Nigel Sutcliffe- blog

Stylus Magazine Jan/Feb 2012

2012-01-31T03:14:00.002-07:00

Just Finished up a couple things for Stylus Magazine. They cover the music scene in Winnipeg- featuring local talent and covering the shows that matter most to the true hearted hipsters and musically inclined.

The first piece is a banner for their website:

Action shot:

Here are the process shots:

This second piece is to accompany a feature on "Rat Tail" (band) in the upcoming issue:

the magazine:

Here are some shots of the sketch and final painting. Acrylic on bristol board with a bit of india ink here and there:

the Alice Chambers Memorial Library

2012-01-15T14:42:00.001-07:00

A banner piece for the Alice Chambers Memorial Library. The goal was to keep everything quite simple, but still communicate the environmental issues which are presented within these publications. Obviously I made the little tree symbols to signify this (with one chopped down). Colour scheme was chosen to work alongside the eco-journal logo, and the header text.

Here are a few sketches that developed along the way:

Neurotechnology illustration, the Manitoban. Nov.23, 2011

2011-11-26T12:11:00.001-07:00

Lost @ E Minor feature

2011-11-22T23:02:00.001-07:00

I recently wrote a few small features for the Aussie based Lost at E Minor. Check out the features here, and bookmark the site! It gives you a daily heads up on art, architecture, illustration, and the bizarre counter cultural happenings from around the world.

Prostate Cancer Found in Mummy, The Manitoban Nov. 2011

2011-11-07T00:36:00.003-07:00

An illustration for an article in the Manitoban about finding prostate cancer in an Egyptian mummy. Had some fun making the internal organ chart, and of course a little moustache flair for Movember!

Salt Pepper & Pesticide.

2011-11-01T20:25:00.000-06:00

The health hazards connected to modern farming practices. An illustration about the secret ingredient found in non-organic foods.

Eco Journal Cover May/June 2011

2011-09-29T23:22:00.002-06:00

The Family

2011-09-28T23:23:00.006-06:00

Natural Interactions

2011-04-21T10:02:00.004-06:00

This piece is from a series of paintings I made under the theme of mans interaction with nature. This piece in particular focuses on exploitation of the natural world.

Development:

Crow Politics

2011-04-21T03:05:00.002-06:00

Crow Politics

"Though humans cannot generally tell individual crows apart, crows have been shown to have the ability to visually recognize individual humans, and to transmit information about "bad" humans by squawking" (wikipedia...)

Jellisearch

2011-04-17T17:30:00.001-06:00

"Jellisearch" (Jellyfish Research) Illustration.
A self initiated piece stemming from my love for the BBC series "Blue Planet". Over the past few months I've been developing work which has its roots in collage. I've attached my original reference collage for this digital piece which consists of 1970's national geographic magazine scraps + an underwater photo (background) i took from a trip to hawaii two years ago.

Moving Mountains

2011-04-05T20:43:00.003-06:00

"Moving Mountains- To take on a seemingly impossible task and see it through no matter what may stand in your way."

This illustration was done for a visual metaphor assignment. The assignment called for a clean, simple, and iconic representation of the metaphor which people could quickly connect to the popular phrase.

Internet Piracy

2011-03-21T20:14:00.001-06:00

Here's another illustration I just finished for an article in the Manitoban (Issue date: Mar.24th/11). The piece is about online media piracy and the U.S congress's desire to eliminate illegal file sharing. I'll post the official link when it becomes available.

What do chickens think?

2011-03-15T15:34:00.003-06:00

A chicken related illustration. Check it out in the Manitoban (Issue date: Mar.16th/11).

Aquatic Acoustics

2011-03-08T19:03:00.006-07:00

My "Aquatic Acoustics" Illustration has just been featured in the Manitoban (Issue date: Mar.9th/11) The accompanying article debates a gray area in the world of audio classification- Sound Art vs. Music.

Genetically Engineered Salmon

2011-02-25T11:58:00.002-07:00

Here's a piece I did for the Manitoba Eco-Journal for their Nov-Dec 2010 Issue.

Manitoba Eco Journal

It has also been featured on the Green Action Centre website:

Green Action Centre

Maxim Gorky

2010-03-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Winnipeg lovehate

2010-02-16T17:37:00.001-07:00

A piece based on the imaginatively arid prarie city in which I live and roam. I chose to emphasize the often overlooked yet shockingly beautiful wilderness which surrounds us. Winnipeg may not be the greatest town to live in but a one hour drive can plant you in some stunning locations.
Sources:
The background image is Ivan Shishkin's oil painting " Morning in a Pine Forest" 1889. The foreground is a black and white photo of Main St. looking South (Winnipeg Tribune ca. 1949).

The Andrew Colman Quintet

2010-02-16T16:53:00.002-07:00

Just finished this poster design for a local jazz band "The Andrew Colman Quintet". Everything came out nicely and the colours came through great when printed. Had a good bit of fun playing with design ideas in Illustrator CS4 and Photoshop. My desktop has become quite powerful (and heavy) recently with the addition of an eMac and a 7-port USB hub. Having a Mac solely devoted to digital design is a beautiful thing.

Cuba Avant Garde

2010-01-08T01:29:00.003-07:00

Recently a traveling exhibition "Cuba Avant Garde" visited the Winnipeg Art Gallery. This sketch is derived from the piece "The Sacred Heart" by Lazaro Saavedra Gonzalez. I drew this sketch probably two months ago but somewhat disregarded it immediately. Flipping through my work tonight I feel the need to post this and let his E.T hands shine brightly on the illuminating medium of monitored electronica. I can assure you that Lazaro's piece is much better in its painterly magnificence, also the multiple works displayed by Los Carpinteros were quite nice.

Jacques Cousteau II

2010-01-01T18:45:00.003-07:00

Another Jacques Cousteau themed piece done with pencil (2B), Copic markers (.003- .02), and Staedtler Pencil Crayons. Happy to get it done, time to start a new page for the new year.

Happy New Year to everyone

CBC Radio 3- (colour version)

2009-12-22T21:36:00.005-07:00

3B, 6B pencil, Copic markers .003-.2, and Faber Castell watercolour pencil crayons

Homage to two of my loves: CBC Radio 3 and Art nouveau

2009-12-19T04:51:00.000-07:00

colour version coming soon..

the evolution of bowie

2009-12-13T03:22:00.011-07:00

bowie meets wall street, in a blind and wet evolutionary sense

David Bowie

2009-12-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

(Blind Contour Sketch)

Few roughs

2009-12-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

These are a few rough sketches utilizing blind contour line drawing. The building was drawn in a park on a recent trip to Chicago, others are from my studio class. Not much to say, I just really like the suggested form without conventional boundaries. Working on a large scale subway scene in this style at the moment. Hoping to finish it up over christmas break.

Quick update and shout about

2009-12-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Haven't had the time to update in a while, too busy with school and working on projects for upcoming shows. Been looking through the sites visiting data and noticed a lot of long distance on lookers from the U.K, Poland, Sweden, all over the United states, Israel, Georgia, Brazil, and many more! Thats exciting. Please do drop a comment or opinion (that is the whole reason I created this site) and thanks for taking a look.

School ends this coming week, new pics up soon!

Escape - Story concept

2009-11-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

I have been developing this story with some basic character and setting illustrations. The general plot follows a mans life beginning with his corporate office job, explores his depression and anger toward this lifestyle, and eventually recounts the attempt at taking his own life. The writing shown here is a quote toward the end of the story, set in the mountainous Canadian bush lands. He has pushed himself far into the wilderness, living off of small trapped animals and cat tails from nearby creeks and rivers.

Sketchbook notes

2009-11-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

2009-10-20T09:16:00.001-06:00

The legendary master of underwater exploration, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, 1910-1997.

Drawn from a photograph by Yousuf Karsh in the article:
"Master of the Deep" by Luis Marden. National Geographic, February 1998.

Pencil drawing done with 2B, 6B, and 8B graphite.

"From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free. "- J. Cousteau

Ink sketch

2009-10-13T12:08:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to establish a series of three illustrations for an upcoming show at the Ace Art Gallery in Winnipeg. I want to incorporate a bit of art nouveau styling, maybe a sepia tone kind of colour palette, and a sharp contrasting deep red for highlights? I dunno. Heres the first sketch from a photograph, done in pencil and brown ink. Im also thinking about experimenting with watercolours to add subtle tones.

The Appalachian Trail

2009-10-11T21:07:00.000-06:00

Sketch from the article "The Appalachian Trail", National Geographic, February 1987.

Plaid style

2009-10-09T19:15:00.000-06:00

Here's a drawing inspired by a recent sartorialist photo.

check out his photography blog here:
http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Working on faces and hands at the moment, more on that in the coming weeks. Also just picked up some Winsor & Newton "nut brown" ink today. Probably try out a couple ink drawings next.

Military jacket sketch

2009-10-09T10:22:00.000-06:00

Working on some jacket variations. Particularly like this military jacket coupled with the business collar underneath.

Prep for upcoming show

2009-10-07T15:15:00.000-06:00

First post, here we go. This is an example of an old mans face study for an upcoming show in Winnipeg. I am thinking of doing the final piece (acrylic painting 15"x20") based around the idea of east coast fishermen. Old weathered faces, salt stained clothes, a newfie, and a pipe..... and a fireplace.. and model ships. Deadline is November 16th. Check back for updates.

Also-- salvaged a solid baroque/ renaissance style frame from someones "free" pile last week. Ill try to get a picture up on here within the next little bit.