Ale Barba

Alejandra Barba is a children's' book illustrator from Mexico and currently has an extensive list of publications from around the world. Her work is beautifully unique and very charming. If you like what you see please visit her web page as shown in my friends list where you can contact her personally and view more of her work.

Cal.ligrafia (Chinese Calligraphy)

At Eina, I am currently studying Cal.ligrafia (Chinese Calligraphy) - it is a very interesting skill that requires a lot of self discipline. You have to learn breathing exercises as your breathing affects the way that you draw with the brush. There is a lot of history regarding this art and the philosophy behind it is crucial to the overall understanding.

We have learned how to draw 5 different lines and to combine them into characters - believe me this is harder than it sounds! My favourite part is making my own ink with my stone bowl and ink stick. I shall keep my progress updated!

Nadav Kander

Untitled #3

Diver, Salt Lake, USA

Erin (after Caravaggio)

Nadav Kander is my favourite photographer - he captures the world in the most beautiful way and deals with issues ranging from quirky observations to disturbing social issues.

www.nadavkander.com

Packaging

This project was to design and illustrate a piece of promotional packaging for the band - The Arcade Fire. They are relatively unheard of in Spain, despite being famous worldwide. My design includes an illustrative lighter in a fire alarm style box. The text on the front translates as:

In an Intervention break here.

Intervention is a particularly popular song of the band. The lighter is to be used at gigs and festivals in the tradition of waving it above your head - and for this purpose the flame is red.

Underneath the lighter, are two candles - promoting the band name and the next concert in the area.

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.

It is estimated Barcelona will run out of running water by October this year. This is due to severe droughts in the city and lead to the import of water. Despite this, every night the streets in the centre are washed down by Government employed workers.

Although, the water in Barcelona is not safe to drink, this has lead me to re-think my position on the issue of bottled water. I used to believe that it was a pointless and expensive luxury, of which we were paying the price with the consequences on the environment. I still believe this, but only for countries who's drinking water is safe to drink, such as the UK. Here in Spain, it is normal to purchase bottled water - it is extremely cheap at about 6pence a litre but still not environmentally sound.

Over the last two months, I have been collecting the bottles of water I have consumed:

This is most of the water I have consumed since my arrival in Barcelona.

Illustrating the problem in Barcelona.

And over two months I have consumed at least:

Litres of water!!!!

Maybe, with 3 months still to go, I should just collect the bottle tops?

Illustrations

Some more illustrative work in response to the album, Neon Bible by Arcade Fire.

Intervention

In my illustration classes in Barcelona, we have been experimenting and responding to music. At the moment we are listening to Arcade Fire - both the albums, Funeral and Neon Bible. These illustrations are my responses to my favourite song - Intervention. (Neon Bible)