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RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Creature’s Christmas Cards
From David Litchfield
Hello Creatures and a merry Christmas to you.
Here are some of the Christmas cards we received. Thank you to davidlitchfieldillustration.com | flamingomagazine.com | amyabbott.co.uk
There will be more merriment later this week.
From Siobhan and Craig at Flamingo Magazine
Ghosts of Gone Birds
Exhibition: Ghosts of Gone Birds – Last few days – Closes 23rd Nov. – Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, Shoreditch, London E2 7ES
Website: Ghostsofgonebirds.com
Creature finally made it down to the much praised Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition on Thursday. Here is some of our favourite bits including the King Island Emu by Harriet Mead (Above), a room full of extinct bird paintings by Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman (below) and a bird body outline filled with graphic images and shotgun cartridges, (bottom – sorry but we did not get the artists name).
We highly recommend checking this show out. It’s is now the last few days and closes on 23rd Nov so get your skates on.
Moustache Illustration Awards
Project: Moustache Illustration Awards – Open submissions
Deadline: 12.00 noon (GMT) – Monday 28th November 2011
In celebration of the wonderful moustaches we see fuzzing from peoples faces this month and to help raise awareness for the Movember cause, we are inviting you to get involved in the first Moustache Illustration Awards here on Creaturemag.
To make sure your moustaches get the recognition and exposure they deserve we have lined up some top illustration publishers, magazines, blogs and agencies to vote on the most interesting and well presented moustache themed illustrations.
Judging panel:
Matt Witt – Creaturemag
Lee Rubenstein – Eat Sleep Draw
Siobhan Leddy – Flamingo Magazine
Jon Cockley – Handsome Frank
Plus 1 more to be confirmed.
Get involved:
We invite you to submit your moustache character, click here for brief. Submissions will be automatically entered into the Moustache Illustration awards for judging by our expert panel at the end of November. We already have over lots of entries and are expecting the competition to be pretty hot!
The top three illustrations from each of these categories – Moustache character – Moustache wearer – Moustache themed, will be awarded, as well as one special drawer’s drawer award, voted by all participants.
There is only pride at stake here, no prizes. We will publish the winners along with comments from our judges in a special moustache awards e-book and they will of course be heaped with praise!
To find out more and to read the brief click here.
Creature in Digital artist magazine
Project: Endangered Creature Alphabet
Website: endangeredalphabet.com
Digital Artist Magazine this month features an interview with Matt Witt about the Endangered Creature Alphabet.Click the image above to have a read or go grab a copy from your newsagent!
Moustache Illustration Awards – Brief
Project: Moustache Illustration Awards – Open submissions
Deadline: 12.00 noon (GMT) – Monday 28th November 2011
Creature loves a good moustache, so full of character they can say a great deal about the face they are sat upon. So what would your moustache look like if it were to come alive and jump from your top lip? What stories would it tell and what kind of a personality would it have developed whilst growing on your face?
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
What to do?
Creature invites you to create your very own moustache character. Simply choose a classic moustache shape and develop it into a funny little Movember Moustache Character (just a guide, theme is open to interpretation). The moustache could stand completely on its own or be sat upon a face, it could be a quick doodle or a carefully developed personality complete with it’s very own family and history. It’s completely open to your interpretation and we can’t wait to see your moustaches come to life!
Deadline:
Send your submissions to Creature@creaturemag.com by 12.00 noon (GMT) – Monday November 28rd 2011. Throughout Movember we will collecting your Moustache creatures and publishing them all right here on Creaturemag.
Our famous panel of judges!
To make sure your moustaches get the recognition and exposure they deserve we have lined up some top illustration publishers, magazines, blogs and agencies to vote on the most interesting and well presented moustache themed illustrations.
Judges:
Matt Witt – Creaturemag
Lee Rubenstein – Eat Sleep Draw
Siobhan Leddy – Flamingo Magazine
Jon Cockley – Handsome Frank
Lisa Hassel – Inkygoodness
The top three illustrations from each of these categories – Moustache character – Moustache wearer – Moustache themed, will be awarded, as well as one special drawer’s drawer award, voted by all participants.
There is only pride at stake here, no prizes. We will publish the winners along with comments from our judges in a special moustache awards e-book and they will of course be heaped with praise!
Please send all submissions to creature@creaturemag.com with your name, website etc.
We look forward to seeing your entries.
Flamingo Arts Project Presents – Illustrators Insight
Project: Flamingo Arts Project Presents – Illustrators Insight
Website: flamingomagazine.com/illustrators-insight
Creaturemag’s Matt Witt will be talking at the next Flamingo Arts Project venture… “Illustrators Insight”. Touching on subjects ranging from the power of social media and collaborations, to the benefits of proactive involvement and interaction with peers and how these can be used to launch and sustain a career in illustration.
Flamingo says: If you’re seeking a career in illustration or graphic arts, or want to learn more about the industry, our experienced speakers will provide a unique insight into how it all works. We’ve brought together illustrators, agents, creative directors and publishers to talk about their work and offer advice to up-and-coming illustrators.
Speakers include:
Pat Savile (Print Club London and Frinton Press)
Rob Reed & Nick Marsh (Illustration agent & professional illustrator)
Maggie Li (Okido Magazine)
Jacob Denno (Popshot)
Matt Witt (CreatureMag)
Natsuki Otani (Illustration Rally)
Jesse Swash (Design by Structure)
Tickets are sold out but keep your eyes on www.flamingomagazine.com for more innovative events like this.
The Flamingo Arts Project
Project: The Flamingo Arts Project
Website: www.flamingomagazine.com/the-flamingo-arts-project
Flamingo, one of Creature’s absolute favourite magazines for illustration, arts and music, is launching it’s first group illustration show at Betty’s Coffee, Kingsland Road, on Friday 26th August. Nine super-talented illustrators, all past contributors to the magazine, have been chosen for their shamelessly bold, graphic style.
The Flamingo Arts Project is a brand new venture, aiming to showcase work by the best emerging artists, and to promote illustration within the wider arts community through an eclectic programme of workshops, exhibitions and discussions. Friday’s show is set to be the first of many, so watch this space!
With commissions from the likes of YCN, inkygoodness and House of Holland under their belts, this is the first time this dynamic group of illustrators will be exhibiting their own self-initiated work to the public. So who are they? Maggie Li, Hattie Stewart, Hayley Warnham, Joey Dean, Donya Todd, Jo Cheung, Jen Bailey, Shaun Lynch, and last but certainly not least, Emma Brown.
Everyone’s invited to the Private View on Thursday 25th August from 6pm for a beer, a chat with the artists, and of course a preview of the original artwork on show. Don’t be shy, apparently they’re all very nice! If you want to pop along, RSVP to rsvp@flamingomagazine.com.
You’ll find Betty’s Coffee, Dalston’s newest independent coffee house and gallery space, at 510b Kingsland Road, London. The exhibition runs from 26th August until 17th September 2011.
Find out more: www.flamingomagazine.com/the-flamingo-arts-project
David Litchfield Drawing a Day Exhibition
On 30th June 2011 David Litchfield’s epic drawing a day project came to a climactic end. His final image of a tattooed strongman included the names of all the fans that gave support via his facebook page throughout this year long project. On Friday 12th August and for the first time, the entire collection of 356 Illustrations was displayed in David’s home town of Bedford. This was not to be missed.
I arrived at the gallery in Castle Lane Bedford to be greeted by everyone’s new favourite artist. His face was beaming, the atmosphere was buzzing, jovial and warm and the walls were hung from top to toe in images, each individually framed and lovingly labelled with a title, number and date.
“It starts over there and continues over there.” Said David, pointing simultaneously at two corners of the room as he was pulled back into the heaps of praise.
There is a lot to take in here. On one hand you have the spectacle of the entire collection, 365 drawings by the pen of one man. On the other hand you have each individual piece to consider, taking into account the mood of the artist on a particular day, the medium, colour, detail, texture, right down to the piece of paper it was drawn on. Dotted among the sketchbook pieces were more opportunistic works scribbled on Guardian pages, writing paper and stickers.
It’s a universal show, appealing, endearing, friendly, a little bit dark, there is something for everyone and this will no doubt propel the project beyond the borders of Bedford. It is a clear success and David is admired.
How does David feel to be stood in a room full of people stood in a room full of his drawings?
“It was great. I was a bit shocked that there are so many people here. They all had so many questions and everyone was really interested in the project and why I started it… I think- apart from my wedding- it was the best night of my life. Even tho I was left a bit overwhelmed by it all.”
If we take a minute to consider this… Let’s say that on average David spent 1 hour a day on this project, that’s 365 hours, approximately 15 days and nights, solid drawing. It really puts into perspective the dedication and passion that is required to complete a consistently impressive drawing a day for an entire year.
David may be the first person to embark on and complete a drawing project on this scale , he is definitely the first person to do it in such style, attracting such interest and developing such an involved audience. This is not just an artistic triumph it’s also a fine example of innovative artistic practice, the power of self publishing and the use of social media to connect with an audience and effectively launch a career in illustration.
So what’s next for David Litchfield and his 365 drawings?
“This was never meant to happen, it was only ever meant to be a sketchbook project… there are people here tonight that want to turn this into a daily calendar… The show is to be taken to Sheffield and there is interest from a gallery in London….”
Just goes to show that if you have got something good it will grow on its own. David’s got talent and he has created a monster here, it’s a project with legs and life, a fine example of one mans dedication to his artistic and self development.
Find David here:
tinkerd.tumblr.com
@le_david_tinker
You can be a featured artist too, click here to find out more.
Endangered Creature Alphabet
The endangered Creature Alphabet now has it’s own home over at: www.endangeredalphabet.com
It makes us very happy to announce the release of our latest collaborative project – the Endangered Creature Alphabet – An illustrated collection of 26 threatened species, drawn by 26 talented artists.
You can view our new e-book here by clicking the full screen option in the window below. Thanks to everyone involved, your work is amazing. Look inside to check it out!
Help us spread the word. If you are an artist or publication and would like to run a feature on this book then we have put together this handy press information pack - click here to visit the press pack page. For further info please send an email to creature@creaturemag.com and we will be in touch right away.
Opportunities…
Creature is looking for illustrators to create pictures to accompany our June Mixtape. This is a voluntary project, all images will be published on the Creature blog along with a link to your website. Follow this link for more info… (more…)
