Inkygoodness 4, “Play” exhibition opens tonight! The exhibition will showcase the work of 38 new and emerging international artists and illustrators for the next two weeks at EAST Gallery, Brick Lane, London.

Expect to see entertaining new artwork, limited edition prints and lively installations, lovingly created by a specially selected group of international artists and illustrators, inspired by the theme of ‘Play’.

To celebrate their debut London show, Inkygoodness have teamed up with AMMO Magazine on a special issue of the same theme. Featuring many of the ‘Play’ artists, Inkygoodness are proud to present an exclusive preview of this limited edition issue, available to purchase on the opening night tonight (Thursday 2nd September 2010) for just £5!

In response to the demand for affordable artwork, the exhibition will feature over 120 one-off artworks and limited edition prints. Many of these will be available to purchase in the gallery or on our new online shop after the opening night at www.inkygoodness.bigcartel.com. Prices start from £50.

Private View: Thursday 2nd September 2010
Venue: EAST Gallery, 216 Brick Lane, London
Time: 6pm - 9pm
RSVP to: inkygoodness@easy.com

The Exhibition will run until September 12th 2010
Open: Tuesday - Friday 1pm - 7pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 6pm

Mc Bess at work on his wall mural for Inkygoodness 4 'Play'

Dave Bain adds his finishing touches to his painting

Lisa Hassell with artists Dave Bain, Sarah Dennis & Vicky Newman who popped down to deliver their artwork today at the East Gallery

Inkygoodness & arty-goodness at the East Gallery as many of the prints, artwork and lovely drawings arrive!

Joe Rogers aka Colourbox hangs his installation 'Shrine To The Out-moded '

Inkygoodness artists:
Stephen Chan/ Jason Devine/ Christiane Engel/ Good Wives & Warriors/ Lisa Hassell/ Kate Hindley/ Mister Millerchip/ Inkymole/ Carlos Garde-Martin/ Camelia Dobrin/ Mc Bess/ Simon David Mills/ George Mitchell/ Moot/ Olive47/ Tom J. Newell/ Hannah Baber / Steph Baxter/ Dave Bain/ DBO/ Colourbox/ Docvek/ Marcus Butt/ Vicky Newman/ Steve Rack/ Steven Silverwood/ Log Roper/ Juan Salas/ Matt Saunders/ Leila Shetty/ Karin Söderquist/ Ben Steers/ Jonathan Thomas/ Michelle Turton/ Toy Factory/ Simon Wild/ Mark Wilkinson & Gizem Vural.
www.inkygoodness.com
http://www.twitter.com/inkygoodness
http://www.groups.to/inkygoodness
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkygoodness/

We’re pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the UK’s premier exhibition for providers of affordable housing.The Social Housing Exhibition 2010 forms the focal point of the National Housing Federation’s flagship Annual Conference and has grown considerably in recent years. It offers delegates and visitors the chance to explore the latest innovations, products and services from over 100 exhibitors who supply and support the sector…of which we are one.

Social housing is one sector that we are proud to say we specialise in here at Matrix. We have helped re-brand and reposition housing associations through to assisting engagement with tenants and stakeholders alike.

With over ten year’s experience of working within the sector, we are sensitive to the needs and demands that accompany this interesting and diverse sector.  We understand that there is a fine line between introducing creative ways to communicate with your target audience and to be seen as spending rashly on projects and solutions that deliver little value.

Our creative thinking commences from the moment we embark on a new relationship with a client.  We take time to understand the core values and vision for the organisation. We then work with our clients to develop strategies and solutions that deliver those core messages in the best way. Each and every time.

If you would like to find out more about we get up to in this sector, then why not register for the event and come and say hello. We’ll be at stand A11…and the coffee’s on us.

Visit for more info and to register visit the Social Housing Exhibition website.

Social Housing Exhibition, ICC Birmingham

Wednesday 22 September 13:00 - 19:30
Thursday 23 September 09:00 - 17:30
Friday 24 September 08:30 - 12:30

The Decked Project is a fine and dandy collection of artists / illustrators / designers / tattoo artists and generally ink-stained fellows. The first exhibition was held at Stolenspace gallery in London in 2009. Now, one year on The Decked Project is back by popular demand and opened last night at The Coningsby Gallery, London.

If you’re in London town over the next week you really need to go to this.

The Decked Project boasts 60 of today’s best street artists, illustrators and designers each hand painting/inking/drawing one skateboard deck providing a vivid show packing a high powered visual punch! Organsied by illustrators Vicky Newman and EJ Miles the sneaky peek pictures and video proves how hard they have worked to make sure the show is a massive hit. We salute you!

Vicky Newman and EJ Miles

Decked shoes by Dave Bain

Decked shoes

Decked boards

Decked boards

Exhibition Details:
The Coningsby Gallery London, 30 Tottenham Street, London, United Kingdom

Get in touch with The Decked Project
thedeckedproject.blogspot.com
facebook group
twitter.com/deckedproject

We have had another addition to the Matrix family, Sue Reason, all the way from sunny Oldham. Sue joined the team as Business Development Manager and has already settled into life in the Matrix. She has even been fully converted to Twitter! So why not go and check out her profile at @suzyreason…And why not come and say hello to us whilst you’re at it?

We asked Sue some quick fire questions…Find out how she answered them below:

Kebab or chips: Chips but they’ve got to be brown not white yuk!

Favourite pair of sneakers: errrr?

Greatest album of all time: The Hounds of Love, Kate Bush

Favourite film: Kill Bill 2

Favourite ad campaign: Compare the Meerkat.com

Cups of caffeine in a day: 1 as a treat it makes me giddy if I have 2 (honest)!

PC or MAC: Definitely PC

Football team: Man U … is there any other?

Most likely to be doing on a Sunday afternoon: Exploring rural Shropshire

Drink of choice: Margarita every time

Weapon of choice: Sword although probably not widely available now!

Marmite - love it or hate it: Never had it

Crabs or Prawns: Ooooo crab especially fresh and preferably by the seaside somewhere

Along with a few fellow illustrators I have been invited to re-paint the interior of music & art venue Start the Bus - Bristol style!

On Saturday 31st July your eyes will be treated to an array of visual delights from an exciting troop of creatives from Bristol and Birmingham.

Start the Bus Bristol

This new event has been created to showcase the talents of artists & illustrators, who will be lovingly adorning the walls of Start the Bus throughout the day from 11am till 7pm!

Ben Steers artwork at Start the Bus

The talented group will re design the space within Start the Bus, transforming the bar into a wonderland of swirling landscapes and quirky characters, inspired by the following themes: woodland, flying machines, optical illusions, pirates and sea monsters!

Camelia Dobrin

Artists confirmed: Dave Bain, Cami Dobrin, Inkygoodness (Lisa Hassell & Michelle Turton), Hot Soup (Russ Henry), Peskimo (David & Jodie), Seb Burnett, Ben Steers, Hannah Baber & Sarah Dennis.

Peskimo "Bump" illustrations for The Buttery Factory Singapore

A short hop away from the main stage at Queens Square, this is a must-see stop on the Harborside Festival route this weekend! If your about in Brizzle this weekend you should pop in and say hi! I will post some pictures up on Monday so keep your eyes peeled:)

Could this be true? Are marketing and communications budgets actually going to rise in the next 12 months? According to PR Week’s recent survey of Communications Directors, there maybe signs of an upturn in marketing confidence.

According to the survey “39 % of marketing and comms directors expect an uplift in budget of up to 20%” (PR Week 16th July 2010).

As a West Midlands based marketing and communications agency, news like this is welcome. But, where will budgets be spent? Social media has truly transformed the way us marketers communicate and engage with customers. For us, we have seen the real benefit that social media can bring as part of an integrated marketing strategy, especially amongst SME’s. Smaller businesses often struggle to not only find additional marketing spend but also have issues with justifying this to fellow board members.

Having survived the last recession, we have learnt valuable lessons that we can share with other SME’s on how to stretch marketing budgets and ensure there is enough elastic to make them stretch that bit further.

If you are looking for more advice on how social media can help you unlock new business potential, why not get in touch? In this economic climate, it’s all about sharing ideas, not hiding them away.

I thought I’d let you know that I have only ever done graphics when I was in Year 9 and to be honest it was, and still isn’t, as detailed or actually anything like the type of graphics that I have experienced this week at Matrix.

I’m in my second year of A Levels taking Art and Design, Product Design, Geography and English Literature. I wanted to come to Matrix to experience and experiment with an art I wasn’t used to, and I had little experience of the basic software available at my Sixth Form.

When I first arrived at Matrix, Lorraine welcomed me in by showing me around the studio and then sat me in a cool kitchen dining extension, with a plasma! I met the team of people that work at Matrix that nervous morning and found them all welcoming, funny and helpful.

I was briefed on what my portfolio was to be based on, which consisted of re-designing the Matrix logo to become a more creative and contemporary reface of the company. I was left to play around on Illustrator, and I found it quite easy to come up with designs (after Daz found the shapes box for me… again).

I experimented with the way that the “M” looked and after many unsuccessful prototypes, I found a design that had promise. Even though the basics of the design was based around the “twirl tool”, I found that by basing it round a basic box “M” then deleting the box continued the twirls and curves of the intricate and detailed form, which the printer later had issues with. Through using the “Warp tool” I experimented by dragging sections of the “M” to form the three triangles, which makes up the spaces in the letter.

Sat next to Daz, Ken and Paul was quite funny, as the banter that goes on between them is amusing and members of the team kept coming past and to look at my work and ask how I was getting on.

By spending time working at Matrix I’ve begun to see the side to the term Graphics which is deeply embedded in software technology by having the chance to freely experiment and to begin to learn one of the three software’s, with additional dipping into Indesign and Photoshop along the way.

Getting the chance to incorporate my artwork into the graphics that I have done, has allowed me to experiment with different designs, which aren’t available to me through my Sixth Form. I have also been able to work on an Alzheimer’s advert with varying forms, which again has allowed me to incorporate my artwork.

I have enjoyed my week here and I am glad I’ve been able to gain a graphics portfolio out of the week.

Thank you MATRIX!

After just about surviving the hectic two dayer that was the Online Marketing Show, we celebrated by heading over to Shoreditch for some sunshine and shit-naks at London’s first Modern Toss exhibition.

For two weeks only the Maverik Gallery in East London has been taken over by limited edition prints, interactive pieces of utter perfection, a giant marble fly (I kid you not), an array of weird and wonderful nik-naks (featuring Mr Tourette and the Drive-by Abuser), along with the side splittingly funny ‘Periodic Table of Swearing’.

We even had the pleasure of meeting the brains behind the explosively hilarious doodles and profanities, Mick Bunnage and John Link, who were kind enough to sign our copy of the ‘The Modern Toss Guide To Work’ we just couldn’t resist picking up for the office.

If you’ve not checked it out yet, well, you should. Because it’s great yeah.

The Modern Toss London Museum of Urban Shit-Naks Exhibition.

22nd June - 11th July, Maverik Showroom, 68-72 Redchurch St. London E2

Mon-Fri: Midday-7pm Weekends: Midday- 4pm.

Keep bang up to date with all things Modern Toss here.

Wow! Today I’ve had a fab day at Matrix. At first Caroline showed me around and I met some amazing and funny people and learnt what they individually do for the company. I made a cup of tea or coffee for nearly everyone and accidently missed out Mark…sorry Mark, yet again!

I spent the day designing different concepts for the Matrix brand and now understand what takes place before the work is sent off to Restart Print, where I have already spent a couple of days doing work experience and learnt so much it’s untrue.

All day I’ve sat opposite Michelle and Nic…They are amazing and so funny, I haven’t stopped laughing all day and I LOVE their moustache mugs, they are hilarious!

Me with Michelle and Nic...and their moustache mugs!

At lunch we went for a walk to the Mailbox and went to the Art Lounge and saw some amazing, inspirational drawings and prints. Nic and I tried to convince Michelle to buy a massive piece of art, even though she might have to repaint her wall!

We then went to Tesco’s and just couldn’t resist buying jam doughnuts! Later I had some photos with Nic and Michelle and THE mugs! Dan even folded my face and signed the back and I just couldn’t stop laughing at Simon’s chicken impression!

I felt like I have learnt lots to do with how they design packaging, look at photos and put them in Photoshop, edit colours that don’t look right and how they help companies with designs… and how Dan gets his inspiration by drawing round heads and facefolding!

Thank you so much for today and even though it’s only been one day it’s been a great experience and everyone is absolutely lovely and kind! And we LOVE frothy bevvies!

Alice May Brennan xxx

Michelle and Dan

My facefold...Thanks Dan!

A sneaky peak at something Dan is working on

Some of the Matrix family!

The Girls Who Draw collective are taking their Travelling Menagerie Exhibition to sunny Falmouth. The exhibition follows the success of the Menagerie postcard booklet launched earlier this year and will take place at the Here and Now Gallery. The collective is made up of illustrators based in Birmingham and further afield including: Gemma Correll, Anke Weckmann, Mary Kilvert, Sarah Ray, Kate Hindley, Ruth Green, Currentstate, Yee Ting Kuit, Karoline Rerrie and Michelle Turton. The exhibition will feature an exotic display of artwork from the Menagerie postcard booklet, as well as new work based on the same theme.

More information about the ‘Menagerie’ postcard book can be found at www.menageriebook.blogspot.com

You can check out the event on Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=128052533872756&ref=mf

Go check it.

Private View - Fri 2nd July (6-8pm)
Here and Now Gallery
41 a Killigrew Street
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR113PW