INSTAGRAM

Follow me on Instagram, it's practically the law.

@loudonillustrator https://www.instagram.com/loudonillustrator

This image is from the "Mr. Alzheimer's" activity pack. It's a precursor to the children's school book created earlier this year: http://p-loudon.blogspot.com/2019/06/mr-alzheimers-goes-to-toyland.html 

Courtesy of creators Emma Smith (AgeUK Salford) and Joy Watson (campaigner).  

Thunder, Thunder, regular cats.

A couple of cats from my "Paul Draws Pets" facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pauldrawspets/ Go there, my rates are good.

I also made that of course ^

Mixing Children and Animals...

For those that don't know, I often create portraits based on photographs. The customer then gets an original piece of art posted to their door! (Framing optional).

 My own incredible kids!

A happy customer!

 ...can't tell if cats are happy. "Paul Draws Pets" 

is also my Facebook page, found here: 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/pauldrawspets

My own children again!!!

EastEnders: Update with Video... Cor Blimey!

Following the last post, several cast members appeared in a video to promote the EastEnders SoapFactory app. Some of them can be seen holding little cardboard cutouts; my drawings of their digital alter egos!

 Danny-Boy Hatchard (Lee) and miniature Lee.

Choose your sarcastic, gritty "oik". 

Pity this isn't StreetFighter. 

Paper view: Tameka Empson (Kim) 

and Natalie Cassidy (Sonia). Note: Kim was not

drawn by me, but the previous artist from whom

I took over.

The actual video...

The Apes of Wrath

 "Damn you all to hell!"

Followers of my Facebook page will know about this, however, there are extra bonuses in this blog, including a tutorial below - sort of.

I have just fulfilled an ambition: front cover of Starburst Magazine (out now!) It is the UK's longest running magazine of "cult" entertainment, beginning with a Star Wars cover back in the 70's. Speaking as someone who likes science fiction films, comics, horror (well, parts of) and several other things of that ilk then this is a big deal for me.

Little over half a year ago I did a Rocket Raccoon (Guardians of the Galaxy) poster for the very same mag, so I must have done well with my scribbling for them to call me back for something more prominent. The cover in question is the alternative Planet of the Apes cover. Which I like to think of as the retro apes cover; there is another cover which acknowledges the new movie Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (a title which sounds like it needs shortening.)

I'll go through the process for anyone interested.

1) Scamps (or sketches) I only made two...because I don't always (if ever) think a ton of sketches is a good idea, preferring one or two at a time. Anyway the one they went for was this:

2) I created the elements separately. This allowed me to move everything freely in Photoshop. So the apes and background elements such as the Statue of Liberty were drawn by hand and scanned in, looking like this:

3) Drag the elements together on screen and colour them. The rocky backdrop was done with a mouse. So I sent them this (minus signature):

4) Lastly they added their own magazine logo of an appropriate colour:

Ta-Daaaaaa!!!! - I have my copy.

How I got Started in Illustration - Part 3

I'm gonna make this post really short...because life is short; less talking, more doing I say! My first real commission was a children's book entitled Matthew and the Money tree. It can still be found on such websites as Amazon ---> right here.

The cover is still the most epic aspect about the book.

I got the job through a site called "Elance" ...it's one of those bid-for-projects sites in which talented people under-cut each other ensuring that few people get paid what they're worth and where non-discerning clients get said work very cheaply. Those were dark times and I usually begrudge such sites even though I am in the unfortunate position of crawling back to them once more despite bigger projects since my first commission. Odesk is another such site. You "could" say they are useful for those starting out, at a push. As an artist with moderate success, I find such sites a pain in the arse; whereas students from the Philippines probably have some financial success out of them. Suffice to say, my fee for Matthew and the Money Tree was small.

This is one of the better pages.

The work was fraught with other problems too, namely a lack of consistency in my drawings. I remember that after finishing the book, I had to go back and visit each page and create new heads for "Matthew" because he looked different from page to page. This was a lack of experience on my part in creating anything sequential. What I should have done was create "style sheets" from which to draw reference.

One such page I had to re-visit for head-swapping.

Despite my problems with inexperience and the sheer disheartening workload of the book, I am glad I did it. Better things were to come... by which I do not entirely mean nightclub flyers such as this one:

Apparently they all died of scurvy. 

I was also in a design "collective." ...I did that drawing of women in a boat whilst someone else did the design work. I will always be eternally grateful for such opportunities but boy does the drawing make me cringe. 

Long Division with Remainders Part 2

And the rest... Here's a link to part 1

From the official site:

"Collision/Detection is the second experimental audio project from Long Division with Remainders (LDWR) which sees invited artists submit audio clips into a central pot, which is then distributed around the group for them to do with as they see fit, resulting in a series of digital EPs released across 2012 and 2013.
These EPs are now collected together for this 2 CD box set, presented in a bespoke package, letter pressed by Red Plate Press (www.redplatepress.tumblr.com) with artwork from Paul Loudon (www.paulloudon.com).

The limited first edition also includes a bonus digital album containing new tracks by Collision/Detection contributors and the original sound clips which started the series (if you order from our shop, we will email a download code to you)."

 BLK TAG

 Kemper Norton

 The Doomed Bird of Providence

 Isnaj Dui

Sone Institute

The album is available on pre-order now. LINK

From the website: "We are delighted to announce the release of the Collision/Detection box set – collecting together 9 EPs from a whole host of incredible artists, creating exclusively for the Collision/Detection project. The box set will be in shops on Monday 10th June, but you can pre-order it below."

Long Division with Remainders Part 1

Back at the end of 2011, I started creating images for a unique husband and wife music experiment called Long Division With Remainders. More specifically I provided nine illustrations for their current production; Collision Detection.

In a nutshell, the project asks various musicians to make use of a limited "pot" of sound effects in their own respective and creative ways and to come up with a couple of tracks. These monthly downloadable releases are to cumulate in a final collaborative 2-disk album, due for release soon (link below).

Here for your viewing pleasure are the first four of those images and the artists whose tracks they represent.

Psychological Strategy Board

West Norwood Cassette Library

 The Lord

Hong Kong in the 60s

 

The project really allowed me to get my creative juices flowing during a time when other commissions seemed incredibly specific and creatively constricting - literally all ideas are mine this time. Despite an entirely surreal first image, a narrative seems to develop in which a small boy builds a robot. I won't say more than that, interpret it however you like... whilst of course ideally getting lost in this fine album. Big shout out to Justin Watson for getting me involved in this.


Order away you lucky people...

Long Division with Remainders: Collision/Detection Box Set - PRE-ORDER NOW: We are delighted to announce the release of the Collision/Detection box set – collecting together 9 EPs from a whole host of incred...

Fact or Fiction: The Paris and M6 Crashes

I'm published: fact. Not quite for the first time, but this time could be interesting. I was contacted some year-and-a-half ago by a man called Colin Hall. Colin claims to be a security consultant whose job has taken him literally around the world. A paranormal enthusiast, he has become meticulously embroiled in intently investigating some online rumours about mysterious crashes, disappearing bodies and some curiously related blog posts.

Cover of Colin Hall's book.

To cut a long story short. It was my job to illustrate, layout and compile the book; this was no mean feat. It was very much a grubby hands-on affair. I had access to hundreds of photos, hundreds of sketches (Colin Hall cannot draw too well, so I was in the position of re-drawing and making sense of his sketches), stills from a truly baffling youtube video and a ton of text to weave through it all. 

Sample page featuring sketches on lined paper

and stuck-on snippets of reports.

Colin's approach to investigative journalism is holistic; the book is chock full of references to a plethora of conspiracies and spooky mysteries worldwide as he wanted to put the whole thing in context (see the above sample page) as well as drawing possible connections between those more "established" mysteries and this relatively recent one. I use the word "established" tentatively; it's worth noting that a large chunk of the internet now seems transfixed on these happenings, as well as articles in such long-running conspiratorial magazines as The Fortean Times.

Close-up featuring Colin's trip to Paris and polaroids.

Colin Hall's book has certainly been a unique challenge for me and my burgeoning layout skills, I wish him well on his quest. It's a quest which does not end with the book; the reader is encouraged not only to get involved but to report his/her findings to Colin directly. So if the thought of helping unravel a unique and genuine real-time mystery appeals to you, then they may not come much better than this. Will there be a sequel and will you be part of it? Maybe the question ought to be, how many sketches and wine-stained Parisian place mats can I deal with in a lifetime?!

Buy or download the book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fact-Fiction-The-Paris-Crashes/dp/1905692986 

Inks for Manchester Art Gallery's Interactive Machine!

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.