Irazu Illustrations

Late last year I decided to update the characters of my personal project Irazu which is now on hiatus. If you go over to my Art of Irazu blog, you will find the new illustrations as well as the older stuff Ive done over the years.

The Australian Orangutan Project

Im involved with the Australian Orangutan Project by sponsoring one of their youngsters called Krista (pictured above left), over in Pangkalan Bun, Borneo. Its been lovely to see her grow and read about her progress and Orangutans are definitely one of my favourite animals (as well as the Red Panda). So when the AOP asked if Id donate my time to do some illustrations/design for their upcoming Children's Merchandise range, which would help raise money for the organisation and educate children, I said YES! In the end, if all goes to plan, they will be printed onto many different items for the AOP including their educational program and sold to help raise awareness for Orangutans and their habitats.

Sneaky Sound System Music Video & Philips comp entry

Australian electronic dance band Sneaky Sound System recently held a competition for artists to make a music video for their new single 'It's Not My Problem'...you had to take the footage of singer Connie and then go for your life to make a video. So my boyfriend Maik Hempel had a go and WON! Taking home some prize money ($10,000) and the joy of having his music video launched yesterday online and on Australian music video show Video Hits starting this weekend. Its was a simple idea and a quick execution and Im proud of him. You can either watch it here at Vimeo or look up Sneaky Sound System on Facebook. Id hope it opens the doors to a music video career for him.

Here is another competition Maik entered for Philips, he made both videos in Anime Studio Pro.
Below are some random scribbles I did; a man I see a lot on Chapel Street in a small fur jacket & a little picture of Mr. Hoek and Stimpson J. Cat.

Someone Special: Michael Jackson Tribute

I scribbled a drawing like many artists did shortly after the passing of Michael Jackson and wasn't busy this evening so I finished it up. Beat It is one of the tracks that always stands out in my mind, I just always loved the dancing knife and chain fight and Michaels tough and stylish dancing at the end, when he breaks up the fight and brings them altogether with some limber dance moves...I just love this one part where MJ flicks his wrist and arm as he clicks his fingers. I think he looks awesome in the rolled up sleeved red jacket (as well as in Billie Jean, he looks great in his outfit). Michael Jackson; singer, dancer, artist, humanitarian, family man and everything else, Rest In Peace.

Melbourne Girls

Here are some sketches I did while in my dorm at the hostel one night when I was bored stiff. I coloured one in photoshop and then did two in flash...just playing around.

Good News so far...

A couple of months ago I entered myself into a search for an illustrator for a new childrens book. The Australian publishing house Murdoch Books was looking for a new unpublished illustrator and had to provide 3 illustrations in your style in regards to the brief provided. I found out last week that I had been shortlisted and now have to go through the interview process. The chosen artist will then receive $10,000 to work on the book.
I had my phone interview yesterday and I thought that there would be like 50 or something in the shortlist...but it was 5...out of 300 entries! So that was great to hear and even if I don't get the work, its nice to know that they liked my stuff enough to have me in the running to illustrate their job. Plus it might mean I could get some freelance work to do a book in the future.
Anyway, I find out on Friday or next week if I get the work. I was also told that my entry/application illustrations were the first to come in and that they liked them so much it set the standard for what they were looking for...nice confidence boost.

UPDATE: I was chosen, Im the new illustrator for the children's book! When I can, ill post the original images I entered.

Baron Samedi

News! Animation Magazine Pitch Party & shortlisted for as an illustrator for a childrens book!

After years of reading the magazine and saying, I should enter that one day, I have finally entered my advertisement into the Animation Magazine Pitch Party for 2009...I entered my personal project which I started to develop in 2006 called Irazu...you can see the artwork that i did way back when at its blog http://adelekthomas.blogspot.com/

The magazine will be distributed at this years comicon and the winner gets the chance to pitch their idea for a show to one of the industry judges!

UPDATE: Zip, nadda...didnt place in the competition.

Maik Hempel Showreel

Here is the new showreel of animator Maik Hempel, it features some projects that I have contributed to in the way of bg colouring and design, you may also spot a character of mine from my personal project Irazu. If you are looking for a talented animator, watch this and enjoy...

An Aquarium Visit and some random doodles.

Here are some sketches from my visit to the Melbourne Aquarium a month ago...they had new inhabitants, Emperor Penguins who were very entertaining.


Just a lady stripping for the hell of it and a guy named Pete from the hostel I have been at.

Doritos Australian Commercial Competition

Over the past few weeks I have been involved in the constant pushing of voting for my partner's (Maik Hempel) Doritos Australian TVC competition entry...and we all (who voted) hope it gets him 1st prize and $20,000...which he deserves on many levels.
To debunk the many "bad sport" comments being posted by some entrants who didnt get in, (that the final 5 were not worthy and didnt have effort put into them) I just wanted to say that 'Come and Ride my Cactus Horse' was entirely written, designed, animated...basically everything (except for the female voice which was me) was done by Maik. He put alot of effort into it in the very short time provided and you can judge for yourself here. Whether he wins or not, he got a great little 29 second short out of it. It was created in Anime Studio Pro in April and the winner is announced next week on the 26th of May...stay tuned!
UPDATE: Maik's entry didnt win, the most terrible entry won, a wildcard that got into the top ten by most public votes...it was horrible and Im not just saying that because Im being bias, EVERYONE is shocked that Doritos actually chose it and has given them $20,000.

ladies

I have now moved to Melbourne and currently living in a hostel (which I hate) looking for accommodation so I dont have my computer...so here is some bits I have done this week digitally. Im going to the aquarium this weekend to relax, so hopefully I can get some sketches of people around there...unfortunately I have no scanner...so no uploads.

Ghoulie Dude

Been watching alot of Buffy recently, felt like drawing some

kinda ghoul...he collects souls...in paper form.

And below a collection of doodles of people from my last job,

a flouncy guy in London, a dude asleep on the train &

some random oldies...and a monkey just for no reason.

Sneeze

This is my sneeze, he is always with me...I am one of those people
that has Photic Sneeze Reflex...sneezing at the sun and bright lights.

Below is Greebo, my London friend's cat...very furry but not the cause

of my sneezes.

My Munny

Before I leave I want to share my Munny which I had to finish today before I go overseas...didn't want to leave it unfinished. Maik brought one back from the States for me and I was very eager to paint him. He is some sort of undersea inhabitant with a squid on a stick...please excuse the photo quality, I dont have the best camera in the world.

Hair Vixen From Mars!

I'm going to be away from the 14th of Feb to March
10th to my motherland England, so I wont be posting
anything as work is really busy with animation now...
but I'm sure Ill find lots of things and people to doodle
on the plane and in the airport...Im planning to try and
do a sketch a day, any kind of doodle based on what I
see or do or anything each day.

Little Gamma Ray

I was listening to Beck's new track and drew this at the time, she's having a boogie.

We Are People People music video & some bgs

Here is the music video 'We are People People' from the People People which was boarded, directed and animated by Maik Hempel and colour designed by myself. The colourscripts (boards by Maik Hempel) are in a post about four entries down.


These are some environments I coloured for one of Maik's personal projects.

christmas scribbles

Some plant studies and abandoned characters and cat scribbles...done whilst waiting for the 24th and 25th to pass.

Chow#138 Countess Elizabeth Báthory

My suggestion for conceptart.org was chosen, Countess Elizabeth Báthory, how could I NOT have a go.