Here's my Toucan Kev & Phil. It's perhaps as much a twisted penguin as it is a twisted toucan. Not really sure I'm saying anything deeper than as I was drawing my toucan it reminded me of the Penguin Books logotype which I've always been a fan of. I've also posted some ink and watercolour doodles I did to work out the character treatment for the toucan. So much of my work digitally these days that I really miss not having something to see for my efforts at the end of the day after the computer has been switched off. I think sometimes there is also that danger of getting too comfortable with "apple Z" (or ctrl Z for those PC users out there). I've always loved watercolour because you can never be 100% sure about what you are going to end up with. Sometimes things can really surprise you... both good and bad. Similarly I'm not a big one for inking in my work but for these doodles I employed an inky kebab skewer and large piece of paper in order to loosen up a little and see what happens next... All that said I still ended up with a digital final piece. Photoshop is just a lovely place to work I guess.
Excellent work my friend. It's great that this little backwards and forwards is being taken to so many random places. I'm going to give watercolours a go too, I really want to shake my style up and move out of my comfort zones. I also want to challenge how I use colour, and I think watercolours will force me to think more deeply about what I'm doing.
ReplyDeletethis book cover is just perfect: your toucan fits really fine to this retro design. as a big fan of watercolor i have to say you MUST paint more! photoshop is just a lovely place :) but painting is freedom without limits! and i love seeing your own hand movements in the lines...
ReplyDelete(btw thank you for your kind questions - i've answered them on my blog if you would like to read.)
Great stuff Matt. I love the continuous 's' bend shape you have with the Toucan. I love the pulpy cover too - works a treat!
ReplyDeleteThe trees on the post below are also an inspired piece of Matt-magic.
Take a house point!
cool i like
ReplyDeleteHello Matt!
ReplyDeleteYou have done very cool illos this last few weeks!!!
The platypus is amazing (by the way, what a curious word, in spanish is also very strange: ornitorrinco):-)
Both treatments are, of course, delightful. Wonderfully calligraphic and enquiring creature. I would like to post one of your toucans with a link to your blog on my TinyTheatre blog - let me know if that would be okay. In any case, they are lovely.
ReplyDeletegreat use of media! fun little guy, I must say! tweeeet
ReplyDeleteReally great work. Love the book design as well as the watercolour sketches.
ReplyDeleteI´ve just seen your work about animals at your web and I must say it´s GREAT. For example, the chameleon is a master piece. You are a fabulous artist.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful blog, I like your work.
ReplyDeleteLove the Toucan design with the shape of his body being a continuation of the beak.
ReplyDeleteBook cover looks great too.
they are cute and nice!! has this toucan become your trademark?
ReplyDeleteReally great, Matt! Lovely designs.
ReplyDeleteHey, I don't know if I'll post this on my blog for awhile, but I didn't want to leave you hanging.
My toucan.
Hello Matt!
ReplyDeleteI dont know if youd remember me, we met at the ica last year on an illustrators meet.
I was looking for ref for a toucan today, particularly beak colour. Google images threw up these two very cool looking toucans. Then I realised that it was you!
They're great, full of life and character! Love his little stumpy wings!
Small world eh?
Hope all good with you.
Sarah Horne x