Creative Chemistry: The Art of Collaboration for O&M, by Ellustrate

This was a project of cum. for Ogilvy & Mather. We were to produce the illustrations for the articles in their up and coming 11/12 issue at their DO.com webpage. The illustration for the lead article was to be 709px x 493px and it was titled, "Creative Chemistry: The Art of Collaboration". Keywords for the illustration include collaboration, creative mix, chemistry and convergence. One of the entry points into the execution was to take on the part where the article mentioned that the key reasons towards success was more than just the good mix of skills and people but also the inclusion of a strong leader with clear directions.

The idea was to have a central image that takes after the "leadership" component and to have illustrative visuals converging towards the centre. The visual elements to symbolize the chemistry and creative mix was not to take a literal standpoint but metaphors that resembles collaboration. Below is the starting sketch I did on a bus ride. I was given an apple as the central image and told to do a "tornado" that is spinning into it using my illustration style and "swirls".

Following that were versions of digital sketches with numerous revisions. Some areas of caution was to be weary of the shape of the apple turning into more of a cherry and a careful integration of the photograph into the illustration so that it does not look like it was just stuck onto the illustration. There was the option of including typography which I took out eventually to remove excessive visual factors to work with. There were also careful consideration to remove certain details and to include more "interesting" visual elements and hence the hands that resembles collaboration and teamwork. Even with the last draft, the illustration was still looking very messy with too many things everywhere.

Instructions came from the client to remove certain elements and to really simplify the whole illustration. Hence, over a good sub, the following draft was churned out where parts were carefully and instinctively removed and the rest refined further. It was with the idea of "simplifying" that the illustration finally started to work!

With the addition of a textured background and the building on and refinement of colors and strokes, the final draft was completed and sent to Ogilvy and they loved it, thankfully!

The illustration is found live on web now at http://ogilvydo.com/
Do have a read at their articles as well, rather enlightening! And for the illustration, I guess sometimes less is really more.

View more work by Elena Yeo aka ellustrate at http://ellustrate.net

OIC Interview with Dawn Tan

This is an interview with Dawn Tan ( now based in Melbourne, Australia ) by Kaiyee ( ( now based in London/UK ) organised by Fei ( now based in Lausanne, Switzerland )!  All graduates from Temasek Poly too!  Looking forward to more interviews like this!

As part of our “OIC share what you love”  effort, we encourage illustrators / artists to share not just their own work but also conduct interviews, and introduce the work of other illustrators they admire or like!

Kaiyee’s Interview with Dawn Tan

Melbourne artist and crafter Dawn Tan is a self-confessed foodie with a penchant for all things yummy and beautifully packaged. Her work embraces her inspiration with home-cooking, packaging and grocery shopping. Some of which have been translated into large over-sized sculptures, art prints and accessories such as tea towels, aprons, and market tote bags.

In her spare time, Dawn authors a blog called Handmadelove. She also runs adult and children art workshops in a number of schools and private art studios around Melbourne.

Dawn and her work have been featured in various publications including Frankie Magazine, Uppercase Magazine, Gourmet Traveller and The Age Newspaper.

Website: www.dawn-tan.com

Blog: www.hand-made-love.blogspot.com

Shop: www.handmadelove.bigcartel.com

Ky: Hi Dawn! What are your favorite subjects to draw? Why? Do they represent you as a person?

D:
I LOVE drawing food! Well, I love food, I love cooking and all that comes with it. The recipes, the grocery shopping… So I think it’s only logical to combine such passion into drawing!

Ky: I know you teach alot of children art and painting, which is an awesome job, do you find teaching helpful in personal development ?
How so?

D:
I really enjoy teaching. I find it helps me to relax actually. Whenever I am tired or need a new inspiration, I find myself turning to teaching.  Working with children helps me to generate lots of crazy wild ideas. I’m often inspired by them and their creativity and their willingness to make ‘crazy art’.

Ky:How is the illustration scene like in Australia? Having lived there for a few years, you must have a few opinions and how is it different from Singapore?

D:
I love it here in Melbourne, where I live. It’s vibrant and inspiring every different day. You get weather changes, nature changes happening all year round. Not so much like Singapore where it’s just summer all year round. Here you get all 4 seasons. It even snows up in the mountains!

I guess because of these differences, the culture, nature bits..somehow the style is just totally different? Not sure how to describe it. You’ve got to see it for yourself. But yup, both countries’ illustration scenes have their own goodness! I’m in love with both!

Ky: Talk about a piece of recent work you are proud of, and why?

D:
I recently did a burger and French fry illustration. It’s fairly simple, nothing too crazy but it’s been made into a melamine cup and plate! To be able to see my art on nice dinnerware makes me smile like a girl in a candy store!

Ky: Looking through your portfolio there are many drawings of food, any tips when it comes to illustrating foodstuffs?

D: Just enjoy! Take it easy and paint while you’re eating the item itself! Makes it more fun this way. Not only will you get to draw and smell it. You’ll also get to taste it! Haha!

Ky: Any good tips for new illustrators who are starting their career?

I’d say..Stick with your gut, and just go with what you like best and try to convince the client! Don’t just do souless stuff to please others. You need to love what you’re doing, in order to keep the whole illustrating thing sustainable!! No one stays long if they do what they hate all the time.

Thanks to – the interviewer: Kaiyee (  http://cargocollective.com/kaiyee ) , the co-ordinator: Fei ( http://havesomefei.com )

Mindflyer’s iForum illustration for &Larry

Had the privilege to work with the &Larry’s team for a new year end promo at Takashimaya’s iForum. Super fun job illustrating my imaginary super fun playground. This is a variation of my earlier work- “Children’s World” but at a more crazy level! Don’t ask me what I eat, I just DRAW !

My folio is here: http://mindflyer.com/

Do join my FaceBook page here: http://on.fb.me/mindflyer

Few watercolor sketches

Watercolor sketches on A4 paper. I’ll try to post more soon..looking forward for the feedback/constructive critiques from all of  you

OIC Interview with Kaiyee Tay

Kaiyee Tay is a graphic design/illustration student, currently studying in London. Graduated from Temasek Polytechnic in 2007.

OIC:  Hi Kaiyee! Tell us about your background and how did you choose to study Central Saints Martin?

Kaiyee: Hi fei! I am graphic design/illustration undergrad Kaiyee Tay, formerly from Temasek Polytechnic Singapore, most friends/tutors remember me as the boy who illustrated cartoon genitals for a sex education/children’s book i made for my final year project. After spending two years in the army, i figured the only thing i would really love to do with my life is continue to draw and/or be creative and make a living from all that. I chose to study at Central Saint Martins because of it being located at the heart of london, it’s reputation of being a school for risk takers and experimentation, i knew i’d push myself in many ways in such an environment.

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Black Design x Pigologist x Herman Miller

Herman Miller REACH Hong Kong 2011 Illustrations by Black Design x Pigologist ( aka Diana Goh )

We discovered Diana’s work during our WHITE FRAMES show last year where she submitted some of her interesting quirky paintings. We always look forward to such moments- discovering new talents and seeing them getting new and interesting assignments and sharing with us here.

Diana started fulltime illustration in 2010. Before that she worked fulltime as a 2D animator and has done work for character designs, animation, cartoon comic strips, games designs, toys design, concept art and some freelance illustrating in the past before embarking on her fulltime illustration career.

For this Herman Miller project- Diana was commissioned by Black Design to interpret the Herman Miller campaign in her unique style based on one of her earlier illustration.

This is the illustration that started it all- this piece was commissioned by a creative agency in Istanbul.

The catalogue cover

See more here: http://blog.pigologist.com/

Ray Toh’s Ideabook 2011

Hi All. I have just published a new book. Ray Toh’s Ideabook 2011. It’s a collection of 200 pages worth of sketches that i have done over the years in the hope to explore and experiment with ideas. The wonderful design is handled by Jasmine from You&Me.  You can drop by Parka’s Blog or Halcyon Realms for a preview on the book.  The book is already on sales in my online store. It’s priced at 32, but i will be selling it at 29.90 during the STGCC event. The event will happens this week , 20 to 21 August at Suntec Singapore. I will be having a booth there. Booth Number G24. Feel free to drop by. And unless anything happen, I should be dropping by Sept 9 for the OIC night portrait event to hang out. For any interested party, you can just drop me a mail and i can bring the book along.

One more thing that is happening during the STGCC event is, they are going to show Godaizer on Sat 20 Aug. 12pm to 12.30pm. Godaizer is an independent animation project by Hillary Yeo. I was involved with doing the concept art for him when i just started my freelance career, years ago. For anyone that may be interested on what the project is about, you can drop by Godaizer Facebook fanpage or Godaizer.com for more details. See you guys around during the STGCC event and OIC Night portrait event.

OIC @ Singapore Cable Car’s “Sky Art Gallery”

OIC is very honoured to be invited and given free-play creatively by Singapore Cable Car ( Mount Faber Leisure Group ) to create 10 illustrations for their new project, the world’s 1st “Sky Art Gallery”. This is part of the special program by this icon of Singapore to celebrate the state’s 46th National Day with a splash. The illustrators include AnnGee, Ben Qwek/ MrB, Brick/ Brian Chia, Eeshaun,Fleecircus, Mindflyer, Miun/ Noreen Loh, Shawna Chan, Twisstii and WantonDoodle.

You can see more pcturess here : http://on.fb.me/qRyUWA ( Pictures by Twisstii )

Kun Rong featured in a Japanese Illustration magazine

http://www.shinyusha.co.jp/touch/

Its an illustration magazine featuring alot of work processes as well as works from mainly japanese artists.

The kind of works are mainly MOE. Its only up to volume 5 now but seems to be pretty popular due to the funky look and very detailed tutorials and making-of.

( All text and pictures by Kun Rong – See more his work here: http://www.yapkunrong.net/ )

Ben Qwek X Street Fighter Skate Deck Auction

Ben Qwek aka MrB was also involved with the Street Fighter Skate Deck Auction. Below are some images of his work process.

You can see more artwork from Ben here : http://benqwek.com/

Do bid for the decks here: http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/musicforrelief11/