inuit dancing bear

I have been very fortunate to have received a gift of a beautiful Inuit dancing bear serpentine stone sculpture and I've been itching to work on my interpretation of the subject. I had a crack at a dancing polar bear (a traditional Inuit theme) in my story Pisugtook (previously on this blog/on my website). I just love Inuit sculpture and graphic artwork. It is not only a movement (if that is even the right term) based on a very well observed and stylised interpretation of people and animals. One of the biggest draws for me is the great humour and playfulness that skilled Inuit artists inject into their work. I heartily recommend that you google the sculptor of my little bear, a remarkably talented guy called Markoosie Papigatok. I'm really delighted to have a piece of his work to look at every day. If you want to be inspired (and have a laugh, page 111, never fails to raise a smile :) you should pick up a copy of "Inuit Art: An Introduction" by Ingo Hessel and Dieter Hessel.

Enough for now, TTFN

I was a plane child...

Here is an early sketch version of where I'm headed with this plane thing of mine. Those who knew me as a nipper might see the resemblance, if only because I was forever on my knees on the floor drawing.

I'm off for a week now...

TTFN to anyone hereabouts :)

M.R.I - Magnus Readily Ingests

The illustrator in me, rather than the patient, wanted another crack at the scan. Last night's post being a rush job 'digital diary' sketch so to speak. I've decided the scanner is called Magnus and he's always hungry... although he only eats metal (paperclips and divers watches are his favourites). I think there's a story for me in that!

I'm a little disappointed this morning to wake up without super powers...! I thought at the very least I'd be able to command metal objects and summon them to me (or my knee) with a wave of a hand (or bend of the leg). Nothing ???! Not even loose change sticking to me. At least my ipod won't start playing songs backwards when I put it in my jeans pocket!

MRI scan

I just had an MRI scan on my knee this evening. A fairly out of the ordinary situation to find oneself in. Ay least they let me keep my jeans on (flappy open backed gowns don't do anything for me). Now why do product designers colour weird looking bit's of medical kit a 'soothing' pastel hue? Do they think a large crashing and clanking tube which has half swallowed you up is going to be any the less intimidating because it's coloured a delicate apricot...? I would have preferred it if they had decorated the machine fascia with a freaky far out yawning face ala Beatles Yellow Submarine. Besides any soothing effect this pastel apricot might have provided was cancelled out be the only thing I could read properly from my angle, a little slot labelled "laser", right above my groin. I kept having visions of Goldfinger..."no Mr Bond I expect you to die!" There was also a similarly well intentioned soothing tropical mural painted on the wall which I wouldn't of minded looking at, if only to stave of the 20 odd minutes of boredom. The only problem was I was too concerned about keeping still to have moved my head to have a look. Funny isn't it how it's so much harder to remain still when someone tells you to...? I'm talking to you spasming left knee!

The monocular brothers & their party piece...

Don't ask me where they came from. Just a visual that popped into my head and onto a piece of paper this lunchtime.

difficult to creep up on this one...

This plane, amoeba type thing had plenty of repeating elements to get stuck into. The original aircraft it's based on (a P38 Lightning if you are at all interested) has lots of little panels in it's cockpit canopy. A great opportunity to throw on a few more eyes!

here comes another one..!

I'm sure I'm boring people by now, but this is fun and I cannot stop doodling them! I think about 20 of the little blighters should give me the elements I need, then the blog can go back to being (by and large) a plane free zone.

the rarely seen 'tube mouthed star swallower'

First one of the week. Nasty little critter this one :)

channelling Miro

I think what I need to do is ramp up the quirky quotient that bit more so everything is slightly less aeronautical and slightly more fun. It's loosening me up if nothing else.

Miro Starfighter!

The title to this post sounds like the hero of a cheap Spanish sci-fi film...! Possibly one of the coolest names for a plane, the Lockheed Starfighter was described as a "missile with a man in it". Says it all I think. Looking at these past few designs I think the colour needs turning up a notch, and this 'Buck Rogers' rocketship seemed like an appropriate time to do it. I want a Miro like feel to the illustration, hence the asterix stars. I think you can overdose on Miro's primary colours and repetitive symbols if you aren't careful, but in small doses I love his graphic qualities... and he helped me get my A-level art so I have a soft spot for him.

Harrier & simplified Concorde graphics

Maybe it's just not leaving well enough alone but I think Concorde is such an icon that it can take reducing to the bare minimum. When I think of Concorde (aside from colour of course... there weren't too many yellow or blue ones like these...) it's the triangular delta wing and the pointy ends that register. Not to forget the bent schnoz. Isn't it ironic that one of the, arguably, most beautiful pieces of design ever couldn't function properly without a honking great hook nose...??! (interesting fact number 1: the pilots couldn't see the runway on landing with the nose up and beautifully pointy). I don't even think you really need to see the tail fin (that's just the bit where you paint the flag!). The other illustration might be familiar...a Harrier, aka 'jump jet' (I hate that phrase... sorry the pane geek raising his ugly head, hope I'm not boring you all...?). I'm trying to think of these designs as much as 'aeroplane microbes' under the microscope. Think amoeba with wings :) Normal, non aeroplane, blog service will be resumed soon.

Concorde & Spitfire graphic elements

Here's two easy ones to start with. Even the most ardent planeophobe should hopefully recognise these two. I've also attached the colour palette that I've been experimenting with. Without meaning to it has a bit of a Paul Klee 'swatches watercolour' feel which I quite like in of itself. Concorde might well end up in weird colours in the final pic, but for now it has to be white doesn't it...!

playing with planes...

As I've mentioned before in this blog, when I was a kid I was a real aeroplane geek. Every now and again old obsessions pop to the surface and assert themselves. To that end I've been having a play around working on an illustration of me as a nipper, trusty Crayola crayons strewn across the floor, drawing planes. I don't quite have it working out as I want yet, but I'll get there. For now here are some experiments with stylisation, colour and layout. I'm really enjoying the 1950's vibe. Perhaps the cover of a quirky 50's airline...? Hope they hit the spot. I'm aiming to appeal to aeroplane and non aeroplane fans alike.