London is Open

, by Unknown

The Migrants of Regent's Park London

We live in strange times. Building walls and shutting doors to our neighbours. Our very own Westminster World.

Not too far from Westminster is Regent's Park, a little oasis that has been welcoming migrants in hundreds and thousands. Migrants, some ringing in the seasons- sunshine and warmth from distant lands. Migrants who inspired many a famous poets.

Fly away, fly away over the sea,

Sun - loving swallow for summer in done;

Come again, come again, come back to me,

Brining the summer and brining the sun.

- Christina Rossetti

The Regent's park is home to over two hundred species of birds. Delighting bird lovers, children and puppies alike. Home to some of the rarest species of all colours and countries.

Black Swan couples spend their day in quiet contemplation while White ones create a ruckus with their signature synchronised dance, disturbing the peace in gleaming gold waters. The Common Pochard is a native of Europe, the Barnacle Goose from Arctic Islands and the Bar Headed Goose hails from Asia. It's like this lake in the park is a venue for a UN party all year round.

The deep colour Teal duck is a native to the forests of South America. The Pintail and White morph, both ducks from the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands. The Bailkat teal from Eastern Asia, and the graceful mute swan from Europe, Asia and North Africa.

The park gives sanctuary to passage migrants and winter visitors such as redwings, pied wagtails and mistle thrushes and in spring you can see reed warblers and blackcaps. The herons by the boating lake is one of the largest grey heron colonies in a city centre in the whole of Europe. And flocks of ring-necked parakeets, fly free, the only species of parrot living wild in the country.

Someday maybe, we all can roam wild in this world we share. Meanwhile I'm looking forward to spring and morning walks in the parks of London, through winding green paths with gleaming dew jewels and whiffs of fresh wet earth.

I did this illustration featuring some of the beautiful birds of Regent's Park. I found the subject so interesting, and I wanted to capture it in my way. Would love to hear your views on it!

Birds of London, by Eye for London Prints

0Comments

, by Unknown

In Design, Independent Creatives

Diving into seas of silk with Arati Devasher

Picking up a crisp silk scarf and running my fingers over it to feel the delicate textures and airy lightness gives me goosebumps. Holding such a thing of beauty!

When I first came across Arati's work on Etsy, it evoked the same feeling. It's a burst of the most exquisite colours and illustrations. Every design has multiple layers and I found myself trying to work out the patterns on all the different layers hidden below the other.

What's different about these scarves? I think it requires an eye of a very talented, seasoned artist to put together colours that work with each other, also complementing the patterns and symmetry with just the right amount of detailing.

And being a bit of a geek, and a fan of the 'How it's made' shows, I contacted Arati, and she mentioned her YouTube channel where she posts the whole process from scratch. After binge watching some very cool 'speed painting' videos, I must admit I never imagined the whole process to be this extensive. Some very interesting bits like adding soy wax over painted dye, to prevent the dripping, or the unique tools she uses like the 'Batik Stift' pen from Russia, the extra care post the actual painting process - the wrapping, resting, steaming, waiting for the dye to set before the final wash and iron!

Each of these pieces get the whole royal treatment, making them even more special, handmade till the end. My personal favourite is the lush aqua 'Schooling Fish' collection. The painted waves in turquoise hues reminds me a lot of Van Gogh's Starry Nights, giving an illusion of movement in the composition. But like every piece, this has it's own story that inspired Arati.

"This vibrant collection, featuring patterns of fish among rich blue-green hues and textures of the ocean, is inspired by Cornish fishing tales of young lads who called 'huwa huwa' from the top of the cliffs when they spotted large schools of shoaling pilchards... the fishermen waiting down in the harbour would immediately set out to make their abundant catch. Fishing has sadly declined in the Cornish coastal waters of England since then, but the beauty of that scene remains and is captured in these scarves. Some scarves have an abundance of fish as there was in the oceans a hundred years ago while others have only one or two or even none, signifying the loss of marine life in recent years."

Visit Arati's website at aratidevasher.co.uk, to view her entire collection of scarves, ties and jewellery.

Have a look at the process here:

Some more favourites from the shop.

2Comments

, by Unknown

In Design, Independent Creatives

Jay Blades on giving new life to old furniture & troubled teenagers

Jay Blades, turns forgotten old furniture to unique signature pieces of art, and that's not even the coolest bit about him! His company Jay & Co works with teenagers from troubled backgrounds, helping them transform their lives along with transforming furniture.

I had an opportunity to chat with Jay, and talk to him about his journey.

How did the idea of up cycling furniture by working with troubled young people in the community come about?

Jay: I started working with young people at a charity called Street Dreams. I have always loved working with them, helping them do something positive with their lives. As with a lot of charities, the funding dried out. But I wanted to continue the good work, and started thinking about how to bring in some revenue, setting up a company that continues doing the good work but self sustaining.

I started 'Out of the Dark' in 2009, teaching kids to make furniture, which then morphed into Jay & Co. It was about getting kids together, who wanted to work, teaching them to create something out of nothing.

What has been your one of your most memorable stories of achievement as a mentor to your kids in your workshop?
Jay: I met a young girl who hadn't smiled for six years! She was suffering through depression, on the suicide watch, and was hurting herself. Her mother had tried just about everything she could, when she was introduced to me. Within just three months of working with me, her smile was back. She had found her purpose. She is now a professional upholsterer.

And this is just one of the stories, a memorable one. I have worked with so many youngsters who have turned their lives around.

The splash of colour in your pieces. The yellow paint dipped leg, or that single colour button on the upholstery making every piece unique. Tell us more about your 'signature'

Jay: It actually happened quite by accident. One day at the workshop I was painting the legs of a chair and had finished painting three when I got a phone call. When I looked back at the chair, it was so striking. I thought to myself, why not just paint the one leg. It gives the form of the legs more attention, enhancing the details. Suddenly it is not 'just another chair leg' but a statement.

I wanted to use buttons on upholstery, but not in the normal way. Just the one coloured button diagonally opposite the painted leg.

How has the recent Brexit affected the mood in your neighbourhood. Your views...
Jay: Brexit in my opinion was a good wake up call to the government. For long has London controlled how the rest of the UK lived. The North- South divide has always existed and found their voice at this referendum.

The scare mongering and recent reports related to the surge in race crimes have absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. I am very skeptical about these reports. I have worked in crime and statistics before, and race crimes have always existed even before Brexit. Muslims, women, gays, blacks all have been subjected to it, but have never been reported as they are today- because they weren't relevant. Brexit brought everything back on to the spotlight.

The mood: People are unhappy. This is a call for change.

You mention in your blog, that you don't go out too often. How do you unwind after a long day, or on weekends.

Jay: The truth is, I'm always working. Even through weekends. Today for example, I'm going out to the local shops to source for materials. I also have a few shows coming up that I need to prepare for, shoots and interviews. Money for Nothing on the BBC and Gok's House on Channel 4. I enjoy what I do, and it really doesn't feel like 'work'

Lastly, In your view, what is the one simple life skill every one of us can adopt- a trick or a hack, that could make a huge difference?

Jay: 'Be like a child.' Have fun. Stay curious. Enjoy everything. Explore everything. Experience everything.