Specialism.

What illustration means to me..

            To me Illustration along with all forms of design is a way of expressing a message, a thought or a feeling. I have recently done a presentation on computer standardization, it showed how that designers fear that now everyone who owns an Apple Mac is a designer. I went to see a guest lecturer called Charles Hively; he even stated this throughout his talk.
            I feel this in a way is true, I see a lot work these days that have no real feel to it, no real meaning and parts you can tell that have just been set as a programmed background. I love design work with personality, flair and style, too many people rely on computers to become a good designer. I have always enjoyed art and design, when I was younger I used to really enjoy the fine art side of design such as life drawing and studying patterns in nature as well as cartoon and perspective drawing. Only at college I realised I can collaborate all of this into graphic design which was another passion of mine.
             I have many influences in my work, not only the artists and photographers themselves but music and film. Music is a big part of my work, i’m constantly listening to music while I work, it provokes thoughts and feelings, the outcome of my work often depends on the style of music.




The artists and illustrators that influence me are quite unusual, I quite like drawing to be vivid and strange to be honest, something out of the ordinary. One of my influences is a guy called Alex Pardee, I first noticed him back in school when he designed a music sleeve for a band I liked at the time and I’ve kept up with his work ever since then. My next influence is a young illustrator called Keaton Henson, he caught my attention after I looked at his website after buying one of his t-shirts, both these guys are pretty similar, I love there bold mark making and strong use of colour. I enjoy these two in particular because Pardee (on the right) is an Artist, where as Henson (on the left) is more of a designer.
(if i attempt to make the pictures work again i will end up smashing my laptop.)

        Therefore I am choosing illustration as my specialism as it has always been a passion of mine and now I have to chance to really go into depth in the subject and enhance my skills and opportunities.