The Great Orange Face

My creative process through developing concept and illustrative design. Responding to an article about the Kings Arm's Tavern, and noise complaints, through an illustrative fold out I challenge the true reasons the Kings arms has become a target. 

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Folded

(P.S I fixed the spelling errors) 

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Final with rationale:

After 28 years, the Kings Arm’s Tavern in Auckland is shutting down. Known as the core of music culture in Auckland, and one of the top music bars in the country, this is upsetting to many. Many articles suggest that the bar owner, Maureen Gordon, has come to this decision on her own. However through further digging I discovered that this is not necessarily the case.  

“Maureen has no intention to sell at this point. The council can’t do shit as she owns the land outright. Maureen’s furious at the council”.

 It is clear that she is being forced to sell out so that developers can convert the historic building into apartments. To reveal this through my fold-in, I began by referring to the original article where 13 police officers stormed in to the bar in response to one single noise complaint. I used the tagline “This little piggy went to the market” as the folded punch line. The developer appears to be shaking hands with Maureen to finalise the “agreement”.  However when unfolded, “Market” transforms to “Marvel at Auckland’s music culture casket”. This refers to the dent in Auckland’s music culture that will occur once the King’s Arm’s shuts down. The body text refers to the sudden immediate attention to noise complaints. The illustration then reveals the police officers, suggesting they’re in collaboration with the developers that have pressured Maureen to sell. 

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Finalising and colour choice

Last night I had a few issues.... Starting with the canvas size. I used the canvas size provided on stream to process my final illustration and then when I went to put the text in, I realised the canvas size was waaaay off. It was way too small. So I had to fix my entire composition. Luckily a lot of my line work were still vectors from illustrator, however I had to do ALL my colour work again. And I did have to fix the line work on the kings arms building as well. Luckily I got it all done. If this hadn't have happened, I would have been able to add more detail into the background and foreground. But over all I’m pretty happy with it anyway. 

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Todays #wip Playing around with layout and text. I’m struggling to alter the layout and still have the illustration work as a foldin. I’ll continue to play around with it tomorrow but this is what I have at the moment. I decided to bring the characters forwards a bit more because they were getting lost in the illustration. I pushed the building back to free up some space because the illustration was starting to feel too clustered. I saved both versions just incase I changed my mind later though. The colour palette was chosen because it’s the colours from the kings arms tavern. But I’m wanting to change it I think... I’m just getting sick of looking at these colours. 

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Timelapse video of my colouring and character development 

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Timelapse of the building development

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The building however, I’ve traced an image of kings arms, then warped the perspective a bit to make it more playful rather than like an architecture sketch. Then I split it in half and built up an extension in the centre to make it look extended. The only thing I’m struggling with is how to make it clear that this extension part is the newly developed version of the kings arms! 

I’ve also gone through and made the outline of the silhouettes thicker to make them pop out. 

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Developing characters in regards to the illustrative style I’ve chosen (Influenced by Michael Hacker). In order to make the fold in look similar to the style of a music poster. 

I’ve decided to hand draw my characters and then scan them in and reline them in illustrator. I watched a few tutorials on how to adjust and edit the brushes in illustrator to allow for organic brush strokes so that it has a hand drawn feel to it. 

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Sketches trying to map out the logistics of the fold in. How can I freshen up the layout? Maureen's outfit and characteristics? What does a nz police uniform looks like?

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Work in progress

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Michael Hacker

I decided to look up “Sketchy concert posters” and I found an artist called Michael Hacker.He uses quite a cool sketchy poppet two/tri-tone colour palette. So using texture and detail to really give the body of the image. The text is really punchy and often binds in with the illustration really well. Super graphicy with bold outlines and texture etched in. Some of them almost look like they could have been woodcuts. I really like this style. I guess it doesn’t really suit my design currently, but I could test it out to see how I could make it work. Because I feel as though the concert/punk pop art style would be suitable to the topic of the article. 

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Animation siesta Lodz Kaliska, Venezian mirrors, gingerbeer and polish Krakowka in french pajamas No, it isn´t an Ugly Weather Factory, it´s a postmodern church of resurection Another futuristic polish church and many screamin c...

One on one critique

Today I had a chat with Caroline about my work. She loved the concept and idea. Points she made included:

Look into the sold sign and detail of it. Add more detail into the illustration.

Maybe add a bag for the developer? Give him a jacket. How do developers generally dress?

Look into New Zealand police uniforms. They’re looking a little bit Russian atm.

Consider the architecture of the building

Bring Maureen up to a little bit more of who she is. The dress looks 1930′s, then the boots look like something you’d wear in a retirement home... (which I don’t want)

Put “This little piggy went to the?” in a text bubble. Make bold and punchy.

Push the illustration up, give more room for the text

Choose font / typographic approach.

Consider illustrative style

Just thinking about how I want to approach the visual output for my fold in. Initially I wanted to use a concert poster style approach. But now that I’m focusing more on the “building” side of things with the SHA... I’m not too sure. I’m usually quite drawn to sketchy, shaded pencil drawings. So Maybe I could hand draw my work and scan it in to put a colour wash on it? Linked is an example of polish sketchy works that could act as a possible precedent. 

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Jake Harding introduces us to the vibrant and varied music scene of New Zealand.

What makes the New Zealand music scene?

Making music here is different to making music in London, where I plied my trade previously, or a large European or American city. The reality is that the number of shows going on at any time in Auckland is equivalent to the number of shows going on in North London at a similar time, or maybe even just Camden. So what does that mean? Well, it means that people know each other and are very often in each other’s bands, sharing the load and making a scene that works. And you get eclectic bills where evil punk kids and electronic weirdoes share bills with floppy fringed indie kids and industrial noiseniks.

"Scene: New Zealand music scene – The Kiwi Roars!” written by Jake Harding, talks about the differences in not only New Zealand music, but the culture around it. He discusses opportunity, and how the lack of access to recording studios and venues develops a sense of self sufficiency when making yourself successful in New Zealand. Whereas across the shores, there are plenty opportunity for access to things like this. 

He also discusses the tight nick nature in the importances of connections. Overseas where your nature with other bands would be competitive, here there’s success in supporting other bands. Often, band members are shared among bands.

Also, because of the small music scene, it means that if you’re really good, you stick out among others. Which makes it easier to get to the top. However staying here won’t make you money. 

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Links and information on a huge directory of organisations in the New Zealand music industry.

The Tavern also made it to the top music venues in the country. “The city’s premiere rock ‘n’ roll venue

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Best Venues For Live Music In Auckland, New Zealand

Discover the best music venues in Auckland for small local gigs and big international concerts.

Another top 5 venues list for Auckland featuring “The Kings Arm’s Tavern”

The Kings Arms Tavern Auckland has been the proud supporter of local musicians for decades, mainly of those engaged with rock sounds. Located in Newton, this live venue offers its stage very often at any day of the week to young and upcoming bands in an almost ritual manner. The Kings Arms Tavern is a unique combination of a live dark venue with a sunny beer garden at the back and a front bar with screens, broadcasting live sports, food and drinks.

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Gigs that are booked for the “Kings Arm’s Tavern” over the next year go right up to October.

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Auckland with its eclectic mix of stadiums plays host to many big name international groups like Coldplay - but it's the more intimate venues for small acts that really define the local music scene. The right venue can add to the atmosphere of a good night out to see a live band. Call them cozy, snug or compact, Auckland has a great selection of venues which help add to the experience.

The Kings Arm’s Tavern made it in to the top 5 for music venues in Auckland. The article sums it up perfectly. Although The biggest music venues in the country are in Auckland, it’s the more intimate venues for the smaller acts that truly define the local music scene.

The Kings Arms has the perfect stage and crowd space for punters and performers.

One of the longest serving Auckland venues for live music, the Arms boasts a sun drenched beer garden in the heart of the city - perfect for after work drinks.

It's cute indoor area has hosted a number of local and international bands and is always a perfect spot to catch up with friends over a cold one. Sadly it may soon be gone to make way for new development, so enjoy it while you can.