Monday 30 April 2012

Secret 7" submission

As mentioned previous I submitted a sleeve for the Secret 7" exhibition and it sold on the opening weekend so I can finally reveal the artwork here.

I chose to do Bombay Bicycle Club's 'Lights Out, Words Gone (Rub-a-dub remix)'.  We were told to avoid obvious nods to the band or song title in our designs so I figured it was a good opportunity to draw an over-sized blue bear skulking around Crouch End (where the band come from).

Here's a video of the opening morning of the sale which coincided with Record Store Day.  Make sure you take a look at the sleeves that didn't sell on the weekend; they're available on ebay HERE.



Wednesday 25 April 2012

'The Absurd Balloon - A Song for the Absurd Balloon'

Another illustration in my Absurd Balloon series I did whilst in Scotland last week inspired by a book featuring beautiful photographs of Tibet. More in the series here.

Again I've tried a colour version in addition to the black and white version.  I'd be interested to know which people prefer; I think in this instance for me the blue really makes the illustration quite striking.



Monday 23 April 2012

'Rooster' illustration

Here is an illustration of a rooster.  Handsome fellow isn't he?  I tried some colour but it looked a bit knickers. 

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Secret 7 exhibition

Right I'm back from a week in the Borders in Scotland. I did some drawing, some running, eat some amazing food and saw some beautiful countryside. I've got some illustrations to scan and blog but in the meantime get yourself along to the Secret 7 exhibition which is on right now. Featuring sleeves designed and illustrated by the likes of Pete Fowler, Drew Millward, Luke Drozd and even little old me. You can buy the sleeves from Saturday for £40 with all the money going to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Here's a selection of my favourites - I'll reveal mine next week sometime once all the sleeves are sold.



Thursday 5 April 2012

'The Absurd Balloon - The Swamp'

Another illustration in The Absurd Ballon series this time with added colour. I've been hesitant to tweak and colour these illustrations on the computer because for the most part I don't think they need it and I can be a bit of a dick about computers in so much as I think they're massive fucking idiots and not to be relied on in anyway what-so-ever. And everything I enjoy about illustrating is frequently made painful/laborious/ungood with the addition of computers. I'm not even gonna get started on the program Illustrator but 'Live Trace' aside that shit is just maths. Erm - digressed a little bit there - four hours of sleep has made me FUN CITY today.

SO basically here is a colour version and a black and white version. It may be I decide to introduce a dash of colour throughout the series. I'd be interested to know what people think too. I'm probably not going to be posting for a week or so because I'm off to the wilds of Scotland where I first stumbled upon the Absurd Balloon. Don't touch my stuff while I'm away.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

'Serge Gainsbourg' print session

Yesterday I did a run of Serge Gainsbourg prints based on my illustration from last month. The print session went well - I pulled forty prints in all and I think 38 are good - I'll be adding an individual ink wash over the next week or so in keeping with the original illustration and they should be available in my shop when I get back from a week in Scotland.

Illustrator Jonathan Edwards has very kindly added my Serge to his 'Draw Serge' blog - click here to have a look at some of the wonderful Serge offerings.








Monday 2 April 2012

'George Bailey' illustration

For this illustration I couldn't make up my mind whether to draw Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' or as Elwood P. Dowd in 'Harvey'. Both terrific films but I eventually settled on George Bailey emphasising just how big his travel suitcase need be.

George Bailey: "You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?"
Uncle Billy: "Uh huh. Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner..."
George: "No, no, no, no! Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles!"
I'm going to include my favourite quote from Harvey as well though as it's one I'm very fond of;
"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."