05 January — 28 January 2012

Kemistry Gallery
43 Charlotte Road
London EC2A 3PD
+44 (0) 20 7729 3636

Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 10.00–6.00. Free

A group exhibition of original works by British illustrators Jack Teagle, Matthew Bromley, Ryan Chapman and Matthew Dent.

Jack Teagle

The show aims to bring together four bold individual illustration styles and explore their unique visual take on adventure, hunting, afterlife, happiness and beyond. The exhibition will feature original paintings, sculptures and limited-edition prints all available from Kemistry Gallery.

AOI is saddened to hear of the death of unique illustrator and AOI Patron, Ronald Searle, at the age of 91. Ronald was a truely amazing artist. He had seen a great deal and lived through many changes, and this gave him a unique way of visually interpreting our world. Superlative drawing coupled with strong ideas and powerful and often humourous assessments of the human character.

A family statement said: “Ronald William Fordham Searle, born 3 March 1920, passed away peacefully in his sleep with his children, Kate and John, and his grandson, Daniel, beside him on 30 December 2011 in Draguignan, France, after a short illness. He requested a private cremation with no fuss and no flowers.”

Amongst a huge body of work, Ronald drew critical political work for Le Monde newspaper, as well as the notorious St Trininan’s characters, and he generously created this original artwork for the Pro-Action campaign which fights for visual artists’ rights. He will be much missed.

Derek’s account of meeting Ronald is here.

Perpetua site

Ronald portrait by Andrea Liggins

…And a wonderful New Year
From all of us at the AOI

Remember we’re closed from 1pm on 23rd December, and reopen on Tuesday 3rd January.

if you’re stuck for gifts this year, AOI Member Carolyn Alexander has just released two of her zines available at all good independent Scottish book outlets and online also. Here is what she has to say:

The Return of the Haughty Bitches

“The the follow up to the Book of Haughty Bitches, an eleven page book / zine of bitches hand numbered and waiting to find a good home (to bitch about).”
Available at Analogue (SCO), the Fruitmarket Gallery (SCO), Red Door Gallery (SCO), the Two Dolls (SCO), and online here.

Speak French Like a Spanish Cow

“A book of French Idioms, illustrated and translated with love to help you speak French like a real Frenchie. An idiom is an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meaning of the words that make it up. You can learn all the grammer and vocabulary you want but you still won’t get a word the French are saying when they start throwing these belters around.”
A 20 page b/w book, hand numbered edition of 50.
Available at Analogue (SCO), the Fruitmarket Gallery (SCO), Red Door Gallery (SCO), the Two Dolls (SCO), Hello Polly (AUS) and online here.

Heng Khoo took over as the Managing Director of the AOI on 1st December 2011.

His previous role was Director of Development for Commissions East, the public art development agency for the East of England. Other recent senior posts include Director (Maternity Leave cover) at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre and Operations Director at Asia House.

We will be closing the AOI office and phone lines on Friday the 23rd of December at 13:30 and re-opening on Monday 3rd of January at 10am.

If you have any pricing or ethical enquiry then please call us as by the 23rd of December at the latest.

Please remember that you can also access the AOI Members-only section at theaoi.com 24-hours a day for resources and material to assist you.

The AOI would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Entries are still being accepted for the 2012 V&A Illustration Awards competition.
Submissions are invited via the online entry form here

The closing date for entries is Thursday 15th December 2011.

You will first need to create a username and password on the V&A website in order to submit an entry. You can submit as many publications as you wish as there is no entry cost

A shortlist will be drawn up by the judges in February 2012. Final decisions on winners, based on the printed versions of publications, will be made in March 2012.

AOI Member and current membership/publications intern Izzy Wingham is currently exhibiting at St Margaret’s Church as part of the Art of Norwich exhibition. She will be exhibiting four of her illustrations that will also be for sale. She says:

They are spreads from the children’s book I made in my 3rd year at uni. It is a wordless narrative aimed at 5 year olds, and is titled ‘Eye Opener’.
A little dragon has lost one of its eyes and so goes on a journey to strange lands to try and find another one.

The show will run from 5th – 17th December 2011
Weekdays & Sunday: 12pm – 2pm
Saturdays: 11am – 3pm

St Margaret’s Church,
St Benedict’s Street
Norwich NR2 4

MAP

Previous AOI intern and now practicing illustrator Evgenia Barinova will be taking part in the Angel Christmas Fair at the Candid Galleries in Islington. 49 other artists and designers will also be selling their work with mulled wine and mince pies. Make some space in your diary and don’t miss out!

Friday 9th December – Preview Evening (6.30-9pm)
Sat 10th & Sun 11th December 12 noon-6pm

Saturday 3rd till 14th December.

www.popupbrighton.com

The exhibition brings together an eclectic mix of work by four of Brighton’s most exciting artists and illustrators. This is the first of two upcoming shows in their new temporary sea front gallery positioned next to the iconic Palace Pier in the heart of Brighton.

FishBoy – ‘I like to believe that I illustrate my perception of reality, I don’t see the world as you do and I want you to see it for the colourful exciting place it can be. The world can be a grey place sometimes so let my imagination brighten it up’.www.iamfishboy.co.uk

Jim McElvaney – The subjects in Jim McElvaney’s work range from the surreal and haunting to the witty and charismatic.  His paintings and drawings encourage the audience to look beyond the familiarity of ideological portraiture and see things from a different perspective, highlighting the complexity of human emotion and it’s various interpretations. www.jim-mcelvaney.com

Lianne Harrison – A freelance illustrator working mainly with paper construction, collage & photomontage, traditionally & digitally. ‘I am inspired by my collections of bric-a-brac, photographic postcards, hand-scripted greetings and an assortment of found and acquired papers’. www.lianneharrison.com

Hugo Jones – Hugo’s work is greatly influenced by French graphic novels and revolves around a world full of abstract characters. He is a keen animator and is constantly experimenting with new mediums in order to keep his work moving in new directions. www.hugo-jones.com