Friday 20 February 2015

Jobs, Jobs & More Jobs Pt1!!!





So this blog has been ridiculously neglected of recent, really just a combination of lots of work and life in general getting in the way.

Right less talking, let's get into it, most of these are pre-Christmas, it was such a busy period, that this is a fraction of work produced, i'll put more up in pt2, sometime next week.. to catch us up to more present day.

Those lovely red drawings above are for a new mag called Eat Fit, published by the makers of Men's Fitness, these were art directed by Rob Lavery, I've rarely been asked to do single colour illos, if anything I go overboard with the colours, so these were something different for me.

Enjoyed them, the magazine is a great read, and Rob is a joy to work with, let's you crack on, and try to do your best. Just drawn something else with Rob, and I think it'll come out a treat...more on that another time!




Just two from my regular "Ask Uncle TopGear" column for TopGear, art directed by Peter Barnes. I say just two, as there's more I could have put here, but these were my faves out of recent ones. Love working with Peter, i've been in a good bit of form at the start of this new year, the next months illo is perhaps the best we've done, i'll post that up when it sees print.




Some workout stuff for the legend that is Ped Millichamp over at Mens Fitness, top one is ex wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, below is Team GB's gorgeous Louise Hazel, shame I don't get to draw more of the female form in exercise, enjoyed those!




Three from the regular Tweet Science column over at Mens Fitness, again art directed by Ped... I think i've found my form on these a bit more now, in fact been v.happy with how the series has progressed, the one i've just completed was great fun (more on that another time..such a tease!)

So the Rock as King Kong, wanted to go full on toxic with the colouring, which I think kind of adds to the extremeness of the drawing.

Ronda Rousey chopping limes Samurai style, apart from last minute changes to clothes, a god 'un, like the viewpoint.

Rory Mcilroy, lot of fun this, managed to squeeze Nick Hutchings the mag ED, Ped and myself into the background crowd.

Like I say lots of fun these, and great to work with Ped... what more can you ask for from work, great brief, great art director... hopefully leads to not half bad work from yours truly.
Some small spot illos for Empire, art directed by Chris Lupton.. everyone knows how much of a film geek I am, so i'm as happy as anything when drawing this stuff... Just couldn't speak more highly of Chris and the whole Empire team, they've been very welcoming to this illustration nerd.

I actually designed Empire's Christmas card, I just remembered! I'll post that up on the next posting...actually I was v.happy with how that turned out, one of my fave jobs in past few months.

I've completed another couple of illos for the title, one of which was again me in fine fettle, it may be one of the best things i've done in past 6 months, i'll put that here and get it on the website once it sees print.


Okay cover for new client Public Finance over at RedActive, apparently the art director Gene had been recommended my work (big thanks to whoever that was!)

When the brief came in and I learned that i'd be drawing a still life of a breakfast table with economy style products, and that i'd be handling typography... er ... I was a little worried, I mainly draw figures, and typography isn't always a strong point of mine.

Needn't have worried, I really enjoyed the job, and I think we got a good cover out of it.

I'd known of Gene's work for years when he used to art direct at a magazine called Management Today, a title that regularly used great illustration... So it was a real pleasure to finally get to work with him, it's nice when these things work out in the end, and hopefully i'll work with him again soon.

Right that's it for now, Pt2 coming next week, or certainly not long after.

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Bill Joins TWITTER!

First of all a huge catch up series of posts will be coming here shortly, fact is i've always preferred or I am just busy in the act of making pictures that I sometimes neglect this blog.

I thought maybe a quicker way of showcasing my recently completed work may be to get involved with some form of social media, so i've been on Twitter for about 5 days now.

I have been skeptical of the whole Twitter revolution, there's a hell of a lot of voices on there, still 'in for a penny in for a pound' as they say, and I will give it a go.

If you want to catch up with me on Twitter click here https://twitter.com/bill_mcconkey