Computer Arts Gallery: July 2007

JAN WILLEM WENNEKES
LOCATION Groningen, The Netherlands
JOB Illustrative designer
CONTACT www.zeptonn.nl
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Jan Willem Wennekes studied Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy at the University of Groningen, but is now known for his self-taught illustrative design work. "I'm mostly known under my alias, Stinger, or through my studio Zeptonn," says the 27-year-old.

"As a one-man design army I create artwork that ranges from T-shirts, badges and skateboards to canvas prints, wall graphics and books. My work has been used by leading companies such as Threadless, Popcling, Blik, Funkrush, SplitTheAtom and TeeTonic. It wasn't until last summer that I decided to work full-time as an illustrative designer. I know I made the right choice. I love it."

STINGERMANIA "I created both these images for my own book, Stingermania. I wanted to make a piece that reflected the work, style, techniques and illustrations I had done in the last couple of months."

JAN WILLEM WENNEKES
LOCATION Groningen, The Netherlands
JOB Illustrative designer
CONTACT www.zeptonn.nl
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Jan Willem Wennekes studied Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy at the University of Groningen, but is now known for his self-taught illustrative design work. "I'm mostly known under my alias, Stinger, or through my studio Zeptonn," says the 27-year-old.

"As a one-man design army I create artwork that ranges from T-shirts, badges and skateboards to canvas prints, wall graphics and books. My work has been used by leading companies such as Threadless, Popcling, Blik, Funkrush, SplitTheAtom and TeeTonic. It wasn't until last summer that I decided to work full-time as an illustrative designer. I know I made the right choice. I love it."

WHEN THE GIANT FELL ASLEEP "I hardly made any sketches for this illustration. I just started to draw in Illustrator and let the piece evolve organically on its own. I photographed my own hand so I could draw the vectors around the image."

YEE TING KUIT
LOCATION Melton Mowbray, UK
JOB Freelance illustrator
CONTACT www.yeellustration.co.uk
SOFTWARE Photoshop and Illustrator

Yee Ting Kuit is a 22-year-old illustrator from Leicestershire who graduated with first class honours from the BA (Hons) Illustration course at University College Falmouth in 2006. She has been working freelance since graduating and her work has featured in a number of publications, including the Computer Arts Graduate Showcase 2006, the Guardian Weekend magazine and the AOI's upcoming Images 31 annual and exhibition.

"My work is produced digitally so I always like to start with pen and paper so the end product doesn't look too clinical," she says. "I like to use bold, bright colours throughout my work, and a sprinkling of textures and patterns made using custom brushes to help create depth within the image."

DING DING! "I created this piece for an open brief in Amelia's Magazine based on the theme of alternative transport. I really enjoyed incorporating the bicycle as a hand-drawn element because I haven't done that for a while."

YEE TING KUIT
LOCATION Melton Mowbray, UK
JOB Freelance illustrator
CONTACT www.yeellustration.co.uk
SOFTWARE Photoshop and Illustrator

Yee Ting Kuit is a 22-year-old illustrator from Leicestershire who graduated with first class honours from the BA (Hons) Illustration course at University College Falmouth in 2006. She has been working freelance since graduating and her work has featured in a number of publications, including the Computer Arts Graduate Showcase 2006, the Guardian Weekend magazine and the AOI's upcoming Images 31 annual and exhibition.

"My work is produced digitally so I always like to start with pen and paper so the end product doesn't look too clinical," she says. "I like to use bold, bright colours throughout my work, and a sprinkling of textures and patterns made using custom brushes to help create depth within the image."

QUOTES "This is one of my favourite pieces and I produced it for a promotional book at my degree show based on the theme of quotes and sayings. I chose the Chinese proverb 'A book is like a garden carried in the pocket'. I think I ended up using about 100 layers in Photoshop."

DAN HALLETT
LOCATION Barcelona, Spain
JOB Illustrator
CONTACT www.danhallett.blog.com
SOFTWARE Photoshop and FreeHand

Dan Hallett is a 26-year-old illustrator who studied illustration at the Anglia Ruskin University Art School in Cambridge. He now works for a studio in Barcelona, creating designs for various high-street fashion labels.

"I also freelance and have recently illustrated two books written by historian Jonathan Walker," he says. "It is important for an illustrator to have wide and varied interests and influences. The two illustrators that inspire me the most right now are Chris Ware and Shaun Tan. I want my work to tell a story or stimulate a thought. It is all about communication, even if the message is not always specific."

PISTOLS! TREASON! MURDER! "Pistols! Treason! Murder! was Jonathan Walker's first book. It has been described as the first work of 'punk history'. The book contains 30 illustrations, most of which are based on 16th and 17th-century woodcuts and engravings. Many of the elements were hand drawn, then placed into the composition using Photoshop."

DAN HALLETT
LOCATION Barcelona, Spain
JOB Illustrator
CONTACT www.danhallett.blog.com
SOFTWARE Photoshop and FreeHand

Dan Hallett is a 26-year-old illustrator who studied illustration at the Anglia Ruskin University Art School in Cambridge. He now works for a studio in Barcelona, creating designs for various high-street fashion labels.

"I also freelance and have recently illustrated two books written by historian Jonathan Walker," he says. "It is important for an illustrator to have wide and varied interests and influences. The two illustrators that inspire me the most right now are Chris Ware and Shaun Tan. I want my work to tell a story or stimulate a thought. It is all about communication, even if the message is not always specific."

FIVE WOUNDS "Jonathan Walker wanted these illustrations to be based on lithograph etchings, inspired by Goya's prints and with some reference to early photographs. The pictures were hand drawn as black-and-white line art, then textures and corruption effects were added in Photoshop using scanned-in material, computer-generated effects and filters."

MARCELO BRUZZESI
LOCATION Glasgow, UK
JOB Art director/illustrator
CONTACT www.bruzzesi.com
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Marcelo Bruzzesi, 23, is a Brazilian artist living and working in Glasgow. "Brazil is full of mixtures, starting with our people and religion," he says. "Growing up there has influenced my work."

Bruzzesi's work features a mix of pictures, vectors, colour palettes, textures and gradients. "My inspiration comes from everything that surrounds me," he says. "I always try to keep everything I see in mind, so I can mix it and express what I feel."

CURIOUS EXPLOSION "This illustration was created for the Curious Group and it represents what lies within people's souls. I started by hand-drawing shapes and finished it in Photoshop."

MARCELO BRUZZESI
LOCATION Glasgow, UK
JOB Art director/illustrator
CONTACT www.bruzzesi.com
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Marcelo Bruzzesi, 23, is a Brazilian artist living and working in Glasgow. "Brazil is full of mixtures, starting with our people and religion," he says. "Growing up there has influenced my work."

Bruzzesi's work features a mix of pictures, vectors, colour palettes, textures and gradients. "My inspiration comes from everything that surrounds me," he says. "I always try to keep everything I see in mind, so I can mix it and express what I feel."

TATTOO "I love my tattoos, and this illustration puts my thoughts about them into pictures. For me, every tattoo has a life. The image was hand drawn and finished in FreeHand and Photoshop."

CHRIS EDE
LOCATION Chichester, UK
JOB Freelance illustrator and graphic designer
CONTACT www.chrisede.com
SOFTWARE Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign

Freelance illustrator and graphic designer Chris Ede graduated last year with a first class degree. He is now working to develop his career within the illustration industry.

"I began with the New Designers SELECTION exhibition last September," he says. "Then soon after I had the great pleasure of working with McFaul - the highlight being the design of a series of Dunnys for Kidrobot."

Ede is currently working on the launch of a new online print business, Temple Bloom. This has included work on logo design, stationery, advertising, animation and a series of limited edition prints. Later this year he will take part in the AOI Images exhibition tour. "I am determined to make my mark on the industry's editorial and book sector," he says.

HOW TO... REST "The brief for this piece was to show ways in which different people like to rest. This illustration shows the power nap method. It was created with pen, ink, tea and Photoshop."

CHRIS EDE
LOCATION Chichester, UK
JOB Freelance illustrator and graphic designer
CONTACT www.chrisede.com
SOFTWARE Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign

Freelance illustrator and graphic designer Chris Ede graduated last year with a first class degree. He is now working to develop his career within the illustration industry.

"I began with the New Designers SELECTION exhibition last September," he says. "Then soon after I had the great pleasure of working with McFaul - the highlight being the design of a series of Dunnys for Kidrobot."

Ede is currently working on the launch of a new online print business, Temple Bloom. This has included work on logo design, stationery, advertising, animation and a series of limited edition prints. Later this year he will take part in the AOI Images exhibition tour. "I am determined to make my mark on the industry's editorial and book sector," he says.

TEMPLE BLOOM "I am currently working on the launch of a new online print business, Temple Bloom. This will include a logo design, stationery, advertising, animation and a series of limited-edition prints."