Cheef Illustration

// Scott Balmer…splendid illustrations of happiness //

sally — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:22:19 +0000

This is the wonderful work of Scott Balmer. I love the mix of media, simple bright colours which show off his line work and combine beautifully. No surprise then that he’s worked for clients here in the UK such as The Guardian, and also taken scissor to paper for others accross the water.

'lions' by Scott Balmer

'mexican-wrestlers' by Scott Balmer

'do bears poop in the woods' by Scott Balmer

'YCN trees project' by Scott Balmer

Currently Scotts work is available to buy at Torr Press, where he has contributed to an alphabet-themed Zine, along with other artists and illustrators. Take a look at: http://www.torpress.co.uk/shop.html

// Matt Duffin //

sally — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:23:35 +0000

Have a look at these wonderful illustrations by Matt Duffin. He’s not exactly a local artist…(he lives in California!) but he was kind enough to let us feature his work on our little blog. Although he now works as an artist, he trained in Architecture, and you can really see the influence in his work. I love the sparse, atmospheric feel, and the structure to all the space he uses.

'The Library'

'Crowd Control'

'My Inner Voices'

'Departure'

Somehow he even manages to make chairs and suitcases endearing and full of character! Brilliant! For more of his work and to check out all the amazing exhibitions and publications he’s worked on go to his website:
http://mattduffin.com/

// Banksy vs Bristol Museum //

sally — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:47:16 +0000

You can’t have missed it. The Banksy exhibition currently showing at Bristol Art Gallery and Museum has provoked nationwide discussion, and brought queues of over an hour long.

Greeted by a burnt out ice cream van, you are then filed into the exhibition room filled with the ‘Banksy’s’ we know so well. And in this you wont be disappointed. Here you may feast your eyes and minds on all the cutting social and political statements you would expect from this well known, underground artist…served, of course, with a humorous twist!
Continue through the museum and you will find, hidden amongst the natural history and pottery, interspersed with Constable and the Old Masters, more to make you think.
But somehow, something isn’t quite right. He is still anti-establishment, he’s still questioning authority…but hang on a second…aren’t we standing in a City Council Museum? Run and funded by the Council?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Banksy, I think he makes good, hard hitting, simple points…on the street. But bring that into a museum, and some of that is lost. His pieces don’t need the long, considered scrutiny we give to art in a gallery…but surely that’s not the point of them? They need to be seen in context, whether that is the side of a building, or one painting slipped into an exhibition somewhere. That is what makes them so powerful, and their strong, one line messages are perfect for that context.
See it as a body of work, however, and devices which in themselves are often funny and clever, can become repetitive when over-used. For example, his doctored paintings – hijacked with burnt out cars or billboards – are an original idea, but do they gain anything from being seen ‘en-masse’?

But I’m being over critical. I’ve been to the exhibition twice, and enjoyed it both times. He makes us think and question…without boring. And any artist who can bring together everyone from 2 to 92-year-olds, must have something special.
So keep up the good work Banksy and I will certainly be at the next exhibition…wherever that may be.
To see more of the exhibition go to: http://www.banksy.co.uk/

Welcome to CHEEF Illustration!

sally — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:43:52 +0000

We are currently working hard to make this site super fantastic so please bear with us for exciting new illustrations, interviews and events…watch this space and see you soon!!