The Artist’s Digest

Down an aisle at my local supermarket, somewhere between the hot cross buns and bunny shaped chocolates, sits a curated selection of Valentine’s Day cards. With loud declarations, generic cute animals and overflowing hearts the common themes, shoppers must choose whether their love is “ONE-IN-A-MILLION” or “PURR-FECT”. For those searching for a personalised sentiment in-between, historical love tokens may just be the key. 

Being of Italian heritage myself, the name Gina Lollobrigida was often shared around my grandparent’s table as an example of how “Italians do it better”. An iconic movie star, Italian beauty and style icon, my grandparents likely knew Lollobrigida through her films, most of which were made during the 50s and 60s.

If you’ve ever been on the London underground, you may have noticed the striking murals at Charing Cross station. Designed by the UK artist David Gentleman in the 1970s, the murals tell the story of how Charing Cross got its name. Commuters passing through the station are immersed in the world of 14th century labourers working diligently to erect the original Eleanor Cross near Westminster Abbey.  It’s a commission that Gentleman fondly reflects on in his recently released book, Lessons for Young Artists . Over his decades-long career, the multi-faceted creative has designed everything from postal stamps to book covers, embracing diverse mediums to honour the past and capture the present.  Beautifully designed, the book intersperses examples of Gentleman’s art and design work with his personal experiences and musings on art and life. Each short chapter is titled with Gentleman’s intended lesson. The first three chapters alone contain enough to get going: “start small”, “don’t ...

As we sleep off the New Year’s celebrations and adjust to the thought of returning to work, perhaps some of us are wondering how we will commit to our New Year’s resolutions. If, like me, you’re aiming to be more creative this year, then I might be able to help. Welcome to The Artist’s Digest Book Club . Based on how motivated I am to read this year, you’ll find reviews of creativity fueling books sporadically published in the coming months. If it sounds like your cup of tea, let’s get reading.   

Sydney’s Carriageworks was transformed into a trove of Australian and international art for the Affordable Art Fair in early November.  

“I don't think I could paint a straight line, ever,” says south-western Sydney based artist, Emma Oliver. “It just always ends up like this,” Oliver adds, as she draws a swirling line in the air with her fingers. Bunches of sunny florals bloom from Oliver’s imagination onto the page. Hand painted using gouache, fine brushes, and an abundance of patience, her unique style has come to be called ‘whimsical’ by some customers.