Gary Hodges

Text work

Experementing with what typeface would work best and in what composition etc. The first and second is hand writen text that was scanned in and added. I felt this had the childish approach however it just didn't look right. 



So I opted for the more sofisticated writing which I think works much better. I also got rid of the black border as it didn't suit the type of work I am doing. Overall I am very happy with what I have achieved. Espectially with my computer skills!

Live project 3: Papergirl Leeds

Rationale:

Having started in Berlin Papergirl is coming to Leeds. From 8th-17th April Test Space will be hosting the first Papergirl Leeds exhibition.
Papergirl are currently accepting submissions here’s how to get involved…..
This is a callout for artists of all shapes and sizes. Printers and illustrators. Mixed media artists and photographers. Whatever it is that you love to do!
We need your submissions of artwork.
Papergirl is coming to Leeds for the first time ever in April 2011. The art of giving art!
Every single piece of work submitted will be shown in the Papergirl Leeds Exhibition in April with TestSpace Leeds on Melbourne Street which will run from Friday 8th April to Sunday 17th April.
After the Papergirl Leeds Exhibition, all submitted work will be rolled up and distributed to the unsuspecting public by Papergirls (and boys!) on bicycles at the Papergirl Leeds Ride Event.
All submitted work needs to be between A4 and A1 in size and must be able to be rolled up. Please clearly write Papergirl Leeds on the packaging of your submission as well as on the back of the submission itself and any contact details you would like for the lucky person to receive your work (perhaps a lovely message too?)
There is no limit to how how many pieces of art you want to submit. The more the merrier!
By submitting your work you are consenting for it to be shown in the Papergirl Leeds Exhibition and to be given away to the general public for free in the Papergirl Leeds Ride Event. Submissions may be shown on the Papergirl Leeds and Papergirl World Blog and facebook/twitter (credited where URL details are included of course)
Deadline for all submissions is 31st March 2011 – There’s still time but hurry!

Final illustration

This is the illustration I have come up with at the end of the day. I am happy with this as it shows a consistent standard and style, which is what I am aiming for summed up in one illustration.

Live project 2. illustration for website logo

Rationale:
I got a reply from Mike Hughes and he has been really helpful. He asked me if I had a website so he can see some of my work. All I have is a carbonmade online portfolio which I think is a little unprofessional to show. Therefore I sent out a message on the viscom noticeboard and a message of facebook asking if anyone fancied making me a website for their live brief, as I struggled so much when I tried to make one I figured it would be best for someone who wanted practice making them to do it. Someone came forward and is in the process of making me a blog style website which is what I am looking for at this stage.
As a live brief I am designing the illustration that will sit either next to my name in the title of the website or on the home page. This is only a one day brief but I feel as though I need to do this now, so as to get my website to a good standard.

I have chosen to do a deer illustration as I have plently of research photos already. My peliminory drawings and final piece will be on sheets of paper and put with my sketchbook.

Painting/Drawing with chocolate syrup - Lion

Emails

I have sent this email to the illustrators listed bellow in my 'networking' post to try and get a better understanding of how to become afreelance nature illustrator. NETWORKING IS THE KEY!

Jilian Tamaki

Joe Wilson

David Sparshott

'Last of the scottish Wildcat' the film

By appearance the Scottish wildcat resembles a very muscular domestic tabby, the coat is made up of well defined brown and black stripes and usually has a ruffled appearance due to its thickness. The gait is more like that of a big cat and the face and jaw are wider and more heavy set than the domestic cat. Most apparent is the beautiful tail; thick and ringed with perfect bands of black and brown ending in a blunt black tip. The Scottish form is the largest in the wildcat family with males typically between 6-9kg (13-17lb) and females 5-7kg (11-15lb), around 50% larger than the average domestic cat. Fossil examples measuring 4 feet from nose to tail have been found; such a cat could have weighed around 14kg (30lb).

I've bin sat listening to 'last chance to see' that was originally broadcast on BBC 4 years ago. It's actually really good to have on in the background when I'm on the computer!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee/sites/radio/douglas_reads/

Scottish wildcat

After my tutorial we discussed narrowing down the subjects of my experementation. I have to focus on wildlife of some sorts but I want to do something that not many artists have put into the exhibition before. From looking at last years exhibition they usually chose big cats and birds.
Socttish wildcats were mentioned and after a bit of research I've decided I'm going to focus on them (they're so cute!)
http://www.scottishwildcats.co.uk/campaigns.html

Also this could be an avenue for another life project. I am going to contact the Scottish wildcat Association and see if I can do anything for them and they're campaigns.

Networking

I know I need to start networking with people who are already in the buisness, so I have made a list of possible people / companys that I can contact. I want to know how different artists managed to get themselves known and become successful.


http://www.wildlifeartcompany.com/

Hazel Adams

hazeladams@gmail.com

Marc Dando
marc@flukeart.com

Laurel House
Eric Road
Calstock
Cornwall
PL18 9SH

 Mike Hughes
http://info@mikehugheswildlifeart.co.uk


Inspire murals

info@inspire-murals.co.uk

NEWA exhibition 2010

These are a few pieces that were part of last years exhibition. I have noticed that they are all very traditional and extermely skilled art pieces and they are all usually of typical animals such as the big 5.
I want to try and do something a bit different, still using my traditional drawing aproach as that is what I like to do best and would like to improve upon, however I want to use an animal subject that is different and use a mixed media aproach. I want to create something that will catch eyes rather than go through with the rest.

Trip to tropical world

I took a trip to Tropical World so I could get primary research photos of the animals.

Fumi Nakamura

I really like the idea of collage. I dont experement enough in the aspect and would really like to, I think it could be an interesting twist to the usual type of work that gets entered into the National Exhinition of Wildlife Art.
I like how Fumi uses similar medias for each part of her work, ie the girl and bird in the bottom one. I am aware that I need to work on the composition of my work.

Helpful Info on Wildlife art

Painting wildlife.
The best paintings are done from real life . . . painting only from photographs is a very poor substitute. Yet painting wildlife in nature is extremely difficult due to the rarity of wildlife sightings, and the fact that animals and birds rarely stay still for long. Photography as reference for wildlife paintings is an invaluable resource if used alongside sketches made in the field.
Wildlife artist David Stribbling provides a CD of reference photos for wildlife art including photos from his 25 years of African wildlife art experience . . . the photos are royalty free, and could be valuable additional material for a wildlife artist, but of course, no substitute for first-hand experience in the field.


Becoming a wildlife artist
To become a wildlife artist, it is very strongly advised that one must first become a proficient general artist, getting a thorough and wide grounding in all the basics of being an artist before specializing in the subject of wildlife. Few people achieve this on a self-taught basis, so finding the very best art teachers is one of the most important criteria. While a lot can be learned from books and other media, face-to-face teaching is far better as a good art teacher can give precise feedback to the student, second by second.
I am often asked which art books I most recommend for someone wanting to learn to be an artist. If there is ONE book I recommend most, it has to be "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. The original version was one of the most valuable books for my own art studies, and there is now a new version which looks even better. Click here to see more details of various versions of this book from Amazon.com . . . the original version is available used from only twenty cents (at the time of writing).


Taken from: http://www.wildlife-art-guide.com/wildlife-art-create-your-own.htm

Tracy Martin

I dont like this style. It looks almost childlike. I dont know if it is the low quality of the photograph and its too exposed or the way the painting is meant to be but it looks like the centre to right side is way too light in comparrison to the rich colours on the left side of the painting.

Emma Wood

The most noticable thing about this art work is the composition. Having the elephant positioned on the left leaving the rest blank is really effective at firt sight. However after looking at it for some time I start to imaging the canvas slowly tilting left! Obviously there is tremendous skill and control when creating this piece.

Jason Morgan

The mixture of Blue / Crimson shadows and the golden light makes this oil painting extremely dramatic.

I feel the compesition also works well. The closeness of the lions face which is stareing right at us is so rarely seen, that the viewer is kind of enchanted. The detail in the fur is extrodinary, deffinately skilled in his brush control.

 

How to Commission an Original Wildlife Art Painting by Jason Morgan

Thinking of commissioning a wildlife painting? -
Then this is the page for you.
Most of my original paintings now sell before or shortly after completion, so if you would like to own one of my originals then your best option is to commission a painting especially for you (I only complete 10 - 12 originals per year).

It all starts with a simple email I try to make the whole process as simple and enjoyable as possible, and it generally all starts by a prospective customer emailing me with an idea in their mind of a painting they would love to own.

(I have access to literally thousands of images to work from, particularly African and American wildlife, big cats and Gorillas, but also lots more).

Ideas are shared and a plan develops
Once I have an idea of the planned painting then I research my images and piece together a possible composition. I contact the customer and we generally have a chat and swap more ideas until we come to a decision.

 

The Painting beginsWhen I have the final plan I can start the painting in earnest, (this is where the real fun begins) and quite often I share the development of the painting with the customer by sending emails or posting images on my site. A small Non-Refundable charge is required before the painting begins, this covers expenses for my research time etc up to this point.

 

Commission Approval - worry free When the painting is finished it's time for the customer to see and approve it. Over the years I have come up with the following approval process which I think is very fair -

*When the painting is finished the customer pays for it in full.

*Immediately after the payment has cleared I send the original to the customer for viewing in the comfort of their own home.

*If for whatever reason the painting does not come up to the customers expectations it can be returned within 14 days for a full refund (minus shipping costs and return costs).

Project 1: National Exhibition of Wildlife Art

These are the rules to work submission: http://www.newa-uk.com/files/ExhibitionRules%20.pdf