New portfolio site!
http://joeblerone.blogspot.co.uk
Nothing you haven’t really seen before, just in a more professional setting.
(if anyone knows how to fix it to “flipcard” setting, could you let me know…)
Commission in the works, so will have an update fairly soon.
Enjoy! x
Nemo, August 2012
A recent commission, A4 ink and watercolour on slightly bigger paper. Having been ill treated in her past life, it’s taken Nemo four years to be comfortable rolling and relaxing on her back with Rachel.
It’s always interesting comparing the painting with the source photo a few days later, noticing how it’s been naturally interpreted, such as expressing some colours more than others (pinks and blues) and how textures have been created. If done again, I would perhaps try to create less of a harsh contrast between the inked fur lines and washed bedsheets. Just a niggle though.
I’m open for commissions now that home life and work seem to be at a manageable level, so mail me if you are interested :)
(Copyright Joe Ward)
Can’t argue with that, can you?
Birthday Bouquet, 2012
I’ve never received flowers before. I wanted to kiss her, they made me so happy. Sat at my desk for the best part of a month, and past their best in most people’s eyes, withered and slightly mouldy they are still pretty. A quick watercolour sketch before they completely loose it.
What a silly girl.
Maisie, 2012
Recent commission, A4, watercolours, ink. She’s a beagle mutt. Sorry about the lack of updates recently, this blog has primarily been used for my Uni work, and so has had to be submitted to various exam boards. I’ll make up for it. In the near future you’ll also see a new portfolio blog and hopefully an online shop, just been very busy recently! Thank you for all the new follows and rebloggings, it’s always appreciated and puts a smile on my face. Much love.
(copyright Joe Ward)
Beautiful work; rebeccapomroy:
My degree show space! Come down and see the talent, open to the public 27th-3rd
mutatedgenez asked: Where can I buy one of the books?
Hi! Thanks for your interest! If you email me at joeward234@hotmail.co.uk, we can discuss a price and postage. I only have 3 left, doubt I’ll be making more. I’ll be having a major online overhaul over the next week, making a new site and shop :)
Joe
Badgered into a new blog.
My plants, 2012
Should be focusing on Research Project, but decided I needed a nice, stress free drawing sesh. Handy my uni desk has a windowsill full of my plants then int it?
Sgt. Pepper has steadily flowered for the past year, having a new chilli ready once a week or so, and after a hearty, well earned feed just before the LBF, now has loads of fresh leaves and flowers about to bloom.
The strawbs are coming along nicely too, one has a flower on! *nod*
This blog reads reverse chronologically, so the most recent posts are at the top. I suggest either scrolling to the bottom of each page and going right back to the very start, or going to www.joewardillustration.tumblr.com/archive for thumbnails of each post.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
The Final Major Project started off purely as observational work on interests such as animals, portraiture, occult imagery, turn of the century outfits and rituals, modern fashion trends, museum collections and historical ephemera. During summer I spent a lot of time researching and being immersed in these areas, whether in books or on the internet, just in my spare time. These topics are all fascinating to draw, and would aim my work at a market that I identify with, wishing to produce such things as music posters and artwork.
At that moment, I had no use for any of my work, and there was no meaning. Inspirations such as posters and album art, with similar observational work, still had some starting point, the objective to enhance or convey feelings from another medium, such as music, whereas I lacked anything to kick off from. Previous projects that I have excelled in were ones handed in a more commercial commission style scenario, being given a deadline and subject to work with, such as a magazine article or quote. Examples being the One Day projects, and OLIO.
Fascination with insects, being completely alien and foreign to our own design, led to this project being centred around them. Every aspect intrigues me; scale, intricacy, colour, texture and the uncountable variety that exist. Even their names. This may well stem from my obsessions as a collector, and the childhood hobby of model making. One nod towards this is how I’ve painted the legs as separate pieces, to show the insects more as components and specimens, than living creatures.
Experimentation with various media was interesting and necessary to stop me from running to my safe zone of watercolour. Two hugely inspiring books, Gig Posters Volumes I and II, taught me that the bulk of these pieces were created using silk screen printing. Another focus was collectable books, such as those of the Whittington Press, who create small, beautiful pieces (from hand) in limited runs. Quality is key. These influences were to be mixed with the collectable nature of insects to produce beautifully illustrated, precious books, something that similar minded people would revel in.
This print work was to be explored with the Research Project, then refined in the FMP. Even though I did experiment, sheer frustration held me back. Stepping into an unknown, time consuming field really put me off using print making, especially not as final pieces. The experimentation and skills I have learnt I’m sure will be valuable towards my practice as a whole, and learning to mix media has led to some interesting, different work. The final pieces produced focus on the use of watercolours and some ink, mediums I’m comfortable with, and feel I excel in. Frustrating as it is to have fallen back on it, this style is still strong.
The old photography versus art argument is raised here, and is especially apt when it comes to time. These paintings take forever. But, knowing that someone has done these from hand, rather than press a shutter, is where the worth lies. They are perhaps not suited to a single compendium of work, but rather smaller, more varied books with different themes, maybe compiled at a later date.
Having spoken to Amanda Wood, the Publishing Director at Templar Publishing, I was advised to whole heartedly put my effort into researching museum publishers. She also suggested diversifying the subject matter. The outcome really is suitable for educational and reference books, aimed at collectors and enthusiasts, those with an interest and specialising in natural history and other interesting ephemera. Self promotional work was handed to many publishers at the London Book Fair such as Dorling Kindersley and The British Museum, to name a few. Further research will be undertaken, with work sent to those, and contacts already made at the Fair.
Bibliography
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Albero, A., Paetzel, P., Hefenbrak, T. (2011) #3 ABBA. Berlin : Biografiktion
Aubenas, S. (2001) Gustave Le Gray. London : Phaidon Press Limited
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Bloom, S. (2004) Untamed. New York : Harry N. Abrams Inc.
Bosing, W. (2004) Bosch : The Complete Paintings. Cologne : Taschen GmbH
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Webography
Ablitt, D. (2011) www.danielablittgallery.co.uk
Aparicio, R. (2011) www.raquelissima.com
Banken, P. (2009) www.phillipbanken.blogspot.com
Baylay, K. (2011) www.katebaylay.com
Black, D. (2012) www.blackgraphic.net
Collins, P. (2010) www.theardorous.com
Devon, Z., Huggins, K. (2011) www.teeteringbulb.com
Diamond, A. (2012) www.society6.com/artist/Owlcore
Hische, J. (2012) www.jessicahische.is/awesome
Jones, Philias X. (2012) www.octophant.us
Kenn, J. (2012) www.johnkenn.blogspot.com
Kamerer, J. (2012) www.angryblue.com
Marynowsky, T. (2009) www.taramarynowsky.com
Moss, O. (2011) www.ollymoss.com
Mumford, D. (2011) www.dan-mumford.com
Pedley, B. (2012) www.brianpedley.com
Sawayanagi, H. (2009) www.roentgenwerke.com/04galleryartists/04sawayanagi_e/html
Weigel, J. (2012) www.immortalmortal.com
Whalen, T. (2012) www.strongstuff.net
(2012) www.theanimalarium.blogspot.co.uk
(2012) www.metastazis.com
