Fleet Foxes

Latest Portfolio show piece.
My favourite band of 2008/09, of whom I'm eagerly awaiting their next album, due out later this year.

'Robin has revealed that for their sophomore he will try to sound "less poppy, less upbeat and more groove-based". Taking inspiration from Roy Harper's psychedelic classic, Stormcock, or at least its 12-string guitar he said: "That will be the primary sonic distancing from the last record".' - Wikipedia

Indie-Folk, I do love it.

Scholar

A Reading of 'The Scholar' by Robert Southey.

Most recent Epoch Times piece. Published two weeks ago, I've been feverishly tweaking the colour version ever since.

The two blue characters are Keats and Sappho, ghostly company of the solitary Scholar as he reads classical texts.
I chose a rather close up composition for this one, mainly to convey the intimate nature of reading alone and the sharing of thoughts and feelings that an author can create. If I read a lot, I often find the voices of characters becoming more developed in my mind, even more so with graphic novels. In this image I wanted the historic authors to be right near the reader, as if they are becoming part of his consciousness.

The colouring on the reader character developed into a sort of sepia look. The idea being that reading books is an age old practice, and the guy depicted is delving into history. The poem also has some content regarding the poem's author making their own place in history to come, or 'futurity' as it's put.



A good few commissions have come together recently, so I'm going to be busy in coming weeks. Luckily the bad weather is keeping me indoors, but like everyone else I'm pining for Spring to show.

Re-discovered Classic of the week! - Tower of Power, Urban Renewal

Further Foxes

I met a recent Fine Art graduate yesterday. In talking about the subject I was reminded about how much Contemporary Fine Artists have to explain their work. I don't mean 'explain' as in justifying a piece being 'Art' to a bewildered public, but just the practice of backing up each decision made in the creative process.
I used to practice this a lot, but in Illustration it becomes less needed. The image works as an aid to a text (traditionally), an extra piece of accompanying communication. Any explanation needed should lie in the text.
An exception to this is in stand alone Illustration pieces (in my case this one).
I miss explaining my work. I'm going to try elaborating more in future posts.

I won't start here today.
These are just sketchbook practice pages.
Hope you like them.



My housemate's band, The Lost Levels, are on their UK tour right now. Watch a recent video of them HERE.

Fox Practice

Find of the week - 'What Isn't Nature' by Cass McCombs
as featured on Jason Dill's 'Skate More' section

Casio

A not so experimental experiment.
No story as such, just something I wanted to draw to see if it works.

Staying with the theme of yesterdays technology, the Casio F-91W sits upon his wrist. I used to have one of these, I'm going to get another.

More like this may follow.

Find of the week - Bob James, 'Take me to your Mardi Gras'

Cassettes

Following on from the Audio entry comes this piece.

Inspired by my favourite road sign, and favourite on the road moment (as long as you're not going too fast and get to stop and watch the beautiful creatures). The last time a group of Deer stepped out in front of me whilst driving along was about 3 years ago when I worked for the Latitude festival at Henham Park, Suffolk. It was pretty special.



The mixture of modern music and Fauna is a curious one, which I like.

Common Nightingale

Illustration Friday - Wilderness

Not in fitting with my usual look, but on my week off from work (at M&S) I wanted to have a go at Illustration Friday.

The word is 'Wilderness', this is my response. Visually Inspired by Pro Skateboarder Chris Haslam.

Also, as a nod to Bill Bailey in the classic comedy 'Black Books', thats a Subutteo man nestled in there.

Missed

Two pieces here from 2009 that where left unblogged. Mainly due to my not really being into them upon completion, at the time. Now I look back at them, I don't mind them so much.



Both pieces where for the Epoch Times Poetry analysis column.

There are some more of these in other folders, but they'll being staying there forever more.

Check

Latest show piece specifically for my Portfolio. This one took a while, especially due to the Checked Flannel Shirt. I'm glad it's now complete and am well pleased with it.

Largely inspired by this much loved Portrait, the animal can be seen as representativeof the figure's character or quality.



If I were to put a soundtrack to this image, it'd be - Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp
and/or perhaps anything that brings to mind that Grand Outdoors feeling (Songs with 'Mountain' in the title will do).

Ok, its around 5pm and I still havn't put pencil to paper yet today!

Nightingale

Happy New Year to All!!

2009 was a good one for me and I'm optimistic about all that 2010 may have in store.

Heres the latest piece for the Epoch Times UK edition, published today.


An Extract from 'The Nightingale' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

(Extract)
"No cloud, no relic of the sunken day
Distinguishes the West, no long thin slip
Of sullen light, no obscure trembling hues.
Come, we will rest on this old mossy bridge!"

A bit of moody Landscape to kick off the year. I tried to focus on the atmosphere as much as possible, its my favourite aspect of scenic environments.


Original Rough.

I was really excited to include the element of reflection in this piece, it's such a beautiful subject in itself. M.C. Escher did it well with this one.


Alternate composition idea.

It's all Snow here in Norwich right now, pretty to look at but very unforgiving to the humble Track Bike rider :(


Posture Study.

You can see the actual newspaper page online here.

Present

I hope your Christmas was Good.
I ate well and did little overall, in a good way.

Now it's over I can post the pieces I was commissioned to create for presents.

The above piece was created for my good pal Thomas. It's an amalgamation of things he likes.


Pencils.



This Portrait was for a very good customer of mine. Hopefully her boyfriend (and his dog) were pleased with it.


First attempt.

Hinterland

I doubt this is good professional practice, but I'm quite excited by this next piece.
Here's just a tiny hint.

Plus! - The Lost Levels (aka - my awesome housemates) will be playing at The Arts Centre this Thursday. Be There!

MaskAlbum

I've set up a little Facebook page to run alongside this here blog. You can become a fan of it if you prefer to be informed of updates that way.

Currently Enjoying - Beruit

Telly

I have nothing much that I'm able to report at the moment, things start getting secretive near Christmas. The Walls have Ears and the Wires have Eyes.

A few sketchbook bits here though.
Above = TV watching drawing.
Below = Good thoughts.