Inspired me to go to art school, that is - the first step on the journey to becoming a designer. Well, I guess I always had a natural tendency to see things in a 'visual' way, but when you're young it seems to me that you simply accept things for what they are. I remember being interested in the visual aspects of television and comics, but what I saw was simply what was there. And I remember 'art' on the walls at school - like the Boyhood of Sir Walter Raleigh.
But it was just there - part of the background. It didn't speak to me. But when I was around 17 my art teacher drew my attention to this man:-
Aubrey Beardsley. Maybe it was just the pose, or maybe just the nose (a feature we have in common), but I became inspired by this man who seemed to have acheived so much in such a short life (he died at the age of 25). It was the first time that I could see that somebody could use 'art' to interpret, rather than just reflect, the life around them. And I was especially drawn to working just in black and white.
I soaked up everything I could - took out every book I could find in the library. But it wasn't until I got to the more liberal environment of art school that I learned there was also some more risque work.
And that still makes me smile, after all these years.
I love Aubrey Beardsley too. The Tate have a lovely calendar for next year with his stuff, hoping someone will get it me for Christmas
Posted by: claire | 14 December 2006 at 02:52 PM
A very warm welcome Claire - and congratulations, thanks for breaking the mould. I was beginning to think this whole blogging thing was a men-only club.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though you can get that calendar from the on-line shop at the Tate, so you may have to wait until 2008.
Posted by: davidthedesigner | 14 December 2006 at 03:35 PM