Events listing cover for Bungalows & Bears in Sheffield.
I've really enjoyed creating these. It's been a nice chance to experiment with style and process and know that they're going towards something more than just my portfolio.
Pieces from a zine made shortly after Download Festival 2015 to document my time working backstage. It was a fantastic and perfect week.
Highlights included the pre-parties in the festival village, finally seeing slipknot for the first time ever (they cancelled their gig when I was 15), remembering that I absolutely love Muse to death and meeting Every Time I Die on my bar.
I also learnt some nifty rock n' roll hand shakes from the guests.
Visually the gig was stunning. I've never seen lighting and props like it. (srlsy watch the video!) I hope all of the ticket sales go to the lighting technician cos they crushed it. And by no means did the visuals detract from the performance. The vocals were spot on and the bass! Theres something about bass so low it buzzes in your back teeth while your stood in a theatre hall thats over a hundred years old thats just really lovely. Cosy. It was just all so slick and confident. And cool. Megan James is totally my new style icon. SHE HAD MIRRORS ON HER HANDS. And a fringe cut the whole way round her head. And sexy robot shoulders! *sigh*
The support Born Gold seemed to go down well too. Not entirely my cup of tea, but I don't think the type of venue was perfectly suited to their energetic performance. I'd like to meet them in a super secret basement party with glo sticks and lazers. I was mostly enjoying the voguing attempts and metallic leggings tbh.
Still well worth checking out.
Here is a very poor video to try explain just how rad the lights were. (Its LOUD so turn it down to save ears)
Next up: Eating an apple during a Prodigy sound check in an empty 10,500 capacity hall.
So I keep going to gigs and concerts on my own because fuck not seeing a band I want just because no one can go with me. I am independent woman and it is great.
That being said I am an often socially awkward introverted woman and not always, but often, waiting in between acts with a bunch of hipsters that you accidentally spilt half your pint over trying find a good view is just painful. I know, I know, I need to be more social and meet new people but somedays its just UGH. And its harrrd. And sometimes you just don't want to.
A friend who I was talking to at a recent gig (over facebook) joked that I could pretend to be a music journalist to stop looking like such a lemon as I stood waiting for the band. I felt so much more confident as soon as I put the 'Haha! Yes I do have a interesting and legitimate reason for being here so fuck off' hat on. I gave less of a damn what I looked like (awkward at the back) and started being more observant of the people and stuff around me and enjoying the gig.
And then I though maybe I could be a music journalist... (que midsummer murders theme tune*)
I must admit I'd had a few pints so the content isn't fantastic but still a solid concept that I'm going to more of!
I never take pictures at gigs. I have a weird aversion/hate of it. Here I have a personal record of the gig without having to distract everyone behind with my blurry instagram photo attempt.
I've been through a bit of a love/hate period with this section of my Cornish guide project. I love the colours but they were a terror towards the end. Maybe too contrasting? The typography thew a tantrum too and has been through about eight incarnations. I'm super happy with here it's at now. Although the illustrations make up the whole I like the map part being so typographically different.
Surf instructions coming soon. (or as soon as I remember how...)
The myths and legends in cornwall really are brilliant. There's claims for not only the site of Camelot and the resting place of Excalibur but Atlantis too. Also lots of sea monsters, giants and mermaids. Well worth a visit!
I tend to forget what the reality of living in cornwall was like for me (isolated, uncreative, and socially boring as hell) and so I focus on all the wonderful things I get to do with my family when I'm home to visit. We're constantly out at gardens and on walks and long drives. (All of the drives are long. Everywhere is the middle of nowhere...)
These illustrations form part of a series of guidebook/leaflets documenting some of the amazing things to do, places to visit and the rich history of cornwall. Illustrate what you know and love right?!
I'm so excited to get them printed as actual books and maps. I'd love to be able to sell them as guides once the extra text is in place.
SO, These illustrations are from a little zine I made in about 4 days. (I was going for 3 but my housemates had a buffy marathon) I need to test myself, train myself back up and mostly regain some of the fun that stress has been stealing.
I've combined inks and pencil here for my lines but I still need to find a process to show their personalities better in their digital state. I'm thinking layers and multiply. I haven't had a night out with them in a long while.
The b&w element just allowed me to focus on the lines and process more as well as getting closer to the ink feel. I am a big fan of crazy contrast b&w fun.
I had a bit of a 'face ban' in my illustrations for a while as my face styles are influenced by anything and everything and differed drastically but I feel like the mask kind of bypasses it by not letting you see the eyes.
Below are a bunch of initial sketches and the inspirations involved.