Illustration collection 1

I'm putting together a selection of images for a catalogue to show off my illustration oeuvre. Here's the first page. I'm hoping it shows me as the adaptable pen for hire that I am.

This really is the last of it

I know a couple of posts back I said I wouldn't mention that pitch again.

Well, I lied.

But only because I found these amazing stills of the charater.

 Expertly crafted by Seed Animation.

And it seemed a shame not to share.

So there you go.

And here it is in motion:

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!

Lion line up

What an exciting week..! Well back to business: I found this image as I desperately archive stuff off my computer to conserve space and keep it working a few months longer. Don't worry I'm not going to start ranting again so please just enjoy the colours and relax....

Pitch presentation

I think it's OK for me to post about this now. As long as I don't say specifically what it was for I'm not breaching my contract so I think I'll be alright.

Well here is a load of work I did for a pitch over a year ago. When I went in to give my presentation they were amazed by the amount of work I did for it. It was just me and not an agency by the way.

Well I say just me... I got some brilliant friends to help out. Have a close up look at the plush and the sculpt. They were made by Caitlin & Holly and they were ace. There was also some ace animations in both the third dimension by Seed Animation and the second by Big Man Designs. Lucky I know such ace people. And look: Here I am about to wax lyrical about my ideas....

What a professional! But I didn't get it. I made it through to the final selection but in the end the tender was given to an agency which created two committee designed horrors. I was thinking about this earlier as I saw the hideous plushes in the shops and had a pang of bitterness and disbelief at the state of them. How was that ever allowed? Oh well, onwards & upwards. One day I'll be a mover & a shaker.

More Lions

Here's a few more images of the Lion and chums. This selection features his lioness counterpart who is also pretty good at sport. The blue fellow is Father Thames while the tree is an ancient English oak.

The Soft & The Hard

Ah the hard and the soft. More versions of this lovable yellow lion. On the left is a fantastic sculpt by the amazing sculptress Caitlin and on the right is a superb stitch-job by plush princess Holly. I'm working on more schemes with both these two so watch this space.

London Lions

Here's some images of the character again. I'm really pleased with how he and his chums turned out. His pals are an ancient English oak and Old Father Thames. Rule Britannia da da da da da da..!