What's happening with me at the moment.

So it's the home stretch.

I am coming to the end of my Degree now and it's time to work on my final comics. Also get my "The Orange Man" comic printed too!! Some of you guys will get a freebee of this xD (YAY self promo).

I also need to work on a self promotional project for Uni too which is fun. I have some ideas for this.... in more of the idea of promoting my up and coming comics.

Now here is the reason for this blog. I just want to tell you guys about the three comics I have coming up really xD So without further ado!

FOREVER12!
This is my first major project outside of Uni. I am working alongside a group of wonderful comic artists to create an anthology which we are hoping will be out for Expo in October and maybe Thought Bubble (we still need to finalize ideas and stuffs).

CONDUIT!
Conduit is my original contemporary Fantasy story, set in London and the places I grew up in. It's more of going back to what comics used to be, the wish fulfillment. It's everything I wish I was in my own little head xD This will hopefully be fully out in 2013 but I am hoping to get the first two chapters out online by Christmas to generate interest as this will be either one book or a series of books.

SCATTER8!
This should be out well before Conduit. This originally would of been Findr, a gay themed story based on my own adventures on Grindr. It has now evolved into snippets of short stories based on a set of 4 characters that their lives intermingle in certain points. This is my final Uni project and hopefully will become a set of books. The reason for the name scatter 8 is that there are 4 characters and four stories featuring the characters within the book. Now the thing is this will be snippets of their lives. Nothing extra ordinary, just a book about the most random, mundane, dramatic events in their lives. I am hoping to have a collection of these and I am so excited about this one project it'll take the priority over others.


Also if it is not too late I am hoping to get a table at Thought Bubble or one of the other Expo's so that I have a deadline for the first SCATTER8 book.

Seriously I am so excited about this...... I am off to run round and scream happily about it.

Tata for now, my lovelies!
xXx

Hey all!

Well this one won't be as long as the last blog update xD
I recently attempted the D&AD brief, but due to my inability to get things done on time I missed the deadline.

Looking back though, my "style" for the use of a better word really wouldn't fit within what D&AD look for. I've been to the D&AD exhibits a few times now and the level of work and that are so good! I feel really intimidated but it's good because I know what I need to work towards. I don't feel I am there yet but maybe after working a few years as a professional I may try the pro brief xD

At my current level I suppose, I am more suited to the comic book competitions and illustration ones like the Cheltenham awards.

So you lucky people get to see my would be entry.

Here it is.

There are loads of problems with this that I noticed when I finished hahahaha

I always find when you move a piece of artwork into a different context or view it elsewhere you notice things alot more.....

I also experimented with a different way of colouring.

MS COMIC

BIT OF A LONG ONE GUYS XD

MY MS UNI PROJECT.

TITLE: THE ORANGE MAN

STORY AND ART BY: FRED O'ROURKE

 

Not final cover lol

Uni project update and art style changes.

Right I should be working on my dissertation but I am being mega distracted at the moment hahaha

Here are some WIP's from my comic I am working on for Uni.

Some of the line art I am not 100% happy with as they appear too soft, I need play about with the brush settings more. 

I am not 100% happy with the whole thing at the moment. It's okay but I feel my works is becoming a bit more backwards? Like I am going back on myself.... Not alot (not as bad as one of my tutors points out) but still it makes me think what am I doing wrong? 

Which got me thinking about my influences and my interests in other art styles. Which has led me to my current, rather stressful situation of "I want to change the way I draw" which is kind of a kick in the face at the end of 1/3 final Uni projects. 

So slowly working on new ways to create artwork right now in a new sketchbook. 

I was thinking of what interests me as an artist and what I could incorporate from my interests into my work without over powering it. 

I won't say anything..... yet because I want to see how things turn out myself before I start posting online.

Anyhoo must dash. This essay won't write itself.

Little post from my Uni project

Here are some example thumbnail pages from my Multiple Sclerosis project for Uni. These thumbnails are A4 and due to time restraints on the project will become the Pencils too hahaha That way I can just tidy them up in the inking stages. The backgrounds or lack of has a reason which I shall show when I have done the final first page.

Look forward to more and thanks again for reading xD

Thought Bubble and Nelson.

THOUGHT BUBBLE 2011

So I ended up at Thought Bubble in Leeds this year. Was my first time and I have to say I enjoyed it xD What I love is the different types of people I am getting to know and the variety of comics that are slowly cropping up at these events. Slowly I am starting to feel more and more part of the comic community. Was much quieter at TB2011 that MCM is which was a nice change and very much refreshing. The after party was very much amusing, someone described it as like being a school disco and I was so shocked at how accurate that description was xD Wasn't a bad thing as once the music started everyone was on that dancefloor dancing away! Was so much fun! I ended up spending the sunday buying stuff and spending most of the day in Leeds itself..... on more comics and hot chocolate. It's such a lovely city.

Here are some pics from TB2011.

NELSON!!!!!!!!

Now this is what I picked up at TB2011. This has been promoted everywhere. BlankSlate's Nelson! For those who do not know NELSON is a graphic novel composed of 52 of the the UK's finest Comickers.

It's such a charming little story and as I was reading it I found myself remembering the events and feeling a lot for the characters. Partly because Nel, the main character spends alot of her adult life in the era I grew up in. Although at points I did find myself feeling old hahahaha 

I have a such a fondness for this book. I think it is due to what I said earlier. Even though I have not sold a comic at Expo or yet can call myself a Pro. Due to meeting new comickers and slowly integrating myself into the Comic society I feel a sort of admiration and proudness of this book. It shows what comics can become and how they can get people together. It's such a beautiful book and I really suggest people read it. 

I am proud to call myself a Comicker when I see stuff like this.

Here is a list of all my fav artwork within the book.

 

SARAH MCINTYRE

 

KATE CHARLESWORTH

 

KATE BROWN

 

ADAM CADWELL

  

WILL MORRIS

 

DUNCAN FEGREDO

 

JOSCELINE FENTON

 

TOM HUMBERSTONE

 

ALICE DUKE

More arty stuffs xD

More Random arty bits from myself to prove that I am still alive xD This is a mix of Uni and my own stuff. The last grey image is from my up and coming Comic CONDUIT. 

Anyhoo other News I shall be at Thought Bubble, not selling I'm afraid but I will be handing out my Business card at any given opportunity xD Also drinking and chatting with cool peeps.

Hope to see you there!