Jonathan Woodward "Endless Inspiration"

Jonathan Woodward's passion for illustration goes back to as far as he can remember. Jonathan Woodward is an illustrator and creative designer in the UK, he was a commended finalist in the "BBC wildlife artist of the year 2011 competition". His current passion project is saving endangered animals at ThenThereWereNone.com  but also the website IllustratorsUnion.com  Illustrators Union is a platform he created, which helps to inspire, enable and motivate artists to make a living from what they're good at and what they enjoy. With Trade Your Talent he speaks about the endless inspiration from nature - from majestic birds like the Golden Eagle to the power of the ocean and every form of life it contains.

jonathanwoodwardstudio.com/

Can you remember your first illustration that you ever did? 

Jonathan: I've drawn all my life and was always known as the arty kid in school before moving on to study Graphic Design at University and then returning to my first love, Illustration, so it's difficult to pinpoint my first ever illustration. However, I'd say my Illustration work really came to life when I started using traditional cut paper collage. It was as simple as seeing a woman's hair in a fashion magazine and thinking it would make a good tree bark texture that sparked my curiosity - this experiment and the first illustration that I created using this medium (the medium and style I work in today) was 'One For Sorrow, Two For Joy' so I would probably class that as my first Illustration.

Is it hard being an illustrator and following your dreams as an artist?  

Jonathan: In some respects it is hard but I just feel that it's the only thing I want to do and so in that case it's easy. It takes a lot of people a long time to discover what there passion is and I had mine (creating and admiring illustrations/art) from as far back as I can remember so I feel luck to have always known what I wanted to do.

 What inspires you most when you have a creative block?  

Jonathan: Nature. It's the subject of every illustration I do and provides endless inspiration - from majestic birds like the Golden Eagle to the power of the ocean and every form of life it contains.

jonathanwoodwardstudio.com/

 You just started a creative business. What was the path leading up to that like?  

Jonathan: I've been a freelance Graphic Designer for the past 5 years (working in Design Studios prior to that) but after many years of procrastination, I finally got an illustration portfolio up and running online that I'm happy with to dedicate to my Illustration work. The path leading up to that was full of self doubt, comparing myself to my favourite Illustrators, struggling to find my own personal style and lacking the confidence to think that my work was good enough, until I just thought that if I didn't go for it I'd regret it forever. I started an Illustration resource blog called www.zero2illo.com to chart my progress and give myself external accountability to actually get things done - the blog grew and I met so many amazing illustrators on the same journey as myself that it always inspires me to keep striving to get better at the craft and business of Illustration.

jonathanwoodwardstudio.com/

jonathanwoodwardstudio.com/

Do you have favorite illustrators?

Jonathan: Oh wow, too many to mention and they change all the time but at the moment to name a few they would be Lindsey Carr (current favourite), James Jean, Dave McKean, Charley Harper and Greg Manchess.

jonathanwoodwardstudio.com/

For more about Jonathan's art and projects

Blog: JonathanWoodward.me

Twitter @jonwoodward 
Johnathan illustrated and saved endangered animals at ThenThereWereNone.com 
Jonathan's illustration community illustratorsunion.com

Jonathan's illustration resource blog zero2illo.com

Taking chances

I haven't been able to write a lot about my time in New York - I guess it has been the pace of this city but also because so many exciting things have happened since I came here. This city has taught me so many great things about pursuing your dream, things I would have never even considered before! I have tried to compose a small list and share it with you -

1. Don't be afraid to take chances. Even if what you are about to do seems humiliating at first. Even if it means standing in the glaring sun for about 6 hours. It will get you there eventually. 

2. Be persistent. Even if it means you have to tell your story over and over again. To about 100 people. 

3. Don't always take a "Let's be in touch" seriously. It is just a figure of speech. It could be a maybe. It could mean nothing at all. 

4. It's all about your attitude which defines your own happiness - at least it seems like New Yorkers live by that rule: If you tell a taxi driver in New York that you just had the best day of your life they might give you a 30 min. lecture on "taking chances" and "grabbing opportunities." isn't that great? And then they start telling you how anything is possible in America...

5. Do not give up. If others know you are serious they will reward it. At some point. (If you are done saying this over and over again to yourself ask someone else to say it to you.) 

6. Take a break once in a while. Grab your favorite coffee and sit in the park and let the ideas just come to you. 

7. Every day is a new day to start over :)

Art in the City

I enjoy Murals, I think they really define the culture of a city. I thought I just had to show you some of them. At this point I apologize for not writing more but it is so hot in New York that I can barely press the button "Publish" without breaking out into a sweat. I hope you will forgive me, and nevertheless enjoy these photos! 

I have been working more on my photography skills, I'm so glad Sue Pownall convinced me to get a decent camera for my trip! (Please note: The first photo is not an advertisment for beer but I just liked how the color of the beer and the sky mingled!)

Illustration Friday 'Remedy'

As I wrote in my last post I decided to challenge myself a bit and always write about what comes to my mind for the Illustration Friday themes. This week it is remedy and I have been brainstorming the whole weekend and couldn't really think of something until now. (this is me being honest ;-) )
      But now I think I figured it out - at the moment remedy for me is helping others find solutions to their problems. I know it sounds a bit cheesy at first - but it is something I really love doing. It doesn't have to be a big solution I come up with - but only pointing someone in the right direction or giving advice about promoting  artwork - it's what I enjoy. Especially when I have a bad day I love diving into a new project - it helps get my mind off things. I guess this is why I really would be happy to become an agent at some point - I enjoy working with artists  and developing creative projects. 
      One cause I really got attached to is bringing more education to women in Africa, this is why I also have a guest writer from Rwanda writing about the developments of building a cultural innovation centre in Rwanda. But I've also been working together with a really good friend of mine - she is trying to build a scholarship program for girls in Africa and we were brainstorming how we could give more girls the possibility to receive a scholarship to go to school - and now we are thinking of starting an art/music fundraiser in New York! 
     Maybe some art bloggers even want to join us, I think it could be a lot of fun! Please tell me what you think!!

Guest writer, Grant Jenkin: Reminder of the past

 Grant Jenkin (Developing World Connections volunteer) writes directly from Rwanda about building a cultural centre in Rwanda, new school programs for women and reminders of the past

Back in Kigali after an excellent week of work and fun. Looks like the rain has finally stopped and that we are well and truly into the dry season, and it happened just in time for the celebration at Nelson Mandela Education Center (NMEC).  The Green helmets, a German NGO who have been working on developing a school and young students since 200, has finished its term and has handed the school over to the Rwandan Government. It was an excellent ceremony. Illustrating all the new technologies and building principles that they have been working on for so long.

 It also showcased the Covaga Innovation Centre and the work that the NMEC students did last year before graduating and now thee six former students have created their own construction company - Vision Construction Company. Some members of the Covaga women were also there to show there appreciation to the green helmets and the school. All in all a great day for everyone.
Then took a group to the very emotional genocide memorial at Nyamata. A church which was used for the slaughter of over 5000. It is always so shocking even for myself after experiencing something so positive and uplifting and then having the reminder of the past...

Yesterday was liberation day in Rwanda so we so worked a half day then visited the finally completed Girls initiative school in Gashora. Very impressive facilities which makes school facilities in the West look poor. Its a very interesting experimental program only for women studying sciences. It hosts some of Rwandas most intelligent girls for three years before they hopefully go on to universities here and all over the world. 

Finaly we are waiting to catch a bus to Gisenyi, on lake Kivu,  for some much deserved R&R. A short trip as we will be returning to Kigali tomorrow so that we can catch the Festival of independence day at Amahoro stadium July 4th -  to signify the end of the Genocide.

Lydia C Crimp "Part of me"

Lydia C Crimp lives and works in London as a freelance artist and costumier. Her influences are cabaret, circus, fashion and literature from the early part of the 20th century. With tradeyourtalent she speaks about her huge collection of photographs dating from the late 1800's, inspiration from costumes and why she decided to start painting again.

Lydia C Crimp, http://www.lydiaccrimp.co.uk/

Why do themes like cabaret, fashion and literature inspire you most? 

I was brought up on a diet of a wide range of fiction (from Tolkien to Isherwood and back again) and a lot of folk music so I think it’s always been a part of me. I’ve always loved the decadence and faded glamour of old cabaret and circus and while I’ve often tried to pinpoint the one thing that makes this so attractive to me I’ve never really managed. As a very visual person I think it’s a mixture of everything, the vibrant colours, the textures, the shapes, the music and of course, costume.

You have a huge collection of old photographs dating from the late 1800's up until the 1950's. Do you like to use them in you artwork? 

All the time. They provide a great starting point- the characters in my paintings are mostly all imaginary. They tend to be a blend of people from my photograph collection, old film stars and a bit of myself normally ends up in there as well. Friends have sat for me in the past (and hopefully will do in the future!) although I find I often end up with a portrait that doesn’t resemble them in the slightest! I just take certain elements from a number of sources; for instance, it might be the way a shadow falls on a face or the shape of the shine on someone’s lips.    

When you are not painting you are a costumier. Is that also a form of art to you? 

Definitely. I spend a lot of time working on costumes for film, theatre and television, designing and illustrating, as well as sourcing the fabrics for a company called Academy Costumes. I do a lot of sewing in my spare time and have just started designing and making a range of hats inspired by the Mexican festival of the Day of the Dead. In my opinion anything that has been created by human hands has some sort of artistic quality to it.

Why did you start painting again? 

I’d just been swing dancing one Sunday afternoon and was in a rather lovely cocktail bar on Broadway market, East London drinking gin when all of a sudden, filled with inspiration I called over the manager and asked if I could have an art show. I sort of had to start painting again then…

If you could choose to work with another contemporary artist, who would you pick?

One project in particular that I really wish I had been involved in is Swoons ‘Swimming cities’. She designed and created these absolutely fantastic and completely eccentric boats out of all kinds of things (old stair cases, rotting doors…) inspired, as she describes it, by “dense urban cityscapes and thickly intertwined mangrove swamps”. She and her team of performers/artists then sailed them around the Adriatic Sea. It’s a bit similar to my own plans to build a galleon that incorporates a theatre. I really love the idea of having a theatre production with an ever-changing cast and show as people join and leave my boat at different ports. What fun!

Lydia C Crimp, http://www.lydiaccrimp.co.uk/

Illustration Friday - Midsummer Night

The Illustration Friday  word of the week is Midsummer Night and although I'm not a very gifted painter or illustrator I just had to write about this theme (and isn't writing a form of art too?) The image that immediately popped up in my mind was the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. But most of all I was thinking of Puck, the little elf. (I just think he is too gorgeous!)

I guess if I could illustrate I would have sketched him. Shakespeare plays with the themes of magic and dreams, and Puck is essential to the play because he causes a lot of confusion in the lives of the main characters. However, Puck tries to explain to the audience at the end of the play that what the audience had just experienced was nothing more than a dream - 

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream. 

Even though Puck basically apologizes to the audience that everything they had just seen had been a dream - isn't that exactly what the audience wanted to experience when they came to see the play in the frist place? 
To dive into a magical world, that, even though is sometimes confusing, is filled with dreams, visions and of course love? Isn't that what all artists do, to bring their vision on paper and share it with other people? Aren't they practically inviting their audience to have a glimpse of their creativity and inspiration? 
Sharing these dreams and visions is also something very honest and of course, makes you vulnerable in a certain way, because you reveal your true feelings to your audience. I guess blogs have also changed the way artists work and share their vision - the audience can learn much more about the artists' true feelings about their own vision and of course, their dreams. It is a quite magical world at times - and I think it is truly great to be part of such a creative world, filled with inspiration. 
This is why I had to mention Puck to you - and although I wasn't able to show him to you here, maybe you can just imagine how he would have looked like. If I could draw. :-)

Art everywhere you go

What's fascinating about New York is that you find art everywhere - on the street, in the park, in Cafés. I thought I'd share some of these moments with you. I also discovered how much fun photography is, and so I recently spent two hours in Washington Square Park just trying to capture the people and how they created such a special mood in the park. 

This man was using buckets as drums and

 created an amazing mood in the subway station. 

A piano in Washington Square Park. 

Painting in the park. 

A Letter from Rwanda, Part 1: The Covaga Women get a pavilion to showcase their work

Amakuru Sussana!

Greetings From the "Land of a thousand hills" my name is Grant Jenkin, I and my co leader Robin Ripley have arrived in Kigali awaiting the rest of our team who should be arrive this evening. Robin and I are very excited to be back for our second volunteer trip to Gashora. We met with our host partner Lama Mugabo yesterday and he brought us up to speed on where the project is and what Building Bridges with Rwanda (BBR) is hopefully expecting from our trip. 

We will be continuing with the construction of the west wing of the Covaga Innovation Center (CIC). Everyone is very hopeful that we will be able to complete the first part of the center, the pavilion in which the Covaga women can showcase there work. We will also be doing extensive work with the gardens trying to incorporate some nutritious vegetable and fruit that can be easily harvested for the eventual restaurant. It is also hopeful that the CIC will become an example of sustainable crops in which the entire Village of Gashora will be able to harvest.

It was really great finally getting here and seeing all our hard work with planning and fund raising coming into fruition. It was especially nice seeing Lama again as well as our friends from La Palisse Kigali. It makes me so much more excited to get to Gashora and meet again with all the special relationships we made with the people last year.

Tomorrow we are hopefully going to take our participants on a tour of kigali By moto and bus, and also visit the Kigali memorial center which has the history of the genocide and all genocides around the world. Monday morning we are off to meet with our partners at the Nelson Mandela Education Center, with a short visit to the Rwanda girls initiative in Gashora. And last but most certainly not leasst we will be meeting with the Covaga woman and taking a look at the project....

Chloe Allred "Collect the stories of the people"

                                                     

Chloe Allred is a sophomore at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She recently organized an art auction at Cornish to raise funds for Rwanda Partners. Chloe is also the designer of our "Art for Rwanda" logo. With tradeyourtalent she speaks about art as a form of communication and why she sees herself as a storyteller. 

Chloe Allred, gnomecentric.tumblr.com

You recently organized an art auction at Cornish to raise funds for Rwanda Partners. Do you think art can help to raise social awareness? 

Certainly. Art is a form of communication, and a beautiful form at that. The arts not only have the potential to bring these issues to a greater public eye, but to then also spark interest and curiosity for that cause. 

Art and Rwanda, if you had the possibility to carry out any art project in or for Rwanda, what could you imagine to do? 

I see myself as a storyteller, my work a visual narrative; going to Rwanda, I would want to collect the stories of the people there and do illustrations from those stories. I love the coupling of two art forms, word and imagery, they have a synergistic effect when combined. A lot of my favorite artists are illustrators, so that tends to be what my mind aspires to. 

Besides social causes, what inspires you to your art?

I'm mildly obsessed with environmental science and just finished a 3ft by 2ft painting about endocrine disruptors in US waterways and their effects on endemic fish populations...I also like to take a general idea and explore it, see where I can push it. A lot of making art happens before you actually sit down to do the piece. Through out your day your constantly picking up fragments of information; these fragments combine, and combined make the seed of an idea. I'm always carrying a sketchbook so that I can record little details as they come to me. I'm really fascinated by the human body....there's just so much variety from person to person, little tweaks in detail can entirely change a character. I love that. I love drawing long time friends and discovering new things about their face, or little gestures that they have, that I just didn't notice until I sat down to draw them. 

Chloe Allred, gnomecentric.tumblr.com

If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would you pick? 

Oh man! What a difficult question.... I just finished watching Wasteland, about the Brazillian artist Vik Muniz. He's definitely super inspiring as an artist and as a human being, it would be a dream to collaborate with him. I love Michael Shapcott's aesthetic, he's been a favorite artist of mine for quite some time. David Choe. Travis Louie. João Ruas. It would be most excellent to collaborate with a writer; it would be wonderful to illustrate a story of Neil Gaiman's.   

Chloe's Blog: http://gnomecentric.tumblr.com/

Chloe Allred, gnomecentric.tumblr.com

Chloe Allred, gnomecentric.tumblr.com

Chloe Allred, gnomecentric.tumblr.com