Jay Blades, turns forgotten old furniture to unique signature pieces of art, and that's not even the coolest bit about him! His company Jay & Co works with teenagers from troubled backgrounds, helping them transform their lives along with transforming furniture.
I had an opportunity to talk to Jay, about his journey.
Yay! My very first pop up. The first time Eye for London prints went up on the walls of an art gallery in London. Big big one for me.
The Cluster Pop up at 1963Gallery Space in Dalston. The launch party was quite a hit, I met so many creative peers, independent local artists. It was a great experience going offline, and putting myself out there and I'm hoping to do at least a few more such shows next year.
This month October, has been by far the best in the year for me- in terms of both sales and just general networking. When I first set up the shop online in Jan, I always thought of it as being a 'side' thing to do as a hobby and I would always have to depend on my day job for a real income. Maybe October was a one off or a freak month, I don't know.... but it gives me hope and confidence that a creative can make a living by being 'creative' and doing something they love. And I feel motivated now to push myself even more, as I'm really enjoying the journey. Discipline and work is most important, much more than the money.
Here are some photographs from the event.
Delighting birds lovers and puppies alike, London Parks are a haven for hundreds of species of birds. The green lungs of the metropolis... Hyde Park and Regent's Park attract some of the most unique and beautiful birds both local and migratory .
It's a bit of an effort pulling myself on a lazy weekend to a park, but when I have, it's been an absolute treat of a day. Along with the bird watching, I quite enjoy people watching. A return to innocence, the unadulterated joy of feeding the ducks or watching the swans in their romantic embrace, almost oblivious to the eager crowds capturing that perfect Instagram moment.
This made an interesting subject for my next illustration, featuring the birds of Regent's Park. Not uncommon, I have seen many vintage illustrated posters of birds where they always seem to look stiff and stuffed. I want to capture the life and excitement in the waters. To celebrate the movement, the flutter, the dancing. Joie de vivre. Or at at least attempt to!
Here are some heroes, featured in the illustration. The Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, Ruddy Duck, Teal Duck, Finches, Swallows, the Heron and Yellow Wagtail.
And not forgetting the rest... the Bar headed geese, Pintails, Pochard, Meapis and Tuft Ducks, and one excitable frog hanging on to dear life.
'Birds of London' available now in the Shop.
