Self-portrait for Movember

Alexander Jackson is a UK based artist, illustrator and writer. He holds a degree in illustration from Edinburgh College of Art. His work has been featured in comics, children’s books, short stories, magazines, newspapers, as well as on forms of commercial art and murals. Here he discusses the realm of editorial illustration work.

Song and Dance Man

Since graduating with my illustration degree I’ve been involved in a number of projects. Most of these projects have taken place within the editorial realm. Shortly upon completing my course, I provided illustration work for The Skinny magazine. I was then approached by The List magazine to provide all of the illustrations for the cover feature of its supplementary guide to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which took place last summer. The work featured on the front cover and throughout the guide. As well as this, I have worked on several publications for The Other Publishing Company, providing a number of illustrations for some of their short stories. These will be featured in the newly launched Cracked Eye magazine. Recently, I’ve been approached to provide illustrations for a manuscript for a children’s short story.

Log Lady

Saul and Jenny

As well as the previously mentioned commissioned work, I have been in the process of self-publishing a children’s book called Jenny’s Bath, which I have written and illustrated. It was recently acknowledged by 3×3. I have also been recruited by Phosphor Art agency.

I took part in Saltmarket Design’s Fringe exhibition at the St. Andrews Square RBS building in August. I’m currently planning on taking part in their collaborative show with Redcoat in December. At events such as this and along with my online shop, I’ve been able to make my work available to a larger audience, mostly though selling digital prints of my work. My work is very much inspired by pop culture, character and narrative so it seems to engage with a large mainstream audience. My images have been shared on Twitter by celebrities such as Jonathan Ross and Edgar Wright.

Bill Bailey

Despite originally having trained in traditional painting techniques, my work has a fairly graphical style. However, I have still managed to find private commission work for paintings, and I hope to introduce more painting into my illustration work.

Burns Night

My plans for the future include more editorial work. I find these projects can be somewhat simplistic but with a tight deadline which I seem to enjoy. However, I’m still working on broadening my clientele in order to diversify my portfolio, which should bring in some exciting new challenges and add some variety to my portfolio. I’ve also been working on a manuscript for a graphic novel, which I plan to illustrate.

My advice to anyone looking to get into this field would be to put together a good strong portfolio that is easily accessible. Your own website can be accessed by people very easily and has the potential to make you look very professional. People often ask me where they can see more of my work and having a portfolio website is a great place to direct people. Also a strong online presence whereby people can be kept up to date on new work and projects in progress (via social media, blogging etc) can be effective. It also shows viewers that to have a passion for what you do. Most of my work has come through my online presence and using various online platforms to promote my work.

Comment below or on Twitter using #LifeAfterArtSchool & mentioning @CenSta with your experience after art school.

Stay tuned for updates from art school graduates all this week. In the meantime see a what to expect from the upcoming Life After Art School features here.

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Cargo, Camera…Action! is an outdoor celebration of the Clyde and its history that will take place on the banks and bridges of the River Clyde on 26 July. Created by Glasgow Film as part of the Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme, the event is based around the moving image and the history of Glasgow and will offer film, theatre, music and more. Theatrical Collective 85A, will take-over the amphitheatre space at Custom House Quay presenting hourly theatrical concerts throughout the day on a custom-built ocean liner. A mocked-up film set will offer participants the chance to have their moment of glory in front of the camera…if the director allows it. Minty Donald and Nick Millar explore the Clyde in a film work while Eilidh MacAskill goes back to Victorian times, performing Bicycle Boom, a piece about the bicycle, the Victorian woman and emancipation. Enjoy new cinematic works from filmmakers Chris Leslie and Torsten Lauschmann exploring the shipbuilding history of Govan’s playground games and songs.

Cargo, Camera…Action! will take place on 26 July. The event is free but some parts of the events are ticketed. For more information see the Glasgow Film website. Keep your eyes peeled on Central Station for more Cargo, Camera…Action! themed features including an interview with 85A.

GFF14: Cargo, Camera, Action…! The Launch Party

Images courtesy Glasgow Film.

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You’ve got just two and a half weeks left to enter your 10-second film into 9.88 Films, the Channel 4 and Creative Scotland ultra-short film challenge we featured last month. All you need to do to enter is create an original film of 10 seconds or under on any subject, using any form of moving image. The challenge is open to anyone living or born in a Commonwealth country.

The final entry date has now been extended until 5pm on Friday 11 April, and as ever, entrants are in with a chance of having their film screened on Channel 4, as well as at cinemas around the UK, and at events around the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Great filmmaking kit and equipment is also up for grabs.

The challenge has had more than 150 entries so far – here’s a selection of just some of them…

Channel Flipper – William Garratt

Switch. – Harry Ward

Super Binoculars – Joseph Fallon

Take Me Back – Henry Woodley

Deadline: 11 April

For more details and to enter, see the 9.88 Films website.

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Inspired by the Commonwealth record for the 100m sprint and as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, 9.88 Films is holding an ultra-short filmmaking challenge. With a jury featuring Stuart Cosgrove, Ruth Paxton and Iain Smith OBE amongst others, the competition calls upon UK and Commonwealth filmmakers of all abilities to submit a film of ten seconds or less. All genres and forms of moving image are welcome. Winners have the chance to have their film screened on Channel 4. See some of the other available prizes here.

For inspiration, here are some of the 9.88 films made by established UK filmmakers:

Ruth Paxton – The Pythia

Bold Yin – The Time Machine

Julia McLean – Ride Em High!

Deadline: 9 April.

For more details and to enter, see the 9.88 Films website.

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