Art
This freelance illustrator from St. John's counts Google and Nokia among her clients – CBC.ca
In January, Geri Coady boarded a plane from the U.K. on a trip to Japan.
She’s a long way off from St. John’s, where she grew up doodling.
The freelance illustrator’s destination was a small café called Shirankedo in Itami, a city in Hyogo Prefecture. She was there to see her own handiwork: the café’s logo, menu and business cards.
Though she did the café design a few years ago, it wasn’t until January that she was finally able to board a plane to Japan and visit due to the country’s strict COVID-19 policy.
“That was absolutely amazing, to just walk down the street, get out of the train, look at my map, walk down the street and just kind of see my branding there,” said Coady, who lives in Nottingham, U.K.
Growing up in St. John’s, Coady said, she was “always drawing.” When her home got a computer, she started working with digital art as well, and she took a lot of art courses at her high school.
While her art teacher tried to convince her to go to art school, she didn’t want to be a fine artist — which is what she thought art school would set her up for. She was also interested in technology.
Years later she said she learned about art programs that prepare graduates for work in graphic design, advertising and marketing.
After high school Coady attended the College of the North Atlantic and left with diplomas in computer systems and networking, graphic design and print production technology.
Eventually she ended up as the Idea Factory’s art director. In 2013 she left that position to launch her own freelance business, and two years later she relocated to the U.K., where her husband is from.
She can remember the exact moment she decided to make the leap to freelancing. She was in the U.K. attending a talk by a designer named Jessica Hische that encouraged people to find a fulfilling career. As soon as the talk ended, Coady had made up her mind to resign from her steady job and launch her own business.
Now her clients include companies like Google, Nokia, Scholastic UK and more recently, St. John’s-based SucSeed as the illustrator for its children’s book series.
Laughing, she said she can’t believe her career in computers and design led her to her own freelancing business.
“I’m definitely over the moon. Of course it would be kind of hard to believe. But yeah, it’s definitely a fulfilling career in many ways.”
Geri draws Japan
Coady said she considers her work as an illustrator different from an artist.
“Illustration is more like problem-solving because I’m working with clients and illustration tends to have a goal.”
On top of her freelance design work, Coady has a creative outlet in a side-passion project, Geri Draws Japan, that she started in 2017. She creates art prints, stationery and goods inspired by Japanese culture that she sells online and at events.
“I do my client work, but I also love the fact that I get the chance to create my own prints and paint designs, stationary, greeting cards, all sorts of things,” she said.
She said being a freelancer gives her the choice of who she takes on as clients. Some of those early clients were from Canada, the U.S. and U.K.
“I really enjoy having the freedom to kind of pick and choose who I want to work with,” said Coady.
One of her recent projects was working on children’s books for hydroponics social enterprise SucSeed. Working with the St. John’s company appealed to her because of its focus on social responsibility, she said.
A 2019 residency at Almost Perfect gallery in Tokyo, which concluded with her first exhibition, is her career highlight, she said.
“To have my own exhibition in the country that inspired me the most, is absolutely a dream come true,” Coady said.
As an illustrator she doesn’t have the same connection as artists have to the art world, she said.
“To be able to kind of go out of my comfort zone and do something like that was really fantastic.”
Living in the U.K. has also been helpful to her career, she said, because travelling abroad is easier and networking can lead to new jobs.
Freelancing has given her the freedom to select her clients and choose what she wants to make, said Coady.
“That’s just been a dream come true, really. I really love that I’m able to do that as a stage in my career.”
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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