Where I Make

I was asked to write a feature with some photos for This Is Central Station on where I make.  You can also see other Scottish artists and designers too.

Welcome to my wonderful patterned world where I capture the drama of Scottish wilderness with nature at the heart of my surface designs.

Everything happens here in my studio in bonnie Dundee – colour studies, developing ideas, playing with scale and pattern, paper designs, cutting stencils, screen printing, painting, collage, fabric samples, mixing dyes, planning schools and community workshops, sewing and the list goes on…

All these steps help me create my surface patterns for a range of products and applications.  I’m on a mission to cover the world in my designs from wallpapers, wellies, ceramics, and murals to Land Rover Defenders – the possibilities are endless!

I have a playful approach and mix together delicious colours, juxtaposing scales, energetic repetitive marks, to create my distinct rhythmic signature.

I love my cosy space where I surround myself with colour swatches, drawings, fabric samples, old coffee pots of brushes, wooden printing blocks and random things I’ve collected.  I like nothing more than getting my hands dirty in the studio.  It’s not too flash but being surrounded by all my inspiration is really important and keeps me focused.

I am part of the Dundee WASPS artist’s studios and I’m in a temporary space on Airlie Place for 6 months while my studio at Meadowmill is being refurbished.  I really like it, it used to be a students bedroom so it has a homely feel with a fireplace and a sink.  I settled in quickly after a quick lick of white paint.  I like the location as it next to the DJCAD and I can see a tree out of my window.  I like being part of WASPS as I’m surrounded by other fellow creative’s from a range of art forms from printmakers, jewellers, sculptural textiles and painters.

I love being in my studio and being playful and creative!

WASPS CREATIVE POP UP WEEKEND

 

My studio will be open as part of this fab event.  I’m based at Airlie Place (just off the Perth Road and down from the students union)  There’s a great mix of Artists and Designers and Special Guests taking part.  I will have a range of luxurious silk and wool scarves for sale, and a bargain box for you to have a rummage.  Feel free to invite lots of people to this creative event happening in Bonnie Dundee.  For more information the facebook page click here.

WASPS Artists at Airlie Place – Genna Delaney, Nicola Morrison, Jennifer Robson, Paola McClure, Louise Kirby, Volker Rosenberg, Neil McIntee, Casey Campbell, Jill Skulina, Louise Ritchie

WASPS Artists at Meadow Mill – Kirsty Doig

WASPS Artists at Douglas Court – Cathrine Holtet, Jonathan Hood, Allan Beveridge,

SPECIAL GUESTS –
Two Dolls
Steven Higginson artist
Howard Callow
Dot Stewart
Juliette Townsend ceramicist
Amanda McAllum
Patricia Griffin
James Skelton Smith
Lee Mitchell
Christina Hirst
The Scarlet Bakery
Yoke

Pick me, pick me, pick me – British Airways Competition!

I’ve entered my dream competition – British Airways Great Britons! They’re looking for an artist to have their design on 12 aeroplanes in conjunction with the Olympic and Paralympic Games here in the UK in 2012 with some mentoring from Tracey Emin.  What an amazing opportunity! I’d love to cover the world in my designs.


 

Thanks to Cara Pirie who  helped my out big time with the 2 minute film clip.  – and it was exactly 2 minutes!

So fingers crossed I get through to the next stage, out of all the thousands of entries!

Pick me, pick me, pick me!

Artwork taken off….

The giant artwork I created for Anthropologie Edinburgh George Street is now down.  If you missed me creating the Artwork or didn’t get a chance to see it in person in Edinburgh you can check it out the video of me creating it here.

A big THANK YOU to Concept & Graft for creating the film of me and my work for Anthropologie temporary storefront hoarding.  I love the film, I think it really captures a sense of me and my work.  Film maker David Council was great – really down to earth, which made me feel at ease, so much so that I forgot the camera was there and just smiled as I painted, printed and stencilled all my colours and patterns.  You can check out the other projects  Concept & Graft website.

I just saw the film on the Guardian website too.

Looking forward to the store opening on the 15th June 2011!

8 pheasants on George Street, Edinburgh

I’ve had a really great day and finished the artwork for Anthropologie store front!  Feeling exhausted and exhilarated!  I’ve loved the opportunity of taking my design onto a huge scale!  Lots of fun doing it and lovely comments from passers by!

The weather was on my side too, and started to rain just as I finished.  The wind was causing havoc with my stencils but I got there…..   Sore muscles, smiley, happy……..now!

All closed up for the night.

Preparation, preparation, preparation…..

Since discovering my design was selected for the hoarding covering Anthropologie‘s new Edinburgh George Street store, I’ve been making sure my original 40 centimetre long artwork can be translated on to the giant 10 meter long space!

I’ve been very busy preparing huge stencils; choosing new delicious especially mixed colours; and laying out the design along my studio corridor to check the scale and visualise the surface I will be decorating.  I love seeing my work in different contexts!


I’m very excited about creating the artwork and a wee bit nervous as Scottish film maker David Council is going to be documenting me through the process.

Fingers crossed for sunny weather in Edinburgh from this Thursday onwards!

Flying the nest…

Here are some of my recent paper designs created during my time through the Crafts Bursary in conjunction with Creative Scotland and DJCAD.

Louise Kirby 8

Louise Kirby 4

Louise Kirby 6

Reluctantly I’ve cleared and moved out of my space in ‘the room’ in the textile department.  I’ve finished my time there and have taken my wings to fly to pastures new. I’ve found the experience so valuable to take time to consider my crafts practice, looking at all the strands I have with workshops, making products, designing surface pattern.  I’m going to reposition myself to being a surface pattern designer who creates patterns and illustrations for all surfaces from stationery, fashion, furnishings, ceramics and architecture…

During my time I had a chance to try new things, learn new skills, reconsider my business model, have mentor support and meet lots of other creative people, such a great vibe at DJCAD.  I highly recommend the opportunity.

Collections looking for good home!

I’ve been gutting out my studio, having bit of a spring clean and getting ready for the Meadow Mill Wasps refurbishment.  I’ve been sorting lots of copyright designs back into collections – geometrics, florals, paisleys, menswear shirting, patchwork and embelishment.

From August 1999 to 2007 I worked freelance as a commercial textile designer creating fabric samples following current trends and selling the copyright of my designs to fashion houses and fabric convertors worldwide through agents (David Lee Design Ltd and Lewis and Lewis). Fashion houses such as Debenhams, Etro, East, Nougat and John Kaldor have used my designs as part of their collections.

I love generating ideas and working to briefs.  The collections I still have, I own the copyright and they available for sale, please email me if interested: hello@louisekirby.com

Collections fo applique, embellishment and hand painted designs

Collections of geometric designs by Louise Kirby

Collections of floral designs by Louise Kirby