Sail into February with laurel

Here's my latest collage for Gardenia magazine. I used some
leftovers from the brilliant job I did for the Swiss company
de Sede before Christmas ( https://youtu.be/KyJ_uq9diL8 )
with Carla Mantero and Fulvia Carmagnini -
grazie ragazze (-:

Gardenia magazine collage

I'm working on August and September at the moment
and the monthly collage for Gardenia magazine is
definitely one of my favourite projects!
Here are some of this year's illustrations.
In questi giorni sto preparando i disegni per agosto 
e settembre. Il collage per la rivista Gardenia è sicuramente 
uno dei miei lavori preferiti! 
Ecco le altre illustrazioni di quest'anno.

Two private commissions/Due commissioni private

Some time last year I was contacted by a lady who lives in England and often comes to Italy for work. She had seen my maps for La Repubblica on one of her trips. A close friend of hers was about to have her 50th birthday and her ex husband was coming up to 60. She sent me some details of the places and events she wanted to include and together we worked towards defining the content. It was interesting for me as some of the stories were intertwined. Here are the final maps.

L'anno scorso sono stata contattata da una signora che abita in Inghiterra e viene spesso in Italia per lavoro. Aveva visto le mie mappe per La Repubblica. Una sua carissima amica stava per compiere 50 anni e suo ex marito 60. Mi ha inviato alcuni dettagli dei posti e gli eventi che voleva raccontare e abbiamo lavorato insieme per definire il contenuto. Per me era interessante perché alcuni parti delle loro storie si intrecciavano. Qua trovate le mappe definitive.

Welcome Victoria . Benvenuta Victoria!

A new commission, possibly my youngest client, Victoria,
6 months, though her grandmother had a hand in it too. Thanks Milena!
Una nuova commissione e a sei mesi Victoria potrebbe essere il mio 
cliente più giovane; chiaramente c'era anche la nonna. Grazie Milena!

Tapirulan guide to Salsomaggiore

 Group photo on the opening night. Foto di gruppo 
la sera dell'inaugurazione.

I participated in the latest Tapirulan guide, Salsomaggiore this time.
It was quite strange to be in the area again as it's not far from
Tabiano Castello where I rented a house with friends some years ago.
The exhibition is on until July, well worth a visit if you're in the area
and Salsomaggiore itself has a rather old fashioned air, interesting to
walk round and then move on!
Ho partecipato alla guida di Salsomaggiore realizzato recentemente 
da Tapirulan. Era strano essere di nuovo nella zona perché è vicino a 
Tabiano Castello dove avevamo una casa con degli amici anni fa. 
La mostra rimane fino a luglio, ne vale la pena se siete nella zona 
e Salsomaggiore ha un fascino un po' polveroso, è divertente farci 
un giro e poi proseguire!

Christmas 2015/Natale 2015

Back in the studio today, where for some reason there's no
heating and the temperature is that of a woodland glade!
Like being in this piece I did for La Repubblica a few days ago!
Tornata in studio oggi dove, per qualche motivo, non c'è 
riscaldamento e c'è una temperatura da bosco! Come essere 
dentro questo disegno realizzato qualche giorno fa 
per La Repubblica!

Polish proverb with Pulcino elefante

Ready to go to Alberto Casiraghy's in Osnago this morning to print
the Polish proverb Colin and I have chosen for our booklet!
See it at the exhibition opening next week in Milan - details
on the way.
Pronta per la partenza verso Osnago stamattina. Vado 
da Alberto Casiraghy a stampare il proverbio polacco che io 
e Colin abbiamo scelto per il nostro libricino! Ci sarà alla 
mostra che inaugura la settimana prossima a Milano - 
dettagli in arrivo.

A chat with Ciao Lunigiana

More for English speaking friends:

http://ciaolunigiana.com/julia-binfield-graphic-artist/

numbers + words = special present / numeri + parole = regalo speciale

A recent commission which will adapt to lots of different situations; maybe 
this could be another print edition... Un recente lavoro commissionatomi che 
potrebbe adattarsi a situazioni molto diverse, magari a un'altra 
edizione di stampe...

Cats in Pontremoli, now! Gatti a Pontremoli!

A group exhibition dedicated to cats on at the moment in Pontremoli,
at the Ex-Macelleria gallery.
Una mostra collettiva dedicata ai gatti in corso in questi giorni a 
Pontremoli, alla galleria Ex-Macelleria. 

Volevo anche dire che qualcuno mi ha chiesto di aggiungere i commenti 
in italiano, e quindi inizio, sperando di non fare degli strafalcioni 
troppo grosse!

Yesterday's Repubblica - Niko Romito at Reale, Italian star

Repubblica has been restyled and I did this illustration
for the first Saturday issue. The 8 Italian chefs with
3 Michelin stars sit down to cook and eat together.
Congratulations to the latest addition to the list, Niko Romito
at Ristorante Reale in Abruzzo, an area that's definitely worth
visiting for a variety of reasons. By coincidence this area is also
the subject of this week's food map, now moving to Wednesday's
"Viaggi" insert after the restyling.

Only for Italians - graphic designer Silvana Amato talking about her work

I've been working with Silvana for a few years now, after a joint exhibition
we had in Milan in 2008.
Here she is talking about her work and saying some lovely things about me
too, but I'm afraid it's only in Italian, so you'll just have to trust me!

 http://omnimilanolibri.tumblr.com/post/78642064437/silvana-amato-
 sogna-copertine-bianche-ad-uso-del

illustrations for 66thand2nd, Alain Mabanckou's Black Bazaar

Ponte Lambro

Just back in the studio after the second part of the presentation this morning at the primary school in Ponte Lambro. We're working on two themes with 4 classes - history with the 5th years and nature with the 4th years. I have made a basic map which each class will work on, adding the information relevant to its individual research. At the end of the project we'll compare the 4 maps and see the different routes that each class has taken. First job is adding where each person's house is. This morning I delivered the maps, we learnt about soap and then made some - great fun! We're meeting up again next Monday to talk about the history of Ponte Lambro its launderies and washer women and men.

Latest commission

Another wedding present featuring trips all over the world
with a fabulous house in via Malpighi, to come home to.
Known as Casa Galimberti, it was designed in 1905 by the
architect Giovanni Battista Bossi for the Galimberti brothers.
It's in an interesting bit of Milan, around Porta Venezia, where
some of the best Art Nouveau (Liberty in Italian) buildings are
to be found. These sprang up at the beginning of the 20th
century when the "Lazzaretto", the hospital complex that dealt
with suffers during frequent outbreaks of the plague was
almost completely demolished. 
As Shakespeare so neatly puts it,
"Journeys end in lovers meeting".

Thanks Will!

2014 in Piazza Leonardo - think B I G !

Starting the new year with exciting developments
in Piazza Leonardo here in Milan. You will now find the box
(which you can see here in the photo), with the map and key
explaining the "1000 cose da fare..." project in lots of shops
and bars around the square.
Everyone has been so enthusiastic! Many many thanks to all
the people who have accepted our invitation! Here they are,
near the faculty of Architecture:
Valentina Stefanoni at the Cortina bookshop and Luigi Antonino
at La Dolce Sosta in via Ampère, and the very helpful but very shy
man who runs the newspaper stand on via Bonardi.
On the other side of the square in via Pascoli:
Tiziana Cortina and Sara Caruso at the Cortina bookshop
Alessandro Vendola at New Brand Cafè, and
the gang at Matricola.
We'll be going along in the next few days to see how they're
getting on. Please pick up the map from one of these places if
you use Piazza Leonardo and give us your ideas.
The success of the project hangs on the number of people
who participate and it's a great opportunity to think B I G -
you have nothing to loose!

Christmas is nearly here

Illustration for La Repubblica, Christmas
as celebrated by Massimo Bottura at his mother's house.

'Piano piano' as they say here

Here's what's been happening recently in
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci:
I'm working on the map and key to the first 99 things,
there are several comments on the Politecnico blog
(http://smartplanpolimi.wordpress.com/) and Ivana has
started making a video!!
Meanwhile, back in the square, some of the numbers
are fading, others are practically hidden by beautifully
coloured autumn leaves and some are as bright as the
day we put them there!
This must be 'work in progress'.

New commission

For a wedding this time, on the 4th October.
A present of two rather beautiful quotes.
Viva gli sposi!!

Some of the recipes...

Here's the whole piece which left for its new home
yesterday evening. Now I can't wait to see it there and
experience the (-: lively) Octopus with Potatoes!

Pupi Solari

I was very excited to be asked to participate in the book
project celebrating Pupi Solari's birthday recently.
Here are the pieces I did, one of the wonderful house and
garden in Liguria and the other showing a dinner party with
all Pupi's favourite food, friends and family!