The Makers #2 - Printmakers and illustrators
Left a bit, right a bit.... no back the other way. Do you have a spirit level?
Klimt Sleeping Cats Print by Nia Gould
Brighten up your walls!
Hello, welcome to edition 2 of The Makers - this time it’s all about printmakers, illustrators, designers. Wonderful people who make the walls of your home brighter.
I’ve long been a big fan of printmakers and illustrators, I have lots and lots of prints in my home that I’ve collected over the years. This edition was hard to put together as I had so much I wanted to include! I’ve managed to narrow it down and include a selection of my favourite card makers too. Excitingly I’ve also lined up some stellar interior design advice for you too. Read on….
How to: choose art for your home
Jennifer Chong, from Feioi, is an interior designer specialising in accessible design advice for real homes. Here’s her best tips for choosing art and showing it off:
Photo credit: Sian’s Photography
The perfect piece of art can do wonders to bring your interior to life - the final piece of the puzzle that elevates a space or a centrepiece to bring the room together. Art should always be part of the design process when you're refreshing a space. The first thing to remember is, there's no right or wrong (although please step away from the Live, Laugh, Love signs!) but when choosing art, think about your design scheme as a whole so everything is cohesive.
- Choose a colour palette - your art doesn't need to match with your furnishings but picking a small selection of colours will mean you don't confuse the eye.
- Bigger is always better - you'll often need a piece much larger than you think to fill the space properly, and make an impact.
- Don't hang your art too high - The centre of the piece should be roughly at eye level, particularly when you might be quite close to the wall, such as along a staircase or in a narrow hallway. You might want to hang it lower if it will be viewed from a seated position, such as opposite a sofa or in a dining room. This will also make your ceilings seem higher as an added bonus!
Feioi: Virtual design sessions
Jennifer offers virtual interior design sessions to help transform your home, I've had one myself and it has been brilliant before redecorating my living room. Book a session on her website.
Handpicked prints
Ethiopian Ravine - Giclee Print by Emma Make
Fox Lino Cut by Rose Agar Designs
Custom illustrated map by Wrote and Writ
Laxshmi art print by Anila Patel
Umi - Natural Hair Print by Dorcas Creates
Art on a budget: greetings cards
I wanted to include this section because I often use cards as art in my home. They’re a really budget-friendly way to have unique art in your home, and perfect for small spaces and gallery walls. I often pick up cards at craft fairs or in gift shops, so they’re a nice memento too.
Plants Notecard set by Kiran Ravilious
Notecard by Clare Gray Designs
Leaf through this: further reading
My friend wrote a book! The Joy of Sketch: A Beginner’s Guide to Sketching
Support and find makers with the Just a Card campaign
The history of the printing press: SYSK Podcast
Twitter thread of Black British illustrators
Thanks so much for reading! I’d love it if you shared this newsletter with your friends, so we can all support makers. For updates you can follow me on Instagram too.
Deepa x
loved this one x