London's Harvest

Our guest blogger and Yellow House artist Laura McKendry writes her latest blog post from the autumnal surroundings of her London studio. After six months in the Spanish town of Cadiz, it's a striking contrast of climate and seasonal nostalgia. With a new commission to design a book jacket for Profile Books and a bespoke collection for one of the UK's favourite retailers, based on British Nature, to be announced in 2016 - it is an exciting time for Laura and all of us at Yellow House...

London’s harvest by Laura McKendry

It’s Autumn and we’re back, running at London’s pace.

  

Dark mornings we kitchen dance between kettle, sink, cupboard, toaster, and back. Wrestle small children into clothes whilst they chew on flattened toothbrush heads. Hurry out the door. We retrace route along broken London pavements, skirting round allotments, down littered alleys, buggy trundling, endless observations. ‘Look! That tyre’s popped?’ ‘Aeroplane!’ ‘That car’s on blocks’. Absent-minded kiss goodbye whilst he busily swirls PVA glue on sugarpaper, then I leave and the world feels surreally silent. 

Slowly meander home, making mental adjustment from toddler monologue to internal to-do list. Kick off boots, flip kettle switch, layer extra socks and fire-up boiler. 

  

Radiators gurgle their post-summer warm-up chant. Hands hug mug of tea. Gaze out of first floor window at terrace variations, city garden rows, cat balancing fence-top, birds swooping grey sky. 

   

It’s been a very British autumn, noticeably after Spain’s intense heat. Blackberry picking makes for drawings with burst berries. Conkers polished by velvet linings shine in leafy windfall. Rose hips, scrunchy leaves, browning skyline. Hedgerow harvest gathered on London streets. Where dogs straining leads walked hot Cádiz streets, now they shoot across green city parks, walkers anorak-wrapped, hands deep in pockets, leads draped around coat neck. Urban freedom.

     

Pen drips ink to new designs; half pans of watercolour moist with jam-jar water. Brushes soak on kitchen roll sheets. Beautiful beagles, cockers, great danes, bounding, making their mark. 

     

Garden birds gather through brush strokes, stick scratches. Much-missed BBC radio for company. A tea rings stains scrap paper. A palette of umbers, sepias, ochres emerge from summer hiding.

 

With thanks to Laura for these autumnal musings and if you have enjoyed this post, do follow Laura McKendry on her personal blog  'Bird & Beast' 

Image credit for photographs taken in Laura's studio (c) Adrienne Pitts

Susan Kennewell interview

We talked to one of our local artists, Susan Kennewell, who is known for her embroidered fashion textile designs and one-off embroidered art pieces. Born in Nottingham and brought up in a small village in Warwickshire, Susan now lives in Worthing, West Sussex. Susan has worked on interior commissions for Conran and designs for Betty Jackson & Louis Vuittion but interestingly her favourite subject at school was Biology!

Are you a Trained or Self-taught Artist? I’ve been through the usual channels of foundation, degree and post-grad but the learning never stops!

How did you become an Artist? I was lucky enough to and to be offered some foundation teaching directly from my degree show and to sell some work so I’ve continued from there.

How long have you been an artist for? Ages! My sister and I always had drawing books as children and were always drawing, sticking, sewing etc. I sold things I’d made to shops before I left school so have always been creative in one way or another.

How did your style evolve? I think one’s ‘hand’ develops to a certain extent instinctively and naturally, so I think any style I have has come from just ‘doing’ of the work.

Where and what did you study? Foundation in Rugby, Textiles/Embroidery first degree and later post-grad both in Birmingham 

What mediums do you prefer? I’m an embroiderer so has to be thread!

Preferred subjects? Flowers are always lovely but I don’t really have one. I like variety and the challenge of something yet untried!

How would you describe your own work? Varied! Sometimes quirky, sometimes textural, sometimes on trend, it depends what I’m working on

Describe your perfect day: In the workroom it would be uninterrupted with work flowing seamlessly and my creative goals met. Always need about 12 extra hours in the day

What piece of your work are you most proud of and why? I don’t have any one piece. Probably the most current work. It’s always nice to see how people use my work in garments etc and it’s always a thrill to know someone’s liked your work enough to buy it and have it their home

 

Have you done any interesting commissions? Or done work for anyone notable? I’ve been lucky enough to work on lots of interesting commissions from Hambro’s Bank to the Wetherspoon chain! For fashion, Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Lacroix, interiors The Conran Shop, John Lewis amongst them. Currently I work on embroideries for Kate Halfpenny’s bridal work. 

What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date? My Brighton pieces sell very well and my linens, but one of my cushions was a Conran Shop best seller

What’s your favourite thing to illustrate?  I don’t have a favourite. I’ve mentioned ever inspirational flowers but I like a challenge of something new

 

What would your dream project be? I like all my projects but it would be nice to see my work used on a new product I’ve no connection with or experience of...

Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration? Moving to Brighton over 20 years ago, inspirational both personally and creatively. John Miles textile designer and lecturer for his amazing vision…and patience

What's been your biggest mistake/cock-up?! Made loads will make loads more! Out of (accidental) mistakes come more exciting things! I’ve learned!

What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now? A pile of inspirational bits and stitch for some Charleston things I’m thinking about, some inspiration for some linens for a Brighton cheesemonger and some fashion Shashiko stitched ideas for a new set of work for New York

What’s been your biggest challenge? Combining freelancing, a ‘proper’ job and family earlier on in my life

As well as being an amazing artist, do you have any other hidden talents? Hmmm…I do a good version of the Strangler’s ‘My Way’

Do you have any top tips for being an artist that you can give us? Keep looking, keep drawing, keep inspired 

Do you have a favourite paintbrush or tool? Has to be my machine darning foot for stitching. Be lost without it.

 

What attracted you to/attracts you about working with Yellow House? I’m new to art licensing and it’s good to meet face to face for initial talks etc. They are also friendly and welcoming, have great ideas and endless patience

Is there anything you would like to ask us? What’s your favourite bit of the Yellow House business? "I think our favourite part of Yellow House is that we get to meet really interesting people and also love to see the final products which come in using our artist's work!"

What’s your favourite joke? What do you call a man with a seagull on his head? Cliff!!....the old ones are the best…

Indeed they are! Thanks Susan, we have really enjoyed learning more about your textiles and your design process.

You can see more of Susan Kennewell's work in her Yellow House portfolio here and on her own website www.susankennewell.co.uk