Inspired by tape

Inspired by tape

This is my third and final submission for the AGDA poster annual and the theme inspired by music.

Having already submitted 'caged by routine' and 'the Beat and the Melody' I started thinking about what has changed in music, any why nowadays I spend more time listening to the radio than my iTunes library. I decided it was because I miss the story of the album and that the ability to shuffle my library has  made me less observant of what has been compiled by the artist.

My memory skipped back to laying on my bed killing hours listening to music with the low hum of the tape moving from spool to spool. And long hours in the car on family road-trips with the auto changer taking us from the A-side to the B-side and back over and over again. All the while the composition of the album taking us on a journey that is now missed by skipping or worse still not purchasing. 

There are albums from my uni days I can't bear to listen to out of sequence, or feel like I'm missing something when the strange little interludes are jumped over in the hurry to get to the next pulse racing anthem.

I suppose that's why I like a good live set or even music dvd – the story is unavoidable.

The Beat and the Melody

The Beat and the Melody  

'One spring afternoon the Beat asked the Melody to meet in a park not far from here. Melody showed up in a white dress. Conveniently all their friends were there when they gave their lives to each other. Now the Beat has a melody to keep his head in the clouds and the Melody has a beat to keep her feet on the ground'.

This is second submission for the AGDA Poster Annual and the theme of 'inspired by music'. The idea behind this poster came ready made being that I attended the wedding of the Beat and the Melody.

Caged by routine

Caged by routine

This is the first of my submissions for the AGDA poster annual which explores the theme of 'inspired by music'. 

When thinking about the theme I reflected on the way I use music to relax or escape from the day to day grind and the positive difference music makes to my immediate environment. So even when caged, putting on my headphones can help me to escape the boredom.

AGDA poster annual

So the ADGA Poster Annual finalists have been released which is very exciting. I had a go this year but missed out on making the shortlist. But I did had fun putting together a few submissions which I'm still happy with. I'll them up this week and look forward to seeing the winners on the 21st of October at the Gaffa Gallery.

Sketch Club – The Paper Mill

George

Kiera

Recently I have started going to the Sketch Club sessions at the Paper Mill gallery in Sydney, and it's been a blast. With just two hours to address their project it's a create opportunity to see how other people attack the project and the varied results that come out of it.

The last session was on portraits I couldn't find anyone who sat still enough for my pedantic line making so i made do with a couple of magazines. Hopefully you can recognise my models.

Sessions are run on the last Thusday of each month – see here for details https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Paper-Mill-Public-Programs-Workshops-Classes-Events/158904684134216

They called her name ...

“They called her name until it didn’t sound like a real word anymore, but she never returned.”

When the team over at the Monday Project put up their latest theme I was a bit intimidated by the specificity of the title. But having read the back story I found myself sitting on the couch with the sketch pad out pondering a few projects at once. At the same time our dog Milly was sitting on the floor ignoring instructions to go outside – all of a sudden I totally got it!

special T

special T

I've always been a fan of beautiful type so when sparkapolooza put up the theme 'special tea' I did my usual trick played on the words and went straight to my favourite type book (a visual history of typefaces and graphic styles) and a specimen sheet by Johann Heinrich Meyer for a very special 'T'.

Agent of change

Special agent of change

I couldn't work out where to go with the latest Monday Project so after a few false starts I've ended up with a this well hatted character as my 'agent of change'.

DADA

dada

After having missed the left them eat cake theme over at sparkapolooza I've made it back for the DADA theme. Having recently been to the National Gallery in Canberra and seen some real DADA I decided to leave the toilet where it was and work from the sound of the word rather than it's artistic meaning.

under the lamp post

One last puff

Another theme from the Monday Project. I've gone reasonably literal on this one for a change, but added in some copy for context. I'm finding that using the wacom I'm less precious about the line and prepared to command z, where as on paper I'm very reluctant to pull out the eraser.

beneath the surface

safe beneath the surface

Another submission to Sparkapolooza, this time for their theme 'beneath the surface'. I've got a few ideas, but this was the first I was happy with.

Robin

Robin

After some blog hopping I found myself on Tori Cat. Wow! Super impressed and inspired to draw some animals. I already had some reference from older projects when I was paring them back, this time it was all about the line. So I started with a robin, it's not really finished, but I want to jump to another project so a drew a line and here it is.

Rivcoll's new logo

A little while ago I saw that my old university (Charles Sturt) had undergone a rebrand. And while digging around I saw that what was the student union (now the SRC) in Wagga Wagga was undergoing their own rebrand and were asking for submissions for a new logo. I thought it would be a great opportunity to give something back, and have fun along the way.

For a first submission I decided to push for an icon which could leverage the University's new brand, showing that they were linked. I knew this would probably get knocked on the head, but certainly was worth a discussion.

Submission 1

After the discussion was had and it was ruled out as an option it came back to me as a bit of a frankenstein with two logos combined. I made it my task to take this version and polish and develop it into a logo which hopefully has longevity and will help Rivcoll present itself with a professional identity.

As you can see the crow survived the first chop and once the restriction of the CSU logo shapes i had used were removed I added extra detail on the head. I also worked on the text and fixed the kerning and created a ligature for the R and i.

Ultimately it came down to a committee decision and one of the top three I had submitted was chosen.

Today I jumped online to see that it is now used on their website, which had also been updated to a much more accessible design. I'm looking forward to seeing it rolled out further.

icon

full logo

TTRFFTPTD

TTRFFTPTDISFC

I was just reading one of my favourite blogs and came upon a random contest to create a international symbol for cycling (ISFC) icon from the time-traveling t-shirt-wearing retro-Fred from the planet Tridork (TTRFFTPTD). Now to see if it gets a run on the blog.

Fox Grylls

Fox Grylls

After seeing that the new Sparkapolooza theme was 'Fox & Bear' I mentioned it with some people at work and one of the suggesting was a cross between Bear Grylls and Fox Mulder. I wasn't so sure about the Fox Mulder bit, but Bear Grylls seemed worth a go. So here he is in all his glory. 

BearFox & Bare Fox

BearFox

So the latest theme over at Sparkapolooza is 'Fox & Bear' so again I've had a play and come up with two illustrations which I thought had legs. So after gaving them a quick lashing of colour in pshop, here they are.

BareFox

canberra in autumn

Canberra in Autumn

 

I'm playing along again with the Monday Project. This is one of my ideas which combines typography and illustration. It has been a little too subtle for my test audience so I hope you can see it.

blue ewe downs

Blue Ewe Downs

I've started playing along with a second blog this week, so it gives me something to aim for between Monday Project themes. The creatives over at Sparkapolooza put up a theme every couple of weeks and their latest was an open brief but had to include: you, an animal, the colour blue, money and a bottle.

The graphic designer in me just had to do some packaging and a play on words so above is my latest vintage 'Blue Ewe Downs'.

beach baths

Toes in the sand

Once again the Monday Project has added creativity to my month. This time with the theme 'beach baths'. I have referenced the style of David Hockney which I found because of Forgers Masterclass, which has become my sunday evening addiction of late.

It was great to apply paint to a canvas with a roller, it seems as though you achieve a lot in a small amount of time.

Something new

In my couch ridden stupor I have found a spark of inspiration from Forger's Masterclass on ABC. Every week John Myatt (art forger) introduces one of the masters and 3 'students' have a go at it. With nothing better to do I also had a dash at it. Though I don't think I have a future in forgeries it wasn't a bad exercise for someone who hasn't painted in a long long time.

First up was Edward Hopper

Next came Andre Derian

They have also worked through Monet and Van Gogh, but I don't think I am ready for those yet.

Another person also working through the shows themes is barbsartfrenzy, it's great to see her painting skills improving with each piece.

re:ducks

re:ducks

With open arms i welcome back the Monday Project to my list of monthly inspiration. Having been inactive for a while they aptly chose redux as the theme of the month. But being that I'm still slow I've mangled together a homophone and gone back to my early artist days to make a potato stamp.

Perhaps I will revive the theme later in the month to have another go!

---

Also,  BenZen is heading off on a new adventure under the guise of Larsen. 

hop to it

Now that I am stuck at home with a broken hip I have no excuse to not be drawing and reading so here is one from my latest scribblings. Now to get my sketching mojo back and create something from nothing.