Johnny Big Toes!

For those of you who don't know, I've been illustrating a children's book, written by friend and colleague, Edwena Dixon.
Eddie will be publishing the book through her own company, Ashworth Publishing. Check out the website at: http://ashworthpublishing.com/
Don't forget to 'like' the Ashworth Facebook page also, which you can find at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashworth-Publishing

Having recently finished the cover artwork for our project, I thought I would reveal the process by which I accomplished this.

      

Using a very crude thumbnail sketch as reference, I pencil the image, then go over it in ink.

      

Using tracing paper, I hand draw the lettering over the inked characters. Once the lettering is inked, I combine the two elements using acetate and white-out. The image on the right has been reduced in size and positioned correctly, ready for colouring.

      

For the book, I'm using two different methods of colouring; for big splashes of bright(and 'elephant-grey') colour, I'm using oil pastels, and for the grey half-tones and occasional blip of colour(see: headphones), I'm using texters.

In order to incorporate oil pastels into my work, I use acetate and white-out once more(specifically for the left image).

So there you have it! 

A better scan of the cover will undoubtedly find it's way onto the web very soon - I hope this is enough to tide you over 'til then?!

All material copyright Alex Smith 2012

A Separation

This 'foreign language' film went several steps further than Headhunters(previous post), leaving me emotionally exhausted as the end credits rolled! Despite the acclaim and(deserved) Oscar win, I had even less of an idea what to expect with A Separation. I had seen clips, but they were out of context - boy, what context!
This film is documentary-like in it's realism - the actors are flawless. At it's core is a sensational script by writer/director Asghar Farhadi. In this battle for love, justice and respect, no character is above reproach. There are no good or bad people, just victims of circumstance. Farhadi has nailed the human experience, particularly that of us, at odds with our fellow man(or woman). He shows us the complexities of adult life - even with the good fortune of family.
A Separation tells the story of Nader and Simin, who begin the film in court. Simin is filing for divorce, having attained visas for her family(their 11 year old daughter Termeh, included), with a view to moving abroad. Nader is not prepared to leave however, as he has his Alzheimer's suffering father to look after. Simin moves to her parents, while Termeh stays with her father and grandfather. Nader is forced to hire help for his father, but no sooner has he hired someone, then there's an unfortunate incident.
Moreover, we have the experience of witnessing events unfold in a foreign land, this time Iran. Obviously religion plays an integral role in the lives of these characters. The judicial system is present throughout, as a result of the afore-mentioned 'incident' - this is a fascinating insight and worth the admission alone.
This could have been a disaster. No one wants to go to the movies to be reminded of how difficult life can be. It's certainly confronting, however like any story worth it's salt, it doesn't hand-feed it's audience.
A Separation challenges the audience to invest in it's characters and follow them on their journey. Trust me, once you're hooked, there's no letting go. A Separation is a totally collaborative experience. These are honorable characters, despite their actions - and you owe it to them to see this thing through to the end! You'll find yourself immersed in their lives and consequently, immersed in this film!
A Separation may be too real for some, but it's an exquisite story regardless of genre - 5/5!

Headhunters

This is the first of two foreign films I've seen of late and despite the hype surrounding each one, they've delivered more than what was expected - something most english-speaking features fail to do these days!
Headhunters is 'the next big thing from northern europe'(Norway this time). Comparables have been made with the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but they're very different animals!
The original novel was written by Jo Nesbo. Nesbo is famous for his Harry Hole series of books, but whether he'll revisit the characters in this story is unclear. Not having read the original book, I couldn't say how the film compares.
The film works very well as a stand-alone tale, regardless. It's tightly written, full of twists and turns and fabulous characters. This is a 'no stone left unturned' type of deal - and it's riveting!
The lead character, Roger Brown, is a head hunter for Pathfinder, the exclusive company he works for by day - after hours, he steals paintings(the expensive kind)! Both activities earn him a substantial amount of money, which allows him to live in the style to which he's become accustomed.
Things don't stay cushy for too long of course, as Brown soon finds himself on the run(head-hunted himself) after his two worlds collide.
It would be unfair to say much more, as the surprises and twists don't let up! I will mention the unusual sense of humour that rears it's head from time to time - 'pitch-black' comedy, you might say! Some people may find it distracting, but fans of the Coen brothers(for example) will certainly find it entertaining.
There's a few gory moments to be had and the tension is taut - so much so, I was almost in the seat behind me!
This is a superbly crafted thriller with a web-like plot to keep the brain active - 4/5!