Obviously inspired by the previous duck based post, here is a little sketch with a duck, an octopus, and a fish.

When things go eventually wild. I play the banana.

A random sketch from few weeks ago. I’d like to thanks Batman and Melt for the inspiration.

Also I noticed this “concept” clearly matches this week Illutration Friday theme (Reverse). I feel like “killing two birds with one stone”.

She likes hats, she doesn’t have any but she’s got a cat.

I could eventually turn this into a “song” but I’m playing safe with a little sketch for now.

Also, I got bored.

Bored of my “style”, my “technique” and since the beginning of this year my internals have been refusing to do the same as 2010 illustration-wise (and everything-wise actually).

I don’t have any reasons to complain about last year as it’s been just amazing to finally find a personal sketching style that could be developed. But, I think I’ve been slightly fooled (over-excited?) to think that this style and this technique were mature enough to be “locked” for my next pieces. And I must admit that I somehow struggled to have fun while sketching the last one.

Old. Style.

New. Year.

Re. Set.

Not completely but I need to have fun again. Spend more time on paper, less on computer. Using a black ball-point pen – challenging but really interesting (and fun). Scanning in black & white 600 dpi to finally have “pure black” and “pure white” is a relief from the grey look and feel of the previous babies (but I still like you guys!!). And a sharp shade instead of 20538 shades is infinitely more fun to spread while painting with pixels.

Voila, I wanted to make things clear so my hair grow in the right direction. I’m starving for more.

Cycles, life cycles, activity cycles, it’s all very circular and this is not the first time I hear myself thinking I want to go back sketching on paper rather than on my old and scratchy Nintendo DS screen. I had enough and, during my last Eurostar trip, I’ve started enjoying my new Moleskine and fine Bic more than I expected.

Again, I love you paper, so much.

Started sketching a fish, ended up with an eye.

A classic trick I used to like as a kid. Keep the hair up.

One day as I was working late, I turned my head to the right and saw the Oli’s machine in action. It made me think. But it’s cool I love this music :)

This mouth can’t speak.

If it does he will crunch the beauty inside.

This ear can’t hear.

If it does he will swallow the beauty outside.

This head can’t think.

And I can’t write.

The idea of mashing up my passions for both Gypsy Jazz and illustration could have been obvious but only popup in my mind a couple of weeks ago. It didn’t take me long to let myself inspired by Mr Django Reinhardt for a sketch I started last Sunday.

I then realised that Le Quecumbar – UK temple of Django’s music – was about to celebrate it’s 7th birthday on Wednesday and this ongoing piece will problably fit very well there. So, for the first time I decided to illustrate for an external purpose. I really love Le Quecumbar since I moved to London three years ago and the idea of adding my two cents to this magic place excited and motivated me as never before. The deadline was a bit tight tight – two days (well… nights) – to finish the drawing and colorize it.

It’s been exhausting but very rewarding and helped me out to evaluate how long I need to do something like this. Moreover Sylvia Rushbrooke – Le Quecumbar owner – and her super friendly staff gave me a very warm feedback on this. Thanks a lot to all of you; not to say that the night and the music (and the wine) was thrilling as usual :).

Following my previous illustration resolutions I’ve been very careful at using a limited desaturated colour palette. In my opinion it helps to highlight the line and fits the vintage theme pretty well.

Following are some of the key steps I followed, from scribbling to framing: