B is for Ball

The second in my series of alphabetical treasuries.


"B is the second letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is used to represent a variety of bilabial sounds (depending on language), most commonly a voiced bilabial plosive." I have no idea what that means...

Hope you can tell the word in each choice above. You should hopefully also be able to spot a pattern in the layout of the coloured items. First to spot wins a virtual thumbs up.

Here is the link: B is for Ball

28 seconds in

http://vimeo.com/19628026 from Tomi Vollauschek on Vimeo.

Adventurers' Club - Soldier

A retired major from Victoria's army? A bit of a aged Flashman type, full of stories of his heroism and adventure in far off lands though I think we might have him being a little less Caddish than Flashman and a little bit braver.



A is for Apple

I've decided to put together a treasury once a week on an alphabetic theme. First up funnily enough is A.

"A is the first letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is similar to the Ancient Greek letter Alpha. It can be traced to a pictogram of an ox head in Egyptian hieroglyph."

Hope you can tell the word in each choice above. You should hopefully also be able to sport a pattern in the layout of the coloured items. First to spot wins a virtual high five.

Here is the link: A is for Apple

Adventurers' Club - Safari

Next figure down will be an Alan Quartermain, Dr Livingstone type character all dressed is beige and yellows ready to face any perils that the desert or jungle might through at him. Armed with his trusty blunderbus I think he will be pretty safe.

Adventurers' Club - Arctic Explorer

I've started work on a new set of Russian Dolls called the Adventurers' Club. As it might be a while before I get them all finished I thought it might be fun to show some of the process and thoughts as I work my way through their design. Also think it would be fun to come up with a little bit of back story and names for each of these characters so will have a play with that too.

First up is the character I think will be the biggest figure, the Arctic Explorer. Really like the idea of making a new set which uses a minimal pallette of colours and I'm always a sucker for Arctic Blue, just looks so peaceful.



Folksy Interview

The nice people over at Folksy HQ did a little interview with me the other day and they have justed posted it onto their blog site. Click here to have a read.

The Folksy Blog is full of interviews with talented makers of interesting things, so I was delighted when they asked me to join their list. Have a wander through some of the other interviews and find out more about the people behind your favourite shops.

Godwin's Law - Religion

Godwin's Law - Religion from Allistair Burt on Vimeo.

The film is titled Godwin’s Law and was made for an exhibition at The Arches in Glasgow in 2010 reflecting on ideas of belief and belonging.

Godwin's Law states that the longer an internet forum discussion continues the likely hood of someone mentioning Hitler or Nazi's increases. The first person to mention either loses the argument.

This film is a religious "discussion" between atheists and some theists using Speilburg's 1993 hit movie Jurrasic Park as a framework. Neither group do themselves many favours and reveal more about themselves and the way humans are willing to interact when there are no personal reprecussions.

The film was one of the central pieces in our 2010 exhibition Himptology. 

"Bringing their thoughts on faith, belief and belonging to The Arches, Hole in my Pocket form their own religion and ask you to become a true believer. Our religion stole parts from all the popular religions but explored art/ design and creativity rather than creation."

The Worlds strongest man

The Shop of Interest

A selection of my cards and prints are now on sale in the Westend of Glasgow at the very lovely "The Shop of Interest" under the supervision of the equally lovely May and Martin.

Its a very new shop, only opening its doors at the end of last year but its already chock full of interesting and unusual things and is well worth a browse.

 

The Shop of Interest
1058 Argyle Street
Glasgow
G3 8LY

Surrender

EDIT: People were having trouble seeing the below so I've added and adapted into a portrait style above and added some colour. Think I still like the landscape one best though.

"OK I'll give you one last chance to surrender."

[ Might need a little click on the image to actually see it properly. ]

Not long until the above book of 3D type (which will feature my Ice-letters) will be out. Both creators FL@33 and publishers Laurence King have developed little websites to promote the book with the latter showing off a few sneak preview spreads. There is a bit of blurb about the project below. My name seems to have been accidently missed off the list below - think I was supposed to be sitting between Milton Glazer and Alvin Lustig! Some of the names invovled are brill and looking forward to seeing what everyone came up with. Will post more images and news about the book when I get it. www.3d-type.com/

"This book is the most comprehensive showcase of three-dimensional letterforms ever written, featuring over 1,300 images of more than 300 projects by more than 160 emerging talents and established individuals and studios including Sagmeister Inc, Vaughan Oliver, Milton Glaser, Alvin Lustig, Louis Danziger, Roger Excoffon, Paul Elliman, Marian Bantjes, Geoff Kaplan, Clotilde Olyff, Italo Lupi, Marion Bataille, Antoine+Manuel, Frost*Design, Mervyn Kurlansky, Non-Format, Oded Ezer, Rowland Scherman, Post Typography, Rinzen, Underware’s Type Workshop, J. Kyle Daevel, Ji Lee, Pleaseletmedesign and Strange Attractors Design.

As well as pioneering milestones from as far back as the 1940s, this book focuses on recent and brand new typographic projects. 3D type specialist Andrew Byrom explains the context and motivation behind these innovative works in an insightful foreword.

FL@33 is a multi-disciplinary design studio for visual communication based in London. Founded in 2001, it is run by Agathe Jacquillat and Tomi Vollauschek. FL@33 work, profiles and interviews have been extensively featured online and worldwide in over 160 magazines, books and newspapers. The duo is also responsible for the popular online sound collection bzzzpeek.com and stereohype.com, a platform for designers and artists around the world. FL@33 also conceived, compiled, wrote and designed two other books: Postcard and Made & Sold, both also published by Laurence King."

The Dust Mite might if you gave him a chance

Our homes are full of lovely interesting creatures like the Radiator Beetle, the Rice Worm and the Dust Mite. Its enough to make you never want to go home.

Superhero Russian Dolls

Wee sneak preview of one of the new russian doll sets that I'm in the process of making. Its or a little superhero, his alter-ego of a mild business man and the radioactive meteor which gave him his super powers.

Buy of the Day

My Eat Haggis Print is the Buy of the Day according to the Guardian website. and was featured in Folksys newspaper of lovely things to buy for Christmas.
And my Russian Dolls were also a Fab find on the furnish website and got a small mention on the Decor8 blog.

Which is all very nice news to come home to after a wee adventure in India.

As a celebration we have decieded to have a prize draw of a selection of my work and that of my girlfriend Ann. You can enter a competition to win the goodies on http://www.southsidehappenings.co.uk/. Its kinda only really applicable to people living in the southside of Glasgow but I guess if you've ever visited or have friends in the area you might be in with a chance too, so click here and see how to enter.

Print Studio - Christmas Shop

A selection of my books, cards and russian dolls will be on sale in the Glasgow Print Studio Christmas Shop @ Trongate 103 from this Friday until the big day come the 25th of December.

Glasgow Print Studio103 Trongate

Glasgow G1 5HD
0141 552 0704

Himptology: Afterwards

Couple more drawings from our exhibition and book about "belief and belonging" looking at what happens after we die. Click here for more information about the book and here for more about the show.

Papa Stour

Lots of nice things on Papa Stour, including a selection of items by me. They are having a bit of a sale on at the moment on their cushion selection and they remind folk to purchase early to ensure delivery by *ahem* . . that popular day that is still ages away so what are there adverts about it on the telly already.

Coast

Oh, whats this in your latest copy of Coast magazine? Why its the top 25 gifts to buy your loved ones who live by/ like or are going to the Coast this winers and just look at what is at number 13. Why its a lovely set of Russian Dolls sold by Papa Stour, how lovely. Sorry the shiny paper made it quite hard to take a photo, but I think you get the general idea.

Ann's Shop

Ann has set up an Etsy shop for her brilliant series of phobia prints. The above image in Octophobia, though I think my favourite is maybe Phobophobia which is the fear of phobias. Check it out.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlaneurDesign

Glasgow School of Art Shop

Pleased to say that my Scottish Print gift cards are now available for purchase at The Glasgow School of Art's brilliant little gift shop. They have a great selection of work from various artists and a nice collection of items by graduates of the school including  textiles, jewellery, cards and books. Well worth a visit for hard to buy for people's Christmas presents. See if you can spot my cards in the photos below.

The Glasgow School of Art Shop

11 Dalhousie Street
Glasgow, Scotland G3 6RQ
Box office: 0141 353 4526
shop@gsa.ac.uk
http://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Himptology: Sacrifices

So that's our Himptology show all over, thanks to everyone that came along and took part in the Sunday Service's and created work for the "gallery" of suggestions for rules and ideas for the new religion. Hope you are now all converts.

We had quite a few people asking about small print versions of our large Commandment posters and diagrams. These are availible at 20x25cm size - have a look on Etsy and contact us to arrange the print you are after.

Himptology: Watch You Mouth

Another print from our series of commandments from our Arches exhibition.

Himptology: The Parsonage Choir

A short clip of the wonderful Parsonage Choir who were kind enough to join our motley crew at today's last HIMP Sunday Service.

Those of you who took part and want to know when/ if we shall return or those of you who have read about the wonderous event and want to find out how you too can get involved should join our mailing list in the right hand collum of this page for future news.

Thanks again to everyone who came along over the course of the three weeks and especially those who came along today and bared with The Arches and their technical hitches - 40mins late and yet everyone was still happy and game for fun.

Until the next time - May HIMP be with you.

Himptology: Transportation to the other side

Another very small part of our Himptology exhibition at The Arches in Glasgow about belief and belonging. An explanation about what its all about is here and there is a short article about the show in the List, click here to go to their page to have a read

Himptology: Initial Itch

You can hear extracts from the Second HIMP Sunday Service as recorded by the Initial Itch show on SubCity radio here - http://www.subcity.org/shows/initialitch/9de74

"All rise! We've been blessed with a section from Hole In My Pocket's Sunday Service this week. Pulling together the work of a community of creative Glaswegians for a secular alternative to church, it's presided over by Reverend Gary McNair, and features Rhymes With Purple's Waiting for Groucho, a sermon from John Fitzpatrick of Trongate 103, and a chorus led by Fish and Game's Eilidh MacAskill. HIMP's Sunday Service is back in the Arches lobby on Sunday 10th October."

You can also listen to Alan Cesarano's talk from week one here - www.alancesarano.com/wheredoigofromhere.html

Himptology: Last Sunday Service

The Parsonage Choir have confirmed that 22 members of their group will be attending this Sunday and will be performing four songs.

Have now seen most of the speakers images and it looks like again a brilliant and varied mix of talks and topics.

So far over the course of the Sunday Services we have come to expect the unexpected, be that talks about the design of urinals, a discussion about computer games where you drive across the US in real time or two ladies singing a revue style song in which all the lyrics are miaow. A wonderfully chaotic mix of creative superb-ness by our performers.

WEEK 3
Hosted by Gary McNair
and with music by Eilidh MacAskill and The Parsonage Choir

Sermons include
Kieran Hurley
Rose Rune
Neil McGuire
Minty Donald
Marie Campbell

Readings
Frodo McDaniels

With tea and scones at the end. Fun, fun fun.

This week again promises to be full of excitement, mystery, lovely images and scones.

See you all Sunday 1pm -3pm @ The Arches.

Face Book Invite List here.

Himptology: Mormons v Moomins

Extract from the Holy book of Himp. Prints from the book are also available, email us with your favourite one. (We are taking a leaf out the main stream religion books and sorting out the merchandising.)

Himptology: Keep asking why all the time

Commandment prints now available in our Etsy shop.

Himptology: Reincarnation Infinity Loop