Biff gathering?

I feel the time has come for some kind of Biff reunion. Its been months and months! Yes? I am pretty much free whenever due to living a dangerously unstructured life with seemingly no real responsibility. Sigh. Soon? Maybe even THIS WEEK? Lets do this!

(I am going to kick of proceedings by suggesting this thursday night?)

Anyone feeling Christmasy yet?

Our blog has been sadly neglected over the summer!

I know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas but there is a Christmas card competition that some of you might be interested in. Deadline November 2nd. It tends to be very photoshopy images that do well rather than more traditional hand drawn ones but there are some good prizes such as graphics tablets for runners up and $1000 for the winner. The website is http://www.ooprint.fr/competition/ if anyone is interested.

In other news, I finally have my own blog yey!

Hope you're having a good time wherever you are, we should try and meet up at some point!

Here's my entry for the competition. It was actually a bit of an accident, I was making wrapping paper to use for a collage and turned out like this. Oh well...

Collaboration book!

Hello everyone... in case you've been wondering what ever happened to that collab book, I "have" it in the sense that it is still at my flat from when I scanned in everyone's work. My lovely flatmate had agreed to watch over it for a bit while I asked someone to come and get it, but since I didn't hear back from anyone I asked it still remains at 42 Brunstfield Place. If any of you would like to collect said collab book, please let me know and I'll see when my flatmate will be home to give it to you.
Hope everyone is having a good summer! I see from various blogs that some of you are going strong with the illustration side of things, which is more than I can say for myself at the moment :/ Life without a good scanner is the pits.
I also wanted to ask anyone who got good pics at graduation and has a moment of free time, could you possibly email some to me? I would be much obliged!
Also I wanted to add my own opinion to the ever on-going feud between owning a PC or a Mac: They each suck in their own special ways, so pick whichever one you'll yell at less! :)

I Need Help

Hello folks, long time no see. I was hoping someone could give a little help here, I'm goin to try makin myself a childrens book, and I've no idea how long it should be. How long did people make theres for the degree? i just have a habbit of writing long stories that go on a bit so i want to make sure i don't go overboard with it before I start. oh, and i have a rough draft of the story on my blog if you want to have a read. Cheers. x

P.C or Mac?

Hey i am going to buy a computer but don't know what to get. I was wondering what you lot thought about the pros and cons of P.Cs or Macs. I am going to be using it for Photoshop, Illustrator and other such fun stuff. I am also trying to decide if i should go for a laptop or desktop. I dont want to spend loads of money and get it wrong. I also need a scanner and printer so if any body knows a cheap place to get any of these shiny objects please give me a shout. Cheers.

Illustrative 2009

Illustrative is an international festival for illustration and graphics. This year it will be held in Berlin with expert judges from the industry. The 2009 competition is open to designers over 21, awarding creativity and innovation in contemporary illustration and graphic design. The prize is worth 6000 Euros, as well as publications and agency contracts.. and one winner will be invited to design a Swatch watch!

Have a look at some of the artists from previous shows... there is a fantastic variety and some really amazing work.

Julien Vallée

Luke Best

Olaf Hajek

The deadline for entries is not til 30th September, so there's lots of time to really work on something personal, creative and innovative. For more info and conditions of entry have a look at Illustrative online.

Cocktails and Punch!

If you're in Edinburgh, come to mine (just off Brunstfield, near Howies and the Post Office and Peckams, call if you don't know the address) tomorrow evening for some cocktails and punch at 9pm :) Bring something to mix!

xx

Fidra Gallery

Hallo, the Children's Bookshop in Bruntsfield has opened a children's illustration gallery! It is just along the road from the shop next to Falko, opposite Howies. You should all go on Monday afternoon and then come in for hot chocolate after! Yea!

brand

hey guys, i've decided to take step 5 to millionaire status and create my own brand... thinking of names.. here are two ideas, would be great to know what you think or if you have any ideas :)

osenn

or

ossenn

the skinny...

The skinny are having a t-shirt comp, all the details are here. For gen maybe? Or anyone else who needs a project (i do, total lack of creativeness in my world just now).
I hope everyone is good, i miss y'all. If anyone is in Edinburgh over summer and fancys some drinking or picnicing or general mischief lemme know, Im here being chocolaty all summer,. Love you Biff!!

when oh when

when is everyone leaving? i know some people have left already... anyone up for a biff gathering sometime soon? i don't want to say goodbye!

Its all over...Exciting and scary and making me all sentimental. Graduation day was amazing.

Ive celebrated finishing uni with the opening my first online shop!

www.libbywalker.etsy.com

go check it out and pass on the message.

We're finished!!!!

Hi all,

I didn't have time to say bye to you all after graduation - so well done everyone and I'll see you in October when I'm back from harvest job oblivion!
And Trine and Jaimie, I hope you both have a great time back home, stay in touch!

Love Lucy.

D&AD

the postcard holders have arrived, this is what they look like:http://www.3ddisplays.co.uk/displays/brochure-wall.htm

and Jim's thoughts about A1 stuff:

Any pref re. tablecloth colour? O.K, mountboard - it can look good if you decide to use it. You would have to transport quite a bit of it down, in A1 folios. I would recommend it myself. The other option is to stick with double sided tape 3cm strips of millboard on the top and bottom of each printout so that they hang down, but off the surface of the board. This is what I did last year with the large printouts and worked well. You could do a test - I think just sticking them on looks a bit cheap.

DO WE WANT BLACK TABLECLOTHS?

D&AD MEETING!!

Ok... D&AD meeting Monday 22nd at 11:30am... we need to have ideas and visuals, and be prepared to make yourselves heard!! We have to pretty much finalize everything on Monday.. also if you see and graphics crew pass the info on. GO BIFF!!! We are going to blow those london colleges away!! woooo!

D+AD URGENCY!!

hey guys,

so i missed the meeting on tues but i hear everyone is very unhappy about the post it notes idea, i too think this has been done many times and would not do our work any justice... why did no one say anything at the meeting!! well, i've just emailed Jim to propose two other ideas (courtesy of Lizzy).. frist idea is that we each do a handrendered letter to make up ILLUSTRATION and get it printed massive, or we print ILLUSTRATION in a simple typeface outline and colour all over the insides of the letters... what does everyone think?

I thought Gen might like this...

This is what happens when you play pictorial consequences and then make dolls out of the results! See more here

Links

Hey guys, thought I'd post up a couple links for future reference

First one, Goodprint UK, is where I got my business cards. They're pricier than Vistaprint, but often have good sales. There is one going on at the moment, plus this 50% off promo code that is valid until June 18th "MAH238"
Goodprint has a variety of options like the shiny gold cardstock mine are on, and in general their paper and print quality is very good. They also offer rounded corners (and you can pick which corners to round if you want round and square) for only 2 quid extra per 100 cards.

The other link is for crafty things - Craft Superstore. They have nice and cheap cellophane sleeves and envelopes or blank cards with envelopes, and even with the cheapest delivery option my orders have come two days after I placed them.

Manning the degree show

Hey Guys is there any set rota yet for the degree show?

Room for July

I was just wondering if any of you are looking for a room for July? I'm booking out of here the 3rd but I've got my place till the end of the month. It's 300 quid if anyone's interested.

Tables

hopefully some people will read this in time...

Would five people be able to volunteer to help me get the tables for the shop tomorrow? we need to get them from the textiles studio in hunter building. it will take 6 of us as there are 3 big tables. Harvey has put me in charge for some reason... Argh. thanks!

Back to normality.

The blog hasn't really had much of an artistic theme of late so here are a few illustrators that I've come across during the last year.

Catia Chen


Saelee Oh

Irina Troitskaya

Well done everyone!

A sudden brainwave!

Does anyone own face paints, or know where we could cheaply buy them? Then we could paint the faces of kids and hippies at the meadows festival for a good whack? Who else is enthused by this idea?

DEGREE SHOW SHOP. URGENT

OK so harvey told me to contact stewart cordiner about the shop and what we can use and i did and apparently he wants to meet with us at 3.30 today. PLEASE can a few of you come. PLEASE. I dont want to have to go alone!!! Urgh.

Meadows Festival and Shop

Hey guys,
I'm going to try and make up a couple of rotas... when you get a chance please let me know when you're available to man the stall at the meadows festival and the degree show shop... rough times you'd like to work (morning or afternoon)... and does anyone know if our degree shop will be open in the evenings? The meadows festival is actually on the sat and sun, not fri/sat as i thought... so we are free to celebrate/cry on friday after finding out our results!
Thanks :)

Picnic anyone?

UPDATE: For those who weren't at Lindsay's last night (and for those who were but can't remember much) the picnic is from 2pm in West Prince's St gardens. Anywhere near the fountain. See you later!


Since we need to have a get together to discuss various things eg. degree show shop, meadows fair, d&ad etc. and since the weather is meant to be nice is anyone up for a group meeting/picnic this weekend?

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=87398154700

Meadows Festival

Hey guys,

I am currentlt in the process of organising a stall for us at the Meadows Festival next week (6th and & 7th June)... We will be sharing a stall with some 3rd years but, from what I gather, not many of them are up for it. I'll keep you posted on the details as they materialize but if anyone's interested give me a shout. It should be good, the 3rd years made some big sales last year and it will be good practise for our degree show shop! (hopefully we will make some pennies too, as I know we are all unbelievably poor after the last few weeks/months). The stall costs £35 but hopefully college will pay this. wooop!

ECA ILLUSTRATION ONLINE NOW

Its not quite done as not everyone has sent me things yet but its online now! YEAH! GO TEAM etc etc. Massive thanks to everyone who sent me their stuff. Its much appreciated and all looks great. Of course. Anyway go have a look and let me know if you have any issues with it. I had to crop some stuff for the front page random image thing but I think I got the best bits of everyones illustrations in rather than just random corners.
(p.s if you've been on the site before you may need to refresh when you first visit so that it loads up with the new site)

D&AD

Have e-mailed jim about what we can put up. possibly work mounted on foam board is the best. he's arranging a meeting early next week with everyone who is going. just so you all know.

Shop Sign

YO YO YO,
I have returned home to the ceramics workshop and had an idea to make a ceramic tile sign for our shop... it could be propped on the table or whatnot to draw in the punters. Though the merchandise will nicely do that too of course! However, I wanted to float the idea with y'all before trying it out. Don't want to be taking over like. Maybe we could have some rotating/multiple signs on the go??
let me know friends!

Confusion- does anyone know if we have to come in for an examiners talk tomorrow or when it is or who has to go blah blah blah. I don't even know if it is tomorrow!

D&AD Spaces

Is anyone wanting shelves for their D&AD spaces? I saw this on ikea for £4 and thought that it could be hanged with invisible thread from the wall and any other images could go above to hide the threads? The stand has to look quite uniform so it would only work if a few people wanted them but it might be quite useful to put either portfolios or books beside your wall space.

"I'm sorry I can't help it I'm just an awkward person!"

[]
I don't remember what everyone was laughing about, and I'm not quite sure I knew I was taking a video, but here we are.

Dundee Show?

Does anyone fancy a trip to the Dundee Degree Show at some point in the next week?

Now we're REALLY done

Well done people for getting through the viva. See you tonight for fiesta time :D

tomorrow

hello all of my illustrating buddies,

anyone know how we are supposed to know what time we all have our viva talks?

good luck tomorrow. I honestly think the words will just come to us all.

Viva??

Hey guys - I was wondering if anyone has any info on what we're supposed to be talking about in the Viva? I can't remember if they ever emailed us any guidelines. 10 minutes without repeating myself is going to be a bit of a challenge. (Apparently the graphic design students got coached on what to say?) Is anyone else finding this difficult?

Fashion Show

Hello,
Rather an odd enquiry from me, but i wondered whether anyone who took snaps of the fashion show happened to have a picture of the model who had a short black bob? She had very straight hair and a short fringe and looked très chic! I only ask because I'd like to get my hair cut similarly and would be good to have a photo!
Merci amigos, hope you're enjoying freedom!

Coraline Development

I think there's quite a few of us looking forward to seeing coraline (illlustration trip perhaps?) so i thought i'd post up these BEAUTIFUL development sketches by one of my favourite illustrators Jon Klassen. Head to the new work section of his site to see loads more.

Fajita fiesta time

They guys - I'm having a BIFF dinner party so come along - link is here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182258200083

For those of you not on facebook....
"Hey everyone - we're done and finished and the show looks ace, so I think it's time to chill out and have a dinner party. Also, let's not go a month without seeing each other. So, as a fun post-Viva event, come round to mine for a night of mexican food! There will be both chicken and veggie fajitas to be had, and real guacamole that comes from an avocado and not a jar.
I will supply fajitas, and appreciate if people could bring drinks/alcohol/dessert/whatever you feel like (or maybe even an extra block of cheese/packet of tortilla wraps?).

Date: I wanted to see what date would work best for people from thursday the 21st to sunday the 24th. Whatever general consensus is, we'll go with that - so post up what you can/can't do.
Hope everyone can make it!

Also - I have speakers but lack good music, so those of you with music please bring an ipod along"

I think I speak for us all

printing

hey guys, if anyone is struggling to get stuff printed there is a place called scotsec on brunstfield place, near the thai lemongrass. i phoned today and they can print while you wait, there is never a que i don't think. i'm going tmr morning to check it out but thought i'd let you know

About the hanging tomorrow

Hey all - don't go in before 1:oo tomorrow if you're looking to hang stuff in your space. I overheard the tutors and Stuart talking this evening and they haven't finished everyone's space, and it would be too chaotic to have some people hanging. So, fyi - best bet is to stay away until at least 1.

Degree Show space

Hey all, thought I'd give this wee update for those who haven't been in Evo House of late:
Apparently there are two different shelf depths. The guy in the studio asked me if I had a portfolio to put on my shelf, which was followed by an "Oh, okay so you'll need one of the deep shelves. Some people are getting short ones, some people are getting longer ones...." Which was also followed by an uneasy "This is very much a trial year..." So, if you really need a deep shelf, it might be a good idea to mark it on your shelf plan or something (shelf plans are attached to your space in the studio).

I'm a little concerned about our cardboard walls, since even painted they have that slight corrugated look to them, and that weird bubbly line. Also the shelves look pretty awful from the side, since you can tell it's just empty cardboard. Hopefully they'll have end caps for them? Maybe? And there's some pretty ugly screws in the top, and holes where they messed up, but oh well, not that noticeable.

Good news is apparently they are as sturdy as they're meant to be, or so I've heard that they will hold a good amount of weight when nailed into.
Fingers crossed, people.

Personal Statements - The Final Word!

This is from Jonathan so it's accurate (we hope)

"It is a resolved version of the proposal that you wrote in October. This should summarise your work, its origins, inspiration and development, to approximately a page of A4. Throughout the year most students have followed their original ideas as written at the outset and discussed at various times. Naturally, there may have been changes along the way, which is why it should be updated."

He also said he'll circulate an e-mail explaining it.

Opinions needed

What do you all think of this image? It really didn't turn out how I imagined but that might be a good thing? It's meant to be a fishing village from Howl's Moving Castle and I've got two other places to draw but I don't know whether to make them all like this. Help!

Anyone else hate writing CV's?

Statement

Hey guys,
Does anyone know if we need to write a personal statement to go in our folders with everything else? Or did we already do that (for the thing with our picture), and we just have to have a CV and proposal?

Reviews needed

Hi all,

If any of you are in need of something to do to distract you from all the work and panic then, if you have an Amazon account, could you write a review of my gardening book here (even though none of you have seen it!) I've been told that the more reviews it gets then the further up the amazon listings it goes. Thank you! Also you can have fun making up pen names for yourself!

This is the cover for it - rubbish isn't it!

CV

Hey does any one know the name of all the books we have had images published in. I cant really remember any which is a bit of a problem. I was also wondering what we needed in our CV. I know we have exhibitions, awards(none), competitions(none) but what else.

help!

hey guys, i know everyone is super busy but i could do with a bit of advice. i have been having problems with the skateboard and snowboard and painting them is going to look terrible. it will cost me $100 to get a skateboard printed, do you think it is worth it? not sure what the exchange rate is. also, do you think these designs are boring/too simple? i haven't used the bison yet. eeeeep

Words of advice

Printers

Has anyone found a decent printers outside of college for one off pieces? I've had enough of the temperamental college computers/printers, and reprographics really sucks in too many ways.

More centaurs and green lanterns

As Kirsten was witness to, this image put up a bit of a fight, but I finally got there in the end. Lots of black ink and black paint later, anyway.

Ps does anyone have the dimensions for our degree show spaces? (wall heights/thickness, etc)

Tree House Whispers

Hey, i found this album cover for Anois... don't know who the artist is tho but it's so lovely don't you think

text image book

so, i found out from my collab partner that the text image book is for sale (i didn't know about this... did anyone else?) here. it look pretty good! but i am annoyed because i said to harvey specifically NOT to put gen ryan and to put my full name and guess what he did.

Major printer-related frustration!

AAAAArgh.Yet again Q-digital proves to be a pit of uselessness and frustration! Bloody A3 printer has produced all of two prints in an hour and now refuses to work. Hence Macmillan entry is impossible to produce!! Grrrrr. So I appeal to you... does anyone have an A3 printer or live with someone who has one they would be willing to let me use for a fee? All I need is two a3 prints and two a4 ones... Help!!

D+AD

hey guys, if anyone else is stuck for a place to stay for D+AD, I have a friend who lives in (south east?) London who may be willing to rent their souch/some floor space for £5(?) I know it might not sound luxurious but it's way cheaper than a hotel and you'd be staying with 3 nice brighton illustration graduates.

for those of you lucky cats staying with me here is a map.. we are just round the corner from earl's court and the venue is pointed out, it's no too far like

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=olympia+london&fb=1&split=1&gl=uk&cid=0,0,2408480324908106026&ei=FXPnSbOiMsTL-AaXnJTeBQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1

Question...

Hello! happy Easter and all that.

Does anyone know anything at all about the text/image exhibition thinga? I have it down as this Friday. Have we been told for sure where it is/how our work will be presented etc?

Also, I got to see this in America, and it was awesome. everyone should see it.

Pixar is all kinds of amazing.

If you haven't already, check out the trailer for Pixar's new film, Up!!! http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/up/

Penguiiin

Is anyone else doing the penguin book cover design thing?? Would anyone want to share delivery with me? I hope everyone is good and not too stressed out, we can do it! Woo!

Biff and Johnny Cash

tshirts ahoy

hey guys, i'm struggling a bit generally (is anyone else?!) but trying to get some tshirt designs done by monday.. then might feel a little better. finding it difficult to decide what looks good.. any thoughts on this design? it's probably for a guy rather than a girl, and aimed at snowboarders.

Brecht Evens

A bit of idle browsing, ahem, research, led me to this chap's blog, which was a pleasant surprise. Check him out. Hope all are well...

Another voting contest..

www.Bonbonkakku.com has a lil contest on at the moment... With the gooey theme of LOVE... my attempt is above, it called 'birds in love' cos there is birds in the background. 

Im stuck in glasgow with the sole reason of babysitting, hosting a sleepover tonight..ah.....ah..6 days down.. at least ive been working... 

what about this frame?

Would this one detract attention from the person next to me, do you think?

aaah why won't they just say yes, you are allowed white or neutral wooden frames. the end.

p.s. I'm sooo excited about where the wild things are!

Picture Frame

I've found the perfect picture frame! Do you think that one look at it would successfully give our uniformity loving Design School an apoplectic fit rendering them temporarily insane and thus leaving us to design the show ourselves???

Where the Wild Things Are

Wooo! http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/where-the-wild-things-are/trailer

The Joyful Bewilderment

Hello gang!

If you're about on Saturday night then Analogue are having an opening for an exhibition thats too good to miss! The joyful bewilderment was first shown in London last year and features a plethora of exciting artists such as Amy Ruppel, Ben Newman, Chrissie Abbot, Damien Correll, Grady McFerrin, Luke Ramsay, Michael Kirkham, Mike Perry, Nigel Peake, Rob Ryan, Stuart Kolakovic, and Supermundane. Read the full list here. Everyone should go. Its going to be ace.

Anyway details are thus....

The Joyful Bewilderment
28th March 2009 - 28th April 2009

Opening: Saturday 28th March, 7pm-9pm

need a bit of respite from working?

this is SO funny. hahahaha, this lizard is my favourite.

Hope everyone is not too stressed and being productive...

Macmillan stuff...

Hey guys, can anyone help me out? I managed to misplace my information about the macmillan guidelines... how much is the bleed?

Book Covers

If anyone's interested in book cover design then they should check out this website. It's run by an American design firm and for ever cover they post comments on what they all think of it - it's really interesting reading what graphic designers think about other graphic designers!

Ive submitted a lil t-shirt design in the hope of winning money and printed t-shirts. woop woop. I need high scores so follow the link and high score me!

P.s what a lovely sunny day, soak it in. x

book binding paper

Just thought I'd share this link... They have some reasonably priced paper that is made for book binding, and is looooooooooads cheaper than the bockingford stuff/thick inkjet paper.
http://store.falkiners.com/store/department/45/A3-%26-A4-Paper/

biff love

guys, this is for you.

text image deadline and pin up times?

hey guys, what time is the pin up tmr? and what's the deadline for the text image piece? i have a horrible feeling it's this week?

Mariann Balint

I thought some people, especially Lucy, might like Mariann Balint's illustrations.

heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllpppp!

hey guys i am doing this editorial... PLEASE help! am totally struggling and have to send it off in an hour... here are two options so far.. any comments would be amazing :)