Paul Loudon / Lantern Jaw / Mr. Illustrator

Board Stupid! Part one: Balls and Jeans.

2012-01-20T14:18:00.008Z

I have an aversion to adverts. I especially loathe TV ones (okay most of them - I did laugh at a recent Skittles one, and who can deny the catchyness of R.Whites Lemonade or Shake 'n' Vac or indeed the creativity behind the Guinness ads blah, blah, blah - we all know the usual over-cited glowing embers in the murky grey tedium). Back before I became an illustrator, TV commercials were only good for two things, allowing me to go to the toilet or to make a cup of tea. According to wikipedia a third of each hour that American imported shows like CSI are on, will be devoted to adverts. This allows for a gross excess of tea-making and danger of becoming diabetic. Thanks a lot mr Go Compare man! How about going away to compare landmines or something. Thankfully for me there is now a third use for adverts; making money through the medium of STORYBOARDS.

I first took an interest in 'boards during my time doing HND media at North Oxfordshire College in Banbury (1997-1999), following that course I carried out several storyboard jobs unpaid, for small film projects. (During that time I also purchased "The Art of the Storyboard" a book by John Hart, which is excellent.)

In fact, back then my goal was initially to work exlcusively as a "freelance storyboard artist." I didn't realise some years after giving up this dream, that storyboarding opportunities would come-a knocking. Interesting how life works out and as always I am hugely greatful for the opportunities which followed.

My first professional storyboard job happened when I was contacted back in 2007 by a film director called Paul Morgans who had seen some stylised "sequential" (comic) work on my website. The advert was for a Malaysian communications company called "CELCOM". No, I'd never heard of them either..

Click to enlarge

But, what I had heard of were the two protagonists who had signed up to be in the ad; no less than footballers Ryan Giggs and John Terry. (Yes most of my footballing knowledge is bizzarely centred around the 1990 World Cup... but somehow and despite the fact that Giggs and Terry do not appear on the popular dance track "World in Motion," a nugget of information regarding the notoriety of these two had managed to slip through.)

As is often the case, the deadline was excessively tight. Despite the above sample being in colour the individual panels soon degenerated into looser black and white line-drawings. My written and verbal instructions for the middle bulk of the advert were a touch vague and I was left come come up with alot of the shot ideas on my own, some of which were used, some of which weren't. As an freelancer, I was more naive in those days; today I would demand a much clearer step-by-step set of instructions; partly because I am more attuned to which instructions I need in order to operate. Looking back objectively, the idea of two footballers demolishing a city with a metallic football is a nutty concept in it's own right. With the relative proximity to the events of 9/11 it's a good job that they were not trying to pitch the concept to America.

In essence It's certainly true to say that director Paul was on hand to help out as much as he could, but the ethos of my end of the bargain seemed to be; draw as much stuff as possible to ultimately throw at the camera crew for shooting in Malaysia (No, I didn't get to go). I am still in touch with Paul, who is a thoroughly nice chap.

Watch this, resist the urge to make a cup of tea:

Next up we have storyboards for a 2010 jeans advert; a Russian jeans company called "Colin's Jeans" ...This time things were much more straight forward; I was contacted by a guy called Alex Sutherland, he was due to film in Istanbul for AZ Celtic Films ...Once again, I did not get to go away on the film shoot. *Sigh*

Click to enlarge

The 'boards were to have a graphic novel look about them. It's always nice when someone asks for that; keeps me interested. The advert is a homage to sun-kissed western "road movies" kind of Thelma and Louise meets The Lost Highway (I did say kind of.) So I had a style to stick to. A clear list of shots was kindly provided by Alex. A widescreen ratio, another ludicrously tight deadline (though why it always has to be that way is beyond me) and I was ready to go; about two weeks work in total.

A task on the side was some concept art. Which looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. Pencil, pen and Photoshop. If nothing else this image has since provided some good filler material for my portfolio...

One bonus about the Colin's ad is that there was some behind the scenes footage taken in which you can actually see my storyboards in use...

Blink and you'll miss it.

Here's the final commercial:

More to come in Part 2: "Cakes and Beer." Actually not sure when exactly part 2 is going to be blogged. I think they are shooting the advert still. Need to check up on that. Watch this space!

Bursting onto the Web

2012-01-10T19:40:00.000Z

Manchester-based digital marketing super-team Web Vitality have been busy, destroying evil monsters, wicked robots, hoodlums AND "tirelessly making websites as profitable and effective as they can possibly be."

...All I had to do was observe them as they work, pencil and sketch pad in hand, scribbling extra fast to catch them in action.

But don't take my word for it. Need a website solution? Go there.

The Doomed Bird Of Providence

2012-01-10T17:10:00.003Z

Last Year I was given the task of illustrating the cover and poster insert for the album "Will Ever Pray," the debut of Australian folk group "The Doomed Bird of Providence".

Final Cover

This was carried out under the guidance of Justin Watson. the man behind the record label Front and Follow. As with most projects the work began with sketches, banding ideas around etc. Though the motive of a fly was pretty much there from the start. Designer Damian O'Hara kept the final album art much simple than I had planned, which was much needed as I often lack the capacity for minimalism of any sort. As you can see from this mock-up.

One of the initial mock-ups

Aside from the fly motive the general theme of the album artwork, as also suggested by Doomed Bird frontman Mark Kluzek was to appear like an etching from the 19th century during which era the album is set; depicting a dark menacing world of genuine, bloody Australian history and downright grim tales of woe. Read more about it on the Front and Follow site.

Poster insert

The images were drawn separately in pen using various references images. The actual cover and posters were ultimately screen printed. The poster also featured a banner designed by Damian which can be viewed on a T-shirt here. Unfortunately sold out!

Text (a)

I am particularly proud of the text. It was derived from various wild and wonderful typefaces on Victorian-era books which I found from online images. Not knowing quite how it would look scaled down; the text was first drawn hollow as above.

Text (b)

With the final black text being the way to go. All art including text was drawn by hand. The poster drawings were also used in a promotional video by Paul Dawson aka THINKYMAN.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!

Inks for Manchester Art Gallery's Interactive Machine!

2011-10-07T22:32:00.000+01:00

The title says it all really. For those that don't know, as well as working freelance I also have a job working at Manchester Art Gallery. Earlier this year I was asked if I'd like to have a crack at doing illustrated interpretations of some of the paintings for their then new Balcony Project. In which gallery decided to fill the balcony space full of paintings and statues; that particular area had been devoid of artworks since Manchester Art Gallery's huge makeover completed in 2002.

Manchester Art Gallery

My interpretations along with written interpretations from other people are availiable to view on a an interactive console in the gallery foyer, situated just below the balcony in question.

Here are my images compliled into one.

Click to enlarge!

The paintings I chose (in descending order) were:
Pymalion and Galatea (1797 Louis Gauffier), Essentially a painting about a sculpture being brought to life in front of it's adoring creator.
Battledore (1906 Leonard Campbell Taylor) In which two middle class women are playing badminton indoors
and The Victory of Appollo (1716 Sir James Thornhill) - image available!! The Greek God Apollo kicking some mythical butt.

I'll leave you to interpret as to just why I came up with those images but suffice to say, I like drawing robots, comics and I've seen Rocky IV more times than anyone has a right to. Though I will be honest about that last one, I knew what I was going to draw after seeing the title alone.

Interesting factoid: The images are actually my first attempt at inking with a brush and I've been doing it ever since.

The Right To Bear Arms

2011-09-13T11:24:00.000+01:00

I drew this about a year and a half ago...

It was an idea that popped into my head that I felt I just had to get down on paper. Unfortunately this was just prior to my current obsession with traditional inking, so it doesn't quite have that vintage comic look that I was after. Also unfortunately, I recently saw an episode of Family Guy in which a similar "Bear arms" gag reared it's ugly head. Arrrgh! So just for the record, I made this, before I saw that.

The vague statistic in my comic strip is based on something I read about actual gun ownership in a Bill Bryson book. (Most likely "Notes from a Big Country" ...though I read it about ten years ago, if I could have been bothered to look up the actual passage which mentions the statistic as a percentage; I may have used it.)

We're Gonna Need A Bigger Comedy Night!

2011-08-24T23:21:00.002+01:00

Materials used:
Indian Ink and Brush (Windsor and Newton University Series size 3)- (for Darth Vader waves and Jaws - I am aware that Jaws was not the shark's name! It was Bruce). Technical pen for the rest and Photoshop for colour. Texture was made by scanning in a blank sheet of paper and layering. All text drawn by hand.

Ever had one of those days where you just want to draw Darth Vader doing stuff?
Luckily for me this desire coincided with a friend of mine Robert Pipe requesting that I draw a poster/flyer for his London-based comedy night called "The Forgery." Movie themed of course. "Like" the Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheForgeryClub

Click to enlarge.

Ahh Star Wars and Jaws; don't quite know if there will be any sketches involving those two films. "We Brake for Nobody" is a reference from the spoof film Spaceballs (Mel Brooks), I thought I'd put that on there when I realised that my picture of Darth has a slightly oversized helmet, much like "Dark Helmet" (Rick Moranis) obviously.

Traditional Comic Book Inkage 1: Poster for Cinema in Fife, Scotland

2011-08-03T13:45:00.001+01:00

So, my first post.

Thought I'd cut right to it and post my newest drawing. The thing I am into at the moment is inking comic-book style with a brush; so it was with a degree of "geek-thusiasm" that I embarked on a commission from Stewart Sutherland of Podcast on Fire (go there if you like East-Asian cinema, do not delay).
He volunteers at a "community" cinema in Leven, Fife and they are having a "Superhero Weekend" 12th - 14th Aug ...do check the website if you are in the area.

I mention the whole inking thing because I think it's worth noting that you cannot achieve this kind of stuff with a technical pen. I have kind-of known this for a while but never had the balls or the inclination to give brushes a whirl until recently; when I started on my own comic book. More on that later.
So, I had a list of movies to include on the poster and therefore a wealth of characters to toy with; DC and Marvel. I also didn't want to draw Heath Ledger OR do a poster in which the muscle-bound are being "so serious" all flying towards the viewer, being holier than thou (like something by Alex Ross - whom I admire greatly all the same). Superhero films are fun right?

So I had the super's as if they are WATCHING the movies. Ha! It had to be; breaking the fourth wall like the Hulk smashes, erm walls. Initially I thought of having the characters as if they are shooting a movie in Fife, including some local landmarks. But the idea of committing to something so epic instantly made me want to give up, make another cup of tea and watch crap telly.

Coloured and composited in Photoshop. I would like to point out that the font I used is not comic sans but something called "Lito Lapad." Which is all nice on account of not being comic sans. All critiques welcome.