Computer Arts Gallery: May 2006

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

1. JAZZ WOLF "I particularly enjoy drawing werewolves and buildings, which is why I drew this."

2. ZEN DOG AND CROCODILE "This image was a piece of self-promotion used as part of a mailout that showed how even the most complicated processes are motivated by the most basic needs."

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

THE AFTERNOON TEA ALIEN SPACE MONSTER FROM BENEATH THE SEA "I created this monster for the recent Monster Mash exhibition and tournament, for which it was a finalist. I wanted to create a gargantuan and completely ridiculous consumerist creature using an aesthetic that juxtaposed flat colours and detailed drawings."

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

PARTY MONSTER "This editorial illustration for Fused Magazine's Birthday Fun Book was also exhibited at the Monster Mash exhibition. It's a fun illustration that plays with creating something atmospheric, using flat shapes and subtle gradients."

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

'WE LOVE SEPTEMBER' FOR OCTANE3'S CHARITY CALENDAR "My idea for this project was to turn what is, in all honesty, not the most exciting of months into a cult figure that is worshipped by a dedicated bunch of followers (plus I had an urge to draw an elephant). As this was going to sit around on people's desks for a month, I wanted to make sure that there was plenty to look at!"

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

THE HAT TRICK "Co-made with Tom Chitty, this five-minute animated film was supported by the The British Council, The BBC Film Network, Southwest Screen and The Bristol School of Animation. It was also selected for the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brief Encounters Short Film Festival, Leeds International Film Festival, Bath Film Festival, Cardiff Screen Festival, Animated Exeter and Kinofilm Manchester. The film was screened on BBC2 as part of the channel's Home Grown Hollywood programme."

CHRIS DICKASON
LOCATION Bristol, UK
JOB Animator and illustrator
CONTACT www.chrisdickason.co.uk
SOFTWARE Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and After Effects

"I watch movies, read, drink a lot of tea and coffee, tootle about, go out on my bike - anything really until an idea pops into my head that I think has suitable potential," says Bristol-based creative Chris Dickason of his preferred working practices.

"I start each project initially with complete computer abstinence, ceaselessly poking the concept around in my sketchbook," he says. "Once I feel that I've got to grips with what I'd like to achieve I scan the drawings that I'm happiest with, work them up, and then export the illustrations and/or animations from application to application until I achieve a look and feel that best communicates my idea."

THE COSTUME-A-TRON "These five 16-second animated stings were created for MTV Load. They showed the many roles required of the 'modern man' by today's society and how these roles are reflected by what he wears and the music he listens to. The animation had to be designed so that it could be clearly viewed on both television and mobile phone screens."

JAY PATERSON
LOCATION Northants, UK
JOB Graphic illustrator
CONTACT jayp1@hotmail.co.uk
SOFTWARE Photoshop

Jay Paterson graduated with a BA in Design and Illustration from De Montfort University in 2005. He has since worked on design projects including business cards, leaflets and commissioned work for his old Student Union.

"I really didn't have a technique down until six months before I graduated when I went to a Dave McKean lecture in London," he admits. "I wasn't as familiar with his work as some, but the whole train ride back I kept getting the urge to do something McKean like!"

So how would Jay describe his style? "I can't really explain some of the pictures I do because I do them for fun, usually for no reason," he says. "I like to work from text - poems, fiction, music or lyrics - and also go a bit supernatural sometimes. I think that if my own illustrations will send me into a stare, then maybe it will do even more for someone else."

DECKARD "This was one of five illustrations inspired by a group of paragraphs from the sci-fi story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The image used photography, watercolour and other electrical materials."

JAY PATERSON
LOCATION Northants, UK
JOB Graphic illustrator
CONTACT jayp1@hotmail.co.uk
SOFTWARE Photoshop

Jay Paterson graduated with a BA in Design and Illustration from De Montfort University in 2005. He has since worked on design projects including business cards, leaflets and commissioned work for his old Student Union.

"I really didn't have a technique down until six months before I graduated when I went to a Dave McKean lecture in London," he admits. "I wasn't as familiar with his work as some, but the whole train ride back I kept getting the urge to do something McKean like!"

So how would Jay describe his style? "I can't really explain some of the pictures I do because I do them for fun, usually for no reason," he says. "I like to work from text - poems, fiction, music or lyrics - and also go a bit supernatural sometimes. I think that if my own illustrations will send me into a stare, then maybe it will do even more for someone else."

BUCKET "This image was inspired by an old Seamus Heaney poem I read when I was at school. It was quite a sad poem, but great for illustrating."

JAY PATERSON
LOCATION Northants, UK
JOB Graphic illustrator
CONTACT jayp1@hotmail.co.uk
SOFTWARE Photoshop

Jay Paterson graduated with a BA in Design and Illustration from De Montfort University in 2005. He has since worked on design projects including business cards, leaflets and commissioned work for his old Student Union.

"I really didn't have a technique down until six months before I graduated when I went to a Dave McKean lecture in London," he admits. "I wasn't as familiar with his work as some, but the whole train ride back I kept getting the urge to do something McKean like!"

So how would Jay describe his style? "I can't really explain some of the pictures I do because I do them for fun, usually for no reason," he says. "I like to work from text - poems, fiction, music or lyrics - and also go a bit supernatural sometimes. I think that if my own illustrations will send me into a stare, then maybe it will do even more for someone else."

LUBA LUFT "This is my interpretation of what an art gallery might look like in the future. I thought it would be a bit different to add a nightclub theme, reflecting the girl android's personality."

KRISTIAN OLSON
LOCATION California, USA
JOB Graphic designer and illustrator
CONTACT www.kristianolson.com
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Kristian Olson's dual career as a graphic designer and illustrator gives him a unique approach to creativity. His intricate illustrations make an immediate visual impact.

"Each character is started in Photoshop as solid ellipses, piled on top of each other in layers to form its basic shape and components," he explains. "Each one is then airbrushed to achieve highlights and shadows, and then I adjust some ellipses in the Levels window to make them contrast with the others. The stripes, swirls and background elements are then created in Illustrator."

HUMAN "This illustration was created for a Booth Clibborn Editions art/design book entitled Human?, a compilation of works loosely relating to what it means to be human. This piece is about our sometimes awkward search for meaning and understanding via religion."

KRISTIAN OLSON
LOCATION California, USA
JOB Graphic designer and illustrator
CONTACT www.kristianolson.com
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Kristian Olson's dual career as a graphic designer and illustrator gives him a unique approach to creativity. His intricate illustrations make an immediate visual impact.

"Each character is started in Photoshop as solid ellipses, piled on top of each other in layers to form its basic shape and components," he explains. "Each one is then airbrushed to achieve highlights and shadows, and then I adjust some ellipses in the Levels window to make them contrast with the others. The stripes, swirls and background elements are then created in Illustrator."

EW "This was the opening spread for Entertainment Weekly's Fall TV preview last year. Each September they publish an issue that highlights the new and returning television shows. It was Fall harvest, so the idea was to illustrate that the televisions were ripe and ready to eat."

KRISTIAN OLSON
LOCATION California, USA
JOB Graphic designer and illustrator
CONTACT www.kristianolson.com
SOFTWARE Illustrator and Photoshop

Kristian Olson's dual career as a graphic designer and illustrator gives him a unique approach to creativity. His intricate illustrations make an immediate visual impact.

"Each character is started in Photoshop as solid ellipses, piled on top of each other in layers to form its basic shape and components," he explains. "Each one is then airbrushed to achieve highlights and shadows, and then I adjust some ellipses in the Levels window to make them contrast with the others. The stripes, swirls and background elements are then created in Illustrator."

MONSTER 3 "This is one of six pieces created for the MONSTER show at the Compound Gallery in Portland, Oregon. I wanted these to look like postage stamps or currency, so each character might appear as someone important within the secret enclaves of monster society."