“Quick-DRAW!”

Quick-DRAW! The just for fun, however you feel – whenever you feel – illustration game!

How the game will work:
At the end of each challenge specified time I will roll one six sided dice to determine the number of cards I will draw from my double deck of random people and places. (More can and will be added as the combinations get used and the game developes.)
Some examples of what could be drawn from the card deck: Snow Man, Back to the Future and John Snow.
** Disclaimer – there will be spelling mistakes on this deck of cards (it is a working prototype so take it easy guys.)

Timings will be specified on the day of draw, but it will be an average of every two weeks. Though this first one will run for the month of March so you can take your time, and admire what others want to draw.

I created this game for fun and to practice illustration in a happy and positive environment.

What you will need to do to join in with the game:
When you see a post (even if you see it a few days later) take whatever you see on one of my Tweets or FB status (links at the bottom). Take what you saw and draw it (or make it) it is really up to how you like to express yourself.
For example, I delt myself a hand of two cards just to try out my game. What I got was the following; “Fantacy” (Which in this case I took as Dragon) and “The Mad Hatter”. I chose to let my mind mull it over for a while. When I had a long phone call where you end up waiting to that ‘cheery’ elivator music. I just picked up a biro and doodled this…

You can take 5 seconds or 5 days, it is really up to you.
You can Tweet your illustration with the hashtags #QuickDRAW or you can post directly to my FB wall and we can enjoy eachothers creative-ness together! 🙂

So who is the game for?
It was created for anyone out there who wants to stretch their creativity and have fun by going out of their comfort zone. (Weather that is by doing a random challenge, or publishing your work for others to see.) Fans and lovers of art are also welcome to help artists who are trying something new, feedback is always lovely.
Colaborations are allowed and encoraged!

I must stress: CONSTRUCTIVE critisizm only!
Remember there is a real person with feelings who created the artwork that you can’t see just on the other side of the computer screen. Be nice like I know you all are! 🙂

The Rules:

• Use whatever media you like! A pencil, Biros, Crayons, Acrylic paint, Clay – The limit is your imagination. (You are only limited if a card is drawn that suggests a media to be used.)
• The size of your creation is up to you, anything from a 5p size upwards.
• Complexity is up to the artist, if you want a stick man with antelers cooking waffles… just do it, this is just for fun!

So really the only rule is to be respectfull of others work.

I will be drawing the cards on my FB illustration page & Twitter account tonight, links below:
FB (TJ Creative Illustrations): https://www.facebook.com/TJ-Creative-Illustrations-327199084071162
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TortusTor

I hope to see you all there!

TJ Creative
xXx
Until next time folks!

TJ.Creative favourites Feb 2016

If you are anything like me, you find it really interesting to look at what other people love to use creatively and how they organise themselves; what techniques others use and when they’re trying of a new product. Not in a copy cat sense of course! The curiosity (for me) is more of a nosey variety; “What is everyone else doing?” and “What can I learn from them?”

I am not ready to show anyone my working desk/zone as it changes all of the time. Though I will do a “What’s in my bag” Blog in the future, for all of you who are like me and enjoy seeing how others create on the go.

Sometimes I enjoy working in a local Caffe or Library, sometimes at the dining room table or on my desk which is in my bedroom currently. It depends on many factors (like most people my age, I am still living at home with the family – and family life is loud and rambunctious for 90% of the time! Which is fine for relaxing and having fun, but as far as working goes you can wave good bye to concentration!)  If it is too mad at home I prefer to pack light and go out and find a little bubble of peace to just let the creativity out. Does anyone else do this too?

What you can see in this image:

• G.F.Smith Colour Plan guide.
• Small Charcoal Set.
• Chalks.
• Water-Pencils + Brushes (these hold water in their handle).
• Graph’it black and grey brush pens.
• “Graphic” fine-liner set.
• A4 Layout pad.
• 30cm Steel Ruler.
• A range of Copic Ciao colours (I have been testing out recently).
• Staedtler Coloured Fine-Liners.
• Pencils (and other bits) storage tin.

Don’t forget the half used Gell-Pens (for list making of course) and the range of pencils between 6H-6B for sketches, a light pad and a cheep digi camera, which I use more to capture the essence of something to illustrate later. I do have a badge machine that I must limit myself to using because I get carried away and make far too many! (These are not in this picture.)

Technology wise I am experiencing a lot of trouble in the form of my Mac (Eddy) going to silicone heaven. I am back old schooling for the time being, however until this point I had been using a MacBook Pro with a Wacom Tab for vector illustrations.

If you take away the technology blues, you could see this problem as a blessing in disguise. It has been lovely removing myself from the “rainbow wheel of doom” and kicking back with a simple pad and pen and going about things in a more traditional manner.

What do you guys prefer to use creatively?

This is…
TJ Creative
Until next Sunday guys!
xXx

February 7th 2016 UPDATES and RELAUNCH!

Hola!
That’s right guys I am back and trying to rebrand a bit to refresh myself creatively. I have missed you guys loads and doing my blogs – though they were quite infrequent back then. If I am completely honest I have been a bit nervous to get back to the keyboard and tip-tap-type away once more.
So a big happy hello to all of you who are currently reading this!

I will be changing up my blog some more this week – taking out some old posts I feel are not relevant anymore and generally giving “Illustrate-Tor” a make-over. (Just like my overall branding which is still mid brand.)

So without further waffling on my part, I will now jump into the rest of todays blog! (Which is basically explaining what I plan to do here in my little space on the internet.)

What can be expected from my blog posts in the future:

• Illustration bits … and by ‘bits’ I mean an eclectic mix of “How-To’s”, what adventures I am currently doing (like websites, promos ect) and Creative Hauls! These are some of my favourite subjects to look at when I browse the web and have always jokingly said “I will be brave enough to join them one day”… So here I am… Hi!
• All kinds of gaming! Board gaming or PC/Mac or anything really, again hauls are probable here as well as tips and tricks and unboxings.
• Advice (usually learned the hard way): Sometimes I have random insights that I wish I knew a long time before, or learn something I wish was covered in a class or handed down in wise words. It is definitely better to learn mistakes from someone else than keep making them yourselves, so if I can help you guys, then that is amazing!
• Challenges, arty creative fun things, silly things and just some random fun stuff. Who said you have to work all the time? sometimes you need to have fun too! 😉

Thank you for sticking with me guys! I would love to hear what you guys would like to see me attempt – challenge wise. Or maybe you would like a tutorial? Just let me know in the comments, or send me a message on Twitter (Linked below).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TortusTor

This is IllustrateTor (evolving into TJ-Creative) signing out just for now!
xXx

Ps – Don’t forget Pancake Day is Tuesday the 9th! Enjoy!

 

After Uni Update

A BIG belated hello!

YES! I did it! I completed my uni course!
Well to be honest it has been about a month and a half (ish) since the BIG hand in. And I mean big! Big as in load everything I had – sketchbooks, folders, portfolio, mock-ups AND final pieces into a suitcase (and other bags) and haul everything into the boot of the car and lug it all into the shopping centre (looking like a complete weirdo). The reason for this is our building was being used for other year groups shows and their marking, the BA and HND’s were lucky enough to be a part of the community and get involved on a more grounded level.

After the BA and HND show the most of us held a shop which was open to the general public selling some of the artwork, books, stationary and original artworks. This was held open for two weeks and also held FREE workshops to the general public with anything from pottery to paper-art.

So from my last blog it was clear I was panicking about my uncertain future – I have piled hours into education and returned for more – not because I needed to learn more techniques (that come with use of skills and a good connection with others in your field and an undying love of learning more).
I returned to education to learn how to collaborate with other creatives (this is a LOT easier said than done) as there is so much to consider that you don’t initially think of. Maybe I will blog tips and tricks about this when I do another collaborative project in the future. And also to prove to myself that indeed I can do it.

The main thing that was concerning me was a decent flow of money (material life is expensive – car and technology), having been a student (proudly with no overdraft – though I sometimes wish I had one) and somehow managed to run a car and buy illustration/uni supplies. This didn’t include much of a social life, and I plan to make it up to my friends and family who stuck by me and offered support when I needed it.
I did do a mass application to a ton of design specific jobs (but it was end of uni and competition was thick and fast) it’s also the time of year other designers switch jobs with experience and beat uni leavers to jobs if they were not happy where they were – this is not necessarily a bad thing, competition keeps us on our toes and always learning. Anyway I was unsuccessful in my endeavour and also applied to part time jobs I would enjoy doing – there is nothing worse then doing a job you dislike.

But YES! I got a part-time job AND am enjoying so far! I have two weeks left of the trial – so here’s to the future!

No – before you ask, I am not giving up with my love of design and illustration, I am currently working on my first range I plan to launch at the end of the summer. I seem to suit freelance well so far. Updates to follow soon!

Unfortunately I have stumbled upon technical issues… meaning I may have accidentally tried to install the new Mac update to my OLD iMac (before checking the requirements) and may have done one too many and killed it… I am trying to fix it (all sorts of re-starts going on), but the machine isn’t worth fixing if it has to go to a repair shop at £60-£70ph. So it looks like I will have to make do with a lagged out 13″ MacbookPro until I have saved enough to either fix or upgrade. So i’m currently working old-school = pencils and paper! Hehehe!

This is Illustrate-Tor Signing Off
Loves! xx

From The BA Looking Out – And Future Stares Right Back

Good afternoon!

Warning – About to talk career and future – my plan because I feel better when I plan things out and if I help or inspire others along they way then awesome!

Today (and the last week leading up to today) I have had the slow realisation that this is it; “swim or sink”, “now or never” as far as the career is in question.

I think No, I know that being in a creative career means you need a cash injection (which I don’t have) – or very generous parents or family (and the willingness to sponge)… Which I am not happy with even entertaining the thought of. This thought actually makes me feel uncomfortable.

Option one: if I stumble upon a graphics job or illustrations job I will no doubt go for it – but if I am lucky enough to actually get that job, I will carry on keeping my art and craft as a hobby, just for fun because I find it food for the soul. We all know the hours are not fun for us Graphic Designers, some companies expect you in at 8.00am and stay until the job is done which could be 5.00pm or it could be 11.00pm. I think you must have to really love your job and the company you work for to give up that much of your life, after all there is a whole world to see!

Option two: Get a job that still makes me happy, preferably around people so I don’t turn into more of a hermit that I currently am! Anything that pays the bills, but also keeps me happy. I think my perfect “calm” job is in a coffee shop. Maybe not a big chain, a small family business – or any friendly environment – four to five days a week, standard 8.30-5.00pm, home to cook a dinner, then relax creating typographic works of art, books, branding for friends and family or whoever wants it. A small and friendly home run business is my ultimate aim.

Equipment and Storage

So I have enough trouble organising my clothes, books, shoes and handbags let alone the art and crafts! I could easily fill another room! In fact that would be fantastic! A room to work in…

Ok so dream scenario and perfect outcome: Get a job, make do with the space for (up to) a year then somehow find a mortgage and move out. Preferably a minimum of 3 beds (you know, not to aim too high….)
1 bedroom for sleeping, clothes, relaxed environment, 1 bedroom as an art/craft (shared creative room for the other half) with a wall for a white-borad/cork-board to plan new arty ventures, space for an A3 printer, scanner, light box, paper storage and other deign essentials, and a minimum of one more for a spare room for friends or family to visit.
This is all before a medium sized kitchen – diner, sitting room and 2 bathrooms AND garden, garage AND driveway… I probably won’t get all of these but no one can stop me dreaming and aiming high!

So here is to loads of “Ifs’ Buts’ and Maybes'”! If you guys have any plans it would be good to hear what others are thinking after leaving their uni’s / colleges or just wanting a change in career.

Loads of hopeful wishes and big plans for the future!

Illustrate-Tor Signing Out xxx

Finishing the BA!

Hello lads and lasses!

It has been a long long time hasn’t it?

As most of you know I have been finishing up my uni BA and have been essentially running in circles and chasing last minute bits.

The show is up and has been for a few days, and it had taken me until now to catch up on sleep and get my head straight, but hello and here I am with news and updates on Illustrate-Tor (Me).
And here is a little sneaky-peeky at my FMP which is all about branding luxury holidays to the moon “Lunar View”. This is what has been keeping me so busy 😉

Firstly thank you to all of those who have helped me emotionally or providing me with encouragement where my confidence was wearing thin, and also for understanding how stressful it all is! And a massive HUZZAH (more people should say this) to all of us Art, Graphics any Uni students out there for making it this far! You should all be very proud!

This Thursday (tomorrow 20.5.15   5.30pm) is the Open Evening Show (Yes I know, weird how the show is after we have already opened – not my choice but I suppose it was for working out the kinks). We are showing in Banbury Town Centre in the  Castle Quey Precinct.

When it has all sunk in, and all the hand ins’ are complete I might be able to get my head around it all and start my plan for the future creatively. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know the main thing is to keep opening new doors. Try new things, learn new things, just keep expanding my horizon. I wasn’t told any of this, it is more something I want to do.

Challenges are the spice of life.

Love you all and hope to meet some of you at the show!

Your relieved and ready to go get pizza – Illustrate Tor xxx – Wondering what tomorrow will bring…

YEAY for Bristol Book Fair (BABE)

Hello! As some of you may already have known from my second blog (still not sure weather to close it and move fully here), I was at Bristol Book fair this last weekend! Showing some work with others from my Uni course, needless to say it was a packed weekend! For those of you who don’t know what Bristol Book Fair is; it’s a place for artists, illustrators, graphic designers, creatives of pretty much anything to come and show and sell their works. While there I saw all manor of books and in a huge range of sizes! From teeny-tiny matchbox size books (and some even smaller!) to giant A2 and when opened obviously A1 sized books. Hard covers, soft covers, pure leather covers, no covers – even BARK (yes I mean actual tree bark covered) books! And a whole range of medias were made for the content within! Just to list some processes I spotted while walking around were; letter press, ink-jet, screen-print, rubber-stamping, wood cut, hand painted (I am assuming acrylics from the visual texture – I didn’t want to touch), laser cut, collage and pen illustration! Needless to say I was in awe! It is something I would love to do after finishing my uni course, either as a back up for my uni, with a group of others or on my own. It is an experience I would like to extend! Here are some images form our stall… After leaving the event it has made me realise what inspires, what sells (and what doesn’t) to help shape what I will make. In short it has given me some guides – If there are any of you who are like me (loves to make but needs a little guidance for fear of over designing/complicating a piece of art or design) I strongly recommend that you go and see this or other shows like this. Heres to optimism! Lets go create! Illustrate Tor – Off to create something! xxx

Today the PopUp Shop!

Todays the day!

Dont forget to stop by for awesome xmas goodies!

Banbury art college, on right now until 8 pm!

On this table I am next to the amazing Keturah!

See you soon!

INKTober

It is important to reflect back on what you do (and not just creatively), just to see where you have came from to help guide you in the future.

So it is the first year I have taken part in INKTober and it won’t be the last!

It was started by a chap who wanted to improve his illustrations buy doing one drawing a day (big or small) for one month and to show your progress on a social networking site. Needles to say it caught on and has been running for a few years.

This was my first post for INKTober

A simple self portrait on a cold windy day.

It can be anything though, as simple as this…

Or a bit of fun like this performing guinea pig.

I will be joining in again next year, I hope more people join in too, it was satisfying just drawing and posting just for improving yourself both technically and promotionally.

Hey there folks!

Welcome to my blog,

I am an illustrator-graphic designer who can’t help but take a challenge by the horns.

I love to have my fingures in as many crafty pies as possible.
I dabble in and out of all sorts of things;

Photography and screen printing are my new ventures and loving the new creative paths, there is something lovely about creating something yourself with your own hands.

My forte however is packaging and brand design. Helped by my new found love of photography and my love of illustration which has never changed in my view.

Watch this space for projects I am proud of, little nuggets of information, quotes or inspiration. This is me signing out.
xx