Excerpt from a self publication I was creating a couple of years back about Faber Birren.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Saturday, 10 November 2012
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Ramblings...
I'm taking a little break from a project, i'm talking a 15 minute break, and thought i'd write a tiny blog post with some tips, these are things I think about and come to mind when i'm working, general ramblings.
Put just as much effort into everything you do no matter how big or small the job, you owe it to yourself to be good and pay attention to detail. I get asked to do various editorial illustrations these can range from covers, double page spreads to tiny little spaces within which your work will live, speak, shout, whisper, or get to the point asap, i'm talking 5mm x 4mm of paper, a young sapling leaf of the tree if you will, give it your full attention.
The main thing you gotta know, the holy grail is communication, that is all, people are commissioning you for your skills and sometimes style, which should never be locked it should float within a framework, but most of all your ability to communicate not only a message an idea a thought, but also to be able to communicate the image in your head, your imagination.
If you're getting stuck on something, move on to something else, or break out of anything that seems like what people expect and just do what you want.
If you are working in a small space, I'm talking on the page, what I try to do is think of it like this: less space less colours, if your space is limited you need to limit the other things that are in general not limited. If you are working in a small space, studio wise, close your eyes...you now have infinite space...
get to work.
Put just as much effort into everything you do no matter how big or small the job, you owe it to yourself to be good and pay attention to detail. I get asked to do various editorial illustrations these can range from covers, double page spreads to tiny little spaces within which your work will live, speak, shout, whisper, or get to the point asap, i'm talking 5mm x 4mm of paper, a young sapling leaf of the tree if you will, give it your full attention.
The main thing you gotta know, the holy grail is communication, that is all, people are commissioning you for your skills and sometimes style, which should never be locked it should float within a framework, but most of all your ability to communicate not only a message an idea a thought, but also to be able to communicate the image in your head, your imagination.
If you're getting stuck on something, move on to something else, or break out of anything that seems like what people expect and just do what you want.
If you are working in a small space, I'm talking on the page, what I try to do is think of it like this: less space less colours, if your space is limited you need to limit the other things that are in general not limited. If you are working in a small space, studio wise, close your eyes...you now have infinite space...
get to work.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Tysons Corner Centre
I was asked to create 75 illustrations for Tysons Corner Center mall in America. At first I was a little daunted by the task, supplying sketches and revisions on so many illustrations, while trying to keep track of everything and making everything work as a whole.
The elements ranged from Kitchen Aids to Canoe's and were to be used as a kind of way finding system, as well as a visual identity for the Mall for the next 2 years and possibly beyond.
I was amazed to find out that the illustrations as a campaign won Gold at the American Advertising Awards! I think everything came together really nicely in the end.
Lord Of The Flies Cover
I recently took a trip to Seattle, flying from Manchester to Philadelphia then connecting through.
I'd taken Lord Of The Flies with me, I'd never read the book, but decided I'd probably really like it, given that I was (am) a huge fan of Lost, and as it was a major influence on the series felt that it was about time.
I'm not going to review the book, but it was/is a great book, the similarities with Lost were apparent, I saw simon as the John Locke figure, wandering into the Jungle to 'listen' to the island, Simon was taken by madness, unlike John Locke, and the supernatural wasn't as real an element as on the show, manifesting itself instead in the minds of the children.
I picked up the version with Neil Gowers illustration (below), it's such a beautiful cover, It reminded me a little of my own work, I can tend to slip into creating almost a pattern when illustrating, and the cover reminded me of that, the intricacy of communicating through a balance of space.
What I was most intrigued about with the book, was the fact that I could see so clearly the landscape in my mind, to the point of tripping over the undergrowth myself, and it was this that I was most taken by, I have always been drawn to the idea of islands and castaways, I'm not sure why, maybe I was washed up on one in a former life.
I'd taken Lord Of The Flies with me, I'd never read the book, but decided I'd probably really like it, given that I was (am) a huge fan of Lost, and as it was a major influence on the series felt that it was about time.
I'm not going to review the book, but it was/is a great book, the similarities with Lost were apparent, I saw simon as the John Locke figure, wandering into the Jungle to 'listen' to the island, Simon was taken by madness, unlike John Locke, and the supernatural wasn't as real an element as on the show, manifesting itself instead in the minds of the children.
I picked up the version with Neil Gowers illustration (below), it's such a beautiful cover, It reminded me a little of my own work, I can tend to slip into creating almost a pattern when illustrating, and the cover reminded me of that, the intricacy of communicating through a balance of space.
What I was most intrigued about with the book, was the fact that I could see so clearly the landscape in my mind, to the point of tripping over the undergrowth myself, and it was this that I was most taken by, I have always been drawn to the idea of islands and castaways, I'm not sure why, maybe I was washed up on one in a former life.
The Sailor's Sweetheart
...If love were had for taking
Like honey from the hive,
The bees that made the tender stuff
Could hardly keep alive..
-D.C.Scott
Sunday, 11 March 2012
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