Aztec

I am a keen illustrator and graphic artist, I got into art because of graffiti. I use to do it for fun with my peers and then when I became older I realised that it wasn’t just about being a vandal or "tagging", it was also an art form. As I started to read a vast amount of graffiti magazines I came to the realization that a lot of these artists did this for a living. Their artwork were such good quality that they were been sold for a large amount of money. One influential graffiti artist who changed the way I viewed the art form was the UK artist Aztec. I was blown away and admired the bold bright colours that he used mixed with the complex graffiti fonts. He often used different characters in his work. He's work shows the creativity of a graffiti artist as well as the skills of an illustrator. Banksy is another artist who hit the graffiti world with a storm. But unlike Aztec I do not consider Banksy to be a fellow graffiti artist. Banksy's works are more about political and worldly issues, whilst other writers are much more expressive in the way they work. Banksy is known for he's stencil artwork, whilst the ethos and production of graffiti usually deal with free hand pieces.

RWD magazine

There are many iconic magazines in the world such as Eye, Hello and Cosmopolitan. But the one magazine I like to collect and read is called RWD. It’s a free monthly magazine which started early 2002. The topics raised in the magazine range from gadgets, gossip, music and general underground news. The reason I prefer this magazine then the rest, is because its UK underground sub ground culture orientated. They also support the UK Grime music scene as well as up and coming artists. The magazine also cover's art work and local exhibition's. In the early stages of RWD, the magazines were limited and hard to get, so they became a collector's item. The contents of RWD are very fresh, trendy and so up to date that the people who get interviewed inside the magazine become popular overnight. Now that RWD is easily accessible in shops like JD Sports, a lot of critics and followers are debating whether it has lost its underground edge. Even though speculations are now surrounding the ethos of RWD, there is still no doubt that the magazine has and still open's doors for new talent as well as being up to date with all different genres of entertainment.

Tattoos

This is ancient art form in which the body represents the canvas. Historically, tattoos were intended to signify the status of an individual, a sign of religious membership, a mark of punishment/protection as well as a brand for slaves. In modern times, people use tattoos as a form of self-expression and some use it as symbol of rebellion. In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behaviour, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. Today, an almost unlimited number of colours and shades of tattoo ink are mass-produced and sold to parlours worldwide. Tattoo artists commonly mix these inks to create their own unique pigments. Some tattoos are used to apply permanent make up and to disguise imperfections. Others however use tattoos in order to push body modification to extremes. People have been known to tattoo their tongues, eye balls and private parts. To me, all tattoos do not need to have a deep meaning or symbolic connotation; they just need to be unique, creative and visually appealing. I appreciate works of art that are inimitable or ones that show the artists skill, creative vision and most of all patience. I love to admire big, bright and complex tattoos and I am intrigued by people who will endure hours and hours of pain and pay hundreds of pounds to permanently etch art onto their skin.

Alexander McQueen

One designer who has made an imprint in the way I perceive fashion is Alexander McQueen. He was British designer and pioneer in the world of fashion. I admire the way McQueen worked his way up from nothing. He was the youngest of six children having left school at 16 with very few qualifications he gained an apprenticeship at the prestigious Saville Row tailors Anderson and Shepphard, then at Gieves and Hawkes. By the age of 20 McQueen was working and studying under very well-known designers in Milan. He then returned to England to complete a master’s degree at Central St Martins. Alexander McQueen burst onto the fashion scene in the mid-nineties, he transformed the way the rest of the world viewed British Fashion, not many people realise just how much he influenced high street fashion, effectively making catwalk designs widely available. This is just one of the many reasons Alexander McQueen has influenced me. It shows no matter what as long as you’ve got the drive and determination anything is possible. Now it that high fashion was no longer a thing just for the rich elite. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. By 1996 he was appointed the chief designer of French label Givenchy where he worked until March 2001. Alexander McQueen sadly took his own life in February of this year however many of McQueen’s trademark items are still being replicated on the high street today, he took something as simple as a skull and created a trend that is being followed by celebrities as well as the everyday man. Alexander McQueen began right at the bottom and worked his way up in the fashion world without any prior training or formal education, his designs and creative genius will continue to influence my work and many designers to come.

80s fashion and music

I think ladies fashion is one of the most eclectic movements in the creativity world. It changes every season, bringing the most up to date colour schemes, ideologies and concept designs. Fashion design is a whirlwind of ideas which always repeats itself. One movement of fashion which I have seen returned is the 80s look. For some, the 80’s were a great time. The creation of MTV revolutionized fashion and the music industry, from M.C. Hammer, Madonna and Salt & Pepper. The clothes worn in the 80s depicted people who were trying to find themselves. They looked for ways to express their creativity and individuality. Men wore heavy makeup and grew long hair. Women wore short hair and layers of clothing. Both sexes were looking for an identity. They didn't accessorize - they "excessorized".

Most of the fashions worn in the 80s have found them self’s back on the store shelves and back being flaunted by individuals who dare to stand out. From the hair - Glittered, multi-coloured, Mohawks and curly and to the outfits- Hooped earrings, legwarmers, leggings and oversized jackets.

Whilst in Briton a new wave of fashion movement was occurring called "New Romantic". Most of the fashion of this new period were taken and modified right from punk fashion. The streaky eyeliner, the spiked hair, etc. This was worn and displayed by most early 80s synth New Romantic music groups. The early designer of the romantic look was Vivienne Westwood who designed clothing specifically for bands, such as Adam and the Ants and Boy George.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones also called a cell phone or a hand phone is an electronic device used for mobile telecommunications over a cellular network of base stations known as cell sites. They have come a long way since there primal beginnings. Their designs have also changed within the years, and now they have become much more of a trend to have one. Mobiles have now become the world's No.1 practical accessories. Everyone seems to want one, but not any normal one, the latest one out. They have increased our social talk and txt life, and now with the boom of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace mobile phones have adapted to suite the requirements. Over the years the gadgets and applications on a phone have vastly improved, so much so that it feels like they’ve been altered to become small computers. From video recording, blue-tooth, satellite navigation to internet access.

The leaders right now in the commercial phone industries are the BlackBerry and IPhone from Apple. These two phones have also come up with a way of texting which doesn’t cost a thing, this is called pinging.

I do not think this will be the end of high-tech mobile development, I still think that the designers and production companies have more in store to impress us with.

Two Biopics of Influences upon you, with a description... Who and what their influences included, and detailed descriptions of their practice

<< onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDdkSsuKJI9PudJZwkB_W1IVtOibfrnTu1ERLGwz5XgZ1iKJD1rtDPIZsqJwMqGK14j6EW8yyjD8FxFSZBA311PgbHPz4Le6BMyZBDYAFBKha_CBSYzwofnoffKaFDL1Y9q_DHJ2Ir8lK/s1600/wARM+Hands.jpg">

B

Picture A. The Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Salvador Dali, 1937

Picture B. Cold heart, warm hand

The way I like to draw is abstract and surreal. My illustrations are sometimes expressive and loose, and leaves the viewer space for their own interpretation. As I tried to push my own technique even further I began to read and explore the different styles of surrealist art. I also started implementing graffiti in my work, which allowed me create my own style. Picture (B). The idea for my painting derived from the saying "Warm heart, cold hands". What I did was simply change the meaning around, and named it called Cold heart, warm hand. This is a metaphorical term which just means that, the most stubborn of people will always give in to your understanding as long as you treat, respect and love them the right way.

Salvador Dali was my favourite surrealist artists. He's surrealist theory is based on the theories of the psychologist Dr. Sigmund Freud. Recurring images of burning giraffes and melting watches became the artist's surrealist trademarks. His great craftsmanship allowed him to execute his paintings in a nearly photorealistic style. The images found in surrealist works are as confusing and startling as those of dreams. Surrealist works can have a realistic, though irrational style, precisely describing dreamlike fantasies as stated by Dr. Sigmund Freud. The Surrealist movement was characterized by meetings in cafes where the Surrealists played collaborative drawing games and discussed the theories of Surrealism. The Surrealists developed a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing. Soon more visual artists joined Surrealism including Giorgio de Chirico, Enrico Donati, and Breton.

The second choice I have chosen to talk about comes from the works of Marvel Studio's. I have been a keen follower of the Marvel comics for over 10 years. What started off as a little comic collection has now expanded into a comic library, for me and for a vast amount of people around the world. Marvel and DC comics have captured the imaginations of people all around the world grown and young. I first started to collect the Spider man issues, then X-Men and then limited editions of various comics. When I draw my character's you can greatly see the influences of Marvel artists Jack Kirby, Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.

I love the way that Marvel bring their characters to life by adding history and feelings to them. As well as their artwork I also admire the business setup of Marvel. They have managed to turn a humble business into a multibillion Dollar empire. As if having their own theme park wasn’t enough the Marvel Entertainment group have managed to merchandise and put Marvel characters on everything from toys, chocolate bars, clothes to films. Recently on December 31, 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion.