I am an illustrator, I love going to Pick Me Up at Somerset House (no surprise there right?) and been since it’s started four years ago. Me and my friends make a day out of it, going to Nandos afterwards. I even made new friends at Pick Me Up.
Pick Me Up – Graphic Arts Exhibition at Somerset House 2013
That’s why I enjoy it so much. I get to meet other like minded illustrators and designers, see what’s artworks are out there. Very rarely a London major gallery will exhibit the contemporary illustration, graphic design and designs in one space. So this 4th year of Pick Me Up; I will give you a taster of what stood out to me.
Pick Me Up Selects:
Maricormaricar: I love seeing up-close her textiles typography and the gradients of each colour thread intertwine. Really intricate. : aim to misbehave embroidery
Jean Julien: What a chance to see the original A2 paintings on show! Better to see for real than on computer screen.
Katie Scott: Inspired by botanical and scientific illustrations and merging it with mythology. Simple thin black lines and painting.
Ping Zhu: Since seeing her illustration of Swan Lake published by No Brow Press, I love her work. Her wall was filled to the brim with whimsical characters cute animals. Her work is filled with brush strokes and paint textures on flat surface. Simply gorgeous. ( I like to meet her one day….)
William Goldsmith: Only comic artist on the Selects. I love the textures of his loose brush painting and use of ink. To exhibit his Comic spread on the wall was really beautiful, seeing the lettering and minimal borders on each panel opens up the characters. Also it’s so unique how he draw noses.
Daniel Frost: How cute are his wooden character toys! I had the urge to play with them like a little kid and give them voices. So much personality in his simple looking characters.
Rob Flowers: Crazy, psychedelic, minimal colour palette doodle monsters; inspired by folklore and toys from MacDonalds. His artwork must be ‘glow in the dark’ right?
Galleries and Collectives:
Every year has different hidden themes and trends. This year focus on the interactivity with the artists and the visitors. The visitors can get involved with the artist during workshops or see the artists’ process and even buy their own bespoke art.
These include a pub at Hero of Switzerland, Nail Bar, Tattoo Parlour with Puck Collective, Live drawing from Brothers of the Stripe and Funfair at Coffee Club.
Print Club London are back again with open studio so you can learn about screen printing techniques you can try yourself. They were lovely enough to let me screen print more than once.
There will be special events going on too:
Modern Toss will be back with loads of profanity, insider talks from the Guardian, Axel Scheffler going to illustrate for the kids and Shaun the sheep model making with Aardman. Yes, Aardman animation. It’s going to be so popular so be aware it’s first come first serve basis with very limited spaces for 1hr long session (you have been informed).
You can check out the events and daily specials on the website.
It’s year is set to be one heck of a festival. Lots to see and do and plenty of variety to please everybody.
Opens tomorrow! From (Thursday 18th April – Sunday 28th April)
Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm. Thursdays Late, 10:00am – 10:00pm ( with live music and performances)
Tickets: Adults £8
Concessions with valid ID: £6 (inc Students, Teachers, over 60s)
Festival pass: £15
Events, Daily Specials and Workshops are additional charge and subjected to capacity and availability. Please go to Somerset House or Pick Me Up website for further information.
{All photography are mine! Please don’t steal or take photos at the exhibition yourself ^0^ }
