Kouki

Muxxi has been working in collaboration with Momiji HQ to create a limited edition doll. The result is Kouki; an 8cm handpainted resin doll who holds a tiny secret message in a folded card when turned upside down. This very desirable gift see's Muxxi's unique style converted into a small sculpture.
Muxxi says "It was amazing to see one of my characters transformed in a 3D piece. The name of the doll means light, shine, happiness and hope."
The client Claire Rowlands of Momiji says of the commission "Working with Muxxi has been a very happy process, we're crazy in love with the psychedelic planets she takes us to and the mysterious inhabitants we meet there. Muxxi's Momiji is named Kouki and she's a global limited edition of just 750 precious pieces. Each one is hand numbered on the base. Kouki will arrive at your house packaged in our signature Momiji noodle box, customised with Muxxi's intergalactic amazingness"
The limited edition doll can be purchased here.

Forest Love

Here's a sneak peek of a book project by Bee Willey;  Esmeralda the magic hare and another called Maximilian come together in a forest love story set at Christmas. Experimenting with medium, Bee says "I have just started using egg tempera and I love it". More to come soon!

Fantasy Flight Games

 

Anthony J Foti has worked with Fantasy Flight Games for some time, and three of the Star Wars projects recently completed are now out. Star Wars: The Card Game is a strategy game for 2 players, with future expansions being released every couple of months, one of which shows Anthony's Darth Vader art on the cover. The other two products are part of the "Edge of the Empire" line of roleplaying game products, including a beginner set and a "Game Master's Kit". Must haves for any Star Wars fan!

Muxxi's Scrapbook

Guatemala-based illustrator & character designer Muxxi talks of the inspiration she draws from children's worlds & imaginary friends. Muxxi's Scrapbook

Narnia Grotto

Bee Willey completed an amazing job leading up to Christmas last year; creating artworks for a grotto was the perfect commission to put her in the mood for the festivities! Commissioned by Katie Burnett at Les Enfants, Bee worked on the scenery for a Santa Grotto, a Narnia landscape (with wardrobe) and the Snow Queen's castle. The artworks were used at a Christmas event with the finished result being a Narnia themed environment for children, complete with props! Irresistible!

Emily Carew Woodard's Solo Exhibition is a Huge Success

Taking place at the 'Howe Gallery' on Pimlico Road, London at the end of 2012, Emily Carew Woodard's 'Cabinet of Curiosities' marvelled the visitors at this antique shop setting. Working for the past year on the creation of these artworks, Emily's enigmatic animals were at home in this vintage space.

Emily's art of which this was the largest collection, with it's honour to some of the great past illustrators including John Tenniel and Arthur Rackham is cleverly described by the artist as 'paper taxidermy'. The fantasy world where a bear happily shows it's Union Jack waistcoat and a technicolor fish rides a zebra, explores 'a remarkable private mythology drawn from memories of early childhood' mixed with visions of illustrations from long ago.

With most of the artworks sold during the show, Emily Carew Woodard is an artist to watch as she establishes herself in the field of British Illustration.

Trick or Treat?

Celebrate Halloween with these two pieces from Steinar Lund . The treat is a book cover done for HarperCollins Children's Books as part of the Bliss Bakery trilogy by Kathryn Littlewood; due out next year. And the trick....a very eerie one at that, is a personal piece originally created as part of a video idea. Which one will you choose?

The Fabulous Colouring Book

This attractive cover designed to catch the eye of any child is by Hannah Davies. Out last week and published by Buster Books, "It is filled to the brim with Hannah’s unmistakably intricate and playful line drawings, all in black and white, ready to give a colouring experience like no other to children and adults alike!"

STOP PRESS: Alex Fuentes and Coldplay

Alex Fuentes illustrates Coldplay's much anticipated Mylo Xyloto comic book

Last week's Comic Con in San Diego saw a teaser of Coldplay's fictional story 'Mylo Xyloto' to be released in a series of six comic books. Alex Fuentes was thrilled to contribute to the art, with some dynamic illustrations following Mylo who is fighting a "war against sound and colour".

Alex says "I find I am most happiest when I'm allowed to use and challenge all of my skills. For me making comics has that diverse creative intensity. I'm just having a blast creating this world and it's inhabitants and placing them in cinematic situations. While building environments, props, characters, graffiti/hand drawn typography and so forth. To top it off I'm working with an extremely talented team!"

The comic, co-written by film director Mark Osborne will be officially released in February 2013.

Tilly's Moonlight Garden

Turine Tran has created this exceptional piece of art for the cover of Julia Green's book 'Tilly's Moonlight Garden'. Commissioned by Source Books in the US, Turine's brief was to create a modern version of The Secret Garden, with fantasy and mysticism. Turine says "The process was absolutely pleasant for both the client and me. They approached with a clear reference of what they liked from my portfolio, such as dreamy images, plants, flowers and colours. ...It was such a great pleasure to work with them and I do hope we can work together again in the future". The UK version is out now,  with this one being released towards the end of the year.

Las Vegas Weekly

Anthony J Foti's talents were commissioned for the cover of Las Vegas Weekly in March. The painting was to highlight their new 'Burning Man' themed art walk.

Turine Tran's Scrapbook

Solitude is an essential ingredient for Turine Tran's creative process, along with archiving memories in her pocket book. Turine Ran's Scrapbook.

Emily Carew Woodard's Scrapbook

Illustrator Emily Carew Woodard on designing for Alexander McQueen & her love of fables, collecting Punch annuals & feathers. Emily Carew Woodard's Scrapbook.

Terry Pratchett Covers

Now on his fifth cover, Tom Steyer gives the German Terry Pratchett editions some modernisation. Manhatten (Random House) commissioned Tom to illustrate bright, bold and memorable images, Tom says: "The technique I use enables them to apply the illustrations in various ways. For example the back covers and insides and tear-out bookmarks can have different versions i.e. different camera angles or lighting of the same subjects. All elements can be isolated and reorganized to form additional scenes. Furthermore all objects can be animated to promote the books on websites".

Beto Campos on The Simpsons

Beto Campos has recently completed the concept art and photomanipulation of the book cover, "Under the Dome", by Stephen King, and to add to this, it was recently parodied on Simpsons! Season 22, episode 6 at 18  mins 45 secs to be exact! How exciting!

 

Credits: 
Studio: Platinum FMD

Concept Art: Betocampos

Manipulation: Betocampos, Flavio Teixeira, Milton Menezes and Flavio Albino.

3D Modeling: Fabio Bispo (Djavan) and Rafael Vallaperde

Keith Robinson animates Sex Advice to All Creation!

Keith Robinson recently produced the animations for a new Channel 4 documentary that takes a witty look at the bizarre sexual activate found throughout the animal kingdom! He created 12 sequences of various creatures flying and swimming through stylised environments making a fascinating mixture of live action and illustration! Directed by Martin Durkin and produced by Steven Green at Wag TV it makes a refreshing change from the typical.

Hello Mr. Eason

We are delighted to bring Rohan Daniel Eason's classic style to our books.
Enriched with atmosphere, Rohan is a master of the narrative. His second children’s book "Anna and the Juniper Dog”, published by Blackmaps, is to be launched on June 9th with a show of the original works at the Horse Hospital in London. He is so excited about the children’s book genre, Rohan has written his own book which will be his first full colour story aimed at 6-10 year olds. We look forward to seeing it published later in the year.

12 Dancing Princesses

Children’s book illustrator Bee Willey is very proud to have completed 12 Dancing Princesses for OUP. Forming part of a series of traditional tales, Bee’s magically ambient paintings light the pages, she says; "…I love this story and am really happy to get this job…". The book is out very soon.

Bee Willey's Scrapbook

 

Children's book illustrator Bee Willey tells how her flea market treasures have resulted in her entire house becoming a scrapbook. Bee Willey's Scrapbook.

Steam Punks

Groovy mover Alan Baker gives us strange gothic creatures you can make out of found objects!

An animation to promote a book on Steam Punks, Alan’s imaginative, spooky, sometimes crazy but wholly enigmatic characters beg for more air time. Watch it now.