Artist of the Week - Lasse Skarbovik

Lasse Skarbovik was born in Norway. After graduating from Berghs School of Communication, he stayed in Sweden as a founder member of the Stockholm Illustration Collective. He describes his style as simple abstract with minimal colours. His prints and paintings are of kinetic shapes that describe figures, activities and landscapes, often in two colours. His strong images have appeared in all forms of print media as well as exhibition murals and as limited edition prints.
His inspiration comes from 'friends, food, street arts, architecture, furniture....everything!'

A long list of clients include American Illustration, The New Yorker, Time Magazine, Financial Times, Ikea, and many more design, advertising and illustration publications. His work has also be featuredon on book covers such as The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time.

Where did you train? What did training teach you and what do you wish it had taught you?
I went to Berghs School of Communication in Stockholm. It was a great school!, a playground for art and design nerds. Maybe we should learned more about economy and how to work as a freelancer.

One favourite living artist?
I really like the work of Blu, but I have new favourites every day.



One favourite historical artist?
Picasso all time, he got better and better during his lifetime. He never stopped developing his images.

Where do you get most of your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from everywhere… I am influenced by design , street art, architecture, furniture…and people.

What is the most interesting / fun job you have had?
I have had several. I love doing big walls, making images in an environment together with architecture and furniture.

Do you work mostly on your own? Have you had any interesting work related collaborations?
I work mostly alone but I like working with other professions, especially architects and designers.

At age 18 who most influenced your style?
David Hockney

How much do you bend your 'vision' to suit the marketplace - if at all?
Not at all when it comes to my paintings and prints… maybe when I am doing commercial projects.

Who would you say buys your work?
I really don't know…maybe the main are people working in the art business, designers, art directors etc.

Where and what is your studio?
It is situated in the heart of Stockholm, in the old town. It's a great place with a lot of inspiration from my colleagues.

Do you have a good work/life balance?
Hm… I hope and think so...

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Joy!

If you could be doing anything else what would it be?
I have always wanted to be an archaeologist, the new Indiana Jones.

If you could exhibit in any gallery in the world which would it be?
You have some nice galleries in England… Tate gallery.

Exhibitions

I will have one exhibition in Norway this month, Castor and Pollux in Brighton in April. In September, I had an exhibition in Lidkoping ( Sweden), and last summer I had a show together with my fellow artist Kennet Andersson in Stockholm.

For the Brighton Festival 2011, Castor and Pollux are proud to welcome Lasse to show his screen prints and paintings.

Lasse Skarbovik
23 April - 29 May 2011

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Exhibition; Denise Hoyle; works on paper

Denise Hoyle Works on Paper from Saturday 19th March - Saturday 9th April
An exhibition of works on paper by Denise Hoyle starts next Saturday at theEmma Mason Gallery in Eastbourne.

Denise Hoyle has rarely shown her work. Now in her seventies Denise makes beautiful drawings and paintings of flowers, ceramics, feathers, shells and other "finds" discovered whilst out walking or found in her garden and home. Although Denise had no formal art training she lived with artists during the 1960s in Great Bardfield, Essex having moved here from France as a young woman to marry the artist and printmaker Walter Hoyle (1922 - 2000) Denise and Walter lived and worked with other artists living near them in Essex; artists such as Edward Bawden, Bernard Cheese and Michael Rothenstein. Denise found she had a natural talent and made ceramics and collages and later paintings. She has continued to draw and paint and the works in this exhibition are pictures she has painted at her home in Sussex over the last decade.
This Autumn the Emma Mason Gallery will also be working with Denise to hold an exhibition of Walter Hoyle's prints.



Denise will be at the Emma Mason Gallery for much of the day on the opening Saturday. There will be a display of her work for sale with both framed and unframed pieces. The pictures will be in the gallery in Eastbourne but also on line for those who cannot make it to Sussex. The exhibition will be on the website http://www.emmamason.co.uk/

Emma Mason Gallery
3 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne. East Sussex BN21 4NN
Tel. 01323 727545 Gallery open Thurs, Fri, Sat 10.00am-5.00pm

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Charleston's Mini Garden Festival - 31 March - 3 April

Charleston's first mini Garden Festival celebrates the inspiring nature of the Charleston garden and takes place between 31 March – 3 April. The four day festival offers talks from gardeners such as Dan Pearson, as well as workshops including Painting in the Charleston Garden, Dig It and Contemporary Spring Cut Flowers.

Charleston's new What's On at Charleston Spring / Summer 2011 programme is also bursting with fresh ideas. Explore creative Workshops at Charleston to develop blossoming new skills. Try your hand at a variety of contemporary crafts from Patchwork Quilts and Mosaics to the delicate art of Flower Power Crochet.


A host of expert tutors are part of the season, including artists Tom Benjamin and Sophie Coryndon. Charleston has long been a source of inspiration to artists, designers and crafts people. The recent resurgence in contemporary crafts has seen several high profile designers site the uniquely decorated interiors of the house as a key influence. Charleston and the South Downs landscape, in which the house sits, form the backdrop of this series of events.

A full list of the Creative Workshop progamme can be found here.

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Pick Me Up at Somerset House

Coming soon is the second Pick me up at Somerset House in their embankment galleries. The show made it's debut to great success this time last year, featuring contemporary graphic designers both home grown and from further afield.
Taking residency for the exhibition's duration is Anthony Burrell, along with long-time collaborators, producing work on location.
Other contributors include Print Club London, Jack Featherstone, Paul Plowman and Ian Stevenson.




See a list of graphic artists selling at the show
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual_arts/pick_me_up_2011/1316.asp



Book for workshops, artists demos, stencil making and paper modelling.
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual_arts/pick_me_up_2011/default.asp
Open 17 -27 March 2011

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Outsider Art at Kings Place, London

Exhibition at Kings Place (new Guardian building) - 22nd March–1st April

A dazzling collection of works by contemporary outsider artists will be shown at the new Guardian offices and galleries at Kings Place.

Curated by The Bethlem Gallery, artworks have been provided by Creative Future, The Otherside Gallery, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Bethlem Gallery itself. The exhibition will be a taster for the forthcoming IMPACT ART FAIR and launch the Fringe Arts Programme, a London-based initiative established to showcase artists marginalised through reasons of mental ill health.

Venue: Guardian Gallery, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU
Dates: 22nd March–1st April
Times: Open every day - 10am–6pm
Preview: There is an open invitation to attend on Wednesday, March 30th 6.30-8.30pm

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Maker of the Week - Snowden Flood

Snowden Flood is an interior accessories designer based in London. Her work celebrates urban and rural landscapes through an ongoing exploration of the theme of souvenirs and keepsakes.

One favourite living craft maker.
I like Pieke Bergmans, wonderful inventive, imaginative and slightly anarchic use of materials

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? What one product/item do you really covet?
I buy things constantly from Etsy and ebay! Last thing I bought was a gorgeous 1950's Scandinavian cheeseboard for my boyfriend for Xmas, hope he doesn't read this! I have always coveted Paul Frankls Skyscraper chest. It's from the 20's. I think I might need another mortgage though!

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I was working on the London markets making and selling my own clothes and earrings. I'd done a work experience scheme at Winchester School of Art and was inspired by the students I made friends with. I would never have gone to art school otherwise as my art teacher at school told me I'd "never be good at art"!

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
I listen to music nonstop so a wide variety. But here's some things I've listened to today; The National, Everything Everything, The Coral, Wild Beasts, Bombay Bicycle Club, Gil Scott Heron, Elliot Smith, Doves, Joan as Policewoman, Jolie Holland, Arvo Part. Oh and of course - my brothers new album - Hedonism by Bellowhead!


Where and what is your studio?
Brixton Hill, in my house. I need to move because I need more space!

What is your favourite (art) website?
The American Folk Art Museum! I LOVE it and used to go there lots when I lived in NY, it's not far from where I used to work, beautiful building and wonderful collections. Right next door to MOMA. I've been very inspired by the works in that museum over the years.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Triathlon and accordion playing.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
No it's rubbish. I work all the time, I think that moving to a separate studio will help me alot! But I think about my work all the time and wake up in the night to make notes and sketches of things.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Possessed!

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Absolutely! I think it's very important indeed which is why humans have been making marks since we lived in caves!

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Invariably the things produced to make a quick buck, a cynical short-cut, cheap copies of the things that someone put love and care into (B&Q Tom Dixon lights for example).

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Maker of the Week - John Plater

J0hn Plater is a woodturner who works from his home in Brighton producing beautiful vessels.

One favourite living craft maker.
Apart from me, Bert Buri, Sussex Guild Cabinet Maker, nice bloke and lovely work.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? What one product/item do you really covet?
A pencil drawing from John Amos, local artist. Possibly a bigger lathe and somewhere to put it, so that I can be incompetent on a grander scale !


At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I was in Teacher Education, the woodturning came later and self taught. Influences are varied but all reflect honesty of design and construction and truth to materials.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Muse, Katie Melua and Bryan Adams.

Where and what is your studio?
A shed in the garden at home.



What is your favourite (art) website?
http://www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk/. A quality site, full of interest.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Landrovers.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Yes, coming late to design/craft as a “second career” has helped to keep a perspective.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Joy.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
For me yes, for others – “…in the eyes of the beholder”. They are a significant part of life’s rich tapestry, offering spiritual and cerebral solace.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I find conceptual stuff difficult to cope with and dislike elitism.

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