28/2 - 06/3 :: Week summary.★

★More vampire and other deomn addictions.
★Tutorial with Johnny.
★Inspiring images around the studio space.
★Self promotion - Sink or Swim.
★Relisation of my future.
★My illustrations take on a little 'Dionne-ness'.

First initial sketches and almost finish illustration ...

                                 

 

1st Final Colour Illustration.

The first initial drawings were hard to come by, I have had so many images going around in my mind from reading the book that I found it hard to just concentrate on one. At first my aim was to do one illustration per chapter of the book, however while re-reading the first chapter I found myself wanting to illustrate several parts. But because I did not feel I should do more than one illustration per chapter, I found myself considering putting several scenes into one illustration. As I actually began to draw and because the forest that the book describes is so busy and wild; I believed if I showed several scenes in the same illustration the illustration would become to muddy. 

Bearing this in mind I choose to illustrate the one scene that stood out the most to me: the scene where Breadan and Rae meet for the first time and Rae discovers that she is a Demon.

I like my final image once it has been scanned into the my computer and edited slightly, so the background is more intense.

I chose not reveal too much of the fairy demons at this early stage, and I don’t think I will reveal them fully throughout the whole book.

I believe somethings are better left to the imagination even in illustrated books.

I also emailed Penelope (the author of the demon girl) my first illustration to get her opinion to whether I was capturing the essence of the book. The following is her response:


Hi Dionne,

I thought it was amazing! Me and my friends/family were discussing it over the weekend. 

I loved how the fairy was in the corner and the hazy impression of tattoo's. The wings were beautiful, and I love that you resembled the wing shapes on the flowers in the environment. It was dark, but still had an eye catching vibrancy. You caught the beautiful and gloomy aura I wanted the book to convey. Plus, the darkness had a blue tinge (well it did not me anyway) and since the fairies see in blues and purples when it gets dark I thought that was inspired. 

A more imaginative turn you say? I can't wait to see it. I'm following your blog so I get your updates when you post them! :)

I would love to share them online when you send them through, let me know if you would be comfortable with that.

PJ

21/2 - 27/2 :: Week summary.

★First initial sketches.
★First finished illustrations of The Demon Girl.

Michael Kirkman Lecture.

Right third time lucky, as I have tried to write this twice, via my iPhone app and had it deleted twice! ARGH!!!

Todays lecture was good compared to others, with the exception of Professor Norris-Wood (Whose lectures can not be given justice in words, you have to witness him and one of his lectures to appreciate just how ‘fab’ they are.
One student once said “It is like being sat in the pub with a mate you have known for ages”. I think that sums up on of Professor Norris-Wood’s lectures quite nicely.)

Anyway back to todays lecture with Michael Kirkman. A guy who is only a couple/few years older than most of us students, a guy who as not long completed his MA in London and became a freelance illustrator almost immediately. Yes, he may not have had much long term experience but he his out there, a freelance illustrator in todays society!
The difference I found with this lecture was that you could still hear the love for what he does (printmaking) in his voice, which is what I found was lacking in other lectures.
Even though his life is clearly not perfect; still using his bedroom as his print room occasionally, trying to put on his own solo show, while holding down commissions etc but he clearly loves printmaking and the process of making images!

A few tips I picked up on during the lecture were:

“Don’t underestimate talking and drinking beer in the pub with professional illustrators and tutors”. - Can’t disagree there.

“You need to be out there saying ‘employ me’”.

“Embrace the fun stuff, if you enjoy doing something do more of it, and see what comes out of it.”

“It’s alway the students that hung around with the tutors, they were the ones that won the competition prizes”. - It’s like that good old saying;
“It’s not what you know it’s who you know.” That pretty much sums up what I hate about this world, this rat race. Michael’s in the rat race but he hasn’t let the rat race over taken him, he hasn’t lost his passion for what he loves to do!


“The more focused you are on doing the thing your good at, expanding it, exploring it. The better off you’ll be.”

“Stick to what your good at”.

These last two quotes reminded me of what I love and what my passions are; tattooing and painting.
Listening to tutors over the years saying “don’t do that”, “you always come back to tattoos”, “it’s a bit dark isn’t it” etc but I’ve never really paid much attention and I don’t plan on starting now, because it’s my passion, I know I am good at it and I know I’ll get even better as more time passes.

I refuse to give up know matter how many people think I can’t or shouldn’t do it, because theirs plenty of people who think I can do it!
“You have to have faith in yourself because nobody else will”.

Posting from iPhone continued

Had to download full version of my app to upload pictures.

This is an image I saw stuck up in our studio space at Uni that I loved and had to take a picture of.
I do love my skulls!!

I'm out.

Posting from my iPhone

Just discovered a app on my iPhone which allows me to post my blog where ever I am. I'm guessing this app is probably old news to most people but I'm loving it because it's new news to me!

Just had my portfolio tutorial went ok, I need to have a dig around for some of my 1st and 2nd year work at Uni - not sure where it is, or if I even think it's good enough for my portfolio. However Louise seems to think it's important to find out and take a look at.
I asked Louise, if I wasn't planning on going into illustration after graduation should my portfolio be done differently? She asked what I wished to do, so I told her I wanted to set up my own tattoo and painting studio.
She advised to do a portfolio based on my work here (illustration degree) and then do a separate portfolio for the painting and tattooing side of things.
Just need to take a trip to London to get a portfolio, oh and dig out some more work.

Peace.

After thought - how to upload a picture ? ...

Slow go ...

I have been re-reading The Demon Girl, highlighting words, passages etc Then going back re-reading what I have already highlighted, and started making further selected notes, brainstorming items, descriptions, situations, the characters etc from chapter 1. I am hoping to start the initial drawings over the next week or so, and hopefully things will start to flow.
After my discussion with Louise last week I am considering doing one illustration per chapter and the cover for the book.
Whether this will go to plan or not remains to be seen but hopefully whatever happens by the end I will have a completed illustrated version of The Demon Girl.

Love and Peace.

14/2 - 20/2 :: Week summary.

★Slow start on The Demon Girl.
★ Blog spot iphone app discovered.
★Michael Kirkman Lecture

My inspirations...

I have already said that tattoos are my obsession/passion, and behind every tattooist there is an artist, whose work tends pretty suburb and some cases beautifully dark and wonderfully weird. The tattoos they do inspire their other works and visa versa, and it is exactly the same for me.
So who are these artist that works inspire me;
One of my favourite books displays some of favourite artist that never fail to inspire no matter how many time I have looked at this book. This book is one of my inspirations: Waterhouse, J. 2009. Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.

Mandie Barber - Barber works out of her own studio in Kiddiminster, Uk. She has been a tattooist for twenty years, and has built up a great reputation and a full diary. Her works are inspired by classical art, love, beauty and religion, she does a lot of pencil drawings and paint in acrylics. "Tattooing influences my artwork almost entirely because I've been tattooing for so long now." (Art behind tattooist beyond flash.)

Chris Bourke - trained as tattooist in Worcester, Uk where he his still based. Chris hung up his machines for a while to concentrate on his other works, as well as running his own independent skate shop, Spine. His works are inspired by his passion for music - especially reggae, as well as nature, politics, struggle and truth.  He uses many mediums to create his artwork and as recently rediscovered his love for lino printing, his prints have appeared on t-shirts and skateboards for UK companies. "I think it's important to keep drawing and working on art outside of tattooing. To me it's important as tattooing itself. I strive to be original in all areas of my work. I work hard on my artwork and I hope it shows. Tattooing as become such a large part of popular culture these days. It wasnt like that when I started getting tattooed, and I feel that in many ways it's a good thing. Of course, you get a lot of bandwagon jumpers when something is popular, but hopefully the upside is more people getting tattooed and developing an appreciation for the art that surrounds it. Art is for everyone; it's not the preserve of the highbrow and university educated. It's for anyone who wants to pick up a pencil and work hard, which is what art should always be: a way of liberating yourself through creation." - I could not have put it better myself! (Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.)

Anģelique Houtkamp - Anģelique's works as inspired by classic, old school tattoo designs. She likes to give her work humorous, vintage feel with deliberate hint of melancholy. "My work is very tattoo influenced for sure. The past year or two I feel I've also been drawn to other styles, like early-last-century advertisment ans illustrations and I've been mixing it with the tattoo style. - I am very drawn to a sort of mystery, cynicism and melancholy and I'll put that in my paintings. I don't want to make just a pretty girl's face; I want people to slightly wonder if her expression is a good or bad thing." (Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.)

Carnie Marnie - Carnie as been on the road for serveral years exploring the opportuniteies that tattooing as presented her with. She as worked at many tattoo studios, as a guest studio throughout North America and Europe. There always seems to be two recurring themes throughout her work; the female form ad carnivals, and then there are the two bearded ladies that crop up on a regular basis. Carnie was also awarded a scholarship to study a degree in visual art, but it wasn't long before she dropped out: "When at the tender age of nineteen I mentioned to my drawing professor that I was interested in tattooing. I was met with raised eyebrows about this 'lowbrow' business (as if the world of 'high art' is any less of an industry). It seemed incredible that I should pay an institution to have a subjective opinion."  - (I have felt this way so many times and still do, but I am fair to stubborn and come way to far to walk away now - plus walking away is the easy option and nothing worth having ever come easy.)

Cody Meyer - Cody as been tattooing for just over six and did not have a formal apprenticeship.  After many failed attempts and very long stories, Cody finally took out a loan against his car to by a kit online. After his ten-hour day job he would come home to his spare room which he turned into a beginners studio. His legs, stomach and one arm tell the tale of his apprenticeship. "Since becoming a professional tattooist, it has, of course, directly influenced my own personal work and style. But it goes the other way also; I paint, liek so many of us, in watercolours, which in my opinion very closely simulates the process of a tattoo. So doing it often and beoming better at it directly influences your tattooing style too. There is no doubt that I've become a much better tattooer because of painting. I have always been inspired by Japanese culture in general - past and present. They intrigue the hell out of me. It's just such a unique, beautiful and rich place; I'd love to go there someday. I am inspired by all the great Japanese tattooers, from Horioshi to Shige. There are too many to list. To put it simply - I admire the ones that know what they love ad what they do best and just do it." (Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.)

Lina Stiģsson  - Orginially form Sweden but moved to Asterdam where she still lives to study art at Rietveld Academy, and got her first tattoo at the famous hanky panky tattoo studio. Tattooing is a big inspiration to her other works along with old-fashioned circus sideshow ladies. She also gets a lot inspiration from her friends and the people she works with. "The difference when I make a painting is that I don't have to worry how it's going to look in twenty years. A good tattoo has to be done so that it still looks good over time. When I work on my paintings, it's just me and the canvas. i think that's the biggest difference from tattooing, when your are actually designing soething specifically for someone. I'm really happy to be able to pursue both tattooing and painting since I like to have variety in my work." (Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.)

Michele Wortman  - Michele works along side her husband Guy Aitchison in their private, invitation-only Hyperspace Studios. Michele was a fineparts painter and a hairdresser before becoming a tattooist. She decided to become a tattooist because she found that the designs she wanted for her tattoos were not available to her and that she had to draw up her own. Her artwork is very much in line with her tattoo style, which is visionary and colourful with a sense of magic, wonder and celebration.She works with many different medias including oil paints, photography, computer design and writing electronic music. "I enjoy the exchange that each medium offers one another. It is all an act of creativity that expresses the same energy regardless of the medium I use." (Art by Tattooist, Beyond Flash.)





I have never really had any favourite illustrators who have inspired me and my work, I have always been more inspired by general artist especially art inspired by ink, I love looking at a piece of art and seeing into the artist mind even if its just a little glimpse into their mind. Sure I look through magazines etc and may comment on an image, but all I see is an advertisement, not the person who create it, but I guess that's what makes it illustration.

When I feel that I need some illustration inspiration I tend to visit, illustration web and escape from illustration island websites.

Self Promotion "Welcome to the real world" Update...

After consideration I have decided that using several images for this project is not the best idea. Even though I wanted to use several of my images to promote myself, I think this may show to much of a range and not give a client any curiosity to see my portfolio. Instead I have decided to go with a copy of one of my mono prints “Disappearing face”.
I believe this is a strong eye catching piece of work, (at least I hope it is) that will hopefully grab a clients attention and lead them  into wanting to see more of my work.

The images below are the images I have chosen. One with postal address, the other with my details.

07/2 - 13/2 :: Week summary.

★ Self promotion update.
★ My inspirations.

Paris

Been to Paris this last week, had an amazing time, walked way to much but got to see as much as Paris as possible in the 6 days we was there.

The best part was I saw some weird yet wonderful sculptures and images in different galleries and museums that triggered off excitement and thoughts about the book; The Demon Girl.
These are some of the photos I took that triggered those thoughts of The Demon Girl:

They may not seem like much or make much sense, but the triggered off things in my mind, my imagination.