Jackie Chan Punching Through Wood

Jackie Chan is great. So it was with no small pleasure that I created these for "Films and Swearing" - the movie podcast. Go there...


http://filmsandswearing.com/

These people are also great: Andy Lau, Jackie Cheung, Chow Yun-Fat, Sammo Hung, Nora Miao, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Khan, David Chiang, James Tien and Yuen Biao

Eat Drink, Man Woman

I created the above for "Heretic Xenobiotics" which I gather is a sports supplement for people who workout and want to reduce estrogen levels. I don't know much more about it, because I have no links. However, the brief was to create a witch character in the vein of a Hong Kong fantasy movie... something like A Chinese Ghost Story or Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain.

Fans will know what I'm talking about, and non-fans? Shame on you, now get on the internet and order yourself some HK cinema right now, you uncultured swines! 

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.

We Got Death Star!

I was commissioned by Scott Jensen of Texas to create this: his family portrait transformed into Star Wars characters. Here's what happened:

1) He emailed me a photo and told me which Star Wars character each family member will become.

2) I did the rest.

 Here's the original photo

Here's what I did

So, from right to left: Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper, Princess Leia, Wicket, C3P0, R2D2, Queen Amidala, Yoda and The Emperor.

Art For Starters ...or how I got started in freelance PART 1

Sick Animals:

I was for the last few years, somewhat half-embarrassed and half bemused whenever I thought about my final major graphic design project at university, recalling that it involved cartoon animals. Moreover that these animals are depicted killing each other and being generally vile in ways that only school children would find amusing. Now, on reflection and with the passage of time, I can just about comfort myself with the idea that it showed "some" initiative on my part. 

Back in 2004, I had decided to come up with a range of greetings cards that was both fun and something that I could make money out of when I was let loose into the big bad world post-uni (The University of Salford).
 

 They even had a logo, typeface and

vomit-inducing range of T-shirts that

no one in their right mind would wear.

I did manage to get the cards on sale in various Manchester shops including Thunder-Egg, Urbis (formerly the Museum Of the Modern City, which now houses The Football Museum), Magma Books (including it's London branch). Here, for your viewing pleasure are a few of the cards...

 Some of the cards are references to

various movies; including Indiana Jones, 

Star Wars, Kill Bill, The Omen, Reservoir

Dogs and The Wizard of Oz