Mario: Portrait of a Portrait

Starting the year by finishing my first commission for 2012! 


For something different, I was requested to do this painting outside my usual cartoony, exaggerated "Lucy" style. A challenge - but I thought I'd give it a go. Below is the finished result (and below that, preliminary "study" sketches)  

    

Coloured caricature commission

CHECK-ME-OUT! Feelin a bit proud. Feelin a bit "I'm totes awesome". Feeling just too damn cocky to be honest. Yay me!

Below is a full colour commission I've just recently completed. Please bare in mind I'm still very VERY new to the world of digital illustration, so my skills are like that of a young child compared to the masters who do this professionally.

Still... I think what I've been able to achieve is still pretty great, and I can only go up from here. Go me! (Am now grinning like an idiot)

Conundrum In Deed : Band logo design

Conundrum In Deed is an exceptionally talented band based in the UK. Their (beautiful, insightful and exceptionally clever) lyrics are expressed in a musical styling that is a fusion of folk, progressive and psychedelia. So they approached me to design a logo that could concisely represent their music.

Initially I was inspired on the idea of an "impossible object" (cos that to me says "conundrum" right?). So I pitched the impossible cube shape - which they liked. Though their brief needed to include "psychedelia" with amorphous organic intertwining patterns (ie. vines, tentacles and bit o' paisley.)

Bandmate Greg Shields, inspired by the concept of an impossible object then suggested "An impossible cube rusting away in the middle of a psychedelic forest, with bare ground and in the middle of the cube a single 'Holy Flower'* wilting in the middle". *('Holy Flower' being the name of one of their songs).

Following that suggestion is a quick step by step look into how I came up with their final logo design...

Basic outline...

...followed by rough colour...

...FINAL LOGO!!

The band love the logo (WOOT and a pat on the back to moi!) 

Already a fan has commented on their new logo as being:

"The love child of Escher and a tripper at Woodstock" (Tee hee, awesome!) 

To hear some of their music, click here 

(My personal favorite song of theirs is "Laughing Man")

Meet Wilber the Dragon

Beginning at the end of 2010 I was approached to illustrate a children's book, which is something I'd never been asked to do before. However it has  always been something that I've been interested in pursuing - so to have this opportunity just 'drop into my lap'...

well I didn't need to be asked twice.

Over the following months I submitted one illustration a fortnight, and in recent weeks that changed to two a week. Today, this very afternoon, I handed over the final illustration (so excitement!) Now it will be sent away to be professionally published and I'm really looking forward to seeing the completed result.

I've included a couple of sample illustrations below to "whet the appetite"

The book will be officially launched some time in early 2012 and from what I've been told by the author, Bronwyn Heeney, will be toured at book expos globally. Next year will also be the Year of the Dragon, so fingers crossed this book gets a noice bit o interest and publicity.

Australia day in Coogee 1 year on

Australia (Jan 26th) 2010, I was in Coogee (in Sydney) with a bunch of lovely people sharing a BBQ and Vanilla vodka under the stars. It was such a beautiful evening that it's permanently etched into my mind forever and naturally made me inspired to capture the moment on canvas.

Please note, these are only progress shots and the painting is still a long way from being complete.

To view larger, please click on any of the images below

This image below was my very first outline attempt, which I was very unhappy with. I felt it was too static and boring...
so I painted over it.

People's choice award winner 2010 (woot!)

So I did it. This painting (which I hold so dear to me) won the People's Choice Award for the 2010 Cancer Council Art Awards.

My favorite caricatures (and commissions)

696INK: Erotic Grotesque

The painting above (painted by moi) will appear in the upcoming Erotic Grotesque exhibition at gallery 696INK. I call it "I Love Crabby Women"

Artists participating in 'Erotic Grotesque': Ashlee Duggan, Rev "Blood Painter" Mayers, Mark Powell, Dale Keogh, Beau White, Curran James, Jason Jacenko, Elspeth McIntosh, Matthew Turner, Sally Hanreck, Meg Woodsworth, Wendy Olsen and more

Cancer Council Victoria 2010 Arts Awards ‘Lost and Found’

Cancer Council Victoria has selected my painting of Mum for their 2010 Arts Awards. I’m really proud to be included in this exhibition for so many reasons, one of the biggest reasons is it’s a very personal, sentimental and emotional painting to me.

The exhibition will open on Sunday 11 July 3-5pm @ 120 Collins Street Melbourne and run until the Friday 30 July.

As part of the exhibition there is a people's choice award. For any of you who might like to show your support, please click here to vote. Voting finishes November 2010.

Thank you :)

Moore painting publicity.

After not getting into the Archibald earlier this year, my entry of Richard Moore WAS in actual fact selected by the Salon de Refusés, aka Hidden Faces of the Archibald. But for personal reasons I refused the Refusés.

I'd posted the painting on my blog, and shortly there after I was contacted by someone who wanted to do a profile piece on me and my entry of Richard Moore for the RMIT Alumni online newsletter. I was very flattered and accepted the opportunity to share my painting to a wider audience.

(click here to read profile)

Archibald Portrait Prize Submission – Mark One!

2009 was my first attempt at submitting a piece into the coveted and highly respected Archibald Portrait Prize run by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Having left it too late to find an appropriate candidate ("An Australian citizen renowned in the Arts, Sciences or Letters"), I chose to use myself as the subject. This unfortunately was an inappropriate choice as I am not yet a "renowned" person within the Australian Arts community… yet.

Although unsuccessful in being short-listed this time, it was a fantastic exercise to paint to a large scale and hit a tight deadline. I'm really pleased with the final result - I think the way I've painted my hands is beautiful.

Inspired by 2008 Archibald Prize winner Del Kathryn Barton, I chose to paint what I was personally most passionate about.: drawing, painting, my friends and my family.

First EVER Exhibition

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yes, congratulations to me!

Congratulations to me for finally exhibiting for the first time EVER!!!

Finally after much support and gentle but persistent nagging from friends and family, it was very appreciated nagging by the way, I finally got my act together and teamed up with fellow artists Emma Kirsopp and Elspeth McIntosh to create the exhibition Mammalian.

Here is the ultra rad flyer/invite we sent out. I'm very proud of it

(Thank you Emma)

Here is the show's title and our names printed on the window of Hogan Gallery.

Very exciting indeed.

When I first approached the theme of Mammalian my mind went completely blank, I had no ideas, I was stuck. So I asked a number of friends what they thought of when they heard the word “Mammalian” and the main response I received was “Boobies!”

A friend, Greg Shields, cleverly made the suggestion of “Ma’am” and “Alien”. I thought, “Brilliant! A female alien made of boobies!” And that, folks, is how the character of Maam Alien came about.

She’s a sexy, sassy, strong superhero come pin-up girl presented in the format of a comic book series with influences from pin-up artists Gil Elvgren and Bill Ward and the wonderful comic artist Albert “Asterix” Uderzo. Imagining that the Maam Alien series could be pitched to a viable publisher, I have put together a folio of potential comic book covers, painted on canvas to illustrate how her series would look.

Click on any of the photos to view larger

My intention is that you laugh and be entertained by her and her adventures.

One commission, two commission, three commission MORE!

Below is a selection of past painting or portrait commissions I've had in the last two years.

Click on any photos to view larger

Some are wedding presents, some are birthday presents and some are just personal and special gifts.