Wednesday 19 December 2012

Tee shirts

Sorry for the silence. I have been busy with an editorial commission and an interesting collab project, but more on those later.

Norm*l Brand have got a few designs in their new shop, and one is a design of mine. Have a look, and if you're interested in buying it (or any others, but you'll have to navigate back to the shop home), click here.


Saturday 1 December 2012

Christmas giveaway!

If you're on facebook and like free things, head over to this link, like the picture and tell me your favourite christmas song in the comments. Merry christmas! Click here

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Another watercolour animal


Ribbit.

Postcard giveaway

I've got my bird series printed and ready to be sent out, and i've decided to have a little giveaway. If you want to be in with a chance of winning a set, head over to my facebook and like/share the picture!

Saturday 6 October 2012

Snipe and the rest

Third and final instalment. The common snipe. Factoid, snipers (shooting) get their name from this bird. Because it camouflages well and flies erratically, it required a sharp shooter to bring it down.



Monday 1 October 2012

Monkey Butler


And while you're here, my facebook page is nearing 100 likes. If you like what you see, then follow me on facebook too! 
Then you can be one of those people who liked me before I was cool.




(which I will be)

Thursday 20 September 2012

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Red Grouse

The second in my British game bird series. The Red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica. No, that isn't a typo.


Friday 7 September 2012

Pheasant

This is one part of a personal project, which may eventually turn into a self promo booklet. I plan on doing another 4-5 British game birds and sending them out this Autumn in a little book. Will update with any progress! I'll also post the whole project to Behance once it's done.



Wednesday 29 August 2012

Hobbit-anticipation-fanart

First piece of fan-art i've done in a long time. This was created out of giddy excitement for The Hobbit hitting the silver screen this christmas.


Sunday 26 August 2012

Computer Arts

Some photos from a Job I recently completed for Computer arts #205. Illustrating the '10 Money making steps to running a successful design business'



Saturday 11 August 2012

A little taste

Hi all. I've been quiet online recently, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Just been working on some exciting things which unfortunately, i'm not allowed to show anyone yet. Hopefully i'll have some cool things to announce sometime soon though. In the mean time, here's a sketch of a personal piece i've had to put on hold for more important things a few times now. Designed out of giddy excitement for the Hobbit this winter. Should be done sometime in the next month.


Sunday 22 July 2012

First draft

This kid is part of a larger project which hopefully, will turn into something great. I'll be posting more drafts of characters as the project progresses.


Wednesday 11 July 2012

Birthday Crocodile

A rare watercolour of a crocodile. May do some more painting.... I haven't used watercolour in a very long time.

Friday 6 July 2012

Digital Arts feature

I was featured in this month's (August's) Graduate showcase in Digital Arts! You should buy it and send me fab fan mail.




Monday 25 June 2012

Graffiti man

This is a T-shirt design i've had in my mind for a while. Pretty pleased with how it turned out. The CMYK colour palette was pretty tricky to work with at times, but i'm glad I stuck with it.



Sunday 17 June 2012

Father's day

Little something I made for Father's day, being skint as I am. One of the good things about being an illustrator is that the age you can make cards never really stops.


Tuesday 12 June 2012

Facebook!

I've made a Facebook page to try and tie together all of my online folios and things. Save me from embarrassing failure and click like to keep up to date with my quest to illustrate for the rest of my life!


Friday 8 June 2012

Another self initiated editorial

This one's in response to an essay my friend wrote. Doesn't really sum the whole thing up, but i hope it intrigues people to read the essay, and proposes the question the essay discusses.


Here's the essay incase you were interested!

Thursday 31 May 2012

Self initiated editorial practice

A little bit of self initiated work. This is in response to an article i read in 'I' the other day. The article is called 'The real cost of 'free' services'. This piece responds in particular, to the parts about the value of our personal information to advertisers, and how we are not facebook's consumers, but its product.


Saturday 26 May 2012

Typography Sample


Words spoken once by Mr. Bob Dylan. The colours for this were inspired by my girlfriend's shoes. True story.


(I'm not sure why the last lace is unthreaded...)

Saturday 19 May 2012

ArtMarket Illustration

Very happy to say that I've recently joined the Artmarket Illustration team, and am currently being featured on their front page. Any commissions of my work go through these guys. Check my folio, or any of the other artists they represent by following the link.

http://www.artmarketillustration.com/

Saturday 12 May 2012

On-off collective submission

My submission for the on/off collective competition. The brief asked us to illustrate what we'd send to room 101. I chose to personify the relentless voice of obsession in my head, and chuck that in. My life would certainly be more chilled out without him.

The brief restricted images to 3 flat colours, which I initially groaned at because it meant no gaussian blur, but it turned out to be an enjoyable challenge, and it's forced me to use techniques I normally wouldn't use.




Wednesday 2 May 2012

Silly Old Baboon

My tenth, and final negotiated piece. The poem is too long to type out. Click here if you want to read the justification for setting a baboon's feet on fire.

I've actually drawn a Mandrill here, but at the time the poem was written, Mandrills were Baboons. That, and they're more fun to draw.

Click image for fullscreen

Sunday 29 April 2012

GET YOUR EAR FEAR SHIELDS TODAY!

Inspired by the Spike Milligan poem 'Bump'. I think it's a limerick. I could be wrong though. Colours for this one were inspired by old Beano annuals at my grandparent's house.


Things that go bump in the night
should not really give one a fright.
It's the hole in each ear
which lets in the fear
That, and the absence of light.
                         Spike Milligan

Thursday 19 April 2012

Onos

Based around Spike Milligan's poem 'Onos'. I decided I needed a few landscape piece in my Negotiated project. They all still stick to international paper size though.





We have cracked the midnight glass
And loosed the racketing, star-crazed night into the room
The blind harp sings in the late fire light,
Your hand is decked with white promises.
What wine is this?
There are squirrels chasing in my glass.
Good god! I'm Pissed!
                                                      Spike Milligan

Sunday 15 April 2012

Merzbox Exhibition


A small display of work based on Kurt Schwitter's fairytales is on display in Bristol. My piece, 'Proud as a Peacock' is a relief illustration, and can be seen on the top right.

If you happen to be around, you can find it at:
The Caseroom Press/MerzBox Exhibition
Special Collections Room at Bower Ashton Library
University of West England
Bower Ashton Campus
Bristol

Exhibition opens Friday 13 April - 30 May 2012


Wednesday 11 April 2012

On the Ning Nang Nong

After one failed attempt at tackling Spike Milligan's most famous poem 'On the Ning Nang Nong', I decided to leave it until some inspiration came to me. This was the eventual result. The date happens to coincide with my degree show, so it you're not there, I will assume that this is where you are. This thing will be printed at around A3, so if you want to see those details, follow this link >>>>DETAILS<<<<


Thursday 29 March 2012

Pennies from heaven

I put 10p in the piggy bank
to save for a rainy day.
It rained the very next morning!
Three cheers, Hip Hip Hooray!

                          Spike Milligan



I wanted to produce a more 'editorial style' piece for this one. I may try out a few more colour variations when I have fresher eyes. Critique welcome!

Friday 16 March 2012

polar bear

Based around the Spike Milligan poem 'Polar Bear' This is not yet finished, but I don't know how to finish it at the moment. Thoughts?




Friday 9 March 2012

Monkey Business

In response to the Spike Milligan poem 'Look at all those monkeys'. This one has taken an age. Still not 100% on the colours, but I think i've got the composition sussed.



Look at all those monkeys
Jumping in their cage.
Why don't they all go out to work
And earn a decent wage?

Friday 2 March 2012

Monkey on a typewriter

Doodling for my next negotiated piece, and this little guy turned up and put a smile on my face.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Lo Speccio

Another negotiated project piece. Had a lot of trouble with this one, but i'm fairly pleased with it now.
This is based around Spike Milligan's poem 'Lo Speccio' - Specifically the lines

"it emptied my face
and drowned my reflection"


Friday 24 February 2012

The Merry Boxer - Screen Print

The second image created for my negotiated project. This image is a typographic screen print inspired by Spike Milligan's poem, 'The Merry Boxer', and Retro boxing posters were the aesthetic inspiration. I may also produce a fully textured digital version of this to accompany.

I'm also interested in selling them to see if there is actually any market for them. They're a limited edition run of ten, and each piece will be signed and numbered. If you're interested, give me an email at joemcleanillustration@gmail.com, and i'll see what I can do.





Process images