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."

Turner's Heroes

When the Sun Goes Down

Fluorescent Adolescent

Brianstorm

NME Magazine has commissioned pen master Ben Tallon to illustrate an article called 'Turner's Heroes'. The special edition of the weekly magazine features the band 'Arctic Monkeys' and looks at the characters created in their songs written by Alex Turner. Ben supplied artwork for the tracks 'When The Sun Goes Down',  'Brianstorm' and 'Fluorescent Adolescent' and the feature coincides with the launch of the band's 5th studio album 'AM'.

Deptford Wives

This series of women at the shops has been created by Mike Hall. Starting as a personal project and one that he plans to expand, the images are portraits of women at Deptford Market...amusingly accurate.

Elliott Barnes

This full body portrait of architect Elliott Barnes has been drawn by Richard Phipps. Currently being used on the architect's website, Richard has used his talents as both portrait artist and pen and ink master to create this wonderful piece.

Excuse My French

Alyana Cazalet illustrates 'Excuse My French', published by Kyle Books. 

Originally commissioned for the front cover,  Alyana was then asked to make another 13 black and white drawings for the inside after much positive feedback from the Frankfurt Book Fair. Alyana says "(The) brief was to create humourous images at the opening of each chapter, providing visual intrepretation to some confusing (and amusing!) French and English idiomatic expressions." The book is out now.

Kurt Vonnegut

 

Another wonderfully expressive portrait from Kathryn Rathke, who created this drawing of Kurt Vonnegut for The Stranger Magazine. The weekly Seattle magazine runs a "Regrets" page in which they list all of the mistakes/regrets of the staff and contributors, and this year they asked for 'regrets' from local artists & writers. Kathryn says " I wrote in that I regretted that I have drawn many authors, but had never yet had the opportunity to draw Kurt Vonnegut. The paper responded by asking if I would like to draw him as the feature illustration for that segment of the paper, thereby allowing at least one citizen the opportunity to conquer one of her regrets!". A truly original way to get a commission!

Lonely Planet Kid's Guides

Christopher Corr's book covers for Lonely Planet, just published, are a treat for any adventurous kid. Covering London, New York, Paris and Rome, and strictly not for parents, Christopher's enthralling illustrations are a successful book opener. In shops now.

ES Predictions

Jonathan Allardyce creates a futuristic set of images for ES magazine.

Who knows what jobs will be out there for our grandchildren and beyond, Jonathan’s illustrative predictions are a good example. Using the line “Predictions about the future always tell you most about the time they were made in,” as a start, with a text written by Richard Godwin, Jonathan has put The Vertical Farmer, The AI guy and the Trans-Olympic athlete into reality.

Robinson Gets Historic With DNA

When it comes to interesting commissions, Keith Robinson was the illustrator and animator of choice for a series of programmes about DNA for Channel 4. The series looks at the distribution of DNA in Britain, and its relation to the many invasions and settlements throughout the country's history. The results themselves are based on a mammoth £2 million project by Oxford University and the Welcome Foundation, and feature a number of well-known faces who volunteered for DNA testing. For Keith the task was to produce a number of animated maps illustrating the routes of migration and invasion, as well as the distribution of DNA around the country today. The maps also feature in a book that accompanies the series. In addition Keith has created a number of short animated sequences to illustrate the various population groups. The highly evocative silhouette style that Keith employs so well here makes for an interesting departure from the usual historical "reconstructions" and 3D computer graphics typically used in history documentaries.

A Spookytooth Must See

An exhibition running now and until the end of March will undoubtedly deliver fun and Spookyness! T S Spookytooth has 10 artworks hanging at: Inspirations Contemporary Art & White Space Gallery.7 Turnpin Lane, Greenwich SE10 9JA. Tel :020 8858 2290. Please pop by.

Peter Garlands Portrait Unveiling

Peter Garland attended the unveiling of a recent portrait commission for H.Riley C.M., president of Richardson Financial and chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. The unveiling was at the private gallery of Investors Group, head quartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The portrait wowed the audience, and will hopefully lead to other executives following suit.

Tobias Wandres Gets Christmassy For Honda

With humble respect to the award winning Honda TV ads Tobias Wandres has been commissioned by Rob Ellis of Wieden and Kennedy to create his own diagrammatic contraption for this Year’s Honda Christmas card. They were after a warm, fun and Christmassy version of a typical Honda technical image, which is exactly what Tobias has produced. You’ll be glad it doesn’t come flat packed!

See his whole portfolio at http://www.illustrationweb.com/tobiaswandres

Michael Frith

It’s a vintage year for the talents of Michael Frith who is pleased to have his Sunday Times contract to produce portraits for the Profile page renewed.

In addition, Michael is having an open studio in September, an exhibition in The French House in London’s Soho towards the year’s end, as well as working on a multi media portrait project with a view to exhibit at The National Portrait Gallery. Not to mention the on-going promotion of his book ‘Yacht'.

Dennis Juan Ma's Scrapbook

Chinese born illustrator Dennis Juan Ma tells of his education in New Zealand and sharing a studio in Auckland. Dennis Juan Ma's Scrapbook

Daria Works For Tesco

December sees a wealth of Christmassy illustrations, it is said that decorations should be down by the end of today, so lets squeeze this one in by Daria Jabenko, done last month for Tesco Magazine. The project was called "Make it Magical!" -  a 9 page long Christmas guide.

Robinson Gives Up Junk!

Keith Robinson has just produced a spectacular animation entitled ‘Food Most Fowl’ for the website supporting the Channel 4 programme ‘Jamie’s School Dinners’. The animation was commissioned by Ian Hollworth at 72 dots http://www.72dots.co.uk who briefed Keith to produce a humourous spoof horror cartoon, satirising the horrible things that go into processed food. Keith created the character Prof. F. Rankfurter along with a detailed storyboard, outline of the script, main body of artwork, sorted the timing and produced all the finished animation in Flash. Also he directed the voiceover. It’s a humourous but also serious look at processed food lightened by Keith’s fun style. He says of the commission ‘It was great fun animating the nutty, unhinged professor, and referencing classic horror movies like Bride of Frankenstein. I’ll never eat another chicken nugget though!’ Ian at 72 dots was confident of Keith’s ability, he says of the artist ‘Quite simply, one of the most professional people I have worked with in the last 10 years’. See the animation here : http://www.channel4.com/schooldinners .See Keith’s entire portfolio at www.illustrationweb.com/KeithRobinson

Paul Daviz Animatics

Starting with an Amiga 500 15 years ago, Paul Daviz has come far with his animations. Describing his style as economical, clients include BT, Paramount and Honda. He’s working on a personal project at present which we hope will incorporate his typically northern humour found in the animation opposite!

Set Colours To 'Max'

Spilling the creative beans on colour theory is Max Gregor who is Dynamic Graphics Magazine's featured illustrator this month.

Max explains the importance of limiting the colour palette to make image more powerful - as well as discussing some of his many influences over the years.

Looking Good, Nude

Recently voted No.1 Best Performing Product on Channel 4's popular 'How To Look Good Naked' is the Makebelieve Tan Extender featuring illustration work by Derek Bacon.

Nude Brand Consulting commissioned Derek to create the exquisite forest backdrop which is used across the Makebelieve range, as well as on stationery and the website.

Art Recycled

Recycling art for reproduction on recycled materials is Littlearth and this new range of eco-friendly handbags featuring designs by the talented Jacqueline Bissett.

Littlearth's Nicole Patriarco approached Jacqueline for the handbags which are made from recycled aluminum license plates and adorned with Swarovski crystals.