Portfolio redesign

This week I've been busy updating the layout of my illustration portfolio over at www.alexhahnillustrator.com. There's still a few loose ends to tie up and new work to upload, but the site is fully operational and ready for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Alive and well

In between the rigours of working life I do actually make new work...

This week I happened upon an interesting little project called The Infinite Corpse from a Chicago based artist collective known as Trubble Club.

The project aims to create an endless comic, with each artist continuing the story three panels at a time -but only seeing the three panels before theirs. To cut an endless story short, I jumped in and these are my three panels:

and you can see them in situ here!

Laying down the law

A recent topic of much debate has been the proposed changes to legislation on orphaned works and the repercussions this could have for all creators. Orphaned works are those which have become separated from their creator's name; this can include even an image someone has re-posted on a blog without a credit. The new legislation would make it possible for another party to exploit such works for financial gain. For much more detail on these changes to the law, The AOI explains at length.

Personally, I find the idea that someone could steal my work unless I plaster my name and copyright notice all over it. Why should a creator be pigeonholed into providing a lesser viewing experience?

The issue does not simply end with crediting one's work as the new legislation is trying to make it easier for parties to use work (albeit credited and with an 'adequate' fee for the copyright holder) even if the creator does not approve of the intended use.

The right to licence and control the fees for their work is integral to the illustrator's livelihood and the negatives of this change in legislation far outweigh the positives.

Please sign this petition and share the link anywhere you can and encourage everyone you know to do the same. 

Keeping the flame alive!

I've spent a lot of time recently working on my latest zine Blop Vs the Cyclops, which I released late February, and making a Kindle version too!

There were a few challenges, mostly due to the screen resolution of the Kindle and how trying to re-create the page layout of the book looked awful at that size! So after several trials and errors and learning more about the Kindle format, we have Blop vs. the Cyclops -on Kindle!
Even if it is me saying it: I think it looks smashing -buy yours today!

Buy Book | Buy Kindle Version

Entering A Brave New World

So, after two years of non-starters (or, more accurately one kinda starter and another not quite finished-er) this year I finally had the time to complete and submit my entry to the Folio Society /House of Illustration competition. The book is Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. There's so many ideas in the book that deciding on one unified approach proved difficult; while there could be a brilliant graphic or metaphor for one scene, others would not work as well and so on... so I decided to illustrate the scenes literally, but choosing challenging angles and opportunity to use light and shadow to create the drama and the surreal/fantasy tones of some of the scenes. I worked on the three scenes simultaneously to keep the visual language consistent.

These are some progress shots of the images coming together and the completed entry (with a binding design too) can be seen in my portfolio here!

Whether it gets anywhere or not isn't a concern as I'm pleased at managing to enter (finally!) as well as how the colours were working. Expect to see more of my work coloured traditionally and not on the Mac in the near future!

Lookin' good in 2013!

...Don't they look like the cutest couple?

They may only be a product shot, but you too can look as dashing in your very own Blop! t-shirt...or hoodie...or tote bag...

If you like Blop and/or other pieces of my work, there's a plethora of high quality prints and products available from The Official Alex Hahn Society Six Shop!

Lots of new images and products to come -and feel free to suggest your favourites if they aren't already available :) Below is just a sample of the goodies you can buy, including: prints, canvases, frames prints, men's and women's t-shirts, hoodies, cards, iPhone cases, iPhone skins, laptop/iPad/Macbook skins, throw pillows and tote bags...for now

Merry Christmas 2012

'tis the season of giving and I hope you all get at least one thoughtful or useful present, and if there's love too, well that's just gravy. Merry Christmas!