FACEPOCALYPSE

Most people are busily painting at the moment. At least those who haven’t finished this week’s Illustration Academy workshop assignment. I kind of half participated and did my own stuff this week. I produced a few pieces (oil paintings) that aren’t anything special but I was mostly experimenting with the medium.

Anyway, I thought this was a good photo to share.

People are crowding around to watch Mark English work his magic on Niko’s painting (which is pretty awesome, he may eventually post it on his blog). For reference, Niko is standing on the left, obscured by the guy with the hat.

Also, if you’re not familiar with Francis Vallejo’s work, check him out!

This morning Brent Watkinson, Gary Kelly and George Pratt gathered the Illustration Academy workshop students for an impromptu discussion on various things arty. I’m just going to relay some points in no particular order. Some things I knew were reaffirmed and others completely opened my eyes to what I should be doing. There are things that art schools/universities just don’t teach you. The overall standard of art education worldwide is pretty appalling, with a few stand-out institutions that tell students everything they need to know about working and learning as an artist. Read the rest of this entry →

My head is spinning, and I don’t mean metaphorically. I hope this is just the jetlag because I’m pretty phased at the moment, I certainly hit the ground running!

After arriving in LA on a delayed plane I was promptly whisked aside at customs due to my desire for a 6 month visa. I was shuffled into a waiting room and sat there for quite awhile as I waited for my more “in-depth” review on my visit to America. What ended up being a very brief discussion with the official there kind of made me think I was just palmed off by the guy at the first checkpoint. Anyway, in short I was granted my 6 month visa, but by the time I made it through the baggage check area (thankfully I wasn’t picked for further examination there) I’d just missed the check-in for my next flight (3hrs after my original scheduled arrival time).

Read the rest of this entry →

Went to the 2nd session of a 3-part fashion illustration/design course today at which there was an hour of life drawing, with easels and all! Unfortunately I missed the first half hour, but here’s a 10 minute pose.

The rest of the workshop consisted of fashion design with a focus on recycling and combining old clothes. Creativity and craziness was encourage. I started work on a ‘pant hat’, and will likely publish the final result after the final session in 2 weeks. I’m totally reinventing belts as headwear though. Remember where you heard it first – I’m the next fashion pioneer.

We have an epically-talented lineup of artists for this exhibition so be sure to check it out!

The artists are:

Otilee and Brendan Ninness of ForksOpenDoors
Rebecca Lee
Mitchell and Dent
Jessica Singh – who also has her solo show launching the same evening on the other side of Little Creatures’ gallery wall.
Nick Lowe
Luci Everett
Yolanda Stapleton
and ofcourse myself.

The theme for the exhibition is Summer and contains all new work from the artists available for sale.

On display will be limited edition digital paintings and photographic prints, illustration and original mixed media works.

If you’d like to know more I can be contacted via:

sb (-at-) simonboxer (-dot-) com
or call 0401 660 286

Technology – crazy stuff.

Zap.

Did a little illustration job today for a mining company. It basically involved making dull things shiny, and was actually quite enjoyable!

Read the rest of this entry →

I went to a Dot Dot Dash workshop last night, at which artists were paired with writers and will be working on a short story stemming from the theme “Ugly”. I believe the basic premise of Dot Dot Dash’s conception was a student-run publication for aspiring writers and artists to get published. As such, most of the people participating are either recent graduates, current students or hobbyists. The first issue is of a high standard though, I was impressed. Looks very swish. There are some very passionate people behind this magazine.

Anyway, for issue 2 some of these short stories will be published. I’m working with a girl named Vanessa on a story about an ogre who has little creatures building a city in his mouth. That’s all I’ll say for now, but here’s a little visual development for the ogre character: