Electric Witches

I recently entered a competition run by Solestruck.com to design a shoebox for Miista's new shoe collection entitled Electric Witches.  I love the London-based company's designs and since the prize included free shoes I just couldn't resist entering.  I mean, who wouldn't want to win these?

Ori in Black

Even just the title 'Electric Witches' is a feast of inspiration.  I set about creating a magical mandala.

My Psychedelic Mandala

For my shoe box design I drew inspiration from ancient cultures and rave culture alike.  I looked to the signs and symbols of magick. The visual language of mysticism is often arranged in concentric circles like a wheel or mandala, representing the universe and infinity.
I drew my own mandala and chose to drape it over the lid; the void around draws everything inwards, to the eye at its heart.
I wanted electrifying colours: an inky blend of bright cyan, magenta and yellow, creating a rainbow mess. The black background provides a weight and darkness so that the design really pops. 

Miista Shoe Box Design

Part of the entry was to make a Pinterest board with your inspiration images.  Here's a link to mine.

The Art of Packaging

Here is a bit of work I did recently under the direction of Khary Simon for Jansy Packaging.  

Jansy Packaging design and manufacture packaging and accessories for cosmetics.  It was really interesting to study and portray the glass, acrylic and metal (and bristles) used.  I combined pencil drawings with ink for some variation in texture and colour.

After my part was done the individual drawings were arranged in a layout which will run as a print ad in a trade publication.  Voilà.

Bizness

I have not made a blog post in 2 months.  This, I know, makes me a bad human being.  I've been terribly busy on a number of projects that I can't share with you just yet.  

One thing I can share is this poster I designed and executed for a show long gone.  This was one of the best gigs I've ever been to, for the talent, energy, and sheer happy-making-ness going on there.  

I guess this is a bit more colourful than a lot of the stuff I do, but I think it's appropriate.


Tune-Yards have just played Coachella and here's a clip of 'Bizness' from their set...




If you dig it check out the album W H O K I L L and buy tickets to the next available show.

Happy Birthday Kurt Cobain

Today, the 20th February 2012, is Kurt Cobain's Birthday.  Were he still alive he would have turned 45 today.  It's difficult to imagine.  To the world Kurt Cobain will always be young and beautiful, dissatisfied and awkward in his own skin.

I honour I have drawn this tribute of the whole band.  I must admit I don't listen to Nirvana a lot these days, but I have had their whole discography on repeat for the past week.  It seems like I forgot what good music it is.  

Nirvana x 4

I made a gif of the drawing in progress.
Expect everything to be animated from here on in!

I also made the image into wallpapers for you to adorn you computer or cellular telephone with!  Enjoy...

Desktop Wallpaper 
click on the image above and save it

Phone Wallpaper
click on the image above and save that sucka

Competition time: Cover it up, luv!

You can now buy top notch phone covers from Mooskins that bear my designs and make your phone look pretty (if a little dark) with assorted songbirds, fawns and rubies drawn by my fair hand.  They are available for purchase to fit iPhone 3 / 4 / 4S and Blackberry 8520.  Take a look at the options here.

Mooskins also offer a brilliant custom service which allows you to have your favourite photo made into a phone cover.

These covers are great quality, good for protecting your fancy device from knocks and bumps, PLUS you get to personalise that thing that we never leave the house without and can't seem to put down (mobile telephone).  

To be generous and generally lovely we are offering the chance to win one of my designs (you pick) or a completely one-off super personal photo cover for two individuals!

To enter please tweet a link to the competition page and include @abihey and @MooskinsUK.  For example…

Cover your phone with @MooskinsUK and @abihey. For the chance to win follow the link: http://abihey.blogspot.com/2012/01/competition-time-cover-it-up-luv.html

Copy and paste if you like, you won't get extra credit for creativity.

Two lucky tweeters will be chosen at random and will get a cover of their choosing for their device.  The competition will close at the end of Monday 6th and I will announce the winners on Twitter on Tuesday 7th.

Get tweeting or buy one!

From A to B: Born To Die

Lana Del Rey's album is out today, and I created this illustration in anticipation.  

Probably quite appropriate because of the scrutiny she has been facing regarding her
fake-ness/authenticity.  I don't really care about that.  I'm enjoying listening to the Deluxe Version of Born To Die.

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

The Details

I have done a short outline of the process that went into the making of this.  It was a little involved so I hope it makes sense.

Drawing the face...

1...

...2...

...3

Scanned and tidied

I scanned and adjusted the components in Photoshop, making sure it all works together.

I decided to get rid of the jewellery.

With the portrait layer mode set to 'Multiply' I added the inky back layer and messed with the hue to get it looking a little ethereal.  I didn't want to go for the obvious corporeal red.

The skull was drawn in pencil on tracing paper over the portrait to make sure it fits the picture.  Once I scanned it I inverted, so the black lines on paper look like white on black, and inserted it under the face layer with the layer mode on 'Screen'.

Ta Daaa!

Image Hoard: Black & White

It's about time for another stack of inspiration on this here blog.  These are all monochrome (or close enough) and have struck me at one point or another over the last couple of months.  The reasons that an image resonates are always somewhat intangible, and I like to keep it that way, keep it fluid. 

Enjoy!

Doreen taking an Alligator ride - Unknown

Unknown

Young girl in profile - Consuela Kanaga

 

Speak Flower (detail), hand cut paper - Kako Ueda

Homeless Portrait - Lee Jeffries

Jacopo Ligozzi

A Heroic Abduction, mixed media assemblage - Kris Kuksi

Marilyn with diamonds

Spanish Dancer (detail) - John Singer Sargent

Annelise Kretschmer

Irises - William Morris