Character Sketches

Some very early doodles for my book project. Trying to sort out a range of characters whilst also attempting to work some narrative around them.

I've discovered that this project is ever changing, especially when I subconsciously veer too close to something that already exists.

Anyway, the basic premise surrounds a key character and his sidekick in some sort of time or alternate universe series of adventures. At the moment I'm also taking inspiration of the character namings through friends which I'm finding also helps provide some kind of back story to each of them.

Am a long way from having anything legible yet but the worst case scenario is that it helps my boring commute go that little bit quicker.

Old London Street Scenes (1903)

Some amazing footage of London in 1903. It's an almost surreal experience watching this type of material and relating to it in such a direct and everyday way. I always try to picture the pace of life as normal (as opposed to slightly sped up), and of course in colour.

Or you could look at it like YouTube user pepys1633 who, 2 months ago had the following uplifting comment:

"It's very sad to think that all the people in the film have been dead for a long time, but the buildings remain the same. I have walked these streets hundreds of times during my years in the UK, and I am another shadow that perhaps has been filmed in the rush hour on a typical working day in London town, so in the far away future someone will ponder on the anonymous pedestrians rushing about their business, long, long, long dead."

Darkness.

Cider Labels

Here are a couple of cider labels I created for Chris Davey back in Suffolk. Chris created his own cider back in November last year and after collecting a few empty bottles, needed some label action.

These two represent the variants brewed; the strong 'Roight Hoss' and the lethal 'Proper Rum'.

LA Wind - Hollywood or Hell Tour

From a more innocent time.

Have a cigar.

Look Sir, Bouys

Taken on Railay Beach, Thailand (2008)

Focke Wulf Tees

Arseing (sic) around at lunchtime, for my line of military inspired tees.

Lovely Package

Another great packaging website for inspirational things is Lovely Package.

Stanley Donwood

Here's another great site if you're in the market for buying original art or limited prints.

Eyestorm's front page currently features this 40th anniversary Glastonbury poster by Stanley Donwood. Yours for the manageable sum of just £125.

Stanley Donwood is best known for his collaboration with Radiohead, having produced the artwork for the bands album and single record sleeves since 1994, when he designed the artwork for ‘My Iron Lung’. 

Since then he has gone on to produce artwork for Radiohead’s ‘The Bends’(1995), ‘OK Computer’(1997), ‘Kid A’(2000), ‘Amnesiac’(2001), ‘Hail To The Thief’(2003) and all the associated singles, posters, websites and official merchandise.

His fondness to explore and question society, sexuality, war, conformity and politics, are usually the subjects for his artwork.

The Dieline

If you love packaging design then you'll love The Dieline. Whilst researching ideas for a well known cookery show packaging project, Becky pointed me towards this website for inspiration. A site I subsequently spent about an hour on checking out all manner of on shelf gorgeousness.

Take a look; it's a pretty cool site.

Ducati 848 Evo Stealth

One of my favourite new bikes. Always thought the 916 couldn't be beaten in the looks department until this came along.

And it's quick too. The 2011 Ducati 848 Evo is their most impressive lightweight superbike ever, with more power from the Testastretta engine and even more braking power. It will go on sale at a price of £9,995 for this, the 848 EVO Dark Stealth version with stunning new dark matte paint, racing black frame and black wheels.

Combining a 140bhp engine and with the 848’s legendary (168kg) chassis set-up and planet-stopping Brembo Monobloc brakes, the new model also has twin under-seat silencers, single-sided swingarm, trellis frame and that beautiful racing bodywork.

Is there a better way to spend £10k?

Veyron Three Quarters

Another test...

Squeeze Me

Been playing about with images to help create some new toy ideas for Top Gear vehicle play.

It's been done loads before but the image on the left is an example of some easy Photoshop segmented compression.

Should hopefully help me visualise new concepts and the bonus is you get a strange sense of aesthetic satisfaction from the results. Tried it with a Veyron and the finished car looked like a 10 year old's dream.

Now to raid my own extensive car archive and customize until I get bored but in the meantime, here's a Z4M Hamann Coupe.

Stuka

Flying bomb parrot thing, stylized from a Ju87 pilots personal emblem.

Tony Meeuwissen - Illustrator

Found this work today whilst flicking through an illustration agency website called Folio Boutique.

I love projects and approaches like this. So much so in fact, that I am considering a purchase. 

'Working as an illustrator since the 1960s, Tony Meeuwissen remains the only illustrator to win the prestigious Gold D&AD award, which he has won twice.

On the second occasion, Meeuwissen was given the award was for his playing card set, 'The Key of the Kingdom', which he began in the 1980s. 

This epic project was inspired by traditional, so-called 'transformation' decks of cards. In these sets, each card would be transformed into an image, and Meeuwissen spent three years working on his own visually playful illustrations in order to produce this celebrated deck'

Go check it out...

Callahan

Fiona Banner at Tate Britain

Wanted to see this exhibition on Saturday but two days of heavy cold resulted in me feeling a bit sorry for myself instead. Its on until January 2011 so there's still plenty of time though.

1977 Lancia Stratos

Another one created for the collection and one of my favourite cars of all time.

Dark Webley

1961 Ferrari California Spyder

Taking a leaf out of Dinium's success below, here's a quick one for C-Poe too.

Maserati

Following a conversation last night with C-Poe. First in a series of cars for a new project from Motion design.

Hurricane MK I, 303 Squadron, Sept 1940

Something i'm working on in my spare time in Illustrator. 303 (Polish) was the top scoring squadron in the Battle of Britain.

'Ack ack, over Calais'

SLS AMG Gullwing

I want one...

Q-Tip - Work It Out (Garoa Fina Samba Mix) by garoafina

Q-Tip - Work It Out (Garoa Fina Samba Mix) by garoafina

Drum Camp 2010

Just returned sun bleached from Drum Camp 2010 in Bungay, Suffolk. Had a great four days with Joe, Andy and Rich attending workshops, watching live music and generally getting city life from out under my skin. Enjoyed one workshop so much I went and bought myself and Egyptian Darbuka drum so I can freestyle whenever the mood takes me. May even try and record some once I've practiced a bit and lay it down as a bass line to a future Reason track.

Anyway, here's a small video of the boys jamming with darbuka, conga and djembe drums outside our tents.

Venice Peach

A few images from our trip away. Played about with the more extreme manual settings on my compact Lumix for some night shots; plus also found some great graffiti around the place which I've also included below. Click image for larger zoomable preview or click here to see the full set on my Flickr account.

RAF Wattisham

Quite like this shot. Got very lucky with the gunship.

Fog • Wonka Bass

Fog - Wonka Bass by Fog

New dub from the legend that is Fog. 

Orford Ness

As promised, a few pictures from my trip to the Atomic Research facility over in Orford Ness, Suffolk.

Tron Legacy Light Bikes

Counting down for this one...select 720p and expand to full screen for max fx.

Time to create

Working on a children's story about time travel. Early minutes at the moment but have structure and narrative building. Going to tackle storyboards next, flesh out the story lines and go from there. Could be a nice diversion from the real world and get me illustrating again. Watch this [time and] space...