheer them up every morning!
Love
Aida xx
P.S Please contact the gallery for any pre-orders on the new colour way.
Kid Acne:Kill Your Darlings
I had the opportunity to go up to to Sheffield to the Millennium Gallery to see the Kid Acne solo show. What a great space and what a carefully contemplated show! Really worth going up, especially as there are lots of Kid Acne goodies to buy at the gift shop….I bought my self a ‘Colour Me Bad’ book amazing!
The show is on until the 23rd of October, so still plenty of time to visit.
Also check out the new ‘Stabby Women‘ film which is directed by Dscreet ,it’s dark and atmospheric with a killer sound track in my opinion.
Some of you may recognise the girls outfits in the film:
Brag Boutique: Street View
Just Like Millions of others a few weeks ago, I was re-watching Exit Through the Gift Shop on the telly, and I got really sentimntal when the shot of Brag Boutique came on, funny how sugar coated some memories can be!
Then it suddenly dawned on me that I never took a descent photo outside the old shop (I thought I would be there forever). Especially of the walls which were painted next to it. Maybe I couldn’t take the memories of the eventful night . So I started to ask all my firends who were regulars at the old haunt if they had any photos.
A few days later, my dear friend Dave sent me these, which he found using Google Street View! So funny, as I distinctly remember that summer day, watching the van with the cameras going by. This made me feel even more nostalgic than the film. We used to hang out, outside the shop after closing for ages, chatting, smoking and laughing.
Good times!
Thank you for the photographs Dave & Google, xx
Parkway Rythm: Working Girl
I got a surprise email from a musician from Sweden who went about a spiral way to manage to find me, which I was really flattered by. I am sure I have never been head hunted like this before. What I found most amusing was that after he had spotted my work out on the street, he had envisaged me as being a starved 17 year old student looking for a bit of exposure……not sure if that’s a compliment or not!
To cut a long story short, I have provided some art work for his latest record release which is titled ‘Working Girl’…..my immediate memory was of the 80′s film which starring Melanie Griffiths and Harrison Ford, which I have lost count of ,the number of times I have watched this film. I also thought that it was fitting for me as I am also a working girl (not to be confused with the type that hangs around street corners at night anyway). So I couldn’t resist but do this project!
Try and look up the record, it’s got a real 80′s NYC vibe going on, the type of track which will make you feel nostalgic, well it certainly made me think of my youth anyway!
Labels called Parkway Rhythm- Working Girl
Vandalog
Thanks to everyone at Vandalog for the great write up and to all those lovely people who commented.
check it out: vandalog
Aida
xxx
Hackney Wicked
Hi everyone thanks for coming to see us last week at Whitecross St, if anyone has any pics you could send them to us aidaprints We are gonna be at Hackney Wicked in the Fete for the Wicked area this Sunday with a few more goodies. Some new scarves, prints, t-shirts, bags and our Beach Babes range (featured below). See ya Sunday Aidaxxx 
Latest update on Brag’s new range
Hi all, had a great session today photographing the new Brag Clothing collection. Today’s turn was the women’s wear which has had a good response so far! Well, from the few that have had a sneak peak, anyway!
Photographing the Men’s tomorrow, so looking forward to some torso action there! My model had demanded for a pair of Andy Warhol’s slippers…..pretty sure I am going to disappoint him there! Unless any one can write in and let me know where I can get a pair from???????
Will keep you updated very soon.
Luv Aida xx
White Cross Street Party
Date for your diaries: weekend extravaganza at The White Cross Street Part, craft stalls, street art, and yummy treats. The Glorious House of Brag will have a stall at the event with lots of goodies including the new clothing range, samples and artwork.
Come along and say HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love and Kisses
Aida
Living Etc
Zevra print featured in May edition of Living Etc. The stampede has begun- grab yem while you can.
New prints coming soon
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- ummmm shiny
New Aida ’Zevra’, glitter Zebra screen prints coming soon to Nelly Duff the Columbia Road Gallery. There are two fantastic colour ways to choose from….you really need to get up close and personal with this print so that you can see the wonderful glitter finish! As soon as I put the last colour on these pieces I just thought ‘what a HOT print’.
