William Kentridge

After visiting the MoMA gallery whilst in NYC, and in particular the William Kentridge exhibition, I have returned to Sheffield utterly inspired. Displayed was a collection of beautiful sculpted prints and fantastically chaotic charcoal drawings. I now know that I want my main focus of my journey as an Illustrator to be Lino and Woodcut printing. In "Trace" a collection of his finest linos, drypoints, aquatints and etchings, in a talk with The Associates of The Department of Prints and Illustrated Books (MoMA) he mentions his methods and I was left utterly overwhelmed by the intelligence and chaos control he has over his work. He is not it's slave by any means and produces work so sequentially perfect that I have received a massive boost in my intentions at University and for my career post education. One part in particular was when he mentioned "before each plate was printed, I gave myself half an hour to rework the plate, so although that it was a print produced a number of times, each one has little variations." This is an unbelievable dedication to his art form. Uniquely edited and continuously adapted his work from print to print. This is an amazing inspiration to myself and I would be shocked to hear that it didn't influence other people.

Ranging from pure observation to twisted and dream like, evaded of reality, his work encompasses a huge selection of communicative elements even including motion work. If I am 10% of the designer William Kentridge is I will be happy. Though in my nature, I will not be satisfied until I can communicate as fluently and effectively as Kentridge does in his work. Purely incredible is a far short a statement from the beauty his work achieves.

GrassFace

GRASS GRASS GRASS.
I decided, as I like the calmness of drawing a large page of grass, like the couple I had done before, to produce another A3 sized piece, but this time drawing in a couple of hidden objects. Lego 2x2, Army man and Toy Car.

I'm Here by Spike Jonze

http://www.imheremovie.com/#

This is a wonderful little short film about love by Spike Jonze. I found out about this through being on the Ghostpatrol mailing list, proving that mailing lists aren't just for hte purpose of filling your inbox with useless drivel and junk mail about viagra and all things perverted. Well worth a look. (WARNING - you may have a wait a little while to watch this as the "seats" in this online "cinema" seem to fill up quite quickly!)

Enjoy

The End of the Line - Finished Book Cover

FOR SH! AWARD JUDGING

This is my final book cover for the "The end of the Line" brief. I very pleased with my final piece and really happy with my current aesthetic. I like it, I enjoy designing in this style and it really works for me. I hope you enjoy it too and that you are eager to see more work from me! Tell your friends.

 

These are a few close ups of the Front, Spine and Back covers. I feel my final really flows nicely across the cover. One of the more challenging things was the actual design method. Instead of designing for a normal editorial or poster etc, a book cover needs to, in a sense, be designed backwards, due to the front cover being on the right hand side, when you'd normall start on the left. In effect, I was having to read my final piece right to left and back and front. Challenging but I really feel i've done myself proud. There were a few more changes to make but due to my ridiculous two week virus I was unable to tweak everything I wanted to.

 

Some Buildings

This is nothing special. I was simply trying to fill the hours in the day since I've been back in sheffield by myself. I quite like it though. A T-shirt perhaps, or maybe just another background.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

What a fantastic album. Truly stunning. I first heard this band a while back, not really thinking it more than just a rare treat on the radio and instantly forgetting the name. I wish I had followed up by finding them because I am absolutely blown away by their debut album. I look forward to hearing more of their music and definitely seeing them live whenever I can. 10/10.

Listen to the album here...

A Lifetime Lost

Whilst routing around for old books for some inspiration and just general things to do out of pure boredom, I found this beutiful collection of stamps from far and wide, assembled by my Dad when he was a kid and seemingly didn't have any technology/electricity. It's sad to think, that collections like this are now condemned to an "antique" pigeon hole to never be revived. Through the culture I have been brought up in, and how it's "fast food" nature has resulted in such high demand for quickness and accuracy, I can't deny that this is something I wouldn't start doing. My patience is too short. That's also why books like the one I found are so wonderful. These are just a small selection of some of the pages. They have proven to be a brilliant insight into my own design. I now see that on a large scale, things are much easier to communicate, but on the scale of a stamp, that can't be more than an inch in size, the detail and design has to be perfect. Truly amazing specimens and also a huge kick up the arse for my attention to detail. *(APOLOGIES FOR THE RUBBISH SCANS)*

City Chaos

FOR SH! AWARD JUDGING






































This is another octopus I drew on the bus home from Sheffield. I've edited and finished it in photoshop. I'm really pleased with the outcome. I'm really loving my layer masks too! (Available for print upon request)

Review - Term 1

It's been a really interesting term. I feel completely at ease. I've not felt unhappy with the course at all, and certainly not since choosing my specialism.
After undertaking the Illustration pathway, I've fully realised that I've always been an Illustrator. It comes so naturally to me and I absolutely love just sitting and spilling my mind onto a page.
With the briefs we've been given, I feel that i've responded very well to each of them. The reportage drawings of figures went better than I thought and I developed my double page spread ability. With the "Dog Exercise Machine" I've created something that I really love. I'm so happy with the outcome and it's improved my ability with photoshop substantially. I'm much quicker and more accurate with the programme and this will only better my design in the future.
This improvement has given me time to do a poster for one of the guest lectures next year. Whether it will be used or not is besides the point, i'm merely commenting on the freedom i've had because i've been able to work quickly and efficiently.
I feel now that I am totally limitless. I've really hit a stride with my illustration and my imagination is flowly unhindered and constant. I'm very excited for the upcoming term. I'm even more excited about my future as an Illustrator.

Proud.

FOR SH! AWARD JUDGING

























I've called this poster "Proud". We had the task of creating a poster no larger than A3 to show a "Dog Exercise Machine". With my chosen breed, the Border Collie, I began designing some over extravagent designs of machines. I liked none of them. I went back to my initial thought process and figured that because the Collie is a working farm dog, I should keep it within an agricultural theme. Also, knowing first hand that Border Collies are insane and need exercise at least 5 times a day, I produced a poster reflecting a truer "machine" for exercise. I've always pictures Collies as very proud, intelligent dogs and that is exactly how I have portrayed my dog here. The style i've used is also very rustic with the technique i've applied. I still had the challenge of incorporating some montage as a requirement of the brief, but feel i've pulled it off with the cut out tractor over the hill. I'm very pleased the final outcome,  I hope everyone enjoys it also.

New Designs on the Moor

This was a collection of work displayed in the Moors Shopping precinct in Sheffield. A collection of the best work from our Observation and Communication project. Compiled by Sean Gee and myself. (Got to test our In Design skills)





As a part of the brief, we had to complete a poster. As well as displaying the best posters, the tutors chose a selection of the best sketchbook work, to demonstrate the development and design ideas/process. I think it is really important, when designing and displaying work, that the development and process is shown. It creates a deeper understanding in the audience mind and makes the work more accessible to everyone

Excitement

OOOOOOOOOO I REALLY WANT TO POST UP MY "DOG EXERCISE MACHINE" POSTER.
Not quite finished yet, will definitely be completed TOMORROW - 15th December 2009
WATCH THIS SPACE!

Reportage Drawings of People. (1 Week Brief)

In this one week brief we were charged with reportage illustration. We simply had to draw 25 figures over a week. Once the initial bad sketches were done, I really got into the swing of it and produce some really visually exciting pages. Here are the best ones.

The Victory Fields, Ascot

I love this tree that I drew. I think it was back home at my local park. I have recently stopped drawing in fine liner and in my moleskin because I've simply run out of pages and ink. I hope to pick it up when my mixed media paint work calms down.

Another Collection of Sketchbook Work.

This is another collection of my sketchbook work that has just magically appeared out of thin air and into one of my A2 job bags. These were the better bits. A bit rough but again there is always the opportunity to mix and match ideas and turn them into something better.

December Playlist

This is just a little 10 track play list of songs I've been on the buzz too whilst doing work and general walking to and from Uni and work.

1) Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn
- A really exciting new band. I saw them at Glastonbury after listening to just one track that I randomly found whilst on the lookout for something new. Truly fantastic and really excited to see them touring and playing at my place of work! (O2 Academy Sheffield - March)

2) Wild Beasts - Devil's Crayon
- This is quite an old one I've started listening to again. I forgot it's fantastically happy guitar riffs. A truly superb song.

3) Coldplay - We Never Change
- I really don't like how Coldplay are condemned to being "depressing". To be totally honest, sometimes, yes I agree they have a very downbeat sound, but I never feel depressed. There is something wonderfully pure about this song. It's simplicity is echoed by their ever intelligent arrangement and complimentary instrumental sound as well as some fantastic lyrics. Great song. This is a brilliant unofficial video made by a big fan of Coldplay. If I didn't know this I would have thought it was commissioned by them. Very impressed.

4) Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust on the Ground (Acoustic)
- I can not get enough of this band. They've only ever gone from strength to strength. Hardworking and exuding confidence they have made truly awe inspiring music so intelligent and beautifully arranged that they really compete with the bigger bands out there. I saw an acoustic set at the Record Collector in Sheffield and was blown away.

5) Life In Film - Carla
- I found this on YouTube through the "Watch. Listen. Tell." sessions that Bombay Bicycle Club featured on. I fell in love with it instantly. I will watch this band closely.

6) The XX - Heart Skipped A Beat
- Never have I been so impressed by a new band. I have listened to this album about 50 times since I got it about 2 weeks ago. It's not got old and I don't think it will for a very long time to come. If they don't get a Mercury Prize nomination at least I think I might cry. Too good to be true.

7) Hot Chip - And I Was A Boy From School
- Have to have an old classic in there. This is my favourite Hot Chip song. Completely individual and just the enthusiastic kick up the arse I need when I'm feeling like I can't be bothered to do any work. Everyone should be a fan and this is my favourite song! Great video too.

8) Tapes n' Tapes - Omaha
- This is a little song I like to listen to. Not particularly special, just simple, wonderful and happy. I like this band a lot and are definitely worth checking out. It's a jaunty little song and makes my head bob when I paint or are drawing things.

9) Bon Iver & St. Vincent - Roslyn
- I hate the fact that it is used in such an awful film and that the only thing that shows on screen is the poster for the awful film. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers. Bon Iver are my favourite band. End of. I admit, I did shed a little bit of a tear when I saw them live for the first time on the Park Stage at Glastonbury over the summer. Purely amazing music. Beautiful and timeless. Utter Bliss. This is a collaboration of another artist I like. Shame about the film it was used for.

10) Passion Pit - Moth's Wings
- Although a little deterred by their performance at Glastonbury, Passion Pit are still a really great band. They have crafter a brilliant new album, so I look forward to seeing them live again, preferably at a venue over a festival. Lovely little chirpy happy song. Not sure if that video is genuine. Listen with your ears not your eyes!

Conversation between Friends/Designers

Just a little snippet of a conversation between me and a fellow designer. Thought it was quite appropriate to comment on the fluency and loquaciousness used by designers to illustrate their arguments and thoughts about a piece of work.

SeaSEASea

I conquered the octopus. It's head is on a plaque on my wall.

Silly Birdy

This was a piece I created for a bands EP cover. Not used through artistic differences. It really shits me up whenever a bird flies into my window. It seems to happen fortnightly at my house back home. Surely I should be expecting it? No. Never. Silly Birds. It's not a portal into another dimension! Though the possibilities of that are endless. Which leads me to think, What if I did find a gateway to another place? I'm not sure whether i'd walk through. Would you?

OneTwoThreeGo

This is a small collection of some of my personal sketchbook work from the last 4 years. Looking back there are quite a few nice pieces that I hope to develop further when I get some time during or between briefs. ENJOY!