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Monday 26 January 2015

Today's Inspiration
A Blog about a Blog

Today's Inspiration is a blog about illustration and design of the mid (20th) century. The mid (20th) Century is very 'in' here in the 21st century. 'Today's Inspiration' is a very useful resource for technical information, discovering new (old) names and enjoying some of the best composition, mark making and colour use to be committed to page.

Here's a couple of images from the first few pages but with fantastic writing and well over 500 pages of posts, it's impossible to do the blog any justice without you simply paying it a visit.

Robert Heindel

Harvey Schmidt


Lou Glanzman




Monday 19 January 2015

First Years Sixth Project

For this brief we asked the students to research basic film making techniques, then study a specific movie genre (pulled at random from a hat) and then finally create a 30 second visual 'distillation' in film of said genre. Oh; they also had to produce a detailed storyboard before they started shooting any live footage. We generously allowed them two whole weeks in which to complete this massive challenge.

But hold on a minute we hear you shout (N.B. we don't really)... Graphic Designers and Illustrators making films? Are we mad?


No, quite the opposite. As technologies merge (these films were all made in Photoshop by the way!?) and, as TV and streaming media expand exponentially, who will be there at the cutting edge, producing well designed, intelligent content? Designers and Illustrators, of course


This project marks the second stage (we explored animation earlier this term) of a journey for those students who have a strong interest in exploiting video, film and animation as their chosen media. We'll be exploring title sequence design after Christmas so stay tuned.


In the meantime; put you feet up, turn down the house lights, open a carton of Kia-Ora and smear Nachos down your front as you enjoy the fruits of their labour...


Here's David and Danielle (21) with a remarkably scary 'Japanese Horror' tribute:


Lena and Sebrena (21) explore 'Comedy' and an unrequited love story...


Les Français ont un nom pour lui: 'New Wave'. Courtesy Harry and Emily (21)


Xin and Sun (21) present a 'Road Movie'.


Caitlin and Aaron (21) explore the dark side of 'German Expressionism'.


'Shiver me timbers'.... Josh and Bronte (21) have made a 'Swashbuckler'.


The world of 'Sci-Fi' from Leanne and James (21).


Hey you! Yes You! 
Here's a 'Public Information Film' you should watch (courtesy Alex and Hala (21)


A psychological 'War Film' from Kieran, Sarah and Tash (21)


Finally, Janath and Emma (21) bring you the big show down from a 'Spaghetti Western'.

Thunderbirds are Gone!

Imagine our surprise on returning to the studio after the festive break and being confronted by this scene...

...as you can imagine we were a little taken aback.

Our immediate response was very positive, best exemplified by Jim Millington's (33) exclamation: "Swipe Me! That'll make a chuffing cool studio feature!"

Sadly, on closer inspection, the everyday practicalities of the situation began to assert themselves.

Admittedly, from a distance, our new arrival did look like a rather spiffing 1:1 scale model of Scott Tracy's Thunderbird 1. However, on closer inspection we found that our 'new arrival' was made from a combination of chicken wire, papier-mâché and icing sugar coated cake – not the best materials to ensure longevity (or sanitary conditions for that matter). 

As a double whammy, the vertically thrusting fantasy rocket was also casting a long shadow over the area of our studio that we call 'illustration corner'. 

Year 2 Illustration spokesperson, Katie Lock (21) was the first of many to complain: 
"It's ****** ridiculous, what **** put that *** ******** ** ***************** *** there? It's ****** darker than ******** on ********a ******* with ******  a blindfold. ****! I can't ********* ****** ** *******even see my ***** drawing ***** **** board. I'm ******* apo********plectic! *****? ****! ****! *****! " (NB. Katie's Swiss Finishing School education has equipped her with a rich and colourful vocabulary).

We had to agree, Thunderbird 1 had to go. 

As I type this the rocket is being dismantled and removed from the studio. Soon nothing will remain but a sticky circular stain on the carpet 2.5m in diameter...

Now our thoughts now turn to the culprits. Who would be thoughtless enough to create this vertical inconvenience and then not tidy up after themselves?

Rumour has it that the photography staff were working on a TV21 themed photo shoot over the holiday...

Eye witness reports from Security Staff allegedly describe three characters emerging from our studio who sound remarkably like Photography course leader Mike 'Brains' England, his evil henchman Dr John 'The Hood' Darwell together with John's arch-nemesis, the glamorous Dr Sarah Bonner (see photos below).


Do they look guilty? Photography staff (from left to right) Mr Mike England, Dr Sarah Bonner and Dr John Darwell.


Friday 16 January 2015

The pen(cil) is mightier than the Kalashnikov


Spanish illustrator Ana Juan created this poignant cover image for New Yorker magazine - the Eiffel Tower rising from a sea of blood with a red-leaded pencil at its apex. Captures the emotion and worldwide reaction to the terrorist attacks in Paris last week. A whole set of stories in one image...