Sarah Beetson's Design Classic

Sarah Beetson's article for Computer Arts on her Coney Island design classic is to be re-published.
The piece which talks about Gregory and Paul's, an eatery under threat of closure, will appear in a new version of the magazine for ipad.
Sarah met the owner Paul at the end of 2011, before Hurricane Sandy changed the face of the Coney Island Beachfront. She says "We shared fried shrimp and coronas. I look forward to seeing Paul again in 2014. This time I hope to paint his portrait!"

Sarah Beetson and owner Paul in 2011

Sarah's article:

My design classic: Gregory and Paul’s

"Under threat of closure for decades, the Coney Island eatery is home to an inspiring array of handmade signage, says illustrator Sarah Beetson. Since 2002, I have made five pilgrimages to the place that inspires me most in the world: Coney Island, on the shores of Brooklyn. My most photographed spot there is Gregory & Paul’s eatery on the boardwalk, which has recently been renamed Paul’s Daughter. Founded by Paul Georgoulakos and his best friend upon their arrival from Greece in 1962, his daughter Tina now runs the show. The original building was constructed in 1939 with rounded corners and ornate wooden pillars. A classic in beachfront architecture, it was revamped in 2012. What’s really special about it though, is that it still incorporates all of Gregory and Paul’s original handpainted signage, with the cotton candy kids Chiefito and Chiefita, and Mr Shrimp still dominating the front panels. Brilliant as the new design looks to be, I’m still kind of sad that the ageing original has gone. Every single item available in the shack is written haphazardly in veritable Technicolor all over the walls; a naively brilliant exploitation of free advertising space. The signwriter has even lent his hand to a ‘Please Wash your Hands’ sign in the employee bathroom. There is a magically authentic retrograde feel about the diner that is evoked by the signs. The place is a permanent pastel- come-spaceage 1960s time capsule".

See more on Sarah Beetson's Coney Island Dream Campaign.

Illustration Now! Fashion

We're very excited to see Sarah Beetson's spreads in the latest from Taschen's Illustration Now! series.
This book, celebrating the fashion genre, features her works such as Green Heart Heels, Flamingo Socks and Escher Striped Shirt and Corset. Illustration Now! Fashion is out now.

The Beetson Compendium

cover of journal

A dream of a job came the way of Sarah Beetson who was asked to create many illustrations to be used in a journal for Compendium. She says "It was a lovely open brief and I had control over the art direction of the entire journal illustrating quotes about natural beauty alongside florals, botanicals and birds. I even got to create my own lined pages!" The final book is a gorgeous celebration of Sarah's work as well as a handy jotter for your day's thoughts! Take a look at the journal.

Kickback Man

Joe McDermott's card for Papyrus is now on the shelves. The artwork targeted for the birthday of 'the man in your life' was to feature a slightly past-his-prime 'superhero'. Joe says "They wanted the hero to be relaxing on his couch, watching TV, and be surrounded by junk food. He's a couch potato who isn't so concerned about fighting crime anymore."

Sarah Beetson at The Brick Lane Gallery

Exhibiting at The Brick Lane Gallery from next week is Sarah Beetson with her stunning series of paintings; 'The Lost Boys'. The group show entitled 'Crossovers' runs from 23rd May 'til 2nd June, where Sarah will show six paintings - two of which are nearly 2 metres squared in size.

Sarah says " “The Lost Boys” explores the turbulent nature of child celebrity. I wanted to look at the darker more destructive side of Hollywood fame. The seven subjects (Corey Haim, River Phoenix, Heath Ledger, Brad Renfro, Christopher Pettiet, Jonathan Brandis and Sage Stallone) were a generation of boys all born in the 1970s or early 80s, and all began acting in childhood. I grew up watching them in Hollywood movies like “Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead”, “Stand By Me”, “License To Drive, “The Neverending Story II”, “Rocky V”, “Sleepers” and “10 Things I Hate About You”. All died due to substance abuse or suicide in their 20s and 30s."

Molo Kids T-Shirts

These funky designs from Sarah Beetson have been licensed to Molo Kids for two of their T-Shirt designs. As part of the Molo Art Project for the spring/summer collection 2013, seven hand-picked illustrators and graphic artists were chosen to create a print for a t-shirt and to incorporate their signature on the neck of the garment. The line up:

"The ‘molo art’ team and its prints range from Stina Persson’s funky zebra to Sarah Beetson’s wonderful rollerskating legs in sparkly colours. Stina Persson is one of Sweden’s most talented fashion illustrators, and Sarah Beetson, who is British born but based in Australia, can brag about having exhibited her illustrations all over the world and has made store decorations for one of Stella McCartney’s boutiques. The team also includes the Danish graffiti artist who goes by the name of ‘Toys,’ and who is a part of the first wave of graffiti artists in Denmark. ‘Toys’ has interpreted molo’s iconic star. The ‘molo art’ project isn’t just for famous names, though, since molo wants to empower young talent; the artist couple Rack&Nais is a good example of this because their partnership with molo started already back when they both went to Denmark’s Design School."

Melissa Chaib's Scrapbook

 

Monterrey based Melissa Chaib on her love of analogue photography & the inspiration she finds from her friends & music. Melissa Chaib's Scrapbook.

Be Magazine

Joe McDermott creates this spread for Be Magazine in France, one year after her 'new breasts', it's as if they have always been there!

Perrier on the Metro

Joseph McDermott's work for Perrier with Ogilvy Paris appears large on the Paris Metro. Stunning!

How Sarah Beetson Created 'Lost' Artwork

Check out Sarah Beetson's  video on making the art for Amanda Palmer's new record 'Lost' from the album "Theatre Is Evil" . See it here.

Lost

This beautifully busy illustration has been created by Sarah Beetson for the song "Lost" by musician Amanda Palmer from Dresden Dolls. Done for the artwork on her upcoming solo album, Amanda asked a large handful of artists, including Shepherd Fairey, Neil Gaiman and Molly Crabapple to create a piece based around one of her songs for the record. Sarah says "The album will be self-published, and Amanda raised over 1 million US dollars in a month via crowdfunding to fund the project: I guess this is what you can expect from social networking when you have over 500,000 Twitter followers!"

Perrier

Joseph McDermott has been working with Ogilvy Paris on some ads for Perrier and commissioned to complete 3 images in his 1960's pop art style. Joe says "For the overall look, they wanted it to have the appearance of an image on paper that had been greatly enlarged/zoomed in, so the line work had to be a bit fuzzy. For color, they wanted solid colors with a paper texture." With the speech bubble translating to "Oh A Perrier with thin bubbles !", Joe's style gives the posters a fresh, clean impact, very suited to the brand.

Pick Me Up

Making the final 20 artists selected for Somerset House Pick Me Up 2012 is an immensely excited Sarah Beetson.  Pick Me Up is the UK’s contemporary graphic art fair and festival celebrating all forms of graphic arts.  Not only does the fair showcase work from the best illustrators, graphic novelists, cartoonists and designers from the UK, it also offers the opportunity to meet and watch them work. Sarah Beetson will be exhibiting originals, prints, cushions and specially created clothing as well as doing live portraits at the fair for £75 each - it’s a must see if you are in London this month. The exhibition takes place at Somerset House, Embankment Galleries, Strand, London WC2R 1LA and opens on 22nd March, running until 1st April.  For more info look here.

Cliff Mills's Scrapbook

Phoenix born & based illustrator Cliff Mills's artwork is heavily influenced by his home state's landscape of low horizons & big sky. Cliff Mill's Scrapbook.

Cliff Mills

Specialising in travel and editorial illustrations, as well as poster and t-shirt designs, we are rather happy to have Cliff Mills with us. Residing in the US, his work is heavily influenced by Arizona; the state he was born and raised. Cliff's work can be highly detailed and conceptual, loose and reportage. Combining textures and line, always with drawing at the heart.

Joseph McDermott's Scrapbook

Pop Art style illustrator, Joseph McDermott's love of art history and how he secretly wishes designers Charles & Ray Eames were his parents. Joseph's Scrapbook.

Sarah Beetson wins Creative Review - Best In Book 2011

Sarah Beetson's success continues with the recent announcement that she has won the Creative Review Illustration Annual - Best in Book. Sarah is very excited at the news, her winning 5 entries are from her “I Dream In Celluloid” exhibition showing in London next week. Sarah says of the show:

"“I Dream In Celluloid” is my 4th solo exhibition, exploring the link between an obsession with film and how this affects my dreams. Each morning, I record the night’s dreamings via my dream sketchbook, where I have rediscovered memories from my childhood, my displaced identity and nationality, relayed interactions with friends, colleagues, relations and pets; both dead and alive, past and present. I'm discovering facts about the essence of my existence via my subconscious. I watch a movie every evening, and find elements from these films within my dreams. With support from RADF, the exhibition culminates in a series of larger fake movie posters, a short animation and a giant digitally printed, hand painted embellished quilt cover. It has toured The Gold Coast and Melbourne; Australia, London; UK and will go onto Ottawa; Canada in October 2011."

"I Dream In Celluloid" London opens on Wednesday 3rd August, 6-8pm @ The Brick Lane Gallery, as part of Art in Mind.

The exhibition runs 2nd - 15th August, open daily 1pm - 6pm.