Thursday, February 25, 2010


Hello, now the new website is up and running Misterrob.co.uk and the blog showcasing new stuff should be starting up on a regular basis,(I've just done the maddest starriest papercut ever - New Stuff Blog)
this blog is going to be as promised a bit more diverse.
I thought I might share with you some of the pictures that I own and have hanging on my wall at home. Pictures that I look at everyday and give me joy and fill me with inspiration.
This picture is by the American artist Maira Kalman. It is included in her brilliant book 'The Principles of Uncertainty'. She is fairly unknown in England but I discovered her many years ago in the old Zwemmer graphic design bookshop inn Charing X Rd where they stocked her childrens books with beguiling magical titles like "Hey Willie, see the pyramids", "Swami on Rye" and my favourite "Chicken, Soup, boots". These incredible books I always felt were my own little secret. I find it hard to say how great I think she is - THE WOMAN IS A GENIUS OF KINDNESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
This picture of a man and woman walking in the rain is I believe set in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. When I was a student I did a 3 month exchange to an art school which was situated just across from this beautiful park and I walked through it on my own all the time. Living alone in a city where you can't speak the language and have no friends is a pretty solitary existence but I was always happy and can't remember a single sad day.
Last year I was in Paris for a couple of days with my wife and we had a nice morning in the gardens just strolling around, we sat down and watched people play tennis (being unsporty myself I enjoy, with an air of bemusement watching people throw themselves around needlessly), we watched children play with nice old sailing boats on the big round pond (not unlike the one in Central Park!) which you could hire from a punky looking boy sitting by his shed, and then it began to rain a little and we sheltered together under an umbrella not unlike the couple in this painting, contented and still in love.

4 comments:

A. said...

Your Waitrose illustrations are amazing!

lisa stubbs said...

I loved reading this blog post, thanks for sharing your inspiration and your beautiful painting, I'm going to check out Maira Kalman especially her children's books because my children and children's book illustration is my main inspiration for my work.
Really look forward to seeing and learning more!
Your starry night is amazing, you must have the patience of a saint to cut out all those wonderful stars!

I Love Denim said...

Yes, that was a lovely morning.....
XXX
L

Jill said...

LOVE the starry cut out. It looks like a wonderfully embroidered cushion. And thanks for sharing your art.