The Tale of Tom Tom ‘s ways Why Tom, Why? Because! That’s why Is Tom an inspiration? No, but these guys are Tom in technology Tom’s Treats Tom’s Triumphs Team Tom Where to, Tom?
No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination - Edward Hopper
The one thing I could not live without is my imagination. It is the tool that every illustrator needs in their pencil case. Every so often it allows a snippet of an idea to float on by, and if I’m quick enough, I scribble it down before it sails away. Narratives are what drive me to illustrate. The natural world and it’s historical, geographical and biological wonders are what fuels me to illustrate. I aim to take audiences on journeys through my illustrations. I want them to get lost in my creations just as much as I loose myself in the imaginative design process of creating them.
Somewhere, something wondrous is waiting to be known. I search for this this thing everyday with my pencils and crayons.
I absolutely love narrative. Stories and folklores. Myths and legends. Adventurous tales and quirky mishaps. However, I feel that within my work, I am, what can only be described as ‘illustratively bi-polar’. I have two sides to my industry lusts. One side of me writes and illustrates stories for children. Having been entertained more by children’s books as an adult than when I was a child, I decided to take my little sister’s advice:
“Stop reading my books and go make your own!”
More often or not I will create colourful worlds with humorous characters and cautionary lessons.
If you are too greedy the Pug King will steal you away to his pug filled cave on pug island! And there you will stay, in his collection of greedy little boys and girls!
I will use as much colour and character within my stories allowing children to want to spend hours looking and discovering what is in each page. Creating worlds and creatures full of vibrancy, interesting shapes and photographic textures is what I enjoy when matching my stories with fun filled visuals.
The other side of me - again creating characters, creatures and worlds, props and structures pursues the root of visual development and design. This time exploring the realms of different narratives in the form of film, game or animation. My interests are laced throughout many areas, and by taking part in this growing industry of visual development art / concept art, allows me to explore all of them in great depth. One morning you might put on your architecture hat and design a monolithic structure containing the last remnants of flora that towers over a crumbling deserted city. The next day you could put on your biologist hat and observe the micro structures of cacti cells that then inspire you to create vast forests or cities. Or maybe these tiny forms will inspire you to create clothing for some aztec space bugs, in which case you will have to pop on your costume design hat. Geography, history, anthropology, biology, anatomy, architecture, metal smithing and more; as a designer you get to gain an insight to many occupations. To be able to transport audiences into worlds so imaginative yet believable is an ambition of mine. I feel - with evolving immersive technologies and a growing love for film and game, not to mention my passion for design - that the visual development path is definitely one to travel.
Question your teaspoons - George Perec
Inspiration
I take my inspiration from pretty much everything. We are surrounded by design. So why not take aspects of what already exists and allow that to fuel our imaginations?
The world is jam packed full of design and inspiration, we just need to know where to look. I take great pride in searching and extracting the visual information of one thing and use it to create my illustrations.
From man made technologies to microscopic natural forms. From vibrant narratives that have been past down the generations to the great monuments and objects that have been placed around our world. Shape and form surround us within cultures, architecture, costume the natural flora and fauna, but it is what you see within these forms that really interests and inspires me.
I take this design and try and always ask myself questions about what I see and then answer them in an illustrative way. Still when I illustrate i i ask more and more questions. I love the visuals of our world and how they then provoke and fuel the imagination.
The possibilities are endless, as are the thought processes behind it.
What is this ?
What do I want it to be?
This is a close up of the inside of a sperm cell. But seeing it like this can allow us to interpret it differently. To me this could be the scaly hide of a mighty transportation beast in a distant dune world. Or perhaps an ariel view of a strange lichen-like city. Jewellery or buildings or props or machinery. The possibilities are endless, as are the thought process behind it, as are the countless sources for more inspiration.
I feel that in a way Feng Zhu has been my pocket teacher. His help and inspirational work have evolved around many articles, online tutorials and witnessing work first hand in the many games and films he designs for. He truly brought my passion and knowledge for illustration and narrative into the varying and growing worlds of these industries.
Feng Zhu, not only creates very inspirational works, but also talks a lot about finding inspiration. It is this teaching that I value above all else. Design surrounds us. Everything around us has been designed by nature and by man. Let this inspire your creations. To imagine you must first understand. You need fundamentals. You need a strong visual library to fuel your mind and imagination. Along with a constant practice of the illustrative skill, I aim to use his methods of finding inspiration to help create my work. I like thinking that, even if the thing you are designing is the most imaginative creation ever, if it based on the ideas of design that exist all around us, then it will become truly believable to the audience. To take something so imaginative and make it seem real is a quality Feng seems to inject into his design. To be able to have a vast visual knowledge and understanding of pretty much everything baffles me, but it also drives me and excites me to eventually be able to do the same. I have many dreams of what I want to be. An architect, a conservationist, a nomad, an adventurer, an anthropologist. At somewhere between seven and eight I also wanted to be a space-pirate. This is why I love illustration and design. Down the children’s book path you can write about all of these and visually create them for your young audience. But for the visual development path, you learn all of these other professions and put them into your work.
We are surrounded by design - Feng Zhu
You design and create the people, what they look like, why they look like that, do they look different because of the surrounding geography? Will this land allow the habitat for other things? How will this affect the appearance of the animals? How will the buildings look and how will they be created for this environment? What will the tools look like? What do they wear? Can they travel? On what? Why do they need to travel? Is there food/ trade/ other people somewhere else? What do those people look like? What does their land look like? This could be the thought process of one project - Yes a project that may give you a God complex - But just this thought process alone allows you to think in the minds of architects, geologists, anthropologists, biologists, mechanics. Botany, anatomy, trade, travel, relationships, dwellings, reasons for everything - and all of this needs to be fuelled with your ability to design and create using the plethora of design that surrounds us.
Animation and the ability to tell and show stories in such a unique and fun way to audiences that truly appreciate it is one reason why I love the work of all the visual development artists and story writers behind Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, in particular Nico Marlet. It is the way that character and emotion can be created in such loveable and memorable heroes. The detail and colour and meaning that goes into designing and creating sets and landscapes. The process behind creating the final product is what captivates me. It is this development of all these small parts, creating such a big thing, that really packs the narratives with the imagination and love that they emit. Having once been a child like most people, and not letting most of my childish ways get left behind; I understand what it is about these things that children love so much. And now that I try to do the same in my own way, creating stories and books, lands and characters; I get a real honour and nostalgia in bringing the same wonderment to these audiences. If by a little sketch of a creature, can turn into a real character that has feelings and gestures and movement and story. A creature that can bring happiness and thrill and excitement to audiences, then why not develop that little sketch?
Designers are able to see extraordinary things within the ordinary. - Doug Chiang
Being in an age that is constantly striving to better its technological, online self it is important not to get left behind. The illustration industry thrives on communication. If the ability to communicate and socialise with the industry comes down to tapping into technology, then it only seems fair that I should upload my creative self into the technology somehow.
Website My website will function like my portfolio. It will showcase various projects I have worked on along with an edited PDF version that potential clients can easily view. It will also contain any details needed including an up to date version of my CV. Plus a bonus little section about any extra ‘Tom Trivia’ they may want to know. And if you still want more, links can be found to my other digital sites including my Blog, Facebook and Twitter.
Social Sites A useful place to network, share thoughts and ideas with like minded people. You can choose who you want to socialise with and they will hopefully choose you. A great little way of keeping up to date with the happenings of studios, jobs and potential clients. And a nice little way of keeping your fans up to date with anything you are doing/creating. Advertise yourself and you may get a little big headed from all the love that is sent your way. Always nice to hear good stuff.
I have a card. I am a professional. Hire me.
Business Cards I have had some business cards made so that in any situation I meet a potential work buddy, I can say “Hey, I am a professional, here, have my card�. Then I will be hired. It is not only a must have to pass around your details of any website or contact information they may need. But it is also a nice little handout to receive. I have also used it as a miniature canvas, displaying five different images I created, over the order of 100 cards. Having different designs displaying the kind of work that you create almost acts like a little portfolio, which I think is important when trying to stand out in a wallet full of other cards.
Other hand outs I am currently in the process of creating some other hand outs. However these will be sent directly to the addresses of businesses and studios I would like to work at. It will be a constantine fold out, that will - stay in keeping with my business cards - display my work and landscapes like a fold out panoramic. Also displaying a nice little message and any details they should need to know about contacting. At the end of the fold out will be a link to my website and portfolio.
I want to put a ding in the universe - Steve Jobs
Getting Out There
Collaboration It is important that creatives collaborate. I strive to work with others on projects or answer briefs because you bounce of each others ideas and creativity. I have worked and try to work with not just illustrators, but photographers, musicians, graphic designers, costume makers, film students and more. The more creativity the better. I have continued working with two music producers throughout the three years of University by helping them establish an identity and visual collection to accompany their music. This relationship will grow stronger and last after my education. Working with other also allows for your name to get passed on. I now work with a photographer to help create the similar style visuals that I was making for the music producers, for her fashion blog and magazine. Which is opening up more paths in the creative industry to try my hand at.
It is this time of my professional self, that I want to be trying to get my name out there and get started in the industry. Small steps now will prepare me for the drive to pursue a full time career as an illustrator. The best thing to help me now, is by entering competitions, collaborating with others and promoting myself to establish commissions.
Commission Through self promotion people will see your work, and if they have a project lined up and in need of someone to help them with it, it is the perfect opportunity to get a commission. I was lucky enough to get commissioned during my final major project to help on a grad film as a character concept artist which will be a great help as a part of my portfolio and CV to help further my passion for this area of illustration and design.
Exhibitions By holding exhibitions and presenting work in galleries is just another way to help promote yourself. Also it allows for the further work and possible collaborations with others that you may be hosting the exhibition with. And for any viewers, the chance to be lining up some clients for future endeavours.
Competitions Competitions are a sure way to get your work noticed. The brief you enter will be specific for your wants and skills, plus you worked is guaranteed to be looked at and judged by high up people within the industry. Even though I was not able to be a finalist at the Macmillan Children’s Book Competition, my work was looked at and has been buried in the mind of a judge that may one day need a new book to publish.
Working as a collective I have co-founded an artist’s collective with fellow university students; a graphic designer and a film student. We set up projects with other artists, musicians and collectives around the UK. In the first three months of our forming we have worked with Hantu Collective, Yorkshire Tee, Twelve Ton Trouble and Leviathan Music. Another great way of working with creative minds across the spectrum. A lot of really interesting and diverse projects can be worked on, and with the level of ideas and outcomes being created as a part of a group of like minded people is really exciting and holds lots of possibilities for future projects.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. - Michael Jordan
What next ?
Work work work. There are a few studios I would like to be a part of. Contact has been made with my promotional devises. Hello Games. Rumpus Animation, Jagex. But ultimately work towards a high end game/film studio would be amazing. Pixar, Blizzard etc. Along with making children’s books for Nobrow would be the perfect situation.
Personal Projects
Attain my visual library.
I have a few children’s books ideas that I would love to be able to along with two commissioned books i will be working on. Other personal projects would included the further collaboration with the collective and others.
Feng Zhu did say that design is all around us. So I feel that I need to get out there in the world and truly travel and build my own visual library and add to my inspirations and ideas.
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - Saint Augustine
Inspiration
Inspiration Spread http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/inspiration/ http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/explore/ http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/architecture/ http://www.pinterest.com/tominnesillustr/objects/ http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Boris%20Bidjan Surrounded by Design http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/people/ http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/explore/ http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=MICRO%20BIOLOGY http://www.pinterest.com/TomInnes/architecture/ http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=celts http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=viking h t t p : // w w w . p i n t e r e s t . c o m / pin/106467978665267135/repins/ Feng Zhu http://drawcrowd.com/feng Nico Marlet h t t p : // c h a r a c t e r d e s i g n n o t e s . b l o g s p o t . co.uk/2010/11/nico-marlet.html
Quotes
Feng Zhu Doug Chiang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNzz0B3ZXzs Edward Hopp http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/edwardhopp309871.html Georges perec http://www.daytodaydata.com/georgesperec.html Steve Jobs http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_ business.html Michael Jordan http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/teamwork Saint Augustine http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_ travel.html