Meirion Ginsberg

"My work is more of an autobiography, using friends and family and sometimes a Dadaist mish-mash where humour is injected. Influenced by a huge range of painters from Willem DeKooning to Rembrandt, I use a versatility of mark-making which leaves some of the work borderline figurative and abstract.
As a child, cartoons and comics became a drive for me to take drawing seriously. As well as this I was raised in a family of painters and musicians. Drawing became a priority which sometimes or most times became more important than friends and from a young age I started to become fluent with mark-making. In my teens, the attraction of comics began to wear thin, partly because of ridiculous storylines that I never really was interested in." Meirion Ginsberg 

Meirion Ginsberg's works are a mash-up of so many influences, they do not all make an appearance in every piece but raise their heads in his portfolio to add to the conversation, Gilbert and George, Klimt, Egon Schiele, Max Ernst, and many others say hello as you look at Meirion's portraits.

Uta Kögelsberger

Uncertain Subjects situates itself between mail-art project, exhibition, and campaign in defense of what many of us considered a basic human right: The freedom to live and work anywhere within the European Union.  Uta Kögelsberger

I chanced upon these billboards in London when I was visiting last week and found them moving, poignant and refreshingly honest and human and I also liked the way they reflected London on their surface, with the runoff from the walls and the reflected buildings on the perspex protection.

"Uncertain Subjects Part II situates itself between photographic document, performance and a work of activism. In a 7 hour performance a single billboard was constantly covered and recovered with new billboards: Head and bare shoulder portraits of people who – in the face of Brexit – feel this country no longer represents their best interest, people who feel like they have become alienated within their own country and many whom have decided to move out of the UK. The work gives a voice to those who feel they have been silenced by the failing democratic processes. It brings a personal lived experience back into the conversations surrounding Brexit." Uta Kögelsberger

Miroslav Sasek

My Great Uncle Roger Briottet died early this summer, and here in London where he lived, I miss him acutely, his wonderful humor and stories and his fantastic humanity and kindness. One of the life stories he would recount was of spending an uncomfortable night in the colosseum, Rome because he accidentally got locked in as a young boy.  This illustration 'Rome' by Miroslav Sasek (1960), makes me laugh and remember. 

Dani Choi I

Dani Choi has been awarded this years AOI, Children's Book New Talent,  for her book; Where is my baboon hiding an interactive flap book with dynamic illustrations and boldly contrasting palette.

Hallie Bateman I

Hallie Bateman writes zines, makes comic strips and loves dogs.

Helene Schjerbeck I

Helene Schjerbeck (1862-1946) chronicled her life through multiple self-portraits. She showed an early flair for art and aged 11 she was enrolled and sponsored in the Finnish Drawing School. At eighteen she was awarded a travel grant and moved to Paris to continue her training.

Her work is exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 20th July - 27th October.

Aurelia Fronty III

"When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope." Wangari Maathai

Today I plan to be out gathering acorns for next years mini forest, last autumns collection yielded 117  oak trees, I grow them in the path down the side of my home and I see it as an act of faith, love and yes resistance.

These images are from Aurelia Fronty's book about the incredible Kenyan woman Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) who founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. Wangari was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2004 for her contribution to the environment, development, democracy, and peace. 

Ingela Arrhenius II

Ingela Arrhenius's illustrations fill me with joy because of their nostalgic mid-century design style, and because of the simply phenomenal economy of elements which make up these stunning illustrations, this is visual poetry. 

Alistair Grant II

More studies of children, that make my heart sing, by Alistair Grant (1925-1997).

Sandy Murphy

Sandy Murphy's work is part of a summer group show at the Smithy Gallery, Glasgow 4-25 August. Of this artist's varied repertoire, I have chosen his white still life studies, these interior 'landscapes' stretch out revealing their secrets, their landmarks, and flora inviting you to explore. 

Alistair Grant I

Alistair Grant (1925-1997) was born in London, but as his mother was French he spent his childhood in Etaples, Nord-Pas-de-Calais. During his life he returned regularly to the family home there. Alistair taught printmaking at the Royal College of Art from 1955, and became head of the department in 1970. He was a highly influential printmaker and his work is held by the Tate Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and extensively in the Government Art Collection.

Barbara de Wolf I

Barbara de Wolf's fabulous image of feet with tiny jewel-like fish.

Amrita Marino

A wonderful graphic by Amrita Marino for theNew York Times about the absence of female scientists from Wikipedia and how Jessica Wade, a British scientist, has started a project to challenge this bias by adding female scientists to Wikipedia daily.

Sophewa

A charming summer illustration by Polish illustrator Sophewa.