A.Richard Allen

Q1 2010

posted: February 9, 2010

Time for my quarterly despatch, folks

The last few months have been taken up with trying to push my repeat pattern/ design work after some interest from a housewares company. It's been a big excuse to do alot of self-directed, decorative stuff, much of which I haven't a clue how to use yet. But process is always good, right (or is that progress?) Am really keen on doing some actual textiles work (rather than just pshopping) but we all know what a flibbertygibbet, Mr Toad-type I am so that may not last. Also there's been the Folio Society images- done and dusted and out in July. Will post something about that nearer the time.

A few visits to London have left me feeling a bit wistful for city life and the happening London Scene (daddio). A two hour train ride to the Smoke puts a bit of an obstacle in the way of networking or flaneur-ing. Mind, that's me reimagining myself as the great schmoozer rather than the spasmodically sociable narcissist that I really am.

A piece for Gavin Robinson at Organic Gardening. About symbiosis between plant roots and mycelia.

Choosing schools for your wee'uns- for Jack Cunningham at Sainsbury's Magazine

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2010

posted: January 6, 2010

Happy new year! As the snow tumbles feebly outside I thought I should check in to Drawger at least once in 2010. I'm itching to display some of the stuff I've done for the Folio Society but if I showed you, I'd have to track each of you down and rub you out. And I'm a busy chap. How are you all?

For the NY Times Book Review and AD Nicholas Blechman. The book is 'Becoming Jane Eyre' By Sheila Kohler. Charlotte Bronte is spurred on to write whilst caring for her father who has had an operation to remove his cataracts...

Roughs for the above

For SooJin B at PLANSPONSOR. This one's about the lack of medical insurance for early retirees

For The Times on erectile dysfunction and how, for middle-aged men it can be the harbinger of more serious health problems. There were going to be three signs but the last (risk of death) was seen as confusing.

For BusinessWeek (Don Besom). Feature on how venture capitalists, used to doling out vast sums of money, need to give funds in a much more controlled way when helping small businesses.

Pipettes- I'm told- are a bit played out in this context

For Graham Berridge at Wanderlust. The skies of Chile are, apparently, great for star-gazing. Here, the writer spots constellations (or rather 'gaps') that resemble llamas,armadillos, foxes, Bob Dylan and a man riding a turtle

For Fine Cooking- a profile of photographer Carl Warner who constructs landscapes from food, Arcimboldo-stylee

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Yes indeed

posted: December 1, 2009

I meant to post a few weeks back after attending a London soiree hosted by illustration champion, 3x3 supremo Charles Hively. Mr Hively, on the homeward stretch of a whistle-stop European tour had rented a cosy little pied-a-terre in London's Knightsbridge. The other attendees were Paul Wearing, Andy Potts, Catell Ronca, Richard Wilkinson, Jo Holdaway. A charming bunch.

Thanks to Charles Hively and Sarah Munt for their hospitality.

These days, I'm such a Country Mouse and get a little bewildered by the city. I've resolved to visit London more often so that I my fogeyish provinciality doesn't turn terminal. I have a fancy I'm slowly turning into this addle-brained old chap.

Attached are a few recent editorial pieces. I have a very involving assignment on the go with the Folio Society but I'm not sure, at this stage I'm allowed to post about it, and I'd rather not tempt fate with eight images yet to do.

A piece on sham divorces for SooJin B at PLANSPONSOR (their caps). Two variations. I think they went for the left hand one. You're right, there is a Leyendecker-ish tang about these.

roughs for the above

Portrait of author Scott Gold for Fine Cooking Magazine (AD Pamela Winn)

Roughs

For a forthcoming 'Football Heroes' book. Here are Liberian (librarian? Libran?) Superstar George Weah and yours truly. ADed by Beach and Jerzovskaja. More info at http://www.footballheroes.org/

sketchbook work for the above

...and here's one for AD Markus Ward at Reader's Digest Germany. the article's about a daughter's recollections of her recently deceased father in his role as Santa (he died post Santa impersonation I should add)

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Summer scratchings

posted: September 23, 2009

I fell into a bit of a rabbit hole back there. WhadImiss?

And what to show for my absence? I spent time with ver fambly. I made some sorbets. I painted the dining room and trimmed the hedge. I built a headboard. I drew a folder of picture book images (scratchy pen and ink, no PShop post-production: I've put a gallery of them up over at Illoz). On holiday in the Somerset Quantocks I did some foraging for hedgerow food- getting in touch with my inner Neanderthal/ Montana militia man. I got me a bike too; a generous hand-me down from my bike-mad Dad, though, truth be told, I was really after a tatty old warhorse for trips to the shop. Now I need a trailer to cart around a lock for the thing. Does that mean I joined the velophile Drawger peloton? At least until I stow the thing in the garage and shift my obsessive, fickle gaze to- say- learning the sitar.

One of my new images with picture books in mind. No Photoshoppery

For Wanderlust Magazine (the semi-mythical Scottish delicacy The Deep-Fried Mars Bar generosity on the streets of Delhi)

Another pen & ink-er

editorial potboilers (nice ones, mind) for fDI magazine

A profile of Recipe Archivist, Janet Clarkson for Fine Cooking Magazine (AD-ed expertly by Pamela Winn). I did a questionnaire for a Contributor's Profile where I revealed myself to be the (heterosexual) world's biggest food ponce.

Roughs for several images for AD Beth Rosenthal at Kiplingers- lovely to do some pattern-y stuff

finished art for the above

Obligatory PLANSPONSOR image for the legendary SooJin B. This one's about things that the youth of today take for granted

And we'll end on another pen & ink image. I know these don't really have the design sophistication or depth of colour of some of my other work but I'm trying to go for something more off-the-cuff and whimsical. We'll see how it goes...

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