THE CREATIVE POST - Things that inspire me to inspire you!
Though is not news, I was amazed to come across the works of North American Pete Fecteau, who created an incredible mosaic of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. using 4300 Rubiks cubes. The piece weighs roughly 1000 pounds (454kg). Each cube has been “reversed solved” or twisted so that one of the faces maps it’s nine stickers into the total image, 38,178 stickers total. The construction process took a little over 40 hours and the final installation to about five and a half hours with 6 volunteers helping. The cubes were rented through the You Can Do The Cube organization. The mosaic was on display during the 2010 ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA from September 22nd to October 10th.
Pete attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire from August 2001 – May 2002 where he was enrolled in the Graphic Design program. He then transfered to Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated in 2007 with a BFA in Digital Media Design. Pete was hired as an interaction design out of college and continues to work in that field today.
More info at http://petefecteau.com/
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So you see I am not always in front of the screen with a mouse and a keyboard to “create” something, I would like to share with you my ongoing project: a scarf for my daughter. It’s been years, probably a decade since I do any knitting and it took me a bit to remember again, but it is as relaxing and addictive as I remember it to be!
How long since you did any crafty work! Come on! There is so much you can do with so little investment. Show us!
My name on a character of Phobos (the Mayan Trilogy by Steve Alten)
The English version of the third book of the Mayan Trilogy books by Steve Alten ‘Phobos’ (US version) or ‘The Mayan Destiny’ (European version) will be released on Amazon shortly. I got the Spanish version few months ago and couldn’t be more excited, because for me this book has something really special apart from the amazing story written by Alten: one of the characters has my name. Even Mr. Alten kindly asked me how I would imagine this character to look like and to be like, and has incorporated some of those ideas into the book. I couldn’t be more proud of the result.
Mayan Trilogy book 3 (Spanish edition)
How did I get to that? It all started with a flight back from Spain where I bought Domain (or El Testamento Maya in the Spanish edition), a really page turner fiction novel that mixes history and fantasy around the Mayan predictions and the mystery of the last date of their calendar: 21 December 2012. A fantastic book with a great historical background, an amazing adventure and an exciting love story. What else can you ask for in a book?! I was so amazed on the history of the Mayans and by the brilliance of Domain that I decided to contact the author to thank him and let him know about my admiration for his work. And surprisely, he replied. Steve Alten is a best-selling author with an unusual attention to his fans,which makes him even more unique.
I can only recommed you to get the 3 books and enjoy the read! You won’t be able to put them down. And even then you will keep thinking about the story and the historical background behind it.
Thanks Steve for a dream come true!
Treefox Cartoons started out as Treefox Creative in 2009, when illustrator and concept artist Todd Heard decided to market his services to potential freelance clients from Muncie, Indiana, USA. At the present, Treefox Cartoons consists of two people: Todd Heard and UK-based Social Media marketer Claudine Claudine Watson-Williams. With an impressive and diverse video showreel (see youtube video above), the company is gaining more and more clients and have plans of building a network of animators and illustrators to work for them remotely.
The Creative Post: What are your creative influences and where do you get your inspiration from?
Treefox Cartoons: (Todd) I have a large collection of “how-to” books in my office. There probably isn’t a book on cartooning I don’t have. I also like comics, but I like comics that are cartoon in nature. I have several of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” comics. There are also several blogs feeds I follow. The internet is an endless source of inspiration. I have a ton of artist sites bookmarked. I wish the internet that is around today was around when I was a kid. I grew up in Malvern and Benton, Arkansas. I didn’t see a lot of art growing up. But the things I did have were, Looney Tunes Animations, Mad Magazine, Conan and Hulk Comics. Don Martin from Mad Magazine was my favorite cartoonist.
T.C.P.: Can you explain about a regular job creation process. Do you use traditional hand-drawing techniques or is it all digital from concept?
T.C.: (Todd) I usually start my projects on paper. For some reason, I feel less restricted when I’m drawing on paper. If I have funny idea or something that inspires me. I start with those sketches first. If I’m storyboarding I jump back and forth through the script going to what suits me at that moment. I have a couple of drawing surfaces I use. I have a large drafting table and an animation disk. When I’m doing animation, I’ll sketch the major key poses on my animation disk. I use the ACME peg system for animation. So I have to buy special pre-punched paper to sketch on. It’s expensive but it’s last me a long time, so I don’t mind using it.
After I complete the rough sketches, I scan my drawings in at a medium resolution 150 dpi. I don’t need high-resolution scans for my process. My scanner is an old Epson scanner that Epson doesn’t support with new drivers, so I use a program called VueScan as my scanning software. I’m on a iMac.
For cleaning up my drawings, I like to ink in Adobe Illustrator. I used to use the round brush set for pressure sensitivity to create my inked lines. But now I ink with the pencil tool and use the line variable width tool to create the thick and thin effect I like.
For adding flat color, I like to use Live Paint. It works really fast. The part that takes the longest is closing all the shapes, so the fills will happen. I used to animate only in Flash, but recently I started using Toon Boom Harmony. When I first started working in Harmony, I didn’t like it because I was comparing it to Flash’s workflow. But now I like it. Harmony has some powerful deformation tools for animation. It also allows you to control the thick and thin of your lines. So my animation work looks just like my illustration work. Harmony is expensive but if you have projects to use it on, it’s worth the expense.
T.C.P.: What has been your most challenging project so far and why?
T.C.: The most challenging projects I’ve ever worked on, were while I was working for Garfield. I used to create interactive games and activities for their educational web site ProfessorGarfield.org. What made it so difficult was that I had to program the games in addition to creating the artwork. The games were created in Adobe Flash using Actionscript 2.0. Creating the artwork was easy for me but programming was tough. I guess I’m not hard-wired that way.
T.C.P.: What have been your main achievements/works you’re are most proud of?
T.C.: (Todd) Before I worked for the Garfield studio. I co-designed an exhibit for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I was proud to have worked on that project, especially when I attended the opening. The other thing I’m most proud of was my work at the Garfield studio. Mainly because I was able to teach myself programming. Even though I never became great at it.
T.C.P.: What advice would you give someone who would like to work as a cartoon illustrator?
T.C.: (Todd)I’ll quote my friend and cartoonist David Reddick. “Draw like the wind, Bullseye!” Never stop drawing and keeping a sketchbook full of ideas. It’s your “life blood” as an artist.
Creating art is a skill that needs to be developed and maintained. Don’t let other things distract you from being the best artist you can be. Hard work, dedication and desire are more essential than raw talent.The other important thing is… seek out your inspiration, study it, take away the lessons you can learn from others. When I was younger I used to tell myself I didn’t want to be influenced, I wanted to be original. But the fact is we are influenced by everything around us. Allow yourself to be influenced and inspired by other’s work. You’re own style will take over from there.
T.C.P.: What are your future projects?
T.C.P.: (Todd) More animation. I’m currently working on a series of animated shorts for my client. So hopefully I will continue to do more. I’m having a good time making them. We’re also trying to pursue additional clients through SEO and social media. Currently I’m working on a training video for CartoonSmart.com teaching Harmony 9. That’s being going slowly since I am so busy these days.
Please see below a small gallery with some of Treefox Cartoons artworks. Click on any image to zoom in and click again to go back to the article. More info at http://www.treefoxcartoons.com
Congratulations to Greg Louison! You just won a Canvas Print or T-shirt with Perry as a rastafarian! If you want to enter new competition please join The Creative Post Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Creative-Post-by-LS/151863131509669
Perry is a trademark by Laura Salesa.
I keep repeating myself, I know, but now that we live in times of recession, it is TIME to use our brains to save some money and recycle, reuse and create with little investment. I wanted to put a clock on my daughter’s bedroom, but I wanted something special, unique. On an occasion like this one, many of us living in Britain would have gone to one of those trendy second-hand/vintage/retro/all-the-things-your-granma-kept-in-that-top-cupboard-and-thought-they-were-worth-nothing-and-now-are-so overpriced markets like, let’s say, Portobello Market.
I decided to go to a charity shop instead and found an old Ikea clock with a funny bee on the second hand and that cost me £1. Then, on the same charity shop (Gosh I love that place) and found a handmade round frame that still had the label at the back with 79.00 quiet clearly written (though without a currency symbol, but I take it was pounds?) that cost me £2. I got home, and designed the clock background using my Perry character, printed it on photo pager and there you go! Your very special clock for less than £5.
Let’s be creative! (a little) Time is money…saved!
Final logo
The Spanish capital – Madrid – released yesterday, 30th January, the logo that will represent the city as a candidate for the Olympic Games in 2020. Just few hours after the release, Twitter and other social networks were full of messages of criticism with a sense of humour. The logo, creation of a 22 year old Graphic Design student, is described by the author as “a log that represents the monument from Madrid La Puerta de Alcala (Alcala’s Entrance) with a dynamic line symbolising the passion of the people from Madrid and Spain towards Sports. The five “doors” from the original monument become the 5 rings”.
For many, however, the logo looks like 5 coloured flip-flops behind what looks like 20020 instead of M20. Aside this, the “i” in “madrid” looks like if it had an accent when it shouldn’t and the black colour from the original 5 ring olympic logo has been replaced for pink, to which some have been joking could be more like the “logo for Proud Day in 20020″.
6.000 euros has been the cost of this logo, far from the £400.000 that the London 2012 cost, but as wrong as bad as this one. No wonder us, Graphic Designer, still cannot get taken seriously as professionals, as many think that what we do is just random drawing and scribbling as inspiration comes to us.
And I have nothing with the student that created the logo, at the end of the day he is still studying. Also, the logo was altered from the original proposal by the student, where the M20 looked clearer (see below). But whoever chose it and paid for it…
original proposal by Graphic Design student Luis Peiret
Amy Joy Watson/ Boberika
Not long ago I interviewed the brilliant Christa Vi (see http://laurasalesa.com/blog/2011/11/29/christavi/), an Australian / German Singer Songwriter, based in East London that combines her folky, storytelling songwriting style with eclectic instrumentation, electronic elements and emotive vocals. Christa’s EP single ‘Your Heart’ will be released on 23rd March.
The artwork for the EP is as beautiful as her song, and features an sculpture by Amy Joy Watson (http://www.amyjoywatson.com/). The cover art is by Boberika.
Included in this release are exciting remixes by up and coming NuDisco producer Show Your Shoe from Switzerland, UKbass producer Reggie Pepper from South London and East London based indie-electro band The Dark Lights.
Christa Vi’s debut album release is planned for 2012, produced by George Shilling (Coldcut, Yazz, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream etc). Your Heart EP will be available for digital download and CD via Bandcamp initially and then via other digital retailers such as ITunes and Amazon.
by Frankula.
I am sure that not even the same Francis Geralds, aka Frankula, would have imagined that after his retirement from the Chemical Industry he would be wowing the world with his extraordinary and unique digital artworks. As he tells me, it all started short after he stopped working, when he was encouraged to buy a computer and was introduced to Photoshop at his home in Cumbria, UK. “I found this programme to be so intriguing I just had to explore more.”, he says.
It is fair to say, however, that he had some experience with the traditional methods of artmaking. “I think I must have tried every medium since I was early school age. I enjoyed every transition from one to more advanced techniques….pencil, water colour, oils,inks….yes! Inks in airbrushing I think were the most exciting of all forms, especially when sprayed on to high quality gloss paper.” After living and experiencing several decades of different artistic moves and techniques, Geralds can also see the advantage of the Digital Age; “I like Digital art from a point of view that there is No Mess, work can be redone or changed without a new canvass and the work is sharp and realistic. For me this is the best form. The digital work is ideal for Advertising but I would prefer a hand painted picture hanging on my wall. As far as I’m concerned I like all forms of Art and can find no disadvantages to any form but, they all have their place.”
The Creative Post: What are you influences, people or artistic movements that inspire your work?
Francis Geralds: I have always loved Art and anything from pop art on Record Album covers,comic book artists to fine art of The Masters. Artists that have had the greatest impression on me. William Blake, The Airbrush works of Michael English…during the 70′s and in the 80′s the wonderful imaginative works of H.R.Giger. Art is all around us and in everything we do.
Shop Window Displays, Product packaging, Magazines and of course Nature itself; the list is endless.
Francis Geralds
T.C.P.: Most of your work, have a Sci-Fi, fantasy theme/atmosphere, what are the reasons behind this?
F.G.: Hahaha well now Laura you have me stumped there…. I suppose Sci Fi and fantasy can be lumped together. This type of Art allows us to break free of the constraints of traditional work such as scenery,still life etc. I think to some extent a lot can be explained away when creating Sci Fi or Fantasy though, the works must still have structural credibility along with perspective otherwise the Picture just doesn’t work.
T.C.P.:How do you see the future of art expression, do you think it has been devaluated because of the use of enhancing softwares like Photoshop etc?
F.G.: All forms of art have their place, there is still a freedom of choice in whatever method that we feel happiest with.The fact that there are so many art programs on the market to-day shows there is a demand.Art should be available to each and every one of us and in whatever form we choose. I feel that the digital programs have brought art closer to us all and a sense of satisfaction in knowing we have created something of our own. The traditional and digital work very well alongside each other.
I know there has been a lot of controversy over the use of Photoshop techniques in advertising particularly where ‘Models’ are concerned.What should we do? do away with digital programs,Computers and for that matter Camera’s! and all because of a few people who are unable to differentiate or separate fantasy from reality.Education is the way forward perhaps a footnote may be better, saying…”The model has been digitally enhanced in order to display the product”. Personally I Applaud the use of digital programs in advertising we do not want to go backwards to the drab dreary days of the 40′s and 50′s. On this matter I feel I have said quite enough.
T.C.P.: What are your current projects?
F.G.: I just never know from one day to the next what will take my interest. I often find myself creating a picture from doing an exercise or experimenting with different effects and then thinking ..”…Hmmm! I wonder what would look good with this?”….it is then that ideas begin to form. Having produced a basic picture I leave and come back to it in a day or so and, if it still looks good… I continue to add and enhance. I usually spend at least a week on a picture before posting to an Art site.
Thanks Frankula for this great interview.
by Frankula.
Please see below a small gallery with some of Frankula’s artworks. For more please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/
You can now watch the music video I have directed and edited for the debut single ‘Who’s gonna wait’ by BRIKED, a new band formed by Italian guitar player and singer/songwriter Ed Marvis and Spanish keyboard player and singer/songwriter Iker Lezcano (aka the dRaugHty jaBBeR). The duo met in London few years ago through common friends. Sharing same musical taste and curiousity, they decided to try and collaborate together on their own compositions, and after a few sessions they had written five songs together without much effort. Together they are BRIKED and the music video for first of those songs they wrote together, ‘Who’s gonna wait’, was released on January 2nd 2012.
The video shoot took place in London last August 2011 and had the collaboration of Photographer Boberika (www.boberika.com) as the Lead Camera.
All comments and feedback appreciated! Thanks!
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