Fashion Horoscopes

Gemini

Pisces

Sagittarius

Montana Forbes completes a set of horoscopes for IKON images.
The three here; Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini are just a taster of the beauties Montana has created for the company who primarily deal with stock imagery. Montana says "I’ve always had a keen interest in the horoscopes and was really excited to tackle the subject matter for the very first time. After much research, I was inspired to create unique fashion and beauty portraits that incorporated elements and characteristics associated with each sign but without them being clichéd depictions." See all twelve in Montana's portfolio.

Kena Ravel's Scrapbook

UK born, Massachusetts based illustrator Kena Ravel's artwork & characters are inspired by everyday life & stories. ..Kena Ravel's Scrapbook.

Joel C Boyer's Scrapbook

A mechanical pencil, ruler & digital calipers, all essential tools for medical & technical illustrator Joel C Boyer. See Joel's Scrapbook.

Anne Wilson in Mac User

Anne's feature in Mac User

a selection of Anne's art used in the article

January's edition of Mac User Magazine features an article on the wonderful Anne Wilson. Experiencing the industry in times before our digital world, Anne talks of the changes, her illustration education and inspirations with some sound advice; " just do what you do".

The article:
I have been practicing as an illustrator for the past 15 years or so...the time seems to have flown past so fast at an unbelievable rate. During this time the technology I've experienced has evolved tremendously. One of my very first commissions for example was completed through to the finals stage using a fax machine! Email now is second nature, and the format now in which discussions on projects tend to take place in the main, to the point where now I cannot remember the first time I began using email! It has always been a highly competitive industry and unless, for the most part, illustrators keep an eye on the technology available to them and embrace it in their working practice, those around will most likely have the upper hand.
I love the global feel of the industry, now more apparent than ever. Often I get work via the USA and recently I have completed a few jobs for various clients in Korea. The days of hiking around London with my portfolio focusing in the main on UK based clients, has passed and evolved into an exciting mix of cultures, opportunities and inspiration on a world wide basis.
On the one hand there seems to be a constant barrage of fightingly good illustrators graduating and entering the industry today, bright eyed, fast paced and full of imagination, which is both wonderful and overwhelming for me. But on the other hand it provides a pool of fantastic inspiration which serves to keep me well on my toes year after year. As this career tends to be a rather solitary one, the reality of the competition for commissions is important, a good reason I feel to take the time and energy to enter industry led competitions when ever possible. They serve as a good tool to sharpen your creative processes and a bench mark for where you are at within the illustration world.
New creatives are certainly one source of inspiration. More and more creative collectives are appearing such as the illustrator led groups of Ohh Deer and No Brow, but global culture in the main endlessly fascinates me, from intricate details, patterns, textures, colours and beliefs people possess and live their lives by.
What would I be lost without? Well the traditional side of me would undoubtedly opt for my Swan Morton scalpel, with blade 10a, and the current side of me would say my Wacom drawing tablet and pen (teamed up with my Mac and Photoshop.) I think it is important to embrace both sides, to pick up a pencil, or my dip pen and ink and commit to a drawing, or make marks with mono prints and any other mixed media I might care to throw at a surface in the moment. Neither are seen as a separate entity and when the two working methods are brought together, exciting things evolve from their meeting. I enjoy the physical process of colour mixing and mark making according to what might be suitable for the project I am working on. These results then get scanned and imported into Photoshop to create a final image. Increasingly it is my Wacom pen and eraser tool which becomes my scalpel.
I certainly don't even pretend to be remotely wise, but if I had a little wisdom to share, I would say keep it all positive, be 'can do' in your communications with clients and get plenty of fresh air!
I have always felt compelled to draw and create something on paper or whatever comes to hand. I loved picture books as a child and as my reading progressed I would still look for the pictures! I think since school I had in my mind that creating pictures to tell a story or describe something was what I wanted to aim for, just to see if maybe I could give it a go, and maybe I might be able to keep doing it, and just maybe, if that happened I could make it my job! The funny thing is, that I still don't feel I have a 'job', so in an obscure sort of way that makes me a very lucky person!
So I progressed as follows; school, (start drawing) A levels, (keep drawing) Art Foundation course, (more drawing) Degree - BA Honours at Bath, (definitely some drawing here) and then I went to do an MA in Communication Design at St Martins College of Art in London a few years ago, where I was lucky enough to get a Distinction, (masses of drawing stuff went on here!) There was no other obvious career paths for me, in my mind it was simple, I love drawing and creating images, so all I have to do it keep creating and I felt that one day I would become a professional creative of some sort - illustration fitted the bill nicely.
Some of my favourite projects have been children's picture books, I have completed several for Barefoot Books, but other recent clients include The London Transport Museum, The Independent On Sunday, The BBC, Mojo Magazine, Francis Lincon, Feast Creative, Beam, Crocodile Creek and Save the Children.
So that's me in brief! I would add though that one thing I have learnt through time, frustration, joy and the general madness my creative world involves, is that you can over think things to the point where you just can't see...my answer, is to take a deep breath...and just do what you do.

Foire De Lyon

Danny Allison is commissioned by Publicis Lyon to create an image for 'Foire de Lyon'.
The event in March, which will be celebrating sixty years of Rock takes place annually in Lyon, France. Danny's cool lion illustration was born from this link to the host city.

New Talent Alert: Chris Gilleard

We are pleased to announce that we now represent graduate illustrator Chris Gilleard. With a strong passion for character and creature design using pixels & vectors, Chris's portfolio can be seen here...

Once Upon A Time

Bee Willey will be taking part in 'Once Upon A Time'; an exhibition celebrating Children's Book Illustrators of East Anglia.
Opening on 25th January, the show takes place at Ipswich Art School and includes original artwork from artists such as Edward Ardizzone, Michael Foreman,  Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone and Helen Oxenbury. Bee says "I am very happy to be showing five images here as part of a large show at the Ipswich Art School Building. This is one of the artworks included as well as older pre-digital pieces . It is great to be there amongst great illustrators!". Running until the beginning of May, admission to the exhibition is free.

Gay Games Scholarship

Last year Kena Ravel was asked by the Federation of Gay Games to create an illustration for their first ever crowdfunding concept. With a mission to raise funds for their Gay Games Scholarship Program, the image was to be used as the "donate now" button on their website. Kena says "It was an honor to be asked to do this, since the scholarship program allows a number of LGBTQ participants, who would otherwise not be able to attend and who often come from challenging situations...Though the button is just one part of the whole endeavor, I was proud to contribute something that can help foster understanding and harmony throughout all communities."

New Talent Alert: Dr Ponce

Meet Belgium based illustrator Dr Ponce, whose colourful work focuses on shapes, characters and composition, often inspired by his childhood.

New Talent Alert: Kena Ravel

We are thrilled to be representing Kena Ravel! Mixing line with blocks of colour, her art is both finely balanced and pleasing to the eye. Take a look.

Bacon on the Shanghai Metro

on the metro

the art

the art

Derek Bacon has two works displayed on the Shanghai Metro.
Now showing in 3m wide lightboxes, the images; eye-catching to all commuters are part of the 'Shanghai JCDecaux Cup Public Welfare Ads Design Competition 2013.' Derek's art was chosen for this 'well renowned public event in Shanghai' which had 4000 entries in 2012. Besides the prize money, the winning artworks of the competition are displayed on 'metro media' with JCDecaux providing over 200 lightboxes and digital panels.

Choose a Tash for Movember

The line up

Freddie Mercury

Hulk Hogan

Magnum PI

Ron Burgundy

Ron Swanson

Duncan Beedie joins Movember to raise cash and awareness for Prostate Cancer.
And not one to stop at the growth of his own 'tash', Duncan has also created five fantastic 'famous moustache' artworks which are now up for auction. You can enjoy the facial grooming of Freddie Mercury, Hulk Hogan, Magnum PI, Ron Burgundy and Ron Swanson as unique A3 giclée prints.
With 100% of the money going to the very worthy cause, bidding is open until Thursday 21st November.

If you'd also like to sponsor Duncan on his hairy journey go to his mo space.

Grab a Good Book

Vicky Scott completes another illustration for Smart B*tches Trashy Books.
Used on their website, the design was created to convey the idea of relaxing and curling up with a good book. This is the second in a series of illustrations featuring the quirky looking girl and her cat which Vicky has produced for the 'intelligent, romantic novel review site'.