art equals happy.

The LCC Fresher's Zine Fair! :: Camberwell/Shop talk.

Today was the Fresher's Zine fair, which tends to happen every year and is a great chance to meet people and chat about zines and arts and crafts and tutors we love. There was a pretty good turn out at LCC, vendors and customers alike. It's always nice to see what everyone is getting up to.Here are some photos from today of the stall and things. I was also handing out Renegade flyers like a crazy woman. It is possible I may have scared people with my incessant smiling. I can't help it! Art really does make me happy. haha. Jazz drew that beautiful picture for me (haha) while we were chilling out. I was sharing a table with Jazz and Dave and their wonderful comics. There was a lot of interest in them, which was good. Good to see people smiling when they read them and asking questions and things. And loads of people bought Jazz's bags. It was a good day. We had a constant stream of really lovely people and conversation today. If we met you, say hi here!
Here are some silly photos from earlier in the day when we were enrolling: It's really nice to be 'back at college' even though we haven't properly started yet. Doing the fair today has also made me ridiculously excited about Renegade. Not that I wasn't already. Gosh, darn. I'm just not very good at being cool and aloof. Anyway. I should probably get some sleep. Love you kxo

Drawing From Screen. :: Camberwell BA

I get asked a lot about what it's like to go to art school and what are the kinds of things that we do. This is one of my favourite questions to answer because I love my University and my course. You can see all the other posts about my life in Foundation (Here) and BA (Here) and on the blog that is specificly for my course (Here).  **Warning. BIG post!!**

I thought it would be fun to share a few things relating to Art College this week, because it's Fresher's Week for UAL (University Of The Arts, London) and a lot of people are starting back this week and next week. [:
To kick it off, I've got some work from the first term of my Illustration Degree.This was one of those frustrating challenges that you thought at the time wasn't going to be useful at all. You never feel like you have enough time to think about it or do it. You feel rushed, unsatisfied and pretty dispointed with the results on the day. But then, you look back and you realise how great it was to be forced to only spend mere mintues on each piece. To have no way of going back and adding to it. You adapt quickly. You use the skills in drawing from life. You learn what comes naturally. What takes more effort, more time. What just doesn't work. What you want to focus on. It was excersises like these that made me more confident with my drawing (even if the actual drawings from that day weren't very good). We were all sat down in the studio, and our tutors put on a film and stopped it at a certain frame. We were given a minute or 5 to make a drawing and then it was taken off of the screen and we were presented with another image from a film (either the same one or something different). Sometimes they would play 5 minutes of the movie and we were forced to make an image based on that 5 minutes. It was challenging especially when you're not quite sure how you're going to portray moving image. It's a wonderful excersice for anyone that needs to loosen up with thier drawing or if you are afraid to get started.All the drawings in this post are from that day. From various films. You can see how I tried out using different media but kept returning to watercolours because they were the most immediately satisfying for me. And how I started simplifying each piece- only including one or two important elements. I don't think I would put any of these drawings in my portfolio in the future but it was essential for later projects.

I hope you find this interesting/useful. If you've got any questions for me about Art School let me know in the comments or e-mail. I'll make a video if I get enough of them. :D

Made by Bev Smith. :: Renegade/Etsy

I'm pretty lucky to have a Mum that I consider a Best Friend. [: Since as long as I can remember, we've been making things together (or, at least me getting in her way!) and laughing and having fun. No matter where we are or what we're doing, we manage to have a good time.

I just wanted to semi-formally introduce her to you, because she is being a fabulous little elf in the Art Equals Happy studio! We've designed Two new products together & they will both be debuting at Renegade. Every piece handcrafted by Bev will have a special little tag in them too.These are some photos I took last year, but I love them. [: So, a little bit about her? Well, she is first and foremost a quilter. All the quilts in our house (we have a lot!) have been made by her & at one point she used to sew together quilts for people on her big long-arm machine, but since we've moved to England, it's been back to the good ol' Bernina. She is very good at leaving treats hidden around my house when she comes to visit, always makes the best home cooked meals, is a kind and thoughtful friend, likes to listen to the Bee Gees and audiobooks. She says she prefers to follow a pattern and is a little scared to choose colours, so we make a good team, because I love to make things up and I'm not shy about colour. haha.So, you can look forward to seeing a Vintage inspired garmet and an up-cycled bag that is a team effort from us! :D

Sorry I've been so quiet this week. :: Byron

(This is another drawing from my Byron project. See more here.)
Sorry that it's been a little quiet around Art Equals Happy this week. I assure you there has been a lot of behind-the-scenes work goin on. [: Realising that I have very few days left to work on not only Renegade but my Uni summer project means I've been spending a lot of time offline and working hard.
Been going to museums to do research drawings, planning my booth for Renegade, and making products! Just wanted to 'check in' and say that I'm still alive & posting a lot on twitter/instagram for ease. Hopefully I'll have some time to sheduale posts tomorrow. 
I LOVE YOU! Kxo

Watching silent films. :: Inspiration/Films

My biggest inspiration right now is silent movies. On sunday a couple friends and I watched an old Russian silent film on the top of a car park. There was a live band playing and we had an incredible view of London from up there. Anyway. It reminded me of that tingly feeling I get when I watch black and white movies. Especially silent ones.

These are scenes from Metropolis! (not the Russian film) It truely is a masterpiece! I can't even imagine how long it took them to film it- but I heard that it cost WAY more than the usual budget for a film back then. I can't even imagine- so many sets and quite a long storyline.One of the things I was focusing on was the main girl and the scenes where 'magic' things happen. Hallucinations or experiments etc. Just gathering things for my summer project. :]

Dear my 'Foundation' self. :: Camberwell & Life.

So- it's coming up to Fresher's Week here at UAL and my dear friend Kara wrote a similar post about being a freshman. I thought I'd do the same- maybe it might be helpful to someone out there? Maybe not. But here is what I may have said to myself 2 years ago if time travel was possible...
- - -This is pretty much everything you’ve always been dreaming of. You’re in London- you’re going to your first choice university and you are ready.

Don’t be afraid to be the ‘geek’. Ask questions, talk to the tutors, read and re-read the briefs, do as much work as you can, pay attention, go to the lectures. These things will really make the difference. You’ve always been a little ‘keen’ on school. Don’t let that change just because you’re now a ‘big kid’. There are a lot of intimidating people with amazing style. Don't let that stop you. You deserve to be here.

Peter will be, basically, a guardian angel for you this year. The rest of your flatmates, not so much. Don’t let them get to you- go and cook food in your pajamas even if there are loads of people in the kitchen. You know your place. Talk to Peter about art. Listen to him. Watch movies that you may not think are good on first impression and make time to go explore London.

Go to every single Cinema Club. It will be your favourite thing. Don’t eat so many crisps. Hug your mum and dad when you see them. Go back to Bristol on the bus occasionally, but not right before a deadline. Rest up when you can. Get involved with Jumble sales and the Fairs at college- by the time you’re a 2^nd year- they’ll be e-mailing you! Take pictures and decorate your room (no one is going to check).

Look around your class and make friends with the people who are sitting alone & the really nice girls from your halls. You don’t need to go to the pub every time- but once in a while is good for you. Talk to your tutors when you get the chance. They’ll be like friends, I promise. Don’t be too scared about drawing. You’re not a ‘Graphic Designer’, it’s okay. Illustration is cool. Inquire about using the Darkroom, they might make an exception. Spend the time on the bus dreaming about your projects and what you’re going to have for dinner. Don’t stress about relationships back in Bristol. Have people to stay. Visitors are awesome & you can fit 2 more people in that teeny tiny room of yours. When you move out of halls- invite people over, you might be surprised who visits you! Keep working on your  blog and your shop. It's important to you.

Meet London Bloggers. They are nice. [: When you’re making your portfolio… GO WITH YOUR GUT! There will be a lot of talks about how to make it ‘just right’- but work hard and do it the way you feel is right, because the interview will go awesome, because you know who you are and what you do (even if it feels like you’re drowning sometimes). Explore the handmade world- there are amazing people to meet out there. Go to the Library and read. Look at the books. There are some gems waiting to be found. In your 1^st year on BA, you’ll be confused a lot of the time. You’ll feel like an imposter (‘I can’t draw!’). It’s going to be hard to find your footing (I still haven’t) but I know it’s there. Follow your heart. Do a lot of thinking and knitting in the evenings. It will pay off.

FOLLOW THE BRIEFS! I know this is hard. The briefs are meant to challenge you and stretch you. I know you thought the stretching was over. It’s not. Go to the museums and do 50 drawings in 3 hours. It will be hard and most of them will be rubbish, but it’s a learning thing.

Oh. And you’re ill. It’s sucks. It’s going to make your life a little bit miserable and awkward at times. That’s ok. Don’t be ashamed or guilty to get a Taxi if you feel faint. Plan your journeys before you leave the house. Learn the bus routes. Get a stool when you are drawing in galleries (most places have them for free. Tell them you’re disabled). Get a bus, even if it’s just a few stops and your friends are walking. It will keep your mind clear and your feet a little lighter. Talk to your tutors (all of them!) about it. Understanding is easy if you help them to understand.There are a million other little things I could tell you (and I’ve already rambled enough). Basically just follow your heart and be a geek (proudly!) and be nice to people and work hard. You’ll be fine.
- - -
(Black and white photo by Anna. Drawing by me in 2009) 

Official Renegade Flyers! :: Renegade.

Check out the AWESOME Renegade London flyers!!! Pretty excited at how pretty they are. And my favourite colours and loads of patterns. Awesome. [: Preperation keeps going steady. Lots to do!Click to see London Artists. 

2nd Xmas. :: Photographs and friends.

I usually take an age to edit and post big event photos, like birthdays or xmas or holidays. This time is no exception. My friends in Bristol always have a second xmas in the new year just for us. Just us friends. It's always cozy and we attempt a huge meal & there is usually some kind of parlor game and a lot of wine. [: Here are some photos from the last one: Feels so cozy. I miss all of these lovely people. Two of them are coming to London this year to Uni, which I'm excited about- but I've missed out on summer activites (my parent's not living there anymore). Nice to reminisce. :] Kimxo

August art day. :: Scrapbooking & flat 5

Amy from The Happy Daisy came over to hang out, knit, and maybe do a bit of scrapping. We ended up making a pretty wonderful mess on my floor and my desk. [: Negs enjoyed the opportunity to jump over our pages and play with all the paper too. haha. It's always nice to see my home studio 'in action' with other people. And Amy is always such good company. I think we even snuck in a little hot chocolate and a christmas film. hehe. We can pretend it's wintertime. [: Have you been making nice messes lately? 
Kimxo 

Quiet afternoon at the Art Exhibition. :: S.A. Snaps.

Ted was working at the little library art exhibition a few days after we arrived. These are some digital snaps from that day.