The Art and Design of Damian K. Sheiles: Damian K. Sheiles

Showing posts with label Damian K. Sheiles. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

DKS art & design - February / March Roundup

DKS Art & Design

It's official, DKS Art & Design has been registered as a business name. My new look business card is below. My new website will launch April/May ahead of Supanova Perth 2015.

Custom Backdrop Display Solutions

I have launched a Facebook page for Custom Backdrop Display Solutions. New designs are being added every week. Orders can be placed via the Facebook page. Check it out here

High quality colour print on 170gsm matt paper stock, mounted on 10mm Foam Core Board with a Matt laminated protective finish to reduce light glare and protect the printed surface. The display board sits perfectly inside (Ikea) DETOLF cabinets and are fixed in place via 2 magnets on the back. The display system is interchangeable as the installation process is non-permanent. Product sample photo below.

Custom Backdrop Physical Sample

Here's a couple of TRON Backdrop Design WIP screen shots for your viewing pleasure. I really enjoy working on the Grid. I think you can tell ;-)

RUST

Script, character development and world building is well under way for my creator owned project, RUST. It is a little early to share too much at this stage. I'll have some finished pages ready to show you next month. In the meantime here's some development in progress snippets.

The Silent Vox Haus

My fourth album is available to stream or download from my BandCamp page here. Enjoy.

I'll finish off with a photo from over a year ago - busking at Wanneroo Markets January 2014.

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Best wishes,

Damian K. Sheiles

www.dks.net.au

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

2015: The Year of Change (aren't they all?)

As I type this, January has almost already passed us by. 2015 is well and truly underway.

I have big plans for this year. Big, fat, juicy, ambitious plans.

First up will be fresh-off-the-mixing desk album #4 - The Silent Vox Haus. Which is a continuation of the approach to music making I utilised when recording/mixing my last experimental album, Alchemy from a couple of years ago.

The Silent Vox Haus is a fusion of soundscapes; progressive, space, indi, ambient, noise, hard, orchestral, low-fi, acoustic and mellow. It's off the cuff and spontaneous. It is uninhibited creativity oozing to fill the space between your ears. It'll be available sometime late February 2015.

The Silent Vox Haus - Front Cover

The Silent Vox Haus - Back Cover

Here's the (working) track listing:

1. Prelude

2. Drifting Moat Flicker Bright

3. ...Seconds to Impact

4. NeverGo NoWhere

5. Magpie

6. Vivid Lizard

7. Until I See You

8. When Blends Again

9. Sojourn

10. He's a Feline Sociapath

11. Overture

I'm planning to have an album launch/show sometime this year though it'll most likely be after July. The best place to stay informed is by 'liking' my DKSmusic Facebook page. I'll also be doing a spot of impromptu busking all over town, I'll be letting people know when and where via my Facebook page as well so if you're at all curious, please click on the link above and give that page some attentive mouse clicking or finger scrolling.

New Year, New Job and New Clients

A new job seems to be on the cards. All I can say for now is that I may have a regular part time contracting job based in Fremantle. I'll be very happy to be working in Fremantle again, the arts and music culture are much more to my liking - plus, they now have 5 record shops to peruse. FIVE.

I have also picked up a new client for my home based design biz. Welcome aboard Advanced Tile & Stone Solutions. I look forward to working with you this year.

2015 Prospects & Goals

I've set my sights high and I'm shooting for the stars this year. I have several projects on the go, all of which need to be well underway by the end of June so that I have lots of work, prints and other merch on offer when I exhibit in Artists Alley at Supanova this year. More on this later...

I'll have more pop-culture prints at upcoming shows. Next on the list is Collector Zone Toy Fair at Craigie Liesure Center 1 March 2015 and then Nexus Toy Fair 11 April 2015.

I am also close to finishing the prototypes for my custom background displays for the Detolf range of glass cabinets (available from IKEA). The Custom Interchangeable Background Displays will be available to pre-order, purchase and view at the Toy Fairs mentioned above.

DKS art & Design Online

The best way to stay informed of all my projects, whether it be music or art is to follow me online as I post content more frequently on my Facebook pages, Instagram and Pinterest than I do at my this blog. You can also use my website as a social media portal - dks.net.au

Here's all the links;

DKS art & design Facebook

DKSmusic Facebook

DKS_art_design Instagram

DKSartdesign Pinterest

I hope you all have a fantastic year planned ahead too.

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Best wishes,

Damian K. Sheiles

www.dks.net.au

Thursday, 18 December 2014

2014 In Retrospect

I've been lax in posting to my blog and even missed an entire month (no activity in November - shame on me). Life does get in the way, especially this time of year and adding my son's 18th birthday and the conclusion of my daughters first and most turbulent year of high school to the mix, makes for busy times indeed.

It has been one hell of a year.

2014 has been the most creative year for me in decades. It has been the most trying, the most difficult, the most eye-opening, the most uncertain AND the most rewarding year I've had in a long, long time. I am a creative person, whether it be illustration, painting, motion graphics, photography, music or tangible items that can be felt, seen and experienced - I like to create new things. Even if it's only new to me.

I have spent over a decade being creative for other people, by proxy as a graphic designer for agency's, printers and signage providers. Even though, I do take professional pride in the work and find a sense of fulfillment in the doing design work, it doesn't ignite my creative muse as much as art and music. It always comes down to those two for me.
Music is always the answer.
What is the question I hear you ask?
The question is life?
Music is always the answer to life.
And art? Art explains to us what life is.

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2014 in retrospect, if measured in terms of creative output, it looks a little like this;

I have created more artwork this last year, than I have in the combined 12 years prior.
I presented a portfolio of my work to US publisher, IDW and received positive feedback (I'm still working on getting my work published through IDW - just looking for the right fit for both of us).
A fan of my work requested a private commission. This is the first time I have ever been commissioned to produce artwork. This came at a very crucial time, as I was starting to doubt my skills and this request validated my work as an artist for which I am humble and appreciative.
Sales of my art prints increase at every show I attend.
I have generated leads in producing custom displays backgrounds for action figures and statues (more on this in the new year).
I have had more music jams with bands and other musicians these last 2 years than I have in my entire life.

It's been a busy year. Lots of late nights, lots of rewarding work, lots of experimenting and being surprised at how the final art turns out, enjoying new mediums and trying out new techniques.

Here's a loose overview of what I have planned for the next year;

I have an album or two worth of (new) songs waiting to be recorded / mixed.
I have expressed interest in showing my work in a Gallery next year.
Continued work on artwork designs (Donnie Darko, Zatanna, Captain Cold, Birds of Prey, Daredevil and Batman Villains are next on the list).
Continued work on the serialised graphic story RUST.
Continued work on my original graphic novel SUBSTANCE.
A small art/sketch book for sale at shows
Artist alley presence at Supanova June next year.

As one of my favourite artists, David Mack, said "do the work first - the rest will come later".

To all that follow my blog, thanks for reading. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. May 2015 bring you all good health, good living and prosperity. I leave you with an overview of art I produced during 2014. I hope you dig it. Next week's blog post will be my favourite comics, graphic novels and art books for 2014.