Follow the daily progress of our talent, commissions, collaborations and new discoveries.
May 16th, 2012
Zombie Collective presents Fathoms Deep
From tomorrow until June 3rd, YCN illustrator Maggie Li and Zombie Collective will be hosting Fathoms Deep, a nautical-themed pop-up event at the Hayward Gallery shop. The artists will be selling a collection of sea-faring paraphernalia and products at the show, including postcards, prints and deck chairs. You find out more about Fathoms Deep and related events here.
Please contact YCN if you would like to discuss working with Maggie on a future project.
Posted in Elsewhere by Tom
May 16th, 2012
Break your duck by Ed Nacional
Taken from our exhibition A Baker's Dozen, the above image by YCN illustrator Ed Nacional is inspired by the phrase "break your duck".
The phrase is used when someone does something for the first time. Its origins lie in English public school slang from the 1850s, when during sporting competitions, a score of zero against a player's name was referred to as a "duck egg". This developed into calling a cricket player a "duck" if they had been unsuccessful in the game and dismissed from play without scoring a point. The term "breaking one's duck" was used when a player broke a run of ducks.
Please contact YCN if you would like to discuss commissioning Ed.
May 15th, 2012
Gift of the gab by Fernando Volken Togni
This is Fernando Volken Togni's take on the term "gift of the gab".
The saying is used to describe those who are persuasive and articulate when conversing. The primitive Celtic word for mouth was "gab", but it is more likely that the expression is derived from the Middle English term "gabbe", meaning idle talk. Gab however has remained in modern use, both as the basis for the word "goblet" and the slang "gob" for mouth.
Please contact YCN if you would like to discuss commissioning Fernando.
May 14th, 2012
Daft as a brush by Jack Hudson
This next image from our exhibition A Baker's Dozen is YCN illustrator Jack Hudson's interpretation on the classic British phrase "daft as a brush". The term is used to describe somebody who is rather stupid.
Some maintain that the phrase originated as "as soft as a brush", the brush in question being the tail of a fox. This is plausible as "soft" is a Northern English term for stupid and fox's tails are in fact quite soft to the touch. Over time, this evolved into the more familiar saying "daft as a brush", with the brushes in this instance referring to the young, uneducated boys who in the 18th and 19th centuries were employed to climb inside chimneys and sweep them.
Please contact YCN if you would like to discuss commissioning Jack.
May 11th, 2012
Giedre Domzaite for Beautiful
YCN illustrator Giedre Domzaite was recently asked by award-winning creative studio Beautiful to decorate the walls of their East London offices. She responded by creating this marvellous mural, effectively illustrating the company's motto of "make it beautiful".
Please contact YCN to discuss working with Giedre.
May 11th, 2012
A botch job by Jack Teagle
This interpretation of the phrase "a botch job" was created by YCN illustrator Jack Teagle for our exhibition A Baker's Dozen, currently on show in Ted Baker London's New York Meatpacking District store.
The phrase, which means to repair something badly, was first used in old England where peasant chairmakers were dubbed "bodgers". These craftspeople produced simple and serviceable objects which were disregarded as crude when chairmaking was later transformed into a high art. The bodgers' labour and products were correspondingly downgraded to "bodge" or "botch" - which came to mean an item or service of poor quality.
Please contact YCN to discuss commissioning Jack.
May 10th, 2012
Keen as mustard by Jean Jullien
Taken from our exhibition A Baker's Dozen, this image by YCN illustrator Jean Jullien is inspired by the phrase "keen as mustard".
The phrase is used to describe someone who is very enthusiastic. Much like the eponymous condiment, which came to be associated with vigour because it added zest and flavour to a meal, individuals described as being "keen as mustard" are believed to bring enthusiasm and energy to a situation or group.
To discuss commissioning Jean, please contact YCN.
May 09th, 2012
The Full Monty by John M. Vogt
This next image from our exhibition A Baker's Dozen is Minneapolis-based illustrator John M. Vogt's interpretation on the classic British phrase "the Full Monty". The saying is used to describe something which is the real thing, and not of a lesser quality or reduced in any way.
The most often-repeated derivation is from the tailoring business of Sir Montague Burton. A complete three-piece suit, i.e. one with a waistcoat to be worn to a wedding and events of that ilk would be classed as the Fully Monty. There is plausible hearsay evidence from the staff who worked in Burton's shops who confirm that customers were familiar with the term and often asked for "the Full Monty" by name.
To discuss commissioning John, please contact the YCN studio.
May 08th, 2012
Hard Cheese by Lauren Radley
Our exhibition A Baker's Dozen, currently on show in Ted Baker London's Meatpacking District store in New York, showcases visual interpretations of a variety of quintessential British phrases. Included in this collection is the above take on the term "hard cheese" from illustrator Lauren Radley.
This slang term, used as an expression of bad luck, dates from the early 19th century when it was used then just as a general indication of unsatisfactoriness. A play called The Tiger At Large (1837) features an early citation - "Jem. His wages was too low. Don’t you think a pound a month, and find one’s self is hard cheese?"
May 04th, 2012
Just Not Cricket by Owen Gildersleeve
This is Owen Gildersleeve's take on the term "just not cricket".
The saying is used when something seems unfair or unjust and, as the phrase suggests, is rooted in the traditional pastime. Cricket players, usually from a Royal background or of high social standing, believed in playing a fair game and would never resort to abusing, pushing, pulling or showing disrespect to any other player. They also applauded a good show of the opponent, congratulating them whenever they took a wicket or scored a shot. It was a perfect gentleman's game and therefore whenever something unfair or unjust occurred, it was spoken of accordingly.
To discuss commissioning Owen, please contact the YCN studio.
May 03rd, 2012
Wet Your Whistle by Pete Gamlen
This image, taken from our New York exhibition A Baker's Dozen, is YCN illustrator Pete Gamlen's interpretation of the phrase "wet your whistle".
The expression is used when one is in need of a drink, and quenches their thirst with an alcoholic beverage. The saying was first uttered in old English pubs, where patrons would have a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they required a refill, they would blow (or "wet") this whistle to receive some service.
To discuss commissioning Pete, please contact the YCN studio.
May 02nd, 2012
A Dog’s Dinner by Randy Mora
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This next illustration from our exhibition A Baker's Dozen is Randy Mora's take on the term "a dog's dinner".
The phrase refers to something which is a real mess. It was originally used to reference to a cooking mishap, in which the results were so unappealing, they would be fit only for canine consumption.
To discuss commissioning Randy, please contact the YCN studio.
May 01st, 2012
Pear-shaped by Sam Brewster
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The next image from A Baker's Dozen, our collaboration with Ted Baker London, is Sam Brewster's interpretation of the phrase "pear-shaped".
The phrase, which is used when things appear to have gone wrong, seems to have originated in the late 1940s or early 1950s. One of the suggested origins stems from training aircraft pilots. At some stage, pilots are encouraged to fly loops, which is a very difficult manoeuver to master. The trainee pilot's loops would rarely be perfectly circular, rather following the shape of a pear instead. Therefore, a bad loop was one which went pear-shaped.
To discuss commissioning Sam, please contact the YCN studio.
April 30th, 2012
Hanky Panky by Yelena Bryksenkova
To celebrate the opening of YCN's New York Talent office, we have collaborated with Ted Baker London to produce an exhibition in their Meatpacking District store. The show, entitled A Baker's Dozen, collects 13 YCN illustrators' interpretations of a range of quintessentially British expressions. Over the next few weeks, we will be adding an image from the show to the YCN blog every day, starting with Baltimore-based illustrator Yelena Bryksenkova's interpretation of the phrase "hanky panky".
The term, which can mean either trickery and double dealing, or sexual shenanigans was created on account of its attractive alliteration or rhyme, similar to "the bee's knees" or "the mutt's nuts". The use of the term was initially recorded in the first edition of British weekly humour magazine Punch, or the London Charivari dated September, 1841.
To discuss commissioning Yelena, please contact the YCN studio.
April 30th, 2012
Mark Mulroney’s Spring Time Pictures
Friends of YCN and contributors to the forthcoming issue of Ideas Illustrated The Goodhood Store will be showcasing some new work by American artist Mark Mulroney this week in an exhibition entitled Spring Time Pictures. The show at Goodhood's Galleries Goldstein space will feature a number of Mulroney's abstract paintings and collages drawn and stuck onto old hardback book covers.
The private view will be held on the evening of Thursday May 3rd, and the show will run from then until May 26th.
Posted in Elsewhere by Tom
