Scott Rhodes Illustrator

Boats in the harbour

2011-04-20T07:15:00.001+01:00

Taken in Kefalonia last year, yes the sea really was that clear and turquoise.
To fit into the card format I duplicated the same boat.

Beer Garden

2011-04-11T10:03:00.004+01:00

Photos done at the weekend in this unseasonally beautiful weather.

Wanted

2011-04-07T12:07:00.004+01:00

Inspired by American Hatch show prints, that have previously informed my editorial work, I thought of doing a wanted poster as a card, as far as I know this has not been done - I've not seen it anyway. Includes all my favourite hallmarks; wood, distressed type, old paper and 2 colour combinations

2011-04-07T11:29:00.003+01:00

Really nice to be featured on the Printpattern blog, still the best in our industry.
http://printpattern.blogspot.com/2010/03/mothers-day-warren-son.html

Crown & country

2011-03-26T18:12:00.004Z

My blog posts have been getting fewer and fewer, because I've been quite busy, mostly with card work, and this blog was originally concentrating on my other work primarily editorial which has unfortunately now dried up.
It seems in my experience, magazines are commissioning less and less in a very competitive market as their advertising is dwindling as the print media shrinks.
Even my monthly 2 illustrations for The Guitarist seems to have disappeared, a shame I really loved doing those - often quite a challenge and at times it really got the brain going.
Anyway here are my latest designs for my Crown & country range.
You can see more here

Greetings from Mendips

2011-01-04T09:14:00.002Z

For an article about John Lennon's house (more like a middle class hero really.)
I wanted a vintage postcard feel. The lack of any guitar in the house was noted, so the silhouette 'gap' was always part of the design. Something else was needed, the strawberry was just right, and obviously signifies strawberry fields for ever.

Personal column

2011-01-04T08:58:00.002Z

This editorial illustration of a vintage personal column for a 'guitar for life' was simple but an effective solution. I had to match the old newspaper with the design I created.

Dead end

2010-09-28T13:37:00.002+01:00

For an editorial illustration about the death of the cheque. I wanted it to have an autumnal theme, and had Autumn Leaves by Millais in mind for the feel I wanted.
The grave photo was taken for this project (the client wanted a bigger and more ornate Victorian one than the original that I chose - and it works better.)
Instead of 'old people' huddled round a grave, as the original suggestion in the brief, I thought it would work to use old fashioned people - like this Victorian gentleman, with his pen quill.
I like to add details like the bird stealing the old fashioned cheque, and signed BACS on the grave, which is how I get paid in nearly all cases these days.

Back from my hols....

2010-09-14T14:37:00.001+01:00

DNA

2010-08-31T11:01:00.003+01:00

This was a really good commission from Oxford Today magazine.
Ostensibly about DNA and the consequences of it's discovery, it was to include Darwin as a main feature along with the DNA double helix. I've not done any work like this for a while, and it's brilliant to get a commission for such an esteemed publication, read by suitably intelligent illumni.
I relished working on it, I am interested in these subjects that require proper thought, and I wanted to include enough metaphors and elements to appeal to intellectuals reading the magazine. Darwin is opening the door to the double helix, with a key that also unlocks the keyhole in his brain. He is followed by the monkey Darwin who follows him everywhere he goes. The brain of the monkey is the double helix coin from 2003. The butterflies represent the overload of information escaping. The picture in the top left hand corner is a vintage family tree. Elements such as the Origins of life book cover and inside pages, DNA fingerprints and Darwin's own handwriting appear as ghostly elements. It was like a jigsaw, fitting all the pieces together, but being careful not to overdo it.
I was really pleased with the result and so was the client.

Stop thief!

2010-08-31T06:46:00.008+01:00

The brief for this guitar thief illustration was a "typical stumpy character, black eye mask, black and white striped top depicting the thief somehow stealing a guitar" it was to be in the style of "Pink Panther" DePatie-Freleng - and I was looking at 1950's style cartoons generally. I loved hanna-barbera cartoons as a child - so I wanted to evoke that look as well.
I also wanted simplicity, in composition and quality of line to look like it was hand done, so I sent some time in illustrator getting the line work just so for that authentic look.

Lefthanders

2010-08-03T12:44:00.004+01:00

I love doing parody designs, and this seems to be my signature style for the Guitarist magazine.
This article was about left handers - and as one myself I wanted to do it justice!
A 1950's advertisement was what was required, which means my usual limited colour (usually red and black) and aged paper. The main type is actually Coca cola, and the smaller type Futura and one called Balloon, which I got for this piece as it suited this design. I loved doing all the little details like the cut away coupon - which adds to it's authenticity.
Job done!

Back from Kefalonia

2010-07-27T17:34:00.004+01:00

Just back from my hols, see more photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottrhodes/

Nu Ukes

2010-06-28T07:52:00.003+01:00

For an article about the writer's aversion to the ukulele. This parody of the No Nukes poster was a great idea by my art director. It was all looking ok, with the ghostly apparition of George Formby, and the nuclear explosion, but something was missing. I tried adding little instruments in the mushroom cloud, but this was not working an looked fussy. Then quickly adding 2 larger ukuleles as glasses gave that menacing air that was needed, reminded me of the ban the bomb sign, and the nuclear waste symbol - and in that moment I knew it was complete.

More guitars...

2010-06-07T10:51:00.002+01:00

For an article about how vintage is vintage?

Nice cakes

2010-06-01T18:40:00.001+01:00

I put loads of new photos on my Flickr site including this one, I took in London at the weekend.

Roll over Beethoven

2010-05-05T08:57:00.003+01:00

A new editorial piece

Man and fish in Chip shop Queue....

2010-04-27T12:24:00.002+01:00

I wonder what the fish ordered....

Hatch Show influences

2010-04-14T12:12:00.004+01:00

These new illustrations were influenced by the Hatch show style, which is an American letterpress print shop that traditionally produced posters often for country artists', and have included work for Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and more up to date, REM.
The first illustration - Steve Cropper came very quickly - often the best designs do - but it helped that I had a clear and bold idea of what I wanted to do. The second, a little more subtle, but worked just as well.

Great British Birthday

2010-03-27T13:16:00.004Z

3 of my favourite things plus the flag for simply the aesthetic value...

Love Union

2010-03-24T13:03:00.003Z

Editorial work seems to be scarce at the moment, so I'm concentrating on designing loads of new greeting card designs hopefully to sell..
Mainly (though not exclusively) masculine captions as clients often ask me for these...
The union flag seems to be fashionable at the moment, this has to be a good thing, it is aesthetically pleasing.
See some more here

No no never!

2010-03-17T16:06:00.002Z

For an editorial illustration about a designer showing his board something different .

Start the day

2010-03-13T12:21:00.002Z

I always start the day off with a proper coffee - here's an illustration of it...

Print Pattern Book

2010-02-25T14:03:00.003Z

I'm kind of a split personality when it comes to work.
I started off my professional career almost 20 years ago, as an illustrator, with a job for Granada TV, then an illustration in The Observer magazine, for 'A Doctor writes' column. The thrill of going to the newsagent and buying a copy, and seeing your work in print never really leaves you. I just had that experience when I got a copy of the new Print & Pattern book through the door.
The other part of my work is greeting card and wrapping paper, which I kind of got into by accident in the early 90's working for Lip International.
I started designing on the computer in the late 90's (used to paint before then - by hand) and had a few studio jobs, including Senior designer at Carlton cards
I few years ago I wanted to be freelance again.
This blog is mainly about my editorial work, but of course I still love doing cards & wrap.
So when the Bowie who runs the leading blog on this industry Print Pattern wanted to print my work in her first book, (a collection of the leading print & pattern designers) - I was really thrilled. To be in a coffee table book is a dream of mine, especially when it's of this quality, and other designers are of the standard of Orla Kiely! I really loved my page, how the pieces she chose sit together, and the way it was designed (the logo using my initials are a really lovely touch.)
There's a really interesting article about the huge influence of PrintPattern from last Sundays Independent here
You can buy the book at Amazon here
For anyone who has found this blog from the book, here's lots of more work:
Scott Rhodes Card designs
Scott Rhodes Wrapping paper

Robert Johnson

2010-02-19T12:16:00.007Z

This was an interesting follow up to the last illustration I did last month about blues legend Robert Johnson. I needed to do it in the same style as it was a continuation of the article. The first attempt really worked, especially the use of the recently found photograph of the man - that the article actually mentions.
However I found out that The Robert Johnson estate charges a high fee to use his image, which ruled that out.
So now we had a problem - I have to illustrate an article about a musician, but we cannot use his image! We countered that problem last month with the brilliant idea of using his shadow on a dusty crossroads - meeting the devil.
However, I was able to replace his image with that of his replica guitar. Just replacing it didn't quite work though, so I had to re structure the whole illustration.
I made more of the envelope, stamp and map - this represented all the traveling he did in his lifetime - and we have the result.
Hopefully the image has the right feel to evoke the history of the blues legend.

Chemistry

2010-01-26T09:33:00.003Z

For an article about band chemistry, the brief called for a hand drawing of test tubes in an old school rack with different coloured test tubes indicating each element of the band. I loved the idea, but thought a photo would be more effective, I could just picture it in my head. The only problem was that I didn't have any test tubes. After various emails sent out to friends proved fruitless, I took another trip out to Bygone times in Chorley. After at least an hours search and about to give up, I found a set of bath salts that looked the part. I bought some food colouring, but only used one of them (the bright red), the other colours are washing up liquid. After I designed the labels, I spent a day photographing the result, (and in poor light) - and one of the first pics I took had just the right light - after quite a bit of adjusting in Photoshop.
The result is satisfying and has that bright shiny, colourful scientific look that I imagined.
I would not class myself as a photographer, but I can effectively use photography in my illustrations. What's good is being given the freedom to use whatever method fits the specific brief best.

Crossroads

2010-01-26T09:18:00.003Z

The brief was for an article about following in the footsteps of blues guitarist Robert Johnson and exploring the myth of him meeting the devil at a crossroads. Seeing just his shadow on a dusty southern crossroads was a challenge, but a brilliant idea by my art directors and suited the mood of the article.
I added the shadow of the devil as it needed something more, and was very pleased with the final result- it just had the right 'feel' to it.

Flyer 2010

2010-01-14T12:38:00.006Z

I had to design a flyer to send to future clients, somehow linking all the elements of my work together, and showing all my skills, but still working as an aesthetically pleasing design that would attract people to my website.

Snowed in

2010-01-08T09:05:00.001Z

Let it snow.....

2010-01-05T18:47:00.003Z

Amazing amount of snow fell today.....

A load of old baubles...

2009-12-23T19:12:00.005Z

The light was amazing today, so I went out to a local park to take these pictures in the snow - which of course reflects the light wonderfully. I hardly tweaked these photos believe it or not - they were pretty perfect from the off.
I was so pleased with the results, I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
You can see more here

Christmas Markets

2009-12-22T11:07:00.006Z

I went to the Manchester's Christmas markets yesterday for the last time before they leave.
You can seem more Christmas photos here:
The snow is really coming down now....

2009-12-08T12:45:00.002Z

An article about how a man is having a 'fling' with another guitar.
The 'comic book' style really suited this as a light hearted approach was what was needed.
My big addiction as a child was comics - this style is influenced by years of reading the Beano, Dandy, Buster,Whizzer and chips, and Whoopee!
Life could not really get much better than a pile of my favourite comics, and a bag of sweets!

Doing the Can-can

2009-11-27T13:56:00.002Z

For an article about if people really can tell the difference in tone between a US made Gibson guitar and one made in the far east. Another great idea from my art directors over at Guitarist magazine. A take on the advert from the 80's 'take the pepsi challenge', the idea was to have two cans of 'tone' exactly the same apart from the 'made in...' at the bottom.
I bought a load of cans to photograph, but the one I used was an amalgam of a red stripe beer can (for the white and red colour) and a coke can - the size and can top. The type is actually the coca cola font. For the finished look, I wanted it to look hyper-real, I remembered some of the art of the photorealists which would often exaggerate the shine and reflections on the surface.
The subject matter reminded me of some of the photo realistic still lives, often things like sauce bottles (like that of Ralph Goings) the great american diner, and pop art.

2009-11-06T10:04:00.002Z

A new editorial piece.
I really love using two colours and the combination of dots to create the tonal range.
I'm going to create a range around this design. Watch this space....

Nearly a healthy start...

2009-11-04T12:52:00.001Z

These illustrations were very nearly going to be used for a very high profile advertising campaign for the NHS.
Although the agency chose my style, unfortunately the research carried out did not favour an illustration route in the end - shame, but at least I have some new portfolio pieces.

Two illustrations about killing

2009-10-06T12:31:00.005+01:00

The first is a parody of the famous 'Home taping is killing music' from the 70's, but updated for the new century. I thought that a Banksy graffiti stencil style would be apt, interesting and challenging to me.
But it was important that a hand done look was achieved. So instead of doing it all digitally, which would have been possible - I cut out my own stencil and spray painted it, overlaying it on a photo of the wall in my back yard. The final touch of a blood splatter finished it off.
The second was about the 'death' of a limited edition Jimmi Hendrix guitar before production had even begun. It was a brilliant idea by the guys at Guitarist - of a crime scene. But they thought that the grave element was a bit too much. So I went out and took a photo of some flagstones - which I actually ended up preferring - as it's a simpler design.
What I love about having a regular column is having the freedom to answer the brief in whatever medium I choose or combination of. Bringing in more of my photography into the work is really satisfying and adds that further string to my bow.
Sometimes, I am concerned about having such disparate 'styles', as all the most successful illustrator's have a distinct idiosyncratic style.
But doing it differently each time keeps it fresh and interesting to me. In a way it reminds me of the Btec/Foundation course I did in my youth - where in the morning it would be printmaking, afternoon painting etc.
At the end of the day, it's the communication of the idea that counts more than the medium anyway.

2009-09-29T15:03:00.004+01:00

Just got the Sunday Times travel magazine through the door this morning which has one of my illustrations in it. Quite a dry article on exchanging money on holiday, it was still quite a nice job to do, (with all the pieces that I fitted together like a jigsaw.)
My original illustration had more contrast in it with the hands more of the central feature, but the art director wanted to make the locations more obvious - its often tricky putting the clients ideas in, and making it work as an illustration.
I was fairly pleased with the result, and it is always nice to be in such a good magazine.

2009-09-21T10:26:00.002+01:00

Some photos I took whilst away in Almeria Spain. This region has been used as on location by many hollywood films and spaghetti westerns because of its similarity in landscape to the American west - it is windswept and desert like. It was also the place that John Lennon wrote Strawberry fields forever whilst filming 'How I won the war'

A Sound choice

2009-08-27T13:42:00.003+01:00

An illustration for an article in my monthly spot, this time about the rise of Spotify.
Coincidentally I've started using Spotify myself recently, it's great for listening to albums you're not sure whether to buy or not. With current working days of around 12 hours, that's a lot of hours of music and speech to listen to. The BBC website is great for me these days for choosing BBC radio programmes and TV shows I may have missed.
I also get access to the radio genius that is Danny Baker who is on BBC radio London between 3 and 5.

The Usual Suspects

2009-08-24T11:59:00.002+01:00

A parody of the famous film poster on different musician 'types' done in my Beano style for a magazine article.
The limitations given when using this style of 2 main colours is enjoyable to do - creating tone with just use of the dot pattern alone. I also occasionally put in a slight intentional mismatch as you would have got with the old style print process. It adds to the whole feel of the piece.

The Big Chill

2009-08-12T14:26:00.002+01:00

Just been to the Big Chill festival in Ledbury, England. Here's a few pics....

Beach House

2009-08-05T13:00:00.003+01:00

When I came back to freelance illustrating after a few years working in studios, I was looking forward to getting some editorial work that would stretch my brain cells a bit. However a large part of my work is still in the greeting cards and wrapping paper market. This work tend to be just aesthetic, without any greater meaning. It's still really enjoyable and brings its own set of problems.
This work is part of a larger collection based on the Beach House theme, for a US client. I love to create a collection, creating a colour palette first and then designing it all from there.

Piggie

2009-08-04T19:36:00.002+01:00

I've been so busy lately for some reason I've not had time to blog.
This is a new card taken by The Art Group. I'm especially proud as it's the first photo I've had published. I was just walking past a tacky gift shop in London and I just spotted it.
I don't class myself as a photographer, but I can visualize a good picture.
The union flag and all that paraphernalia seems to be fashionable at the moment.

2009-07-14T12:08:00.002+01:00

Another photo from a beautiful beach in Menorca, with the most crystal clear turquoise water I've ever seen. I really like this picture of various tiny people seen from above - enjoying the water. I have to fight hard not to put turquoise into every illustration I do - it's my favourite colour.

2009-07-14T10:15:00.005+01:00

The next commission was another one for Health and Fitness Magazine. I really enjoy getting free rein on an illustration and creating a visual solution for a large article, and this was no exception. It was about the environment harming your health in various different ways. In stark contrast to the previous job I completed (below) my other slightly more humorous style worked well, with the fast food, and all the nasty things chasing the jogger.
Using my old typefaces seemed to really bring the illustration together, and my craft paper base seemed apt for the organic food bit.
I love that base green colour (inspired by a burger t shirt I have)
Changes were needed - the main one being the car - I was dubious if I could get it to look right, to be a character and being cute at the same time, but I was very pleased with the results. The rubber stamp type addition at the clients request matches the font that is used in the article.

2009-07-14T09:57:00.002+01:00

Not had chance to blog for a while, been so busy, with a backlog of work that came in all at the same time whilst I was away. First was this article about being control freak in the home for Sainsbury's magazine. The idea was from them, which is sometimes tricky making it work exactly how the client envisions it. I suggested the house like a dolls house - as I like to work from a central image - I find it aesthetically more pleasing.
This is the first draft before some changes were made, the house was moved to the side to avoid the gutter (something you have to remember) so everything was moved around slightly.
For the feel of the image, I was thinking about old Brad Holland illustrations from years ago. For anyone that doesn't know, I think he's the godfather of modern concetpual illustration. So many people have been influenced by him (some have based their whole careers on emulating his work). His style and use of colour of course is superb, but more important than that - it's the visual metaphors and striking visual ideas where he shines.

Holidays...

2009-07-02T17:57:00.005+01:00

I've been away to sunny Spain,swimming in the sea - I'll post more photos soon.
Since I've come back I've been mega busy with loads to catch up on.
The heat in my little studio is amazing - it's super hot in the UK right now...

2009-06-15T12:48:00.002+01:00

Illustrating an article about a "guitar that supposedly once belonged X, was stolen, found it’s way in to Y’s possession and was then purchased from Y by Z. Now X has recognised it and thinks it could well be his guitar and has decided to sue Z."
I did the guitar in question as a homeless tramp, using minimum colours and simple two tone design which I thought made a striking and successful illustration.

It's all about me!

2009-06-12T15:59:00.003+01:00

Here's an illustration of what happens when you don't have a clear idea of how you want your illustration from the beginning. The brief was for "a guitar shape/silhouette which is entirely made up of lots of repetitions of the word “ME”. As in “It’s all about ME!”. Mixing lots of different typefaces and/or hand-drawn type."
I started the first one and was not happy with it, so from then on continued with various versions - none of which I was totally satisfied with. In the end I sent them all to the client for some art direction - he liked them all, and was a fan of the Saul Bass inspired ones. But in the end chose the bottom middle one as that seemed to fit the magazine and readership best of all.
Sometimes the simplest of jobs can be the most tricky, with all the elements not working exactly as they should. This is the nature of creative work, it's that ingredient x, that you're searching for, that moment when you just know it's complete.
Incidentally the font I used in the Saul Bass inspired ones is called Hitchcock by Matt Terich and can be found here

Various Characters

2009-06-04T14:07:00.002+01:00

I've been doing more and more character work, especially in the US. Perhaps this happy, cute, sweet style acts as light relief against the glum recession news etc.
I guess my two slightly different styles reflect the two parts of my personality as well.

The Bottle

2009-05-15T14:35:00.004+01:00

This is an illustration for Guitarist magazine, Art Directed by Phil Millard who came up with the brilliant idea of an elixir in an old apothecary jar, called 'vintage vibe' that would give the player an instant 'mojo' in the same way that reproductions of classic guitars claim to.
It was a great idea, and needed doing properly to justify it.
So I travelled up the motorway to a place called Bygone times in Chorley in Lancashire.
This is an old mill crammed full with loads of 'old stuff' for want of a better word, not really antiques, but really interesting.
They had loads of old bottles and I found just the one, and it was really cheap.
Next I bought some brown sugar and poured it in the bottle, to make it appear like the alixir.
I came home and designed the label, looking at old packaging, and making it look as authentic as I could, distressing the edges.
The next part, was actually photographing it with my trusty Nikon D50 camera.
I took 35 shots in the shoot, and of course the first one was the best!
But I did bring in parts of another photo which I like elements of (the shine and lighting, and the label was clearer.)
Opening the RAW file (essentially like a digital dark room) then cleaning it up in Photoshop was the final piece of the jigsaw.
Phil absolutely loved it, I've found that 99 times of 100, if I love it the client will, and is unlikely to change a lot.

2009-04-30T10:05:00.002+01:00

For a magazine article showing growing your own veg, organic food labels, animal welfare, air-miles food travels, and supporting fair-trade schemes etc.
As there were quite a few parts to the illustration, and the client was not exactly sure about the size, I decided to arrange it in blocks, making it easy to change format if need be.
Also they can use parts of it as spot illustrations throughout the article. I was really pleased with the colour combinations and the contrast with the two somewhat disparate parts of my work - the cutesy, and the more serious montage. The client liked the bright colours, the use of the old lettering, and the hand made look in my work. And the craft paper suited this organic theme brilliantly.

2009-04-24T12:11:00.002+01:00

This is for an article for Prevention Magazine on receiving computer mailed reminders for annual health screenings. A simple, bright and light hearted illustration was needed by the client. This is the initial piece I have just sent to them. If there are any changes, I shall post those as well, so you can get an idea of some of the amends required by a professional illustrator.

Vintage illustrations

2009-04-09T11:09:00.003+01:00

The Encyclopaedia of Illustration compiled by Gerard Quinn has over 5000 illustrations, mainly from the 19th century. It is now out of print, but can be found on second hand book websites. I love it (especially the dog smoking on the cover) and have used it and other Victorian engraving books in my illustrations.
The Dover book shop in London is a brilliant resource for finding these drawings.
For this illustration, the client wanted that vintage look, so it was perfect a perfect job for me, and with the addition of the old distressed paper, the illustration was quickly and easily completed.

Dreams of an English Summer

2009-04-01T10:25:00.003+01:00

I've not done any photographs for ages, I thought it was about time. As the summer approaches (thank god!) I created a collage of some pics I took last year in Brighton. I wanted to make the colours over saturated, echoing the picture postcards from the 70's, when the mass printing process always exaggerated the colours, especially the cyan blue skies.
I love the seaside, and all the paraphernalia in the beach shops, the day-glo buckets, spades and little flags. On this piece I've included the quintissential english deckchairs, the fish and chip shop, the pier and the english rose.
Alan Bennett our greatest living writer said that the Union flag always had the best colours in comparison with other countries. I have to agree with him. If you take the obvious connotations out of it, it is aesthetically beautiful.
Also of influence, is the brilliant Magnum photographer Martin Parr, and his book 'Think of England"
I love the over saturated colours and the use of the flag, gaudy exaggerrated pattern and flowers. It is comic, opinionated, and savagely satirical.
http://www.martinparr.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-England-Martin-Parr/dp/0714844543

Keep it simple stupid

2009-03-31T10:29:00.003+01:00

An article for Prevention magazine, on the health benefits of part time meat eating, and 'flipping' wheatena cereal into your breakfast for the benefit of your heart. I was especially pleased with the way the colours really sing on the buff background colour. That simple colour contrast can really lift an illustration. I learnt to mix colours properly in cmyk mode several years ago when I first started working for UK greetings. Before then, colour for me was an afterthought. When designing a card range, I often start off with the colour pallette. This book, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-Index-Jim-Krause/dp/0715313975/ref=sr_1_1/277-0755917-8532431?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238492197&sr=8-1 The Colour Index is an invaluable source for colour combinations. I tend to mix onscreen in photoshop as well.

2009-03-09T14:41:00.002Z

I was again inspired by vintage Penguin book covers for this article about Plectrums. I started off with lots of Plectrums, but it didn't work, and was over fussy. It takes experience to say to yourself - this isn't working - start again.
I was really pleased with this simple design - and added the dog eared book cover bends to make it look authentic.

Stress!

2009-03-04T10:54:00.004Z

This illustrates me perfectly recently (without the hair and glasses) - I've been juggling a few different jobs - both in North America though - so there's been the time difference - which can work to the illustrators advantage regarding deadlines, but it can mean that you're waiting all day for a response for roughs that you've emailed. This illustration is one of a series for the Indianapolis monthly magazine on "How to get rid of stuff" - this particular one deals with: "I am going to read/fix/organize all of that when I have some free time.” All good intentions, of course. But, let’s face it, that ever-rising stack of New Yorkers on your night stand is probably more of a stress trigger"
This is a subject close to my heart - I just love to throw stuff out/give to charity - and my work space has to be fairly tide for me to start work - sad I know! Clearly inspired by Edvard Munch's 'The Scream', I was really pleased with the simplicity of the composition, the balance of colours that really sing - and the addition of the New York Times text - on top.
As usual with the best of my stuff - it came to me quickly and fluidly - after an hour or so - it was almost done.
A few suggestions from the client (add hair and make less baby like) and it was complete.

Turn on, tune in.....

2009-02-19T13:06:00.002Z

...Play out!
The article was about encouraging people to get out of their bedrooms and playing their guitars in public. I managed to find a fantastic photo from Image bank Corbis.
The style that was needed was 50's advertising. At first the client wanted me to reproduce a similar illustration to 'Lets Rock' (http://scottrhodesillustrator.blogspot.com/2008/12/lets-rock.html) I was happy to do that, but felt like I didn't want to repeat myself - and I could just visualise the illustration more or less as is. This is always a good sign - the most successful illustrations come with a clear idea of what you want at the very beginning. If you don't then messing around for hours with no clear idea is a real bind - and often results in a less strong images (though sometimes happy accidents happen.) Also my best illustrations are executed very quickly because of this.
There is so much inspiration on the Internet, no illustrator has any excuse to be uninspired (though it happens to us all.)
Here's some vintage cigarette ads that were an influence on this project:
http://flickr.com/groups/13876518@N00/pool/

2009-02-18T16:18:00.002Z

It was a real thrill to do a piece illustrating Motown's unsung musical hero's of mine The Funk Brothers, the studio band who played on all of those tracks I love so much.
I incorporated parts of their signature style - the stars and text and graphics from those wonderful vinyl records, and melded them together using my signature style - old paper and a vintage feel that really suited the subject matter celebrating 50 years of Motown.

The simple (still) Life

2009-02-11T09:02:00.007Z

And now for something completely different:
I 've long loved still life paintings, since I used to be a painter myself. I'm a much better digital artist though. I love the speed which I can create on the mac, I went back to painting a while ago, and couldn't believe how long it took! It was quite theraputic though.
I've created these works, using my own photography, but with the feeling of those old masters works. I went to a wonderful exhibition of these in 1995 'Spanish Still Life from Velazquez to Goya', at the National Gallery London (book available here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spanish-Still-Life-Velazquez-Goya/dp/0300063563 )
I was especially taken with the work of Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 – 1664) less well known than his contemporary the great Velazquez.
The book cover above has an element of a still life by Juan Sánchez Cotán who was an major influence on Zuberan's work.
This painting created in 1600 has such beauty in its visual impact and the compostition is thought to have been created under strict guidelines of mathematics and geometry.
The natural order, simplicity and balance appeals to me and is something I always try to achieve in my own work.
I try to not put too much in that over complicates, and spoils the composition.
I love a lot of modern digital illustration (Vault 49 et al) This stuff is amazing and beautiful.
But it is not me - I like really simple composition and work.
What is not put in is as important as what is put in.

I ate all the Pies!

2009-02-04T14:15:00.003Z

I consider myself a bit of Pie connoisseur - the inspiration behind todays illustration.
http://www.pieminister.co.uk/ make excellent ones, available at many summer festivals, but the best Pie I ever ate was at the Windmill Pub in Mayfair London, they call their Steak & Kidney variety an "Institute of Pie Excellence" http://www.windmillmayfair.co.uk/

Owls

2009-02-02T09:57:00.003Z

Part of my on going Hi Cutie range - it's great to do a card range that is none Birthday/Christmas related. Key elements - simple, cute, minimal colour, screen print look, and 'hand painted'.
Even though it's created digitally - I work hard to make it look hand done. I start off with simple clean lines then paint over them for that rough edge. There has been a move away from that 'perfect' finish recently - it just looks to clinical and soul-less.

The rules

2009-01-22T10:02:00.003Z

Here' a new piece.
When you create an illustration style, you have to make rules that apply to that look. These are often more instinctive than planned - but here they are as I see them:
1. Keep it simple stupid!
In my opinion simple ideas are the best.
I cannot bear it when a client tries to add absolutely everything that is in the article.
It's a joy when you get an art director (as in this case) who says - we like your work, do what you want (within reason) they will always get a better job than those trying to meddle. That is not to say I am not averse to changes - the client is always right (even when they are wrong!)
But I think that adding loads of bits that may be found in the article is unnecessary, fussy and in my opinion inferior to a simple cleaner idea that represents the article (or may even add to it) in one bold design.
2. Limited colour palette
In this case and in a lot of my work, I am using a 50's inspired 2 tone colour palette.
In the past they would use just 2 colours, when that is all they were allowed in the printing process. But as in many cases having to kick against a limitation can allow creativity to roam.
3. Old style Typography.
These letter were printed using old fashioned printing blocks.
It's hard to believe, but at Manchester Polytechnic in the early 90's they still had sets of old lettering blocks - with the actual leading (gaps in between.) There were barely any computers then, and we certainly didn't use any for illustration. The computer though is just another tool - the idea is most important. The computer just lets you create it easier and quicker (though this is not always a good thing.)
4. Brown Paper.
All my work begins with a sheet of old brown or yellowing paper. The edge are uneven and look torn.
5. Distressed image.
A distressed screen print look that matches the typography.

Recycling

2009-01-16T10:18:00.004Z

As part of my regular column I was asked to create an illustration on how the credit crunch effects sales of guitars. As I'd already done a personal piece on this theme, (seen further down in this blog) I decided to adjust it to suit this subject. I was really pleased with the new version. It has the simplicity and balance I want to achieve in my work. It also has that feeling of a vintage poster that I like. As usual with my best illustrations, it was relatively quick to put together - it is the ones that I struggle with for days that often are least successful.

Vintage Rock!

2009-01-13T11:46:00.003Z

Some friends of mine make electronic music, I did this piece for them. Inspired by Monty Python's Flying Circus and using my collection of vintage illustrations.

The Eligible Bachelor

2009-01-12T07:54:00.003Z

Flicking around the TV channels yesterday I came across 'The Eligible Bachelor' a film made by Granada in 1992. It was the first job I had after leaving Manchester Metropolitan University. I had to draw the images Sherlock Holmes saw in a dream and had scribbled down. (They had to be purposively 'scruffy'.) It was very exciting going to see the actors rehearse and take photos of the late Jeremy Brett, I remember him saying "the eyes need to be black darling like yours, very black." It was all very 'actor' like. Brett was widely considered to be the definitive Holmes of his era. I didn't know it at the time but he had been hospitalized for much of the last decade of his life suffering from bipolar disorder .This film was sadly the last they made before his death in 1995.
I remember the joy of clearing my student overdraft with that first and in some ways most exciting of jobs.

A slow week.....

2009-01-09T11:02:00.005Z

It's been a slow week getting back into it, and not feeling particularly inspired after the Christmas break. It's difficult to explain the creative process, sometimes no matter how much you try - it just doesn't 'flow', at other times it comes so easy!
I'm currently waiting for a few jobs that are pending.....
I did get an email enquiry from nowpublic who wanted to use a photo of mine on an article about how a lot of Brits are contemplating getting a scooter. It was taken just coming out of a London pub - I just saw the red of the scooters and phone boxes and had to take the photo.
http://my.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/credit-crunch-sparks-scooter-revolution

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T11:37:00.002Z

I'm actually happy to be back at work today, after all the festivities.
As a great start to the new year, I'm featured as a selected artist at the front of the Association of illustrators (A.O.I) website. This is the website I always go to as a resource, and information about publications, pricing etc. They also have a great forum where you can contact other illustrators, and find out what's going on in their world - it's good to see the opinions of people in the industry.
http://www.aoiportfolios.com/content/content03.shtml

Christmas bear

2008-12-18T10:20:00.004Z

As part of my new Folklore range here's a new cute design....
Usually we work on Christmas in the first few months of the year, but I started early this year to get myself in the spirit!
You can see the rest of the range so far here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24380936@N08/

Let's Rock!

2008-12-15T13:58:00.003Z

I had an excellent brief for an illustration in a 50's American advert style. It should be a family guy and kids with a 'jetsons' feel, with a Danelectro guitar (the subject of the article.) Coincidentally I bought a fantastic book at the weekend called "Meet Mr Product"
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Mr-Product-Advertising-Character/dp/0811835898
This proved a fantastic resource for this brief as it contained hundreds of characters many from the 1950's used in vintage advertising. This has been a style well mined by the wonderful Candadian illustrator Gary Taxali, probably my favourite illustrator currently working today.

London

2008-12-08T17:27:00.008Z

We went to London recently for a weekend, and took these shots. You can see more here:
http://flickr.com/photos/scottrhodes/sets/72157605536822651/
Whilst there we went to Dennis Severs house on Folgate street in Spitalfields.
It was a truly amazing experience, ( you can not take photos inside though.)
I cannot compare it to anything else, it was like walking into a living old master painting or opera setting.
It is definitely not a museum or an art exhibition, but like walking back in time.
You enter the house in silence (no mobile phones thank god) and it is like the inhabitants have just left. Lit by candlelight, and fires in the grate, half eaten food is left, reading glasses and glasses of sherry. Your imagination is key here, and the more you let go to your senses, the more magical it is. The house is full of beautiful detail, but it is the feeling you have which is more important than any one thing. One might say - "oh this is the wrong century, in the wrong place" if one were trying to be 'clever', but this is missing the point entirely - it is not about seeing, but about soul and your feelings to it. Rather like Christmas itself.
I didn't want to leave, but wanted to sit for a while in that room with the large Christmas tree chatting to an imagined elderly aunt drinking tea, and eating those little cakes left out. As you go up a floor, you go forward in time until you reach the attic inhabited by Scrooge himself. Another room animates a Hogarth painting that you see on the wall of drunken men, you see a knocked over chair in the painting, and notice its real counterpart in the room.
Going back down, I lingered for a while in the rooms I'd passed through taking in the smells and looking round in awe and wonder one last time. This really was and unforgettable and magical experience and surely counts as a unique work of art, and true art is what I would call it, (though its creator Dennis Sever himself was hostile at any classification)

http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/#

Snowtown

2008-12-05T11:19:00.004Z

I usually keep my illustrations clean and simple, but on this picture from a few years ago I decided to try and create something a bit more complicated, almost a 'where's wally' image.
It took me a while to put all the detail in (every weekend for a month!) But it was worth it.

Christmas is coming!

2008-12-02T09:50:00.004Z

This is part of my new Christmas range 'Folklore' - inspired by Fuzzy felt and weird obscure animation from the eastern block that was on TV when I was a kid.

Vintage Inspiration

2008-11-25T16:36:00.008Z

Inspiration in the form of source materials is an invaluable resource for any illustrator.
I had two editorial illustrations to do, and found inspiration in the form of some wonderful Penguin book covers.
You can see quite a few on this Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joekral/sets/72157594264351021/
I've long been a fan of vintage books, their design, limited colour use and simplicity.
The first article was about how the original line up of any classic band is usually the best (especially Led Zeppelin.)
This is something that is quite tricky to convert to illustration. I chose a venn diagram and an old 70's text book feel with reference to the idea of being a mathematical formula for the band, and thinking about school books from when I was a kid.
This look was successfully spoofed by the BBC TV show 'Look around you'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/
For the second piece, (about using a fretless guitar) I went for a similar look, but this time the 50's look of the Jazz record label was the direct influence. I just love the simple use of colour and shape - it's a case of less is more when designing this way.

The Christmas Markets

2008-11-24T09:18:00.006Z

The run down to festivities has begun, with the arrival of the Christmas markets in Manchester. It really helps you get into the spirit wandering around, looking at the food stalls, taking samples of dutch cheese, drinking glüehwein and eating german sausages. I love this time of the year.
Here's some more photos:

Chille Beans!

2008-11-19T11:39:00.003Z

We're going to get a cold spell here in a few days time - winter will finally be upon us......

Keep Smiling!

2008-11-13T16:32:00.005Z

Being an illustrator is in general a fantastic job, you make your own hours, you can work from home, you have no boss - it's such a buzz completing a piece that really works, and eventually seeing your work in print.
In the main most clients are fantastic and I always try to give them the best job I possibly can, I take a lot of pride in my work no matter what the budget - so they are usually extremely pleased with what I give them - and hopefully they'll return.
However like any job, there are times that are not so fantastic:
- Some clients pay very little money for really a lot of work, (there are some jobs that pay less than minimum wage if you work out all the hours you spend on it.)
- Occasionally a client doesn't brief you properly, doesn't know what they want in the first place, but they know what they don't want!
- Now and then a client won't pay what they owe you for months (imagine saying to a plumber working on your house, thanks for that, I'll probably pay you in 3 months time!)
I expect this will occur more regularly in the current financial climate.
Anyhow this illustrates how I'm feeling at the moment...

My Autumn's Done Come

2008-11-07T09:10:00.006Z

The nights are drawing in, the days are crisp and chilly, my favourite season Autumn is truly upon us. This shot was taken at a nearby graveyard that is now a small walk through park.
It is my favourite part of Chorlton especially when the sun is shining. The light at this time of the year is beautiful.

Hi Cutie!

2008-11-04T09:54:00.007Z

I've designed some more cards for my 'Hi Cutie' range.
Once a style has been set, on the first few illustrations, it's relatively easy to continue.
I'm used to designing whole ranges of cards, it's pretty satisfying seeing the final product on display in a shop. You have to fight the urge to say, "I did that!"
Currently there are a few of my designs in Paperchase (just one in their Christmas range this year) Marks and Spencer, and probably the main supermarkets, where I have designed stuff for my old employer Carlton cards, and Camden Graphics.

Other blogs I like.

2008-11-04T09:41:00.006Z

I emailed the Tigerprint blog:
http://tigerprint.typepad.com/tigerprint/2008/11/scott-rhodes.html
They liked my work enough to feature it on their website - which was an honour.
Tigerprint are an off-shoot of Hallmark and do all the Marks and Spencers cards.
I've long been a fan of the products in M&S, they're always finished to a high quality.
I've always make my way there when looking at the market.

I think the tigerprint blog was inspired by the Print Pattern blog - the blog for surface pattern fans: http://printpattern.blogspot.com/
It's such a brilliant resource to see what's currently out there in the shops.
Bowie at Print & pattern is bringing a book out next year, I'm lucky enough to be featured, so I'm really looking forward to that.

Vegetable rights and Peace!

2008-10-29T10:04:00.003Z

This phrase comes from the hippy Neil in the 80's classic comedy 'The Young Ones'.
It's part of my new card range 'Hi Cutie'.
I am designing 20 in this series, the first being the mushrooms illustration below.
Details on where you can buy them on line to follow soon...

Make room for the mushrooms!

2008-10-23T09:11:00.003+01:00

It's mushroom season, I know this because a friend of mine brought me a huge bag of wild mushrooms he picked in Scotland. The phrase "make room for the mushrooms" seems to stick in my head - it's from a 1980's advert, promoting the eating of fungi (I think.)

The Credit Crunch

2008-10-15T10:41:00.003+01:00

I'm sure everybody is sick of the credit crunch already, anyway here's my illustration.
I'm currently making my work simpler and more graphic.
I've recently been inspired by Saul Bass and vintage Penguin book covers.

Just Choose!

2008-10-09T12:36:00.008+01:00

This weeks illustration is all about career paths.
It continues in my retro style and limited colour palette.
The boy reminds me of Charlie Brown. I was a big fan of the comic strip when I was younger, the melancholic feel of the films and the jazz soundtrack.

'Pico'

2008-10-02T10:26:00.010+01:00

Pico is a cute little character I've been working on for the greeting card and children's book market. He has a retro comic feel, which has been a big influence lately. In all my work I try to achieve a none digital look, I want to create that hand made feel that is not too perfect and clinical. Also I use lots of scans of old books and paper stocks, old fonts and found vintage images which helps to complete the illustration.

Man vs Machine

2008-09-25T14:26:00.007+01:00

In between commissions I like to work on personal illustrations.
They tend to influence my commercial work and vice versa.
This retro comic style was inspired by my work for Guitarist - "The Guitar based Gurner."
The subject matter is about the battle between the brain of man and artificial intelligence, informed by a Radio 4 programme about how a computer has been programmed to beat the best poker players in the world.

Illustrations published in this months Junior Magazine

2008-09-17T13:20:00.004+01:00

I just went round to our local newsagents to pick up the latest edition of Junior magazine to see my work illustrating Sophie Conran's excellent article about educating your child's taste buds. It was a great job, as it mixes my love of food, and the simpler brighter style I've been developing in the main for greeting cards.
Some of these have been published by Tigerprint for Marks & Spencer.
You can see the cards here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24380936@N08/sets/72157604036898451/detail/

New Illustrations for Guitarist Magazine

2008-09-17T11:45:00.003+01:00

I've just completed another illustration for Guitarist magazine, which is now a regular two columns per month. The first I did was a piece about the closure of recording studios, this was influenced by looking through old 78's in my parents record collection.
The latest about the funny faces guitarists pull when playing. I did this in homage to my childhood love of comics, the Beano, the Dandy, Whizzer and Chips and Whoopee!
These pieces reflect my slightly different styles, one comic, simpler and lighter and brighter, the other darker, and more complex.

Back from Seville.

2008-09-17T09:19:00.001+01:00

This is the first post of my new blog, I will use it to publish my current news and latest work as an illustrator, I'll also include anything creative that I'm doing. I've just come back from Seville and Andalucia, here's some photos from my trip. You can see more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottrhodes/sets/72157607337460018/