While editorial illustration may be on the decline (certainly in Ireland) and the likes of the Irish Times run ever more to the hills for cheap Getty stock illustrations to fill their pages, it’s worth noting the new digital avenues opening up for illustration. Here’s an interesting post on the iphone kids game ‘The Hidden Park‘ ; which also has exciting implications for how kids books might develop in years to come. And of course more traditional iphone games with illustration at the center like Rolando 2. One to keep an eye on.

Ogilvy Ireland and The Make-A-Wish foundation have collaborated on a brilliant campaign to highlight the work they do for children with life threatening conditions. The concept behind the campaign was to use illustrations by Irish and international illustrators to capture the wonderful imaginations of children. The results are fantastic.

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Some cool live art events coming up soon. Heineken Expression is a three city tour (Dublin, Galway and Cork) that sees Chris Judge, Steve Simpson, TADO, Gaetan Bilault, danleo, BRENB, Phil Dunne and Serge Seidlitz do battle over three rounds of live doodling. The final will be onstage on perspex glass with fluorescent pens under UV light.  All this to the impressive beats of  In Flagranti, The Field, Sarsparilla, Donal Dineen and The Juan MacLean (DJ Set).

Heineken Expression Dublin kicks off in Tripod at 8pm, on Thursday, 22nd October 2009.

For more details and to come along, go to expression.heineken.ie to register for free tickets.

Here’s the latest work created by members of the Illustrators Guild of Ireland. Each member has submitted one of their favourite illustrations from the previous month, either commissioned or personal. Follow the link below to see all this month’s entries.

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It is with great pleasure that we welcome two new members to Illustrators Ireland… Naomi McBride and Mario Sughi. Check out their portfolios of great work.

Film critic John McGuire is curating a group exhibition featuring painting, photography and illustration inspired by the films of Stanley Kubrick by Irish and international artists. The show will run in the Light House Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin from October 1st – 31st.

Artists participating include Martin Ansin, Annie Atkins, Francis Matthews, Joby Hickey, Mike Ahern, Cliona O’Flaherty, David Turpin, David Cleary, Chris Judge, Geraldine Doherty, Mark Wickham, Scalder, Kiersten Essenpreis and Jay Roche.

This is the fantastic poster for the show by Uruguayan illustrator Martin Ansin

Just received word from Dave Comiskey of a group exhibition he is part of…

“I have new work in a group exhibition called ‘sex guise and maybe some videotape’. The show is in the Cross Gallery on Francis St, and is curated by Mark St.John Ellis. The official opening evening is this Friday September 25th, as it coincides with Dublin Culture Night. The opening will start at 6pm, and go on till late. There’s plenty of stuff happening all around the city on friday evening, but if you’re in the area it would be great if you could drop in. Check out the attached flyer (above) for the full list of participating artists. My studios, Irish Design Shop on Bow Lane East, behind the St. Stephens Green Centre, will be open to the public all night too, with work on show from the studio residents, and I will be heading down there when the wine in the cross gallery runs out.”

Illustrator Chris Judge sends us his holiday sketchbook which he kept while travelling in Italy in early September. Check it out…

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The Guardian online recently added an interesting collection of interviews and videos on drawing. On a related note the UK’s Campaign for Drawing’s ‘Big Draw’ event this year runs from 1-31st October. If you know of any Irish events let us know.

Following the opening of the Absolut Original Show (currently running for duration of the Fringe Festival – details below) one of the artists involved, Steve Simpson, has put up a great STEP x STEP showing the progression of his piece on his blog.

Absolut Original is a new show running during the Absolut Fringe Festival. Original Artworks by Irish Creatives inspired by the Absolut bottle featuring Aisling Farinella, Abestos, BRENB, Clíona O’Flaherty, Chris Judge, D.A.D.D.Y, Eoghan Kidney, Glenn Leyburn, Hugh McCarthy, Jonathan McHugh, Maser, M&E, Steve Doogan, Steve Simpson, Studio AAD and Unthink.

Curated by The Small Print.

5PM-10PM September 5th-20th 2009 at the Absolut Fringe Factory, Dublin (AKA The Boys Scholl, 8 Exchange St. Lower (off Woodquay), Temple Bar)

See more at www.absolutart.ie