• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Buy Now

Rosie And The Boys

  • Portfolio
    • Greeting Cards
      • Greetings Cards
      • Letterpress Greetings Cards
    • Bespoke Papercuts
      • First Anniversary Papercuts
      • Personalised Papercuts
      • Custom Cuts Testimonials Page
      • FAQs – Bespoke Papercuts
        • Terms and Conditions
    • Parties and Celebrations
      • Cake decorations, bunting and toppers
      • Garlands and party decorations
      • Confetti
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Interview with Vicky of Woah There Pickle

Woah there pickle logo

I have a weakness for print. Whether it’s a linocut, a screen print or letterpress; there’s a good chance that it will make me smile.  Couple beautiful print work with a dose of wit and I’m yours for the taking!

Recently I came across Vicky of Woah there pickle – a veritable sweetshop of printed loveliness and wit.  Within hours I got in touch with Vicky and asked her to share more about her work.

Grab yourself a cuppa and enjoy….

A selection of Woah there pickle designs

1. Describe yourself in three words

Brighton’s Printmaking Pickle

2. Your work seems full of humour, warmth and colour – are these attributes that you consciously include in your work.

You've got more front than Brighton

Image: Woah there pickle

 

Definitely, humour is the most important. I like printing things that you wouldn’t necessarily think of as subject of a print. Silly things, nostalgic things and more so now I’ve been using more typography, things I’ve heard. I really like incorporating little  things I’ve learnt while travelling so that when someone else recognises that thing as specifically New Orleans or specifically Tel Aviv its something special.

 

 

Rocket Ice Lolly Lino Print

Image: Woah there pickle

 

I’ve also always been inspired by people who use really bold colour. My absolute favourite artist is Keith Haring and one of the reasons for that is he never shied away from really just going with it with colour but always kept it simple. It adds up to an easily recognisable but exciting style of work which I really try to apply to in my linocuts too.

 

 

3. I love the variety of your subjects…do you keep sketch books of ideas or run home as soon as inspiration strikes?

I’ve never been good at keeping sketch books on me so I have a big long list on my phone which isn’t very art of me I know! You never know when you’ll see something or someone will say something in a different way and you think ‘Right, that’s going on the list!’. Its got pretty long now so I don’t think I’m ever going to run out of things to linocut!

Comedy Disguise glasses, nose and moustache

Image: Woah there Pickle

 

4.Lino printing involves being skilled in a lot of processes. Do you get more enjoyment from carving the design or printing it?

Print roller and scottie dog card

Image: Woah there pickle

 

That’s one of the things I really love about linocutting. The carving and the printing are two really different processes so if I’m flagging a bit doing one then I can switch to the other.

Design being cut out of lino

Image: Woah there pickle

 

 

The carving can be really relaxing when you’re not stabbing yourself with the tool and once you have a design is very methodical. But there’s something very magic printing a block for the first time because you never really know how its going to come out, especially with a few colours.

 

 

 

5. America seems to have a big place in your heart, tell us more..

American Gothic Lino Print

Image: Woah there pickle

America is really a fascinating place. It’s so strange that its one country when sometimes the different parts of Europe feel like they have more in common with each other than the different states of America in landscape, climate, culture or people. And it has the benefit of me being able to speak the language, well, kind of!

I’ve been around a good chunk of it and my second home is definitely New Orleans. You get such a sense of important and sometimes weird history there with strange and exciting traditions and such a unique culture. The food, music and festivals are all incredible and it all comes wrapped up in that Southern hospitality you don’t find in all states that’s for sure!

New Orleans Water meter cover lino print

Image: Woah there pickle

 

The first time I went I was living and working in a hostel over Mardi Gras season so I’ve made some incredible friends there and they have very courteously spread themselves all over the country and the world so I have even more places to go and visit a friendly face now!

 

 

 

6. Can you tell us more about your internship with Hatch Show Print?

I could talk all day about that place! I’d been told by a friend that as I was passing through Nashville I would have to stop in there and it really is an Aladdin’s Cave for anyone interested in print. I fell in love with it and stored away the idea of applying for their internship programme. 4 years later I thought I might as well give it a go, applied and was over them moon when I got it.

Hatch Show Print interior

Image: Woah there Pickle

For those who don’t know, Hatch Show Print is a letterpress print shop that has been producing posters since 1879. That’s the same year the lightbulb was invented! It eventually became famous for printing posters for some of the most iconic popular music acts there have been, including Johnny Cash, Elvis, Hank Williams and anyone who was anyone in the country music scene. Since the mid 80s its been run by the amazing Jim Sherraden who has kept the place thriving in a time where people automatically jump on a computer to lay a poster design out. He now says that this is the best thing that could have happened to the shop because it sets aside what Hatch and other letterpress printers do from computer made design and offers a more human and tactile alternative which people cant get enough of. They have continued to make posters for incredible acts right through from Led Zeppelin to current bands like Mumford and Sons today. We had people phoning before the poster was even designed to buy copies of that one!

robot print

Image: Woah there pickle

During my time there I learnt, from scratch, the running of a letterpress poster shop. There, the designer is also the printer so I had to first get to grips with the humongous archive of wood and metal letter blocks, hand carved lino blocks and metal photo plates and where it was all kept which was a mammoth task in itself! We then had to learn the traditional skills of typesetting, making colour separations, locking in the block on the press, making sure everything was printing and bumping up things that don’t, printing with the correct inconsistency of ink. Pretty soon we were working on live jobs and I made posters for a wide range of clients like The Country Music Hall of Fame, a local school, Counting Crows and the comedian Kevin James.

No Drinks or Drunks on the piano lino print

Image: Woah there pickle

 

My favourite thing about working in letterpress is how you have to learn design within the limitations of the process. It really forces you to make creative design decisions like if you don’t have enough ‘e’s in the typeface you’re using do you find another typeface altogether? Switch a few letters to a new one and make a mix? Find a good looking 3 and put it upside down? It all adds up to such a lovely quirky character you just don’t get on a computer.

 

7. You are obviously a big fan of craft fairs – what do you love most about them?

Vicky at a craft fair stallCraft fairs are great for two main reasons in my eyes. Firstly, making crafts or prints can be such a solitary job. Craft fairs are one of the big opportunities to meet up with people who are doing some of the same things as you so are effectively the colleagues you get to have a gossip with, see what else is going on with exhibitions or other fairs and talk about the things you’re doing and love. Luckily now I work in a studio so its not quite so lonesome but its lovely to be a part of that tight knit ‘scene’!

The second biggest pro to doing fairs is that there are not a lot of other opportunities to present your work to people face to face in a laid back atmosphere and get to chat to them about it. If you sell work on line of in galleries you don’t get a feel for the kind of person buying your stuff. With them in front of you, having a good old nose, they tell you which bits they like or which bits remind them of a thing their Grandma used to have or what else would be funny. That kind of feedback is not only invaluable as market research but is just really lovely to hear face to face!

8.  What’s it like to be surrounded by such a vibrant community of designer makers in Brighton and how does Woah There Pickle get involved?

Badges with woah there pickle designs on

 

If you’re going to have a go at making a living from anything creative or crafty I think Brighton is one of the best places in the world to make that happen. I think it must be the pull of the beautiful sea! There’s so much going on down here and quickly you will get to see the same familiar faces at events across the city.

Spider monkey print - work in progress

Image: Woah there pickle

Everyone is so open and friendly in the making community. I’m fairly new to it and already feel like I’ve been welcomed in by so many talented people who offer help and advice or a bit of a chat. Also the diversity of what people do is so interesting as well. People are truly doing some unique things and it makes me want to be better at what I do and make a real success of it.

There are so many ways to become involved in the community as well, it’s not just craft fairs. There are the monthly meet ups and talks put together by Craftaganza, the Brighton Etsy Team which also creates events and provides support and the twice yearly Open House festivals Brighton has to name a few. Really there is always something going on in Brighton!

 

9. What’s your favourite piece in the Woah There Pickle shop and why?

gummy bear cards

Image: Woah there pickle

Generally I think that the last thing I’ve done is my favourite print. I guess that’s a good indication that I’m still getting better at it! The last one I’ve done is a Gummy Bear card which is a great example of a print making me giggle once I get that revealing second colour on.

Betcha I can tell you where you got them shoes

Image: Woah there pickle

 

Other than that I really like the ‘Bet you I can tell you where you got them shoes’ scam one from New Orleans. I thought it might be a bit too much of an in joke to have any appeal else where but people from all over the world seem to by them which really makes me smile. (The answer is generally on the street or on your feet!)

 

 

10. What can we look forward to from Woah There Pickle this year?

All sorts! The studio I’ve started working in has an insane screen printing set up so although I’ll most likely keep using linocutting as my base for design I’ll be able to produce bits on fabric and combine the processes which I’m really excited about. I’m also starting to team up with some great independent retailers so I’ll hopefully gain more of a presence in physical shops this year so keep an eye out!

Hello Treacle - any chance?

Image: Woah there pickle

If you want to find out more about Vicky and her work or you’d like to buy something then here’s the information you need:

Website: www.woahtherepickle.co.uk where there’s a calendar of events to find me at craft fairs etc.

Twitter: @woahpickle

Instagram: woah_there_pickle

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Woahtherepickleprints

 

 

 

 

Interview with Debbie Kendall from The Enlightened Hound

Last year one of the designers that really caught my attention whilst visiting one of the MK Handmade and Vintage extravaganzas was Debbie Kendall of The Enlightened Hound. Both her subject choice and deceptively simple aesthetic appealed to me and I wanted to find out more. As a dog owner myself I could identify with the concept of “Canine Wisdom” and recognise the special bond that exists between dog and human.

Debbie very kindly agreed to do an interview for the blog and has given a fascinating insight into her creative process:

Debbie Kendall and her dog Figo

Debbie and Figo

Tell us more about yourself

My design history is quite varied. I attended Chelsea College of Art in London where I studied interior design and Amersham College in Buckinghamshire where I learnt a variety of printmaking techniques. I am also a self-taught furniture painter and have up-cycled furniture on and off for around 20 years as a both a hobby and business. I have also worked in marketing and advertising for several brands and retailers however it is only recently that I have the time and support to focus on my printmaking full time. Although it was a hobby to start with I have always wanted to sell my work. I thrive on the recognition that comes from someone liking my work enough to part with their hard earned cash and choosing to hang it on their wall. That is a great privilege and I love knowing that I am producing work that others can connect with.

Lino cut detail

Lino cut used to create Debbie’s prints

You use fonts from the Wild West and American Civil – what attracted you to these?

I wanted my prints to have a sense of nostalgia and vintage appeal. I have always loved the fonts used in the American Wild West Wanted Posters. They were designed specifically for posters so that the message was clear and stood out and they manage to be both bold and striking yet curiously ornamental. The way the fonts were used, combined with other decorative elements (like the pointing finger), gives the ‘wanted’ posters a strong sense of identity and heritage which I felt would be perfect for my prints. The old ‘wanted’ posters were mainly produced from woodcut letters by letterpress, a relief printing process that has many similarities with linocut. My hand printing process creates a softly distressed effect, which further echoes this vintage look.

Figo the Dog

Figo

Tell us more about your relationship with Figo

I think that unless you have a dog it is very hard to put into words the special bond that develops between humans and dogs. I always loved dogs but was not sure if I wanted the commitment involved in actually owning one, however I was under a lot of pressure from my boys (I blame Enid Blyton’s Famous Five as I used to read the stories to them and they loved Timmy, the dog). I eventually agreed when I felt that I could give a dog the time and focus it deserves and I can now not imagine the family without Figo. He is always there for me, devoted and loyal, incredibly calming and very difficult to be anything but happy in his company.

 Debbie's prints

Debbie’s prints

What do you love and hate most about the creative process?

This is a great question because it acknowledges that the creative journey is not always an easy one. It took me over a year to develop the Enlightened Hound prints and they are deceptively simple. When I look back over my developmental sketches and layouts for the prints I am reminded what a long and sometimes tortuous journey it was and it is this, precisely that I both love and hate about the creative process. I believe that if it is too easy then the work probably isn’t good enough! Being a bit of a perfectionist it is sometimes difficult for me to relax into the creative process and not be afraid of trying things that, in my mind, might not work out. But when I manage to let go of my judgemental side and just truly play and experiment with my work it is very rewarding.

Ink recipe cards

The ink recipe cards used by Debbie

Can you tell us more about your choice of colour palette?

I wanted to reinforce the American Vintage inspiration for the prints with the colour palette. I therefore researched the American Shaker and Colonial Buttermilk paint colours. I played with this palette to find combinations that worked for the prints – 2 bold complementary colours for the typography and a more subtle tint for the background element. I hand mix all my colours and make ‘recipe cards’ for each one so I can repeat the colour another time, however each time I make up the batch there is always some variation.

 Start Each Day with a Wagging Tail Card

Canine Wisdom

What is your personal favourite piece of dog wisdom?

Start Each Day with a Wagging Tail is my favourite because for me it totally encapsulates daily life with a dog. It is so easy to start the day in a negative frame of mind with the stresses and pace of modern life, however Figo always reminds me to put these into perspective when he greets me in the morning.

Debbie's studio

Debbie’s studio

Do you have a favourite spot in your workspace?

I am very lucky to have just finished creating a new studio for my work in our loft. I have created a seat under a huge velux window there, where I can look out over the tree tops and hopefully be inspired!

Figo the dog on a walk

Figo on a walk!

Do your walks with Figo influence your work – where is your favourite walk?

This is an interesting one! Spending time with Figo and watching how he reacts and adapts to life is a constant source of interest to me. I find my walks are the best time for me to clear my head and think about where my work is going. I always come up with my best ideas on a walk, even if they are not related to the walk itself, as it is the perfect time to free my mind from the detritus of everyday life. My favourite walk is one that I only get to do on holiday as it is by the beach at Daymer Bay in north Cornwall. Figo’s coastal heritage means that he is completely at home on the beach and in the sea.

 Closeup of font detail

A closeup of the fonts used by Debbie

Tell us more about your love of typography

I think typographic art is here to stay. The re-discovery of the original “Keep Calm and Carry On” wartime government poster in a second hand bookshop sparked a huge surge in popularity of slogans and mottos as wall art. In today’s fast paced world these light hearted, humorous reminders can help ground us when stress levels run high. However I felt that the glut of these types of posters had become a little cliched and I wanted to make my prints more personal and meaningful. Celebrating the timeless and unshakeable bond between humans and dogs was, for me, the perfect way to do this. When we hang our chosen words on the wall we are sharing a part of ourselves, and our view on the world, with others. It taps into the trend for sharing our views and desires with the world at large, epitomised by facebook and twitter. Typographic motivational art can be uplifting and personal and is a witty and relatively inexpensive way to personalize your homes or work space.

 

Printing Press

The Enlightened Hound Press!

 

What can we look forward to from Enlightened Hound in the coming months

I have been delighted and hugely grateful for the positive response to my work that has struck a real chord with dog lovers. A card company has made my designs into greeting cards (on sale in my Folksy shop) and they are also being licensed for reproduction onto mugs and tea-towels.

I have a total of 8 prints in the Canine Wisdom series however I have only cut lino plates for 4 of these, so I want to develop all eight designs into prints. I do have some other typographic dog inspired art ideas which are at sketchbook stage, and for these I am planning on using totally hand drawn fonts – the antipathy of computer created perfection. I also have a table top letterpress – an old Adana 8×5 – and I would like to get this working.

The demand for original handmade work is also very strong as an antithesis to mass produced, computer generated goods. A handmade print fits the bill perfectly in the quest for something unique, different and individual.

Print available from The Enlightened Hound

One of the new prints now available from the Enlightened Hound

The light-hearted “I love you anyway” lino prints by The Enlightened Hound were inspired by a comment from my husband when I (in his opinion) gave our dog one too many cuddles! They make a perfect gift for Anniversaries, Birthdays or Valentine’s Day to remind your dog-smitten loved ones how you feel! They are also available as greeting cards.

 I love you anyway greetings card

Greetings Card – perfect for Valentines!

The design and typography is influenced by original 19th century show posters and fonts, but these are combined with a playful folk art vibe and some more modern typefaces. The letters are all hand drawn and hand cut into the lino plates so the prints have a naive, homespun feel which makes them uniquely personal.

The prints are available in two under-stated colours – a soft grey-brown taupe or smoky blue. They are printed by hand using traditional linseed oil ink (hand mixed) on heavy 175gsm printing paper in limited editions of 250 prints. All prints are numbered, titled and signed by the artist.

If you are as smitten with Debbie and Figo as we are then here are all the details of how you can find out more or get your hands on their beautiful work:

website: http://www.theenlightenedhound.com

shop: http://www.theenlightenedhound.com/shop-gifts-for-dog-lovers.html

blog: http://theenlightenedhound.wordpress.com

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theenlightenedhound

twitter: HoundArtPrints

email: theenlightenedhound@yahoo.co.uk

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Instagram did not return a 200.

About Us

Rosie and the Boys is a creative family team with a love of colour and soft spot for parties. Our products are handcrafted with attention to detail, quality materials and a smile on our face! Inspired by Nature and designed with the latest trends in mind, we provide a range of party decorations and greetings cards with a contemporary twist.

Sign Up For News + Updates

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest Posts

  • Autumn Decorations
  • Memories of a wedding day
  • Plan the perfect party – six tips to show you how
  • Wedding Papercuts – a recent commission
  • How to have your cake and eat it – guilt free confetti

Copyright 2023 Rosie And The Boys | Site design handcrafted by Station Seven