jazmin velasco

Yin yang

2012-03-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

It is more yin than yang at the moment. This year is not being kind to me. A series of little ailments have blocked my usual energy.

But ha! did you think I was going to be defeated and feel sorry for myself? No-no-no-no-no. I am taoist and know that everything will pass and that these grey periods are normally very useful. I can't wait to see the torrents of ideas that will come after this famine in my mind and body.

Patience.

Every March I teach my students a series of chi kung called Return to Spring. There is a poem that condenses the spirit in which this beautiful chi kung must be practiced:

Let the body be at ease.
In any qigong movement, let the body be relaxed.
Go back to spring, return to youth.
Go back to a young heart.
Be one with the beauty of heaven.
Dissolve into earth qi, dissolve into nature.

still life

2012-02-27T08:14:00.002-08:00

Engraving, letterpress and gouache.

gouache

2012-02-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

I've been all morning drinking the gouache water and cleaning the brush in my tea. That just shows you the state of my mind.

I'm working with gouache today, something I've been meaning to do for months. In this house we don't throw anything, so today my work is perhaps 99% recycled. Bits of the heritage cardboard we use for mounting, gouache, scraps of my japanese paper, etc.

And framing these very glorious portraits of Georgian people in my very Mexican frames that my excellent sister sent me ages ago.

The state of abandonment of my blog is most distressing. January finished a week ago and didn't had the mental space to advertise the opening of the first exhibition in Hundred Years, the new gallery of my friend Montse in Shoreditch in which I am included. I am hoping to at least post some of the photos of the night... sometime... soon...

Soon!

2012-01-31T05:19:00.001-08:00

A fine day out with cats and parrots.

2012-01-13T02:30:00.000-08:00

It was a sunny morning when the two members of Tile Kiln Studio decided it was time to go and purchase some cloth and other bookbinding materials. What a better place for this than Falkiner in Holborn? One of my favourite shops in London.

Once there and aware that the weather forecast was mainly fine for the rest of the day, we then found ourselves on a cultural walk. Stopping first at the unbelievable John Soane Museum where we were just in time for a demonstration in the room with the hidden walls that contain Hogarth's Rake's Progress.

Walking through the Chambers and streets I never noticed before, we got to Carey St., behind the Royal Court of Justice and to the Seven Stars Pub where there is a cat in residence dressed as a judge. This pub is one of the few surviving buildings of the Great Fire of London. Great food too.

With a full belly we continued our tour through the city, noticing things we don't see on a normal day, like clocks, Elizabeths, squeezed 17th century buildings, and the statue of Hodge, Dr. Johnson's cat, just outside this Dr. Johnson's house where a visit was paid.

Dr. Johnson has now become a friend of mine. Famous for writing an English Dictionary full of quotes and wit. He also had women's intellect in high respect, not a common thing to find in 18th century men.

To continue the tour we needed to re-charge gasoline, beer, that is, in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, Dr. Johnson's local. But not just Dr. Johnsons, it seems that Charles Dickens, Voltaire and Pretty Polly were regulars. Pretty Polly, in case you don't know was the pub parrot who entertained the customers with its constant chat and mimicry for forty years. Polly is still there but it doesn't chat anymore.

Across the street, -Fleet street, the original street where newspapers and news agencies were based- we went into St. Brides, a church famous for several things, such being a Wren church and whose steeple was the inspiration for the poly-tier cakes that we all know and eat since. Look below, does it look like a cake or what?

Moreover, the first moveable type press in Britain was brought here in 1500 and thus, I guess, is why is called The Printer's Cathedral: my Cathedral!

So to finish this tour I will leave you with a phrase of my new friend, Dr. Johnson which expresses my feelings exactly:

...

2012-01-03T05:07:00.000-08:00

This is one of the few photos of my dad I brought when I moved to London. He died yesterday. He was the first cartoonist I admired and he was a highly intelligent man.
This is the way I want to remember him: young, happy and fighting a pirate to defend my mum.

✻

2011-12-24T03:20:00.001-08:00

Mozart ♥

2011-12-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to listen the Requiem at Kings Place. Oooh, that Mozart. I cried from beginning to end. Goosebumps for an hour. The human voice, what an instrument! And guess what? you can see the performance right HERE in this link until Christmas day. Enjoy it.

And very nice the illustrations of the program too. See them all HERE.

Happy Birthday!

2011-12-16T02:58:00.000-08:00

To the lady who has inspired most of my work of these past years!

Happy 236th Birthday!

Wolf Erlbruch

2011-12-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

For many years Wolf Erlbruch has been my favourite Illustrator. While in Germany I spent a lot of time in bookshops checking out what is happening now in the Children's books scene, new illustrators and trends. But at the end I just bought two more books illustrated by him. In my eyes He is still the best.

Back to the studio

2011-12-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

What is the best cure for frustration after an absurd flight from London to Berlin via Paris? just cross the road and see the traffic light where a green-happy-chubby man in a hat is advising you either to cross or to wait.

I've loved the Ampelmännchen ever since I learnt that it existed only in the communist side of Berlin and after the reunification they were going to disappear it in order to make a more elegant stylized design as the poor Ampelman was rather fat and old fashioned with that hat, but the Berlineses fought to keep it, campaigning and selling merchandise. The inhabitants of the soviet side said that it was the only happy thing in a grey city.

So, there I was in Berlin, lost and cold, considering switching back to cheap flights. My decision to never fly again in easy jet or ryan air made me pay a lot of money for a stupid trip that it was more like the training for the marathon. Don't do it, people, don't choose Air France, they will make you arrive in Paris, then run kilometers from one terminal to another, pass Passport control (!) run again for kilometers with no end, pass customs (!) and then back to running. Everything perfectly well calculated to make you arrive to the right gate so you can see the plane leaving and grumpy staff with cold contempt calling me madame and announcing redundantly that I've lost my plane. Grrrr.

So anyway, I didn't get to Berlin in time to see my friend Claudia's exhibition, but never mind, a rollo and a bier later all was fine.

A bratwurst every day, glühwein, a portion of poffertjes from time to time and delicious German bread made up for all the weight I lost in the Charles de Gaulle half marathon.

And if my mission was to finally see a proper German Christmas Market I was well served. There are Christmas markets everywhere!

In Bremen where Claudia lives I had to -HAD TO- go and touch the donkey's legs so I will always go back to Germany. Thank you, woman, thank you for everything, I hope you have recovered of that flu completely by now!

Oh, and on the KLM flight back from Amsterdam to London a lady asked me to switch places because she wanted to be in my seat next to her friends and so it happens that her seat was in business class where the handsome flight attendant who spoke Spanish called by my name, offered food and champagne with a smile.

Karma, isn't it?

Letters, more letters and a new -old- machine.

2011-11-28T00:56:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been of utter happiness. My excellent sister Nini sent me a fraction of the mountain of wood type she got for me a few months ago in Mexico with the help of my excellent friend Acely. Thank you girls!!!

I've been sorting, cleaning and nursing them. They have definitely seen better days. Nini also sent me some more pictures of the place she went to buy them. I think there may be at least five complete fonts, along with loads of images. I can see in one of the photos some wrestlers and boxers.

The next day my excellent husband took me to Gravesend, a small town in Kent to pick up a beautiful little Adana 8X5, the next piece in my stationary project. The machine has also seen better days, but it was in perfect working condition and it came with loads of goodies. Chases, quoins, keys, etc. And -yeah!- more type.
You can see the new member of the studio here, getting acquainted with her studio mates, the proofing press and the mac.

Gravesend, by the way, is were poor Princess Pocahontas is resting. Such a sad story, her ship was on the way back to Virginia when she fell ill and died in that place. I HAD to pay a visit.

frames

2011-11-27T23:55:00.000-08:00

The very fine people at the Rowley Gallery commissioned me to design a header for their new blog.

I commend you to visit it regularly. The blog and the gallery as you can find my prints there and Christmas is coming. Art may be a good idea for presents.

Carmela

2011-11-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

Today I got in the post the third re-impression (is that how you say in English???) of the book Carmela Toda la Vida that I illustrated back in 2004 for Fondo de Cultura Economica publisher.

It must be a successful one and I remember that as it was very fun to illustrate.

FIL

2011-11-17T02:34:00.000-08:00

These are some of the illustrations I made for the books "Manual Para Corregir Niños Malcriados" and "Espejos, Mocos, Cucarachas" for SM publisher.

If you are going to the International Book Fair, in Guadalajara, you will be lucky to get them fresh from the printer. I will have to wait to get my copies in the post. Oh, I so wish I could tele-transport myself. I can't believe its already been a year since I was there...

ready

2011-11-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

These two portraits with embroidery -and other pieces- are for the Christmas show at Cambridge Contemporary. from the 26th of November to the 24th December.

I remember I used to hate the embroidery sessions at primary school. We girls would normally had to make tablecloths but I was too slow and then my mum had to finish them. Now it gives me great pleasure.

Reading the blog of the British Museum I saw THIS post and thus I discovered that there is a Royal School of Needlework!

Invasion.

Mental space invaders, you see?

Confusion.

portraits

2011-11-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

I'm into portraits at the moment. So, I had to pay a visit to the National Portrait Gallery.

art everywhere 2

2011-11-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

My favourite pieces at the Affordable Art Fair and in the British Museum were the ones made by children. So much to learn from them...

art everywhere

2011-11-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

Days of falling leaves and art everywhere. This year I had time to visit both Affordable Art Fairs like a punter. Great things to find, loads of friends to talk to.

But now that is finished I commend you, nay, I order you to go and see Grayson Perry's exhibition at the British Museum. He chose several Mexican pieces to take part and as inspiration. I'm gonna have to go again.

he'll come tonight

2011-11-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

This year I have a special guest in my Dead shrine. My beautiful friend Mario Corsalini who went almost a year ago to walk on a glacier in Patagonia and decided to stay there. Or maybe he just kept walking up and up and up.

I miss him. I wish I recorded all the witty and wise things he ever said, which was all the time. Then I would have a Witty Book of Wisdom or something like that. I will always remember and use those phrases, with his northern Mexican accent. And I will always try to think the way he did, always looking the brightest side of life. Honestly. Maybe he's singing and whistling and laughing with that great big smile of his.

Once I was preparing an exhibition with ex-votos and asked friends to tell me stories of miracles if such thing had happened to them. He came back with an amazing story. He told me with all technical details of a mountain he was climbing with friends. They checked the time when starting to climb and then at the top they saw the time again and to their surprise six hours had passed. But the three were sure just three hours maximum took them to get there!

His explanation -and he was sure of this- was that some UFO came to kidnap them but God fought the aliens and brought the three friends back to earth, placing them exactly in the same spot but deleting three hours in their collective memory. This is the ex-voto I made for him.

He was very handsome and lovable, once I was hearbroken and had to go to an event were the one who broke my heart would attend to so I asked him to come with me and pretend to be my new boyfriend. He refused at the beginning, couldn't believe that HE! Mario Corsalini would be used to lie! But of course he agreed and enjoyed every single minute as the trick worked perfectly well.

I have just good memories of him, but the one that describe him the best will be another time I was heartbroken -I was always hearbroken back then- and he told me to count to 3,000 so he would arrive to take me to dinner. We went to an Argentinian and ordered a couple of steaks. He couldn't finish his HUGE steak. Packed it and disappeared and was back after a little while. He had gone to find some poor person to give him the steak. I'm sure had the best dinner of his/her life.

He was like that. The world was better with him in it.

greetings

2011-10-27T03:06:00.000-07:00

Despite all the work I have on top of me, tight deadlines, an art fair going, etc. I found myself making christmas cards.

Oh, mind's mysterious ways to deal with pressure.

Anyway, you will find them in Southbank Printmakers soon.

AAFs

2011-10-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

And the Affordable Art Fairs are once again upon us.

Thank heavens I just finished a couple of books I was illustrating so I can now frantically print, frame and acetate for the galleries who have asked me to provide them with my prints. In Singapore and London Battersea I will be represented by Panter & Hall and in London Hampstead you will find my work in the Printmakers in Residence stand. I have tickets, by the way, for both Battersea and Hampstead. If anybody is interested, please just e-mail me your address and I will send them.

I was hoping to have some free time to do all those dozens of half made projects and to do some exercise. And to bake cakes.

weather

2011-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's getting cold. I can't believe that on Saturday we were at 29º and sailing in Devon. I want to go back to Devon. I want to live in Devon. I want to have a boat, a trimaran.

Or a tri-merengue like a friend re named it.

Thank you Bernies! ♥

sewer

2011-10-05T02:50:00.000-07:00

While researching for an illustration I found out that manhole covers can be a rather beautiful thing. Japanese are the best at manhole covers design. There are even loads of flickr groups about manhole covers!

Steinberg, of course, noticed that ages ago and in his parade drawings manhole covers were always present.

autumn

2011-10-04T03:07:00.000-07:00

This year I've been commissioned to illustrate a good bunch of books. The sheets of scraped scraperboard accumulate in a box full of them.
This is how they look before scanning, photoshoping, arranging and colouring. Like stickers.

Open Studio Show 2011

2011-09-15T00:31:00.001-07:00

And again, here we are with new work, renewed energies, the doors will be open on the 24th of September. Don't miss it.

These days

2011-09-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

These are samples of the three projects I am working on at the moment, two books for a publisher in Mexico and small new prints.

Whittington Press

2011-09-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

Every year the Whittington Press opens the door to the public so we can come and see the place, the machines and the people who work there making beautiful books. I took the advantage of this to take Cecily (my bicycle) out of London and have a ride around in the Cotswolds.

The place is perfect, in the middle of the countryside with sheep and maize around.

This guy was showing how to cast type.

An aldana and a proofing press, very much like mine, in action.

I had the good fortune to meet Chris Daunt there, great printmaker and the guy who makes my engraving blocks!

Prints for sale. Unfortunately, as I was cycling I thought it would be a very bad idea to buy some of these fine prints.

What I did buy and carried was this nice little font.

It's complicated

2011-08-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

One of my engraving prints has been selected for the 74th Annual Exhibition of the Wood Engravers Society. Check in their website the different dates and venues. The first one will be in the Art Jericho gallery, Oxford starting on the 22nd of September.

Such a lucky print to be in very fine company, including the work of Andy English and Angie Lewin. I love their work.

colours

2011-08-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

The colour palette in the Outer Hebrides seems at first sight very limited. But alas, it is not true and the inhabitants of Harris island (McLeods most of them) are the best at catch them and weave them in their precious Harris wools and tweeds.

I went berserk in Harris island and bought kilos of fresh wool.

There is a great book coming up by a photographer who made a better job than me illustrating this. We saw the exhibition in Stornoway, just before leaving the islands and back to reality.

Desolation islands

2011-08-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

Oh joy. Where to go to avoid the riots in London? to the Outer Hebrides that is.

But the lady in the tourist office in Castlebay must have thought that I was one of those vandals as I made a bouquet with the local wild flowers and she informed me that such action is not allowed. Not to touch the wild flowers and not to jump in the dunes.

I will then collect the flowers in my drawing notebook instead. Boo.

Art in Action 2011

2011-07-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

And once again I forgot to post this in advance. Art in Action is been and gone. We had a wonderful time, great fun, met new talented artists and loads of people who in amazement uttered ooooooh and aaaaah whenever they understood the process of transferring an image onto paper.

We worked these glorious days with our old friend the Albion.

The printmakers tent, early in the morning. Before the madness.

In four days we hardly had any time to go and see the other tents with the artists demonstrating their skills.

Two of my favourite pieces in the Best of the Best tent.

Masters to learn from.

2011-07-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

The juvenile neighbours of the lane and Alfred Wallis.

Live long and prosper. That is a rule.

wedding + solo show + sun + friends + scones = happiness!

2011-07-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection for him. My Scotsman ♥

A very English day indeed.

2011-06-30T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Royal Regatta, attending at the Steward's Enclosure. What an experience. Hat and dress below the knee was mandatory.

Endless resources for prints on englishness, poshness and sport.

another garden

2011-06-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

Miss Marianne is lost in the maze of her feelings. She loves ardently and suffers in equal measure.
The agony of her grief is voluntarily renewed, sought for and created again and again. She gives herself up wholly to her sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future.

Soon!

2011-06-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the big day approaches in haste. The lovely Rostra & Rooksmoor gallery in the beautiful city of Bath will host a big show of my prints. A review of my work in the past years.

result

2011-06-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

And here is the final image. It came up pretty much as I wanted to. I'm satisfied. I'm happy. It's friday, let's have a beer now.

stamps

2011-05-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

Some flower stamps for the formal garden. There are lavender, pansies and petunias.

transition

2011-05-30T02:37:00.000-07:00

This is the middle stage in the creation of a print. From the image I have in my head I am trying to plan the colours in the different layers in photoshop. How different will it be at the end?

thread and paper

2011-05-25T01:52:00.001-07:00

yesterday and today

2011-05-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I saw a guy dressed as a tiger in the Southbank and today an amazing mural the little neighbour was drawing in front of our window.

ex libris

2011-05-12T03:57:00.000-07:00

Do you love your books? Have you thought of give them something in return of all the pleasure they've given you? An ex-libris is the answer for such a dilemma.

Ex-libris (also known as bookplate) is a mark of property, it shows the name of the proud owner of that book along with an individualized design or image that is placed in the inside of the front cover.

Here are two ex-libris of Eric Gill and a couple I've made friends. Now you can order your own! go and check HERE.

AAF Bristol!

2011-05-10T12:16:00.001-07:00

If you are planning to visit theAffordable Art Fair in Bristol from the

13 to the 15th of May, you can find my prints at the stand B7 at the Rostra & Rooksmoor gallery stand.

a beach by the Thames

2011-05-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

If you come and visit us in the OXO gallery, you can also enjoy a beach that has been built in the Southbank, with beach huts, ice lollies, fish and chips and a guy inside a giant albatross giving away albatrosses!

more embroidering

2011-05-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

These two are also in the OXO gallery exhibition.

Don't leave it to the end, take your bycicle, go to the Southbank, enjoy a river view, have an ice cream and visit us HERE.

hand made

2011-05-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

I am making paper.

I've had this kit for years and I've taken a couple of workshops and I've been collecting discarded paper for months.

looking for Sami

2011-04-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

in the Oxo gallery

2011-04-25T02:34:00.000-07:00

Do you see the date in this ad? Well, forget it, the exhibition has been brought forward and it's starting on Thursday 28th April. That is good, but thanks to this I haven't had much time to enjoy this fabulous weather. Framing framing framing.

I will see you there if you are around in town and want to drop in to say hello and see the new collection of prints I've been making lately. I will be in the gallery on Monday 2nd May, Thursday 5th, Saturday 14th and Wednesday 18th.

2011-04-16T04:36:00.001-07:00

letterpressing on fabric

2011-04-14T23:53:00.000-07:00

just experimenting.

finished

2011-04-04T04:00:00.001-07:00

woodcutting

2011-03-31T03:02:00.000-07:00

drawing, carving, proofing.

the Tuesday ones

2011-03-22T01:55:00.000-07:00

Embroidering on paper. Fun.

letras

2011-03-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

With the help of my little sister I bought a mountain of wooden letters from one of those traditional printers closing down (or rather getting rid of the traditional ways in favour of the computer), this one in Mexico city. She sent me just a little sample of the letters and the place, doesn't it look great?

They specialize in wrestling posters, so I imagine all those letters have announced big fights with names like El Santo or Blue Demon! Oooh, I can't wait to have them in my hands. The long way from Mexico...

THANK GOD FOR LITTLE SISTERS!!!

A short nice trip.

2011-03-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

People from Devon, are your walls looking rather sad and empty? I commend you to go to the very nice Gloss Gallery, in the heart of Exeter where now you can find and acquire my prints.

I'm so happy to have a gallery there now and thus the excuse to deliver prints and visit my friends in the Jurassic Coast. Thank you Joe & Chris ♥, I had a highly pleasant time and everything was delicious, ñam ñam ñam.

Mr Gill

2011-03-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

How is it possible that such a head case like Eric Gill could create such beautiful types, sculptures and prints? God, I've been reading a book about him as Gill Sans has always been my favourite typeface of all.

I think since I've started working with type and engraving I've been unconsciously making in my prints what he does, people interacting with words. Unconsciously, I swear!

O

2011-03-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

I found this O yesterday in a flea market. It was so sad, begging to be used, inked and pressed.

Who made it? What has been used for? posters I guess. Propaganda posters in wartime? Or is it even older? Some victorian ads?

Monday

2011-03-07T00:23:00.001-08:00

Good morning little people on my desk, let's start the week.

story of an ampersand

2011-03-03T03:11:00.000-08:00

I needed an ampersand.
But as it happens it is not easy at all to acquire one nowadays. I wanted a very specific ampersand too, a 10 line Baskerville italic light, so the best way was to make it myself.
As you can see, it is not perfect, but I like it like that.

typography on walls

2011-03-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

The sun came inviting londoners to leave their dark, cold holes for a day. And that's what we did. The Tower of London was our destination -first time for me- and loved it, especially the ravens, almost my size.

And the Beauchamp tower, were the requirement to be a prisoner there was to be a typographer, it seems to me.

new type

2011-02-24T02:50:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe my good luck when I won this font in auction. I think it is exceedingly beautiful. And perfect for my next project.

And I will start that as soon as I finish a mural I've been re-painting far far away in the South of London for two weeks.

I enjoy painting murals. It is like a childhood dream, to draw on walls, receive praise for doing so and money!

more engraving

2011-02-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

another lost page of another manual or handbook. This one for people who wants to learn waltzing at elegant balls. Everything written in the 18th century sounds so funny, or patronizing.

engraving

2011-02-08T02:09:00.000-08:00

For a while I've been thinking to try my hand on engraving but I always saw it with fearful respect. I thought it would be too difficult, expensive and time consuming. Which it is, but it doesn't matter because I am loving it. The visual result is almost the same as scraperboard. It suits capitally the letterpressing things I'm doing now. So, I work and whistle with alacrity all day in the studio.

Moreover with the incentive of having a big Solo Show in Bath this summer, (keep checking here as I still don't know the exact dates) I have to continue my studies in the Georgian and Regency period that doesn't stop fascinating me. For instance, did anybody here know that the great great great grandmother of my bicycle was invented by some German Baron in 1818?

shop

2011-02-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

I've opened an etsy shop thus anyone in the world can now be the proud owner of one of my wrestlers. So, my friends, if you have time in your hands, go and have a look and let me know what you think, suggestions, spelling corrections, etc.

Also notice that the first ten people to buy a wrestler will get a free Lucha Libre ad signed by all of them!

labels

2011-01-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Machete and his friends, the titans of Lucha Libre will soon be in my shop.

:-D

2011-01-26T02:56:00.000-08:00

letterpress III

2011-01-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

Two more fonts arrived today. And I made one more page of the dictionary to understand cats.

letterpress II

2011-01-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

Still experimenting, getting frustrated but nevertheless enjoying this very zen craft.

One of the ideas when I got this machine was to get far away from the computer, but it's worst now! I've spent hours, long LONG hours looking for fonts. It is soooo difficult to find some and they are so expensive, and most of them are not complete!

I've spent a small fortune in a handful of wood type and some more in lead type. Oooh, this better be worthy. I'm gonna have to make prints that sell well so I won't feel too guilty to have bought it. Gosh.

letterpress

2011-01-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

My new obsession. Or rather the new tool for the studio arrived yesterday. My beautiful proofing press!

Remember I was going to buy an amazing Smith Press? Well, at the end we couldn't find anybody in Mexico to help us see if the machine was complete and in working order. So with pain in my heart I had to say goodbye to that one. And as consolation prize I got this American proofing press with all the stuff necessary to start frolicking around with.

Well, everything except type. That is a different story and will talk about it tomorrow. I am too happy today. Thank you Nini, you are the best sister!

By the way, if you are interested in this letterpress thing, there is a VERY good exhibition of letterpress artists and practitioners in Hoxton Square, well, not quite Hoxton Square. See the directions HERE, but hurry, it will be until the 22nd of January.

love no more

2011-01-12T03:14:00.000-08:00

Everything is impermanent, said the Buddha. And some of my favourite couples in Mexico are proving him right as I found them wrestling with the idea of not being one unit anymore. Marriage is impermanent.

I've been mourning for this. It is like the end of an era.

greeting cards

2011-01-07T01:14:00.000-08:00

Look what the postman brought! Mr Darcy and Mr Collins and Miss Elizabeth Bennet now live in their own greeting cards. And published by the beautiful Art Angels cards. Thank you Chris, thanks so much, they look great.

This must be the sign of a good year starting.

feelings

2011-01-05T02:43:00.000-08:00

Every time I go to Mexico I feel more and more like an alien. It takes me weeks to adjust and understand the way to live, behave, survive...

This time even six weeks were not enough. So the project I was planning to do at my friend's letterpress studio became a different thing. A diary of feelings.

ruins

2011-01-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

While I nurse a jet lag and try to make sense of this six weeks trip to Mexico, I leave you with some images of Rodolfo, the howling monkey, our companion around the Yucatan peninsula.

In Palenque, where he was born and we found him howling away.

In Uxmal.

And Edzna.

expo

2010-12-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm a great fan of Abel Quezada. Yesterday we went to see the new exhibition of his work. Great stuff. Don't miss it -if you are in Mexico city, that is-.

My friend Magallanes is the author of the museography, by the way...

keys

2010-12-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

no lack of shelter since my arrival. Such good friends I have.

my beloved friend

2010-12-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

♥

success

2010-12-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

The FIL is almost finished. I am tired but happy. I've accomplished my mission of selling the book I brought to a fine publishing house! So, please watch this space, there is still some work to do with it. I just give you two teasers here.

I forgot what a hurricane of emotions a Book Fair can be. From the warmest feeling of reacquaint myself with publishers, designers, illustrators and friends to the cold reception (or non reception) some publishers can give. Still, this is the warming up for the big one, as I am planning to go to Bologna next year.

a quick trip

2010-11-27T09:11:00.000-08:00

Mexico-Cholula-Oaxaca. Everything fine until the car broke down. Please remember, if you come to Mexico DO NOT rent a car with Casanova. Dodgy dodgy STUPID car they gave us.

colophon

2010-11-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

My friend José Luis is one of the best graphic designers I know. His speciality is art books. Just take a look at the catalogue of Ediciones RM and the most beautiful books are designed by him. But my FA-VOU-RI-TE thing ever is to start looking at his books from the end and see the colophon. He is a master in colophons. This is a little selection of them.

The one in the picture is him touching my baby press.

By the way, this press once belonged to Master Printer Juan Pascoe, whom I may have to go and visit in Michoacan as he may be the only one in Mexico to know how to put it together.

my press!

2010-11-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

This fine gentleman, sr. Herrera has this beautiful press that I am going to get as my Christmas present! I went to see it today and felt dizzy. It was love at first sight. I AM SOOOOO HAPPPY.

My only problem now is how to get it into my suitcase...

working. Yes!

2010-11-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a perfect day. My excellent friend Selva lent me her fantastic little workshop to play with her woodblock letters and press. So, armed with ink, paper and lots of free time I camped there for hours experimenting. The result was quite humble, but I think something good can come out of it. Love it love it love it.

so far

2010-11-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

I'm in Mexico. It took my body around five days to adjust (a headache for two days, dizziness, lack of antibodies, etc)

Every time I come I gain seven kilos, but this time, with the help of don Manuel, my great new boxing manager I will try to keep those kilos away.

I've seen some friends. I've visited the Buddhist Center, where I used to meditate, the same Buddhist Order where I teach in London. I've seen the exhibition in the Children's Book Fair at El Centro de las Artes where they just hanged one of my illustrations! what an outrage. Actually they just hanged one of each illustrator, but more on that to come...

yesterday

2010-11-08T23:39:00.000-08:00

leaves

2010-11-02T14:45:00.001-07:00

This was today. Raining leaves. Amazing colours.

soon

2010-11-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

My departure to Mexico approaches. I am nervous. Millions of things to do. Today I've been printing Mr Crawfords, Mr Collins, Captain Wentworths and Colonel Brandons. No time to go swimming so an hour of yoga at home.

Oh! I was asked to take part in a project to raise money for something... for Great Ormond Street Hospital... I think. It is an exhibition of cards by secret artists. Click HERE to see the entries. There are cards by Damien Hirst, Christopher Corr and I think there are some of Julian Opie... Colin has also made a couple. Can you spot them?

day of the dead 2010

2010-11-01T02:55:00.000-07:00

The altar of this year and pumpkins in Borough Market.

autumn 2010

2010-10-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

It was autumn when I came to this island for the first time. Loved it. It is autumn now and autumn plays an important part in the book I'm illustrating.

Friends and Fiends

2010-10-22T01:47:00.000-07:00

Machete and Diablo sometimes are training partners but sometimes they are enemies in the ring.

los cocodrilos

2010-10-21T01:54:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure to meet this group of printmakers when they came to participate in multiplied, a new print fair in Christie's last week.

These guys are bloody good and have their studio in Oaxaca city. I am hoping to go and see them when I go to Mexico next month. For years I've been hoping to organize things in a way that I can stay there and have a productive holiday. Hopefully learning lithography? We'll see.

moo

2010-10-18T02:33:00.000-07:00

My beautiful moo cards arrived! They are so nice I don't want to part with them...

friends

2010-10-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

What to do when still struggling to even continue a project? Go out with the girls to a couple of exhibitions in Hoxton Square

Seeds

2010-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

What to do when still struggling to finish a project? Go to the Tate and check on the Turbine Hall current exhibition. The Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds one.

Machete amigurumi

2010-10-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

What to do when still struggling to finish a project? Crochet an amigurumi, that is. A rest to the brain. Unfortunately it is highly addictive and now I want to make a whole army of wrestlers.

other people's bikes

2010-10-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

I'm still struggling to do exactly what I want to do with a project. *&%$* I am so frustrated I got a stomachache.

So, it is better to go out, wander in charity shops, have a cup of tea and look at the work of other people so maybe I'll suck some inspiration out of it... grrr...

Today I got this nice Edward Gorey postcard, so I've been checking on his creepy drawings.

Also I read about this Chinese artist who has just filled the Turbine Hall with seeds. I have to go and see it.

books

2010-10-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I got a couple of books that until now I didn't have the opportunity to open -with all the mess of the Open Studio and the house upside down for a week-.

One a book of poems illustrated by master Willie Rodger, Scottish and the other a compilation of work by master David Gentleman, English.

Inspiration, inspiration.

Oh! and from now on you can also find my prints in the beautiful city of Winchester at the prestigious Bell Fine Art gallery

crocheting

2010-10-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

A little hat for baby Crew-Deakin. I didn't have a baby at hand to measure it though, I hope it fits.

scarf

2010-09-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

Winter is coming and I'm getting ready. Sami models the neckwarmer I made yesterday.

Open Studio, thanks

2010-09-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

Success success. The Tile Kiln Studio team made a great job and the Open Studio Show was a great party and the exhibition looked great. Thanks!
And of course, thank you all our friends who came. I'm sorry I'm always running around like a headless chicken and couldn't finish a sentence. I hope everyone enjoyed... the wine was good, I was told... and so the guacamole.

I took very bad pictures, all of them out of focus, except this one that shows you my favourite corner of this year's show.

Now, slowly we are putting the house and studio back together and finding things. But this is a process that takes around a month. Oooh.

Regency Love No. 8

2010-09-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

The moment in which Mr Knightley finally confesses his feverish love for Miss Woodhouse.