The Bitter Half
Walking through South Melbourne at lunchtime today, I passed The Clarendon hotel and chuckled when this advertising poster caught my eye: that’s just clever copy-writing. I do love how this 40s-style pin-up is hefting a broken heart in her hand too, ready to smash it over someone’s head.
Collage Special
Cover illustration by Danny SnellYesterday my third issue of Outline was published. It was part two of the collage special (last issue I had so much material that I had to split it in half).
A Capsule History of Collage. Click on image for larger version.I wrote a little capsule history of collage, and discovered some interesting things, for instance: I had no idea that Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso coined the term (taken from the French, coller, to glue). And who has heard of cubomania?
Opening spread of a profile on Tanya Cooper. Click on image for larger version.There are three profiles on Australian illustrators who specialise in collage: Tanya Cooper (above), Danny Snell and Ron Monnier. Danny gave us a little 'how-to' tutorial and Ron created a collage of his studio especially for the occasion!
Ron Monnier’s studio; illustration by Ron Monnier
Collage website reviews and opening page of enterprising illustrators-turned-fine-artists. Click on image for larger version.
Then the Enterprise section profiles five illustrators who have segued into fine art: Graham McArthur, Lisa Coutts, Michel Canetti, Jacqueline Gwynne and Sonia Kretschmar. Researching new blogs and websites is always fun too. Naturally these all focus on collage, including random poetry. Kohlage is a good one – like Flickr for collage artists.
Opening spread of an editorial on Sonia Kretschmar. Click on image for larger version.There is also a special feature on Sonia Kretschmar, whose first major portrait of authour Cassandra Gold made it into the Archibald Prize. She tells us about the painting process and her experience as a finalist.
Profile on Franz RohAnd on the back page in the Vintage section I profile Franz Roh, a fascinating collage artist who worked with old engravings in the 1930s. His work is whimsical and clever.
I've already had some great feedback from my readers and that is always encouraging to hear. Onto the summer issue!
Vintage Porto
The matt white hardback has silver foil lettering and a black matt/gloss slip coverRoughly translated from the Portuguese, Embalagem – Estórias de Embalar by Manuel Paula means ‘emblems – stories of wrapping’. The book celebrates the history of packaging in Portugal. I purchased it on my recent overseas trip, unable to resist its vintage allure as I love this kind of early twentieth century ephemera.
The book is entirely written in Portuguese (which I can’t read), with a short essay at the beginning. No matter: the real heroes are the images of course – and everyone knows a picture tells a thousand words. Chocolate boxes, shoe boxes, match boxes, liquor crates, ink bottles, biscuit tins, boxes for perfume, tooth powder and soap … so many are represented, and more that I can’t translate. I could have scanned all the pages for you, but these must suffice. Quaint, fascinating and inspiring.
The Dorothy Super Swish Spray Mop
What does every mum want? She wants, of course, to make use of cheap (or preferably free) labour by enticing her children to willingly do those tedious and boring household chores that keep her from regularly updating her Facebook status.
To that end, we have designed a mop that is sure to strike glee into her toddlers’ eyes (it is best to start them young so that they form useful habits that will take them into their mother’s old age). They will joyfully take their turn at mopping the floor.
We have glitter stripes running up and down the stick, ribbons streaming from the handle and a bell to ring freely and incessantly throughout the house. (You will enjoy lively conversations with your neighbours about the increased noise level emanating from your property.) Add to that lovely red chrome detailing and a light fixed to the base, and we guarantee you will not be able to tear this little beauty from your children’s grasp.
One of the inspirations behind SNAP’s design: Dorothy’s ruby slippersThe inspiration for this pulchritudinous design comes from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers (‘there’s no place like home’ is, after all, her own motto, and we all know that Dorothy adored helping out her Auntie with the housework); 1970s bicycles and striped hula-hoops. Who could resist this sparkling deliciousness?
*The Super Swish Spray Mop is also available in the ‘Snow White’ colourway of red, blue and yellow.
Check out other entries on Sabco Australia's Facebook page.
Mop Makeover
The mop fairies have been visiting my home and left me a special delivery: a Sabco Super Swish Spray Mop. I’ll be entering the ‘Makeover My Mop’ competition this weekend, making the deadline just in time. Luckily I’ve already plotted out exactly which fairy dust I’ll be sprinkling over this lime-green number. Each entrant receives a mop to keep, which is perfect timing since I was in the market for a new mop anyway. Come back Saturday to view the results.