The Olympic pitch - all of it.

I've just moved flat and while I was going through all my stuff I came across the work I did for my Olympic pitch for the London 2012 Games. I've posted most of this up here all before but now I've collated it in one big post - just for my own reference as much as anything.

When I went in to give my presentation the committee was amazed by the amount of work I did for it. I was really proud as I had got the gig on my own and I was the only person there who wasn't a massive agency. I was just there with my love of character design and excited by the potential this mascot could have. The mascots from the past Olympics have been fantastic and to join those would have been a dream come true.

Well, when I say it was just me I am lying a bit. I asked some creative friends to help my cause. Look at these amazing toy prototypes my amazing friends organised. Caitlin Ashford made the model on the left and Holly AKA A Little Stranger made the fantastic plush on the right. I really know the most talented and lovely people ever.

I also called in favours from the talented animators I know. Here's a 2D effect from Kev at Big Man Designs.

And one from Seed Animation:

I market researched the characters with kids in local schools which went down really well. I think this was the most satisfying part of this project. Seeing as these characters were for children they had to appeal to them and they certainly caught their imagination. I loved how into it they all were.

Here I am about to wax lyrical about my ideas....

Sadly they didn't go for my design. I'm glad that the mascots they picked were universally disliked. I have my feelings on the whole process but I think to air them on here would just look like sour grapes. Who am I to upset the wheels of multi million business deals and the corporate world.... but one day I'd like to try!

Saint George's Day

St George'sDay again, already?! Where does the time go?
As tradition dictates I have to draw a dragon.

Here we go.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! I couldn't find a picture of an Easter chicken but I do have plenty of pictures of cockatrices. Which reminds me. A perfect read for long weekend would be my Squire McIntyre book - it's got a cockatrice in it. Nip over to Amazon now and download yourself a copy.

Mag-Nets at the Gadget Show

I was up at the NEC in the second city of Birmingham last week (very vaguely) assisting the Total Monkery gang showcase Mag-Nets at the Gadget Show Live. The game went down amazingly and it was great to see people playing it and really loving it. That's always a treat as normally I never see how my work is received - I just assume it's universally loved by everyone!

Here are some designs for the robot character you control. It's getting there. It's a fine balance getting it cartoony but appealing to the game playing demographic who shy away from too much cuteness - I think we're nailing it though.

We're wanting to make the character as customisable as possible - this is especially important for multi-player game play so you can keep track on your self when the game play gets too frantic.

These two hologram headed robot were an early idea but unfortunately the semi-transparencies and flickering holo-effects I wanted would slow everything down... or some such computery excuse.

You can follow the progress of the game on the Total Monkery blog. It's an amazing venture and you need to support your British indie developers.

Thing of beauty

I found this beautiful thing at a car boot sale (I think it was made for a grave) and sprayed it up to make it even more fabulous!

Tricloptic pug angels

Here's the wrapping paper you've been craving. A swarm of Tricloptic pug angels.

Humpty Dumpty

Here's another nursery rhyme for SBL. Did you know that Lewis Carroll made Humpty an egg. It was originally an old cannon in Chelmsford.

 Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the King's horses....

And all the King's men. Couldn't put Humpty together again.