Tom Knight - Ghost Train Porters

We discovered this wonderful blog post from Mersea based illustrator Tom Knight.

The post showcases the new album artwork created for local band The Ghost Train Porters. Did you know that one of the band members is a member here? The drummer Howard is part of Colchester Circle Magazine.

Reblogged from tomknightillustration:

I was recently asked to do the CD artwork for Tom Parke’s most excellent country/rock/soul outfit The Ghost Train Porters. I had fun doing it, and have just received the final printed copies through my letterbox. I am thrilled with how they turned out. I was a bit anxious that the concept of having the burned-out fire being revealed when you take away the CD wouldn’t work , but it does!

And not only is the packaging great, but the music is fantastic too! Tom’s lyrics are excellent - he creates such a sense of place and story with his songs, and they have just the right mix of wit and pathos. Plus the band play great (and there’s a pretty good bit of harmonica playing on track 7….)

Grab a brush and pour some ink

Friday 27 January
7pm til late
15 Queen Street, CO1 2PH

The Sumi Ink Club is back!

Illustrator Roblockness held a open illustration drawing event on Dec 7 2011 inviting people to fifteen Queen Street to get creative. View pictures from the previous event here.

Sumi is a Japanese type of ink. Clubs are held around the world inviting artists to come collabortively illustrate using just this ink on paper. There are many different rules depending on the club. They normally state to not take too long, fill the space, and even paint over other peoples work. Just have fun and enjoy.

This time we will be painting a large piece of paper covering the whole wall in the meeting room. Come get stuck in and make a collaborative illustration!

We will provide you with the brushes, ink and a little bit of music. Plus it’s free!

Also a big shout out to our fantastic sponsors The Colchester School of Art at Colchester Institute who have provided the paper. We dip our brush to you.

If you need more information please contact Roblockness.

RSVP on our meetup page Creative in Colchester.

Sumi Ink Club @ 15 Queen Street

Friday 7 December
7pm til late
15 Queen Street, CO1 2PH

Inspired by the Sumi Ink Club illustrator Roblockness invites you to fifteen Queen Street to get creative.

Sumi is a Japanese type of ink. Clubs are held around the world inviting artists to come collabortively illustrate using just this ink on paper. There are many different rules depending on the club. They normally state to not take too long, fill the space, and even paint over other peoples work. Just have fun and enjoy.

We will be painting the walls of one of the empty office spaces at fifteen Queen Street. Come meet some other local creatives and help make the building a visual treat.

We will provide you with the brushes, ink and a little bit of music. Plus it’s free!

If you need more information please email hello@15queenstreet.org or call 01206 562888.

sumi ink club uses group drawing as a means to open and fortify social interactions that bleed into everyday life. sumi ink club is non-hierarchical: all ages, all humans, all styles.

           sumiinkclub.com

Words and pictures @slack_space

Wednesday 16th November - 3rd December
Slack Space,
St James House, Colchester CO1 2PQ

Open Wednesday - Saturday 
11am - 6pm 

We went and popped down to snap Slack Space’s latest exhibition - Words and Pictures. This is a briliant showcase of graphic illustration and typography from Colchester creatives. 

Read More

Think Quarterly

We were blown away by the making-of video for the book covers for Think Quarterly’s “People” issue. It has a real similarity to the Sumi Ink Club. We’re very inspired by large collaborative works like these. Watch this space.

Member Showcase: Lizzie Kevan

Flexi member
Lizzie Kevan
www.lizziekevan.co.uk
www.makeface.co.uk

What do you do? How did you get to where you are now?

Iʼm a working in three capacities at the moment - a freelance illustrator, a part-time comedienne, and assistant manager in a local independent coffee shop.A series of events, including a degree, a dead seagull, and being in the right place at the right time, has led me to this current situation.

What surprises have made you smile along the way? …what is your best project and why?

I was surprised to find myself part of a sketch comedy group. When I can use my illustration in our comedy and the comedy in my illustration, I smile and think, “how convenient”. A project I really enjoyed was the creation of a very short comic book to sell at the end of our shows.

What are you most proud of about Colchester and why? The arts community is growing, supportive and diverse. 

What do you think 15 Queen Street can do for people like you living in the town? It allows people who are working as lonely freelancers in solitary confinement, to connect with others in a similar situation, bringing a sense of community and building a strong network.

What does the future hold for our town - how do you hope to involved?

The future can feel like an abstract and distant concept. I wouldnʼt be able to predict with any certainty what is in store for Colchester, but if the arts community keeps growing, and the networks continue to weave their webs of creativity, I would hope to be involved in the great culture that this will be building.

Do you have any tips for people embarking on a career within the Creative industries?

What’s the most valuable thing youʼve learnt. I think that a good view of success is important. If you view success as fame, lots of money and fame, then success may quickly feel unachievable, unpredictable and unsatisfying. Iʼve found it immensely helpful to view success by whether I love what Iʼm doing, if Iʼm building relationships and working hard.

As a creative do you think itʼs important to be around other creative people? If so, why?

Itʼs really great to be able to work in a community. Collaboration and outside opinions make for better and more interesting outcomes.

We totally agree, thank you Lizzie.