Cork Zombie Walk 2012
This is an illustration that I was commissioned to create for the 2012 Cork Zombie Walk. The walk occurs annually in Cork City the weekend before Halloween. People can dress up as zombies and walk the streets. During the walk, money is also be raised for two dog charities. The Irish Guide Dogs Association and the Dog Action Welfare Group in Cork.
Cork Opera House: Alice in Wonderland
The illustration that was commissioned by the Cork Opera House for the 2012 Christmas Panto. It is based on the original Lewis Carroll text and the aim was to create illustrations that stayed true to the original stories written by Lewis Carrol. The main composition is framed by a 'Looking Glass' mirror and the characters depicted are Alice, the white rabbit, the Cheshire cat, the dodo and the caterpillar.
Cork Opera House Brochure
Film Credit Illustrations: A Christmas Carol
These are illustrations I completed of 19th Century London for the end credits of an Irish film production of a Christmas Carol. The illustrations are all black and white and depict scenes of 19th Century London. I completed 11 in total. The film production company was October Eleven Pictures and they are based in Dublin, Ireland.
ISIS Book of Kells
I was invited by Ciara Kennedy of ISIS to illustrate a scene depicting a monastic scholar creating the historical Irish Book of Kells. The concept of the illustration was to create an image that illustrates the magical power of the book of Kells and the almost metaphysical act of its creation.
Boardgame Design: Asylum Cluedo
This was a project I did in Graphic Design at college in CIT. It was based on a re-imagining of Cluedo for a teenage boy target audience. The boardgame is set in a Mental Asylum that is infested with Zombies. Players must compete against each other to rescue survivors and solve the mystery as to why the Asylum has been over run by Zombies in the first place.
Thanks Valerie for giving me a distinction for this.
Thanks Valerie for giving me a distinction for this.
Illustration Process
Alan Corbett
My creative process for my illustration work is influenced by early animation techniques and the layering of different cells of artwork. My pencil work is influenced by artists such as William Harrington, Ashley Wood and Jack B. Yeats and my colouring is influenced by the dream like work of stained glass artist Harry Clarke and the illustrator Ben Templemsith. My aim is to create a unique visual identity by combining different artistic mediums in a process that involves the building of an image through separate layers. It is a lengthy process that could not be created without combining traditional art techniques and modern technology.
For my first layer, I draw the composition of an illustration using 3H and 4H pencils on cartridge paper. This creates a very light and detailed foundation layer. I draw nearly entirely from imagination and only use observational references for contextual reasons such as accurate historical costume.
For my second stage, I paint the backgrounds of the illustration using either watercolours or washed down acryllic paints on a separate sheet of either stretched cartridge paper or watercolour paper. This becomes my second layer. The faded colours create depth within the illustration.
I then apply textures that become my third layer. These can include burnt paper, stained paper, old maps and old wallpaper patterns to create texture and atmosphere. It also gives the illustrations a photographic quality.
My fourth layer is usually for foreground characters and focal points within the illustration. I use strong acryllic or oil paints for this layer.
I then bring these layers of handmade artwork onto photoshop by scanning them individually. Through photoshop I blend the layers together and alter the strength of each layer to create the final illustration.
For night-time illustrations I often apply lens flare and lighting effects to the final illustrations.
My creative process for my illustration work is influenced by early animation techniques and the layering of different cells of artwork. My pencil work is influenced by artists such as William Harrington, Ashley Wood and Jack B. Yeats and my colouring is influenced by the dream like work of stained glass artist Harry Clarke and the illustrator Ben Templemsith. My aim is to create a unique visual identity by combining different artistic mediums in a process that involves the building of an image through separate layers. It is a lengthy process that could not be created without combining traditional art techniques and modern technology.
For my first layer, I draw the composition of an illustration using 3H and 4H pencils on cartridge paper. This creates a very light and detailed foundation layer. I draw nearly entirely from imagination and only use observational references for contextual reasons such as accurate historical costume.
For my second stage, I paint the backgrounds of the illustration using either watercolours or washed down acryllic paints on a separate sheet of either stretched cartridge paper or watercolour paper. This becomes my second layer. The faded colours create depth within the illustration.
I then apply textures that become my third layer. These can include burnt paper, stained paper, old maps and old wallpaper patterns to create texture and atmosphere. It also gives the illustrations a photographic quality.
My fourth layer is usually for foreground characters and focal points within the illustration. I use strong acryllic or oil paints for this layer.
I then bring these layers of handmade artwork onto photoshop by scanning them individually. Through photoshop I blend the layers together and alter the strength of each layer to create the final illustration.
For night-time illustrations I often apply lens flare and lighting effects to the final illustrations.
