Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Should there have been a roll of drums?

Well, as mentioned last post, went to see the film 'Death' , at BAFTA, a small independent piece by the excellent Martin Gooch who wrote, directed and did all the jobs that nobody else was available for, and we had a good time, both watching the film, which features my work in the titles and in a couple of scenes, and meeting others.

Now this is where I was wondering if there might have been a roll of drums, or at least a crack of thunder [it rained enough] when I introduced myself to that doyen of gaming Ian Livingstone. Who, along with Steve Jackson, created the Fighting Fantasy series and launched a lot of happy people into the world of roll playing gaming certainly in this country.

As it turned out there was no roll of drums, or thunder, but in the ensuing din around we had a nice conversation, in which he voiced his surprise that we'd never spoken to each other face to face. I had intended to start with a quip about, 'Dr. Livingstone I presume',  but in all the turmoil of reaching him through the packed room .... forgot. I also met his lovely wife, and lad, and she very kindly took our photograph, which Ian has passed on and I post below.
So for all those that wanted to see us together.... there you have it, and who knows maybe we'll work together again in the future.

As mentioned, it was good evening, and day, for caught a 'free' rehearsal of Beethoven's 1812 Overture at the local church of St. James. Most interesting to see how the conductor chose what to emphasis and of course there was the flying baton.... But we're only now recovered from travelling under London, via Piccadilly, would you believe ... Never again on the underground. It's too much walking and climbing for two old dears.

Now I cannot go without posting a couple of other pictures, thanks to the incomparable Andy these come from Blacksand Advanced Fighting Fantasy.


 Also a couple of old White Dwarf magazine pieces [ If I've posted these before my apologies].



Right that's it for now. Next time, some new work.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

The Trolltooth Wars.... during April Showers.

I wrote before that I would be posting some pictures, thanks to Andy and others, that I did for The Trolltooth Wars, which was the first in a series of written stories in the Fighting Fantasy mythos. It was written by Steve Jackson, then the last two, Demonstealer, and Shadowmaster [as far as my work is concerned] were written by Marc Gascoigne.

The first was the most interesting in that I was given the opportunity to choose the scenes to illustrate, after reading the galley manuscript, and this also included me selecting the layout of where, and how, the pictures would appear from its double page frontispiece and title page to the split illustrations and the double page spread, which in hindsight, I think was let down by the gutter 'split'.
Below are the two 'wings' of the frontispiece and title page [though I had nothing to do with the typography or text layout].

When I was offered the job I had to also do a sample to see what 'they' at Penguin, and I assume, Steve thought. My first drawing was apparently rejected because the shading I used was thought too 'real' and not as stylised as the work I was 'known' for. It taught me a lesson, stick to what you're considered good at. lol. Mind you, on occasion I still try to vary what I do. 
Below see the final 'split' picture, which is the same layout as the one rejected, just stylised with less 'shading' [ cross hatching] to the inks. The idea was these two pictures would frame the text and hopefully add to the scene.

OK. Now onto a few more examples from the original book.

I 're-worked' our friend above recently for the Le Grimoire 'shop'. I'll post more about this at a later date.

The book finished with a scene that showed all that had gone on had been but a game of greater gods. Steve, I remember, remarked that a lot of his script never saw print.

Sorry for the poor quality of these but they were 'lifted' and scanned by that infamous collector of images a.n.other.

To my mind, the whole project was a lot of fun, but in the end it was let down by the fact that the print paper selected did not do justice to the drawings. This is even more apparent if we look at one of the pictures scanned from the title 'Shadowmaster'.
Finally, a couple of other pictures from other titles, such as Blacksand, to round of this post.


Till the next time .... and after I've been to the première of the movie Death! , by Martin Gooch, this coming Saturday, and it is so good to hear the film has been selected to open the SCI-FI-Film Festival, London, in May.

Besides that I'm fairly busy, which is nice [grin] even if I'm recovering from an annoying bronchial infection. No worries though .. bye for the now.

Monday, 27 February 2012

DEATH .... an up and coming premier!

Update to the film 'DEATH'.

Do check out the trailer [ see link below] and if you watch and blink you'll miss the two bits that feature my work! lol!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1822203/
But it has a really nice soundtrack, from the little I've heard, from Simon Woodgate, and if you know ways of spreading the word then please do Martin a favour and do!
Now for something a little more esoteric [or something].
Along time ago, to eke out a living I did some work for Penthouse magazine, it didn't go very far as my saucy postcard approach was considered 'not raunchy enough' for its illustrious pages. I never knew what happened to the work, it was never 'sold' and never returned [ah the work I've 'lost' over the years.... sigh], but one piece did appear in an illustration website a few years ago. How it got there .... I have no idea, who 'owns' my work .... you guessed  .... I have no idea, but I had no objection [per say] to see it put on as an example of my work [lol]. Well recently another piece has been 'posted' and as I stated earlier .... for those die-hard completists of my work here they are ... 

    So there they are .... Now a shameful plug.
Also seen for sale on Ebay ..... for even more dedicated completists [cough] there is an old fanzine I did some spot artwork for ..... this dates before the 'Fighting Fantasy' titles - Copper Toadstool 5, Vol. 3, no. 5.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110831691890?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Lastly, just completed a couple of small pieces for Kobold Quarterly Magazine and will hopefully be able to publish soon. Till the next time.

Monday, 16 January 2012

All Quite Quiet on the Eastern Front .....

Well, the year of the Dragon is about to start and we can wonder what it will bring. At the moment things are quite, but I am finishing tasks which I'm late with [gurgk sorry :)] so my apologies to those with such patience.

Martin Gooch, director, producer, and all round nice guy, who let me do some bits on his latest film has had the first poster produced which features some of my drawing and the logo image, and I thought it right to post it here so those faithful of you [and my sincere thanks to you all] can see it first. Well more or less first as it's gone on Facebook.
 For those interested in the film itself .....
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Death-The-Film/152994018076706

Last, but never least, a small pic I did for someone a few months ago ... never heard if it even arrived, but here is a small copy, which is a re-working of an even older piece.

Who knows what the year will bring ..... fingers crossed no more deterioration of my health :). Take care, till the next time.

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Bits and pieces and some news

I have been happily, health permitting, working on various commissions of late, though the future lies in shadow, when today,I had a nice email from film maker, writer, director, and producer Martin Gooch, of Death Ltd. about progress with his film 'Death'.

You may remember I posted a couple of bits about my involvement before.

Martin would like more people to get involved, especially if they ever dreamed of being linked to a film. Think of drinking champagne at Cannes, for example, as an associate producer .... and plugging your own projects.

As he points out, 'Filmmaking is very hard in this country. The only way you can prove that you are good enough to make a movie - is to make a movie - it's a classic Catch 22.
There is no funding in this country to speak of (especially if you wish to make slightly off the wall movies like this one).
When this film is complete it could open the gateway to a whole future for everyone on the movies in doing the thing we love - making movies.
You will help us actually make a movie. And your immortality will be achieved with you name on the credits.
' So for a few pounds [if you have them :)] you can help an inspiring creative finish of his film and get involved into the bargain.
Please check out his link.http://www.sponsume.com/project/death-martin-gooch-movie

As for me, well I see some of my work up on a big screen. As well as some illustrative work for the production, I also contributed to to the films titling. See an examples below.
from the titles of the film Death.
production piece with my work included
So, their you have it for now, though apparently there will be a poster that includes work by me too. can't wait to see it.

Maps have also come to the fore of late, so here are a few, done a long time ago, for 'The Fabled Lands'.
My reworking for the last books of the original piece

These were found on the web as was the following.
Abraxas, the Lost Continent  Note: the original was huge.


Abraxas, the Lost Continent  has now been put onto Amazon as a game, which can be down loaded via kindle:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abraxas-The-Lost-Continent-ebook/dp/B005FZ26MK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314463301&sr=1-1



http://www.amazon.com/Abraxas-The-Lost-Continent-ebook/dp/B005FZ26MK/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=

As I have no access to luxuries, [yes, I know that sounds sad], like Kindle, I cannot comment, but if you were [are a fan of The Fabled Lands] and do have kindle, do check it out. 

Finally, an oldie from White Dwarf that was linked to a Games Workshop box set.