Post 50

I've been reading the poetics of space by Gaston Baechelard and look forward to spending time on the trip to peruse at my leisure. I'm feeling pretty peeved this morning...I missed a trip to see The Fall in Hull...I got the days mixed up. So back over the bridge again on the Amsterdam trip...looking forward to making a visit to the Tropen museum.

Trips abroad, to the shop, town, to college, work always leave me with a longing for the home...wherever that is. There is an interesting chapter about nests in the Poetics of space that I would like to use in the development of portfolio ideas questioning the idea of 'home', if indeed this is a relevant term to use in the Postmodern society. 'Home from home' is another interesting concept...the idea that there could be more than one....I'm well rural and plural.

Digital fish rendered in biro and photoshop. Did I need to use the text to illuminate the image of 'fish?'

The beaker takes on the form of the 'mock diagram'.' Fish sea river....rural to the city via industrialized areas...just up my street!

Post 49

I'm off to Amsterdam for a few days on Wednesday and will produce a series of drawings from the trip with a view to building my illustration portfolio. I've returned once again to Austers new York trilogy as a source of inspiration in the development of my portfolio and intend to use various info gained from the D and AD newspaper.

My latest image is inspired by an interest in the cityscape and an interest in Postmodern architecture...I think this would make a good poster for the NYC trilogy...

Post 48

....started working on my first promotional poster and will continue to refine.

My rotring pen has arrived! drew the poster with it but was surprised at how fast the first cartridge seemed to go...may be best to use it for outlines and small shaded areas.

I've been having a bit of a battle with the pixels...becoming a bit more particular...

I spent the day at The Ropewalk on the computer with my artist and writers yearbook compiling a list of contacts for my 1st large mail out.

Post 47

An updated version of the 'certainly man' image posted at an earlier date. Blue collar worker? Keep healthy during or after work? Again, this image was drawn onto A3 prior to the re working stage. Mid life crisis? Downhill slope...although accidental. Good link to Marxism...

Post 46

I've kept this image free from too much photoshop colour, although had a half thought about those orange briefs students around the country seem to do, hence the single orange raindrop.

Post 45

I've started looking at some early images that I drew when reading the New York Trilogy. I started playing with the composition of the umbrella which is referenced during various points throughout the book. Still working intuitively, I picked this thumbnail sketch and enlarged it.

I drew the image using the uni ball Mitsubishi pen ( although I've got a Rotring sketch on order!) on Daler Rowney A3 'Papier Esquiesse'. I Used the same paper to print out my artist book or newspaper for the D&AD submission.

I think the umbrella could almost be a wing of a bat...could expand on this idea.

Many of my illustration drawings have been produced on A4 and in sketchbooks. I've recently re-arranged my studio to accommodate working on a larger scale. It is also more beneficial moving away from the sketchbook for practical purposes...looking a more than one image at a time.

The above image could be used in editorial? I want to create an impact....what other devices could I use to enhance this image as a source for art directors/agents etc...? More later.

Post 44

I've continued to produce thumbnail sketches of images gleaned from The New York Trilogy as well as developing more commercial ideas for the images currently shown on my AOI portfolio.

The image to the left is what I called a self portrait in waiting...produced 4 years ago.' The great league of bald headed men' as a certain gurning Mark E Smith from The Fall mutters. I've joined that league and it don't feel like much fun!

Anyway, I've been messing about with the image using thumbnail sketches - putting him in his office shirt with the tie blowing in the wind etc. I've found using the thumbnails as opposed to full pages is a good way to work.

I've been thinking about the middle aged spreaders who blight the Sunday village greens somehow defying the hands of time with their Mr sheen heads...post images later...

I've also gone back to the umbrella, refeerenced so often in The New York Trilogy. I think I've actually enjoyed drawing for the first time in months messing about with composition and concepts no matter how crudely executed at the moment.

I've also started drawing men falling off logs

Post 43

...or how about this one? A few boats in the background, the sun, hints of flowers...slightly cooler colours...may give potential art directors more to think about? I'll post up the original image...

Are the colours a bit harsh?

Pros and cons I think.

I'll go and have another look at the images I've cut out the guardian over the past few weeks to see what is being commissioned at the moment...

Post 42

I've spent the day considering ways to think more commercially. I've started with 'The Humber Watchers.' I want to begin a renewal process and keep updating my AOI portfolio...my only illustration showcase until I get myself a proper website. More soon...

Post 41

Here is the start of my newspaper for the DANDAD submission.

I think I'm still at a stage where I'm responding to the brief as more of an artist as opposed to the illustrator. I'm going for the 'lo-tech' response to the brief and hope to sew the document together for submission.

As part of the submission it needs to be stated what function the 'book' will take. I think at the moment I woulod still refer to it as a 'fine art' response. The work is more an extension of myself in contrast to a response to the subject.