Midsumma Festival Event

Here is the link to the Hello Sunshine event, From the Ilk exhibition.



 http://www.midsumma.org.au/program/visual-arts/from-the-ilk   

Science fiction genitals

For my newest body of work for the exhibition which is coming up in January, I have decided to reflect on evolution and the possible future of man kind. I have started to produce a fictional example of what humans may look like in the future. I have done this by producing a floating cluster of colourful orbs which represent non gender specific genitals.

So far, it has been a really enjoyable project to work on and it has helped me understand my stance on the unnecessary and sometimes destructive nature of gender.

For my inspiration, I have looked upon a collection of different psychedelic mediums which has in some way or another had an impact on me through my life.

Illustration Page

Hey there, I finally got around to becoming apart of the FB world by creating a promotional Illustration page.

Here is the Link:

https://www.facebook.com/erikadevosillustrations#!/erikadevosillustrations

Hope you enjoy.xxx

Kaleidoscope projection concept:

This work explores the relationship between chance and evolutionary advancement. It is a kaleidoscope which is attached to a light and simple motor mechanism that can be projected onto a wall. Inside the kaleidoscope, the small shapes which are projected onto the wall form an abstract, beautiful pattern which resembles genetic codes and atom clusters.  

The projection is a visual representation of the evolution of living creatures and the vast possibilities that could await mankind in the future. It also explores the idea of human genetics, the beauty of the individual and the potential for evolution. No genetic makeup is ever the same as we are constantly evolving and it is impossible to predict the exact course of this development.

Though we as humans constantly try to predict what may be waiting for us in the future, we can never be certain. Take, for example, the kitsch illustrations of the future which were so prevalent during the 1950s. They predicted a world of metallic, hovering manmade contraptions and scenes with hardly an organic element in sight. Although some present day architects and designers reference these images in modern structures, it is evident that their vision of the future was somewhat overzealous in comparison to the reality of today.  

The kaleidoscope explores this idea by presenting us with ever changing designs which can never be repeated and are always unique patterns. As the viewer, we cannot predict the way the shapes will fall. Will the atom clusters fall in such a way that the very genetic structure of mankind is altered? Is it possible to imagine a world where humans have evolved past such concepts as gender and race?

The project represents the amalgamation of genes and atoms to produce a stronger, more capable creature which will, in turn, be a more equipped survivor.

 

 

Science Fiction Mania!

i have watched quite a few science fiction films as of late. they have really inspired my work and i have been freaking myself out with them just for kicks.

new studio space.

recently my two illustrator buddies Jessie and Stacey have moved in with me to a studio space in Brunswick. The space in called Norm and it is really wonderful. it has a fully stocked power tool workshop for us to use for our 3d works and wood works. it has a huge space upstairs which we will be using for some future exhibitions and our studio is wonderfully private.
i have spent ALL of my spare time there, finishing off some projects and getting ready for new ones. the space is a really great place which has helped me focus and become extremely productive.
here are just a few shots of the layout of my section of the studio. hope you enjoy.xx

 

Anna Smyrk and the Appetites

i finished the three designs for the band Anna Smyrk and the appetites. it was a load of fun to do because of how commercial i had to be with the style so as to appeal to their audience. i love doing music related work the most because it is also a highly creative field and you can listen to the music you are doing the job for whilst working to really get into the mood of the project. anyhoo, here they are starting with the album cover and back cover

and here is the postcard front and back design

and last but not least the poster design (not including tour information)

i have to give a huge thank you to anna for asking me to do this for her, i really enjoyed myself and really love the final outcome which we were able to come up with. if you need some good new tunes i highly recommend her great band. they are all really talented musicians.

Album cover brief

So I was asked by the very talented Anna Smyrk if I would be able to design their up and coming Apocalypse album cover. i said yes and here we are! pretty much, what was wanted was an attractive image to follow the idea of an apocalypse but not necessarily to approach it in a negative way. we came up with a design which resembled a brilliantly colourful explosion of watercolour shapes. here is the process and where i am up to at this point. i will present the finished cover, promotional song credit postcards and poster when i have completed them.

Please stay inspired xoxo

I have recently gone through one of my no touch of the paintbrush fazes which happens to me every so often. I really get sad in this time but for some reason I feel unable to avoid indulging in apathetic nonsense. To remove myself out of this scheduled funk, I popped (not literally) into the local giant cheapo Asian store for my version of a good old fashioned shopping spree. These shopping sprees usually cost me around $15 to $20 and totally excite me to once again get stuck into being creative and doing my illustrations.  

This time round, I scored a whole bunch of stunningly coloured plastic bowls which I will use to put all my pencils and brushes in. I have noticed that every few months, I need to change the appearance of my studio to keep my environment fresh and interesting. The only one thing that stays the same is my collection of little toys which sit on top of my set of draws.

 

 

 

Oh maaaaaaan, you should have seen all the options of brightly coloured containers! It was a feast for the eyes and it made me feel like I was back in japan!

 

Next time you feel gloomy and drained of inspiration or motivation, try getting a new, cheap tacky little pencil holder or something of that nature. It really does the trick and it doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg like the crap they have in kiki k or smiggle.

 

Also, if you are working and like to listen to something while you create, I suggest escape from illustrator island podcasts. It is so wonderful. I have learnt a lot of little tid bits about the illustration industry through these guys.

Here is a link to one podcast about studio feng shui which was really great.

http://illustrationage.com/2010/04/13/efii-podcast-episode-30-workspaces/

 

BAR AS SPIRIT MOUNTAIN

GIF FOR YOU MY SWEETIES 2

GIF FOR YOU MY SWEETIES.xx

FIELD TRIP!!!

 

 

On Friday i went to the wonderful field trip forum set up for creative people in all the different areas of design. they had a great selection of speakers who had specific skill sets and processes which the ranged quite far.

 The first speaker was the very talented Eamon Donnelly who’s love for milk bars was very clear in his style. He had a combination hand drawn and digital in his technique which started with a sketch and then developed into digital filling and perfecting.

He was an obvious aussie fella who loved his heritage and told us of touching childhood stories.

Here is a link to his website: http://eamondonnelly.com/

http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/01/30/eye-popping-caricatures-by-australian-artist-eamon-donnelly/

The second speaker was the very funny Ben Sanders who’s relaxed attitude towards his beloved industry is inspiring. His work was clearly the complete opposite to Donnelly’s stylistically and in both their chosen processes which showed a great juxtaposition to individual talent and voice. He actually had apposing advice to Donnelly also which I think helped the forum speak to a wider audience.

Here is a link to his website:  http://www.bensanders.com.au/

http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Ben-Sanders/497177

 

The third speaker was the lovely Madeleine Stamer who I have loved personally for quite some time now. She was a thrill to listen to mostly because of how much you she loved her job and the passion she puts into every job she receives. She did a completely practical work process example which gave you such insight to how she develops all her charming designs.

It was quite adorable because at the beginning of her talk, the mike was sitting over her heart and was picking up the fast passed beats which was being produced by it. You could fully appreciate the level of her nerves which made me love her that little bit more.

Here is a link to her website: http://www.littlecircusdesign.com/

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/03/featured-artist-madeleine-stamer/

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/03/featured-artist-madeleine-stamer/

 

 

The fourth speaker was the very talented font designer Luke Lucas who always amazes me with his ability in digital design and knowledge of form.

Though not the best at captivating an audience, he made it up by wowing us with his abilities. He produced a design for the forum from the very beginning which was wonderful to watch and  helped us get closer to understanding his detailed techniques.

Here is a link to his website: http://www.lukelucas.com/

http://www.lukelucas.com/#Field-Trip (image he produced for us)

 

The second last speaker to enlighten us was Mimi Leung who spoke the most to me personally. Her work and style links to mine the most out of the speakers with its use of bright colours and cartoonish fictional figures. She helped me get back to a place where I had not been for a while which is a place of creative necessity. She reminded me that I had to do this to be happy for she also needed to produce to be fulfilled. A wonderful artist and designer who I will support all the way.

Her is a link to her website: http://www.mimileung.co.uk/

http://www.mimileung.co.uk/ (image she produced for us)

 

The final speaker was the quirky Oslo Davis who had the sense of humour of everyone’s dads. I enjoyed his talk the least because it did not connect with me. His technique didn’t really impress me and his direction was very different to mine. The rest of the audience seemed to love him though with laughing frequently being heard around the hall. It didn’t really have anything to do with Oslo personally, it was just that his style didn’t resinate with me personally. A nice character though.

Here is a link to his website: http://www.oslodavis.com/

 

 

http://danrule.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/oslos-angst/

Further development for small concept

 

I have decided to approach the Okami yokai character vastly different to how it is traditionally known.  The wolf will not have a realistic figure but more of an abstract block shape to form the body. The features of the face shall not resemble what is traditionally seen as a wolfs face. I want to keep only a few small attributes which could be recognised as wolf like. These features will be its tale, the shape of its eyes and the fur on its back. (most probably)

 

I found myself watching an episode of hoarders on television on the weekend in a zombie like state. My brain was switched off and I was just staring at the screen without thought. The screen eventually presented footage of a baby kitten which had fallen behind a desk in this rubbish filled house so that the owner could not reach the newly born sweetheart. As they picked up the huddled corps of the kitten, I saw that the umbilical cord was still attached and it had flattened and dried almost like a paper mache sculpture. The position which the kitten took resinated with me as did the flatness which the side took which was leaning against the floor.

I envisage the structure of the image to somewhat resemble this with a stiffness and awkwardness of the body of the wolf. Since this type of wolf has completely died out and what is left is the memory of it’s existence as a yokai character, the reference of this poor little kitten in its posture for me, go hand in hand and is a prefect representation of a spiritual entity.

I will present it as if it is leaping through the air, mid pounce onto its victim. Though I want the image to be flat so you could also perceive it to be dead, lying on the ground like the kitten.

Here are some more ref images which i have been looking at for inspiration:

 

 

 

 

 

Age of Omuktlans by Curiot 

                                     A Dog’s Treasure by John Ryrie

 

 

                                           Girl with a Kitten by Lucian Freud

 

 

                               Black Cat Leaping by David Hockney    

 

 

White Byrd by Rona Green

 

                                                   (not sure of title) Adolf Wolfli