All Things Maidstone

On Saturday 19 May 2012 I returned to my former art college to say farewell. Maidstone College of Art is to be no more. The site in Oakwood Park Maidstone Kent has been sold off to Mid Kent College.

Maidstone is part of UCA and it has been decided that in these difficult financial times that it has to go. Around 175 people made it back there for the day’s events. Former Staff and Students spoke about what the College meant to them and how it still influenced lives. The was an exhibition of archive work, a memory wall and a lace to record our anecdotes.

I enjoyed the day and much had changed since my last visit in 1994. I'm glad I went and feel that I made the most of my time there and how attending my BA in Graphics helped me forge my current career and relationship with others.

Thanks to Marian Anderson, Trevor Ford, Geoff Granfield, Geoff Haddon, The Crimbles, Ian Hunt, Judith Williamson and Jane O'Grady for sharing the day.

Three cheers for Maidstone and three cheers for me.

Karl

5 Terrace Road my home 1986 - 1987. Here my transgressions were many

Maidstone College of Art

Western Road my home 1987 - 1988 It was a shit hole

Beautiful spot within Oakwood Park. It's now a Hotel

Illustration Studios. I spent a lot of time here drawing and making new friends

SU Bar. We didn't have one of those in my day 

Canteen now with added Mezzanine!

Living the Dream

Is teaching part of living the dream? When I started out over 18 years ago to interact with curious minds as a lecturer did I have any idea where this would lead me?

One of my MA peers is always mentioning that she's “living the dream” and we should all do the same. I'm beginning to feel that I should adopt a similar attitude to hers.

I do have a problem however; I've forgotten what the dream was.

One dream that is coming true is the arrival of a 2-screen cinema at the end of my street. In September Barbican Cinema 2 and 3 will emerge and I will be a mere 5 minutes away from projected happiness.

Film is the dream and I need to make that dream become real. 

To be continued...

'The Dark Corner' the scene is discovered at last

'The Dark Corner' 1946 just found the scene I've been looking for for months. Debonair Art Collector using his silver-topped cane pushes hired muscle out of 31st floor window. A brutal and merciless killing. Nice


Check out this link for more action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7AeuPXpivg&feature=share where I found the cold and brutal scene. Action starts 1:21:31 in. Enjoy.


Karl

'From The Loom Room' exhibition 13-17 April 2012 at Blackall Studios 73 Leonard Street Shoreditch London EC2A 4QS

After a successful private view on Thursday 12 April I thought you might like to see some images from the exhibition. There has been a steady flow of visitors to the Gallery with work sold and artists commissioned. Get yourself down there if you want to see top quality work by some of the brightest illustrators out there.


If you have come to this blog through my QR code then why don't you become a follower, set up RSS feeds or set up e-mail notifications. The content of this Blog allows you to delve into my creative process and lets you see how my storyboard project develops over the next few months. If the blog is to your liking you might also wish to follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/graphicnarrativ


I hope you like the images.


Karl

 

 Artwork 2012 © Fuchsia Macaree

Artwork 2012 © James Clapham

Artwork 2012 © John Riordan

Artwork 2012 © Ruchi Shah

Artwork 2012 © Runlin Chen

Artwork 2012 © Sara Taghdimi

Artwork 2010, 2011, 2012 © Karl Foster 

Artwork 2010, 2011, 2012 © Karl Foster 

Artwork 2010, 2011, 2012 © Karl Foster

'From The Loom Room' exhibition 13-17 April 2012 at Blackall Studios 73 Leonard Street Shoreditch London EC2A 4QS

From The Loom Room exhibition website

Website now up for 'From The Loom Room' exhibition that I have work in. Check it out at http://www.fromtheloomroom.com/


Thanks Alessandra Genualdo for creating this site.


Karl

Q&A for The Pirates! at Stratford Picturehouse

Friday 30 March 2012


Q&A for 'The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists' chaired by my good self went very well. Jonny Duddle answered many questions from the audience. The film was hilarious and very entertaining. 


Jonny was the Character Designer for the film working very closely with legendary Director Peter Lord. He spent four years working on this project for Aardman. Jonny also spoke about his work as an illustrator and author. 


I enjoyed the experience and would be happy to do this type of work again. Big thanks to Tamlyn Francis at Arena Illustration (Jonny's Agents) for asking me to chair the event.


Karl

Jonny Duddle wins top prize (represented by Arena Illustration)

Top prize winner author and illustrator Jonny Duddle with his excellent book 'The Pirates Next Door' at last nights Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2012 award ceremony. I'm looking forward to chairing the Q&A with him after tomorrow's showing of Aardman's film 'The Pirates - In An Adventure with Scientists' at the Stratford Picturehouse. Jonny's a busy and very talented man.


Karl

Madrid 2012

Just got back from Madrid, Espana. Spent my time soaking up the atmosphere of the city, exhibitions and cultural venues. Found the most wonderful plaza in the world and visited two of my favourite galleries the Museo del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. 'Viva Madrid, viva la movida madrileña.'


Karl

MA Visual Arts - Revelation II

At my tutorial with Jan Woolley I was introduced to the work of Romare Bearden http://www.beardenfoundation.org/artlife/beardensart/beardensart.shtml 
It's cool stuff and it's about something important Civil Rights and Jazz.

I'm investigating his output to see if I can use some of his ideas to help me with the mise-en-scene for my storyboard project.

We also looked at the classic 60's British films dubbed 'Kitchen Sink' Dramas. 'Cathy Come Home' (Dir. Ken Loach 1966) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9NZhnU0tuo
 
Poor Cow (Dir. Ken Loach 1967) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LX0GGo86Ww
 
and 'A Taste of Honey' (Dir. Tony Richardson 1961) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4-hUmxnfOE&feature=related
 
to see if the staging used in them could help me construct believable environments for my characters. Austerity Britain looks just like these films

Karl

MA Visual Arts - Figure Textures

MA Visual Arts - Figure Textures