'I say, anyone for a Gasper?'

German Glass producers Ritzenhoff have selected another of Nick Diggory’s designs to go into production. Nick has been designing glassware for Ritzenhoff for several years now and his illustrations adorn Beer glasses, Milk glasses, Coffee cups and even Piggy Banks, all over the world. The above design is for an Ashtray.

‘I realise smoking is a contentious issue, but my own view is very much ‘each to his own’. I wanted to get away from stereotypes and concentrate on the so called ‘golden’ days of smoking where gentlemen retired to the snug for a relaxing ‘Gasper’ and a cocktail. Very ‘Bertie Wooster’ don’t you think? ‘

The selection process for designs is very strict. A limited number of Illustrators and designers are ‘invited’ to submit just 3 designs. These then go before a selection committee who immediately disregard any that don’t meet the guidelines. The two illustrations above met all the criteria, but didn’t make the grade. A maximum of 6 colours is allowed including black and white. Just a handful of all those submissions actually see their way into production, which makes the fact that Nick has so many of his designs in production all the more remarkable.

Chin, chin old chap!

Heather Allen began her career as an illustrator in 2003, working mainly in watercolour and getting her first break with Meadowside Children’s Books. She also trained as a book designer, working for Harper Collins and a smaller design company dealing directly with Macmillan Education and Oxford University Press.

Working as a designer made her far more computer literate, and she soon started to use Adobe Photoshop to create ‘collage’ type artworks. Recently she designed and illustrated her third cover for Sarah May, ‘The Rise and Fall of the Wondergirls’ (HarperCollins Publishers).

“I like to scan in textures and manipulate them in Photoshop to create a handcrafted feel, so they don’t look ‘too perfect’.”

Continuing in the ‘collage’ theme, Heather has recently created some new children’s picture book artworks to add to her portfolio.

“I scan in my pen drawings and watercolour washes, building up the textures in Photoshop until I achieve the desired effect.”

The new artworks are already generating quite a bit of interest in the publishing world!

For some of us that have been around the clock a couple of times, it’s a familiar story. Recession means cutbacks, cutbacks mean less work, less work means less money. But it also means plenty of time on your hands to do all those things you’ve been meaning to do for ages, but were far too busy trying to earn a living to get them done.

So what does UK illustrator Steve Linnell do when he has some time on his hands? Learn a new 3D software package of course! For those of you contemplating reaching for the ‘Off’ button at this point (myself included) Steve’s sanity has never been in question and this is not your typical mind-numbingly dull 3D program. Called Z-Brush, it’s actually pretty easy to pick up the basics and quite good fun, especially if you like playing with clay but not getting your hands dirty.

Here are a few of Steve’s first models.

The ‘Smoking Alien’ and ‘Monkey’ have both been worked up in Photoshop afterwards. The rest are just the raw models. The good thing about this program is that there’s plenty of help out there, especially on the Pixologic website, so you can share any problems you might encounter with other like minded individuals. Unfortunately, I’m unable to vouch for their sanity but Steve has obviously got a grip on things.

Marc Lynch has just exhibited some new works in a group exhibition of illustrators at the Fraser Studios in Sydney.
The inaugural ‘IA A3 Show’ featured wonderful A3 sized giclee prints on water colour paper, presented by Illustrators Australia.

Marc took the opportunity to showcase some of his new contemporary character designs which have been created in a colourful, stylised 3-d realm.
His pieces included ‘Pet Cemetery’ & ‘The Uninvited’. Not surprisingly, the exhibition has been a great success.

1. The Secret Postcard project is modelled after the well-known Royal College of Art’s successful RCA Secret Postcard sale in London.
Postcard sized original artworks created by art students and young artists, as well as well-known artists, are displayed, anonymously,
and offered for sale at the fair. The artworks are sold on a first-come-first-served basis for 180 NIS (about $50) each. Only after the
artworks are paid for, can the buyers flip them over to discover whether they have purchased a work of art by a well-known artist or
the work of a potential future star.

http://www.freshpaint.co.il/EN/content_page_13.html

3. Corporate identity (logo, business card, stationary, signage, etc.)

for The London Art Therapy Centre.

The London Art Therapy Centre provides art therapy services to the

public and private sectors in a bespoke art therapy studio environment.

Gilad Soffer has been working his magic again and recently illustrated ‘Racheli’s Secret Friend’, a new picture book by David Grossman. Grossman is one of Israel’s most prominent writers and the book has already become a best-seller in that country.

The story follows a little girl, Racheli, and her imaginary friend that nobody else can see.

Gilad is widely recognised as one of Israel’s best childrens illustrators.

It’s not difficult to see why and his popularity is spreading fast.