Merry Christmas

check out the image I've been working on for Fuel's
christmas cards, kinda love how well this has come
out without any photoshopping! It took me forever
to get to this point almost gave up after weeks
of hitting dead ends but then I thought I would
have a go at some origami for a change and this
was the result.

Some bits and bobs...

Just a few images of what I have been up to as of late...
Seabird made my life so easy for this poster and ticket.
They had high quality images of them underwater which
they wanted to use so all I had to do was place the
type and size everything up correctly but it looks
good and my good old buddies goodbye pluto
are supporting them on friday so check them out
if you are free as I am sure it will go down
as a great night.
The fuel image however was not so easy as you
may remember from my last post it involved
some frantic dances in the cold and punctured
tires, well here you have it.
Was rather impressed with the final shots
and this is what comes up on fuels main
page of the website at the moment.

What a night...

Hey, yes I am still alive, the blog was left gathering
dusk on the shelf there for a while,(a month, sorry)
but I have been so busy with new part time job,
swimming and a little surf here and there, oh yeah
and some graphics. This is a graphics blog supposedly
so I better show you the goods for this month.
Well first off, I've got a couple more quote
Ts printed up, and will be available on Folksy
very soon. Started doing design for small Music
Festival in Northern Ireland called Fuel, it's been
quite manic to say as deadlines keep appearing out
of nowhere. I was working on this image for the front
page of the website. Trying to keep it slick and minimal
as last years designs were far too busy, but then I was
interrupted by my great friend and photographer Shelley
Garrett wanting to do a super secret late night photo
shoot at 11.30pm. Shelley, her boyfriend Ricky and
I set off into the night and had such a laugh doing
the photos for fuel, I'm not giving anything away
at the min until the photos have been edited but
it did involve us dancing around like idiots
in the pitch dark absolutely freezing our asses off.
Also my car suffered a fatal flat tire incident that
ended up being a complete nightmare to change but
shelley got some comical photos of the alpha males
(Ricky + I) being defeated by a small tire change.
Such a funny night but totally worth it,
let's hope the photos turn out well.

oh dear, I have been neglecting the blog again...

Well it's been a while since I last posted,
apologies, everythings been a bit more hands
on since I finally got round to printing
Tshirts. Been a bit tricky getting the hang
of it but I've put some of the prints on Folksy
and they have actually been selling!!

The Eagle

Ok bit of a crap photo, but I have been drawing this for absolutely ages
and it is now ready to be turned into a screenprint hopefully tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing how this will work on a Tshirt. Could be tricky.

The end of the romantic era...

...well hopefully the end. Just spent the morning with Debbie making final adjustments to the programme for the night. Took quite a bit of tweaking to fit everything in that she wanted, but we've finally got there in the end. This should be off to print in the next few days and then I can get a proper photo of it folded to the way it will be for the night. You can probably tell a few things from other pieces of my work have crept into this programme, like the bastardize typeface I had done for the Give me Truth and also the ink clouds that had been used for Goodbye Pluto. This is because Debbie took a strong liking to both of the styles and felt it worked well with what she was looking for in particular for this project. Luckily enough I had that many different photos of the ink, I used one for this that looked completely different to the one I used for Goodbye Pluto. Right now I'm off to sort out This give me truth Tshirt print and try and find some more freelance jobs to keep me busy. Before I go I'll leave you with this Nine Inch Nails Track, I know I said I would post a tune everyday I like a while back and never really upheld it but here is a song I'm loving today, well to be honest I'm loving all of NINs songs today. Discipline

Give me Truth

Ok so been working on a quote I love,I'm pleased with how the type turned out but for a Tshirt print this isn't going to work just yet, afterall these are just found photos from a few books I had. Thinking of doing some illustrations to bleed into the type as well and take away the photo, gotta add a bit more of a personal touch I'm thinking, or even get off my ass and take photos myself. The Goodbye pluto Tshirts came out really well, I'm surprised they actually worked. Thinking of doing a few more styles for the guys at some point once I get the Truth T sorted.

























The modern romantics is almost finished as well, posters and flyers are up around town and have been getting a rather good response from them. The actual programme itself is nearly finished and is starting to shape up quite nicely, photos to come of the final product.

Other than that theres not much to say today, been so busy recently with training and surfing and a bit of part time work haven't really had time to sit down and mull things over. Well apart from one thing, a person I hold close to me said a lot of things that made me wonder for a while who I am deep down, kinda felt lost like Kerouac on the road, but I think I've sorted out my head now.


"I woke up as the sun was reddening; and that was the one distinct time in my life, the strangest moment of all, when I didn't know who I was — I was far away from home, haunted and tired with travel, in a cheap hotel room I'd never seen, hearing the hiss of steam outside, and the creak of the old wood of the hotel, and footsteps upstairs, and all the sad sounds, and I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds."
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road,

I'm a proud print parent...

I have quite a few interesting pictures for once, sorry about the quality, my normal camera's battery died just when things where getting interesting. Anyway as you can see from the pictures I have one completed poster for Modern Romantics. I am currently awaiting the text for the programme that needs to be designed, I have about 2 weeks to come up with something special, have promised paper engineering and what not so I better live up to my word. Took a little photo of the ocean the other day as I thought you may like to know what me and my buddy Gareth paddled into and surfed for 8 hours yesterday, only getting out at lunchtime to munch on a quality ulster fry from none other than the silver sands of portrush. I have stupidly agreed to get up tomorrow morning at 6am for another early riser surf, who said the unemployed do nothing with their day? The surf better be good. Also before I forget, check out that bad boy of a Tshirt I just baked for Goodbye Pluto, and when I say baked I literally mean it was in the oven at 150C for 15 mins to cook the ink. Mum was so overwhelmed by this she took a photo of the finished crispy T coming out of the oven,(photo will come at another time if you are lucky). I am surprised the printing when so well, the one thing I was scared most about was the exposure times in my make shift lightbox that was originally my wardrobe but it all worked out great apart from applying far too much ink the first time round and covering the en suite in the parents bedroom with red ink, it now looks like Norman Bates had a wild time in there. Anyway its been a good day and tomorrow is going to be a proper burner, have the surf in the morning, more Tshirts to screenprint and goodbye plutos first gig since they finished recording. Night all.

The living quaters/studio

Been doing quite a bit of thinking today about ideas and what not and little jobs I have on the go and I can definitely say I've never been so busy with work I actually like doing. I put up a blank sheet of A1 paper on my wall and filled it with jobs and ideas I have in mind to be completed in the forthcoming weeks. Somewhat liberating and daunting at the same time to see what I want to complete, but hey it's got to be a mammoth task or there's no point in doing it now is there? Thought I would take a photo as well and show you the space I'm working in at the min,yes admittedly it is at home with the parents but how many of you have the space and money to set up screenprinting in your own room? I'm loving the setup at the min.

Before I forget...

I've actually been doing some graphics and I thought I better blog about them for once as this is supposedly a design blog. Firstly I want to note that I have almost gathered all the materials to start screenprinting in my self made studio, my little brothers bedroom (sorry Ross but couldn't let your room go to waste). The plan is hopefully after a few tests to get some Tshirts printed for Troggs (the old surf shop I used to work in) and also Goodbye Pluto. I have a few designs in mind but haven't had a chance to work on them because I have been trying to finish the Goodbye Pluto album sleeve which is looking like this at the min:


I was up at the studio with Danny the other day listening to some of the final mixing on a couple of the tracks and the album is sounding pretty epic already, I'm actually amazed at how they managed to record something heavy. I will keep you updated when that is realized as it is something that you really shouldn't miss out on.
I have also been working on some promotion material for a fundraiser classical concert titled Modern Romantics. Actually been a great little project so far as my client is just as anal about typography and layout as I am so everything has been visually abused to the minute detail. Here is what the flyer is looking like and the poster at the moment. It's not quite there just yet but I thought it would be worth putting up so you can have a look yourself.




Anyway thats where everything is at, I'm sure you have heard enough of my rambling for one night. I am for my bed, I bid thee farewell.

Alone in the wild

Ok starting of this entry with something amazing I watched earlier: Alone in the Wild.
Absolutely brilliant, among all the mind numbing shit reality TV shows comes this amazing heart warming, real programme about a man Ed Wardle trying to live of the land for 3 months in the wild with no aid, nothing, he is completely alone, well apart from the grizzly bears. It can't go unnoticed that this is clearly inspired by Chris McCandless trek into Alaska but I respect the man for taking on such a task, if you watch the programme you can see how much he actual struggles to live and the littlest things that pass us by are so incredibly important to him because his life is on the line. I guess I love it so much because I think it gives a real feeling of what McCandless when through up until his untimely death. Sometimes I wish I could be McCandles or Wardle and have the balls to just leave everything behind and go off into the hills of Alaska or where ever and just live, I mean really live, cause right now we are not living, we are just numb. Can I do what they have done?

Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. Escaped from Atlanta. Thou shalt not return, 'cause "the West is the best." And now after two rambling years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual pilgrimage. Ten days and nights of freight trains and hitchhiking bring him to the Great White North. No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild. - Alexander Supertramp May 1992

More than anything I would love to but I don't have the balls to just get up and leave everything. Afterall even McCandless himself said "happiness is only real when shared" and that I totally believe but some days you just want to forget everything and be alone.

What now?

So... I have just arrived home from what looks to be like my last trip to London for a while. 4 hectic,lovable, testing years in the big city to come back to rural life in the sticks, how am I going to cope? I really don't know just at the min, my mind is a muddled jigsaw puzzle consisting of a million pieces which do not fit together or have been lost. Let me explain, leaving London for the last time as resident did not strike me at all until I took a trip to the Natural History Museum while waiting for my sister who was attending a pre med course at Imperial. Why did it strike me there out of all the places? I'm not sure but if you have ever been to the building it is the most fantastic place in the world. I love aimlessly walking around glass cabinets staring into the eyes of the dead static taxidermed animals. I get lost in their cold fake eyes, imagining I am that animal wondering the forests of wherever it eventually lay to rest. You probably think I'm crazy about now, but try it sometime, the places amazes me everytime I go. I also went to the very top of main hall entrance where the massive tree trunk is, it is the best spot in the whole building to watch the best animals of all - people. Feels almost surreal people watching as there is a massive carved statue of Darwin directly opposite who appears to be staring down into the depths of the crowds with you. I swear I stood there for about 2 hours taking it all in and there it hit me, no more London, no more Brick Lane, no more Rough Trade, no more Brixton Bowls, No more Camden Market, no more Bar55, in fact hell of a lot no mores but hey, it's not the end of the world. I'm back home to gain money and experience, I have my friends and I have ocean to Surf, I am not going to go crazy, you make the most of your surroundings, and believe or not there is a lot at home to keep me busy.

Again another rant my apologies, but it felt like a much needed one, it's all going to work out. Here are some photos from the Natural History Museum, get sunk into the eyes of the eagle and drift off into their world, I dare you...

I've come properly prepared this time

As you can see from photo A my tent did not quite make it through Benicassim in one piece. Bearing in mind it was a full week of Sandstorms, bush fires and alcoholic 14 year olds contaminated with swine flu I think it did surprisingly well. I'm heading to Reading this afternoon and since I'm a bum I've managed to get free entry as long as I serve the Reading crowds their long sought for sweet tender beverages for 6 hours a day. Free entry, food and drink to a festival, not a bad deal! This time though I am not taking any chances, my packing for Benicassim was somewhat naive to say the least but this time I'm ready for all weather conditions and mindless teens. So here is the check list for the forthcoming bad holiday weekend of madness:

£9.99 tent - check
Dad's sleeping bag - check
Little Bros wellies - check
2 pairs of jeans - check
heavy duty rain coat - check
carry mat - check
assorted range of flannel shirts - check
torch - check
undergarments - check
toothbrush - check
Jack Kerouac's on the road - check

I think that is everything apart from the all important food and baby wipes which I will collect en route. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend people and I will hopefully see you on the other side with everything in tact! (I know it's not going to happen, but I can at least dream it will)

Some actual graphics

My friend Fran needed some help doing some fake rock band T shirts for some forthcoming feature film for the BBC, not sure exactly what is it but I do believe these Tshirts were designed for Martin Freeman who was in the office and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The fake names were Lesser Spotted Crumb and The Anatomicals, and given that I had 4 days to draw these up, they aren't too bad. I had a few other ideas I wanted to do for them but hey maybe another time.

Rumour has it on the grapevine that the surf is to be epic this weekend, I was already in last night for a wee paddle and I'm actually amazed I can remember how to stand up. Lets see how the rest of the weekend unfolds.

Drunk on Aluminium

I should really be asleep by now, trying to be the Hoff is killing me but anyway just scanning through my itunes looking for what to play and came back to this beauty..


I forgot how good Wintersleep are and this album in particular (welcome to the sky night), I love it when that happens, it feels like you are listening to a band for the first and get totally blown away by them. They played in Auntie Annies to about 40 or so people not so long ago and I was lucky enough to be there. They are mesmerizing live, if you get a chance to see them play, take it, you will not be disappointed.

Best lyric by far off that album is "I used to dream about saving the world
Now i just dream about the holidays"

I need to stop talking gibberish and actually do some more graphics. Once I have finished my baywatch course I will get back on track with real graphics, I promise.

A little bit too excited for this to come out...

Yes it totally looks like a kids film but it does look amazing and bring back wonderful memories. I wish it was out sooner!

Also tonight I've been trying to lay out a random quote over a few photos for a very good friend of mine Shelley Garrett. It's suppose to be for the banner of her blog but she's not feeling the type over her photos so much. In the end we decided/well she decided to leave the quote out of the banner as it takes away from her photo. Even though it was done in about 15mins I still quite like it myself so I thought I would just post it up here anyway.



Oh I also heard the other night from Danny that Goodbye Pluto may have to change their name to something else due to major copywrite issues, uh oh, but it does mean I get to play around with some more designs for them. Oh here's what the stuff currently looks like at the min if you don't already know it.




I think that's all for tonight, I have to get up early tomorrow morning to learn how to save lives the David Hasselhoff way and I wish I was joking.

You have to see them live to understand

One of the most epic bands at home and prob one of my favorite songs live. You have to see them play, I think Kerrang's write about them said something along the lines of"... if armaggedden had a soundtrack these guys would provide the sound."

A bit of an update/rant/whatever

So it has been months since I last posted on this due to a course director wanting D&AD to be top secret, I kinda left the blog alone and forgot about it, but I have linked my website to the blog so I have no choice, also a good friend of mine complained that there wasn't anything new on it so here it goes. First off I have a website, I know very professional of me but I wanted to have a go at the old web design and after weeks of slavery to html and flash finally have something to show for it... benmcqueen.com,made me appreciate of tough and evil flash and dreamweaver are together.

Ok I'll share with you some info on the graphics scene, still no job but hey it will happen soon enough I hope. I'm thinking of some screenprinting and T shirt making tactics when I get back to the motherland next week, to hopefully help or more than likely scare off potential clients. I was scanning through YCN earlier and came across
this that made me smile. Somebody in the design world knows we exist.

Anyway not much to report on graphics at the min but hopefully a few things will creep up in this in the next few weeks. Other than that I'm reading Jack Kerouac's on the road, typical boy novel I know, but I'm in love with it already and I've only read 75pgs of it. That and Richard Longs' exhibtion in the Tate at the min really make me want to travel.



Check him out in the Tate, the amount of work he has done is breathtaking and also the amount of miles that man has cover by foot is insane. I wish I could accomplish something as epic as that one day.

I seem to pick books at the min or like pieces of work by people on a quest, the next books I have lined up to read are Moby Dick, which most people laugh when I tell them and I'm dying to read some of Jack London's work. It will probably take me another year to get through on the road and moby dick though as I am the slowest reader ever.

Here's another random thing I think I might share, I was at a club on the Thames on Saturday and about 3am I decided to go home, now normally the bus would be the usual option but I felt like I needed to walk. I don't know if anyone else ever feels that way but walking a long distance home after a night out with Explosions in the sky in your ears really is something special. Made me think about a lot, but in particular about coming home and I guess it also made me think about that one girl who you feel like you need to share everything with. Chris McCandless said "Happiness is only real when shared" out of all the quotes I know this is probably the on quote that hits me the hardest. I don't have the balls or the vocabulary skills to explain anymore about my own quest home other than I'm getting damn anxious about seeing her and I think it's the good anxiousness.

I'm going to try and leave a blog entry everyday with a song or video of youtube so here's the first thing I listened to this morning when i got up that just made total sense. The Temper Trap



peace out and apologies for the rant.

scanimation

I still love the idea of kinetic type but i need to find something else that could achieve this.






This seems to be following the lines of optical illusions, there is still an aim to create book covers with with a little more than just some pretty illustration or design. sagemeisters book 'made you look' is a great example of doing this.




looking for other more up to date ways of capturing motion on paper and found this scanimations although i think it is slightly more gimmicky than the zoetrope. The idea again would be to create a moving typeface that can only be read when the book is tilted.

Faber book design

Ok only one real idea that i think might work, the idea is to make book covers that appear abstract at first. They only become clear when they are removed from the book and processed through filming equipment such as projectors or zoetropes. I havent figured out how to do this with a projector but i think it could be possible with the zoetrope.





The idea would be to make a typeface that can only be read by the zoetrope. Another way of doing the zoetrope idea would be to use kinetic typography to display the title of book etc and have quotations spawning from the title frame by frame making the cover appear to flow.