Thursday 10 May 2012

From the wall to the shoe: is art becoming portable?


Traditionally, ‘portable art’ refers to small examples of Prehistoric art that can be carried from place to place, usually in the form of engraved or painted bones and stones. Whilst this has certainly gone out of fashion, it would seem that a different form of portable art has taken its place.  The art form of graphics is far from new as artists including Alan Fletcher (1931-2006) and arguably the Victorian William Morris have shown. What perhaps is new is the idea of transferring our art onto more transportable and conventional objects. 
Felix Green, founder of the shop, InkHeart Custom Kicks & Caboodle, sees himself as an artist. Graphics is his forte and shoes are his medium. The reason is simple: although his drawings and designs were popular, would a picture sell? With more artists choosing different mediums such as bags or clothing to channel their work as part of a ‘bespoke craze’, the question is raised whether the classic ‘painting on the wall’ is falling out of favour among some of us art lovers.

The enlightenment for Felix to transpose his art onto shoes came with a dramatic leg break. Completely unable to walk for a long time, he could not find a pair of shoes that he liked enough to treat himself to upon recovery, prompting him to draw one of his works on a pair of pumps. At the same time, his recently launched online portfolio atdeviantart.com was receiving generally very positive feedback. With the collaboration of a local shop to stock his produce, and a launch on the online store Etsy, his prints were transferred onto pumps. When business really kicked off, Felix bit the bullet, quit his job and turned his full attention to his art works. Next, he plans to incorporate printable bags and t-shirts. Demand for these has clearly risen, as seen in the mass availability ofBanksy print bags and clothing.
Felix has been in London to test the waters with the ultimate aim to launch on Spitalfields market. Although a somewhat daunting prospect, Felix admits that London definitely spurred him on, as the custom-made t-shirt and bag concept is big news down there and he has found London-based graphic artists to be helpful. Whilst members of art communities are often guarded with their plans, London artists were open with tips and ideas.

As an artist, Felix gives the creative process as much significance as the finished product and he only ever produces images that feel natural to him. Even so, a majority of his work is on commission, with clients requesting a specific image and leaving him the sometimes difficult but enjoyable task of adapting it to feature on a shoe. Whilst some of these requests are sometimes odd, Felix stresses that this is what makes his art so exclusive; it allows for that unique stance within the bespoke craze and it is the individual touch that he so loves in his work. Moreover, these suggestions often move Felix in new directions not otherwise considered. As a keen photographer, he does the professional marketing shots of his products himself. Before any graphic elements may be applied to design, they must be created by means of visual art; thus, the artistic flair is maintained throughout the whole process.



So, is this concept of approachable and portable art the new art form? The uniqueness and nostalgic concept of InkHeart’s products obviously make them sentimental and expressive pieces; they are his works of art. This, along with the fact that the Internet plays such a prominent role within his work through the commission, the advertising and the inspiration of his products, suggests that the modern art form is changing. It is becoming more transferable and fluid, with a much wider ability for the individual to develop that personal touch.  And with an actual need for shoes and bags, Felix has the perfect opportunity to transfer his skills.


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PS This article was also featured on onlinetshirt.com 
http://onlineteeshirt.com/blog/?p=1700

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Pre-adult Angst


Having just come back from my last ever Easter holidays of undergrad uni life (scarymary.com!) has potentially made me more confused than ever. I really welcomed the 4-week break with open arms, as essays etc had really drained me and I was quite literally in desperate need of some home comforts…

2 weeks in and I was getting restless. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fam and I really do think that now we’ve all matured a little bit (or like to think that we have…) we really get along well. As much as loved going back to being the child, getting fed and having my washing done, I just feel that it’s getting harder and harder to do so. I think that I’m at a bit of an awkward stage; I’m excited about moving on and doing my own thing and yet I can’t help but cling onto being a child and getting family loving and pampering!!

And here I wonder: at which point do I make the actual break from child to adult? I used to think school à uni à adult. But now that so many of my friends are moving back in at home full time sans graduate job, and the fact that I am still majorly financially dependent on my darling parents makes me not so sure that’s the case anymore!

Then there’s the little things… One minute I find myself in a bit of a train hoo-ha and end up missing a flight and just thinking MUMMYYY (Father dearest I am forever grateful for your moral support on the phone 10 minutes before that BIG meeting!) Then the next minute I’m making serious plans about living in Zurich and London next year all on my todd (all the family are abroad) and being genuinely quite excited about going Ikea furniture shopping.


Is it socially acceptable to get excited about buying a Billy Bookcase but still want your mum to wake you up with a cup of tea, open the shutters (yes, the Swiss have Chalet style shutters…) and tell you to rise and shine?! Aaaargh!!