Merchandise

After a busy few months we finally had the opportunity to revisit "They Draw Horses Don't They?" 
We had a great planning session and got some great advice. 
During our session some great print based ideas were banded about! among others goodies were Tote bags like this fab one of Nishant Choksi's Horse.
Interested in Tote bags or other printed goodies drop us a line info@inkysolutions.com

We hope to bring you more news in the near future of a possible "They Draw Horses Don't They?" Expo! Fingers crossed;) 

Autumn

As autumn arrives so does October fest! we recently had the pleasure of producing these lovely Beer mats for illustrator Neil Gower 

The beer mats where produced to coincide with the October beer edition of The Viva Lewes Magazine. Beer mats are a fantastic advertising medium and very much collectible! If your interested in your image on some beer mats contact us today info@inkysolutions.com


Autumn is also the time when Open houses, Art fairs and Christmas markets come thick and fast! We have been busy producing Greetings cards, Giclee's and other sellable goodies including these below

A2 Giclee Prints on 330gsm cotton paper by Pack & Tickle

Greetings cards for Kirsty Asher Chapman 

They draw Horses Don't They?

Much like skinning a mammoth or painting with berries, the ability to draw a horse is a skill that died with our Paleolithic ancestors.

It is a skill so alien to humans, that most of us don’t even think about it, ever. Only those who have thought, ‘Hmm, I wonder if I can draw a horse’, and tried putting pencil to paper have discovered this cold, ugly fact!

It had been said Leonard da Vinci attempted it, but as the result was so unrealistic, people believed it to be some kind of futuristic beast. He gave up and concentrated on drawing helicopters.

 In 1913, Emily Wilding Davison, a hobby artist sketching at the Epson Derby, was so frustrated at her inability to get the legs right, that she threw herself in front of the King’s horse.

My realisation came when, at 17, my soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend drew me a picture of one. It was frightening.

So, many years later I find myself working in the creative industry. In a studio, surrounded by people who can draw and create images most of us could only dream of. And yet, one subject matter was conspicuous in its absence (along with hands and feet, but that’s for another day). 

In universities, schools and art clubs around the country, it’s like a dirty word. Something never to be attempted. It was the unspoken rule (“You don’t talk about horses”).

But I talked!

Yes HORSES

Horses are hard, some say impossible to draw! 

Lacking the scientific equipment and intellect to prove this, I decided to challenge illustrators, artists and doodlers to prove me wrong!

And, well; they did. The overwhelming reply I got proved me very wrong. The horse pictures I received where outstanding!

http://pinterest.com/inkysolutions/they-draw-horses-dont-they/

The challenge we laid down had caused such a buzz that at one point we were getting up to several hits on the website in just one day;)

We decided to have a prize of "A 500 free postcard print run" for the most liked horse voted by the public.

And the winner was Chloe Douglass with her fabulous carousel horse.

We congratulate Chloe on her winning horse and shall be printing up some postcards for her soon. We would also like to congratulate everyone who had entered a Horse image! The standard has been amazing and the horses look wonderful! So good in fact we have great plans for them, but more on that another time. Until then feast your eyes on the horses we received They Draw Horses Don't They?

For The Love Of Print!!

We recently invested in a 120 year old antique Gestener Neo-Cyclostyle print duplicator. 
We didn't need it we just wanted it;)

The smell of the ink, the tactile feel of the paper. Print evokes stimulation for many of the senses and we feel this is a powerful tool when trying to get your message across to your target, this does not count for just advertising and marketing but artists too.
Artists today are able to communicate to many more clients than previously as affordable art is now readily available! from Screen to Giclee prints and everything in between artists can now produce and supply limited edition prints for their clients. 

We at Inky feel adding value to your print is an integral part of limited edition printing. The more interesting and creative the story behind the print the more desirable and valuable it will become to the owner!

We are currently playing around with our antique printer and hope to be able to put it to good use! 
We already have some fantastic artists lined up ready for some work and hope to show you these collaborations later this year!

DEADLINE EXTENSION! YAY

They draw horses, Don't they?

Due to overseas interest and postage time we have extended our horse drawn competition to 21st June 12pm. The voting online will now finish August 31st 
voting here http://pinterest.com/inkysolutions/they-draw-horses-dont-they/  

So that means you still have time to submit your horses by post or digital!! So giddy up pencil jockeys

Rules are simple draw us a horse (as many entries as you like) on the back of a postcard or submit digitally A6 size, the one voted best wins!!
Its your chance to win 500 free postcards from us at Inky but more important than that, its about pride!  
Oh yes it is, its your chance to show your peers and potential clients that you ain't afraid of drawing anything!! Yes we know horses are hard to draw some even say impossible! but here's your chance to prove them neigh sayers wrong! Is it possible in future years Art Directors will only commission artists based purely upon their equine illustration abilities? 
Probably not. 
Can you or anyone else ensure that will not be the case? No didn't think so!  
So what are you waiting for? 
send images to

They draw horses, don't they?
Inky Solutions
The Annex
43 Belmont Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 4HN

email entries here info@inkysolutions.com 

Here are just a few Horses all ready up!! don't miss out 

They draw Horses, don't they?

Competition time:)
Win 500 free postcards!

Have you ever been to a children's book shop, and while browsing through the books thought to yourself "Umm considering its every girls dream to want a pony there's not that many picture books on horses and ponies? "  
Well the only possible reason has to be that its a well known fact that horses are hard to draw!
Obviously Leonardo da Vinci reckons he cracked it  but I'm not convinced;)

Can you draw horses? 
We challenge you to illustrate a horse, draw it on the back of a postcard and post it to me before 31st May 2013. If you would like a free blank postcard for your artwork or for digital submissions drop me an email to info@inkysolutions.com

Horses on the back of a postcard
Inky Solutions
The Annex
43 Belmont Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 4HN



All the horses attempts will be put online on Pinterest to be judged by you and your peers in June! 
The winning pencil jockey shall receive a free 500 A6 postcard print run from us @inkysolutions.
Remember this is just for fun, you wont be judged by Sir Attenborough, so get drawing!

Proof that an anatomically correct horse is impossible to draw! by me at least;)

Brighton Illustrators Group Meeting

Last week i was invited to talk to the Brighton Illustrators group  at their Nuts and Bolts event.
The evening was packed full of great advice and tips for illustrators and creative types looking at self promotion, accounting and marketing. 

The night started with a great informative talk by Jo Boote discussing sole traders and accountancy. 
I followed with a talk on common sense marketing. I discussed the main marketing points creatives' could be looking to do to ensure their success in an ever more competitive industry.
My talk covered online and offline marketing, from social media and networking to printed mailings and Contact book, how to be targeted and the need to use common sense and creativity.
Among other things I also had a pie chart, as it wouldn't be a proper presentation without one:)

The evening was rounded off with a panel of Illustrators, Alan Baker, Nye Wright and Sean Sims answering questions on what marketing and self promotion has worked for them.

If your interested in becoming a member of the Brighton Illustrators Group click here its a great source of information and great way to show case your portfolio to potential clients.

"The Brighton Illustrators Group (BiG) is not an illustration agency but a group run by illustrators for illustrators on a voluntary basis. Since BiG was formed 22 years ago its role has been to support and advise freelance illustrators living in Brighton and the surrounding area. Our aim it to share information about professional practice though our meetings, newsletters and website as well as providing networking opportunities. Our further principal aim is to promote the use of illustration through our website and raise the profile of the group."

If you are interested in self promotion in the creative industry and missed my talk a white paper will be available to download shortly, please email me to secure your copy.

Do you work or are interested in working in the creative industry? 
I shall be one of the talkers taking part at the nuts and bolts BIG meeting next Thursday 
28th march 2013. I shall be giving a short basic presentation on marketing and on self promotion for people working in the creative industry, so come along its a free!

 My own marketing material, packed up and ready for the night!


http://brightonillustrators.co.uk/blog/nuts_bolts_meeting
THURSDAY 28TH MARCH. 8PM

Upstairs at the Kings & Queen pub, 13-17 Marlborough Place, Brighton

Accounting, print, marketing and self-promotion.

Desirable print

Just a few recent items we've produced, all on our thick uncoated card stock up to 400gsm. Rough to the touch and uncoated so the ink soaks in leaving a great colour reproduction similar to newspaper print. A fantastic tactile product. For samples drop us an email today info@inkysolutions.com