Here is the latest bit of my summer competition frenzy: an illustration of the word “space” for the Space Exhibition which will be part of the Cardiff Design Festival 2011 this October.

It might be obvious but, in case it isn’t, the idea is to illustrate the constant need of urbanisation to take over space and potentially over our beautiful nature. As a result many happy mountain sheep ended up drunk in the big smoke. One interpretation out of many I hope (hint: keep mind wide open).

A busy inspiration board:

My process, step by step:

Based on my early idea of breaking into hat fashion here is a three animal-hats set done for the Stereohype badge competition 2011.

Cathat

Octopushat

Elephanthat

My last night’ spontaneous submission to the Booooooom + Poketo “Before life” project. Totally free to interpretation!

I met a dog. A Greek dog. And I’ve been tempted sketching about his pace of life. Meanwhile I found out about PeculiarBliss latest call for submission with a theme matching flawlessly what this dog – let’s call it Pluto – inspired me: “Pastime”.

Me and Pluto met at Jimmy’s in the village of Pelekas, Corfu. As most dog he was mainly chilling out, but he had this powerful expression on his face translating many years of an extremely peaceful life. Another definition of time for Pluto then, so far away from our busy and hyper fast pace of life of over-connected people.

This is Pluto having a nap:

A bunch of pictures to pimp up the idea:

And 18 steps of the doodling, sketching & painting process:

Here is my entry for a book re-covering competition I participated to, organised by The Fox Is Black.

The idea is to re-cover a book that does not have much exciting covers. In this case the massive Greek poem “The Odyssey”.

My Greek poems knowledge being surprisingly so-so, I thought I should give it a try. I’ve got the Penguin edition, it’s interesting, but quite hardcore for my French understanding of English literature.

So reading this will be a challenge that I might try to achieve during my upcoming trek in Greece; for now I’ve done what I can do: an illustration based on The Odyssey’s “plot” and the titles of the 24 “books” (or chapters) structuring the piece.

Oh and I did a bit of “book design” too (particularly enjoyed the bar code moment):

“I see the River Thames as a natural and beautiful way to open London to a wide horizon of foreign cultures and to inspire whoever experience it. Knowing how the London transport system works, oysters definitely have a role to play here.”

This is how I described my involvement in this year’s AOI/TFL/SERCO illustration competition for which I’ve just submitted the piece above. It’s about The River Thames (not just oysters).

Last year has been emotional so I really really really wanted to give it a try again even if the crazy three weeks deadline (minus 5 days a week…) turned it even more into a challenge! A super exciting one though.

A few “first’s” are sticking to my Oyster Cart:

• first real illustration (proper brief, A3 sized) for 2011;
• first illustration using my updated sketching/painting method;
• first time I sketch an oyster (surprisingly it’s very fun).

Here is a little step-by-step of the whole process:

1. Doodling

2. Inspiration boarding

3. Sketching

4. Painting

Back in April I submitted my first entry for an illustration competition: London Cloud Ride for the Cycling in London Competition.

Yesterday I delivered the pictured framed artwork to the Association of illustrators as it will be part of the Cycling in London exhibition at the London Transport Museum from the 5th of July to the 22nd of August 2010.

It was unexpected and it feels just amazing to have a first professional recognition about my illustration work as well as serving a sustainable cause.

Again, Thank you.

London wouldn’t exist without clouds, so rather than complaining let’s make them happier and healthier by pushing cycling as the best way to get around the city.

This is my entry for the AOI Cycling in London competition, and also my first entry to an illustration competition. I’m excited and I will be even more if I talk again about this in the next few months! Wait, hope, see and let’s go outside as today London’s clouds are off!

The initial conceptual sketch done on the DS.

The original drawing.