red nose blog

well, its OFFICIAL. my illustration has been featured in the Sept-Oct 2008/ Interactive Annual 14 issue of CA. never thought it would happen but something i have always aspired to. dont know what else to say…
the writer Matthew Porter was a delight to have around for couple days, i am not much of a people person but he knows how to get you talking and knows how to make me seem like maybe, just maybe i know what i am doing…
thanks CA and thanks Mr. Porter.

and thanks to my representative Magnet Reps for their continual support and belief in my work (even when few others did) They truly help me continue to do what i love.

for those who would like to see the animations featured in the articles in their entirety, you can link to them here:
The Red Thread Project

Innards

a full spread for an article on the theories and successes of new marketing strategies of Broadway shows and Hollywood movies.



sometimes there aren’t any good short cuts for the right effect and for the marquee to look ‘right’ i went through a bundle of exacto blades and two boxes of christmas lights. the first box of lights failing right after they were all in place…

this one of those sets that just needed to be animated before it was taken down.
velvet1.mov

due to the overwhelming interest from the BoingBoing faithful i thought it would be appropriate to take this opportunity to plug The Look Book

The Look Book is a charming peek into the lives of Ann and Ian, two siblings who leave the house one afternoon and see the world in unusual ways. The book combines stunning photographs of miniature scenes with dark wit and clever turns of phrase to create a delightful package.

copies can be purchased at your local quality bookstore, numerous places on line, and at the F&W site.

happy to announce my debut on TOR.com
illustration for the story The Things that Make Me Weak and Strange Get Engineered Away by
Cory Doctorow

here are some details of my favorite props from that piece.



the van built with card stock and old watch batteries, the green plastic is from discarded packaging


security cameras

color sketch for the main character Lawrence

again i got the opportunity to work with one of my favorite art directors. SooJin Buzelli of Asset International.
this piece was on how Annuities are a promising option for retirement income. sub-head: Risk-based funds remain popular on plan menus. Why some plans pick them, and how some advisers benchmark them.
what makes her a great AD is that she sums articles on subject like that into something like this. “a good thing, something that keeps on giving”

that was one of my rough concepts, and after we talked on the phone and she made some suggestions that helps take the piece to the next level, this revision came about.

happy to announce my first work for TIME International in the recent July 14th 2008 issue.
Although last year the editor of TIME (US) openly stated that 3D illustration doesnt belong in print, i was pleased with how this series on the role of Japan in the upcoming G8 meeting turned out.

i was honored to be asked to write a feature article on illustrator Chris Buzelli for the 10th issue of 3×3 Magazine
i got to share some of my favorite stories about this guy that has an amazing passion for life, teaching and illustration.
i must admit that i had a lot of help on the wordsmithing end of things.

Just got word that two of the ads i worked with the ad agency SMFB in Norway on for ASKO made the Cannes Lions 2008 Shortlist

from the press release:

Illustrating Illustration pushes the boundaries of an art exhibition. This little known and often misinterpreted art form blossoms under the spotlight of the Kilkenny County Council Arts Office focus. The show delves into what is now becoming one of the trendiest art forms and often taken so much for granted through our day to day interaction with printed and online materials.

From 13th June to 25th July, the Arts Office in Kilkenny will house illustrations from 11 artists ranging from Ireland, Britain, Germany, Spain and America. Amongst them are some of the most world renowned and successful illustrators. Illustrating Illustration explores this art form, offering the audience a tour of the process from concept creation to the final reproduction of the image. It will also open discussion around two principles. Namely that there is no one original in illustration and that illustration cannot exist by itself i.e. the text, object, concept etc is what is being illustrated.

The exhibition was initiated and is directed by Mary Butler, Arts Officer Kilkenny County Council. She invited Kilkenny based award winning illustrator Alé Mercado to curate the exhibition alongside her. Artists taking part in Illustrating Illustration are Saturio Alonso (IRL), Steven Aylin (IRL), Melinda Beck (USA), BrenB (IRL), Ina Fiebig (GER), Jordin Isip (USA), Ana Juan (SPA), KEKO (SPA), Alé Mercado (IRL), Paula Sanz Caballero (SPA), Chris Sickels (USA)

Illustrating Illustration takes place in Gallery: No.72 John Street, Kilkenny, Ireland. Dates: 13th June – 25th July 2008. Opening hours: 9am -1pm + 2pm – 5pm Mon – Fri / 12 – 4pm Saturdays . Further details contact the Arts Office on 056 779 4138.

poster: ©2008 Ale Mercado

image in the show

original puppet on display as well link:> roadie 360 turn

Boston here we come!
i have the tremendous honor of speaking at the 2008 HOW conference May 18-21 2008.
nothing big just one of several breakout sessions. my session is titled:
Inside Red Nose Studio
The Creative Process of Illustrator Chris Sickels.
i’ll be focusing on the unsung heros of my work, the little things in the backgrounds that never have the limelight, never get the camera’s attention like the puppets do… they are the props, the supporting actors, the things that i sometimes get the biggest kick out of creating because more often than not they are made of random bits of junk that are stored in many of the drawers around the studio…
this little chair is one of the many props i’ll talk about.


it’s seat is an old rubber ‘foot’ from one of those old, heavy, black typewriters that were built like tanks.
the red plastic back is cut out of a discarded red pill bottle.
the rest is aluminum wire.