Steve Simpson

Moved

2008-02-07T14:55:00.000Z

I've upgraded my portfolio website and included a simple blog and project section. So this will probably be last post here:(

www.SteveSimpson.com, please drop in

take a parachute and jump

2008-01-09T12:26:00.001Z

Created using Rory's story cubes.

Rory's story Cubes are a set of 9 dice. They have images instead of spots, the aim is to throw the cubes and make up a story based on the result.
If, like me, you sometimes prefer to work to a brief when developing your own work these are a a great idea. Would be great for comic strips as well as children's books.
To buy or find out more about Rory's Cubes visit www.thecreativityhub.com

late, late, late

2007-12-20T14:56:00.001Z

late, late, late, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

brief based on "Rory's Story Cubes"

Rory's story Cubes are a set of 9 dice. They have images instead of spots, the aim is to throw the cubes and make up a story based on the result.
If, like me, you sometimes prefer to work to a brief when developing your own work these are a a great idea. Would be great for comic strips as well as children's books.
To buy or find out more about Rory's Cubes visit www.thecreativityhub.com

Pure Pie Wins Gold

2007-11-20T20:45:00.001Z

Pure Pie Wins Gold, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

My Pure Pie illustrations have won gold in the AOI's Images32 competition.
happy days:)

A step-by-step of the project has been featured on www.scamp.ie

Project: Bushmills

2007-10-26T17:45:00.000+01:00

series of illustrations for Bushmills

sketchbook: dream diary

2007-10-19T16:18:00.001+01:00

dream diary, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

for group sketchbook entitles "dream diary"

Sketchbook zog's dogs

2007-10-14T09:58:00.001+01:00

click to enlarge

For a group sketchbook entitled "CITY"

zog's dogs, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

OneSmallStep bus

2007-09-16T20:20:00.001+01:00

OneSmallStep bus, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Spotted my illustration on the back of this bus a few cars in front of me in the centre of Dublin over the weekend. Had to follow it for a while before I could jump out and take a photo.

Project: One Small Step

2007-09-07T07:15:00.001+01:00

onestep green 48sheet, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This campaign is featured in a step-by-step on the illustration blog, SCAMP.
Encouraging people to leave their cars behind and walk to work for the DTO [Dublin Transport Office] for a One Small Step poster campaign.

Exhibition: fashion

2007-08-23T07:35:00.001+01:00

fashion, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This is my entry for the Electric Picnic Leviathan exhibition.
Its on 300 x 500 mm on12mm MDF. It's done in a mix of acylics, ink and tipex.

Using the theme of “the spoken word’, the exhibition is based around famous speeches and quotes . The exhibition showcases the work of some of Ireland’s finest illustrators, and is curated by Valerie Walshe an Independent Curator based in Kilkenny. So if you’re lucky enough to have tickets to the event, get your wellies on and drop in for a look.

Electric Picnic Festival 31st August 2007.

mail me art

2007-08-18T09:49:00.001+01:00

mail me art1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

My entry for the LCS mail me art exhibition. To take part go to www.mailmeart.com

A Nation’s Obsession Exhibition

2007-08-18T09:35:00.000+01:00

I currently have a couple of pieces in a group exhibition, "a nation's obsession", documenting illustration and architecture in Ireland’s changing economy. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in conjunction with the IGI launched the exhibition on the 3rd August at the Architecture Gallery, RIAI, Merrion Square, Dublin and runs until Friday 24th August, 2007.
The Architecture Gallery, RIAI, 8 Merrion Sq. Dublin 2, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Thursday 2nd August until Friday 24th August, 2007.

project: day dreams

2007-08-03T09:55:00.001+01:00

day dreams, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Book cover for a collection of poems for small people

Project: purepie

2007-06-14T10:19:00.001+01:00

purepie page 1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This was a branding project for a handmade pie company based in the UK. The company has outlets on major rail stations in London and the designs will be covering the whole units as well as featuring on packaging, menus, posters etc. I hope to post pics when I get them.

Project: April Fool's Day

2007-06-12T21:07:00.001+01:00

april fool's day page1, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

2 page poem in Irish. Pencil, colours and textures in photoshop
Translation:

The Principal (written by Máire Ní Ghallchobhair)

We were doing a spelling test
Yesterday,
When in walks the principal,
‘I’ve something to tell you,’ he said.
‘Spellings are very boring,
History’s even worse.
You should all really take a rest,
And go and play in the yard.’
‘Take it easy.
Close your books.
The whole class thought
That he had totally lost it!

(page 2)

You all work much too hard,
Seriously!
You needn’t come to school every day,
Why not take a holiday!
I’m not one bit pleased with your teacher,
He has you tortured.
With his complaining and his giving out
Every single day.
I’ll go now,’ he said,
See you, Bye.’
And then, as he was leaving,
He roared ‘April Fool!’

Project: Bigger-better-more-toppings

2007-06-06T07:53:00.001+01:00

Icecream, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Part 2 of a series of 5 illustrations I did to accompany a graphic design company's promotional material. The message is why settle for the regular service you've been getting when there's a bigger, better version available.

Project: Unexpected Charges

2007-06-03T16:09:00.000+01:00

Part of a series of 5 illustrations I did to accompany a graphic design company's promotional material. This one illustrates how getting hit with unexpected charges can be a little inconvenient, especially on the first date:)

Monster Under the Bed?

2007-06-01T08:23:00.001+01:00

Monster Under the Bed?, originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

Just finished this one. It's for a children's book of poems. Colours and textures added in Photoshop.

The original poem is in Irish, so here's a translated version.

I wake up in the middle of the night,
With my heart pounding.
What noise is that I hear
Hiding under my bed?

A sad and lonely noise,
Like an animal crying
A voice which says Help! Help!
There’s people up there!

Pictobrowser

2007-05-31T06:32:00.000+01:00

Found this free pictobrowser (Flash Flickr Picture Browser) from the guys at dB798.com

Promotional Sheet: children's book work

2007-05-11T16:28:00.001+01:00

recent children's book work
Originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This is an A3 sheet of some of my favourite children's book work I've produced lately. It will be used for promotional purposes (hopefully it will help to get me a few more books). I think there are samples from 5 books I've worked on over the last 12 months or so.

Treaty of Rome Postage Stamp

2007-05-04T07:09:00.001+01:00

Treaty of Rome Postage Stamp
Originally uploaded by steve_simpson.

This stamp, for An Post, celebrates the 50th anniversay of the Treaty of Rome. The Stamp is a mix of Photoshop and linocut and features the signatures from the treaty and the building it was signed in.

The first day cover has a special commemorative 2euro coin attached. I didn't do that bit though:)

Project: Patrick's Day

2007-02-28T15:12:00.000Z

I finished this last summer (june 06) but was asked to keep it under my hat until now.

The Brief was to produce a poster celebrating St. Patrick's Day for Murphy's.
As it was for the export market I was able to exploit all things Oirish; leprechauns, shamrocks, Irish dancing, Irish music and the craic. The posters would be put up in bars (Irish one's no doubt) across the world.

I produced an initial 3 rough options
option [A]
option [B]
option [C]

A final rough was drawn up based on option [C. This included the clients comments and some refinements.

After this was signed off I started the final artwork.

Artwork was produced in photoshop, a 350mb file with over 100 layers at one point.

I've just finished a Halloween Poster but it will be November before I can stick it up here.

Project: Accountant's moving card

2007-02-23T10:32:00.000Z

This is an A6 postcard I produced for my accountant.

I gave him 2 rough options. One based on "we are moving" the other on "we have moved"
this is the final artwork for the front

Project: Greetings Stamps

2007-01-25T13:37:00.000Z

A pair of stamps, booklet and first day cover I designed and illustrated for An Post (irish post office). Release date 26 january 2007.

some early roughs presented to the An Post stamp design committee last August

Project: Ceard e sin

2007-01-11T14:12:00.000Z

This is a story about a hard working leprechaun who gets the hic-ups.

full book here

Project: Murphy's Christmas card

2006-11-30T10:16:00.000Z

This was done a couple of months back but was asked by the client not upload it until now.
It's a standard sized corporate Christmas card for Murphy's (Irish stout).

Project: Mamo Fado

2006-11-03T18:37:00.000Z

This is a page from a children's book I'm currently working on

Sketch Book October 06

2006-11-01T09:16:00.000Z

full sketch book here
For the first time ever I've managed to fill a sketch pad. Aided mainly by being locked up for a long weekend in a lighthouse keepers house with 7 other illustrators in the remote Galley Head, West Cork, (Ireland). I've bought a new pad and plan on keeping it up... hopefully
linky

Project: Celebration (not)

2006-10-02T11:14:00.000+01:00

A few rough sketches I've just had rejected as possible options for a celebration stamp. Unfortunately the client wants something more traditional so it's back to the drawing board.
A little disappointed as I thought these would have looked really well.
Think I will still work them up to finished art anyway, maybe submit them to a greetings card company.

IF: Safe

2006-09-04T15:07:00.000+01:00

artwork

rough

Project: Coilin2

2006-08-25T15:10:00.000+01:00

Just finished this Irish language children's book today (27 pages) full book here . It's the second book about Coilin's adventures and has taken the past three weeks to take from rough pencil to final artwork. I'm very happy with it but also delighted to be able to move on with some of the other projects I've neglected.

Project: Coilin

2006-08-02T15:21:00.000+01:00

Finally finished the book. Have the follow-up already fully penciled so will crack on with that next week.
This is the first spread. Poor Coílín has to stay in and look after his baby sister while his mother pops out for a while. He's not very happy as he'd rather be playing outdoors.

Full book can be viewed here

Project: Kyniska

2006-07-24T15:48:00.002+01:00

This is a little sketch I did for a design company a few weeks back. It was for a women in sport project and based on Kyniska
KYNISKA OF SPARTA
Kyniska, daughter of King Archidamos of Sparta, was the first woman to be listed as an Olympic victor in Antiquity. Her chariot won in the 96th and 97th Olympiads, (396 B.C. and 392 B.C. respectively). In the Olympic Games, it was forbidden for women to be present and Kyniska broke with tradition.

Project: Coilin - Childrens Book

2006-07-14T14:42:00.000+01:00

This is for an Irish language childrens book. It's about a wee rabbit, called Cóilín who gets chased by an angry farmer after being caught eating his prize carrots, naughty bunny. Just about 7/8 pages in to it. Will post more later.

Project: Guide Dogs for the Blind - stamp

2006-07-10T23:10:00.000+01:00

This is a stamp I designed & illustrated marking the 30th anniversary of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. It was launched on Friday July 7, 2006 by Mr Noel Dempsey T.D., at the charity’s headquarters in Cork today.

The Top image is the final design, the lower is one of my initial ideas.

official blurb: The new stamp incorporates several special design features to facilitate visually impaired and blind customers, including for the first time ever, Braille embossing on the 48c denomination. The stamp’s colours were chosen to provide maximum contrast between the red guide dog silhouette in the foreground and the yellow background. The typography and font size as well as the unusually wide gap between the images and the text have been designed for maximum visibility.

Project: Self Promotional Postcard

2006-06-12T14:09:00.000+01:00

Just a self promotional postcard to be sent to art directors, ad agencies, design houses, etc. Currently addicted to Jim Flora's work, hence the heavy jazz influence.

IF: Portrait

2006-06-07T06:00:00.000+01:00

This is a wee character I've been developing for a few weeks. He's called Kwok.

IF: Cake

2006-05-31T07:57:00.000+01:00

Just a little cake, who's birthday is it and where's the party?

project: Insurance brochure cover

2006-05-30T17:20:00.000+01:00

Just finished this for a home insurance brochure.
I'm working on a few smaller illustrations for the inside, will post them as I finish.

elephantish

2006-05-17T17:23:00.000+01:00

Just a wee character I've been playing around with in the hope of developing a children's book around.

Illustration Friday: Under The "C"

2006-04-29T15:37:00.000+01:00

You did say the theme was "Under the C" didn't you? :)

Misneach III

2006-04-25T11:04:00.000+01:00

A couple more pages from the Irish language Children's book Misneach (mish-nock) including the happy ending page.
I've uploaded the whole book here

Illustration Friday: Spotted

2006-04-20T21:35:00.000+01:00

Spots/dots same thing?
I did this 7 years ago for my then girl friend.
It's in the style of Roy Lichtenstein.

Project: Ar Ais Arís

2006-04-20T21:07:00.000+01:00

You might recognize the bottom of the poster as I've adapted it for my blog header. The style of the poster was inspired by Jim Flora and Tim Biskup's work. The Transport theme represents artists/musicians coming home to take part in the festival. Buncrana is a small town in the west of Ireland.
The Illustration is mainly digital but I created the texture using ink and a roller.

Project: Misneach II

2006-04-12T11:26:00.000+01:00

Here's another couple of pages form "Misneach" the Irish language Children's book I'm working on. Here the Dragon is befriended by a few fairies and taken back to their place to check out their magic potions. This in true tradition of potions allows him to reek revenge on those troublesome forest creatures. That'll teach them.

doodle block

2006-04-11T11:59:00.000+01:00

I always have a piece of paper beside my computer that I jot notes down on or scribble address, quick ideas, names etc. It usually lasts a few weeks before I put it in the bin and start a new one. I found this image I'd been doodling away on whilst on the phone, inspired by a Da Vinci sketch from a calendar I have on the wall above my desk. Kinda like it.

Project: Apimondia 2005

2006-03-31T17:01:00.000+01:00

I studied technical illustration (many years ago) at college and still do the odd photo-real illustration, this was designed for the world bee keeping conference, Apimondia, which took place in Dublin last year.

Illustration Friday: Monster

2006-03-27T13:45:00.000+01:00

I've just started colouring up a 31 page Irish language children's book about a Dragon called "Misneach"(courage). Didn't think I was going to get a chance to do a monster this week so hopefully I can be forgiven for drawing (forgive the pun) on current work resources?

Illustration Friday: Feet

2006-03-20T22:00:00.000Z

Illustration Friday

Pencil sketch and a bit of photoshop.

The theme should be "feet" but I didn't have the time to do a pair:)

Illustration Friday: Tattoo

2006-03-11T21:28:00.000Z

Illustration FridayRed Dragon

Quick pencil sketch and a bit of photoshopery
Love doing those curly twirly bits.
Have been thinking of getting one done but something this size looks a bit painful.
...............................................
Rocks & Time

While we are on "tattoo" thought I add this illustration I did last year. It's a logo for a new Paul Sheeran Jewellers in Ireland

Will Work for Shoes

2006-03-09T15:31:00.000Z

A recent t-shirt design I did for my wife using linocut

Animation: Happy Paddy's Day

2006-03-01T16:35:00.000Z

Click frog to view
short animation (file size 97k)and turn up the volume
(requires flash player plug-in)

Recent Project: Garden Heaven Magazine

2006-02-28T21:33:00.000Z

A couple of recent illustrations for the John Cushnie editorial in the Irish gardening magazine, Garden Heaven.

Production-line plants

Beware prairie planting

Broc the Irish Rugby Team's Mascot

2006-02-27T17:17:00.000Z

I had this on an earlier version of my portfolio website, when I re-vamped it there didn't seem to be an obvious place for projects, so one good reason for getting a blog.

'Broc' is short for 'brocaire' the Irish word for terrier.
Here are a series of images that show the development of Broc from the initial early stages right through to the final design and execution of merchandising.
Stage1. Rough colour sketches. Three options were submitted, the wild boar, the Celtic warrior and the Irish terrier.

Wild Boar. The wild boar or wild pig, was a very important animal to the Celts. They were noted for their elusiveness and the speed at which they moved.

Warrior Chief. This character is based upon Irish mythology and in particular the infamous Irish Warrior Chief.

Irish Terrier. This true-breed has been around for about 2000 years. Bushy eyebrows and a reddish-coloured coat give Irish Terriers a Celtic look.

As a fourth option and after the initial presentation I designed a Leprechaun. I'm not sure if this was ever a runner but was quickly thrown out at the next meeting. The IRFU decided to go with the Terrier. They wanted a friendlier, less aggressive look however.

The revised terrier was starting to come together nicely. He was gaining more personality each time I drew him.

The 'First Draft' of the plush toy was worked up in China from my initial sketches and sent over in two sizes, 6" and 12".

I sketched up a sheet of amends to accompany a list of changes and a 36" version was requested to be sent out the Irish team for their tour of Australia.

The Broc Keyrings were produced to coincide with Broc's first public appearance on Ireland's tour of Australia

Broc arrives back from his tour down-under.

Stage 2 prototypes, 26",10" and a 7" version with a suction pad for car windows.

This is the final Broc Illustration worked up in Photoshop.

Recent interview with Macuser Magazine

2006-02-26T13:16:00.000Z

This interview was published in MacUser Magazine in the 11 November 2005 edition
Name: Steve Simpson

Short professional biography:
I trained as a technical illustrator in Portsmouth but ended up working in animation on Danger Mouse and Count Duckula in Manchester. Moved to Dublin in 1990, worked as an an art director on several animation projects and creative director for a greetings card company. Had a regular strip in the Beano and was employed by Guinness to draw punters caricatures in bars all over Ireland (nice job) . Decided to concentrate wholly on illustration about 8 years ago, concentrating in the areas of advertising, design and character design.

What was your first Mac?
The original G3 Power Mac, 1997 I think.

What equipment do you use apart from your Mac?
I use a 12" G4 PB hooked up to a 19" Formac LCD monitor. I use an Iomega HDD 250gb external HD and I have an all in one epson CX3650.

What are your tips for success?
Hard work basically. If you can set yourself a series of small hurdles on the way to a bigger goal you'll always feel you're progressing. It's easy to get disillusioned when you start off in the illustration business. Always use a contract!

Talk us through these examples.
Shomera before and after pics. Taken from an A4 6pp leaflet for Shomera, a timber framed extra room designed for your garden. The two illustrations show how, with the help of the extra space, you and work can exist in perfect harmony.

Rocker guy, A recent piece for Beamish promoting a weekend pub music festival. I enjoyed this one, Will Eisner, the great American comic artist, once said "You are what you draw!", meaning you do your best work based on what you can relate to and have experience of. I think this is a good example of that.

Junior Mentalogy Board Game. This was a great project to work on. The brief was to take the existing board game and make a junior version that was fun, colourful and lively.

Broc, He's the Irish Rugby team's Mascot. We made a full size body suit to run around before games too.

What or who are your influences?
Many and varied, currently (illustrators) Jim Flora, Tim Biskup, Dan Yaccarino and Brian Grimwood.

How did you get your big break?
When I was 16 my cartoonist uncle, who had strips in the Beano and Dandy, gave me a summer job assisting him (I was paid a fiver a day).
I got to work on Banana Man and Desperate Dan amongst others. After impressing him ( no doubt with my the way I could ink boxes with rotrings and puddle large areas of solid black) he put my name forward for an interview at the animation company Cosgrove Hall. I started working there as a special effects artist in 85.

What would you regard as your career-defining moment?
I'm still waiting on that one... will keep you posted.

What's your ideal project or commission?
I like editorial work for the freedom but not the money, and I like advertising for the money but not the restrictions and certainly not the deadlines.

Is there any kind of creative work you would refuse?
Usually if there's going to be a lot of effort for little return I'd probably say no.

What's your greatest creative inspiration?
A couple of hours strolling around Dublin's National Art Gallery.

What excites you professionally?
Being given the freedom to solve a problem creatively and then being given money for doing something I enjoyed doing. Some times it's incredible to believe that you get paid good money to just have fun.

What's wrong with design today?
Royalty free stock images.

Tell us about something good?
Working in my studio with my slippers on and never having to sit in rush hour traffic.

What frustrates you?
Traffic jams and....erm... mental blocks

Shufflesome

2006-02-23T20:50:00.000Z

24 artists from 10 nations co-create Shufflesome

These are laminated stickers for the iPod shuffle. Some really excellent work here. If you have an iPod shuffle you should check it out.

This is my design, barbaloo, produced in Adobe Illustrator.

Recent Project: Caricature

2006-02-23T20:32:00.000Z

Corporate leaving gift.

Scanned pencil line with high contrast, coloured up in Photoshop

Recent Project: Sport is Religion

2006-02-23T17:22:00.000Z

My work comes from many varied sources, ad agencies, design studios, editorial and animation houses. Quite often I'm asked to produce something outside of my usual styles. This is one such job. Coincidently it's on a stained glass window theme.
The job came in Tuesday afternoon. A pencil rough was required that evening and finished artwork Wednesday evening. Had a couple of small changes, make logos bigger and add new scroll at the bottom but all was finished by midday, approved by client and has gone to press. It'll be on banners and sandwich boards for the 6 nations clash this weekend between Ireland and Wales.

Update 02 March 06: Client sent me this photo of the promotion crew prior to the match

Harry Clarke 1889-1931

2006-02-23T13:04:00.000Z

I've just finished designing a 48c stamp for the Irish Post Office ( An Post) commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of Harry Clarke. The stamp will be released next month.

Harry Clarke was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1889. He apprenticed to his father in stained glass at the age of 16. From 1910 to 1913 he attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where he won 3 gold medals and 2 scholarships.

He was an illustrator of several books including:

Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge, 1913.

Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, 1916. (Colour illustrations, Black and white illustrations)

Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Poe, 1919.

The Years at the Spring, lettuce DOE Walters, 1920.

Fairy Tales of parlayed, 1922.

Faust, Goethe, 1925.

Selected Poems, sunburns, 1928.

He also designed stained glass windows in the British Isles, Australia, and Africa.

He died of tuberculosis in Switzerland in 1931.

SteveSimpson.com

2006-02-22T23:18:00.000Z

I may as well give myself a plug. I've just finished re-vamping my own site.

www.stevesimpson.com

Have a look around, there's quite a mix of stuff. Having trained as a technical illustrator I spent my first 6 years working for an animation company before getting back into illustration via greetings cards and comics. Hence the contrasting styles.

Feedback always appreciated

The Illustrators' Guild of Ireland

2006-02-22T23:03:00.000Z

About 4 years ago myself and 3 other illustrators met in a pub in Dublin. At that meeting we decided to create an organization to promote Irish Illustration. Today the IGI has over 60 full and part time members.

The Illustrators' Guild of Ireland is a non-profit organization established to support the development of illustration in Ireland by showcasing illustrators' work and by fostering links with similar organizations at home and abroad. The IGI has established a community of illustrators and provides a means by which artists can at once show their work and respond collectively to changes in the marketplace and law.

For the first time in Ireland, there is now a permanent centre for the craft of illustration to which clients and illustrators and students can refer to find relevant information.

As communication between illustrators improves, standards will be set for both the work and the business practices of members. By setting these standards, clients can be assured that members can and will provide work of the highest quality in a professional way. The IGI provides the means through which the industry can develop and through which illustrators and clients can profit. As an organization, it will exist in perpetuity, educating members and non-members alike and promoting the craft for succeeding generations.

Jim Flora

2006-02-22T13:44:00.000Z

The wonderful world of Jim Flora. You can't help but be inspired by this.

James (Jim) Flora concocted dozens of diabolic and hallucinatory album cover illustrations, many for Columbia and RCA Victor jazz artists, in the 1940s and ‘50s. His designs pulsed with angular hepcats bearing funnel-tapered noses and shark-fin chins, who fingered cockeyed pianos and honked lollipop-hued horns. Yet Flora's wondrous, childlike exuberance was subverted by a sinister tinge of the grotesque. He wreaked havoc with the laws of physics, conjuring up flying musicians, levitating instruments, and wobbly dimensional perspectives. He also took liberties with human anatomy, evoking bonded bodies, mutant appendages, ghoulish skin tints, and misshapen heads. He was not averse to pigmenting Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa like bedspread patterns.

John Ireland

2006-02-22T13:05:00.000Z

One of my all time favorite illustrators.
John Ireland
During the 80's you couldn't walk into a pub without seeing a whole wall of sports caricatures, usually rugby or snooker players of the day by John Ireland. Expect a resurgence in ink and wash illustration. He had a huge influence on my early years as a cartoonist/illustrator. Check out his site for some of those saucy seaside postcards too!