LIV TAYLOR

Conflicts and Interests

2012-01-24T15:07:00.000Z

Excerpts from a recent project looking at abstraction, reflection and synchronicity.

Recruit

2012-01-11T23:17:00.000Z

I've been thinking about subject matter that I am drawn to, and themes within my work that may inform my aesthetic, or can and have been used completely separately as starting points.

Firstly, thinking about the idea of 'Army' or 'Armies' and how one is formed- applying the fundamentals of this process in these test shots here.

Strength

2012-01-07T14:21:00.000Z

College is a different way of working, from my experience, college gives you practice and skill—like many strands of nylon, and the professional world forces you to weave these threads together. You become a rope. You see where the skills interact and touch, how they work together—and it makes you stronger. Whilst at college you simply acclimate these threads, all useful, but with no strength.

Jamie Wieck 2011

A quote from an interview I did with Jamie Wieck, creator of #The50, for a research project surrounding internships. I am in the process or collating my interviews, case studies and essays into an editable-format book.

She

2011-12-27T15:32:00.001Z

One of the initial explorations of a self initiated project, where I hope to identify my visual language a little further...

Trebuchet

2011-12-27T15:29:00.000Z

I hope you all had a warm Christmas, I'm super busy with my dissertation and planning for assessment hand ins.

Here is preview of the trebuchet James, Hannah and I made for a project called 'Up and Beyond', an exciting finish to last term!

Clinc

2011-12-11T23:36:00.001Z

There's A Place.

2011-11-29T14:13:00.000Z

Haitus

2011-11-14T16:31:00.000Z

I've decided not to have a website for a while, so livtaylor.co.uk will live here in this blog until I decide the time is right to have another site.

I am pretty unsure which of my work represents me at the moment, so for now you can see some bits and pieces and thoughts that might add up over time to represent what I do a little better at this stage.

Here is an image from a shoot that I did recently, thinking about objects, creating compositions, abstraction and spaces. After I looked at it for a while I saw a Little King, but really it doesn't matter.

Under/Over

2011-11-09T23:03:00.000Z

Saltdean

2011-11-09T22:45:00.002Z

Third year has been pretty tough so far, so to escape Brighton (not too far!) we took a bus to Saltdean.

We used things we found and tried to make the most of our environment and the bracing sea air, enjoying drawing with the chalk from the cliffs and finding and making with objects on the beach. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Absolutely

2011-10-22T16:56:00.001+01:00

Been doing some photographic compositions/sets/sketches exploring 'Despotism'. Nice to be back into a big project.

My websites down, going to fix it soon!

Outcrop

2011-10-20T11:22:00.002+01:00

A Darkness

2011-10-12T20:01:00.000+01:00

I've been setting myself 'editorial briefs' on a weekly basis, but really I have just been using them as an opportunity to draw relatively care free, using a new and fresh starting point each week. I'm learning about the way I make my marks and what imagery means as well as thinking about the information I need in my shapes to communicate.

Jelly

2011-10-05T17:17:00.000+01:00

She

2011-09-20T12:44:00.000+01:00

Been doing some painting again for a recent project, trying to keep it loose but still descriptive.

UP TO NOW

2011-09-18T16:36:00.000+01:00

My year group (Brighton University Graphics and Illustration) are putting on an exhibiton in 2 weeks time, I'd love for anyone to come along! It's at the Red Gallery in Shoreditch with a private view on the 30th September and the exhibition running through to the 2nd October.

You can find out more about it here. There'll be a huge variety of work, as well as artist talks and prints etc for sale, it'll be a really nice afternoon/evening out so please come along

From the River

2011-09-12T23:43:00.000+01:00

Set

2011-09-05T23:03:00.000+01:00

Making some pictures and doing lighting tests with things in my room.

The Same But Different

2011-08-31T16:49:00.000+01:00

Some neg scans from the summer. A storm brewing on the beach and light in the trees.

Unfurl

2011-08-29T18:25:00.000+01:00

Gear

2011-08-13T01:50:00.001+01:00

I've been out and about along the coast, to a lot of fishing areas. The machinery and equipment is completely alien and therefore walking around is like being in a sculpture park. The object in the bottom image reminded me of the piece I made for my personal project.

Down the Coast

2011-08-07T20:36:00.000+01:00

Halifax

2011-08-07T00:20:00.002+01:00

Been out and about in Halifax, N.S. Saw an exhibition, 'Lies That Tell The Truth' at the Khyber, which is a beautiful building downtown.

I also popped in to see the folks at Co. & Co. where we discussed the design industry in the maritimes, as well as art schools and more. It was nice to hear about what goes on in somewhere that I've been visiting all my life.

Back

2011-08-05T02:34:00.000+01:00

It's nice to be back in Canada where my Grandma (Nanny) is the Queen of Kitsch.

2011-07-25T00:08:00.000+01:00

Here are some sketchings for an editorial brief I did at Open. They very kindly mentioned me on their site here

Popcorn/Jungle

2011-07-15T00:24:00.000+01:00

I'm off to Spain and Canada for the next five weeks, I'll be sure to post some of what I see and do if I get to a computer.

Enjoy the British summer!

Karat Gold

2011-07-14T21:46:00.000+01:00

It was my last day at Open today- I had a really great time! Here are some images from one of my projects on Karate- I experimented with layout and composition using accidental and planned crops.

Perhaps these would be posters or some sort of music promo things.

Reed

2011-07-14T21:25:00.000+01:00

Having a bit of a rejig trying out some new styles on my sites.

There are 2 font ways depending on what ya got.

Karate Process

2011-07-12T12:26:00.000+01:00

The process book for my Karate project

Dex

2011-07-10T23:50:00.000+01:00

I was looking through these photos from my time at MCAD and came across these- the crop and composition made my hand look really strange I thought, almost devoid of context.

Another

2011-07-10T22:56:00.000+01:00

CMPRBL

2011-07-08T13:23:00.000+01:00

A new series of images. I've been doing lots of drawings about composition using abstract shapes, and have decided to find these imagined compositions in the space I am in. Here is one, there will be a book to come!

Ton

2011-07-06T16:58:00.000+01:00

Concur

2011-07-06T16:15:00.000+01:00

Makin' patterns for imaginary summer t-shirts

A Thought

2011-07-06T13:35:00.002+01:00

El Mariposa

2011-07-04T17:14:00.000+01:00

Here's the book cover I designed as the outcome for my first Open project, the ink was low so the text didn't print out right- it should have been more orangey but you get the idea.

Booko

2011-06-30T11:47:00.000+01:00

My french fold process book for a project I've been working on at Open. Using the play 'The Butterfly's Evil Spell' as a starting point, I've been drawing beetles and bugs and then blowing them up and overlaying them with imagery of nature referenced in the play.
It's something I really need to do more of- fortuitous mark making with no specific end goal.

The colours are a bit crazy because of the black and white combo with the printout and ink and pencil mixing together but I reckon that's ok!

Marks

2011-06-27T17:37:00.000+01:00

I've been messing around with mark making, blowing parts of my drawings up and reworking them.

Tings

2011-06-27T16:19:00.000+01:00

I've bought acquired a few bits recently, including a Ricoh XR7, some new drawing inks, a crazy book on karate and a lovely postcard from MN.
I'm hoping to push myself into some new areas and start some different sorts of image making this summer, with subjects and materials I'm not used to. We'll see..!

Oi

2011-06-23T19:22:00.000+01:00

Intern

2011-06-22T14:43:00.000+01:00

Starting this week I am an intern at OPEN studio! I've got my own desk and will be working on projects set by the other studio members and other self initiated work, as well as helping with a few project bits and general studio intern jobs.

So far I have been trying to get back into mark making and image play, which I'm finding quite difficult having focussed on different aspects of my work most recently. I've also had a chance to talk to the other studio folk about their work and projects, as well as a few visitors. There's a great atmosphere here!

I'll post some work shortly.

Process

2011-06-18T18:46:00.000+01:00

I've been playing around with my process books as I think it's where most of my excitement happens. These are some pages from my 'These Spaces' project, where I overlaid my research from my essays with my imagery, notes and sketches.

PIGEON ONLINE

2011-06-05T19:18:00.000+01:00

PIGEON ONLINE HAS FINALLY LAUNCHED!

I've been working on the creative side of the project for a few months now and the site is now up and running.

Please add it to your bookmarks, there is some good stuff coming up soon....

These Spaces

2011-05-30T16:36:00.002+01:00

The site for the collection of works for my final project is HERE

It includes videos, essays and photography.

Grae

2011-05-28T00:59:00.002+01:00

As a small part of my personal project I've been archiving grey- both photographs of spaces I've seen in real life and things I've found interesting online.

It's interesting to see all of the shades that can be called 'grey'.

See the archive here

Em

2011-05-25T18:52:00.000+01:00

Another photo of the shoot from Emily.

You can see her amazing work here.

Edge

2011-05-24T19:04:00.002+01:00

Part of a series of photographs I'm working on for my personal project.

Pigeon...

2011-05-23T16:47:00.001+01:00

For a few months now I've been working on a special new project, Pigeon.

"Pigeon Magazine is an independent publication and arts website providing a platform to showcase creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial ventures from individuals emerging from the artistic environment that is Brighton, and beyond. A product out of a shared desire to discuss and document the creative endeavours of individuals, that is continuing despite funding cuts within the arts.

Pigeon will materialise through two formats of presentation, bringing together a transient magazine - bridging the space between magazine and blog - comprising of an online website and a quarterly printed publication, in addition to a selection of live events including discussion, guest speakers and workshops. Pigeon online will host an evolving collection for each Issue, where the chosen 'theme' is tackled, as well as having a blog section which can be continuously developed and updated with reviews, films and links to other sites and artists.

At the end of each quarter, Pigeon will select features and contributions to publish in a printed publication that will be available to purchase through the site and through a range of distributors."

I've been working particularly on the design, art direction and presentation of the site and up and coming publications, as well as a few features.

There will be a launch on the 4th Jun at the Grey Area Gallery, come along!

Ubiq

2011-05-18T16:17:00.000+01:00

I've been really busy lately, mainly on my personal project.

I've built a portable exhibition space, which I'm going to use to create a 'Series of Curational Studies'.

It will use the work of Nick Tudor throughout. Mark and I spent a day doing various lighting tests and effects.

UPDATES

2011-05-03T19:31:00.000+01:00

I've updated my website.

I also have a new blog/site that will be running along side my personal project.

See and follow it here

Self Publishing

2011-05-02T16:48:00.002+01:00

Here are some images of my Self Publishing project. I chose to work to the statement 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: Interaction, Form, Collection' and created two editions of eight books based around the poem 'Wind' by Ted Hughes, getting back into mark making and experimentation.

They were printed using a photocopier and then hand finished with lino stamps, ink and graphite.

Each of the 16 books is unique and all the books and pages interact with each other to form larger images and new stories.

I will update my website with more images soon

Shyan

2011-05-02T14:42:00.000+01:00

Have been doing some cyanotypes with the boys on British soil. I created a darkroom with my blackout blinds and got some of the Brighton sun on them to expose. I'm hoping to experiment with some toner soon.

Shapes and Blacks

2011-04-21T21:51:00.000+01:00

Luuk

2011-04-19T18:05:00.000+01:00

'For Real: A Manifesto' is finally finished. See it here

Flexing

2011-04-16T17:56:00.000+01:00

Bricks

2011-04-16T14:43:00.000+01:00

I'm working on some imagery for my self publishing- a set of books that use the poem 'Wind' by Ted Hughes as a starting point.

Luckster

2011-04-12T14:32:00.000+01:00

I had a magical day in the South Downs yesterday, where I found (what I believe to be) TWO FOUR LEAF CLOVERS! I was doing some visual research for my Self Publishing project. More on that soon!

Pigeon Post

2011-04-10T00:13:00.000+01:00

A copy of the postcard I sent my tutor Paul Burgess as part of our Easter project. It shows a behind the scene shot of a small part of a huge special project that I'm working on. More soon!

Mega

2011-04-08T11:23:00.003+01:00

AHHHH. I am getting too excited, I can't wait to finish my Look Book, and I have secured 2 amazing internships for the summer AND the sun is out megastyle. ALL IS WELL IN BRIGHTON.

Veela

2011-04-07T14:45:00.000+01:00

I'm going through the painstaking editing process for my garment photos. I can't wait to have the final A3 Look Book in my hands.

I've been up to a few bits recently, including updating/changing my website a bit.

The Book

2011-04-05T18:40:00.000+01:00

We decided to have a collaborative self initiated project where we picked countries out of a hat and use them as a starting point for a body of work, which part of could be featured in an experimental newspaper supplement.

The work is really diverse, and James and I designed the supplement. An edition of 9 was printed using a colour photocopier.

The supplement includes the work of

Straip

2011-03-31T21:57:00.000+01:00

CC

2011-03-25T23:53:00.000Z

YCN Thames Clippers

2011-03-24T15:44:00.001Z

A few visuals from my YCN submission for Thames Clippers- 'Ride See Snap' is a competition where disposable cameras are handed out to commuters at tube stations in order that they can ride on the boats and 'enjoy their London on the move', taking in and capturing the sights as they travel.

The cameras are covered in patterns of Thames landmarks.

Nukak

2011-03-22T19:53:00.000Z

One of the images I'm working on for a project about Amazonian Brazil. I think I'm into photography a bit at the mo.

Joanna Rutter

2011-03-22T16:28:00.000Z

I've been planning on doing friend features for a while and this is the perfect chance as my good friend Jo has launched her brand new site.
Jo makes gorgeous jewellery, pattern and illustration work, often focussing on nature and play.
You can buy some of it here.

ISN'T IT LOVELY!

Warriors

2011-03-21T00:22:00.002Z

Shot

2011-03-18T14:48:00.000Z

I spent this morning shooting pictures of my garments, so that I can make a look book over Easter.

Here's a sneak peek at the gorgeous Rosie...

The Words

2011-03-17T21:30:00.002Z

Sunday Morning Walk

2011-03-13T13:01:00.000Z

Nuggets

2011-03-10T22:01:00.001Z

Agly

2011-03-10T19:42:00.000Z

Been playing around with some pretty ugly crunky stuff. Yuck.

Aerphost

2011-03-09T13:10:00.000Z

What a treat! I just received a surprise fully illustrated letter in the post from my pal Dustin from MCAD. He is studying abroad in Ireland, his first trip to Europe. You can see what he's been up to here.

Outings

2011-03-09T12:28:00.000Z

Been out and about in the big smoke again. We were lucky enough to visit OPEN again as well as It's Nice That and YCN to see their spaces and speak to the fabulous people running them, many of whom are Brighton graduates.

We also went to Artwords Bookshop which was fab, I picked up some large format mags to add to the collection.

AND on top of all that I walked past Keira Knightley. Sweet.

Mess

2011-03-04T00:07:00.002Z

For Real.

2011-03-03T21:17:00.000Z

A few shots from one of my current Uni projects based around a personal manifesto I have written- 'For Real.'
I've been making sculptures and have designed four costumes, which will soon be photographed properly and made into a look book for my manifesto

SSD

2011-02-27T17:30:00.001Z

Holly Wales & O-P-E-N

2011-02-23T21:11:00.002Z

Today I was lucky enough to meet with one of my favourite Illustrators/Designers Holly Wales, at her new-ish studio, which she shares with the likes of Patternity, Landfill Editions and Sarah King in London. We had a great chat about my work and the creative field and education in general. Her studio was amazing, and I got to speak to some of the other creatives there and see their working process too. She was even kind enough to feature me on the O-P-E-N site here. What a fab day, I'm looking forwards to going back again in a few weeks.

Dae Trippin'

2011-02-21T22:26:00.000Z

Took a last minute trip to London today with my pals Mike and Nick. We visited the Modern British Sculpture Exhibition, popped into the Dover Street Market and Falkiner Paper as well as the V&A and Saatchi Gallery.

It was so nice to get out and about and see some new things and get a few new ideas for things to come!

Crowcess

2011-02-17T23:41:00.000Z

I'm always interested in people's process and journey to their final outcomes- especially sketchbooks.

Here is some of my recent sketchbook work for a my ongoing personal project.

The Way It Is

2011-02-16T12:54:00.000Z

Decant

2011-02-13T20:17:00.001Z

London's Burning

2011-02-10T13:57:00.000Z

Playing around with simple pattern for a YCN brief.

Blarney

2011-02-09T11:33:00.000Z

Been doing a bit of photography this week for my Personal Project.

Am looking to do some more experimental processing, maybe get some cyanotypes on the go with some home made toners. WE SHALL SEE.

Flit

2011-02-08T14:12:00.002Z

Prize Whale Eyes

2011-02-06T12:34:00.000Z

Shades

2011-02-05T19:53:00.001Z

OPTICKS

2011-02-05T14:40:00.000Z

Here is the outcome of my first project back in Brighton. It was really hard to photograph, the photos don't do it any favours! I chose to focus on materials and production for this.

We had to make a CD of 15 tracks on any theme. Mine was called OPTICKS, on the theme of light.
All of the packaging was transparent or translucent.
I hand soldered plastic sleeves, as well as outer wrapping and etched patterns into the plastic, as well as into the silver sticker on the front.
The poster also folds into the cover artwork, which, being semi-transparent creates new images as it is being unfolded.
The CD is white, and in the back sleeve there are 3 acetates that can be interchanged and overlaid acting as the CD artwork and back cover.

Büks

2011-02-02T13:40:00.000Z

I have acquired lots of books through buying, borrowing and pillaging from various places.

Some of my faves include the Penguin Crime Famous Trials designed by Romek Marber, which had lots of paper cuttings hidden inside it as well as lots of beautifully illustrated children's books from the 60's.

What treats!

UPDATES

2011-02-02T13:18:00.000Z

I will be/have been updating my website over this week.

I am currently in the middle of a few interesting projects, with a few special things lined up for the future... more soon!

Here is some sugar for your eyes

Back

2011-01-18T00:15:00.000Z

I'm back in Brighton and having fun. Still trying to settle in and get back into the swing of things, but had a really great first project which will appear soon!

Tees Off

2010-12-27T18:36:00.000Z

My final Tools of the Trade assignment. We had to create something based around a quote from WeFeelFine. Mine was about golf and I decided to do acrylic which turned into mixed media. I wanted to make it a bit more interesting so played around with a diorama style thing.
I wanted to suggest the stillness, silence and measured decisions that happen in golf,

Lament No More

2010-12-23T20:52:00.000Z

My final Lithography project- 'Lament No More'

I picked four famously sad writers: Edgar Alan Poe, John Keats, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf and changed their faces so they were smiling, so they would cheer up.

I created a little vellum envelope with stickers full of things to keep:

Printed quote cards of their more cheerful thoughts, with a pattern on the back.

Colourful bunting using different paper stocks, imagery and texts

Coasters with their smiling faces

A poster of Edgar that has cut out eyes so you can put yours behind it and pretend it's one of those old paintings that eyes moved.

Basically I wanted to create something nice to give and to keep on a whimsical theme using a variety of papers and inks.

Wowee

2010-12-23T20:30:00.000Z

Made it home back to the motherland after 5 months of being abroad.
I just got back from a week and a half in New York with Chris (the extra half week was because of the snow) which was awesome. Very Christmassy.
MCAD was basically the best thing I've ever done, I learnt so much and have a completely different perspective on my work which is fab. I also met some great people- students, tutors and professionals. I am seeing some of them soon.
SO ALL IN ALL fabydab.
What a whirlwind!

Have a great Christmas and Holiday Season!

Blueme

2010-12-12T00:37:00.000Z

Here is my final Alt Process project- Large Format (17 x 22) Cyanotypes exploring 'The Photographic Sketch"

It is accompanied by a book of more 17x22 cyanotypes but these are my final images.

It was really fun to experiment, with layering, hand tinting etc.

These images match the mental cold snow that is happening right now!

Art/Maths

2010-12-10T22:43:00.000Z

Finally here is Art/Maths a 72 page book I designed. There are quite a few long winded stories involved, one including how it got messed up 'somehow' when my professor was marking it, hence the mashed up cover.

It is the result of my 5 week class at the beginning of the semester. We were exploring Print on Demand services ( I chose to use Lulu) and their limitations (for example the dodge template meant that all my stuff printed too close to the spine) but also their usefulness ('industry standard' stock and printing).

Art/Maths is a bit of a joke book that purports to include information regarding calculations or numerical data or any remotely mathsy type stuff needed when creating art. It is disguised as a manual of such things, but when you read further you realise the inaccuracies, both in my design (which I am supposed to be instructing on) and the 'vital' information provided, as well as the attitude I have towards all this tedious stuff written in my 'lolleriffic' way. This renders it basically useless in function.

I then made it into a library book, one which is in the restricted section, further adding to its uselessness- as if it was one of the good 'informational' books in the MCAD library that you can't take out because it's so vital.

A really long winded concept.

But here it is finally.

Land of Nod

2010-12-08T16:38:00.001Z

Here's my final for Concepts and Metaphors. We had to design a gift bag for a particular store, I chose The Land of Nod and decided to depict a few of the 'personalities' that they have gifts and toys for.

Wet Collodion

2010-12-03T20:03:00.000Z

Here is the final Alternative Process- Wet Collodion.

It's a bit tricky as you have to be very clean and coat the glass plate in pretty much darkness by pouring the liquid on and keeping it moving before it dries.

This image was shot using an old 8x10 large format camera and the exposure was 2 and a half mins (which is why I have my eyes closed!)

It's a really nice object.

Blue America

2010-12-02T06:50:00.000Z

Here are some pics from inside my 'Blue America Book' of cyanotypes. I wish I had used better materials to make it but I am pleased with the idea. Shame I have no idea how to use the studio to document it decently!

De Toile

2010-12-01T16:16:00.000Z

An image that's going to be part of my Final for Concepts and Metaphors, more soon!