When It Rains...

My computer for the past 36 hours has been suffering from the worst virus it has ever seen. It seems even with the virus removed, mass chaos is running about within those walls. I am working on getting it fixed but until then if I owe you an e-mail I promise it is coming. Apparently my phone does not like the extra work it is being asked to perform. It is crazy how reliant I am on this laptop.
This picture found on Etsy shop Ashleykelemen, reminds me of another trend we saw at Highpoint- out of focus photography. I have to say, it grew on me.

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When It Rains...

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Etsy's 'Little Zoo' prints

Elizabeth Soule, from Portland, USA, took her 'Little Zoo' range of funny/quirky/cool photos on her Polaroid SX-70 camera, then scanned them and matched them to the original Polaroid. Which gives them this strange big/small feel, almost like one of those tilt-shift photos. 

I think they're fantastic. Really love the lion and tiger face-off, below. You can buy one of these cute and unsual prints (6"x6" centered on 8"x10" piece of photo paper – perfect fit for a standard 8"x10" frame) for around £15.50 ($25), plus around £4 postage, at Elizabeth's Etsy shop, or see more of her creative photography at her website.

Go straight to the Deer and Vines print above, which – like the others – comes on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper (190 gsm) with Epson archival inks.





Deer and Flowers print
Lion and tiger print
Zebra print


All prints are around £15.50. There are also lovely gnomes, raccoons, birds, hares, whales, pigs and much more...

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Etsy's 'Little Zoo' prints

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Michael Hess photographs: Bingo & Social Club

If you like this photo as much as I do (it reminds me lots of the John Hinde Butlins pictures I bought for my bathroom, that I'm always banging on about) check out the exhibition next month.


The show is called Bingo & Social Club and the marvellous photographer is Michael Hess. Catch it from  4-30 March at the Book Club
 in east London. Copies of the accompanying book will also be on sale.


"Around 1pm, every day of the week, nearly 600 bingo halls across the UK open their doors to thousands of loyal customers. But, although they can be found on almost every British high street, surprisingly few people ever see what goes on inside.


In Bingo & Social Club, photographer Michael Hess opens up this world to a new audience. Behind the often crumbling exteriors, he finds vibrant places full of strong characters, quirky details and more than a hint of nostalgia. In his own words: “I want people to feel that they’ve spent a night at the bingo – to sense what it feels like to be there.”

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Michael Hess photographs: Bingo & Social Club

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PYMCA prints, Faris Badwan, Lawrence Watson - and loads more affordable art at the Book Club

Live in London? Like art? Like art you can afford? Looking for a rather special Christmas present or two...? Then check out the art, prints, posters and arty/printy books sale happening at The Book Club in Shoreditch on Wednesday 15 December.


The quirky bar, which launched last year, has been hosting all sorts of cultural events over the last 12 months – and the images available in this Christmas sale are their favourites from the art and photography exhibitions they've hosted. There will be DJs to perk up your ears while you browse and, of course, it's a bar – so a festive tipple to encourage you to be reckless with the credit card. 


These images (by Faris Badwan, left, PYMCA, the youth culture photo agency, below, and music photographer Lawrence Watson, top, who should all be hanging around on the night) are just a tiny taster of what will be on offer - and it is for one night only so put it in your diary.  



The damage? So un-damage-y: prices from £30 for a Faris Badwan screen print (limited editions from £70); PYMCA posters are £5-10, prints between £50-150. Sonic Edition prints are £69 but they have  £5 posters, and there are books – usually £20 – doing some crazy buy-one-get-one-free and print + free book offers.


The Book Club

100 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4RH
6pm – 12am
FREE ENTRY

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PYMCA prints, Faris Badwan, Lawrence Watson - and loads more affordable art at the Book Club

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John Hinde Butlin's photos one step closerto being hung

I've already touched on my mild obsession with the John Hinde Butlin's series of photos. Now I've framed them, see above (I love these simple white frames from Ikea). Eventually my water-themed collection will even make it to the bathroom wall (they're going on tiles, so I want to buy some special extra strong velcro for the job).

Watch this space, or rather - watch the space in front of the loo...By the way - if you want to have a proper look at a hearty array of the Butlin's images, Wessell and O'Connor Fine Art and Photography have them displayed on their site. I am considering filling one entire bare wall in my sitting room with the best bar and dancehall tableaux. Could stare at all those faces, expressions and intriguing interactions for days.

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John Hinde Butlin's photos one step closerto being hung

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Posh prints, swish wall stickers and affordable art: part 2

Maybe you can afford some serious one-off pieces of art for your walls. Maybe you can afford one or two. Maybe you're broke and your walls are bare. 


Either way - why not brighten up that blank space you're staring at with one of these tasty bits of design. The second in a series of three... (here's the first). Look out for the final part next Monday...




This sweet retro Swedish print would look cute in a child's bedroom. It costs £20 unframed (70x50cm) and comes from the Pussy Home Boutique. And if you're wondering what kårlek means... like the magic little lozenge this dinky chap is about to swallow, it's something that makes you feel all warm inside.








I've featured Blackpool Beauties before (orignally published in Picture Post in 1955), because I long lusted after them for my bathroom - but then settled on a quartet of water-themed vintage Butlin's photos by John Hinde. Love the lack of faces. This one may yet find itself into another room in the house. It costs £75, print only (10x8 inches) from 55 Max






Love the cool simplicity of this David Hockney 'A Bigger Splash' swimming pool print/exhibition poster. One of the paintings in this 1966-67 California based series, Beverly Hills Housewife, sold for £5.2 million. But this can be yours for just £45 unframed, or £160 framed, from 55 Max.





As far as I can tell, this is the last in a fantastic series of limited edition lyrics-based graphic prints from Art Republic - so if you like it, get hold of it quick... It's from the clever It's Pop It's Art series, and I'm very fond of my 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' one, which I got from Airside. There was a Marvin Gaye one too, but am also tempted by this: "I'm free you're free/I want you to touch me/Come together/As one". Classic. Buy it unframed (70x100cm, inc border) for £150.




The Days Gone By shop has a fantastic selection of vintage comic book covers and pages - including graphics from the Beano, the Dandy and Hotspur magazine (perfect for the big boy in your life). But my favourite is this 1971 Bunty cut-out wardrobe print, I'd love it for my dressing room (ha ha, when I have one that is). Get it as a ready-to-hang canvas print from £95 (for the smaller, 710mm x 508mm size).
 (love the bunty one with cut-out clothes!)

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Posh prints, swish wall stickers and affordable art: part 2

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John Hinde's Butlin's Photos

Talking of John Hinde has made me remember how desperately I wanted to buy a print of this image. It was going to go in my slightly Scando bathroom, along with my 'Will Patrons Kindly Refrain' poster.



I went to see the exhibition that Martin Parr curated of John Hinde's lavish, garish and highly detailed 1960s Butlin's photographs (all contained in Our True Intent is all for Your Delight, a glorious visual feast of a book). Seeing the photos, large scale and up close was mesmerising; every detail in sharp focus, every facial expression revealing, the many small interactions captured, fascinating.


As for my quest to buy the photo, I got in too late. Prints were limited edition and this was one of the top sellers. I'm still debating going back and choosing another but even though the Photographers Gallery lets you take out an Arts Council OwnArt interest-free loan to buy, it's still a lot of money to pay for the next best photo. So I'm thinking of buying two copies of the book instead. One to keep on the coffee table; one from which to cut out pages to frame. The cheaper way to get second best (and first choice of image).


I'm also thinking of buying a copy of Nothing to Write Home About, a lovely book featuring many of John Hinde's other legendary 'boring' postcards.

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John Hinde's Butlin's Photos

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Blackpool beauties for the bathroom?

I've already got the poster above in my Scandi-clean white, grey and wooden bathroom - I want to continue the water theme with something that won't clash with the other poster, and will be good for staring at when on the loo.



Could this - 'Blackpool Beauties' photograph, available in various sizes from 55 Max, be it?

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Blackpool beauties for the bathroom?

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