Category Archives: Art and Craft

Follow-Up

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I meant to write a follow-up about Beck’s Canvas exclusive preview party last week but I found myself being busy redesigning the gloves online shop which seems to be a much bigger design project than I could’ve imagined. Not just design-wise there’s also a lot of code hacking and tweaking. It’s fun, it’s definitely a learning curve and adds to the skills department. Odd thing is -or perhaps the positive side- that I noticed some are charging £1000,- for an ecommerce redesign and it doesn’t look half as good as what I’m doing [and I ain’t bragging].

I wonder if I might have missed an opportunity or perhaps I’m creating a new one… The ‘garden landscaper’ website is almost finished and hopefully will be going live next week, I’m waiting for hosting details. Once that’s online I could start one for Monica, another that will be exciting and challenging. Yes life is busy and focused… In the meantime I’m suffering from a serious cold and high fever since a few days now. Not fun while it’s also 28C° in my office, I’m gonna keep it short so I can get away from the computer every now and then and rest a bit.

About Beck’s Canvas… I went to Farringdon to pick up MvdM. from work, we took the Circle line to High Street Kensington, from there we walked passed the Dutch embassy to the Royal Academy of Arts where the paparazzi was waiting for us outside. Later at the reception I was told that some celebrities were expected, some were actually there. No I did not ask, I just stared… *hehe* My friend KB. and her partner missed their connection so they showed up an hour later. In the meantime MvdM. and I went in, went straight to the bar for a drink -because waiting for others makes you thirsty- and had a look at the exhibition.

I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the exhibition but kindly received some through the PR agency which I will show below. My favourite label was by Riitta Ikonen, she’s got some cool stuff on her website. I love her sense of humour, have a look at her amazing mail art and her ‘Snowflake project’. I really like her artwork that’s used on the label of Beck’s. And since I was allowed to take pictures of the reception I will leave you now with a small selection. I had a great evening, got slightly intoxicated, met some really nice people and bought a lovely chocolate ice cream on my way home to match my dress…

ps I received my friends invitation this morning and only realised today that next week I’ll be in Scotland, time flies! She told me she had received lots of wonderful reactions about the invitation [which I designed for her] and I’m so looking forward to seeing her! She was in the Lowlands and brought back purple plastic wine glasses from the Hema for the party. Only Dutch would see the fun in that and especially those who live abroad *hehe* There is no such thing as Hema anywhere else… which is a true shame. We love our Hema!

© Beck’s, The labels and artwork

By Riitta Ikonen

Preview party

Preview party

Preview party

Beck’s Canvas

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I received an invitation last night from Barbara and one a while ago from Inci, both good friends and both (ex)student Graphic Design at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam where I used to work. I can’t remember which year Barbara graduated but Inci graduated two days ago *congratulations!!!* and both invited me to their parties in Amsterdam which unfortunately I won’t be able to attend because of some obligations. Their invitations reminded me of something that was brought to my attention recently, another invitation which I received through this blog…

I’m talking about the art project Beck’s Canvas organised by Beck’s beer in collaboration with the Royal College of Art here in London. Beck’s Canvas offers talented artists a way to expose their artwork to the public using the label on Beck’s bottles as their canvas. On the evening of the 16th July, Beck’s will announce the four artists selected by a panel of judges from the Royal College of Art to showcase their art on the labels of over 27 million bottles to be distributed nationwide from August 2008. I’ve been invited to the exclusive launch of this event which will take place in exactly two weeks from now.

Beck’s have championed talented artists without compromise for over 20 years, a very interesting, unique collection and taster can be found on their website including artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Jake&Dino Chapman, and Tatsuo Miyajima. Beck’s Canvas marks an evolution of their ongoing support for emerging artists and their vision to bring inspiring and challenging artwork to a broader public. I’m really looking forward to attending this gallery exhibition and see the actual artwork of the four finalists on display. I hope I’ll be allowed to take some pictures and show them on here!

Watch this space after the 16th…