March has brought so many new things into my daily life that I had to list everything prior to writing up this text. Last month, I mentioned the Affordable Art Fair Battersea, accompanied by the launch of my new print - Divercity. It will be on display next at Made in Arts London’s annual independent exhibition ‘Capsule’, at the embassy Tea gallery. It is an event that I especially look forward to because not only will a couple of my prints be featured, but also a very special sculpture piece that I’ve worked on the past couple of months. Named ‘Publicity’, it visualises— maybe instead of explaining it I’d rather invite you to come to the show to find out yourself!

Besides having heads and hands full of clay, I also spent many long days at the print studio to print a brand new edition of ‘City of London’, with white ink on black paper. Very special! I have not yet officially released it to the public, but plan on doing so within the coming months.

You may remember me mentioning the RA Summer Exhibition – which I’m so dedicated to becoming part of. A couple of weeks ago I was informed that one of my Citysphere etchings made it one step closer. This time of the year is most likely to be the busiest for the established London framers – as all the selected artists who have to frame their pieces in order to deliver it for the next round of judging!

I’d like to take this chance to mention how important it is to have a framer you can trust. Within the year of my art practice I was recommended by Made in Arts London to use the traditional framing service owned by one of the very last family run Professional Picture Framing businesses in Central London – Stafford’s Gallery. They have since framed most of my prints, always with an excellent attention to detail.  Stafford and Crombie have recently moved their cluttered studio to the lovingly traditional Cecil Court, just off Charing Cross Road. I enjoy coming by, dropping off prints and picking them up knowing that I’ve invested in a caring and professional service.

“QUALITY ALWAYS SHOWS THROUGH WHEN HAND MADE.” – STAFFORD.

Lastly I’d like to tell you about a ‘brand-new’ venture that I’ve started last month. I have found it hard to balance my practice between fine art and the ‘commerce’ art arena. I didn’t want to focus on one only. As you might not know, I’m a trained Graphic Designer, and I secretly miss parts of graphic design and a lot related subjects – since being so involved in printmaking.

Therefore I’ve found something in between – something I’m really excited about. ‘The City Works’. With the help of Rowan I’m building up a business that celebrates the world cities and the stories they have to offer. We design and produce urban-themed gifts and stationery, that are affordable (and fun!)

Pay us a visit on our recently launched website, or keep up with our progress on one of the many social media accounts we are trying to keep up with.

As if there didn’t need to be any more reminders of how fast time passes, February, with its insistence on being three days shorter than its fellow months, came, and went, in the blink of a very tired eye. It was another month of change. I placed my many ideas outside and waited patiently for them to thaw in the occasional morning sun that skated past stubborn wintery cloud.

The month began where most things begin, in Shoreditch. When you wander off Brick Lane, you can stumble across many disenchanting places – empty restaurants and suspect travel agents alike. But sitting at the end of Princelet street is Salt & Pegram. A hidden store of extravagant lighting, victorian furnishings, velvet cushions – was I really treading over open garbage bags outside just seconds earlier?

What meant most to me about Salt & Pegram was its left hand wall, where a selection of my prints currently hang until the end of March 2015. This month began with the landmarking of this semi-solo exhibition, shared with the talented Nick Cheeseman, with the intimate, compulsory private view. However to mark it as ‘private’ would be to ignore the passers by, who seemed to ‘pop in’ at the first sight of the multiple Peronis in the hands of the chattering attendees.

I went home knowing that I was half-way to my first solo exhibition. Weeks later I printed ‘Diversity’. Before the paper had barely dried, I had it submitted online to the Royal Academy, in silent anticipation of seeing it in the RA Summer Show. Last year ‘Dencity’, my first Citysphere etching, had made it to the final round of judging, let’s hope this year I jump every hurdle. My inky fingers are crossed.

Meanwhile, ‘The Beach Pie’, a nifty little culture magazine on the trendy side of London wrote up an interview I had with them.

Recently I have undertaken illustration projects for a lovely client who runs school holiday workshops for children. Their ethos, learn by doing, chimes nicely with my own ideas of how to learn creatively. I was surprised but also delighted to be offered to hold an afternoon workshop with them. I designed a set of urban-themed ink-stamps, and watched them quickly stamp up an entire city on a large roll of paper. It was nice to detach and let someone else do the art for a change!

At the beginning of January I visited my first trade fair at London Olympia. I was left in disbelief at how many designers and crafts people were scattered around this maze-like place. I could have easily spent a week exploring. To see so many creatives in London makes the journey ahead seem daunting at times. A stall that caught my eye was the one of Susan Entwistle – you may take a look at her beautiful flowers! Despite the seemingly saturated market I left Kensington overcome with inspiration and motivation. I went straight back to my desk and continued my latest artwork.

Since the beginning of December I have been working on the largest metal plate yet, and I’m quite excited to announce it’s completion – nearly. It will run through the press just in time for this years submission to the prestigious RA Summer Exhibition. This is a date most artists are sure to pin onto their calendars.

The new year also brings with it a new mural commission. Being over twelve meters long and three meters high, it exceeds any scale I’ve previously worked with before, but is something I’ve always dreamt about creating one day. Progress images will surely find their way to Instagram in the coming months.

More recently, Four Square Fine Arts gallery displayed a selection of my prints at the London Art Fair in Islington. I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to exhibit at such an established event. It was a pleasure to stroll through the bustling hall and see contemporary art from all corners of the globe.

You may remember me mentioning the fantastic souvenir pop-up called We Built This City. It’s sad to say their stay on Carnaby Street, like all good things, has come to an end. But after a really successful run over Christmas, I have no doubt the team are building up to something big in the future.

Reflecting on the shop, I remember the time I finished ‘City of London’, a bestseller with them. I described the print as a cherished memory of London rather than a tacky souvenir, and it seemed like fate, when I was introduced to We Built This City soon after, and my drawing seemed tailor-made to their concept! I hope our paths cross again.

However, as the old saying goes, when one door closes a window opens – or in this case another door – as my giclées, and other Londonised products can be found at ‘We make London’ in Kentish Town.

The best thing about having a creative imagination can also be the worst. The ability to make anything in your head instantly can be instantly frustrating too, as you try to trace your mind onto paper. There aren’t enough hours in the day, but that’s what the night time is for right? 

As December paid a visit, I decided to pay a few visits of my own, to lovely people who kindly bought work of mine. It was very rewarding to make personal deliveries, and equally interesting to witness how people with similar tastes can be so diverse. One minute I was at a music producer in central London, the next I was in the English countryside with some very jolly dog owners. 

On the subject of diversity, I’m currently engraving into a new etching plate - finally! It’s surprising how it’s been many months now since finishing my last etching, and how producing unlimited digital print editions can consume so many days. While it was a great experience being a best seller over the Christmas period with the incredibly hard working We Built this City, I’m somewhat relieved their doors have closed for the time being, so that I can open a window and get some fresh air…

And I quite literally had my head in the clouds over the holidays. I switched off the London engine and reflected in my native Austria. I walked through the snow, and visited the capital for New Years. Vienna is home to outstanding art, design, architecture, and it was nice to soak it in without having to concern myself with checking emails and orders. But inside I could feel the inspirations of Schiele’s Houses at the Leopold Museum, Miró at the Albertina and the Hundertwasser House, all secretly feeding the appetite of my big ideas. 

In the same way that my cities grow, I will be broadening my horizons in the coming months, as I start releasing new product lines of handmade textiles, printed with my designs. My sewing machine is going to be put through it’s paces. 

November is a time for wrapping up warm, while I’m busy wrapping up prints too. Whilst battling a dreaded winter flu, I have been bouncing from private views, to award ceremonies, from the workshop to the duvet. It’s been a month of popular classics and exciting new releases, that I share with you now.

Like waiting for a bus in London, it always seems that two come at once. The same could be said about awards ceremonies. One winter night I was hosted by the very supportive, very welcoming Clyde & Co. Here I had one more chance to observe London from their amazing top floor office, help myself to a Canapé, which formed the basis of my skipped dinner, and toast all of the great artists on display. But the night was only half over, as I raced over to Russell Square, where my University had nominated me for a Creative Enterprise Award. It was quite an unexpectedly glitzy event, held in a glamorous ballroom, filled with champagne, photographers, and many fellow art entrepreneurs. 

  The following wintery night I saw myself marvelling at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins, where a massive array of artists were on show, curated brilliant again by Made In Arts London. Fueled by only a brewdog beer, my excitement was short-lived as I quickly headed from King’s Cross to Carnaby Street in the blink of an eye. 

Dodging tourists and squeezing in through a bouncer-clad VIP doorway, I found myself in a bustling art-space - a souvenir shop without the tackiness - We Built This City. A contemporary, beautiful gift shop, that I was very privileged to be part of. More free beer at the ready, I had a chance to peak through the tightly packed crowd at what was probably the smallest piece on the wall - my City of London Giclée print. It’s only open for Christmas, and I think it’s the perfect place for everyone who is looking for that perfect something for that perfect someone. Don’t just take my word for it, Time Out think so too. 

As I write this I package a brand new print for sale at WBTC among others - East London Skyline. Having worked in Shoreditch for these past months I’ve grown attached to the unofficial landmarks that put the area on the map. In the coming months this very small print will become a landmark of it’s own in the form of a very big vinyl mural - but that’ll wait until next year, for now, you can get a closer look here.

October has well been the busiest and most enterprising month this year…  Whilst working full time as a designer I had to give every spare minute to follow up on all art related obligations. About half a year ago, The Harmonic Capital Hedge Fund offices decided to rent out a variety of artworks - from a previous exhibition at the UAL showroom - for a six month term in their offices. October began with an invitation to an Art Party there, where I gave my very first artist talk.

This was one very exciting evening with many personalities I normally wouldn’t hold assembly with. Surrounding myself with so much art and design I have little chance to divert my attention to those devoted to other industries. It was lovely to see how my zinc plate got handed around with excitement and intrigue - and to hear the kind words and appreciations after viewing my etchings up-close.

Before I knew it another week had passed and with it came a spontaneous Pop Up event organized by East End Prints, an online print shop that features an immense variety of contemporary artists. I’ve recently joined the crowd and am currently offering an exclusive golden London city print which is currently on display at the gallery on Paul Street, East London. 

Whilst it is easy to indulge in seeing my prints in so many places, getting them there is no walk in the park. One hefty delivery was to the Made In Arts London headquarters for the Multiplied Art Fair. This takes place at Christie’s auction house in South Kensington, and I feel extremely privileged to have been exhibited there. Prior to the event, I was interviewed by Port Magazine at my old print studio in Camberwell College of Arts. It was a little nostalgic to revisit where I first began printing, but nice. 

The other day I had the pleasure to see my work on display at Clyde&Co, an international lawfirm here in London. The reason for my work to be hung in their offices is indebted to their annual art awards. During this years UAL degree show my Citysphere series was selected to be part of this years fine art collection. Clyde & Co will display each piece for a whole year whilst giving vital support to every participating artist. In the course of this time they will not only provide workshops and mentoring sessions but also hold an auction. You may take a look at their recently updated website: http://www.artawards.clydeco.com/2014-15-collection - and scroll through a great selection of multimedia pieces of art. Now, I really can’t wait to make the most of this opportunity!

Let me tell you about June this year when I attended my very first Art Fair and experienced my very first sellout of my very first official edition of etchings "Dencity". Without giving an "art career" any thought for long - this was something quite surprising. Art Fairs seem to be a growing trend not only here in London. They seem extremly important to galleries, dealers and publishers as they provide the possibility of worldwide distribution. Personally speaking the longest distance a print of mine has totaled so far is a little over 8500 kilometers - to Berkeley California. If only I could have tagged along ...