Nice to see a bit of illustration winning in an Irish design awards. Stephen McNally in RTE recently won the IDI Award for ‘Best Opening Title and Branding’.

“Plunking yourself down in front of a pad of paper and scraping the inside of your brain is probably not the most effective way of generating ideas.”

So says Jillian Tamaki on her sketchblog, where she reproduces a handout produced for a talk she gave on concept generation at Parsons in NYC. As she says herself “everyone works differently” but it’s an interesting to see her process and maybe get a few tips along the way.

Via Drawn.

Paddy Molloy is a UK illustrator whose work currently features in theatre O’s current production in the Dublin Theatre Festival. Written by Enda Walsh, Delirium is an energetic re-imagining of Dostoevsky’s classic, The Brothers Karamazov. Molloy’s work graces the posters and programme for the production as well as featuring in the performance itself, in the form of a projected animation. IGI Member and Scamp regular Scalder asks Paddy a few questions about his career and working for the theatre.

Sc: So, with a name like Paddy Molloy, I’m guessing there’s an Irish connection?

PM: A very Irish name. There is an Irish connection on both sides of my family. But quite distant.
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‘Playful Type: Ephemeral Lettering and Illustrative Fonts‘ is a new book that explores work by designers and illustrators who are applying typography beyond the classical typeset and creating a dynamic range of playful and illustrative fonts and ephemeral lettering. From manual lettering, calligraphy and collage to manipulative time exposure of photographs. See a preview here.

Morgan O’Brien is currently holding an exhibition of Children’s Illustrations (Original Watercolours and Limited Edition Prints) in the Kenny Gallery, Galway. The exhibition is in conjunction with this year’s Baboro International Arts Festival for Children of which he is the Brochure Artist and will be running until the 19th of October. For any additional Info contact Morgan at www.morganobrienart.com

The Jacky Winter Group, which represents Australian Illustrators, gives an interesting behind the scenes look at the creation of their last promo for their members. Check it out here.

In the spring of 2009 the biannual ‘Freistil -Best Of European Commercial Illustration‘ will appear for the fourth time, and they are calling on illustrators to send works exclusively in black and white. They can be freelance or commissioned works, illustrations in spaces and in motion, mixed media, collages and graphite drawings. As the book will nevertheless be printed in six colours (CMYK + BLACK + VARNISH), entrants have the opportunity to make the most out of black and white and whatever lies between. Deadline for entries is 31 October 2008.

Isabel Reyes Feeney is the latest illustrator to join Illustrators Ireland. Born and educated in Dublin, Isabel currently lives in Madrid Spain. You may be familiar with her work on the covers of band artwork for the likes of Republic of Loose and Chicks. She will also be working with the Tiny Little Horse Collective on upcoming projects. Check out her portfolio here.

This week The Comic Cast meet up IGI member, illustrator, cartoonist and SCAMP contributor, BRENB to talk about his work editing the comic anthology Toenail Clippings (1998-2002), his involvement with Gerry Hunts comic Streets of Dublin, his strips for The Dubliner and The Phoenix and his reimagining of the iconic Darth Vader helmet in The Vader Project exhibition amongst many other random things..go have a listen here…The Comic Cast v BRENB

IGI member Peter Donnelly has a new site. As an illustrator he has built up a formidable reputation with many leading ad agencies and design houses where his commissions range from storyboarding to fully illustrated artwork. Peter has had a large number of children’s books published including many educational workbooks. He also freelances as a conceptual artist for several television production companies.

www.donnellyillustration.com