OK, I confess, I’m not very active on Facebook but connection with David Tragen came through an old friend proving the value of its use. David Tragen trained as a furniture maker working mainly in wood, after spending time teaching in Barcelona. His work has always had a strongly organic feel to it and he’s recently become […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Julia Brooker at Curwen Gallery
Julia, who I met last year, is based in Cardiff and specialises in paintings on aluminium evoking different moods and atmospheres through her decorative use of paint and texture. She specialises in art for interior schemes, often working to commission with interior designers. The light reflectivity of aluminium gives a shimmer and greater intensity to the colours. The […]
Julia Brooker at Curwen Gallery
Julia, who I met last year, is based in Cardiff and specialises in paintings on aluminium evoking different moods and atmospheres through her decorative use of paint and texture. She specialises in art for interior schemes, often working to commission with interior designers. The light reflectivity of aluminium gives a shimmer and greater intensity to the colours. The […]
Contemporary designs for bicycle furniture
My bicycle is my principal way of getting around in London and I’d be completely lost without it. Now that bikes have become much more popular as urban transport I’ve noticed that designers are looking at dealing with the tricky issue of storage in the home. I’m lucky to have a wide hallway that keeps my bike […]
Carrying a design style through to the next generation: Kiran Ravilious
The resonances between Kiran Ravilious‘s prints and the work of Eric Ravilous were clear to me when I first saw her work and I was really surprised to learn that she had never heard of one of the 20th century’s greatest illustrators when she first began designing. Maybe her marriage to his grandson was fated. […]
Tea-time design by Scholten and Baijings with Georg Jensen
Afternoon tea was one of my mother’s favourite meals of the day as, by it’s very timing, it has a feeling of indulgence and relaxation. Launched at Milan, this tea service by Scholten and Baijings for Georg Jensen is inspired by the tea ceremonies of both East & West and combines ceramic and metal to elegant […]
Michelle Mason’s new collection: summer design
Now that this interminable winter may be coming to an end I thought it was time to cheer you up by sharing images of Michelle Mason’s new prints. I like their mid-20th Century and very English feel: a touch of nostalgia that completely fits in with the current high street. They remind me of an […]
Deep Print Movement: design on leather
Now these people The Deep Print Movement (sounds a bit cultish doesn’t it?) had been under my radar so I was excited to talk to director Guy Skerman, albeit briefly, as they were very busy when we met at Textile Forum. I love this window print above. Put simply they print leather, highly skilled work. They […]
The contemporary doll’s house by Qubis Design
I was delighted to meet Amy Whitworth of Qubis Design earlier this year at Home where she showed her doll’s house cum coffee table. As a child I loved the idea of a doll’s house but never got beyond Barbie’s bedroom. As an adult I found them a bit twee and girlie till now. Like all […]
Innovative surface materials: Blingcrete and Makrolan Ambient
Here are a couple of new materials as seen at the Surface Design Show earlier this year. It’s still early stages but they are already in use in commercial contexts. The the selection was curated by Dr Sascha Peters of Haute Innovation in Germany. Blingcrete is a light reflecting concrete, produced by construction company Hering Bau […]