sophie newell

Vince

2010-02-04T19:44:00.001Z

It's been a long time

2010-01-26T12:56:00.004Z

Well I'm back in Manchester, trying to figure out where life will lead me next. Currently things don't look very optimistic although I'm enjoying having a LOT of spare time. It's been an artistic void, but I'm really trying to try to create things again, so first off is this illustration for next month's Skinny.

Hopefully I'll be back on track soon.

Things

2009-08-28T05:40:00.004+01:00

Scientists are still out on why I bought a 19th century print of a narwhal.

Not exactly a review

2009-07-12T23:28:00.004+01:00

Today I began my volunteer work at the Joslyn Art Museum gift shop. One of the perks of the job is being able to visit for free whenever I like, or if the shop is quiet I can take time out to have a wander, which is awesome because there are two exhibitions at the moment that I love...

1. GOLDEN LEGACY: Original Art from 65 years of Golden Books.

60 original illustrations from the Little Golden Books series of picture books, which includes work by Richard Scarry, Alice and Martin Provensen, Garth Williams and Mary Blair. Super sweet and nostalgic, it was lovely and kind of exciting to see the original artwork for books I treasured when I was younger.

2. ARTE POPULAR: Mexican Folk Art from the Collection of Pat and Judd Wagner

"Created from a wide array of materials such as clay, plant fibers, wood, metals, cotton, wool, silk, paper, stone, leather, shell, wax, and feathers, the objects are ceremonial and profane, utilitarian and decorative, parodic and whimsical, reflecting communal lives and values. Many of the artists use techniques handed down for generations, often within the same families and villages. The resulting works reveal the artists' connections to their communities, land, traditions, and cultures."

I couldn't find any photos that did any justice to this exhibition. It is positioned at the end of a gallery full of retablos so you suddenly walk from very solemn religious oil paintings into a room full of paper mache skeletons, neon prostitutes and hand carved monster masks. It's hilarious.

Yoo Ess Ay

2009-07-10T00:41:00.006+01:00

I have been in living in Omaha for almost a month now. So far so good. I admit that I didn't think it would be quite this hard to find a job, I must have applied to 40 places but it seems like no one wants to hire at the moment. I'm fast running out of money and if it goes on much longer I'll have to start selling plasma.

I've had a bunch of fun times: my first Independence day, obtaining free tickets to see the Jonas Brothers (amazing), Bingo nights, parties etc. I volunteered a couple of weeks ago at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, selling drinks tokens in the sun and being given free beer and cake. Not bad. It was amazing how many people turned out, although the majority of the art was... not to my taste.

From Sunday I will be working for free at the Joslyn Art Museum. Hopefully this will lead to a paid position but in the meantime I'll continue to look for something... anything... to help me pay the rent.

End of Edinburgh

2009-07-06T20:13:00.004+01:00

Photos from the degree show! better late than never. My final days in the U.K. were a lot of fun, I'm glad I stayed long enough to celebrate. Everyone's work looked amazing and well done to everyone on our results, I feel so proud of us.

For anyone reading this, sorry I didn't get to say a final goodbye at the revel. It was such a fun night, I'm going to miss everyone a lot but I'll be back so I'll be sure to see everyone again.

I'm still getting over the fact it's all finished. How can 3 years go by so fast? I had a few sads recently seeing photos of graduation and D&AD, wish I could have been there. Still, I know a lot of people are staying in Edinburgh so I look forward to a catch up in a few months' time! BIFF 4eva IDST.

Choose your own adventure

2009-05-22T12:42:00.004+01:00

Following my final presentation of this year's college work on Wednesday I had a day off before heading back down to Manchester last night. So, determined to make the most of my freedom, I took a day trip to Cramond. I can't believe I have lived so close to the sea for the last 3 years and never been before. We walked along the beach while Derek unsuccessfully poured salt into holes to 'catch razor shells' (Whatever, Derek), then ate scones, walked around a Roman fort, and enjoyed a pub lunch. Job well done!

See you in the real world

2009-05-15T17:16:00.001+01:00

I am done with education. Wow.

Old Town love

2009-05-12T21:07:00.003+01:00

A couple of recent images- I backtracked to an old abandoned project on visually documenting places, both familiar and unfamiliar. Obviously these are Edinburgh. It was a good excuse to walk around in the sun, and a last chance to appreciate the city I'll be leaving forever in about a month.

Spectrum editorial

2009-05-03T19:13:00.001+01:00

... starring Marc and me as a couple feuding over washing and flowers.

Website!

2009-04-24T14:08:00.003+01:00

FINALLY re-made my website! It's not quite complete, I'll get some more images for the portfolio and maybe self-consciously write something in the 3rd person for the 'about' section. I'm also working on fixing it to a more memorable web address. BUT it's up, it's there, click heeeeeere.

Good omen?

2009-04-15T17:06:00.001+01:00

Aptly ridiculous sign in for the Family Fun Center in Omaha. This place has the best selection of old japanese arcade games I have ever seen. The machine tokens had a smily face on one side and 'PRAISE the LORD' on the other.

So the Great Nebraska Adventure begins in less than 2 months. I have an 'apartment' and everything.

1 MONTH TO GO

2009-04-15T16:54:00.000+01:00

A couple of sketches from my zoo trip, which was now quite long ago.

Exactly 1 month until the final ever deadline. I got back to Edinburgh yesterday, it's scary to think the next time I leave it will be for good(!)

Ginger bear

2009-03-29T21:07:00.000+01:00

I've been at home in Manchester for the past week, having too much fun. No really, too much. I've been doing some animal drawings after a trip to Chester Zoo. I'm without scanner so I can't post any, but here is a photo of one of the best animals ever instead: a furry little oriental man.

In 2 days' time I will be en route to Omaha. Excited, little bit.

Something and nothing

2009-03-10T19:54:00.000Z

These are some images I'm messing around with at the moment. Basically I realised that one of my main project ideas just didn't have the potential to be amazing, so have been working on it as a side project. I have a vague sense of direction, honestly.

Ideas factory

2009-03-06T18:30:00.000Z

One of the images for this week's commercial illustration project on the FASCINATING subject of copyright law. yeh. The others are on flickr.

In other news, it's my birthday soon. I'm hoping for lots of exciting bakeware.

Happy pancake day!

2009-02-25T20:31:00.001Z

(for yesterday)

"Wanna be in a movie?"

2009-02-11T22:45:00.000Z

Last weekend I went to Chicago. Needless to say, it was quite fantastic. I won't go into it, I really need to get on with college work now. Mid-year reviews next week.

Scatter brain

2009-01-31T17:51:00.000Z

Just a sketchbook image from my one-line poems project. I'm finding it hard to commit to just one project for any significant amount of time, which results in none of them really going anywhere. Maybe I should make myself a high school style timetable... yeah maybe not.

Lazy McStressface

2009-01-27T14:50:00.000Z

Editorial for article about the importance of trees in urban environments.

I have been so lazy recently (recently? always). It doesn't help that I have been spending far too much time fruitlessly looking and applying for jobs, and trying to arrange my visa for America this summer. This morning I spent £5 in a noisy phonebox trying to get through to the U.S. embassy (they don't allow calls from mobiles) and then ran out of change before I'd even got through to a real person. U.S. embassy, I shake my fist at you.

Sad day

2009-01-18T15:29:00.000Z

Bye bye Tony Hart. You were awesome.

Kitty capers

2009-01-16T23:12:00.001Z

I love this!

Photographs taken by cats.

This is what you get if you attach a digital camera to a cat's collar, programmed to automatically take a photo every 2.5 minutes. Turns out cats have got some mad photography skillz.

Happy mid-January?

2009-01-15T10:43:00.000Z

Christmas Day 2008

I am still reeling from the joy of finishing my dissertation. Completed 2 weeks before the deadline, a real novelty for someone who is used to finishing essays the morning of the day they are due in. I wanted to get it finished before Christmas and my holiday to Egypt!

An editorial image from last term for an article on the effects of reproducing works of art.

Bereavement

2008-12-10T15:15:00.000Z

The gravestones sit all around

And mourn the loss of the church,

Now lying on its back in the grass,

As its roof flaps somewhere overhead,

Carrying its soul to some kind of heaven.

-Struan Robertson

Illustration for the text/image college project in which we exchanged artwork with text from students at Edinburgh University.

Family heirloom

2008-12-07T00:46:00.000Z

Every so often, when I'm looking for something at home, I come across this hidden away on a bookshelf. It is always hilarious.

First post

2008-11-22T21:19:00.000Z

I have forgotten how to get onto the website I made in 1st year, but that's no loss. Blawgs are where it's at now. To start off with then this is an illustration for the Scotsman. It might not get used. The competition is on.