Glorious Mid-Century Art Work by Bangor's Neal McCullough

Hello readers, I've not been able to blog too much recently, so I've invited my favourite local artist who I've featured regularly before on The World of Kitsch, Neal McCullough, to guest post about his current exhibition. Thank you, Neal!

Hey Hey, World of Kitsch Regulars. I’m Neal McCullough from Bangor’s Hand Drawn Creative Illustration. Claire has graciously allowed me to write about my latest illustrated Exhibition currently on in Belfast’s Atelier Design Interiors showroom.

You’ll know my illustration work already, because I designed the The World of Kitsch logo right above this post. Like a lot of World of Kitsch fans, I’m obsessed with vintage illustration and mid-century furniture, so I’ve put together a collection of ten new illustrations showcasing my mid-century obsession called “Asseyez-Vous”

The Asseyez-Vous illustrations were created following meetings with Victor & James at Atelier Design’s hyper-chic showroom in Belfast’s Refound Building, and a lot of the finished illustrations feature little hidden gems from their range of kitsch, retro furniture and textiles.

“Asseyez-Vous” was due to wrap up on 3 May, but has now been been extended for another month, so if you’re in Belfast in May, call in. The showroom is open Wednesday-Saturday. I really hope you like the pretty pictures. Prints range from £10 to £80. If you aren’t in Northern Ireland you can also order prints through my Etsy store too. 

Thanks for having me! 

Cheers, Neal

www.handdrawncreative.co.uk

Vintage Ulster Travel Posters That Aren't So Vintage...

I adore the work of Norman Wilkinson, the classic British and Irish travel poster designer. I have two poster size prints of his work in the house, a Portrush Golf one, and a Bangor one (my home town). If you want to find a great selection of them online you'd want to click on to Travel Posters Online.

Whilst shopping today in Ards, I spotted a mini-art show in the mall. I was very excited about the pieces, which are in Norman Wilkinson's style, but these are by James S. Kelly a local artist creating stunning, simple but beautiful. 

http://www.jskelly.co.uk/

I want some!  Which to buy first? I can imagine these looking very smart in an independent coffee shop.

Pixar Storyboard Artist Creates Children's Book Style Illustrations of Rated 18 Movies

These wickedly cool prints are available from Josh Cooley's own webstore, or buy the set in book form on Amazon.

Have You Ever Seen Such an Inviting Dystopian, Nuclear, Retro-Future?

I love Steven Quinn's collages. Stark landscapes and vintage humans.  

Steven has also designed a range of wall clocks, called Time Flies, which are available via his website.

Dick Bruna's Iconic Apple Picture Book Republished after 60 Years

The Apple, Dick Bruna’s first picture book before he created his iconic character Miffy, has been republished by Tate to mark the title’s 60th anniversary this August.

Featuring a charming story about a little rosy apple that is taken on an adventure by a bird, The Apple is available in stores from today, 1 August 2013, alongside two other titles by Dick Bruna: The School, out of print since 1968, and new book, On My Scooter. All three books are published in hardback, priced £4.99 each, available from all good book stores.

The 12 illustrations in The Apple are the first expression of Dick Bruna’s signature style, now familiar to generations worldwide. Created in 1953 whilst he was still working as a freelance graphic designer in his father’s publishing house in Amsterdam, The Apple shows Dick Bruna experimenting with form and shape, using bold black outlines and bright, contrasting primary colours.

Having published The Apple in the Netherlands, Dick Bruna produced several more picture books over the next two years, before creating the little bunny character Miffy, which brought him international 

Dick Bruna Exhibition at Foyles Book Shop, London: Tate is marking the publication and 60th anniversary of The Apple with an exhibition of Dick Bruna’s artwork at the Foyles Café, Charing Cross Road, London from 6 – 29 August, together with children’s colouring activities throughout all branches of Foyles. In addition, look out for The Apple-themed activities at all Tate cafés, including apple desserts and a Dick Bruna library, throughout August. 

 

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The King & Queen of Vine, Marlo Meekins & WhoisMaxwell

Vine is the newest iPhone (so far) social network. With celebs and plebs alike signing up in their thousands, Vine gives you six seconds to make a masterpiece. There are lots of talented artists and musicians on it too, and my favourite Famous Viners are definitely the ones who play for laughs.

Marlo Meekins Vine is a beautifully insane world of characters like nerdy Rose, who seems to have trouble with tubes, Marlo's pet dogs and she herself being bloody hilarious. I dare you to watch her feed and not fall in love with her.

​I won Marlo's little competition to have a personalised Vine made. You'll know it when you scroll through and see it. You might have nightmares though.

Marlo is an artist by trade and her style oxymoronically mashes up the really feminine with crude bodily functions & grim jokes.​ She has an online store too, so if you can't access her Vine, please do check out her wares. 

'Mister Vine' has to be WhoisMaxwell, Max Burlingame. I don't know quite as much about this character, except that he is a budding cartoonist & it's never safe to watch his new Vines around your five year old!​

Max is funny, self-depreciating and wonderfully weird. He seems to have disappeared from Vine this week, but hopefully if you add him, he will be back soon.​ 

Max drew me about a month ago, in his super creepy John Kricfalusi style.

So who do you like on Vine? You can also find me being an idiot on there.​

​Rudedoodle by WhoisMaxwell