Things! The best of the best from July

Come midsummer London starts to get pretty sleepy but things don’t tend to slow down here at It’s Nice That. Whilst half the city runs off for sojourns in the south of France or far-flung beach holidays we keep going and by the looks of it so do many of you. This month we’ve had a veritable landslide of things sent in and have been tasked with cherry-picking the best of the best. July’s selection is heavy on niche publications (dogs, flower markets, hairy men, beautiful men, idioms, housing estates) and we have also been given a lovely clock which now hangs in the studio. Enjoy!

Lawrence Slater: Boy Clock

LCC graduate and all-round good guy Lawrence Slater sent in this smiling screen-printed clock which now keeps watch over the It’s Nice That editorial team. In between building on his illustration work he’s learning the ropes at a laser-cutting studio where he turns out charming pieces like this guy and a matching girl clock.
www.lawrenceslater.com

Four & Sons: Issue Three

Like dogs? Like culture? Four & Sons is the magazine for you. From Martin Usborne’s Spanish hunting dog series we featured a few months ago to Menswear Dog to still lifes of bones, it adds muse to the many roles man’s proverbial best friend has played throughout history.
www.fourandsons.com

Ren: Bears

London illustrator Ren sent in this colourful and camp self-published project which he described as “a visual confession of my love for big hairy men.” Inside large bearded men frolic in their underwear, eat bananas, take selfies and get off. It’s ballsy (literally), it’s fun and it’s proud. “Let go and be free!” the back cover proclaims.
www.drawren.uk

Jay Daniel Wright: Idiom Ed

Jay sent us this printed version of his ongoing Instagram project Idiom Ed after turning out some great illustrations for us. A harangued Idiom Ed is plagued by a never-ending stream of idioms made literal. He really is too big for his boots, the cat does have his tongue and he really does have time on his hands. Cheers Jay!
www.jaydanielwright.com

Sarah Taylor Silverwood: West Point, 2015

Sarah’s illustrated artist book compiles a series of interviews with residents of the West Point housing estate near Coventry, some of whom have lived there since the estate was built in 1960. The culimation of a six month residency, the interviews run alongside archive material and architectural plans, all beautifully drawn by Sarah.
www.sarahsilverwood.com

Shelf Heroes: Issue B

Shelf Heroes is the print answer to the independent film review blog started by Ben Smith. It brings together poems, short stories, and 31 movie-inspired illustrations depicting films like Terence Malick’s Badlands and the Palme D’Or-winning Blue is the Warmest Colour!
www.shelfheroeszine.com

The Most Beautiful Man in the World: Issue Three

Yes, another publication about men. TMBMITW says it all with the name: it showcases beautiful men from all over the world in a nicely put together newspaper format. Amongst plain good-lookers, the third issue of the zine features the many male cheerleaders taking part in the Collegiate Championships in Florida.
www.themostbeautifulmanintheworld.co.uk

Ace & Tate: Summer Journal 2015

Ace & Tate is a Dutch eyewear brand and this little travel-inspired summer publication is good example of some strong advertorial. With commercial still lifes between travel photo series of cities like Cape Town and Moscow and photographer profiles, the content fits the brand without feeling at all forced.
www.aceandtate.com

Johanna Neurath: Columbia Road

There’s a reason flower markets, and London’s Columbia Road in particular, are so often the subject of photo series. London-based photographer Johanna Neurath’s series is the culmination of shooting less obvious aspects of Columbia Road nearly every Sunday for the past ten years. Instead of shooting people and their flowers she turns her attention to petal-strewn gutters and colourful abstract reflections. And the book came out on Hoxton Mini Press just yesterday!
www.hoxtonminipress.com

Tom Baber: For Hire!

Tom Baber is a graphic design student at London College of Communication who sent in this brilliantly finished fold-out. Only in his second year, he’s already got a really strong and exciting portfolio and is definitely someone we will be keeping an eye on!
www.tombaber.co.uk