I have always liked 'llIustration' and tend to produce it either as Cover Art or Sequential imagery. The former is probably the more challenging because of the balance that needs to be struck between form and content, decoration and narrative. Cover Art, like the short story, gets a limited shot at indicating what lies beneath the cover. My current preoccupation has been described, and I think aptly, as 'nostalgic sci fi and pulp'. And someone also suggested that it might be a little too late to revive the 'adventure genre'.
Stylistically, I'm keen on the commercial illustration of the mid 20th Century that was made to promote 'mass' publication (especially children's annuals, pulp magazines and comics). There is so much creativity and artistic competence to found on the covers and within the pages of even the most mundane examples.
It is over the last 7 years that I have started to use, and like, digital media. My working methods are still a little too intuitive and involve the usual squinting and standing back that one associates with traditional media, but I am enjoying making imagery more than ever and would now like to explore the possibilities of illustrating written stories (preferably by working with an author).
Interests: Commercial illustration and sequential imagery of the mid 20th Century that was made to promote 'mass' publications (especially children's annuals, pulp magazines and comics).
I am here for: Artistic interests. www.mikefyles.co.uk
Mike.
Comments (4)
deci6el
You got me by the thumb. Cause I wanted to ask, is that magazine still around? I was going to say you nailed the colors of their first issue and now that I've seen the date I think I know why. Had I not bought the first issue you could have fooled me that this was really a magazine cover from that time. But for this time and format, you almost lose the guy. I know you're going for scale but I would try to find a way to get more of him and tell your scale-story as well. Thanks for that blast from the past.
FrenchKiss
What a cool idea! Well done!
Mikeall
Thanks for the comments deci6el and FrenchKiss - very welcome and as a newcomer they helped me find an appreciate your own work. Glad the magazine idea comes across - I like the context it provides for images and composition. Take the point about scale - look out for next post.
Kapitan
Hey hey! A blast from the past, this one. I have a few old issues of "Epic" wrapped away in plastic, and take'em out now and again to reread them. The art was great, stories fantastic ... ah, Bolton, Suydam, you drew some amazing stuff! The magazine was before its time. Mikeall, you captured the flavour and look perfectly. Well done!