January 2012
1 post
16 tags
Google Uk Christmas Party Madness
Working with an incredible team of freelancers for Secret Productions and Papa Projects, we managed to build and break a mammoth 8 room, Santa’s Grotto theme party, for Google UK’s Christmas bash, in under 24 hours! (That includes the actual party as well)
I was involved in making some hilarious creations, including a giant ‘Chesterfield style’ sofa, a karaoke area...
November 2011
1 post
25 tags
WatchHere’s the making of film I put together, for the second project I’ve run for Build Conference. I had such a lot of fun doing this one. Check out my website and Flickr for photos of the ten finished pieces and more info:
http://www.thomasforsyth.co.uk/index.php?s=work&id=28
August 2011
3 posts
21 tags
Lovers Computing Bench
Commissioned desk chair for lovers who also enjoy working together.
11 tags
WatchHere’s a little walk through film of the Gaymers Cider and Music Venue, from Glastonbury 2011. Check out the VIP door (end of the video) that Andy Ellis and I created together as a last minute access point. The door was based on a mechanism, which was shown to me by Chris of The White Wall Company, London, back in March:
22 tags
Another Summer of Festival Building
Summer 2011 brought another hefty chunk of work, with Papa Projects, on the UK festival circuit, including Lovebox, Glastonbury and Vintage Festival. A pretty intense patch, but here are some of the fun bits:
The summer kicked off with pre-fabricating and building a bespoke venue for Gaymers Cider, (designed by Nick Bartlett of Secret Productions), which included a cider bar, dj booth,...
April 2011
2 posts
19 tags
The Tweed Table
The bespoke, adjustable work table that I designed for our Evening Tweed room in the exhibition ‘Pick Me Up 2011’ @ Somerset House, London.
20 tags
DIY Boats for Anorak Magazine
I’ve just had a lovely afternoon on my balcony with Cathy and Oscar from Anorak, making boats together for a feature in their amazing kids magazine.
A slight adaption on the boats I designed for Push Print before Christmas, turned them into a DIY fun project for kids.
Get your copy of (the amazing) Anorak Magazine next month for full instructions:
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/
March 2011
1 post
14 tags
Evening Tweed @ Pick Me Up 2011, Somerset House
It’s been another great year at Somerset House for Pick Me Up 2011 with the Evening Tweed crew. This year we turned our room into what got described as ‘a sort of bottom of the garden studio’… We liked that description.
The show is such a special one to be involved in. It has such a friendly, excitable air to it, with thousands of visitors over the duration and such an...
20 tags
Interactive Sound Installation Hardware Commission
The mighty talented Jonathan Green has nailed these photographs of a recent commission I had, to design and make free-standing hardware for a permanent, interactive sound installation at Cleethorpes Academy, North East Lincolnshire, UK.
The hardware consists of 6 infra-red sensor units and 1 lectern that houses an iPad.
The sensor units pick up and track movement. This is all linked to...
February 2011
1 post
12 tags
Pick Me Up 2011 - Evening Tweed @ Somerset House
Well. After its incredible birth last year, ‘Pick Me Up’ is back at Somerset House, London and it’s looking to be even bigger and better, with more twists and surprises than last years cutting edge show!
Myself and the rest of the Tweeds have been asked back and once again given one whole room to do as we please with.
This year you can expect live action, workshops, and of...
January 2011
1 post
23 tags
400 Bespoke Gifts for Push Print London
It’s Nice That approached me before Christmas to design a bespoke working toy / customer relation gift for Push Print, London.
We liked the idea of playing with the company name Push, which eventually led to these working miniature wooden boats, made in collaboration with It’s Nice That and illustrator Sroop Sunar.
20 tags
WatchA sneak preview of a project I’ve been working on with It’s Nice That. Final images of the project and packaging coming soon.
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Circus Marcel - New Years Eve 2010
To finish off 2010, I spent New Years documenting and helping out with a very special Contemporary Circus Spectacular in Belgium, bringing together some of the finest artists in Europe for one night of immense talents and mind-bending performance.
A huge thank you to the organisers of this unbelievable event for their incredible kindness and hospitality during our stay.
You can see...
9 tags
WatchThe final act of the night was this mesmerizing performance by the incredible Silvia Pavone, with her self directed piece “Atma”.
December 2010
2 posts
D.I.Y. Drawing Tops
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WatchA little instruction video / Christmas present. How to make your own Drawing Top for free!
November 2010
1 post
13 tags
Anorak Postbox @ H&M, Regent Street
A fantastic commission from my lovely friends at Anorak Magazine, to turn their favourite little illustrated friend into a collapsible postbox, for a series of Christmas letter-writing events they are running. First one kicked off this morning at H&M on Regent Street, London.
More photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasforsyth/sets/72157625479841366/with/5212412902/
October 2010
2 posts
14 tags
New Collaboration in The Islington Contemporary...
This recent collaboration with illustrator Colm Wood will be in The Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair this weekend, 22nd - 24th October.
The piece is a bespoke, up-cycled chair, with hand-illustrated panels.
For more information on The Candid Arts Galleries and The Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair, you can visit their website:
http://www.candidarts.net/events/profile/14
13 tags
Sublime Magazine Feature
I was recently contacted by Sublime Magazine, the fantastic sustainable lifestyle magazine, for images to go into an article they were writing. I’ve just received my copy and can happily report that it’s a really inspiring and thought provoking article. I highly recommend grabbing a copy.
The photographs of my work in these images were taken by my good friend, the photography...
September 2010
2 posts
12 tags
Build Conference, Belfast
I just received these beautiful photographs from Jez Burrows of a recent project we did for Build Conference, Belfast.
Each of the Build speakers will be receiving one of these handmade, tactile objects, based around the conference logo (designed by jez).
Pleantly more photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasforsyth/sets/72157625031326696/
10 tags
Manchester Exhibition: 'The Toy Shop'
From October 2nd, I’ll be exhibiting in ‘The Toy Shop’, alongside some incredibly talented illustrators, image-makers and designers, including my good pal Owen Gildersleeve. The Toy Shop will transform The Art Corner’s gallery space into a bevvy of curiosities and wonders as part of Free For Arts Festival in Manchester, UK.
An inspiring variety of toys, prints,...
August 2010
1 post
19 tags
This Lovely Summer
It’s been a crazy, manic, amazing summer. Working on exciting new projects and meeting/working with fantastic people.
Whilst finishing the restoration of a 400 year old property in Kent, Edwin Peel and myself collaborated on this fantastical piece of storage furniture, commissioned by The House Of Fairytales (A fantastic interactive/community art company - really enthusiastic and wonderful...
June 2010
2 posts
11 tags
Gypsy Folk Concert / 20 Minute Set Build
On 13th June Edwin Peel and myself had a (literally) last minute request to design and build a set for a gypsy folk concert. After raiding a friends farm on the way to the gig, this is what we pulled together in the 20 minutes before the audience came through the doors. Good times!
Plenty more photos on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasforsyth/sets/72157624274556640/
Also check out...
11 tags
D.I.Y. Formula 1 Toy Workshop
I was recently asked to design a moving toy car for ‘The Making’. Below are some photos from the D.I.Y. workshop I ran for them on 4th of June in Festival Place, Basingstoke… and what a fun fun barrel of laughs it was!
Loads more images on Flickr, check out all the fantastic customizations everyone made:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasforsyth/sets/72157624211534966/
May 2010
3 posts
11 tags
Evening Tweed @ Fallon Studios
Last week, Fallon (the incredible advertising company responsible for the Sony Bravia ‘Balls’ and Cadbury Dairy Milk ‘Drumming Gorilla’) commissioned Evening Tweed to create a last minute exhibition throughout their basement floor, for this years Fallon Festival. In the three days from their request, this is what we pulled together…
Literally hundreds more...
7 tags
'Maker Of The Month'
The lovely people at award winning arts charity ‘The Making’ have made me their ‘Maker Of The Month’ this week.
“Thomas Forsyth is an artist with an impressive ability to think outside the box. Many of his pieces are imaginative re-workings of traditional forms to which he gives new functions and meanings, some incorporating reclaimed or re-cycled elements....
8 tags
Super Hero Masks for Nike 78
After being approached, alongside some fantastic designers / artists such as Jiggery Pokery and Max Lamb, to “challenge the function of Nike footwear”, I developed this playful little concept…
Three “Super Hero Masks” made from the components of one deconstructed Nike trainer, for use in new “Super Hero Sports”.
The project will be going into a...
April 2010
1 post
19 tags
Evening Tweed @ Pick Me Up - Somerset House
We’ve all had an incredible time at Pick Me Up this week. Being surrounded by such a lovely talented bunch of people, Rob Ryan, Peep Show and It’s Nice That to name just a few, with sales flying all over the place, my Drawing Tops selling out completely and Pencil Hooks almost sold out too.
Our ‘Country Manor’ themed room, complete with Chesterfield furniture and...
March 2010
4 posts
8 tags
Pencil Hooks
A new range of pencilly coat hooks. Made to order with any number of hooks.
Available to buy now from Etsy.com:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43188118
13 tags
More Exciting News: Evening Tweed / Pick Me Up
I was both thrilled and flattered recently, when the outstanding graphic design collective (and my dear friends) Evening Tweed asked if I would be interested in becoming their official fifth member. My answer to their question was of course… yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Since forming in Brighton, in late 2006, Jez, Owen, Sarah and Tom of Evening Tweed have been creating some of the most exciting...
7 tags
A Little Something For Mothers Day
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Exciting News Updates
Well it has been an exciting start to the year.
After kicking off January with Designersblock, I’ve been running various live installations with the Drawing Tops, and moved into my new studio and home in North East London. On top of that the lovely folk at Mix Magazine have featured Aschenputtel in this months issue, as one of their favourite items from Interiors 2010.
I will also be...
February 2010
1 post
13 tags
Article: "Going Green Through Metamorphosis
A special mention for ‘Aschenputtel’ in this article by Yasmin Chopin:
“Aschenputtel is a charity find chest of drawers, battered and chipped, painted in patchy off white gloss with drips that were definitely not inspired by Jackson Pollock. Contrast the exterior with the interior where art, function and magic mix to provide a really useful piece of storage furniture. My...
January 2010
3 posts
Aschenputtel on Arts Thread
Owen just brought to my attention that Arts Thread have just given us a great write-up on their blog. See the article here:
http://blog.artsthread.com/?p=1932
13 tags
Aschenputtel @ Designersblock, Interiors 2010 now...
After an fantastic response at Interiors 2010, Owen and I are now back from the NEC. Designersblock commanded a huge amount of interest with their exhibition space after being marked as one of the main highlights of the whole show. It’s been a great week, with a great bunch, meeting great people.
I’ve just added the photos to Flickr with a full description of our project...
13 tags
"Aschenputtel" - Sneak Preview!
Within even the most exhausted, unlikely places, inner beauty can often still be found.
Owen and I are excited to present a sneak preview of our new collaboration for Designersblock - “Aschenputtel”. This will be exhibited in Interiors 2010 @ The Birmingham NEC from 24th - 27th January
For further information on Aschenputtel and more beautiful photographs by our photographer and...
December 2009
3 posts
Seasons Greetings
Just a quick one to say Merry Christmas all. Thanks for your support and kindness in 2009. See you in 2010!
Lots of love,
Tom
16 tags
Drawing Top in The Times 'Rocking Stocking'...
One of my Drawing Tops made it into The Times ‘T2’ supplement yesterday, as part of designer and artist Gavin Turk’s ‘Rocking Stocking’. The Times asked five designers to create a stocking and a wish-list of five items for their Christmas charity auction.
The article is also available to read on Times Online:
...
13 tags
Interiors 2010 Developments
Owen and I are very excited about our second collaboration of the year, for the marvelous Designersblock.
We are working with Emmaus Brighton, who are a fantastic organisation that offer work and community for people who have become socially excluded or homeless. A large part of their work involves recycling furniture and they have supplied us with a lamp, a chair and a chest of drawers, as...
November 2009
1 post
9 tags
Ginger Moo & The Campaign For Drawing
This is basically a follow up to my last couple of posts to ‘big-up’ some fantastic people doing fantastic things. I have such a fondness for Ginger Moo and The Campaign For Drawing. These are positive, community-orientated people who, as well as appealing to the ‘creative’ community, are actively encouraging and nurturing creativity in people who intimately feel that it...
October 2009
5 posts
14 tags
Big Draw Workshop 2 @ Ginger Moo Gallery
Another successful day at Ginger Moo Gallery running my second event for The Big Draw 2009. There was a fantastic turn out from the public for the free drop-in workshops, with plenty of play and creativity irrespective of whether people believed it came naturally to them or not.
13 tags
Big Draw Workshop 1 @ Ginger Moo Gallery
Friday saw the first of two Big Draw events I am running at Ginger Moo Gallery this year. With the aid of some old and new drawing toys I created, we had a day of playful drawing workshops with elderly people and their carers in the morning, and then special needs adults in the afternoon. A challenging, enjoyable and successful day of fun and creativity.
There will be more information about...
9 tags
New Project For Designersblock
I have just confirmed a recent request to create a new project for Designersblock, that will be exhibited at Interiors 2010, held at the Birmingham NEC, UK. The theme for their show is ‘collaboration’, so I am looking forward to working with some of my favourite creatives to develop new ideas and fresh work for the beginning of 2010.
For further information see the Designersblock...
8 tags
'Once Was Lost' Table review on Dornob.com
“Upcycling is often thought of as a refining process, the act of making something into a more elegant and acceptable form with a greater inherent value. This artistic wood table by Thomas Forsyth, cobbled together from pieces of other used tables and chairs, challenges that definition of ‘upcycle’ and suggests that there can be artistic ways to transform old objects and used materials into...
13 tags
What happens to plastic? @ Ginger Moo Gallery
Had a great day yesterday hanging out at Ginger Moo Gallery’s first of this months events for The Big Draw 2009.
A day in collaboration with Crawley Council to raise awareness about the impact of plastic waste has on our oceans, whilst rewiring the way many people think about drawing. There were fascinating displays and information, alongside knowledgeable members of the council. The...
September 2009
3 posts
15 tags
Ca$h
This weekend saw the opening of Bottle art collective’s first group exhibition at the prestigious Quay Arts Centre on the Isle Of Wight, UK. A fantastic quality and range of work has been pulled together in response to the recession (some of which can be found on the Bottle blog), from artists practicing in a variety of fields such as photography, poetry, design, print and illustration.
...
10 tags
Campaign For Drawing: Now We Are Ten
‘Now We Are Ten’ has been an incredible celebration of the world of drawing. It has pulled together some of the worlds favourite illustrators such as Quentin Blake, Posy Simmonds, Gerald Scarfe & Paula Rego, as well as drawings by other influential people such as Sir Terrence Conran. Workshops for schools, a cartoonist battle and a charity auction have also been amongst the...
14 tags
New Drawing Rods for Campaign For Drawing: Now We...
Two new versions of my project ‘Fishing For Lines’ for the Campaign For Drawings’ tenth anniversary celebration ‘Now We Are Ten’. My aim was to simplify the original design, whilst creating a more functionality. For example, the new versions allow you to change the type of pen / scribe in a similar way to my Drawing Tops.
Visit Idea Generation Gallery, Shoreditch,...
August 2009
7 posts
14 tags
The Decked Project @ Stolenspace Gallery
Tonight (Thursday 27th August) sees the private view for The Decked Project at the Stolen Space Gallery off Brick Lane, London. The exhibition is due to house over 50 artists who were all asked to hand customise a skate deck. My good friend Owen Gildersleeve and I decided to team up for the exhibition (details of which you can see in the earlier post). The private view night will be a good...
12 tags
Some More Experiments
Trying to make a simple version of ‘Fishing For Lines’ using cast-off/recycled Drawing Tops, with some functional improvements for The Campaign For Drawings upcoming exhibition. More experiment photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasforsyth/3859868080/in/set-72157613354975730/