I’m a 32 year old, freelance arts writer originally from Birmingham (UK) but now living in Worcester (UK) with my husband Chris Bourke (we met when I was working on the first CtoC book. I’m actually ‘Jo Bourke’ now but still work under my maiden name ‘Waterhouse’ just to confuse matters!).
The books I have written are on subjects that I am genuinely interested in and involved in, basically I just envisaged the kind of books I would really like to buy myself.
Visit each book’s section (see page links above and to the side) on this website to see the full list of contributors to the Concrete to Canvas books and Art by Tattooists, and links to their personal websites.
As well as my book work I’m also a freelance arts writer. I have interviewed many artists over the years specialising in DIY and Low Brow art and culture, including Skateboarding, Street and Tattoo art. I’m particularly interest in DIY subcultures such as skateboarding and indie/DIY craft - scenes that continue the original Punk/DIY ethos. I’m also particularly interested in Indie/DIY Craft as someone who is a practicing DIY crafter (i.e. craft with a alternative/subversive twist). I can be contacted about freelance work via my EMAIL.
This is a list of the artists I’ve interviewed over the years for Modart Magazine and +1 Magazine and my first foray into arts writing, the now defunct online magazine coldspace.net. All previous issues of +1 magazine are available to download as PDFs from the +1 WEBSITE.
Andrew Pommier,
I also wrote the Introduction to the monograph for/by Kev Grey
I have organised and promoted many exhibitions locally at Spine Skateshop & Gallery for Simon Peplow, Log Roper, Kev Grey, Phlegm Comics, Chris Johnson, Molotov Circus, and Matt Walford as well as the group show and zine Curious Creatures which included artwork by Dave The Chimp, Jon Burgerman, Ian Stevenson, and Timothy Karpinski, to name a few. Photos from all of these shows can be seen on the Spine flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/spinegallery
I’m also part of a collective that organises vintage and craft events in Worcester (WAVE - Worcester Art & Vintage Events). We had our first Vintage and Craft fair on Friday 24th July 2009 at St Helen’s Church. See the WAVE blog for all the details of upcoming fairs at www.worcestervintage.blogspot.com
FAQs
I am often emailed and asked questions about the books, mostly by student’s using them as project work, so I’ve put together the most frequently asked questions here. It’s a bit long winded as I’ve tried to cover everything I’ve been asked before. If you have a question that isn’t answered here do feel free to ask!
For more general info about me, I also have a myspace page at www.myspace.com/concretetocanvas and you can also follow me on Twitter.
How were the books conceived, where did the ideas come from?
I only like to write about subjects I am already genuinely interested and involved in, and as I said, just envisaged the kind of book that I would really like to buy myself. With the Concrete to Canvas books I was already interested in art by skateboarders as someone who grew up surrounded by that culture, and was already writing about skateboarder art for an online magazine (the now defunct coldspace.net), which gave me the idea for the book. With the tattoo art book, tattoos and tattooing is another interest of mine, as I’ve several tattoos myself and again it’s a culture I happen to be surrounded by.
How did you go about choosing artists?
As I write about subject matters I am already interested in, I’m usually aware and an admirer of the artists’ who contribute to the books. With each book I started off with a wish list of artists I wanted to include, and as things progressed people would recommend others to me, or people would get in touch with me through word of mouth. Each time I’ve been lucky enough to include some of my personal favourite artists, people whose work I’ve admired for years, which has been great. I also love finding out about new work and artists I hadn’t been aware of. I always wanted the books to be a mix of people you might already know, and those who haven’t yet received much exposure, so are relatively unknown in comparison - rather than books of all the usual suspects.
Where can I buy the books?
Most bookshops and online bookstores like Waterstones, Amazon etc and direct from the publishers Laurence King. The books are available all over the world. The first Concrete to Canvas book was also translated into five different languages!
Will there be any more Concrete to Canvas books?
No plans at the moment for more Concrete to Canvas or Art by Tattooist books, but I am currently working on another new book, this time focusing on my other main interest in DIY/Indie craft. The book will be called Indie Craft and will be a compilation of examples of indie and alternative craft from international artists/crafters. The Foreword has been written by Faythe Levine of Handmade Nation and the book will be published in Autumn 2010.
On the blog on this website I’ll post any news about the books and news/info about artists from the CtoC and Art by Tattooist books and details of other interviews I’ve done and other projects I’m working on, so please keep checking back or follow my RSS feed!
I want to get in contact with artists from your books for a project, can you help me?
All of the artists I’ve been in contact with have websites or myspace pages. You’ll be able to email or contact them via there websites/myspace (see each book section - up and on the right of this page - for their website links). Unfortunately I haven’t kept mailing lists of the artists I’ve worked with, so contacting artists directly via their websites etc is the best way to do it!
I’m an art student, how do I get my work into books and magazines?
There’s no definitive answer to this but your main priority should be building a body of work until you have a strong portfolio, and work at getting your artwork out there yourself by having a website/blog/myspace page etc and taking part in group exhibitions etc. If you find there isn’t anything going on in your area art-wise, then start something up yourself. Start a collective, put on an art show and make some zines etc that showcase your work. Create opportunities for yourself, make contacts but most importantly keep working and focused on producing the best artwork you can until you have a body of original work you’re proud of. You could try sending your zines and listings for shows you’ve contributed to, for example, to magazines so they start to become aware of your work before finally approaching them for an interview.
Can I do work experience with you and help you with your new book work?
I work from home and don’t work at set times (I probably should!) often working evenings and late nights, so it isn’t possible to offer any work experience placements. It would just be very boring for you and probably a bit weird!
I’m an artist can I send you links to my work? How can I get in touch?
I’m always interested in seeing new artwork so feel free. You can email me HERE..