Sarah Young

Greek Myths out in Paperback

2012-02-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

I didn't get round to writing about this when it originally came out in late 2010, so I am now because it has just come out in paperback!

Double page part opener for Monsters and Heroes

It was my first book for Walker Books, who I have wanted to work for since I was a child, that and it's subject matter, which I have always loved, meant I was a little daunted and overwhelmed. But Liz Wood helped me immeasurably and in so many ways. She has helped to create many of the most beautiful books that Walker produce, and I was incredibly lucky to be able to work with her.

Phaethon and the Chariot of the Sun double page spread

It was also the first time that I had used the computer for illustration, so that was interesting! Especially when you lose a years worth of work and can't get it back... it was a real love/hate relationship.

The Gorgons - Medusa's Sisters

I haven't got pictures with the proper type on, which is a shame because it works beautifully with the illustrations.
Ann Turnbull's retellings of these 16 myths
are just wonderful.

The stories have a lot of gold in them and the book is liberally sprinkled with it.

Echo and Narcissus

and last but not least, I think I enjoyed doing this picture most.

Pandora

"One word keeps coming to mind when looking at this book: lavish. Sixteen well-known stories are presented here, in a book positively overflowing with brightly coloured illustrations. Generous use of gold makes the book feel even more special, and the only danger, if you buy it for a child, is that you may not be able to bring yourself to give it away." (www.thebookbag.co.uk) "Ann Turnbull's re-tellings are as elegant as the book's classically influenced illustrations by Sarah Young... The production - from the cover dusted with shimmering gold to the white text on the back page when Orpheus enters the underworld - makes this volume a work of art." (Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times) "A generous large-format hardback that feels like a treat. Here are some of the greatest stories ever told... A book for keeps." (The Herald)"

If you'd like to buy Greek Myths, hopefully your nearest bookshop may have it, or they can order it, if not it's here.

Wooden Blocks

2012-02-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

I can remember a very old toy. Nine cube wooden blocks, six sides to each, six colour litho pictures worn at the edges.
But I think to be able to endlessly create your own pictures or constructions within the confines of your given units must be a lot more satisfying than just getting the puzzle 'right'.

Miller Goodman's FaceMaker

Miller Goodman's PlayShapes

We were really pleased when Miller Goodman did Made one year recently, and had to come away with this.

a wonderful find from marksstuff

Working something out, a bit obsessed

MonkiVintage

Liam Stevens "Waiting" film

2012-01-30T05:02:00.000-08:00

I think this joyful film by Liam Stevens is a wonderful!

'Music video for "Waiting" by My Robot Friend
This stop motion animation is made entirely of pencil & cut paper and took just over three months to complete. Production and technical assistance; Chris Tozer.

MakeMake's first music video for My Robot Friend was shortlisted in the Fest Anca International Animation Festival for best animated music video 2011'

"Waiting" - My Robot Friend (feat. Jay Kauffman) from MakeMakeStudio on Vimeo.

Etsy Shop Opens !

2012-01-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Felix and Felix

I have just started an Etsy shop with my tea-towel /cloth kits, I have been getting round to it for some years, so am pleased it's up at last, however basic!

Oscar

Marmaduke

Some friends and family who have made up the designs have customised them with tiny beads and beautiful embroidery, I hope to show pictures.

Bertha

Two new designs will be added to the original four and there will be more and various wonders to be posted on Etsy soon.

Nobrow, Gold, Salmon, Turquoise and Yellow

2012-01-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I bought Nobrow 1 because I just loved it, lovely size, 2 colour and the pictures standing alone of 24 artists. Bjorn Rune Lie and Stuart Kolakovic amongst them.

Bjorn Rune Lie

So it was really nice to be asked to contribute to Nobrow 5 A Few of my Favourite Things.
Well they asked for 20. There was the additional challenge of making your illustration a repeat pattern! This was so that a some would later go on to be used as wrapping paper.

A wonderfully printed magazine showcasing the work of 28 artists.

I love the way everyone's way of using the limited palette of 4 spot colours is so different.

I probably needed to be a lot more simple but got a bit confused and over thought the process, shouldn't have really as it was very similar to how I make silkscreen prints.

mine!

Ariel by Sylvia Plath

2012-01-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Faber and Faber brought out a beautiful series of hard back poetry books in May 2010, and I was very lucky to be one of the illustrators/printmakers to be commissioned by Miriam Rosenbloom.
The link shows you the whole series.

My cover was nominated for a V&A award in 2011!

Sarah Young's Studio Sale - 25-26 June and 2-3 July

2011-06-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

Every two years we mow the lawn, bake some cakes and open our doors for a studio sale. Initially the idea was to raise some money to build a studio - which is now up and will be open during the sale - but we found, very much to our surprise, that we actually enjoyed welcoming visitors to the house and studio meeting our buyers and talking about the work and so we've made it a biennial event. Almost everything of Sarah's (not things we have to buy in like her books) will have at least 20% off the website price for the duration of the sale. We only have a sale every other year.

As well as Sarah's Prints Dolls Paintings Illustrations etc we will be exhibiting some fantastic other artists work -

Christian Funnell's Sculptures,Rachel Dormor's Domestic Ceramics,
Lara Aldridge's Glass,
Jo Sweeting's Stone Carvings,
Joy Fox's Button Jewellery and recycled wool corsages
and Harriet Knightley's unique, modular jewellery.
Sarah's Studio Sale is on 25-26 June and 2-3 July 11-5
at 24 Windsor Road Worthing BN11 2LX

If you can't make it to the Sale - you can order online at a 20% discount until 21st July.

Worthing Open Houses are also Open for these weekends and many of the houses are within an easy walk (along the beach) of our house.

STUDIO SALE

2011-06-18T03:14:00.000-07:00

Every two years we mow the lawn, bake some cakes and open our doors for a studio sale. Initially the idea was to raise some money to build a studio - which is now up and will be open during the sale - but we found to our surprise that we actually enjoyed welcoming visitors to the house and studio talking about the work and so we've made it a biennial event. Almost everything of Sarah's (not things we have to buy in like her books) will have at least 20% off the website price for the duration of the sale. We only have a sale every other year.

As well as Sarah's Prints Dolls Paintings Illustrations etc we will be exhibiting some fantastic other artists work - Christian Funnells Sculptures, Rachel Dormor's Ceramics, Lara Aldridge's Glass, Jo Sweeting's Stone Carvings, Joy Fox's Button Jewellery and recycled wool corsages and Harriet Knightley's unique, modular jewellery.

Sarah's Studio Sale is on 25-26 June and 2-3 July 11-5
at 24 Windsor Road Worthing BN11 2LX

Tea-towels

2010-12-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

After a couple of years I've at last been able to re-launch Marmaduke and Bertha, and have added Felix the Fox and Oscar the Owl. They can be straight tea-towels or you can cut them out, simply sew and stuff them to make toys or cushions, or doorstops if you put something heavier in them, like dried beans.

I first showed them at Made 10, and was very pleased with how they went, from that they are now residing at two Brighton Christmas houses, the Old Forge and The Dragonfly, last weekend 11-12 December

They are £10 each or £25 for any three, and I'm selling them from my website

Open House and Garden

2009-07-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who made it to our Open House and garden. It was busy but everyone seemed to enjoy it and were very complimentary about the garden and the new shed. Worthing is not known as an artistic town and so the unexpected success of our little open house trail was great, numbers of visitors were just right - high but spread nicely over the entire day and sales were steady so we will eat for another month and be able to pay our studio bills when we start back printmaking with purpose in the Autumn.

Visitors did come to us from far and wide including a steady stream from Brighton enquiring about house prices as well as looking at the art, and a big local contingent who seemed enthused,and impressed that Worthing could support such a good and enjoyable Open House trail. I think it will grow again next year.

Sarah's Sale continues on the website until the end of the Month - anything on the site including the gift vouchers is 20% off, but will go back to normal on the 1st August!

Gift Vouchers

2009-07-21T11:25:00.001-07:00

Sarah's designed some gift vouchers which can be ordered from her website. or picked up from the Open House this weekend.

Giving art as a present is always problematic as art is so personal and subjective even if you know that the recipient of the gift likes a particular artist. The gift voucher means that you can let them choose their favourite picture for themselves. Until 30th July - whilst our 20% sale is on we're selling the gift vouchers at a 20% discount. (but you can't use discounted gift vouchers to buy discounted prints!)

They are also available from our Open House so that if you get confused by the choice at the Open House you can take the discount home and think about which prints/paintings you'd like in the comfort of your own home.

Jo Sweetings Open House

2008-11-07T06:02:00.000-08:00

I will be having I think mostly my two sets of alphabets , amongst other prints in Jo Sweetings Open House at 72 Ashford Road, Fiveways, Brighton on the weekend of November 16th-17th.

I'm really pleased to have been asked because the many wonderful and various artists and makers will make it a great house to be part of, and it's always good to hopefully find some unique Christmas presents, and then keep hold of them.

jo sweeting stonecarving ceramics and paperwork

joy fox button jewellery and lampshades
amy cooper porcelain urchin lights
betty bib watercolours and fairies
jo riddell prints
victor stuart graham boats and houses
Sharon Schofield jewellery
Katie Brinsley porcelein reindeer and doves
one in the house brooches and angels
carol butler embroidered shawls and pictures
sylph baier domestic tableware
penfold press handprinted wrapping paper

Sussex Gardeners

2008-11-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

Here's the third book I've illustrated for Snakeriver Press -'Inspiring Sussex Gardeners'. It's a very interesting book and I like that Lorraine has written about some gardeners who are completely self-taught, and that the gardens ranges from very grand affairs to individuals veg patches - well, maybe a bit more than that!

There is also a good mix of gardeners from past and present, and from well-known to not so well-known.
My illustrations are simpler- a bit more graphic than the previous two books, ' 20 Sussex Churches' and '20 Sussex Gardens' and I think better for that.

Shed Finished!!!

2008-07-02T07:22:00.001-07:00

At long last and with various delays for wood to be delivered and painted floors to dry our new shed is finally finished and we are now in and working out how to use it apart from lounging on the deck. It does feel very posh for us, now that we've painted the inside, but it is a studio so it is going to have to get scuffed and paint splattered sometime. It's lovely working virtually in the garden with the doors open and with all the insulation we've used it's beautifully cool for most of the day until the late afternoon sun hits the windows.

We can't be spending too long slobbing in the hammocks yet though, as the pond has to be dug, clay puddled and pond lined and then all the proper work we've been dodging whilst playing builders has to be done - and the sun's out....

Anyway we're very pleased with the shed and it was a pleasure having Damien from Splinterhouse building it. I hear from other people that 'having the builders in' isn't always a good experience but I can recommend Damien both for delivering a building better than we commissioned and being good to have around. We think we got a bargain.

If you are interested in your own bespoke studio drop Damien or me a line.

Posters

2008-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

The latest posters, hot off the computer. Madame Art Fair started off in 2004 as a Monsieur
but I can't find any of him since our computer melt-down. I do remember he was initially much more cut out from papers.

Our main intention was to make the art and craft fairs friendly and accessible, and show that they were definitely events for buying.

We also wanted it to stand out by looking a bit different, and have a kind of theme that could progress year by year. Although sometimes a little obscure hopefully the feel of the posters and banners around town reminds people of the event.

Bella Bun and the cat

2008-05-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Bella Bun is from 'And so to Bed' by Lucinda Guy, I've used different wools so her clothes are a bit bulkier than they should be, I've also added knickers as it's only right. The skirt felt very ingenious to knit and I wondered whether it could work person-size? She will be Megans' who's 2.

Hoot Couture

2008-05-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

This was a doll I was quite pleased with, she's called Hoot Couture because of her obviously owly attributes. She was sold at Mel's Christmas Open House last year. Mel's in full swing with Brightons May Open Houses,and has some lovely work there. Helen Musselwhites'
paper sculptures, Jane Arkwrights' paintings and Annabet Wyndhams' jewellery amongst them.

Brighton May Festival Open Houses

2008-05-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

This year is the first we haven't shown work in the Brighton Open Houses. We've always been incredibly lucky to be in wonderful houses over the years, most recently Stanford Avenue (Beyond the Level)and then South Avenue, Queen's Park (Kemptown). Both large houses with a very high standard of work from a core of makers and artists, that changed and remained and grew with some wonderful guest artists, amongst them Rebecca Polyblank and Jane Muir who I especially enjoyed sharing space with.

It's lovely to have a bit of time in much-missed Brighton, but the, hopefully 'break', is well-timed, I mostly show prints- relief, screen, collagraphs etc. so it's fine that many of these won't have been made this year, but I always try to have at least a few brand new ones, and I havn't been able to do much at all recently because of a big book project.
I will however have lots of original prints,(that Jon is mounting at this very minute) in the wonderful Castor and Pollux in Brighton. And an exhibition near Lydford Gorge in Devon,at the Dartmoor Inn at Lydford in conjunction with their 10th year celebrations. Karen and Philip Burgess have made the Inn a really lovely place, I'm only sad that I've only managed to eat there twice,when we showed before,and hope very much to rectify that at the end when we pick work up, as the food is fantastic.

Crochet Presents

2008-05-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

I made this, (the brooch) for a friend from the book 'Vintage Crochet' by Susan Cropper.... I was half way through it when I realised it was a design by Kate of Cardigan who we were very pleased did Brighton Craft Fair last year and will be doing this years re-named MADE08-Brighton's Design and Craft Fair .

Some wonderful and unusual crochet at these 2 etsy shops - gooseflesh and
irregular expressions,which we featured in shop of the week at MADE, our art and craft blog.

My first attempts at crochet,toys for babies, were from Japanese amigurumi patterns - with a basic translation of the key. Oddly they do seem much more straightforward than a lot of English patterns.

Apart, of course,from Lucinda Guy's absolutely wonderful 'Crochet Designs for Boys and Girls'.

I was lucky enough to see a dummy before publication, it's a real beauty, very original and very 'want to makeable now'. As with her other books, it's a complete collaboration between herself and her partner, designer and illustrator Francois Hall. If his elegant solutions to understanding the crochet patterns more clearly, had been around a little earlier life wouldv'e been a lot simpler for someone who managed by fluke rather than design!

New Shed/Studio Progress

2008-04-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

It seems a long time coming - we raised the money at the Studio Sale last summer - and at last we're clearing the small hill, and re-homing the frogs from the end of the garden. Massive amounts of earth moving- mostly riddled with a white bluebell looking flower of the allium family.

When the digging gets a bit much I retire to the shed for a little gentle painting - I have been commissioned to paint a large version of a painting of someone hanging dresses on a line at night, that I did a year or so ago. It just about fits in the old shed.

Swaps

2008-03-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

One of the nice unexpecteds of doing the art and craft exhibitions have been swaps. Usually art or craft for my prints but sometimes holidays or accommodation! We've been so busy we haven't been able to do the cottage in France but it's nice to know it's there. Friends who run Graig Wen wanted some reminders of Brighton so we had a week there. I hope to do a painting or print of the area and swap it for some time in one of their new yurts!

How far could you take this swapping? (or how far would this swapping take you?)

BCF Banners

2007-11-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

Its rare but rather good to see an Sarah's illustrations used large and around our home town. It was even better when Madame L'art was seen on the sides of buses but we haven't been able to do that for a few years.

Brighton Craft Fair

2007-11-26T12:00:00.001-08:00

We've just finished the Brighton Craft Fair which we both organise. Sarah does the design for the banners, flyers etc and also exhibits. As the work has to be different from the Art Fair, she's done a range of one-off dolls, which everyone loved but only a few people can summon up the funds to purchase one. Lots of galleries are keen to show them though so that might be the best way to market them.

Brighton Belle
Apple Lady

In order to show something a little more affordable and to link the dolls to the prints a little more published two fabric kits/tea-towels that can be made up into figures, cushions, or stuffed with something heavy door stops. They were selling quite well at the fair and have just been featured on my favourite blog designsponge so we might even get known in the States!

Civil Partnership Present

2007-11-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

Made this for Mike and Robert as a present to celebrate their Civil Partnership. Mike and Robert own the wonderful Castor and Pollux emporium on Brighton Beach.

They're supposed to look like they're in Edwardian swimming costumes, going down the beach for a paddle.

Arundel Gallery Trail

2007-09-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend of the Arundel Festival and Arundel Gallery Trail. It's a much more manageable trail than Brighton with most houses being on or around just two streets Tarrant and Maltraver. The houses are universally lovely, flint or brick, built up the hill with fantastic views up to the castle and churches or over the Arun valley - over the backs of tall the other historic houses and lovely gardens.Quite a bit of the art is good - apart from Sarah Youngs prints - I liked Josse Davies ceramics in Tarrant street along with Victor Stuart Graham's driftwood ships and David Peduzzi's wood engravings. Giles Penny's (top Photo) sculptures at the Zimmer Stewart Gallery on Tarrant Street.

Chris Mitton and Mike Savage are displaying their sculptures in a lovely garden on Maltravers Street opposite the castle .

Stuart Slade - the day of the mopheads, installation of latex dipped mopheads in a garden in Tarrant Street.
Also Oliver Hawkins sculpture at 42 Tarrant Street. Small wooden sculptures .

There is lots of 2d art too but my photographic skills aren't up to the challenge of glass. but can recommend the huge Georgian house at 22 Maltravers Street - Suzanne Wilson and Neville Green, and MArgaret Massie Taylor's prints at 49 Maltravers Street.

Birthday Dolly

2007-08-09T12:27:00.001-07:00

Small doll made for Lucys birthday- Lucinda Guy - designer and author of wonderful books such as Kids Learn to Knit and And So To Bed. Top is knitted from a beautiful ancient oblong 'ball' of 3 ply wool, it could well be from the 1920's from the look of the label, the colour is called 'pasture'. Trousers are 1920's/30's American feedsack material.

Rochester Solo Show

2007-08-04T03:15:00.001-07:00

I'm having a solo exhibition in a really good space at Rochester Art Gallery. It goes on until Saturday 22nd September, when I'll be there, on the last day, for a sort of 'meet the artist event' from 1pm or 2pm to about 3pm. I'll probably be talking mostly about printmaking methods (with the help, hopefully, of Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy)

Some monoprints of minotaurs, done for the Rochester exhibition, using black etching ink, gold leaf and an etching press.

Rock Pool - Relief Print

2007-07-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

The trouble with doing series of prints like the Sea Alphabet is making sure that there are 26 letters in stock. We don't print all of this edition of relief prints at one time as it would take about 3 or 4 weeks to print the whole set of all the letters, so we print as and when we need... some letters are a lot more popular than others. Finally got round to going to the print studio - Brighton Independent Printmaking

We print the Sea Alphabets on the small Albion press pictured which is ideal as we can ink up the print block and the letter block differently, then position the blocks and print all together at once.

You can see from the photo of the prints drying that the although the ink is the same throughout, the colour of each print is slightly different due to slight variations in inking and the pressure of a hand-press.

snake river press

2007-07-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

I will be at Horsham Museum tomorrow, Saturday 21st, demonstrating my scraperboard illustration, between 12-2pm.
It's in conjunction with a small show of the illustrations from '20 Sussex Gardens', written by Lorraine Harrison.
Lorraine co-publishes a lovely series of books about Sussex,under the name of Snake River Press,and will be there too signing books!

glynde

2007-07-16T13:32:00.002-07:00

I'm just trying to get used to how this all works. I am also an incredibly slow typer,so thankfully for all, words will be kept to a minimum.

So here are two nice pictures I took of a fete in Glynde, Sussex.

studio sale

2007-07-16T12:10:00.001-07:00

First post!
We had a sale from home, these last two weekends,and I really wanted to say thankyou to everyone who took part in it, Sarah Packington, Annabet Wyndham ,Rachel Eardley , Ken Eardley ,Sylph Baier Arnold Rose
and everyone who came. One of the aims was to raise money towards a messier! garden studio which amazingly it did.The weather couldn't have been nicer, and we turned the garden into a tea-room,with Victoria sandwich etc.served from the shed.