ALAN B. likes to draw pictures & push words & shapes around. This is his blog about that. His work can be viewed at www.hybrid-vigour.com Tumblr (3.0; @vigour-mortis)http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4jqmbCI1n1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This post has been meticulously crafted to maximize feelings of awe and wonderment at your insignificant place in a beautiful, chaotic universe.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/23691630256http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/23691630256Thu, 24 May 2012 22:34:00 +0100neil degrasse tysonquoteradarsillinessspacetumblrinspiration<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3z5u3Iqic1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>CORK SKEPTICS POSTER</strong> | MAY ‘12</p> <p>Poster for the next <a href="http://corkskeptics.org/" target="_blank"><strong>Cork Skeptics</strong></a> talk at Blackrock Castle Observatory.</p> <p>The talk is by ex-Scientologist John Duignan, who was a member of the Church of Scientology for 22 years, before he eventually extricated himself. In 2008, John published a book documenting his experiences, entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Complex-Insider-Exposes-Scientology/dp/1903582849/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1" target="_blank"><em>The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology</em></a>, which the Church apparently tried to have banned.</p> <p>It should be a really interesting talk, and is free to attend, so if you’re in Cork on the 25th pop along!</p> <p>Bit of context for the poster imagery <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-meter" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>, if’n you need it.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/22985472663http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/22985472663Sun, 13 May 2012 19:54:03 +0100posterdesignworkillustrationscientologycork skepticse-metertom cruisecultcelebritybookskeptic<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3rhoki0C21qas9oio1_500.gif"/><br/><br/><p><strong>LIBRARY BROCHURE CHARACTERS</strong></p> <p>I thought it would be fun to show the process behind these two characters I created for a local library brochure. The man with the binoculars will point out a map of the library’s location, while the bee-girl will remind people not to forget their library pin number—hence the pin in her hand!</p> <p>The first step, the character sketches, were approved by the client with a few small changes suggested (the bee-girl lost her giant glasses, for example). From there, everything was completed in <em>Photoshop</em>: the inking followed on top of the sketches, then the colours were laid down, and the final tweaks involved a minor colour adjustment and a subtle texture overlay. The grey background was laid under the final artwork to make sure it would all look okay on a colour other than white.</p> <p>And that was everything—except for a hastily <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z93Z1v5dypE" target="_blank">YouTube’d tutorial</a></strong> on how to create a fancy animated GIF, to entertain and delight!</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/22717891423http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/22717891423Wed, 09 May 2012 16:29:08 +0100illustrationcartoonworkcharacterprocessgifanimatedbeelibrary<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ztsntlUO1qas9oio2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ztsntlUO1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>SCIENCE 140</strong></p> <p>If you’re into science stuff, and are upon the Twitter, go check out <a href="https://twitter.com/science140" target="_blank"><strong>@science140</strong></a>—a tweet-powered, crowdsourced experiment collecting science definitions and explanations in 140 characters or less.</p> <p>Browsing through the <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23science140" target="_blank"><strong>#science140</strong></a> hashtag, I came across a <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/introspection/status/193035824768618497" target="_blank">couple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/invaderxan/status/192910849604718592" target="_blank">tweets</a></strong> I thought would be fun to illustrate. Definitely going to do a few more when I have time.</p> <p>SCIENCE!</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/21720751064http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/21720751064Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:57:00 +0100illustrationdoodlesciencescience140twittercartooneinsteinE=mc^2ironatom<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2jgklm6JY1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/> Front Cover<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2jgklm6JY1qas9oio2_500.jpg"/><br/> Back Cover<br/><br/> <p><strong>‘SING UP FOR THE BOYS IN GREEN’ ALBUM COVER</strong></p> <p>The football-mad <a href="http://www.indiecater.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Indiecater Records</strong></a> have released an indie music tribute to the Irish football team’s efforts in the upcoming <a href="http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/index.html" target="_blank"><strong>Euro 2012</strong></a> championship, entitled “Sing Up For The Boys In Green”. This is the album cover I created for the release, featuring a sporty Ireland on the front, and its first-round opponents—Spain, Croatia and Italy—on the back.</p> <p>You can find out more about the album (and stream it) at <a href="http://www.indiecater.com/sing-up-for-the-boys-in-green/" target="_blank"><strong>Indiecater Records</strong></a>, or go nab yourself a copy <a href="http://indiecater.bandcamp.com/album/sing-up-for-the-boys-in-green" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>. Score!</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/21168296984http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/21168296984Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:50:45 +0100workillustrationdesignmusicCD coverfootballeuro 2012cartoonirelandindiecatergreenspaincroatiaitalycute<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1iopimWsU1qas9oio1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>THE WILD VILEPLUME USED STUN SPORE</strong></p> <p>Indonesian kids are paralyzed! They may be unable to move. (<a href="http://danceabletragedy.tumblr.com/post/10929877851/rafflesia-arnoldii-rafflesia-arnoldii-is-the" target="_blank">Original Photo</a>)</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19981029888http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19981029888Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:15:00 +0100vileplumepokemonsillinessIRLTumblr radarphotoshop<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1evuy7v7l1qas9oio2_500.jpg"/><br/> WBF 2012 Interior Illustration<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1evuy7v7l1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/> WBF 2012 Cover Illustration<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1evuy7v7l1qas9oio3_500.jpg"/><br/> WBF 2012 Character Sketches 1<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1evuy7v7l1qas9oio4_500.jpg"/><br/> WBF 2012 Character Sketches 2<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1evuy7v7l1qas9oio5_500.jpg"/><br/> WBF 2012 Character Sketches 3<br/><br/> <p><strong>WORLD BOOK FEST 2012 ILLUSTRATIONS</strong></p> <p>Spot illustrations for this year’s <strong><a href="http://www.corkcitylibraries.ie/servicesandprogrammes/theconstantreaderbooksreading/corkworldbookfest/" target="_blank">Cork World Book Fest</a></strong> brochure (previous years’ illustrations <strong><a href="http://hybrid-vigour.com/cork-world-book-fest" target="_blank">here</a></strong>). The pitch sketches, shown here with the final artwork, included a book-munching ogre that I <em>really</em> hoped the client would go for, but alack t’was not meant to be!</p> <p>Copies of the brochure will be available at the Book Fest launch on Saturday 31st March at <a href="http://www.triskelartscentre.ie/christchurch/" target="_blank"><strong>Triskel Christchurch</strong></a> in Cork. The festival takes place from 19-23 April, 2012.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19859361208http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19859361208Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:59:00 +0000workillustrationcork city libraryworld book festcartoonebookbooksreadinglibrary<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0vxqiU9P81qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>CORK SKEPTICS POSTER </strong>| MAR ‘12 (ii)</p> <p>Poster for <strong><a href="http://corkskeptics.org/" target="_blank">Cork Skeptics</a>’ <a href="http://corkskeptics.org/2012/03/13/confessions-of-a-former-health-food-shop-worker/" target="_blank">next talk</a></strong> which takes place on Friday 16 March at <strong><a href="http://www.bco.ie/" target="_blank">Blackrock Castle Observatory</a></strong>, Cork. The talk, by Rebecca O’Neill of <a href="http://skepticireland.com/skeptics-in-the-pub" target="_blank"><strong>Dublin Skeptics In The Pub</strong></a>, is entitled <em>Confessions of a Former Health Food Shop Worker</em>.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19295604539http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/19295604539Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:25:00 +0000workposterdesigncork skepticspromotionhealth foodeventgreen<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0frqf12PG1qas9oio1_r1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>SOMEBODY IS WRONG!</strong></p> <p>On the internet of all places. Oh, what is to become of us?</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18815669463http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18815669463Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:54:00 +0000doodleinternetsketchbookred<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0dlwqoiYr1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>GHOST WRITER!</strong></p> <p><em>A Demonic Pact. An Unimaginable Sacrifice. A Lucrative Book Deal He Just Couldn’t Turn Down.</em> These <strong><a href="http://www.impawards.com/2007/posters/ghost_rider_ver4.jpg" target="_blank">origin stories</a></strong> really just write themselves, y’know?</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18743031340http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18743031340Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:53:00 +0000illustrationcartoondoodlenicolas cageghost ridermoviesuperherocomic book<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m04578sOBo1qas9oio1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>CORK SKEPTICS POSTER</strong> | MAR ‘12 (i)</p> <p>My poster for <strong><a href="http://corkskeptics.org/2012/02/27/why-nothing-matters-a-talk-by-ronald-green/" target="_blank">Cork Skeptics’ next talk</a></strong>. It’s all about nothing!</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18442034184http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/18442034184Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000cork skepticsdesigngreenillustrationposterskullsvectorworkpoison<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzes9syosf1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>KNOW YOUR PLAICE!</strong></p> <p>Was messing with some <em>Photoshop</em> brushes when I accidentally applied the Bad Pun filter. Oh well, I trout anyone will notice…</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/17630802228http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/17630802228Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:34:00 +0000cartoondoodlefishillustrationpunletteringtype<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly29ilexUB1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>MIDLETON TOASTMASTERS POSTER</strong></p> <p>Promotional poster for <strong><a href="http://www.midletontoastmasters.org/" target="_blank">Midleton Toastmasters</a></strong>, a local branch of <strong><a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/" target="_blank">Toastmasters International</a></strong>. The group meet twice a month, helping people to “develop self-confidence through public speaking in a fun, supportive environment” … and what’s more self-confident and fun than a loudmouthed seagull, eh?</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/16126337450http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/16126337450Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:44:00 +0000posterdesignillustrationworkbirdvoiceletteringcartoonseagullblueorange“I don’t think I’ve ever read a definition for art that wasn’t stupid. Generally speaking, when a person constructs a thought-machine of this kind, what they’re actually trying to do is determine what <i>isn’t</i> art. I have always been white trash, and will never cease to be so; what that means is that I was raised with an inherent distrust in the Hoity and a base and brutal urge to dismantle the Toity. This is sometimes termed anti-intellectualism, usually by intellectuals, when what it is in <i>truth</i> is an opposition to intellect for intellect’s sake. The reality is that what “is” and “isn’t art” is something we can determine with a slider in our prefrontal cortex. If this thought-machine had any purpose other than to create a world with less art, I could cut it some slack. But it doesn’t. Its entire purpose is to rarify art, controlling expression thereby. The aperture must be cinched, and quickly, before someone creates a cultural product without elite imprimatur. It’s effete and it’s fucking disgusting.”<br/><br/> - <em><p>—<strong><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/TychoBrahe" target="_blank">Jerry Holkins</a>, </strong><em><a href="http://penny-arcade.com/" target="_blank">Penny Arcade</a></em> </p> <p><em><a href="http://penny-arcade.com/2011/12/12" target="_blank">http://penny-arcade.com/2011/12/12</a></em></p></em>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/14482118196http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/14482118196Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:28:00 +0000writingartquoteintellectualismtychopenny arcadejerry holkinspolemic<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/> Burn / Freeze<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio2_500.jpg"/><br/> Ephemera<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio3_500.jpg"/><br/> Red Lights<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio7_500.jpg"/><br/> Counterpoint<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio5_500.jpg"/><br/> Frost Bite<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwek9pPjvg1qas9oio6_500.jpg"/><br/> Remain<br/><br/> <p><strong>‘DECEMBER SNOW’ PHOTOSET</strong></p> <p>I took these photos exactly one year ago today (before we had vanquished the White Witch’s spell, obviously). Click through to <strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56542887@N08/sets/72157625509514199/" target="_blank">the Flickr set</a></strong> for more.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/14402022935http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/14402022935Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:01:00 +0000photographycoloursnowicedecemberbluefogmistmoonrivercrystalskyphotowhite witchflickr<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvup4wHgHa1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>INDIECATER RECORDS XMAS ALBUM COVER</strong></p> <p>A fun little illustration and design job for <a href="http://www.indiecater.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Indiecater Records</strong></a>’ forthcoming Christmas mini-album. Find out more about the album <a href="http://www.indiecater.com/a-special-indiecater-christmas-gift/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>, or check out the <a href="http://indiecater.bandcamp.com/album/a-special-indiecater-christmas-gift" target="_blank"><strong>Bandcamp</strong></a> page.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13884334321http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13884334321Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:34:00 +0000illustrationdesignmusicCDcoversantachristmasworkindiecatersnowtexturehalftonetypography<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvnjs2XbcY1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>CORK SKEPTICS POSTER </strong>| DEC ‘11 (a)</p> <p>My poster for Cork Skeptics’ <a href="http://corkskeptics.org/2011/12/03/skeptics-in-the-castle-december-2011-were-talking-wine/" target="_blank"><strong>next meeting</strong></a>. Also available in a <a href="http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701552348/cork-skeptics-december-poster-merlot" target="_self"><strong>cheeky Merlot</strong></a>.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701604930http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701604930Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:04:00 +0000bottlecork skepticsdesigngeometricillustrationmicroscopeposterscienceshapestexturewineworkriesling<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvnk4pcjss1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>CORK SKEPTICS POSTER </strong>| DEC ‘11 (b)</p> <p>My poster for Cork Skeptics’ <a href="http://corkskeptics.org/2011/12/03/skeptics-in-the-castle-december-2011-were-talking-wine/" target="_blank"><strong>next meeting</strong></a>. Also available in a <a href="http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701604930/cork-skeptics-december-poster-riesling" target="_self"><strong>slightly acerbic Riesling</strong></a>.</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701552348http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13701552348Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000merlotcork skepticsdesigngeometricshapesillustrationposterwinebottlemicroscopescienceworktexture<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvjllo34gx1qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>GRAPHIC NOVEL WORKSHOPS POSTER</strong></p> <p>Each year, for the past three years, <a href="http://www.corkcitylibraries.ie/" target="_blank"><strong>Cork City Libraries</strong></a> have run graphic novel workshops for local teenagers, the results of which can be <a href="http://issuu.com/hybridvigour/docs/interstice" target="_blank"><strong>seen</strong></a> <a href="http://issuu.com/hybridvigour/docs/syzygy" target="_blank"><strong>right</strong></a> <a href="http://issuu.com/hybridvigour/docs/redshift" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>. Applications are <a href="http://www.corkcitylibraries.ie/servicesandprogrammes/childteenservices/teenservices/" target="_blank"><strong>now open</strong></a> for the fourth season of workshops (beginning January 2012), and this is the poster I created to promote them.</p> <p>It casts potential applicants in the role of a super-powered graphic novel creator, surrounded by various villains intent on trampling the fun! You can take a closer look at these rogues in the previous post, or <a href="http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602495063/graphic-novel-workshops-villains" target="_self"><strong>just click these words</strong></a>!</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602557376http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602557376Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 +0000cartooncomicdesigngraphic novelillustrationinklibrarypostersuperherovillainworkworkshops<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvjnmuQr531qas9oio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>GRAPHIC NOVEL WORKSHOPS CHARACTER CONCEPTS</strong></p> <p>Have you always wanted to <a href="http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602557376/graphic-novel-workshops-poster" target="_self"><strong>write or illustrate your own comic book</strong></a>? These guys are just itching to help … OR HINDER! *dun-dun-duuuun*</p>http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602495063http://blog.hybrid-vigour.com/post/13602495063Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:28:00 +0000cartooncharactercomic bookdoodledrawingillustrationinkvillainconcept