Nerd Stuff

Just a little something I threw together for fun. It's nice to be working with watercolours again! Click on image to see full version.

Original Magazine Artwork

Here are the two images I created -of which I am proudest- for my fourth assignment, sans text. Click on images to view full-size.

Graphic Design 2 - Project 4 Magazine

Our final assignment for Graphic Design was to choose a magazine and redesign its cover, table of contents, and a two-page spread. I chose Playboy - for a couple of reasons: first, I thought it would show that I am willing to take risks; to touch on subject matter that might otherwise be considered taboo or distasteful. Second, I enjoy a challenge; in discussing my choice with my professor -that there is a negative stigma surrounding the publication- we decided my goal should be to make it "classy". Third, I figured there was no way anyone else in my class would pick this type of magazine (and I like to be different). Click on images to see full versions.

COVER 1:
I know it's not the classy look I was going for; this was my "quick-and-easy" cover (even though it was neither quick nor easy to create). This was my attempt at redesigning the cover to look more stereotypical - what you'd expect to see on the cover of a men's magazine. I used an image from inside the magazine and photoshopped out the model's nipples; the text is the same but I had a lot more fun with the typefaces, colour scheme and arrangement of information. My professor suggested that this cover might be offensive to [women] because the model is bottomless and the entire composition is hyper-sexual; she asked what I thought of cropping the image just above the model's belly button. My defense was that this is the "Sex + Music Issue" - the disco ball is pretty much the only thing tying into music; if I removed it, it would just be the "Sex Issue".

COVER 2:
It's a lot more personal and was a true labor of love (not to mention a complete redesign). First and most noticeable: I changed the typeface of the nameplate. Where Playboy uses a condensed version of "Rockwell" (and I used a standard version), for this cover I went with "Garamond". I thought it was still nicely seriffed but had a classy, retro look to it. The idea to knock out the text was my professor's - she felt that having plain, coloured text on the white background did not stand out enough, and I concurred. The gold colour was sampled from Jon Hamm's tie and, going for class, I used it throughout. Jon Hamm's is the main interview inside; as his character on Mad Men exudes and is the epitomy of male sexuality and class, I thought him the most suitable candidate for the cover. Unfortunately, the only decently-sized picture I could find of him was a bust - hence why he is blended in to a suit I drew up quickly. Wanting to stick with a retro, artistic theme and, believing that a scantily-clad woman was still necessary to compliment Hamm (it is a gentleman's magazine, after all), I drew up the woman you see (in tasteful lingerie). The records were originally one image I duplicated and edited; again, it is the "Sex + Music Issue". I'm exceptionally happy with how this cover turned out.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
This was actually a relatively straightforward redo. Again, I changed the nameplate to "Garamond" (in keeping with my preferred cover), but kept everything together on the same bar. There was a lot of information that needed to be transposed and that, really, was what took the most time. Wanting to give a nod to the original Playboy look, I changed the header font to "Rockwell". Otherwise, the edits are minor - I changed all the images (and added a couple); their positioning; a few colours and highlights.

TWO-PAGE SPREAD:
I'm really proud of how this turned out. In my opinion, everything about the original layout was awful - the image, the placement of information, the typeface used for the title. The word "ghost" was done-up in a warped, "spooky" style; all the copy was relegated to the bottom right of the spread. The attempt to make the article spooky failed completely as the main image reflected nothing of the sort - Mic Fleetwood, waist-deep in water, playing a ukelele surrounded by fake loons. Apparently it was a nod to an original Fleetwood Mac album cover, but it was hardly ghostly. Not wanting to have to wade through mountains of stock images online, I decided it would be easier and more creative if I just came up with a new image myself, so I did! I liked Fleetwoods location -in a swamp- but I felt, to go with the ghost theme, it needed something more suggestive; I threw in some headstones and original Fleetwood records floating to the surface of what could be thought of as a flooded cemetery. Fleetwood himself, too, has something of a more ghostly appearance now, but it is a much more positive take on the supernatural theme. Not everything has to be evil or scary when it comes to ghosts.

Magazine Sketches

Here's a quick taste of the images I've been putting together to use on the [second] cover and two-page of my magazine assignment. The two page spread is an article about Fleetwood Mac; the [second] cover will feature Jon Hamm (and a woman in lingerie... or two).

 

Humnkeycorn

I almost forgot about this little guy! An assignment for my first-year Photoshop class - we had to create a creature and I chose The Humnkeycorn! It's half donkey, half hummingbird, and half unicorn (and if you get the reference then you are awesome). I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Vampirella

Here are the twenty-five sketch-cards I did for the Vampirella series - recently released through Breygent Marketing. I still have blank AP cards available for commission if anyone's interested. Hope ya digs!

 

 

 

 

Red Sonja

Here are the twenty-five sketch-cards I did for the Red Sonja set - recently released from Breygent Marketing. I still have blank AP cards available if anyone is interested. Hope ya digs!

 

 

 

 

Star Wars: Galaxy 7 Hobby

Here are the two hundred Hobby cards I did for the Star Wars: Galaxy 7 sketch-card set from Topps back in December. Hope ya digs; I still have blank AP cards available for commission if anyone is interested!

Star Wars: Galaxy 7 Retail

Here are the two hundred Retail (Target) cards I did for the Star Wars: Galaxy 7 set from Topps back in December. Hope ya digs; may the force be with you! I still have blank cards available for commission if anyone's interested!

Graphic Design 2 - Project 3 Business Card!

How do I get creative and artsy when I have to design a business card for a school project!? This is how!

Alex, Cris and Max - The Undead

Three recently completed zombie portrait commissions - Alex, Max and Alex & Cris. These were lots of fun to create, especially Max. I decided he should be missing part of his bottom jaw; that his tongue should loll slightly out of his gaping neck hole. Hope ya digs; more comin'!

 

 

Blood and Glory Samples

Here are my sample submissions for the Blood and Glory sketch card set, coming soon from Asylum Studios. I managed to get these in by Friday's submission deadline and am eagerly waiting to find out whether I will be selected as a contributing artist. These cards are up for grabs - make an offer!

Graphic Design 2 - Project 2 (Finished)

Behold - the finished fruits of my lengthy labours! Here are parts one and two of my second project for Graphic Design 2. It was a long slog but my efforts paid off in the end and I'm very happy with the results. Hope ya digs! Click on the images to see full versions.

 

Graphic Design 2 - Project 2 (Proofs)

While, technically, this is not the final end product to this assignment, I felt compelled to post my progress. These to documents are what have been keeping me occupied for the past week. They took forever but, what can I say - I like to be creative. Hope ya digs; more comin'!

 

Sketch Challenge - Mars Attacks

Squeaked this one in just under the wire! Here's my finished doodle for this week's Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge, "Mars Attacks!" Hope ya digs!

Most of Matt & Ariel

Matt commissioned me to draw him and his girlfriend Ariel as zombies - it's his Valentines' Day gift to her. What an awesome couple. Happy Valentine's Day! =)

15 Minutes

Quick sketch done for the stimulateCREATE sketch challenge, "15 Minutes".

Aliens

Here's my finished drawing for last week's stimulateCREATE sketch challenge, "Aliens". We had free range to draw whatever sort of alien we want but, naturally, I went with the Xenomorph. Hope ya digs; more comin'!

Graphic Design 2 - Project 1

Check it out - my first-ever, finished two-page mock up done in InDesign! It also includes a self-made anti text and driving ad which I'm quite proud of. I must say it is pretty neat to finally produce something with the nifty tools we've been learning - it is, after all, what I came back to school for. 

 

Cooler still is that fact that I can now say stuff like, "man, InDesign is way better than Quark" and actually know what I'm talking about and why!

Vampirella Preview

One of twenty-five sketch cards I did for the newest Vampirella set - coming soon from Breygent Marketing.

Sketch Challenge - Sin City

Good ol' Marv - done for the stimulateCREATE sketch challenge, Sin City.

Red Sonja Preview

Two of the twenty-six (26) sketch-cards I did for the Red Sonja set - coming soon from Breygent Marketing. I currently have four (4) blank Artist Proof cards available for commission; they are going for $50.00 each. Email me at slatermark33(at)hotmail(dot)com if interested. Hope ya digs!

Sketch Challenge - Batwoman

Finished piece for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge, Batwoman. I FINALLY finished one in time! Huzzah! Hope ya digs; more comin'!

IF - Messenger

My finished sketch for the Illustration Friday challenge of "Messenger"; this scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail is what immediately sprang to mind. You have to imagine the quote being said in Eric Idle's voice: "Message for you, sir!" Hope ya digs; more comin'!

Sketch Challenge - The Toxic Avenger

My finished drawing for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge, The Toxic Avenger. Hope ya digs; more comin'!

Sketch Challenge - Gremlins

Finished piece for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge, Gremlins. I drew "Brains" from The New Batch who speaks! Hope ya digs; more to come!

Sketch Challenge - Big Trouble in Little China

Just finished this one for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge, Big Trouble in Little China. Hope ya digs; on to the next one!

 

Sketch Challenge - Santa VS

Huzzah! I'm done playing catch-up; this is my submission for the last Ten Ton sketch challenge, "Santa VS". I took a page from Steve Willhite's book and had Santa facing off against a few Xenomorphs. (Click the image to see the full- size version). Hope ya digs!

 

Sketch Challenge - Dejah Thoris

Finished drawing for the Ten Ton Studios sketch challenge of Dejah Thoris. Now to play catch-up with the rest... Enjoy! More coming soon.

Isadora 9 - Happy New Year!

The new year is upon us! To ring it in, the first conceptualization of Isadora of 2012 is now posted for your viewing pleasure. Below is a preview; to see the full image, click HERE. Happy New Year, one and all!