Oct 2010, 'Holic sketches galore

As soon as you acknowledge you have a problem you can address it. My name is  Matt and  I'm a sketchoholic!

Sketchoholic.com daily illustration submission: 'Neptune's Sorrow' (Crying Creature)

Sketchoholic.com daily illustration submission: 'Jumping Bug Pilot' (Pilot Creature)

a.k.a- Charge of the Mite Brigade

Oct. 2010, Male studys 1.

Seriously gotta up my game now. I've been quite slack in terms of observation work. Taken from a photo I know this is cheating as I really need to get out with the sketchbook but consider it my warm up :)

The next one is more of a caricature really.

Once again, I know there's not many of you but any kind of crit is appreciated.

Last one, Honest

I managed to pop another one out for Sketchoholic today. Theme was 'Birthday Creature'. Keeps me outta trouble, I guess!

Oct 2010: Sketchoholic-Holic.

AGGHH! I.... can't...stop.....drawing!
I think this will be my last entry for a few days for Sketchoholic's daily drawing challenge! It's been a blast and rather amazingly I have won the past 3 challenges (fungus creature, hairy creature and Big eyes, small nose). I'm happy with the hattrick but here is my final entry this week anyway.
It's all very addictive!

'VAMPIRE CAVEMAN'

Sketchoholic's Anonymous!

I've just joined up to the website Sketchoholic to sharpen my illustration skills! There is a daily competition to design a character and I've been having fun with those in-between jobs. Here are the results below:

'Big eyes, small nose'

'Fungus Creature'

'Hairy Creature'

'Civilised Creature'

Sept 2010, illy No.2

We are all a bit heartbroken here at the moment at Latchford Towers.  Holly, our much-loved family dog was put to sleep earlier this week after finally succumbing to the various ailments that had troubled her for a few years.

Holly, a little West Highland Terrier with a BIG personality, joined our family aged 5 years old after we collected her from the RSPCA rescue centre. She enjoyed a comfortable ( spoiled??!) little life with us for about 8 years and her passing has left a huge gap in our lives.
Being a freelancer and working from home meant I had a constant companion and whilst the house seems very empty with out her there is still a very strong sense of her presence.


She will be irreplaceable.
Anyway, I thought I would do her a little painting.

SEPT 2010, illy No.1: "Summer Hols"

It's a crazy time at the moment, with so much going on (which is great!) but I really want to try and keep up with my personal work, especially messing around with digital illustration and concept work. I am keen to keep/ develop my style but really , REALLY need to up my game in terms of light, colour and design generally.
There is so much incredible stuff out there and I feel I have so much still to learn.

Anyway, this piece is called "Summer Hols" and as you can see the kid has let his imagination get the better of him while playing a game on his own!

Please feel free to critique my stuff.

Part 2: AMENDED SKY!

August 2010: Forest Folk concept update

Forest Folk Update!!
After a few months of distractions (real life) and other priorities, Forest Folk 1.4 is finally under way. I still anticipate at least another month before the next update is out but at least we have got the ball rolling again!
In the mean time I want to upload a few concepts I have been working on in my spare time of certain characters that will play a big roll in the Forest Folk 2.0 universe.

Plus the evil side of the FF world is beginning to claw its way through....

JULY 19th 2010: Urban Art Fair, Brixton

First pencil scan of 'Soulful Towers'

A collection of pics charting the progress of the Soulful Gallery's mural design and its execution by myself and Chang 204 at the Urban Art Fair, Brixton, London 2010.

Photos of the day taken by Amonamission

MAY 2010: Forest Folk Concepts

Things have been moving on a pace in the world of Forest Folk. We are about to begin work on version 1.4, which has lots of lovely features which I can't tell you about!!!!

What I can show you is a few of my concepts for what we have got planned for the next load of updates of that.

The saplings will be able to specialize in particular skills which will open the door to lots of mini games and PVP action :)

APRIL 2010: Salome- DONE!

After at least two other efforts I have finally got this picture to look exactly how I wanted it to!

She will be used in the up and coming Soulful Gallery exhibition at the Firestation Arts Centre in a months time. Click HERE for info!

To see a nicer picture of Salome and see print/ original prices click HERE

APRIL 2010: New painting on its way!

A shadowy figure, Nox stood at or near the beginning of creation, and was the mother of Hypnos (sleep) and Thánatos (death). Her name (Nyx in greek) is the root for the word Nocturnal. Her appearances in mythology are sparse, but reveal her as a figure of exceptional power and beauty. There will be a few references to her Roman and Greek origins within her costume, for example the fox pelt which covers her head. Originally worn by Roman standard bearers, the pelts would have been made from lion, bear or wolf. It's the foxes liminal quality and connection with night that makes it more relevant to me! Lots of artistic licence!!! Anyway, Nox is a new addition to my myths and fairytale-inspired characters and will probably maintain a similar composition to Salome which you can see above.

Feb/March 2010 Soulful Paintings part2

I have been wanting to revive my character that I created for the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair as I think it's a little bit sad that the final piece is locked away somewhere in storage and probably won't see the light of day again. Anyway she was about 7 foot tall anyway so it's not like I have the space to hang it anywhere!!

You can see one of the original thumbnails I did of her which wasn't the final one we used in the mural but i actually prefer this version. The background texture was a sample of chipboard which was what we worked onto for the show (posted below!). Great to work on for random shapes to pick up on but it destroyed most of my brushes!!!

It was soon clear however, at least for now that I don't think she will transfer to watercolours. Initial sketches have proved a little too flat which is fine for graff or comic illustration but I want something a bit looser to work with rather than heavy, dead line etc.

I also made quite a drastic decision about her hair but once again it just seemed too flat. Seems like a contradiction as the final thumb is quite flat and simple but that will give me lots of space when it comes to the watercolours. I like to have a rough idea of a final look and planning is very important but I also enjoy the freedom of not knowing what textures will appear in the washes. I won't even bother trying to plan this in the thumbnail stages!

There is something about those gloves she wears in the original a la Edward Scissorhands that I still want to work with but perhaps it will be for a different character now!

FEB/MArch 2010 New Soulful Gallery paintings on their way!!

I have begun the next series of paintings for The Soulful Gallery exhibitions lined up later this year!

There seems to be a few familiar symbols and motifs trying to get through again including tattoos, tentacles and skulls. They are fun to painting anyway and it seems like I need to get these out of my system before they let me move on so for the time being here are a few of my works-in-progress!!!

The first two are pics of a piece I have temporarily named "zodiac" (sorry about the quality !). The last image of zodiac is a photoshop version where I have painted over some of the grey washes in the original headdress and I think I am going to have to repaint it, because it looks much more dynamic. Shame, I've got some wonderful 'happy accidents' that i just don't think I am going to be able to replicate :(

JAN 2010: "FOREST FOLK V.1" iPhone game launch!!

After nearly a month in Hong Kong I feel full of inspiration and ready to take on what is already shaping up to be a VERY busy year......plus my chopstick technique has improved!!!

Anyway I returned to the great news that the iPhone game that myself and Phil Menni from Gravy Media have been working on (under the guise Studio Siafu) called Forest Folk(V.1) has been released.

Click HERE for not only a cool review but actually a pretty thorough description of our creation!!

Here are some screen shots and a bit of artwork too......

NOV 2009c: FRI 27th NOV, 4Motion Dance Theatre Vs Soulful Gallery!

4motion Dance Theatre and the Soulful Gallery will be taking over the Firestation this friday night (27th of nov.2009) for an evening of art dance and music.

All you need to know is that it's gunna be gooooood!!

Live urban art int' basement, live digital visuals and DJ in the bar plus the main events of TWO dance productions by 4Motion.

Here's the flyer:

NOV 2009b: Latest cartoons for Richmond Publishing.... DONE!

Here they are, the next series of images taken from my commission for Richmond(some of my faves anyway!).

NOV-2009- WCAF SUCCESS! Another great event done and dusted!

Soulful Gallery had a great time at the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair last weekend.

Mark and Lorna worked their socks off to sell lots of our art (both prints and originals!) in the exhibition area, the workshops went down a storm with Amonamission running 3 x hour-long classes in graffiti and street art and the live art/mural (by chang204 and myself) attracted a lot of attention too.

The past 3 months has been dedicated to preparing everything for the event, including each artist creating a series of original art works, as well as the construction of a 6 metre chipboard wall (thanks Pete!) to do our mural on.

We also had to pre-spray any graffiti before hand due to the fact that it was an indoor event which prevented us from using large amount of spray paint on the weekend.

A Massive "Thank You" to everyone who helped us out, from filming to setup/take-down.

Here are some of the pictures from the event.