We Are Pseudonym – A Fresh New Website

Local design and animation studio We Are Pseudonym have a new website – http://www.wearepseudonym.com/
Take a look around and see their vast range of work. Great stuff Carl, Dan and Luke.

Badger Press – Summer Courses

Our friends Badger Press have some new exciting courses coming up. Be aware that these tend to fill up pretty quickly so book soon to avoid missing out. You can also see their work at the Strong Island exhibition at The Round Tower from 16th April.

“We’re looking forward to a busy summer at Badger Press. There are new
workshops in letterpress, cyanotype photography, and experimental
printmaking processes such as hydro plate and solar plate. We’ve also
increased the number of screen printing sessions due to the high demand and
soon be starting up an evening print club.

We’ll be holding open studio and dishing out passes for experienced
printmakers, artists and designers to come and use the studio as often as
they can. Courses can be booked online at http://www.badgerpress.org

The Summer Newsletter is available to download at http://goo.gl/27iSW

See you all at the Strong Island Exhibition!”

Screen Print below by Jordan Pryke

Creative Portsmouth Book now available to buy

Strong Island previously mentioned this book a few weeks ago and it is now available to buy around the city and online.

There is a website with details on the artists featured and a list of where to buy a copy. Southsea Gallery will also be selling the posters for a limited time. Featured – I Love Dust, The Caravan Gallery, Jodie Silsby, aspex, Climax Games, Art Space Studios, Pseudonym, Matt Howarth, Jeannie Driver, Jez Stevens, Warehaus Studio, Paul Gonella, Tristan Savage, Alex Ings, Kingsley Nebechi, Thomas Keegan, Ken Leung, Bored of Southsea, Barbara Tipple, Lorna Apps-Woodland, My Dog Sighs, Los Stencilistas, James Weaver, Diana Goss, Andrew Whyte, Fark, Deer Park Alpha, Dave Thompson, Deane Clark, Adam Wintle, Tom Maccaughan, Jon Adams, Mimic, Laura Bennett, Katie Anderson, Jack Margerison, Mikey Ayling, Roo Abrook, Katayoun Dowlatshahi, Kate Groombridge,  Sodavekt, Alex Withers, Darryl Snow, Lex, Claire Sambrook, Yeah Magazine and Sam Stockley.

“The publication captures the spirit of the city with iconic images from around Portsmouth and Southsea and through interviews with some of its artistic and creative entrepreneurs.  From established designers to up-and-coming young artists and students, contributors reveal why they love Portsmouth, their favourite spots in the city and even where to get the best breakfast.
The book is designed to showcase the cream of the city’s creative individuals and businesses, many of which have national and international profiles, and to put the city on the map as a place for artists, designers and anyone with creative flair and imagination to develop and flourish.”

Creative Portsmouth supported by The University of Portsmouth, ilovedust and Portsmouth City Council. Price £10.00.

You will also be able to see work by many of the featured artists in the Strong Island Exhibition on 15th April at The Round Tower, Old Portsmouth.

Creative Portsmouth Book

Launched next month this new book aims to explore the creative elements of the city featuring interviews and visual images from over 80 artists, photographers, designers, animators and games designers. Creative Portsmouth will also include a Word of Mouth Guide, Finest List and Word on The Streets section.
Led by myself (Claire Sambrook) at the University of Portsmouth and designed by Jodie Silsby from I Love Dust.

Thanks to all those featured – having to endure countless emails by myself over the past few months. This book could not have been created without the incredible talent we have in this city.

The book will be published by Tricorn Books, Old Portsmouth and be available to purchase at shops around the city.

Further details will be announced shortly. Some sample images of the book below and further developments can be found here.

Badger Press Looking Forward to a great 2011

Badger Press is celebrating the end of great year with a new team in place,
enjoying improved facilities, new print processes and easier access for
artists and designers. Now established as a community interest company, the
Press works not-for-profit to promote printmaking and provide facilities for
artists in the area.

They’re steadily building up a reputation for bright new printmaking, and
have been visited by some talented people, from Southsea’s ilovedust,Peagreen, illustrator
imakethings, and London/LA duo Binary and the Brain.

Courses for 2011 are detailed on the ever expanding website along with listings for
exhibitions, printmaking news and tips. New for 2011 are a series of evening
courses, digital sessions and an exciting “Print and Possibilities” Day
which aims to break the ice for illustrators, designers and artists looking
to explore different printmaking techniques.

With new projects planned, perhaps even a big Strong Island collaboration on
the cards, the future looks bright for Badger Press. “We want people to get
stuck in, no matter what your background, there’s something for everyone at
Badger Press. “

Pant “one” vs Clarence Pier

A lovely find this morning whilst down the seafront. A couple of stickers placed on Clarence Pier – Pant “one” – 2732 Clarence Pier Yellow. A blue version and a yellow (seen below).
Over the years many people from around the city have used this iconic venue in their photographs and artwork.
It’s great to see this kind of creativity being used in this way. Anyone know the name of the artist? if so then please get in touch with us at Strong Island. Any more venues being used in this way?

Other examples include Sodavekt and Bored Collaboration, James Weaver, Tristan Savage, Matt Howarth and Claire Sambrook for the deckchairs project. Images below.

Alan R T Smith

Alan R T Smith is a local Artist & Designer based in Southsea. He graduated as an Illustrator from Brighton in 1981 and worked in advertising as a Visualiser and Concept Artist in the I.O.W and on the South Coast.
His works include, Terry Pratchett’s ‘Colour of Magic’ (first edition) amongst his book covers as well as corporate identities which included the British Sailing Team.  He was an Art and Design lecturer in the 1990′s at several colleges in the Portsmouth area and in South Yorkshire.  His paintings and ceramic work are influenced by the southern Jurassic coast and local scenery.  When he is not painting or recreating ammonites or fossils in his ceramics, he is busy designing Cardboard Sculptures for others to assemble and as Point of Sale items for commercial customers.  Alan’s work also featured at Art On The Pier this weekend just gone.

You can see more of what Alan does and get in touch with him on his Facebook page here.

A wander down the Pier

I took a wander down the pier this Sunday to have a look at Art On The Pier. It was a very varied showcase of art and crafts.

Chantelle Cheshire presented her Twelve Floors Up products including cute soft toys and a gorgeous blanket that was designed with drawings from her daughter. Divine Aesthetic were selling Tricorn and Southsea type inspired prints and tees.

More information on the event will be posted soon.

See the website for artist details and a gallery – http://www.artonthepier.co.uk/

Collective Summer Show – University of Portsmouth

Collective
Summer show of work for graduating students from Art, Design and Media plus Creative Technologies.
Opening Evening 4 June, 5-8pm
Open to the public Monday 7th-Friday 11th June, 10-4 daily and Saturday 12th June 10-3pm
To complement this, there will be a small exhibition of personal collections from staff in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries.
What is collection and why do we collect?
Members of staff from the Faculty reveal their collective treasures. There will be a small programme of lectures around this event.
CCi Space and Eldon Gallery are open to the public from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Access is from the Winston Churchill Avenue entrance.

I took some photos earlier of the Collect staff exhibition being installed at The University of Portsmouth.

Below a taster of BA Illustration student work.

Love Your Bike – The Day in Pics

“Thanks to all those that came along. It was a great day filled with some amazing designs, sun and beautiful bikes. From the harp bike to bikes made from scrap and turned into low riders, trikes and a homage to Dennis Hopper.” Claire Sambrook

See the Flickr group for more images. Further images will follow later in the week and please add/send your pics of the day to Flickr or via the website.

The 2nd Strong Island Ale – Dry Dock No. 1

As you may know each year we run a home brew competition in February where the winning brew has the opportunity to be brewed by Irving & Co Brewing Co. and sold around the city in the summer. Last year’s brew, the Strong Island Hopper Ale, was hugely successful being one of Inving’s best selling ales and selling out so quickly it went through a second brew run. This year’s winning ale is Dry Dock No. 1, originally brewed by Lee Immins, went on sale in some of Portsmouth and Southsea’s pubs over the weekend.

We spoke to The Hole in The Wall in Southsea who said the new ale went down a storm with it being their best seller on Sunday and with almost two barrels empty by the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Those guys at the Hole in The Wall and their regular ale drinkers know their stuff so for us this was amazing early news with the ale.

To officially launch Dry Dock No. 1 we are having a launch party with the lovely souls at The Belle Isle on Thursday evening. The ale will be on full flow, come down and try a pint or two. As well as being on sale all around the city the ale will also be available in Chichester’s Belle Isle too, so you can drink it away from home for the first time too.

The Isle Of Wight Randonnee 2012 – Team Strong Island

Just over a year ago, a group of Strong Islanders were sat on the Isle of Wight ferry on our way to the yearly Randonnee cycling event; 60 miles around the island spread across 5 checkpoints. Whilst on the crossing we couldn’t help but admire various enthusiasts and their custom team jerseys. Fast forward a year and it is my great pleasure to unveil the Strong Island cycling jersey. Made as a one off for the event, the jersey is our way of representing this city and all the values that come with it. Thanks to the combined designing efforts of Chris Ballingall and Tristan Savage, we were able to produce this clean, retro looking jersey that 11 of Southsea’s finest could wear to conquer the island’s endless hills. Well done chaps.