http://www.drawger.com/andyward/ Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:53:01 EST FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://drawger.com/_images/drawger_leo_logo.gif http://www.drawger.com/andyward http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9902 This is a piece I really enjoyed, worked up in a cross stich/tapestry style for today's WEEKEND magazine cover for the UK's Daily Mail. I work regularly with A.D's Chris and Andy at the Mail having two regular weekly slots in the paper and they often call with extra jobs outside of the slots. This was a nice one, not a style i've worked in before and a lot of fun working out the technique. The feature is on Jean Baggott and her cross stitch work focussing on a beautiful, intricate tapestry she has worked up of her life to date. I didn't have the copy to work from and sadly as i live in Italy i don't have the magazine either yet but having seen some low-res images of  the tapestry it looks pretty amazing and i was able to understand that this really is an incredible piece of work. I had one day from briefing to delivery so tried to absorb as much as i could of the  cross stitch working process in order to produce something as faithful as i could by adapting my digial style. I approached the style as simply as i could and after building a series of cross stich brushes in photoshop i literally cross stitched the whole ilustration stitch by stitch.This drawing process has it's limitations as the freedom of both line and rendering are determined by the grid format of the calico/mesh upon which the stitches are applied. A kind of analogue pixel art if you will. The technique was not as restrictive a style as i initially thought it might be. Working within the grid and learing to allow the grid to act as guide and lead the way was strangely comforting and there was a slight sense of security knowing that wherever i go with the subject matter the style will remain constant. I love being lead in different directions by those left of filed commissions, really enjoyed this one. I doubt whether this working style will be commisioned again but it was fun while it lasted.















]]> Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:50:21 EST http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9845 The Lonely Firefly solo show opened in Milan earlier in the month  - a big thanks to everyone who turned out for the opening, it was a fun night. A special thanks too to everyone who worked hard to get the show up and running including Mauro, Giusy, Piero, Raquel, Roberta and all at Atom Plastic and Mutado. My printer here in Bassano, Renato, gets a grazie mille for his great work producing the lonely firefly figure series. Print technology has moved on so much since i did my last show in London seven or eight years ago and the possibilites are seemingly endless nowadays. As well as the forex/pvc laser cut and heat moulded firefly figures that Renato produced i was also able to produce small runs of badges, posters, laminated large format posters, and the large format forex mounted photographic prints of the work itself. Tookata People were also kind enough to lend a series of printed leather accessories for the show, I love the digital era! love it! Artwork from the show is now available through Atom Pastic's online store













]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:07:57 EST http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9685 Atom Plastic, milan will be hosting a solo show of my work from the 04th Feb thru 04th March entitled  ‘The Lonely Firefly’. The pioneering art toy shop and gallery space was launched towards the end of last year and I was invited to be the first artist to show there - Grazie Ragazzi! It’s a great venue in the centre of town run by the supremely talented Italian design supremo Mauro Gatti of Mutado his wife the equally supreme Giusy (who’s blog is always worth checking), and the just as supreme Piero Degasperi who owns and runs Atom Plastic here in Bassano and to whom i still owe a pizza. Atom has been pioneering the art toys, comic books, and all round good art market in Italy for several years now and the new site in Milan is testament to the Italians impeccable taste ;) The show features a selection of some of my favourite pieces i’ve made for the fashion industry over the last 5 years and the images are accompanied by a selection of the garments and accessories made from the designs. The show will also feature the unveiling of the limited  edition figure ‘The Lonely Firefly’ commissioned for the show and produced in an edition of 25. A selection of leather accessories i collaborated on with Cailfornia label Tookata People will also be available at the show.  Atom were kind enough to interview me earlier in the week.  Be great to see you if you’re in the area - Atom Plastic Milano, Thursday 04th Feb. at 18:00h.



















]]> Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:01:21 EST http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8832 This is a Portrait of human rights activist Nnimmo Bassey for Time magazine's ‘Heroes of The  Environment 2009’.  Bassey is head of Environmental Rights Action in his home country of Nigeria and  has been recognised for his continuing fight for a safe environment for the people of the oil producing Niger Delta. Namely a fight against the oil companies, namely Shell. Oil flares are dotted around the delta area, used to burn off the oils’ natural flammable gasses and along with the oil come the added bonusses of explosions, leaks, and general environmental devastation. I mixed up a few techniques for the piece, hand painting and airbrushing most of the background for a dirtier, scummy graffiti feel and rendered Nnimmo in a more rounded, cleaner digital finish. I also wanted to show Nnimmo’s pride in his culture through his delicately embroidered and printed traditional shirt.



]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:42:11 EST http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8789 Back in spring I was commissioned by Calico to work on a card game - Notable Novelists: A Card Game For Book Lovers. The seeds were sown way back then and this morning harvest came courtesy of the UPS man and a weighty package of Notable Novelist samples. I jumped at the opportunity of working on this project as the idea of a flip top boxed card game for kids aimed at introducing them to the work of James Baldwin, Kurt Vonnegut, Hemingway, Woolf, and more was just irresistable.  Projects such as these have become priority for me as they have a longevity far beyond that of the  editorial work i mostly do and to see my artwork used primarily for play/learning adds a completely new value to it. Flipping open the little palm sized box, sliding out the thick, shiney round cornered playing cards and shuffling through the portraits was one of those moments i silently declare my undying love for this business, this beautiful business. Long live those little left of field jobs that fall down upon us from heaven.





















]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:22:49 EST http://www.drawger.com/andyward/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8504 A little while ago a large, heavy package dropped by the studio containing my run ons of the Chatterbooks refresh i'd worked on earlier in the year - 1000 A3 sticker sheets to play with. My box full of A3 sticker sheets from Chatterbooks 1.0 was dangerously low and the natives were getting restless. Chatterbooks is a UK reading initiave aimed at getting young kids 5-12 into reading. The charity works with libraries and schools across the country creating reading groups. There are over 400 chatterbooks groups around the UK now and each member receives their very own Chaterbooks pack on joining. The original Chatterbooks had an orange theme as it was sponsored by UK communications company Orange. Version 2.0 was themed in sky blue. There was no sponsorship this time around so to keep the budget within reason i also offered to art direct and design the project within the illustration fee. It was an amazing project to work on and having a little more control over the art direction and design allowed me to stretch my legs and give my work some room. I wanted from the get go that the kids had a say in the design so i set up a feedback group through the reading agency and several chatterbooks groups. The feedback ran from the initial character sketches and colour schemes right through to the logo and type design. As expected the feedback on the charatcer designs from the kids was at times surreal, sometimes frightening, often crushing, and always phenomenal. I hope the few groups that helped shape the look of Chatterbooks 2.0 feel a sense of ownership of the project and enjoyed the process.

























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