static news

Go! Go! Power Rangers...

2011-01-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

So, it's January 2011, and I haven't written for an age. But I haven't been slack or resting on my laurels. I've managed to break the trend - long may it last - for actually entering competitions and have done so twice - kinda. It killed and aged me but it's done. The Folio Society /House of Illustration - Albert Camus The Outsider competition - was good (cover image, plus detail above) and the wonderful, brilliant Art house Co-op Sketchbook Project was posted off on Tuesday after a well-timed extension (bottom 2 images). Of course, one of my many New Years resolutions is to blog regularly-(Hah). A professional blogger gave me a very useful tip... which I obviously haven't used as it's the 20th of January and I'm only now posting a post (!?!) but it will implemented! Nevertheless, so far so good. Plans are afoot... wheels are a turning...

A sketch a day?

2010-08-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

Obviously just as I typed the last post, stating that there would be less words and more images everything went crazy! But I have been working away and here are some of the fruits of my labour. For those of you who care - Henry is still incomplete - BUT! BUT! The 3 posters have been screen printed, they just need to be painted! Ahh... the never ending story...

Reflective Glory...

2010-07-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Okay - no sketchbook pages - BUT AWARD WINNING PROP CREATOR in the house - YEAH! Well not exactly.

I was the creator of a prop for the now award winning short film, How It's Done. On Thursday 15th July 2010, How it's Done, directed by MBO, won Best Comedy and Best Film of the Night, at the Limelight Film and Arts Awards. The prize being £5,000 funding for your next production. As you can imagine, I now have a tan from basking in reflective glory. MBO pulled out every stop to make the film work for him, putting it to bed in 2 months after a 10 hour film shoot and months (nigh years) of planning and I'm very proud to have been involved in the project. Plus (butchering an old adage) the sapling has now born great fruit. I attended the rather posh Limelight ceremony with Tim Jordan (Director of Photography), MBO and my sister Femi Oke (making the evening even more special). It was a grand, peculiar event of surprises, laughter and a lot of love - there was a lot of love flowing between the three of us by the end of the night (in a purely platonic way). The journey home on the 75 night bus from Lewisham was very funny with - the phrase "We f**king won mate!" being repeated over and over by the boys.

A night to remember, if nothing else for the look on MBO's face and his eloquent speeches...

Fit to burst...

2010-07-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

In 2008 at the grand ole age of 30 I jacked in a permanent, full time job with the idea that I would pay off my debts, travel the world and forge a glittering career in illustration. Even though I was in a creative job, the lack of personal creativity was - without sounding melodramatic - slowly killing me. So I packed my bags, put aside the remaining debt and went to Cuba for a 5 weeks, came back with the grand plan to jet off in a couple of months. Needless to say, I'm still in London not having made it on my grand tour (yet). The struggle to make ends meet in the world of customer service hasn't yet taken it's tool, so I'm still ripping tickets and lacing up or ingesting films.

Everyone know that trying to make the ends meet takes a lot of mental energy. Working part-time meant that I had lots of time, but most of it was spent kicking the wolf off the front door step. And so in the end, after two years, I just HAD to look for stable work - of course I starting doing this during a Global Recession - good one Olu! Needless to say that I had been, up until last week, seriously looking for work - meaning that I was averaging 6-8 applications a week - for 7 and a half months. I didn't quiet realize how much stress I was under and how it was affecting my productivity (Henry the computer Kid -became the bane of my life) So now that I suddenly have a job, regular hours, regular pay, part time, with sick and holiday day pay too not to mention a pension (ooh I'm playing with the big guns now!), my brain has gone into OVER DRIVE. I can't draw, read or think fast enough, the ideas just keep on coming. So for the next month of so, they'll be less words and more pictures as I attempt to show you the many ways my brain is pulling me.. the flood gates have opened hopefully for good...

The Epic Struggle

2010-06-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

The struggle, or more like the gargantuan mental conflict, to complete Henry the Computer Kid illustrations continues. The word procrastination and Henry are now, for me, one in the same. And I'll openly admit that I have started at least two other images in an effort to avoid completing Henry. I ONLY have to print the damn things, but I'm struggling to muster the enthusiasm... but that's by the by.

In my defense I AM finishing other images. One is a painting - or a series of 3 paintings as it will be, entitled 'A Murderer' 1, 2, and 3. It's my first foray into painting and political commentary, and is something that I have wanted to get into for a while.

With the recent elections, the yet to prove itself collation and the epic 15 week Labour leader contest I thought that it was a good time to put my political meanderings onto wood. The sketches above are of the crows that feature in each image. I'll let you know when I finish the other 2... hopefully it won't take as long as Henry.

The 'former' Eastern Block?

2010-06-15T04:28:00.001-07:00

It was my first trip to the Eastern Block (is it the 'former' now?). In my ignorance I expected grey concrete buildings, inhabited by grey faced people (I have already admitted my mass media fueled ignorance...) I was surprised and continuously curious to discover that Prague was nothing like what I had envisaged. Because the city had not been bombed into oblivion during World War II there was a strange mixture of Medieval, Art Nouveau and Post War architecture all living side by side. It made me realize that, architecturally speaking, Europe would have been a wonder if it had not been for this conflict.

By the end of my stay I was able to say "please", "hello", "bye" and on occasion "thirty two" and "thank you". Hardly a selection of words which I could travel the country with, but I DEFY ANYONE , who is not Czech, to say thirty two correctly. The highlight of the week was discovering the Mucha (pronounced mooha - betcha didn't know that, hey!) Museum. Alphonse Maria Mucha is one of my favourite artists. I hadn't realized that he was Slovakian and so was quietly thrilled when I stumbled across the museum one day while walking around the city with my friends. I returned on my own and spent over 3 hours studying each image and reading every single piece of text. A week is not enough for Prague, let alone the Czech Republic, so I will hopefully be going back at some point. Plus there is still the pilgrimage to Moravský Krumlov where The Slav Epic is housed. To see those paintings in the flesh, would be something.

But, I'm back now, and with a new job (finally) the work begins again.

To the faithful...

2010-06-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

I did originally start this posting with,"To you faithful 3..." and then realized that I had acquired another 2 Followers! Yippie! Welcome Jill and Sean. Jill 'HELLO' - my old tutor from uni'. See, you taught me well, I'm still slogging away...

Anyway, back to the blog...

To you faithful 5, I'm still here! The last month has thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, at me. With travelling, artistic angst, job hunting and drawing, I had little time to sleep let alone write a blog.

You're aware of my year plan (see post 3rd Week of the Year) and in an endeavour to tick another box and get that fluffy feeling, I signed up and submitted a piece - Man One - into the group exhibition 100sqft. It's a great event, where each artist gets a square foot to do whatever they want for the price of £25.00. This includes publicity, an opening night and an exhibition. Obviously being organised would have been a bonus, but my aim was to get involved. Which I did. I became side tracked by an impromptu trip to Prague, which unfortunately clashed with the opening of the show, so I could not attend. But I did go along on the last day and had a chat with the organisers, and took this picture of the front door - it might have been more useful to take a picture of the actual work, but that would be too straight forward for me.

Bologna in three parts: Part three

2010-04-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've returned - Bologna, the Fair, Venice and Florence were grand! I won't lie and say that everything was rosie and that I've got a publishing deal, because it wasn't and I didn't. What it was was an eye opener and without sounding too much like a bad US chat show host, I've learnt a lot and am upping my game.

During the 4 days of the fair I went along for 2. I arrived on the first and went in for the 2nd and 3rd, that was enough. By the end of my first day I had received so many rejections and rebuffs that I stood outside the exhibition hall and had a little cry! I'm a strong black woman, I can say that I cried in public. On the second day - I found that I was made of mixed metal (aluminum and a bit of steel) and after walking around the exhibition hall for a good 2 hours I managed to sum up the courage and start the second rounds of portfolio show and tell. On the fourth day I sent MBO in with my 4 day pass to try and get book fair freebies. He's a cross between an Cambridge graduate and Arthur Daily - and did me proud by returning with a load of literary spoils.

I wonder if I've made the whole experience sound traumatic? Well, just to clarify it wasn't. I was hard, but not traumatic. I spend many of my days listening to digital radio and drawing, and when I'm not working I'm either in customer service mode or in a projection booth. So the idea of having to sell my work, face to face with the actual people that are going to commission me - middle man totally cut out - proved to be at worst frightening at best character building. Publishers knew what they wanted, and they had 4 days in which to find, negotiate and close the deals. The fair primarily is about the buying and selling of books. Illustrators, although welcome are almost a necessary evil and a creative commissioning director of a publishing house, knows as soon as they open a portfolio if your style of work will fit. That's it, nothing personal. I had to turn the emotions off and listen to what they were saying. Things like, "... You are technically very good but your style doesn't suit..." or "... Your work is very edgy and modern more suited to editorials than children's books...". Now, none of these comments say that I am crap and should stick to my day job(s), more that the work that I presented wasn't quite right for the children's market. That's okay, because it was my first year and even though I took my portfolio it was more so that I HAD something to show rather than, "here is a book I would like you to publish". And without sounding conceited, as MBO said, many illustrators went to the fair with the intention of showing their work and didn't get pass their first publisher - I got battered by almost 20!

But I am going back, next year I'll have dummy copies of my children's book(s), I hope to learn a bit of French and Spanish and I'll have a better idea of what I'm letting myself in for. Because after all is said and done, it was an adrenaline rush, children''s illustration isn't all fluffy clouds and pink fairies. Sometimes it's mothers battling with babies using breast milk for ammo (a Korean illustrator). The European and Asian markets, win pens down, when it comes to range in style, subject and contents, over the British and North American markets. It also confirmed that I am developing in the right direction, with my move away from the computer and more into the print room, children's illustration (world wide) is less about the vector and more about the hand rendered.

I've been working hard, drawing, writing scripts, applying for residences, jobs and projects and focusing on FINISHING HENRY. It's getting there, I should be in the print studio on Saturday, and have managed to clock up over 30 hours this week and it's only Wednesday afternoon... mind you I only got up about an hour ago...

Bologna in three parts: Part Two

2010-03-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

Am I winning? The flat's a mess, but I've checked in. The website hasn't been updated, but I've sorted the portfolio. I haven't packed but I've washed my hair and I've only got 50 promotional cards, but I am taking a pack of blank postcards with me to draw in Bologna - I was a Girl Guide. There's always a sliver lining and I'm generally, kinda prepared... Henry the computer kid DIDN'T get finished but it's well on it's way and it IS included in the final portfolio, that silver lining again. I settled on the more detailed style (top), although I do like the freer inking of the 2nd piece. It was rightly pointed out to me by MBO that I was deliberately trying to avoid finishing it by starting a new technique 4 drawings into a series of 9 images... I promptly went back to my detailed nib and pen! I fly tomorrow - see you on the other side....

...to be young, gifted and black...

2010-03-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

In-between not eating, not sleeping and working I managed to squeeze in going to Creative Elements', Hero Inside celebration exhibition. One of the many art related hats that I seem to wear, is the teaching one. Working on a freelance bases I've been involved in lots of projects that tend to be youth originated. The Hero Inside was one that focused on helping Southwark primary school children visualise and represent the hero or superhero inside of themselves. I led 3 illustration workshops that taught the children how to draw characters that were created from a culturally aware perspective; THEIR noses THEIR lips and THEIR hair.

As an illustrator I've always drawn from life, and my life has constantly been filled by busty, large, loud, black women - I'm of the busty persuasion myself. On more than one occasion I have been accused of making all of my characters black - personally I don't have a problem with it, but it is funny when people say, "Is that character Asian?" Yes, via Mohammed VI Avenue (trivia: supposedly the longest road in Africa). It's unconscious and a quirk I suppose. But what I found most fascinating while working on this particular project was how truly reluctant some children were to draw themselves as they really are. In their heads - regardless of their backgrounds, everyone was white. I can hear alot of brains switching off, or people thinking that it's another black woman with a chip on her shoulder or even that it doesn't matter HOW kids draw themselves, most of the time it's with four fingers and a second head, after all, they KNOW that they're Asian or Black, they are representing themselves with the most common image that they see in their daily lives. Okay - I'll concede to that last statement as it's another discussion entirely. But what intrigued me more was the RELUCTANCE to draw themselves in any other way - even with cornrows and kinky hair, the children drew themselves white. Is this good? Is this healthy? Without turning it into a existential rant what does it say about a child's fundamental sense of self? Having studied in Edinburgh in the late '90's I had a serious crisis of identity. Which had much to do with being twenty something, but there was also the fact that I felt like the only black in the village. Even so I've ALWAYS drawn myself as a black kinky haired little girl...

Anyway, if you want to see or know more about the the work of Creative Elements - drop into the exhibition it's at the Menier Gallery, 51 Southwark Road, London Bridge SE1 1RU, open 10am to 6pm until the 20th of March.

Bolgona in three parts: Part One

2010-03-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

So, as part of the BIG PUSH, in getting my illustration career back on track and generating work, I'm going to the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Alas not as an exhibitor (that will come soon, soon) but just as a illustrative spectator. With that in mind I've set myself the seemingly impossible task of getting my s**t together, by finishing a couple of projects that have been on the go for... oooh 5 YEARS! To ease myself into the preparation of going (I'm leaving on the 23rd of March if the BA strike doesn't leave me stranded) I've procrastinated and pontificated for 3 months but HAVE managed to get 1 of my 4 promotional cards sorted, by screen printing them at printclub London (6 months membership a fantastic Christmas present) The fact that I still have another 3 designs to create and print, as well as finish off Henry the Computer Kid (the infamous 5 Year project) print out a child originated portfolio, sort out travel insurance, money, update the website, wash clothes and tidy the flat... I'm hyper-ventilating ... is by the by. Did I mention that I still have a day job and that there are LESS than 10 DAYS to go - did I mention that?

But I'm okay - honestly - I've complied a detailed sub-list (those of you from the list making community will know what this means) and have stuck it to my front door. Thus the warm glow of well being, as tasks get ticked off, will be with me everytime I leave the flat to achieve. Even with a ton of stuff to do the thought that is at the fore front of mind is ... I'M GOING TO THE BOLOGNA CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR!

Fashion Mavericks

2010-03-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

Thursday night (about 3 weeks ago) I received a frantic email from my Mum and Auntie Kofo, telling me that my 2nd cousins Ronke and Damilola and Ekaete (a cousin, I don't know how many times removed) were going to put on their first fashion show on the Saturday (two days notice = BPT) and would I be able to make it? Of course I'd be able to make it! With bells on.

So I rearranged my diary and on the Saturday afternoon put my heels in my bag, donned the trainers and made it down for the show. Which was AMAZING! Now, I can see you thinking that I'm family so bias. But I can tell you now, I'm the worst kind of critic, if I don't like something I find it hard to school my face. My 3 cousins, known as RooR (Renaissance of our Roots) had fused African material with Western Haute-Couture, and the results were fabulous. Honestly. As they say in South London "Big-up the Family Connection"

Hellloooo Stranger

2010-02-24T05:34:00.000-08:00

So MBO was working, serving customers it was a hard night at the cinema the endless screenings of Avatar and the slightly skewed people that see it time and again... It was during the evening crush that someone slipped a letter beside his till. When he showed it to me I was slightly dubious as it had the word 'Hello Stranger' on the envelope accompanied by felt-tip penned love hearts. My first instinct was to think - Brixton crazies strike again, my second was, hey whose's making on my man and my third (generally the more intelligent thought) was - what is it? It was a request for something - anything- to be sent to the sender. The invitation was to participate in an anonymous collection, which would end in the instigators degree show, plus a stamp. Being who he is MBO was thrilled, I was non-plussed but intrigued, I wanted to see what sending it off might lead to. So I printed out one of my favourite of MBO's short stories - Lapping - and stuck in a print from my first Japanese woodblock run and sent it off. Nice. Satchi and Satchi here we come.

Buzzzz....

2010-02-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of weeks the 'do blog entry' has been moved from list to list - BUT finally - finally it is here! Lots of stuff has been going on but I'll start with the Japanese Woodblock for beginners course at East London Print makers. Taught by the lovely Wuon-Gean Ho. What I decided to do, with having carpal tunnel syndrome, was to sign myself up to a 3 week (over 3 days) intensive woodblock course - because carving into wood wouldn't set off my hand? Pain aside (am I getting your sympathy here?) the course was amazing - I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Wuon-Gean was an amazingly patience, encouraging and hands off teacher. This hands off part is particularly difficult, as I know from my own personal teaching experiences. I am a print maker myself, but tend to stick to silk screen as my work leans towards fine detail. Japanese woodblock can be, I'm starting on my second piece this week, done at home and it is relatively inexpensive. I say relatively because I have nearly bankrupted myself purchasing new equipment like a Swiss, mushroom handle chisel... can you TELL how excited that gets me! Because I'm not working in a familiar technique and it won't become familiar for sometime, I'm having to adapt how I create an image. Which is a challenge it's not taking me completely out of the ubiquitous comfort zone (as I am playing it safe) - it is proving to to be a thought provoking. And I do feel that I'm suffering for my art as my wrist still hurts. Sympathy please!

The REVIEW...

2010-01-24T05:23:00.001-08:00

So this week I went along to a portfolio review organised by Association Of Illustrators. It was weird because I wasn't nervous, more slightly apprehensive. I did do my usual thing of getting in and out without talking to people. I'm a bit like a rabbit caught in headlights at these networking things! Other than me being crap at talking to people it was a good evening. I saw an Art Buyer called Kirsten Johnston - who was great, and not because she said that my work was fantastic - she didn't. Rather, since it had been years since any professional had cast their eye over my portfolio with no agenda other than to help me out, it was a very positive experience.

It was also good to see how other Illustrators present their work and to get some ideas and feedback from them. My mail out cards were poo-pooed - but I've always had a mixed response to the cards. I'll keep doing them but in a smaller quantity, mainly because experience tells me that they at least break even on the money front. My layout was questioned, but my book format seemed to go down well and the inclusion of sketch book pages was also given the thumbs up. Over all I came away feeling very contemplative but positive. Needless to say, I will be contacting a slew of agents this week with a well honed email. Kirsten gave us some pointers. Apparently subject headings such as 'GIMME A JOB' don't go down too well...

3rd Week of the New Year

2010-01-20T04:04:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR When does it become wrong to say it? February? March? I feel that technically during the first 3 months of a year it is still fairly new, so why not? But I have been getting funny looks over the last week or so when I've wished people a happy new year. I'm going to keep on saying it until at least mid February, March might be too late. This whole new year saying thing could be me subconsciously wanting to prolong my planning come procrastination period, which must be done before I jump head long into a fun packed year, in about April. Mind you, in saying that I've done fairly well so far.

Last year I definitely drifted from job to job and sanity to insanity so at the end of 2009 I decided to get my house in order. No more lists of possible careers I could embark on in my mid-thirties if things went awry (as they were). I ordered my moleskin diary and started to put in entries mid-November. FORGET resolutions I have a YEAR PLAN! Review dates, self made mantras and goals set. There will be much groaning and rolling of eyes from those of you who know me, those who don't, might find me slightly conceited - to both I say, "Suck Eggs". The ticking off of lists is very cathartic - the sense of achievement as one crosses out 'tidy flat' and 'buy Time Out' can validate a whole day of dithering!

Like I said I'm not doing too bad, going to a group thing tomorrow to get some advice on my portfolio, I'm working on one of my many unfinished projects "Henry", and have written my first blog of the year - which may or may not be read by anyone other than my sisters and other half for at least 6 months! But I'm doing it... that's the important thing... (one of my personal mantras...)

2009-11-16T09:36:00.001-08:00

On Sunday 15 November 2009, I went to the closing ceremony of the Filmstock International Film Festival in Luton. How it's Done - had won an Audience Award so I went to celebrate with the crew and other filmmaker types. Absolutely knackered from working a 12 hour shift from the previous day but managed to drag myself out of my bed in South London to watch 10 hours of award winning short films and previews (The informant and A serious man). Life is hard. Went along with the the director (Michael O'Kelly) Chris Lince (Set designer), Nick Patton (Post production) David Goo (Actor) and Anna (Goos' other half). Films were great, food was grand (hog roast). I put aside my allergy and indulged in wheat rolls until my stomach exploded...

2009-11-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

Hello, this is the new, news of static motion. I'm new to blogging and those of you who know me will no doubt be surprised as I don't have a web presence other than my website and this here blog. I'm a little trepidatious and more than slightly skeptical of my ability to blog - but hey-ho, here I am. And here is where you will find out the latest going ons and works in the pipe lines regarding static motion. Feel free to comment and get in contact... enjoy.