Liam Sparkes.

Liam Sparkes - Illustrator, Tattooer, Moustache Grower.

     I only discovered this man's work a few weeks ago, but I love it, and after watching a short interview he'd done I quickly decided I want to be just like him when I grow up.
     As well as being the proud owner of a fine moustache and rad collection of tattoos, he also started out as an illustrator, making various bits of artwork for flyers, t-shirts bands etc. before moving on to a more rewarding career as a tattooer.

Liam Sparkes

Liam Sparkes

     If you like his work, which if you have functioning eyeballs I'm sure you do, you should either buy some prints of it or go meet him and get some of it tattooed onto you.
     Alternatively you can go here to browse some photos of his work.

Liam Sparkes Documentary from Ben Taylor on Vimeo.

     I imagine influence of his work will slowly rear it's head in my own.

Into the Darkness.

     I've really been getting back into drawing recently. I never went off it exactly, but the whole notion of "thinking with a pen in your hand" (or in it's proper Latin form "messing about") has really made me enjoy it a whole bunch more, even though the outcomes aren't exactly brilliant or something you'd mention to your penpal.
     I could rant on about all the influences I've discovered or been recommended recently but I'll save that for later. Instead, here's some of what I've been birthing into existence with my mind and hands:

Sketchbook work for "The Wind in the Willows" brief + mess.

Sketchbook work for "The Wind in the Willows" brief (details).

     These silhouettes aren't finished yet but I actually quite like them as they are. I've been experimenting with solid black/ shadow more in my recent work (as is also evident in my personal work below) and the feel it brings to the table.
     I've also been contemplating the personality of each character and how to portray it without turning them into mutant humanoid clichés  It occurred to me, while in accidental attendance at a strangers houseparty a few days ago, that objects, clothing and specifically eyewear can say alot about you. Judging people based on their appearance/ how they dress is actually incredibly useful and often fairly accurate because of the connotations that items have acquired throughout history, so I do it all the time.
     Above I've given each character eyewear (sort of) that I feel sums up, or at least hints at their general character. If you're wondering what they're meant to be then behold: half-rimmed specs, telescope, monocle, sleep mask.

Awful photograph of a squid I drew.

Similarly awful photograph of a gnarled prehistoric fish I drew.

Party of One i.e. A Fox in a Party-hat.

     Obviously none of these creatures are characters from the book, they're just bits of recent personal work. However, since they've been going on along side this brief they do incorporate some of the traits I've been messing with; namely light and dark but I have also been looking at having more than just one stand-alone element within my work.
     I am definitely going to stick mostly with single elements because it's how I love to work, but it's nice to be able to incorporate others if I have to.

By the power of Greyskull!

and constructive criticism!

     Today, with my hands, I put the final touches on my Age UK work and then, with a computer and the aid of somebody else's hands, neatened it all up a bit. I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out in the end which is mainly down to a group crit I was a part of. I usually feel like I don't get anything from them other than more work to do but this time something clicked; I got helpful/ insightful feedback and by paying attention to it was able to improve my work. Awesome.
     Here it is anyway, in all it's digital glory:

You Know Nothing - Inspired by the life of Wilf.