Illustrate My Day

Site Relocation

2010-10-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

So yes as you might have noticed I haven't put anything up for quite a while, as I have changed website.

For my complete print portfolio please visit:

www.nathangotlib.wordpress.com

Fir information about the screen printing workshops I run and the Lost Knowledge Printmaking Exhibition,
please visit:

www.lccprintmaking.wordpress.com

Final Piece - A Bright Future

2010-03-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

A screen print I've wanted to do for ages and finally did. The print has quite a few subtle details, like the kid looking over his shoulder towards the past instead of the future...

I really like the format and the meaning of the 4-color CMYK process in my work so will hopefully do a whole series of those. Already have an idea for a next print also around the theme of 'looking back'..

Music - Dead Red Sun

2010-03-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

My flat mates are finally officially starting their careers as Dead Red Sun. Definitely check out their myspace page for a preview of their music!

Dead Red Sun

Music Video - Splitting the Atom

2010-02-28T04:48:00.001-08:00

This song is so good..

Artist - Yuta Onoda

2010-02-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Japanese-styled paintings and illustrations by artist Yuta Onoda. The use of colors really makes them radiate a certain emotion.

Yuta's Website

Artist - Martine Johanna

2010-02-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

Beautiful illustrations by artist Martine Johanna. The drawings have a life of their own and seem to all be telling their own story..

Martine's Gallery

Artist - Avrillon Ghislain

2010-02-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Heart-warming flash animation by French artist Avrillon Ghislain. The color palette and cute character design are lovely, and I like the that touch as to the format of the video. Have a look at his blog, his work is striking.

Galileo from Ghislain Avrillon on Vimeo.

Ghislain's Blog

Music Video - Breathe Me

2010-02-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

Beautiful song by Australian singer Sia...

Artist - Fernando Vincente

2010-02-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

Really nice pin-up art by illustrator Fernando Vincente.. I particularly like the way he colors them in, in the way the light would sit on their skin.

Vincente's Pin-Ups

Advertising - The Human Chain

2010-02-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

The new Nike advert I saw on My Modern Met this morning, quite original..

Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

Work in Progress - Lost Knowledge

2010-02-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

The first exhibition in The Medium Is The Message series is finally open for submissions, for LCC students only! The only brief is that the work needs to be non-digital print and should revolve around the theme of Lost Knowledge, which is completely open to interpretation. Our first poster, 2-color screen print:

- designed and printed by the exhibition panel and friends -

Final Piece - Art of Nurture // The Day

2010-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

So I have been way too busy recently: briefs, exhibitions, my newly acquired title of Padawan under the Jedi Master Marjo and drawing and drawing. Hence the absence of daily postage. Among all those things I have been doing are a couple of competitions I found inspiring.

Art of Nurture: Lloyds TSB

The idea was to reflect sustainable relationships, so I created these entities who live in a hive and work together to make it all work as it should.

Bold Creative: The Day

This was a graphic novel/comic book competition in which you had to represent this *given* conversation between two friends around the theme of HIV. I wanted to make the characters anonymous and the surroundings uncharacteristic to reflect how this could happen to anyone.

Feedback is always welcome!

Artist - David Foldvari

2010-01-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

David Foldvari about illustration students:

if you study graphics or illustration, my most serious piece of advice to you would be to stop looking at my stuff for inspiration as soon as possible. if you want to be genuinely inspired or influenced by what i do, then look outside the tiny and insignificant bubble that is contemporary illustration. watch films, read books, look at other forms of art and design, learn about what's going on around you - anything that takes you outside illustration. despite of what your tutors may tell you, as an illustration student, referencing and studying other contemporary illustrators' work is not only going to damage your own work, but it will only help to homogenise and water down illustration as a whole. there is a big problem with illustration students at the moment - they are spending too much time referencing and copying other illustrators' work, and this will end their career before it has a chance to start. i'm only stating the obvious here, but as a student, you should do everything to make sure your work looks nothing like anybody else's out there, otherwise it will never be noticed, and you might as well get a job in mcdonalds.
i and most other working illustrators i know generally go and see a lot of degree shows, and anyone referencing other contemporary illustrators tends to be seen as ignorant and a bit second rate and crap - nobody wants to see the same old, but we all love seeing things we've never seen before, it's what moves this industry forward. as a new graduate, it's your job to move things forward, and by referencing other illustrators, you are doing the opposite.

There is a lot of truth in that....

David's Blog

Inspirations

2010-01-21T17:31:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it's time for this kind of post... So I've recently been drawing a lot, filling at least three sketchbook pages a day for the last month. My drawings are always very (if not 'too') expressive and I am influenced by the slightest event happening to me, from frustrations to inside jokes throughout the day. Due to my personal lack of artistic background I've never learned another way of drawing (I am however currently taking life drawing classes which will hopefully allow me to accumulate a minimum amount of technique). Anyways, besides my everyday life I have stumbled upon artists who express their emotions in a similar illustration style.

Johnny the Homicidal Maniac
by Jhonen Vasquez

So yes, his inner demons are apparently more bloody than mine. the expression remains the same however. By exponentially exaggerating a specific emotion I tend to arrive to the same sort of illustrated outcome. The comic is itself really interesting to read through, but definitely not for the weak-hearted.

Tim Burton

For me, this is where it's at. Already booked tickets to New York in order to see his retrospective at the MoMa. I hadn't been in contact with his earlier work before I took a copy of The Melancholy Death of the Oyster Boy into my hands. His illustrations are simple, beautiful and expressive, everything I want mine to be. I am also currently in a 'stitches, masks and pins and needles' phase, which his work seems to satisfy perfectly.

Nobuo Uematsu

I'm not only influenced by visuals. I have recently started listening to those beautiful piano tunes I had once heard while playing through my Final Fantasy collection. I've had those melodies in my head for the past few days and I guess their melancholy affects me.. But yeah, absolutely amazing piano pieces by Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu... I would recommend to find the pieces individually in their full length, but here is a short collection of the most beautiful ones:

Artist - Gabriel Moreno

2010-01-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

Beautiful work by Illustrator and Designer Gabriel Moreno. Even though he has worked a variety of big clients his work keeps its identity, which isn't an easy thing to do when working around a brand of the likes of Coca Cola.

Gabriel's Website

Music Video - True Romance

2010-01-17T16:34:00.001-08:00

This video is absolutely amazing!

Artist - Leigh Marling

2010-01-12T18:40:00.001-08:00

Amusing and inspirational video using Lego..

Work In Progress - Emotionals (Drawings)

2010-01-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

So I've been drawing again recently. Drawing with me is usually associated with being particularly moody and loads of things happening around me (not in a bad way, really). So I picked up a small moleskin sketchbook and managed to fill it up completely in little more than two weeks. I think it's important I'd follow my tutor's advice of drawing every day, I could see my pencil moving more swiftly about the page the more I drew... Anyways, here is the gallery.

The drawings are mostly inspired by imagination and emotions, they all kind of have their own personal story... Feel free to let me know what you guys think : )

Artist - David Walker and Vhils

2009-12-28T05:08:00.000-08:00

Beautiful street art in an abandoned school in Portugal.

“I was recently invited by Vhils to Lisbon as a guest painter at the annual VSP (Visual Street Performance) show. VSP is an annual live painting event which takes place in the Portuguese cities of Porto and Lisbon. This year VSP took over a huge semi-derelict school in the heart of Lisbon to be decorated by a host of Portuguese talent, including Vhils, Hium, Klit, Mosaik and more. I spent an amazing 5 days there painting, meeting all the crew, eating great seafood and talking to some very passionate and inspiring artists and art lovers.”

David Walker

VSP's Website

Random - Surprised Cat

2009-12-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Then...

(thanks Lucy)

Artist - Minni Havas

2009-12-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

Very smart pencil drawings by Finish illustrator Minni Havas. This one is probably one of my favorites.

Minni's Gallery

Music Video - You've Got The Love

2009-12-26T12:34:00.001-08:00

Yeah....

Artist - Joshua Petker

2009-12-25T15:49:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually impressed by paintings (that quite a generalization actually) but sometimes they just speak to me. So I can't really explain why but I really like LA-based Joshua Petker's work, not that they aren't simply beautiful of course.

Joshua's Gallery

Meet the Illustrators - Wonman Kim

2009-12-24T03:08:00.000-08:00

A new addition to the Meet the Illustrators series, an interview with multi-talented illustrator and designer Wonman Kim.

1. What is Illustration for you, in the general sense of the term?

I dare say illustration is part of my life. Looking back on my childhood I used to like to draw something and show it to everybody. It has always been a very natural behavior for me. Now, it is fantastic to be making illustrations as a graphic designer, book illustrator and/or concept designer.

2. Why/when did you start 'illustrating' (personally and/or professionally)?

I liked drawing and illustrating since my childhood. I studied a Ba in Business at college so I am basically a self-taught artist (I was influenced by my elder brother, who studied Fine Art in college). I began my career in 1998 as a key animator in an Animation studio, which I did for 2 years. I then moved on to a Gaming company where I worked as a character and BG designer. I also did a couple of illustrations for children books and novel covers. Now I am working as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. Sometimes, I'd make various t-shirt and toy designs on the side.

3. When considering illustration, there seems to be a fine line between design and fine art. Where do you think your personal practice stands and why?

I think my practice stands closer to design that fine art. Maybe it's because i emphasize more on how attractive the product will be. I think that design are made more for the point of view of the customer than the artists.

4. How do you see the future of Illustration?

I think the future of illustration will be more diversified and specialized. Many illustrators will have to explore new fields of illustrations and more new and exciting media.

Artist - Justin Harris

2009-12-16T04:07:00.001-08:00

Nice mixed media work by London-based artist Justin Harris.

Justin's Behance

Artist - Fernando Forero

2009-12-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

Beautiful illustrations by artist Fernando Forero. I especially like his Black Book: The Emotional Bestiary project, the creature design is simply amazing.

Forero's Behance

Work in Progress - Sundance Channel [GLASS]

2009-12-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of rough sketches/ideas for this animation we're doing for the Sundance Channel's station IDs. We had three separate ideas to begin with.

Artist - Patryck Kuleta

2009-12-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

Some very detailed and huge drawings by polish artist Patryck Kuleta. Be sure to check out the rest of his work, too.

Patryck's Behance

Music Video - Cannonball

2009-12-14T03:34:00.000-08:00

I haven't listened to his music in probably about two years but seems like the cycle is starting again..

Artist - Alexis Marcou

2009-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Very particular style by illustrator Alexis Marcou. And his website is quite well designed, definitely worth having a look.

Alexis's Website

Advertising - The History of ASICS

2009-12-13T07:54:00.000-08:00

Beautiful origami animation telling the story of ASICS..

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

Work in Progress - Pop (2)

2009-12-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

Finally it's here, the first version of the Somebody Told Me animation!!!!

The Magic Lantern - Somebody Told Me (Version 1) from Nathan Gotlib on Vimeo.

Work in Progress - Graf Zeppelin

2009-12-08T02:37:00.000-08:00

A 4 color print I did illustrating the Zeppelin (and one of the most iconic disasters in its aviation history).

Artist - Vasco Mourao

2009-12-06T03:54:00.000-08:00

Impressively detailed drawings by spanish illustrator Vasco Mourao. Most of his drawings are actually huge, some even 3m long!

Vasco's Gallery

Work in Progress - Pop

2009-12-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

For our latest university project we had to create a music video for a band we had to approach.
We ended up getting in touch with The Magic Lantern, a lovely London-based instrumental band, and are now making an animation for their song Somebody Told Me.

Here are a couple of my sketches for the animation, which I'll post here once it's done with!

(with special thanks to Hana Schwarz for the ink finish!)

Work in Progress - Sex, Drugs & Rock n' Roll

2009-11-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

First rough of this poster I am doing.. Really like how the letterpress turned out, still wondering if I want to use color and what process I want the eventual poster to be in (screen printed or digital).

Artist - Ryan Hurley

2009-11-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

That typography just did it for me... Some really interesting work by London-based designer Ryan Hurley.

Ryan Hurley

Random - Behind the Scenes

2009-11-26T16:06:00.000-08:00

You do wonder why there aren't more photographs of things like that...

Behind the Scenes - Photographs

Advertising - Ninja Gaiden

2009-11-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

Simply genius..

Artist - Tom Gauld

2009-11-21T03:52:00.001-08:00

Always been a fan of his work. Simple and funny illustrations, they're always pleasant and amusing to look at. His latest letter-pressed poster looks really cool, too!

Gauld's Website

Artist - Audrey Kawasaki

2009-11-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Amazingly talented illustrator Audrey Kawasaki has this style.. All her work is simple, beautifully drawn and colored. Most of her last paintings have been on wood, which gives a really nice texture to the illustrations. Even though though the style is recurring in her work, all the illustrations are unique.

Audrey's Website

Advertising - Guiness 'Bring it to Life'

2009-11-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

Amazing new advert by Guiness...

Random - Modern Movie Posters

2009-11-11T05:09:00.000-08:00

I was looking through the My Modern Met archives and came across this lovely series of posters. Instead of bombarding us with information about all the aspects of the films the posters concentrate on a specific experience or striking scene.

Advertising - CCTV

2009-11-11T04:54:00.001-08:00

Beautiful ad for CCTV in China.

CCTV Ink TV Commercial - Directed by Niko Tziopanos from Troublemakers.tv on Vimeo.

Artist - Laurie Hill

2009-11-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

We were shown this very nice animation by Laurie Hill for the Getty Images Sweet Film Challenge in our seminar group today talking about the theme of the re-appropriation of images. The rest of the seminar was also quite interesting, but this video is simply amazing.

Artist - Georgie Grie

2009-11-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

I've seen his work before and stumbled upon him again so I figure it's about time I post about his work. I've always been a big fan of fantasy both in literature and in art and his digital paintings are quite breathtaking.

Georgie's Profile

Artist - Nuno Da Costa

2009-11-09T02:02:00.000-08:00

Glamorous illustrations by London based self-taught artist Nuno Da Costa.

Nuno's Profile

On a side note: I was looking for an official website and came across this. It isn't the same artist but for some reason there are like 3 Nuno Da Costa's with online portfolio's.

Artist - Peter Sebastien

2009-11-09T01:57:00.000-08:00

Nice typographical poster based on subliminal messages by Peter Sebastien.

Word Boner

Music Video - Use Somebody

2009-11-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

Time for another weird cover...

Exhibition - Anish Kapoor // Jonas Burgert

2009-11-07T04:36:00.000-08:00

A small uni field-trip on thursday brought us to the RCA and its surroundings, so first off was the Anish Kapoor exhibition. Walking through the exhibition almost every single room gave me a head ache, but in a good way. The work is just too impressive. When you're standing in front of this huge square of yellow on the wall with a massive sort of dent in it, you really feel small. All in all the sculptures were all quite interesting and one of the things that struck me the most was a quote from the artist:

"I have often said that I have nothing to say as an artist. Having something to say implies that one is struggling with meaning. The role of the artist is in fact that we don't know what to say, and it is that not knowing that leads to the work."

Another exhibition we went to see was that of Jonas Burgert, at the Venison. His paintings were huge, extremely detailed and colorful. All his work has this narrative feel to it: he explores the darkest and most frightening parts of the human mind accentuated by his usage of bright and vivid colors in conjunction with the inhuman scenery.

Artist - Greg Simkins

2009-11-07T03:31:00.000-08:00

Impressive paintings by American artist Greg Simkins. It's quite nice to see the evolution from the sketches in the Drawings section to the actual paintings.

I'm Scared

Artist - Stella Im Hultberg

2009-11-06T00:47:00.000-08:00

"Somewhere, deep down, identity is something I always base my works from, not just self-identity, but identity as life as well. I still believe that most of us spend our lives figuring out what it is that we're living for. Dealing closely with death and injury makes you realize the frailty of identity and life... Just that one moment you can fully exist and the next you can be gone" -Stella Im Hultberg

I personally really like her style. Her work awakes some form of melancholy in me, probably due to how personal it is..

On a side-note: great website, My Modern Met.

Stella's Profile

Random - 'Richard Wiseman'

2009-11-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine very nicely thought of me and sent me the following file. Do check it out it's amazing!

Music Video - Hearts a Mess

2009-11-05T10:38:00.001-08:00

Lovely new video by Gotye. I particularly like the way the spider spins night around the earth...

Artist - Wonman Kim

2009-11-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

I quite like the colors he uses. He has a very varied style, so be sure to check out other work on his blog.

Kim's Blog

Artist - Tim Bollinger

2009-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Impressive short film...

Between from Via Grafik on Vimeo.

Artist - Stephan Balleux

2009-11-03T01:45:00.000-08:00

Belgian born artist Stephan Balleux has a very defined technique in his paintings. Quite dark..

Stephan's Gallery

Artist - Stephen Wiltshire

2009-11-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

Simply mind-blowing. I can't really comprehend how someone can do this... He spent 20 minutes on a helicopter and then started drawing the skyline from memory.

Stephen's Gallery

Anime- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

2009-11-02T02:08:00.000-08:00

The anime I am currently following, surprisingly good. The story line is very weird, but once you get into it you really want to know where it's going. What I particularly like about it the humanity of the characters, the way they behave (the character psychology, basically). And the opening and end video are really catchy...

Exhibition - Pop Life: Art in a Material World

2009-11-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Before celebrating Halloween my flat mates and I went to see the much talked about exhibition at the Tate Modern. I had heard a lot of criticism about it but I thought I should form my own opinion and I must say I was positively surprised. The exhibition is very pleasantly curated, very informative and surprisingly inspirational (for me it was at least) and is definitely worth the £11 concession. The whole exhibition is based on pop culture , like its name implies, and explores the most provocative and influential pieces of the 21st century ranging from Andy Warhol to Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons. Because I recently developed a vast interest in pop culture for my recent projects I enjoyed every bit of the exhibition, it's quite the eye opener. Here are the/my high-lights:

Koons' iconic Rabbit never fails to impress me with it's simplicity and genius. Even more interesting were the pieces from his Made in Heaven series, a collection of art works in different media depicting himself having sex with hungarian porn star and politician Iona, based on the celebrity age we live in today.

On the same subject comes Richard Princes' Spiritual America IV and Takashi Murakamis' collection of work about modern Japan. Their work is a brilliant reference for an idea I've had for a personal project, something I will concentrate on as soon as I find the time (I am constantly collecting references, images and information on the subject, which is - very broadly described - today's pop and celebrity culture and the illusion-lifestyle it creates. If anyone has seen a piece of work or article that links to that subject please feel free to email it to me - illustratemyday.mail@gmail.com!).

Another personally interesting part of the exhibition was Keith Haring's Pop Shop room, along with a couple of his prints. I've always felt a strong connection to his work because my earliest art-related memory is of me going to see an exhibition of his work in Knokke, Belgium, sitting there for two days in a row trying to draw the different pieces of work displayed.

A technically interesting part of the exhibition was the first part, Warhol's legacy.

For some obscure reason I have never really thought about mixing my silk screen printing inks with things like diamond dust (Gem). Displayed in addition the Gem series are quite a few celebrity portraits and promotional films Warhol made.

Besides the 'obvious' big names, the gallery included a couple of very impressive work by artists previously unknown to me. Most notable ones in this category would be Martin Kippenberg's Martin is Great, Tremendous, Fabulous, Everything and Peter Nagy's Est Graduate. I found both pieces to be visually very pleasing.

On a side-note:

It is impossible for me not to mention the Tate Modern's new installation: How It Is by Miroslaw Balka.

If you can, be sure to pass by the Tate to experience this weird installation, the feeling you get is pretty hard to describe.

Final Piece - What Am I? (3)

2009-10-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is the final image I created for this project and is finally done! I currently do not posses all the stages of work for this print so I will update it on monday, when I will have all the pictures. Anyways, this is A0-sized 4-color CMYK process print on a vertical wall. This is a lot harder than it sounds...

Artist - Shane Devries

2009-10-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, been drowning in workload really... Shouldn't be an excuse not to blog though so that's something I should work on! Back to the world of illustration with artist Shane Devries and his lovable style of painting.

His blog has a lot of very interesting links to other illustrator blogs like Ashley Wood and Sean Cheetham.

Artist - Rafael Grampa

2009-10-25T02:11:00.000-07:00

Interesting style from graphic novel illustrator Rafael Grampa. His blog is also pretty good, with loads of links to other comic book artists and other illustration-related websites/blogs.

Work in Progress - Illustrate My Day

2009-10-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

Some collages I made for a logo for this website...

Artist - Louis van Baarle

2009-10-15T00:45:00.000-07:00

She studied in Belgium for a while before returning to Holland to finish her studies. Anyways, really nice character designs.

Louis van Baarle

Final Piece - Der Freitag

2009-10-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

I recently joined a design competition, the Young Illustrative Awards. About a week ago I got a mail sent to me saying I unfortunately didn't get selected (even though I was part of the top 50 of more than a 1000 works, go me!). Thinking it was just one of those generic emails I replied that 'yes I would love to stay in touch and potentially work with/for you in the future'. I was positively surprised when I got emailed back saying that they could actually use my help for illustrating an article that was going to feature in a paper given out at a couple of design fairs in Germany. Basically, I had to create an illustration to go with the article about the World Social Forum, an organization and opposes globalization and respects human rights and nature. Later, I was asked to also make a sketch of the mayor of Hitzacker, the town where the summit will take place, because he is interviewed in the paper. This is what I came up with:

The print (a solar plate, from a collage I made) is based on the ideal that we have to reflect and look back at what we're doing at the Earth so that we stop making mistakes. The village is a view of Hitzacker from above. The magazine will be in print on tuesday!

EDIT: and here it is, my first editorial work.

Blogging - DesignFeedr

2009-10-12T10:28:00.001-07:00

"Fashion illustration is one of the forms of illustration that has been out there forever but seems to blur into the background a bit. This is a shame, because its one of the most creative and versatile styles in illustration." - DesignFeedr 07/10/09, 'Mixed Media Fashion Illustration' post

Very interesting post about fashion illustration. I've never actually looked into this but from now on I will change my ways, this is quite amazing.

Examples of Mixed Media Fashion Illustration

Another really interesting collection of images on DesignFeedr I came across today about Digital Painting, featuring artists like Art Grerm, Roboto Kun and Aneyeoni. Check out the links on DesignFeedr to the artists websites.

Masters of Digital Painting

Final Piece - What Am I? (2)

2009-10-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

Besides having my prints as final pieces I should also mention everything that inspires me and how it does that, relate to other artists. Here is a small compilation of quotes and reflections on the subject:

"I don't usually respond to the message. I often work against it. Mostly I'm going to work visually, so the style of the lettering is considering form over content. Blasphemy, I know." - Marian Bantjes, Varoom Issue 09

"I believe that illustrations are at their best essentially a narrative art form, a universal language in which we communicate our stories, ideas, moods, feelings... I believe nowadays the illustrator is not seen as the poor cousin in the visual arts any longer. But only a few years ago we used to be regarded that way. Maybe that happened because of the nature of our work: we have to create art under certain constraints such as deadlines, a client who needs to be satisfied, targets and some specific communication goals need to be addressed... Most of all, our work is meant to reach a great number of people through technical reproduction." - Renato Alarcao, Meet the Illustrators

"Well as with so many specialisms there are different classifications within. So I guess I see illustration as the visualisation of a story/idea/thought whether that be a newspaper article or a self initiated project, it is about trying to communicate in a visual form." - Emma Kelly, Meet the Illustrators

"Design was promoted to the front line of commercial life: professionalized and strategized, it took ownership of identity and branding within the corporate world... Illustration, on the other hand, clung into the notion of autonomy of expression and refused to learn the language of strategy and branding." - Adrian Shaughnessy, Schism and Reunification

"It's a tendency that comes and goes, like Art Nouveau and Pop Art. It's a part of life that will never disappear." - Ephameron, Meet the Illustrators

"The notion of groups of illustrators collaborating on one commission and forming a collective, is a growing trend." - Lydia Fulton, Varoom Issue 6

Artist - La Boite Concept

2009-10-11T02:48:00.001-07:00

I really liked this video. Simply genius execution-wise!

La Boite Concept (arcade multimedia) HD from La Boite Concept on Vimeo.

Talks - Ian Wright

2009-10-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

Very interesting talk about his inspirations and work, from the It's Nice That talk-series.

It's Nice That Talk #18 – Ian Wright from It's Nice That on Vimeo.

Final Piece - What Am I?

2009-10-08T01:46:00.000-07:00

So, my presentation at university is today. Since the project started I've been exploring various printing techniques, including the dreaded mezzotint.

Basically, you use a rocker to dry point the surface of a metal (here, zinc) plate. You have to rock in about 6-8 different direction to get the desired effect: a jet black print. This effect can only truly be attained by mezzotint, because using techniques such as aquatint and solar plate tend to give a lighter shade of black. Anyways, meet 'Elle'.

I did about 6 prints and this would be the most successful one of the series. The technique takes a lot of time, but the result is amazing. This is truly worth the 6 hours of work to dry point the plate!

Moving on, I did a photo shoot with a friend at the start of summer (thanks Chiara!) and changed the images to silk screen prints, as well as a mezzotint to seal the deal. This is what I came up with:

The series include a couple of one color screen prints, different block color prints, a 4-color CMYK print and a mezzotint. This is the [PRINTS] series.

Artist - Marko Djurdjevic

2009-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

Really nice concept art by German illustrator Marko Djurdjevic. He has a really interesting blog to follow, too.

Six More Vodka

Work in Progress - What Am I? (4)

2009-10-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

So, sleepless nights in my London house... Been thinking a lot about the project lately and started to really appreciate it. Over this past summer I've done some sort of soul-searching journey, looking for my points of interest and finding fragile moments of epiphany, thinking 'that was it'. I guess this is one of them.

What am I? The answer shouldn't be looked for in the darkest corners of my consciousness. That's just silly. It is all much more simpler than that. What do I like? When do I feel the difference? What am I?
Well, I am a print maker. I'm guessing this project was to find our calling and I think I found mine, in that print room.

My mind is wandering off here, partial insomnia does that to you...
Anyways, currently working on a mezzotint. To come? Two screen prints, a solar plate and an etching, all ready to pop out of the idea book I keep next to my bed. My 'creativity' tends to culminate when I am laying sleepless in bed, perfect time huh?

Technique - Spray Painting

2009-10-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

I'm loving this artwork. Seeing how he did just makes it look even better... Definitely a technique worth looking into. I've recently got an Airbrush Kit as a present from my brother and sister so I guess I'll be trying it out some time soon...

Blogging - 40 Fakes (2)

2009-10-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

Another particularly interesting day of posts on 40 Fakes.

First of all, an amazing stop motion by studio We Love Our Work. Near the end my nerves were truly giving up...

Revenge from Lernert & Sander on Vimeo.

Second, some very refined acrylic and ink painting by California based illustrator, Julian Callos. Do check out his blog.

Artist - Satellite Soda

2009-10-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

Came across this very multi-talented (various degrees of awesome, like they put it) concept art design collective. The different artists illustrate in a completely different way and sometimes work together on briefs. Worth checking out the sketchbook section!

Satellite Soda

Artist - 1000 Tentacles

2009-10-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

I saw some illustrations I liked so I clicked on the link and was positively surprised. Some really interesting work by illustration studio 1000 Tentacles. They aren't just busy with illustration but also 3D modeling and sculpting. I came across their work on a really good website, Pop Whore.

One Thousand Tentacles

Work in Progress - What Am I? (3)

2009-09-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

So I really want to try and make a stop motion for this project. I've been thinking about the sponge idea and came up with a few interesting stories. Quick rundown of the current story board:

* Person drops the sponge on the floor without realizing and wanders off. Sponge comes to life.

[For this bit I'm not sure how or what, was thinking of having this bit properly filmed and have the stop motion only start with the sponge moving]

* Sponge moves around the floor towards the lounge, where it passes near the TV.

[The TV will be lit, just want to try and see what effect it'll give if I take different frames with the TV on and the scenes seem to randomly jump]

* It sponges (?) up the table and sees a pencil, which it absorbs. After that it moves across a page leaving a pencil drawing behind.

[It would be appropriate to have the sponge making a drawing of me...]

* Sponge moves up the stairs towards my room, where it climbs the desk and sees my laptop. It moves over the keyboard.

[Nice idea here given to me by Ollie to have the sponge surf some porn. We'll see about that]

* Sponge goes back to the kitchen where it moves over a cookbook, after which it cook a meal.

[Maybe have a pan of boiling water and random vegetables appear in it?]

* While cooking the person comes up and put the sponge in the sink, 'drowning' it.

[Idea for this came to me from a Bill Bailey show, where a camera is filming under a see-through tray so it looks like it's all underwater]

This is the main idea at the moment... Here are a couple of inspiring stop motions I've found looking around YouTube, definitely stuff to be learned from. Also, worth checking out previous post about Keane (Bedshaped) and Coldplay (Strawberry Swings).

Work in Progress - People (7)

2009-09-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

And my last flat mate who arrived yesterday..

Artist - Somefield

2009-09-30T04:21:00.000-07:00

Honestly one of the only websites I've ever visited where I was bothered to click on every single available image... I absolutely love his works! From his series of personal work around the original story of Alice in Wonderland or his comic Sixteen Miles to Merrick, every illustration has a wonderful simple complexity to it. Definitely worth keeping an eye out!

Somefield

Music Video - Strawberry Swings

2009-09-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

Amazing new video by Coldplay (and beautiful song of course). Yes, it was actually all drawn on the pavement! Due to restrictions it is really hard to find a nice quality version of this video that you can embed, so here is a link:

Official Video: Coldplay - Strawberry Swings

Artist - Aleksi Briclot

2009-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to the pre-release of the new Magic: the Gathering set, Zendikar. At all the pre-releases in London we get artists from the card game to come and sign cards and stuff and this time we had the pleasure to have Aleksi Briclot, to my opinion one of the most talented artists.

This is a print of one of his illustrations, Liliana Vess, I was lucky enough to buy. His website hasn't been updated in ages so I'll be sure to post a link once it's done.

Work in Progress - People (6)

2009-09-25T07:25:00.001-07:00

Last couple of drawings I did... Meet my current flatmates!

Artist - Shelly Wan

2009-09-23T02:38:00.000-07:00

Some impressive illustrations I came upon when looking at random concept art.

Also, while looking up information on this artist I came across this very interesting blog, definitely worth following: Igallo's Blog (Art Director for Tor, Forge, and Starscape Books).

Blogging - 40 Fakes

2009-09-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some blogs today and when I got to 40 Fakes I realized there as too many good stuff on there today that I couldn't just pick out one thing and post it on here, so here are a couple of links to things I liked on the blog:

Animation for the Champion's League:

Promo Champions - tve | Kotoc from kotoc on Vimeo.

John Fellows:

Interesting gallery where John Fellows took old objects and 'renovated' them, adding (really nice) illustrations on them.

Edno Pereira Jr. :

From the Geeko-series, illustrations around the subject of retro gaming.

Scott Wenner:

Amazing work by Scott Wenner. He has a very specific style in all his work (definitely check out the galleries on his website).

Work in Progress - What Am I? (2)

2009-09-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

A bit of a different view on the project.. I still really like the idea of the story being the core of illustration, but I was thinking about a different approach to the brief I have. Answering the question 'What Am I?' is too easy, there are too many answers that define me perfectly, so I brainstormed a bit about what would really define me. While I was thinking about this I remembered something I was taught as a student one day while talking about philosophy and such. From the Mishna's (the 'Spoken Torah') point of view there are different kinds of students.

There is the stone, which requires a great deal of effort to remember something but once it does, its etched in its memory forever.

And on the other end of the spectrum, there is the sponge, which absorbs all the information around it very easily but if it gets squeezed a bit too hard it all leaks out.

Ideally, you want to be somewhere in between those two... Anyways, I'm drifting off. The idea I had was representing myself as some kind of sponge, learning and absorbing all the information around me (which I do, I'm a very interested person!) and kinda visualized it in a short animation film, the Sponge-motion. The board is quite simple: a sponge goes around absorbing information, putting it to use (for example, drawing something after absorbing a pencil) and eventually comes back to me and I swallow it up, making it part of me again and learning all it just did. More on this to come!

Music Video - Papillon (Acoustic)

2009-09-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

I liked the song when it came out, but when they played it at Studio Brussel acoustic style...

Sessie: Editors - 'Papillon' | Studio Brussel

Artist - Hellovon

2009-09-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Some amazing pencil/graphite drawings by Hellovon, currently in a solo exhibition in an LA gallery.

Semblance

Meet the Illustrators - Ephameron

2009-09-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

After visiting her Art Trek exhibition I sent an email wondering if it was possible to meet up and have a chat, maybe even a small interview. So last week we did meet up, had a nice chat and had a small interview.

When did you start illustrating?

I studied painting for about 5 years but didnt feel so good with the conceptual tendency of painting. That's why I turned to illustration. The painting teachers weren't inspiring at all, but when I started studying illustration it was a whole new world. I really liked it so decided to stick with it. Little by little I started developing different techniques, meeting people, be part of exhibitions all around Europe (Holland, Paris, Rome, ...) and starting up my own ones, like Art Trek here in Antwerp. I really enjoy those exhibitions because it's not only a chance to show your own work but it's also wonderful to meet all those different people and artists and work together. When people want to be part of a gallery along your work you get some kind of confirmation about the quality of your work, so it's always a good feeling when fellow artists ask to be part of your exhibition.

For you, where does illustration stand in todays creative world?

I start working with illustration the same way I used to start with painting, even though in painting - or fine art in general - the questions of why this and why that directly come up. For me, I just draw or paint whatever comes up in my mind, if I have an idea I really like or something that caught my eye: the whole ideology behind a piece of work is for me a lot less important. I don't mean that a piece of work should 'just be pretty', but direct surroundings and emotions are already a vast enough concept to explore.

So what inspires you most?

The life around me, what I see. I love walking about, traveling around town or even around the world, exploring things that are different from what we're all used to. I also get inspired by the people around me, like my family, my friends, my boyfriend, .. and how emotions are expressed by them and everyone, actually.

What kind of techniques do you use?

Well, I try to explore as many different techniques as possible even though I do feel I usually fall back in the same routine, like a recurring motive. Like, I just came back from the USA where I went to help design a book. I met up with this one girl who was making woodcuts. So for a week I was constantly drawing and she was making the woodcuts from the drawings. It's fascinating to see how people use different techniques all around the world. Wherever I go I try to experience something that's very specific to that place. When I was done there I went to Chicago and there it was more like a 3D workshop, constantly sculpting wood.

How do you see the future of illustration?

It's a tendency that comes and goes, like Art Nouveau and Pop Art. It's a part of life that will never disappear.

ephameron.com

Random - Film Posters

2009-09-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

A post I found on Design You Trust (orginally from Design Feedr) about movie posters. Quite interesting how most of the recent movies seem to be about the end of the world...

Movie Poster Gallery

Random - Magic: the Gathering Design of Zendikar

2009-09-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

MTG has a new set coming, Zendikar. I've always loved the art and lore around the MTG cards and today's article on the Wizards website is very interesting. It follows the artist through the whole design process of the set, how they have to answer the briefs and visualize the concepts. Definitely worth to read through it. Has nice links to various very talented illustrators like Mark Tedin, too.

The Look of Zendikar

Work in Progress - Nucleo

2009-09-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

I was asked by a friend if I could maybe design something to put on his student union's poster, so I came up with the following drawing...

Music Video - Nine Million Bicycles

2009-09-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

I just came back from one of my best friends' wedding and I reckon that as a small ode to her I should post her 'wedding song' here. The ceremony was amazing, I'm really happy for you guys!

Random - Cartoons

2009-09-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate it when you have something at the tip of your tongue but you simply can't grasp it? Well, I've had that for about six years regarding a cartoon I saw when I must have been about six years old. I really wanted to remember the name of that cartoon even though the only thing I remembered from the time I saw it was there was a scene involving a boy opening a door he wasn't supposed to open. Helpful, right? Today I was talking to a friend about those cartoons I used to watch when I was a kid and remembered another one I really liked which I knew I had the tape of somewhere in my attic, Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest. When I looked the cartoon up on youtube I found a link to this other cartoon that looked vaguely familiar.... and jumped a hole through the air when I realised that was the one I've been searching for for so long, Little Nemo! Anyways, this entry is dedicated to those cartoons I grew up with.

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest

Epic tale about faeries in a rainforest, fighting the evil human conqueror that destroys nature.

Little Nemo

Japanese animation about a journey in the world of Slumber.

Les Maitres Du Temps

Only cartoon that ever made me cry, by french studio Moebius. I love the creature design in most of their artwork.

Rock-a-Doodle

Amazing sing-along cartoon with The King!

Artist - Peter de Seve

2009-09-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Some nice illustrations by Peter de Seve. Particularly like the sketches in both the advertising and the sketch book section.

Peter's Website

Anime - Aim For The Top 2: Diebuster

2009-09-08T14:24:00.000-07:00

New anime I started watching today, from the same studio that made Evangelion and Furi Kuri.
Definitely should be on an anime lovers to-watch list!

Artist - Anthony S. Waters

2009-09-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

So I just came back from a few days in Prague. Besides the fact I love the city and had an amazing time with my friends exploring town and such, we also participated in the Prague MTG Grand Prix (where I sadly went 6-3 and failed to make day two). At every main event artists show up to sign cards and sell prints and stuff. One of the artists I met there was Anthony S. Waters.

Anthony's Gallery

Artist - Lost Garden Illustrations

2009-09-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Another website I came across while looking for new images or blogs. The Art Gallery features a lot of different illustrations the artist made during his travels. The sketches are simple yet engaging and interesting. Be sure to check out the Turtle Kama Sutra...

the lost garden gallery

Artist - John Paul Thurlow

2009-09-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

A random blog I came upon while random looking for images on the web. The blog is a personal project by John Paul Thurlow, basically to cover covers from his collection of magazines. Interesting concept, nice execution. I particularly like the hand-drawn printed type faces.

JP Thurlow's Blog

Artist - Mr. Bingo

2009-09-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

Interesting link I saw on Design is Kinky. Mr. Bingo has a wide and smart portfolio of illustration, definitely worth scrolling through his work.

Illustration Archive