A Catch Up With the World Outside Uni

As well working for Uni towards my degree, I still receive the occasional commission, one long on going one has been one for a Manchester United team in eleven individual portraits, not a bad commission for such an avid football fan. Unless that is you support Manchester City, Hmm.
Started in March as an individual painting,

                                                

                                                                  Robin Van Persie

                  Raphael da Silva, Nemanja Vidic, David de Gea, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.

It was this painting that began a collection, I found myself painting in any spare time that I had, the next lots came in batches. the back line, then the forwards were painted after,.

                                                These two, Luis Nani & Antonio Valencia
                                                       (apologies for the poor cropping)

                                             Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs

Even though I was pleased with the outcome of each peice, I was more pleased with the evolution I could see happening, they were getting slightly better with each one that was completed with the Scholes and Giggs paintings backed onto red to highlight their personal 'legend' status within Manchester United folklore. 

As a sports fan it was a nice project to undertake, by the end I was happy to see the back of Manchester united in my work for a while as proud as seeing a full series of paintings together actually made me.

I also jumped on the 'Breaking Bad' band wagon, became an obsessive, gorged on 5 series as quickly as I possibly could then felt like it was only right to go on and paint something related, so taking on the Gaudi inspiration I felt a need for colour and just went for it. the result... 

Aaron Paul & Bryan Cranston as Jesse & Walter from Breaking Bad

Trying new things is fun and exciting when they pay off, and colour is still a fairly new aspect to my work, though striving to find meaning to put into my work is now an important factor, just doing something I like doing is still satisfying.

One last piece to show, is a reproduction of a painting I did during the summer before I became a student, a Clint Eastwood from the film Dirty Harry, the second time around I wanted to go bigger and use colours I felt represented the era the film was set in, the seventies, to me.

The browns and creams suited the era I was attempting capture perfectly I felt, and nicely in balance with such a bold back ground colour that does not take away from the actual image, works nicely sat on the purple 'work wall' in my kitchen too.

This was a commission with a difference, it was in trade for another kind of art that also set up the opportunity for a collaboration of a different kind. Tattooing.

The painting was an anniversary gift for the Husband of a friend of mine who happens to be tattooist.

Between the two of us we came up with a design I was happy with and then Jenny Bottomley (of The Tattooed Teapot in Manchester) did all the hard work I was left with this.

I love it, collaborative artistic design that I will have forever.

Music and a Fishtank

The Fishtank is essentially an office, an eight metre glass fronted think tank office space situated in the offices of Manchester based 'studio of ideas' agency, Music.
The task at hand, to illustrate my interpretation of any music track to install on the fish tank's glass front.
Music is important to me so choosing the right song was going to be paramount.
Certain songs remind me of certain times and trigger certain memories, so I decided I'll choose a song from my childhood because that was a good time, I was a kid!
My Mum and Dad are both Motown and soul fans, so naturally a taste for it is passed down,
Using 'A Change Gon' Come' by Sam Cooke as inspiration I began playing with a time line ideas, to illustrate the evolution and rise in popularity of black music.
I began sketching Individual musicians from the 1950's onwards and attempting to arrange them into a  nice flowing composition

Flowing Time line of a Journey Through Black Music inspired by 'A Change Gon Come'

I had reached this point fairly quickly without much regard as to what materials I would use.

Usually the answer is obvious for me, paint. 

Except glass poses many problems that mean paint probably is not my best option.

After speaking to my Tutor, and a few small experiments, I decided maybe a vinyl sticker would do the job I had hoped the paint would do.

Trying and failing to come up with a background design that was both relevant to the fore image and not cliche was also difficult. 

The story behind the song though is a very sombre affair, and I didn't want that to be reflected in my work, nobody wants that baring over them for four weeks while they work.

I went back to the drawing board and began sketching more musicians, but from the era of real 'soul men'.

A memory of my Dad singing 'soul man' in the kitchen loudly and badly from my childhood  put the stamp of approval on my new choice.

so a newer array of little faces to arrange, but this time kept uniform and neat.

I also decided to go without colour, even with all my new found love for it, but this time it was because I felt black and greys depicted best the people and era I was trying to convey.

I adopted this style to assist the Vinyl application so as to  maximise its effect and 

 to play to its strengths

The eight artists are what I consider to be real 'Soul Men', I selected an image of each singer purposely smiling to add to the mood of the peace and compose them in a manner that suggestive a togetherness and closeness, except Jimi Hendrix, he got on purely on the basis that he is Jimi Hendrix, he is my 'because why not' element.

the singers left to right are: Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Teddy Pendergrass, Otis Redding, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix.

The idea is quite a simple one, devised with mood effectiveness and ease of installation and removal in mind.

Vector the drawing, make it into an enormous sticker come jigsaw puzzle and add further details with paint (of course) to leave a thoughtful, positive image inspired by memories and music.

Sounds easy, but its a challenge I'd look forward too.

A much smaller scaled version of how I imagined it would look, except not floating over Stockport.

Inspired by Barcelona

During the last reading week, my Fiancee and I took a short trip to Barcelona.

I had heard endless words of praise from many mouths about Barcelona and so left with high expectations.
Armed with a list of places which we had been told, we HAD to see while we were there, we arrived and even in the taxi from the airport, the historic atmosphere was blatant.
The architecture (which was especially spoken of in high regard), was amazing.
Every building seemed to have its own uniqueness, smooth flowing curves, colour or decorative iron work balconies. Generic has no home in Barcelona.
First things first though. Being a big football fan I had to visit Camp Nou, a football mecca and home ground to FC Barcelona. (obvs).
Getting there was a rather dull affair, using the cities underground metro system, so there was not much to see except the occasional hyperactive busker.
Once off the train we emerged outside the University of Barcelona, which in itself as a building though it is a modern build it still holds an aura of majesty.
Arriving at the football stadium was almost anti climax (almost) as from the outside much of the building is obscured by giant advertising banners, but I wanted to see this place from the inside.

Although it is not aesthetically dazzling its sheer size is an epic feat of engineering that has been a hotbed of inspirational historic sporting events.
I know this is not much related to art, but it is definantley a level of inspiration useful to a creative mind.
An afternoon spent posing next to trophies and reading up on the assorted sporting memorabilia on offer within the stadium, we went off in search of other MUST see's.
While ambling around the city, I found myself spending more time looking up past the burger king and footlocker signs that took up 90% of my peripherals for more examples of the scenic architecture that makes Barcelona the place it is.
In need of a notebook, we found a Catalonian version of 'Hobby Craft', and while looking for something to scribble reminders into, I accidentally found this...

I knew what I was looking at after taking a second to realise, my limited knowledge of Barcelona did actually contain a section on Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect, famed for his extrovert approach to the design n construction of buildings.

This, that I had stumbled on by going onto the sun terrace at the back of a stationary shop was in fact Casa Batllo, the view from the back.

Instantly recognisable, as Gaudi's work by the large, colourful mosaic work adorning the roof terrace that stretches either side  down almost framing the building and by the fine, intricate iron work that threw amazing shadows and shapes in all directions.

Distracted by my discovery I left the shop and headed around the very next corner to find the rest of Casa Batllo.

And I did,...

Casa Batllo, was a Gaudi designed home off a wealthy family living in a upper class neighbourhood of Barcelona.

Skeletal in design, hence the nickname 'The House of Bones', unique ornate flowing stone, wild arch ways and daring stained glass with skull shaped balconies.

The roof is said to be shaped after the arch on a dragons back, with the spear of St George protruding from it as a turret. 

An amazing amount of imagination, vision, creativity and genius made this building, and in 1887, to make it even slightly more amazing, (considering the lack of modern day building aids) 

This place was a fountain of inspiration! 

                      The roof of Casa Batllo, (not my image) I couldnt see the roof for the trees!

Now Im in Barcelona, finding the first (non sport related) landmark and decide the more the merrier so went of in search of Gaudi's crown in the jewel, Sagrada Familia, an 18 spire (on eventual completion) cathedral in the heart of Barcelona.

Later that day... much later, we found it, surrounded by fast food chains, and gift shops, the tallest most atmospherically dominating place I have ever seen,

After the initial astonishment wears off and you begin to acknowledge and admire the intricacy and detail applied to every stone in the building, but this was night time, so we decided to come back in the morning,.

Next morning, same place. We had not seen the half of it. Literally.

Sagrada Familia at night, with Gaudi's signature on the construction fences.

Sagrada Familia by day 

The level of detail within every piece of stone that makes up this cathedral is mesmeric, you find yourself stood imagining the painstaking carving that went into the stories depicted within the four facades that adorn one side of the building each. 

But imagining with respect for the talent and artistic integrity of the stone masons of the day.

Building began in 1882, and still will not be finished for an estimated thirteen further years (2026).

This is more than Gaudi's lifes work this monument is his legacy, built on private funds work has had to cease many times since the ground was broken on the site. 

The magnificence and awe that this place gives off just feeds imagination endlessly.

The visit was fast becoming a Gaudi hunting expedition, so we broke it up by visiting the Pablo Picasso museum, which my next blog will be about.

Day three we agreed to visit Guell Parc, another Gaudi project.

It was designed as a getaway for residents of Barcelona, away from the smokey city high up on a hillside.

It is a massive amount of land with many separate elements to it, all though wear the Gaudi brand of imagination and design obviously.

Guell Parc, is like a fantasy land, it reminded me a theme park, but one without rides, it was fun because of the way it had been designed, it was brightly coloured full of twisted columns and curved stone,

even the buildings are designed in a way that makes it feel like they are having fun. 

The sense of 'why cant I do this or do that' in Gaudi's work is what I found most appealing about all of his works that I had visited, and not only did he do it, he did it how we wanted to do it, and succeeded on the basis of over a century later people still in wonder at his works, both complete and those STILL under construction.

And if that isn't inspiration then I'm never going to find any.

Akse p19, Graffiti vs Vandalism

There is a danger of this post turning into a rant.
On a recent research expedition into the back streets and 'trendy' Northern Quarter of Manchester
I came across a portrait on the electricity substation on Tib Street.
The portrait was of Walter White, the main protagonist from the television series Breaking Bad.
The Artist is Akse p19, a spray can artist working out of Manchester, who working with 'out house project' a team working toward creating street art in and around the Northern Quarter are of Manchester City Centre.
The Out House Project support and are sponsored by local businesses in the Northern Quarter also.

http://outhousemcr.thecolouringbox.co.uk/

Anyway my main point... that after the time, work, effort, money and talent that went into the portrait, it was vandalised.

                       

There was some opposition to the piece as it depicted Walter White, a fictional bumbling drug dealer,

it was said to 'glorify' crime and 'rub people who have battles substance abuser's nose in it'.

It was seeing the art work in the latter state that the I realised graffiti is not vandalism, vandalism is something else and I was stood looking at the perfect example of how the two are different.

Before the content of the piece is even taken into consideration the skill and aesthetics of the work are immediately apparent.

Even if you didn't agree with what it was 'saying' why would you want to spoil something that looks so good? I could not get my head around the fact, people had a problem with it as it 'condoned crime' then those same people cheered when it was criminally damaged and left looking like the back of a toilet door in a pub. 

After mulling it over decided to try and find the answers, and so this is going to be the topic of my dissertation. 

Is Graffiti, Vandalism? (or along those lines) its a working title.

The irony.

Benjamin Wachenje Interview...

This is the Interview, I conducted with A personal Inspiration of mine, The established Illustrator, Benjamin Wachenje on 21st January 2013, I found him such an approachable and friendly person, who answered all of my questions in a full and honest way, It was quite an honour for me to get this opportunity, so I hope you enjoy reading it and find it as helpful as I did!

ME: Hi Ben, 

Instead of sending a block of questions, I figured I'd send them one at a time,

it seems less formal and leaves room for to chop and change the questions if your answers allow.

Hope thats ok?

O.k, my first question.... As a dad to 3 young kids myself, I was wondering how you find a balance between your work (as its obviously a time consuming

working method) and your duties as a dad.

Do you think you have achieved a perfect balance or is it something you are still working at?

BW: No balance whatsoever. Sometimes I work so hard that I sleep on the sofa in the studio. Other times I will be having so much fun with my family that I will end up pushed to the limit to meet a deadline.  For the last two years I have worked from home 90% of the time. As a family I think we are much stronger now, but finically we are weaker than when I would spend 90% of the time in the studio.

ME: You wouldn't believe how much relief that answer has given me,

As I struggle to manage the time between the my art and family so to know such an established Illustrator as yourself also has not got a balance,

I can stop letting it be such a major issue and just crack on as I have been, thanks!

I struggle to compromise on my Creative Ideologies when working in a team so end up quite defensive and stubborn

Do you collaborate with other Artists and Illustrators often? and if so how do you find working in a team?

BW: I do lots of collaborations. Sometimes, humbly, I disagree with the direction and will try persuasive arguments. When these don't work I take a step back to see if I might be missing something. Usually you collaborate with somebody because you respect their artistry so I look into their suggestion to see if I have overlooked what they are driving at. I learned from painting the importance of viewing your work from a distance and from different angles. Even when I am not collaborating I consult the opinions of my wife, children and others in the studio to get their take sometimes I don't like what they say, but I still listen and continue to ask their opinion. That said, I think its equally important to cultivate solitude and create spontaneous work, even if nobody else likes it. 

ME: Maybe I just need to be a little less protective and actually learn to compromise more,

I understand what you mean though, my Brother is my fiercest critic but also one of my biggest supporter, it was him that actually pushed me to finally going to uni at the age of 28.

I First came across your work when i saw the Billboards for GTA San Andreas, and its influenced and inspired my art since.

Did Rockstar enlist you for the new game and where do you find inspiration for such a fictional and dark subject as found in 

games?

BW: But also at uni you don't always get to chose who you collaborate with so it is a little different and sometimes more problematic.

Good for you. My wife is studying again at 38. I would like to go back and develop my animation skills maybe when my wife is a qualified teacher I will be able to do a part time course. Where are you studying? what course?

With the GTA billboards I was only ever commissioned to paint the backgrounds from already existing screen grabs. All of the subject matter and character development is done at Rockstar and then the paintings are commissioned. The characters are developed by Steven Bliss who is the Art Director. In the 90's and early 00's I couldn't get any agents to represent me. Steven Bliss was already established and being offered so much work that he was turning it down. The Central Illustration Agency offered to represent me knowing that I could pick up the contracts that Steven was turning down. I was surprised when they called me because I had taken my book to them 6 months earlier and was told that I wasn't the right fit for their agency. I have been with them for nearly 10 years now. I have worked with Rockstar games on 2 GTA titles and also Red Dead Redemption. But the long and short of it is that I do donkey work for GTA, the creative genius belongs to my stable mate mr. Bliss. 

ME: Im doing a BA Hons in Illustration at Stockport, I agree with you, not being able to choose who I worked with Immediately put a dampener on my creativity,

I did learn to grin and bare it but refused to compromise on my Ideas,

But in the end it just caused conflict and the final outcomes suffered, so I suppose I learned the lesson the hard way.

I'll be having a look at Mr. Bliss' work a bit later as well!

Donkey work or not, its Inspired a whole artistic chapter in my life so thank you!

while we are on the uni subject i'll show you my reproductions, the card player, is probably one of my favourite pieces of your work, thats why I chose that to copy,

and after realising how pain staking it was, (i quit on the pinstripes before my hair went grey) and the woman with the guitar was paint on canvas as im much comfier using that media! digital is fairly new to me so i resorted back to what i know, but my question is do you have a particularly piece that you are especially proud of?

BW: Wow these are great. The card player is dope. I hate pinstripes.

I don't really have any work that I am proud of. Nearly all of my work is commercial or commissioned. I think I will be proud when I have created some of the conceptional work that has been buzzing around in my head.

I have just finished working with TY (UK based Rapper) the 3 pieces on Magenta are parts of the new EP art. Please be desecrate with these as the artwork is still under wraps. I like these because it is a return to my first days as an illustrator. In 1997 I was commissioned by Vox magazine to do an illustration of Jarvis Cocker. I cut bits of coloured paper out and stuck them down on a sheet of black leaving parts of the black to show through and divide the colours. I worked like this for several years before getting my first mac in 1999 at which point I recreated the style digitally. Its nice to go back and cut out card again. All of the typography is paper engineering. I also enjoyed the 2010 project with TY because I got to sculpt him out of wood. The GAGA illustration was fun because I subtly characterised her. I like the picture of my son with the AK47 because of its political connotations, I had just turned down a job with the US army worth over $100,000. Since I had decided not to help them create recruitment posters I thought I had better make some pro-peace images. It really helped take my mind off the $100,000 I had kissed good bye to and made me consider how powerful art can be. I like the Jameelia Jamil portrait for purely superficial reasons. Bruce Lee because it is solid colours no tones, but it still works. The painting of Logic because it was quick and fun to do. The woman on the sofa because it was so technical, my wife and I also got to stay in that hotel and it was lavish. Oh and one of my favourite clients is Jonzi-D and Breakin' Convention. Its a B-Boy festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2013. I have worked on it since the start.

 

           

                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                      

          

The images above, were included in Ben's final E-mail, an example of just how helpful he was throughout the Interview, I have also, kept in touch since and still find Ben to be friendly and accommodating considering how busy he is, left me a very grateful chap indeed! so once again,

Thanks Ben!!