100 Years of Macmillan

I've produced an image for the 2011 - 100yrs of Macmillan calendar. They've used it on the cover as well. It's for a great cause and you can find out more info and purchase one here.

OH MO!

It's Movember and yep, I'm growing one! Here my style as it stands albeit a bit untidy. If you so wish you can 'donate to me' at my mo-space. Thanks.

TRICK OR TREAT

A little bit early I know. Here's my Halloween images for this year.

LEGO

Been experimenting with my etching press lately and following on from Pick Me Up at Somerset House I've raided my old Lego and run it through. Going to see what I can do over the next few days teeth marks and all.

PLATES

The plates have arrived a very speedy 24hrs after the order was placed at Studio Tone. Exciting

Initial joy now gone as I've made a school boy error. DOH!

SPACE COWBOY 2

Possible screen print.

SPACE COWBOY

New drawing that I want to convert to a 3 colour planographic print.

POOLGA

Some ***FREE*** downloads for you iPad, iPhone or iPod over at Poolga lovingly created by me. Enjoy

ROWING versus SKIPPING

Quick day project realising a sketchbook idea around the theme of different types of exercise.

ORGAN detail

NEW SKETCHBOOK

Just been and bought an A3 sketchbook and some indian ink. Feels a bit strange at the moment but hopefully it will be nice to see my work without the vector finesse.

KEEP NO SECRETS

Having created a very simple mouse icon in my sketchbook this little character developed. A bit of type which I'm trying incorporate more of and dot treatment and I'm pleased with the result.

WHAT'S THE TIME?

My daughter loves playing this game, over and over and over. Here's a picture for her room, plus the supporting sketches.

ACCORDIAN

Gearing up to make some new planographic prints on my mini etching press and this little fella is in the runnning.

YATCHSHOUND

I'd forgotten all about this little fella I created for the Saturday Telegraph magazine to illustrate canine lifeware.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Love coffee, or something like that, another work in progress.

BIKERS

An element from various cyclists I was working on a while ago for a promo.

ENGLAND / AUSTRALIA

After the recent heat wave and melting in our new studio maybe this image is not that appropriate anymore, still here it is.

ALGHERO'S

Recent commission from Julia over at Ink Publishing illustrating Alghero's. Nice job to do and nice to draw a map for a change, especially the simple icons. More please.

PiCK ME UP (SOME MORE) @ SOMERSET HOUSE

Having practically sold out my 'RED' image (see below), you'll now be able to see and buy (if you like) my 'X MARKS THE SPOT'. I'll be there on Saturday...sometime during the day.

PICK ME UP @ SOMERSET HOUSE

Together with the Peepshow family, I'll be down at 'Pick Me Up' at Somerset House from this Thursday, you can see what we've been up to over at the blog. Should be interesting and a great way to get some lovely affordable contemporary art. Here you can see one of mine straight out of the sketchbook.

GOLDEN EGG

Easter = week off

HONDA DREAM MAGAZINE - working method

I've decided to show how I resolve a brief and have chosen a recent commission from Honda Dream Magazine. Having rec'd the initial brief from Jamie Marsden and his initial scamp (above) my task was to create a character to illustrate electricity and another to show petrol and how they work together. My job involved illustrating a series of explanatory paragraphs over 2 double page spreads and a main holding image as an introduction.

HONDA continued

3) Initial sketchbook work, working out the electric and petrol characters.

4) Working them up into vectors, I liked the size difference between the large petrol man, big and strong holding up the placeholder engine and the petite electric lady simply switching on the electricity.

5) Client doesn't want to show a large petrol character, wanting them both the same size as to show no bias between the 2 technologies, I also had to drop the engine and go back to a petrol pump hose typography style.

6) Introduction of battery icon and refinement of type with the two characters in harmony smiling at each other plus a pigeon.
7) Car reference

8) First DPS, using the language of the in car display. Following the copy and direction of the client, each point is explained with the arrow joining the illustration together.

9) Continued working drawing. I like to work on the PDF layout sent by the client and fit the illustration in the space.

10) Client feedback scan, marked with comments.
11) Taking on board the comments, introducing a stop sign and arcing the journey back round.

12) Continued working drawing sent to client.

13) Detail sent to client with revised 14) showing the electric lady recharging with a power juice.

15) Final image sent for final approval. Small amendments made to this included changing the colour of the ladies face to differentiate here form the petrol man and altering the badges on there lab coats. I prefer the characters both having red faces as seen here.

ICONs

Been working with an old school friend producing a booklet with stickers to encourage kids to walk to school. Here's a selection of some of the stickers that I've created. I particularly like the cow.

POSITIVE

Having neglected reading anything other than gardening books and the odd newspaper, I decided to purchase Lance Armstorng's 'It's Not About the Bike'. This is something his mother said to him.