Have you heard of R.Nichols? Well, I hadn't until a few days ago when I purchased his stationery (I guess I missed that he was featured in this month's LUCKY magazine!). I was first struck by the cool images found on the notecards that I purchased - the vespa rider and the girl walking a dog with a cute purse. And, the colors (purple, black and grey) were modern and sophisticated. The lines of the stationery and its packaging were clean and crisp. The matte black box containing the cards was wrapped with a cream banner bordered in black. The banner contained a cute little illustration and a description of the product: "eight note cards with envelopes - not greeted." How classic, how elegant - have you ever heard the expression "not greeted"? I hadn't and yet, that phrase said so much.
And so I looked up R. Nichols and discovered that yes, I knew who he was! Actually, you have likely noticed his work. In fact, I have a copy of his work resting on my bookshelves and you may also. You see, he illustrated the book cover and chapter images for the nationwide bestseller French Women Don't Get Fat penned by the CEO of Clicquot, Inc., Mireille Guiliano. Now who can say that they did not absolutely adore that cover? In fact, it was likely the reason I own the book (I must confess, I can't say that I have read the book).
And so, I perused R. Nichols' website and it was a delight and a treat. He has an on-line shop and a new brick and mortar store in Orlando, Florida. His papergoods are certainly lovely. His art is all about clean line, modern shapes, and sophisticated color. I want more now!
And if all that is not enough, one of the most endearing aspects of his site is a section called "R.Nichols Says ..." Wow! This little diatribe is like a mini-blog with the most adorable posts! First, we learn how R. Nichols' artistic inclinations manifested themselves when he was a boy. Then he informs us of how he developed his business and about his illustration work for M. Guiliano. Finally, we are treated to a list of the artist's favorites - his favorite place, song, products, and at the end, even some light-hearted humor! What a treat it was to discover this artist's work! I am a fan. Discover him for yourself by visiting R. Nichols. You will be happier for doing so!
P.S. You may also find a recent interview with R. Nichols here.
Friday Bug and A Book: Andy Warhol, Fashion
A few days ago, I meandered through the shoe department at my favorite discount store and this particular shoe department was HUGE with names like COACH, Dolce & Gabbanna, Juicy - yes, the names that we covet. And so, I was enjoying my leisurely stroll.
Suddenly, I heard a young boy say excitedly, "Wow, look at all these different shoes!" I smiled but then ... SMASH. His mother responded, "Yes, and what is the point of that?" I shuddered. What a horrifying response and what a perfect way to destroy that boy's appreciation for creativity and variety. I looked at the mother and sure enough, she clearly had no interest in clothing as a means of creative expression. Well, that was a sad moment for me.
On a lighter note, I found the loveliest book which documents Andy Warhol's fashion illustrations from the 1950s when he was a well regarded advertising illustrator and commercial artist for Barney's, Neiman Marcus, I. Miller, Glamour, Mademoiselle, and Harper's Bazaar. The book, Andy Warhol, Fashion, is out of print and, therefore, not easy to acquire; however, one can usually find a copy here. Here are a few illustrations from the book:
Enjoy the weekend!
Posted at 02:35 PM in Art, Books, Commentary, Illustration | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)