Seoul, Korea

Here are some pictures taken on a recent trip to Seoul University in Korea. George Hardie and I went there to judge student work, present awards, talk to students and wear suits. By sitting with my legs crossed in picture one, I am unwittingly offending everyone in the room.

Season's Greetings

A Merry Christmas to one and all.

THE CARD - Published April 2012

My new book, THE CARD, is a novel about a man who picks up cards he finds on the street. Designs for the court cards vary considerably from deck to deck. All of the characters are traditionally shown facing forward except for the Jack of hearts and the Jack of clubs (hence known as one-eyed Jacks) and the King of diamonds. But unlike the unique example shown above, you will never ever find a card where a queen is seen in profile.

Shadow Play Illustration Symposium

I'm giving a talk about my work (not specifically the jigsaws; I just happened to have this on my desktop) as one of speakers at an Illustration Symposium organised by Amelia Johnstone for the Cardiff School of Art and Design, 2 - 4 November 2010, Shadow Play: Alchemy Redolence & Enchantment. The other keynote speakers are Roderick Mills, Sophie Herxheimer and Anna Buschan. There are lots of other speakers and related events. All the details can be found here. http://illustrationresearch.co.uk/index.php/2010/10/01/shadow-play-events-programme/

Portrait

 

I love this funny little sketch of me done by the talented Fiona White, a recent graduate from our MA Sequential Design/ Illustration course. See more of her work here. http://fionawhiteillustration.com/

Woman's World Review - Corner Bookshop

Time for another review of Woman's World. This one from The Corner Bookshop.
http://cornerbookshop.blogspot.com/2009/04/womans-world-by-graham-rawle.html

Only 95 Shopping Days until Christmas

I just happened to be looking at this picture I did for a piece on self control in the New Scientist last year and noticed that the gorilla's calendar showed today's date. Spooky.

My Top Ten Beat Groups 1965

Here is my Top Ten Beat Groups from a list made in January 1965 when I was nine years old. The drawing on the right is of a 1964 two pickup Gibson Les Paul flat top with mahogany back. Click to enlarge.

Book Jacket for Carlo Gébler

Here's a book jacket I've just done for my good friend Carlo Gébler's W9 & Other Lives, a collection of his short stories. The book was first published in 1996 and is being reissued by Lagan Press some time in the not too distant future. Carlo is wonderful writer.

If you're passing the Moravian Gallery in Brno

If you happen to be in the Czech Republic between now and October 24th and you find yourself near the Moravian Gallery in Brno, you might want to pop in to see my work in the exhibition, Uncanny – Surrealism and Graphic Design, curated by Rick Poynor. If you haven't got time for that, why not pick up a copy of this splendid exhibition catalogue which contains examples of work from some amazing artists.

My Poppies in someone's bedroom

The owner of the House of the Day featured in the Wall Street Journal has a large print of the Poppy Field from my Wizard of Oz hanging of the bed. Wouldn't you like one too? See it here.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704388504575419430694985318.html

Unpublished Bright Ideas

My Bright Ideas series no longer appears in The Times, but for those of you who were left wanting more, here are a couple that were never published. Click to enlarge.

Birmingham Sunday Mercury Oz Review

A review, only recently discovered, from last year in the Birmingham Sunday Mercury. Click to enlarge.

V&A 2010 Illustration Awards

Last night was the V&A Illustration Awards where the the winners of the Student Illustrator of the Year were announced. The winner was Hanshen Gu (left) , the runner up was Frank Laws (right). Click to enlarge. Both create amazing work and the prizes are well-deserved. Thanks to my fellow judge in this caregory, Sława Harasymowicz.

My First... interview

Here's a interview I did for a newspaper in Ireland a little while ago. The format is "My First..." where I was asked to tell about my first book, record etc. I never saw it, and I can't remember which paper it was for, but here it is anyway. Click to enlarge.

EXPO broom

While reminiscing the other night, we found this photo among those taken by Jo during the installation in Hanover. Finding ourselves without a broom, Miles improvised with a dustpan brush, a cable tie and a length of 2 x 1. Richard Wentworth – eat your heart out.

EXPO 2000 Ten Year Reunion

Last night was the 10 year reunion party for the team that worked together to produce the Hi-Life supermarket installation as part of EXPO 2000 in Hanover, Germany. Ten years ago. Ten years! A good time was had by all those present: Miles, Lucy, Pete, Chrissie, Andrew, Jo, Little Graham, Margaret and Big Graham. (Apologies from absentees Brendan and Jenny.) We were able to reminisce about the fun, the exhaustion and the giddy laughter brought on by lack of sleep.

Exhibition in Brno, Czech Republic

I will be exhibiting books and page artwork from Woman's World and The Wizard of Oz at the Moravian Gallery in Brno as part of a major exhibition, Uncanny: Surrealism and Graphic Design curated by Rick Poynor, which is part of the 24th International Biennial of Graphic Design in Brno. 23/6—24/10/2010.

Designers and graphic artists featured include: Jan Švankmajer, Eva Švankmajerová, Jindřich Štyrský, Karel Teige, Karel Teissig, Josef Vyleťal, Zdeněk Ziegler (Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic); Roman Cieslewicz, Jan Lenica, Franciszek Starowieyski, Bronislaw Zelek (Poland); Laboratoires CCCP, M/M Paris, (France); Grandpeople (Norway); Andrzej Klimowski, Vaughan Oliver, Brothers Quay, Graham Rawle (UK); Elliott Earls, Edward Fella, Jonathon Rosen, Stefan Sagmeister, Brian Schorn (United States).

http://www.moravska-galerie.cz/en/exhibitions/uncanny-surrealism-and-graphic-design-by-rick-poynor/

Wizard of Oz Review – Baum Bugle

A warm and flattering review from Oz aficionado Dick Rutter. Click to enlarge.

Return from Oz

Just got back from speaking at the Wizard of Oz Convention in Fresno CA. The Oz folks couldn't have been nicer to me, yet here I am baring my tiny British teeth at them.

LOST - student email

Oops. I accidentally deleted an email from an American woman who wrote asking to interview me about Woman's World for a dissertation or thesis. I can't remember the name or the university or college, but if you're that person and you're thinking what a rude git I am for not getting back to you, please write again.

Wizard Of Oz Conference - Fresno CA

I'm giving a talk as part of a huge conference on The Wizard of Oz books at The Arne Nixon Center in Fresno, California. There are lots of things going on and they have an impressive line-up of speakers, authors who are the world's authorities on The Wizard of Oz. Plus me. The conference is organised by the International Wizard of Oz Club and the Arne Nixon Center and runs May 14th – 16th 2010. I am the very last guest to appear on Sunday 16th at 11.15 a.m. Don't be late.

Lots more information here. http://www.arnenixoncenter.org/events/oz_conference.shtml

V&A Illustration Awards 2010

I am judging the Student Awards for the V&A Illustration Awards this year with Slawa Harasymowicz, one of last year's winners. We have now made our final choices, but I don't think the winners have been announced yet. Quite exciting. The Awards party at the V&A is on 21st of June.

Falmouth Open Forum

On Friday this week (March 12th) I'll be taking part in The Untamed Tiger – The Illustrator and the Self-initiated Project, a forum at the University College, Falmouth. "Ideas around the theme of enterprising illustrators who generate their own projects, creating their own employment and working on their own terms; the development of new autonomies and enterprising initiatives in illustration." Chaired by Amelia Johnstone the main speakers are Bill Bragg, Graham Rawle, Matthew Richardson and Jonathon Rosen, with additional guests Anna Bhushan, Andrew Foster and David Kerr. Do come along. Further details here. http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/component/events/965/view/ma-illustration-open-forum-the-untamed-tiger-502/index.html?id=502

Woman's World Review - Chazz W

Chazz W (whoever he or she may be) makes some nice observations about Woman's World.

http://chazzw.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/womans-world-graham-rawle/

Woman's World Review - Suite 101

Great review from Rebecca Benoot at Suite 101.

http://modern-british-fiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/womans-world--book-review

Woman's World Review - The Front Table

A well-written and, dare I say, rather flattering review of Woman's World by Rachel Storm at The Front Table, the Web Magazine of the Seminary Co-op Booksellers. http://blog.semcoop.com/2009/07/14/womans-world/

Bright Ideas 48 - The Times Saturday Review

Click to enlarge. See more at http://www.grahamrawle.com/brightideas

Bright Ideas 47 - The Times Saturday Review

Click to enlarge. See more at http://www.grahamrawle.com/brightideas

Overlooked books of the decade

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-28/best-books-you-missed/#gallery=1148;page=11

Bright Ideas 45 - The Times Saturday Review

Click to enlarge. See more at http://www.grahamrawle.com/brightideas