George from Think got in touch with a cover assignment for STEP Magazine, based on a piece about digital assets, security and the cloud. This was quite a straightforward job because in this instance the client already had a concept they liked - a cloud of data, being held down by a group of people, including a padlock to emphasise security. I worked on some pencil variations and then sent in the best one for approval.
Jennifer from Experience Life magazine called asking for an opener and some spot illustrations for a feature on controlling blood pressure. A very specific brief was provided for the opener but I was given a free hand on the others, essentially tips on how to keep your blood pressure low.
I was asked to produce a cover image for Marquette which could also work, in amended form, as an opener for an article on how professors are finding success in obtaining funding from the Nation Institute of Health. We were looking to create a strong cover image that reflected both biological research and physical health. As the article was entitled 'Extended Reach' it seemed natural to pose a figure as 'reaching' and to then superimpose the various health and medical elements.
Here is the initial pencil sketch and a colour swatch. As a rule I very rarely provide colour roughs because things can often change dramatically when working on the final artwork. I find that If you are already committed to a certain palette at the outset you can sometimes feel that you are passing on better choices when rendering the artwork. In this case I had such a strong initial vision of how the illustration would look that I had no such qualms.
Another self-initiated piece which didn't make the Palette of 5 show described below.
Although I work professionally as an illustrator I cannot overstate how important it is to produce self-initiated work. The profession expects you to hone your craft and work in a recognisable 'style' and generally speaking you are then awarded assignments based on that look. That's all well and good but there is so much to explore within the overall visual landscape that I find it re-invigorating to try different techniques and approaches - it all feeds back into your working practice and keeps you fresh and excited about the next project
In between commissions I have been working on developing print for a group exhibition. The Palette of 5 exhibition of prints and paintings has just taken place with work by myself and for other artists; Rosie Woods, Monica Chrysostomou, Sue Rentoul and Chris Cook. The private view was well attended and a lot of fun. Everyone made sales! I had ten print designs on show. Below are another two, Midnight Cowboy and Stole, focussing on the intuitive arrangement of form and colour.
Tyler got in touch from ASIS International with a cover and spread request for Security Management magazine. The theme was how hospitals deal with the impact of a hurricane. How staff effectively prepare for the storm by battening down the hatches and enduring the effects before the eventual recovery and clean up.
As usual the corporate cover style is to use black backgrounds with a dominant spot color.
Another in an occasional series. I do love working with vintage photographic elements and putting things together that evoke the capturing of unexplained events from the past.
My spread for this year's Rapp|Art 2019 catalogue. Sent out to thousands of commissioning clients.
John Hopkins University got in touch requesting a cover and an opener for an upcoming issue of Hopkins Medicine Magazine. The theme was concerned with the body system and how it can become unbalanced. Adult primary immunodeficiencies bring suffering and despair - and too often go undiagnosed.
The concept of balance lead me to using the gyroscope and incorporating it with more general anatomical and cellular imagery in order to communicate the idea. Vivid color was preferred, which led to the palette choice.
Continuing the balance theme from the cover through to the opener, I replaced the gyroscope with a spirit level to indicate some form of resolution.
