Just over a week ago I was approached by Brad from Revert Entertainment, management for local epic virtuoso post-everything proggers Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving, to do a gig poster for their first show of 2010. I was really super super busy this week but I really dig what the band does and on the agreement of having creative freedom how could I turn it down .
NOTE: You can download TTOL’s releases for free here and here.
The band had an image of an astronaut fighting an octopus in space, and gave me free reign to reinterpret that, and so this is what I’ve ended up with!:
And here’s the process:
This is an alternate colouring (pink instead of red) – I really liked it colour-wise as well as the idea of all the bodily fluids being smooshed into a pinkish goop, rather than just blood.. client didn’t like the pink so brought back in the red:
Potentially long moaning post put short: I’ve decided to try my absolute best to get totally focused on and dedicated to illustration in the next 6 months. That is, actively pursuing one thing as opposed to trying to be a jack of all trades and master of none.
While working today (graphic designing), I listened to this 3 minute TED video by Richard St John at least 10-15 times over. Such an inspiring jam packed 3 minutes. Essential viewing if you feel you need a kick up the butt!
Heartless Robot are a rad little record label from here in Perth. They’ve released a bunch of the more experimental and interesting projects from around here. When Scott from HRP approached me about designing a new logo for them, I was totally stoked (especially recalling the Bassta Pex / Gutter Guitar split 12″ limited to 100 copies, which each had original artwork by different participating artists. 100 x 1 off vinyls. For whatever reason I didn’t have time to try get involved, but yeah, such a cool idea.
From the beginning of the project I wanted to document the process as much as possible for the purpose of sharing it here.. and so here goes. As comprehensive a process recap as I could scramble together, minus a few stages in between.
The original Heartless Robot logo:
Final redesigned logo:
I like to gather a buttload of visual research most of the time. I tried to gather as mixed a selection of robot references as I could, and then culled that selection down to designs I liked. Below are 2 of the collaged pages (had weeded down to about 5 pages of robot refs). I had also originally been excited at the prospect of possibly taking some inspiration / paying homage to Boris Artsybashef. Unfortunately wasn’t really appropriate though. Style-wise, I wanted to try and avoid robot cliches as much as I could, and wanted to draw influence from some of the darker disney characters and great cartoon villains, Camille Rose Garcias dark and sweet character designs, and of course Japanese influence – aside from my own influence, Heartless Robot have a bit of a relationship with Japan (bands touring, releases, frequent visitors, etc.), so was more than appropriate.
Below, the first few rather embarrassing sketches, but can’t skimp on the bits I don’t want to show. Not having much success with my initial doodles, I moved onto experimenting with block shapes and how they affect the character. The bodies mostly inspired by Ashley Wood, the master of bad arse bots. The feedback from Scott along the way being that they were after more of a “City Destroyer” as opposed to “C3PO”. The face design was probably my favourite part of the whole process. The dial-eyes my favourite detail.
Final Logo above, and the type I created for the logo below.
Some fun in between jobs.. same as “Spacer”, an idea I’d had in my head for ages, finally put to paper in my 100 Figures Project and since had wanted to paint it up.
Inspired by some brilliant-for-the-wrong-reasons editing on an episode of “Extreme Makeover”, or some such show.
SUMMER is still on for just under a week @ Little Creatures Freo – wraps up Feb 1st.
Thanks to all who made in down to the launch in December, pre Xmas and all . Below are the pieces Otilee and I collaborated on, followed by some shots from the night. Was a great lineup of artists and their pieces, met a bunch of awesome people, drank some top beer.
Apologies to Jessica Singh, as it doesn’t appear I have a photo of her pieces, but go check out her work here http://www.jessicasingh.com Jessica also has her solo show on the opposite wall, which I presume runs until Feb 1 as well. Rad feminine indie styled illustrations.
This is an idea I’d had in the back of my head for ages, and finally put it to paper during my “100 Figures Project”. I still wanted to paint up the linework, and so got to work to break up the monotony in a huge job I’m working on (huge as in quantity – 211 illustrations :O, nothing overly exciting though unfortunately).
“Spacer” is available as an 11.7 x 16.5″ archival print on hahnemuhle 308gsm photo rag, limited to 20 prints. Signed and numbered (and doesn’t have the watermark). $50ppd anywhere in the world.
Please email me at brendan@brendan-ninness.com if you’d like one!
Happy New year to all, hope it was a safe but epic one. God. I have so much blogging to catch up on. The past few weeks alone have been a hell of a ride.
May post one big trainwreck of information post in the coming days. In the process of moving house and mobile internet is shaky.
2009 was a bitch of a year to say the least. But many good things came through, and I can feel it in my bones, that 2010 is going to rock.
Cheers to a rad, fun, productive and prosperous year ahead. Fuck you and good night to 2009 and your economic downturn, the many people taken too early, and general negativity of the year (and thank you to the awesome people met, worked with, times, stoof of the year.)
With that, here is my 1st drawing of the year. The first of billions to come, as one of my resolutions is to sketch and paint on every bit of blank paper that surrounds me. Random sketch turned into a tribute to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Still eagerly awaiting the Aus release of the film later this month!
Perthians, Fremantlers, mark December 22nd in your Calendar (Tuesday coming)!
Otilee and I are putting in 4 collaborative pieces into the SUMMER group show @ Little Creatures, Fremantle. SUMMER will be an exhibition of Illustration, Photography and Digital Art by 9 artists, with their interpretation of ‘Summer’. It’s sure to be a great mix of work .
The details: Opening night 22nd December 6-8pm @ Little Creatures Brewery upstairs gallery, 40 Mews Rd Freo. Exhibition runs 22nd December – 1st Feb 2010, so plenty of time to check it out
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