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RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Emoting Mute
Artist: Chris Getliffe
Project: Emoting Mute
Website: www.getliffe.com
Some of you may recall Chris Getliffe, he is a long time creature contributor famous for his twisted Mean Bunny Strips. This week we welcome his return with the publication of this special edition strip. For Bunny fans this brilliant, innovative comic strip is just a taster of what’s to come, we’ve heard rumours that a new batch of Mean Bunny Strips are on the way. Watch this space and in the mean time digest this little gem of a story.
Artist Spotlight – #78 Daniel Mackie
Artist: Daniel Mackie
Location: London UK
Website: www.danielmackie.com
Who are you?
Daniel Mackie, an award-winning illustrator and a respected member of the industry. Starting out in 1995, I have worked globally across all segments of the industry and recently won “Best in Book” in the Creative Review illustration Annual 2011.
What do you do?
I paint illustrations with watercolour, although this is a relatively new thing for me. I used to use Photoshop as one of my main tools but it was driving me crazy!
I do consider Photoshop and other image making software an enormous benefit for illustrators and image makers and when i first stared using it back in 1995, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. But I felt I had to go back to the shop floor so to speak, because I had developed a method of using Photoshop that, without realising it, was affecting my decision making and style, predominately because of the multiple undo feature. It is one of the great strengths of the software but because you can always undo what you have just done you never have to make a solid decision. Using watercolour you have to be sure what you are doing before the paint touches the paper.
Why do you do it?
Because I love it!
How do you create these images?
With pencil and watercolour.
Who are your influences?
At the moment I am very much influenced by Japanese prints; artists like Hiroshige, Hokusai and Yoshitoshi. I also love work by Henri Matisse.
What inspires your work?
Everything from other peoples’ work to observing nature. I love the magic moment when you realise that a concept or idea is working. Like I mentioned earlier about how I abandoned Photoshop in favor of watercolour paint, I have found putting myself out of my comfort zone very inspirational and it has taken my work in unexpected directions!
What do you like?
Everything from chicken and leek pie to playing the guitar, to walking in the Alps to the colour Cadmium Red….
What don’t you like?
Liver.
Find Daniel Mackie here:
www.danielmackie.com
Twitter: @danielmackie
Freak Of The Week with Steven Kraan
Artist: Steven Kraan
Project: Freak of the week
Website: facebook.com/drawingdaily
That unique brand of Steven Kraan wit greets us again this mundane Monday. How he does it day in day out is beyond me.
To keep an eye on Stevens daily doings and for info on how to get your hands on his goods check his Facebook page. facebook.com/drawingdaily
Phantasmagoria – Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm
Exhibition: Phantasmagoria – PV Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm Runs from 9th -26th Feb.
Where: Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery, Stour Rd, Fish Island, Hackney Wick, E3 2NT
Contact: david@daggersmiles.co.uk
We would like to make you aware of this exiting exhibition soon to be reveled in East London. Phantasmagoria is a group exhibition featuring the work of some prominent artists and illustrators. PV Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm. Runs from 9th -26th Feb.
Who is involved?
Andrew James, James Unsworth, Anwot, Isaac Cordal, Martin Wollerstam, Jon Burgerman, Shin Tanaka, Rebecca Strickson, David Shillinglaw, Agent Provocateur, Todd Ryan White, Roman Klonek, Otto Schade, Dave Anderson and Boicut.
What’s it about?
Phantasmagoria will be themed around the ongoing cycles of sub-cultures and counter cultures, their art, and it’s eventual fuelling of canons of mass assimilation by fashion and media to the point of vulgarity and its serendipitous decaying of objective and social meaning in tribal and underground arts.
In 1990 a relatively unknown Canadian essayist Gail Faurschou wrote about fashion’s “ingenious strategy of expansion.” As more artistic raw material that challenges corporate consumerism is made, the more marketable material corporations have to advertise its products. This systematic diffusion of any opposition continues to effectively dissolve and quash any of its subject’s capacity for growth and maturity.
More info?
Please contact david@daggersmiles.co.uk for more info about Phantasmagoria.
We look forward to seeing you there.
1 Minute Creatures
Above: Chris Sav
Welcome to the weekend ladies and gentlemen. We hope you are enjoying your Saturday, it is the best day of the week after all.
Here is the first batch of 1 minute creatures for 2012. Thanks to all who got involved, some intriguing little characters here. We have currently collected 82 little creatures. We will stop when we reach 100, so if you have not got yours in then you’d best hurry.
Above: Sophie Crichton
Above: Katie Chappell
Above: Helen Arthurs
Above: Duncan Beedie
Above: Jacky Adelstein
Above: Deirdre
Above: Laura Kay
Above: Morgan Gleave
Above: Mister Nic Nac
Above: Axel Zapata
Happy Friday with Justyna Sowa
Artists: Justyna Sowa
Project: Happy Friday – New illustrations every Friday.
Website: justynasowa.com
Thankfully it is that time again. Wishing you all a Happy Friday, keep buzzing, you’re nearly there!
And don’t forget that anyone can get involved in our celebrations, why not contribute your own piece of Happy Friday artwork. Just contact Creature@creaturemag.com
Around the world – #2 Miss Vitriol – Lille, France
Artist: Miss Vitriol
From: Lille, France
Website: missvitriol.com
Who are you?
I’m Miss Vitriol, 31 years old, french lowbrow artist. I’m a graphic and web designer too.
What do you do?
I paint colorful creatures or shapes on canvas or wood panels. Sometimes I do it on vinyl toys or paper. I love them, they are my friends, they live in my world and I’m the queen !
Why do you do it?
At first it was a kind of curative expression, it helped me to express some of feelings that I wasn’t able to express in other ways. I like to match dark backgrounds with bright colors in the foreground, as paradoxes and ambivalence within each thing. I like to illustrate emotions, I can’t imagine my life without my tubes of paint.
How do you create these images?
Sometimes with oil but mostly with acrylic, Posca, wood paint, spray, pens, papers with shapes on it for some textures. I use all the things around me that are able to draw, paint or colour and most of the time I mix them. When I decide to paint I have to be quick I make an artwork in one shot, most of the time in only one night.
Who are your influences?
I love Jeff Soto’s artwork, I love the mix of dark and bright colors in his work. Mark Ryden for the symbolism he puts on his work. I like to see works of Brandi Milne, Gary Baseman, Camille Rose Garcia. And the french artist Niark, or german Low Bros inspires me, a lot of shapes. Mostly Lowbrow influences.
What inspires your work?
In fact I have a lot of inspirations ! The movies of David Lynch is one example, the music of trip-hop or electronic artists I listen to while I paint, the feelings and emotions I have, my friends, travels, dreams and nightmares. In fact everything I see or listen to, everyone I meet and every places I go could be potentially an influence. I just let the emotions live within me and translate them in colors.
What do you like?
So many things… Dreaming, awake or not, is one of the main things I like.
What don’t you like?
I’m so neurotic, I don’t want to list them, you are not my shrink ! (lol)
Find Miss Vitriol here:
missvitriol.com
missvitriol.tumblr.com
The Inside Thoughts of Now – Nothing but your name
Artist: Thom Kofoed
Project: The Inside Thoughts of Now
Title: Nothing but your name
Website: thomatronics.com
Thom says: It’s about being so consumed by a person that you can’t focus on anything else. You don’t really mind though because thinking about them is better than anything else. It’s how I felt when I wrote it. It’s how I feel as I write this.
Artist Spotlight – #77 Cat Neligan
Artist: Cat Neligan
Location: London UK
Website: catillest.com
Who are you?
Cat Neligan, 23 years old and working a web design day job in central London. Catillest is my illustrating alias, operating after dark and whenever/wherever else allows for a quick doodle.
What do you do?
When I’m not working on making the internet a prettier place, I draw fantasy worlds and creatures. I also love dabbling in creative typography, pattern making and plastering my designs on shoes and t-shirts.
Why do you do it?
It makes me happy! I like the idea of sharing the images I have in my head and hopefully making others happy when they see them.
How do you create these images?
It can start with something I’ve seen or read, other times an image will pop into my head from seemingly nowhere, and sometimes I just let the pencil hit paper and see what happens. Most images end up in digital form, but I love getting grubby with charcoal and inks when I’m feeling Amish.
Who are your influences?
Sir John Tenniel, Arlene Klasky and Gabor Gsupo, John Kricfalusi, MC Escher, Godmachine, Tim Burton, Arthur Rackham… I’ll stop.
What inspires your work?
Nature, animals, films, books, music, food… Everything!
What do you like?
Things that provoke an emotional reaction. Positive or negative, if it makes me feel I appreciate it. Today, I’m feeling peanut butter, mythical creatures, beer bottles, clouds and the smell of turf burning.
What don’t you like?
Hypocrisy, judgment and injustice. And scotch eggs.
Find Cat Neligan here:
www.catillest.com
Twitter: @catillest
Freak Of The Week with Steven Kraan
Artist: Steven Kraan
Project: Freak of the week
Website: facebook.com/drawingdaily
The myth, the legend that is Mr Steven Kraan returns today with another great Freak of The Week story: ‘Freak Fight’
Steven’s self-published books (featuring similarly weird freaks and stories) can now be found in a number of comic book outlets in Europe and the U.S.A.
For info on how to get a copy please visit the Drawing Daily Facebook page here
