Yohan Forbes

The Boxer...

2012-01-27T20:14:00.001Z

When the clock strikes 12...

2012-01-11T22:30:00.000Z

Feature: Artist Jeff Read

2012-01-10T14:34:00.000Z

Jeff Read was born in Harrow, North West London. Growing up in Buckinghamshire, he moved to the New Forest to study a full time art AVCE, then took a 3 year Graphic Communications bachelors degree at SIAD in Surrey, before leaving education for the big wide world. He is what he has to say about his journey so far...

Not all of that went swimmingly, I have to admit. I never took any time out from education, which meant, in my case anyway, that I was ill-prepared for serious studying and was generally a cocky know-it-all. Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? Now someone just needs to invent a time machine to compliment the eye-opening glory of hindsight. Anyone!? That adolescent mentality earned me a rough ride with my tutors, who, although admitted liking my work, said I had the wrong attitude and thus smashed my grades to pieces. It was deserved, if not a little harsh. But you learn from your experiences, successes and failures, and I am sure I wouldn't be where I am now, which is in a fantastic place, without all that mess in my past.

Near the end of my last year at Uni, I took a work experience placement at Lionhead studios (a video game developer). This placement only reassured and strengthened my love and yearning to work in the video games industry, gaming and art both being strong passions of mine since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I was in creative-love. How one studio could be so rich with so many forms of creation and artistry blew my mind. I became good friends with people at the company, and on the day of my Uni results I received a phone call from Andy at Lionhead. He offered me a job, which I jumped at instantly. He then told me what the job was. After a little chuckle about my level of enthusiasm, I had gained 1 testing job. Testing is essentially a position comparable with that of Runner in the film industry. a professional job, but one that tends to to act as a gateway placement to the other creative roles on offer. On my first day I went straight up to the Art Director at the time, Christian, and asked what I needed to learn to do what he does. He told me to buy a Wacom tablet and practice digital art. He, and many of the other artists there, taught me a great deal more than that, but the details are too great to explain here. I listened and adsorbed the wisdom like a kid thrown into a sweetshop, and gobbled it all up. This is where my art really started. Before that I was using real media, such as charcoal, pen, pencil, chalk, acrylic. All of which I have pretty much lost contact with now (with the exception of the occasional life-drawing), which is a shame, but digital media allows so much more and there is so much more to learn. I am sure I will catch up with the real media again in some part of my life, just not yet.

Cut to a few years later, with lots of practising involved (and a years work as an artist at a small but fun games company in London that went bust) and I was offered a job as a concept artist at Leading Light Studios, which is an out-source Concept Art company that work on Films, Ads, Games, and anything that requires visual design or story-boarding. I had a thoroughly fantastic year at Leading Light and continued to learn more and more (the day an artist thinks he/she has no more to learn, is the day they need to quit art). Unfortunately I had a mishap involving piggy-backing my girlfriend-of-the-time, a pavement, and too much alcohol. This resulted in us both meeting the pavement at an undesired velocity, and won me a broken drawing-hand, and my girlfriend a black eye. A broken hand and a girlfriend with a black eye doesn't look that good when sat in A&E, I can tell you. This of course meant that I was out of work for at least 2 months, and seeing as my work at Leading Light was freelance contracting, this meant I was in a financial pickle.

I moved back to my parents for a breather and some room to work on my CV and portfolio. Leading Light had unfortunately filled my position, as they obviously couldn't keep the seat warm for 2 months, so I was on the hunt for more work. I contacted an old friend who had recently found a new job as a designer at Super-massive Games. He told me they were looking for someone to fill a designer role, but also wanted them to have artist experience, so that they could cross roles when needed. This sounded pretty spectacular to me and I didn't hesitate to apply. After all, designing games, then drawing them, given my passion for games, is a dream come true. This excitement for the position obviously came across in my interview and I get the job, of which I am still a part of 2 years on, and loving. If there is career advise I think is worthy of your ears, then it would be to KEEP AT IT. I got turned down and knocked back so many times, and it took me years to get here, but determination, courage, and a polite but firm attitude will get you everywhere. Develop a thick skin, and prepare yourself for any feedback, be it good, bad, or ugly. You will learn from it all, and learning is the key to life.

So, my art. I think I find it hard to pin down my style, in approach or execution. I still have so much to learn myself, but I believe that one of my strengths is to apply any form of style to my work with fair confidence. I enjoy studying other peoples work and picking it apart by examining it closely...I love smashing the smoke and mirrors into pieces and extracting all the good bits to mash together in my own form. Most people do this subconsciously, despite how 'original' they claim to be. I simply embrace it, and treat it as a sort of science.

Genie

Genie - This is quite an old image, but it goes down well when I show it to people, and it was great fun to paint. I have a secret love affair with Arabian architecture and the mystery and romanticism that seems to envelop it all. I was hooked on fantasy films like Sinbad and Clash of the Titans when I was a kid (and still do!), and I hope I captured some of that adventure in this lamp. I want you to create the story: why is she in there? How long has she been in there? And why has it been so long? These are the sort of questions I ask myself when I paint, although I try my hardest not to answer. After all, the human imagination is the wildest adventure ever, right? Don't spoil it by denying your own fantasies.

Medusa

Medusa - This was an entry for a friendly online competition, and also another old image. The subject was simply 'Medusa'. Again, I wanted to conjure up some of those questions that you will never discover the answers for. Also, I had a long hard think about how the real Medusa would feel, given her curse. She would, I thought, be lonely. Very, very lonely. Never to be able to look into another's eyes and tell them she loves them, or ever have the favour returned, would be, in my eyes (no pun intended), a stone-cold existence. I wanted her to look as if all she wanted was to be human and feel human emotions other than sorrow and longing. But I also wanted a bit of that Sinbad adventure too! Hence the Arabian style environment and blindfolded servant feeding mice to her snakes.

Self portrait

Self portrait - Not the most flattering image, but an important one to me. It's the only digital self portrait I have painted, which is shameful I know, but for some reason it never really crossed my mind before. I sometimes forget that I can paint stuff that is right in front on me, without it having to be high adventure or fantasy. I will endeavour to do more portraits, and probably when I am not off work with man-flu, looking gaunt and pale!

Tronicles of Narnia

Tronicles of Narnia - This is an image I painted as a flyer for a night of the same name, run by some friends in London. It is obviously a joke, and one that we all laughed at quite a lot. Having humour in an image is a great way to draw people in, and also makes it thoroughly enjoyable to work on. I am pretty sure I laughed out loud quite a few times whilst painting, because of just how ridiculous I thought it was. The style was meant to be in an 80's VHS Box cover vein. I actually added the text, age rating, and other crazy box cover stuff, then we placed it into the sleeves of 20-odd VHS boxes and gave them out, filled with goodies, to the first 20 people who arrived at the night. This was met with quite a few smiles, luckily!

Tronicles of Narnia Tumnus

Tronicles of Narnia Tumnus - Yep more lunacy for my friend's dubstep/electro night in London. This was intended to be a desktop download, purely for promotion. I hoped that the colours, composition and general mood would sit nicely as a background to compliment most electronic music, again to encourage peoples awareness of the event, but also to help them get interested in the types of music that would be played there. I was totally besotted with the front covers to 90's drum and bass/jungle boxsets (such as Dreamscape) when I was a kid. they really sucked me into the music before the music was even playing. I tried to attain some of this for my own piece. You tell me if it worked!

Palace Picnic

Palace Picnic - This was a fairly recent lunchtime project. I am a bit of a day dreamer and a romantic at heart (yeah yeah bring out the violins!), and since I am generally surrounded by (virtual!) guns and violence in my work, I sometimes like to transport myself off to somewhere magical where I would love to sit, relax, and share it with someone special. These images appear in my head and build up over days, or even weeks, until I can stand it no longer and must paint it. Sometimes the daydreams are so strong I can smell the floral air and hear the buzz of insects, even feel the breeze pass over me. Sometimes my imagination gets the better of me, but sometimes this is utterly euphoric and I just let it roll. On these occasions my brain and I are friends.

The Zamo Bros

The Zamo Bros - This is a recent painting I created for my friend and his late brother who tragically passed away from Leukaemia a couple of months ago. As soon as I heard of his passing I decided I had to create something that would help immortalise Adam in any way I could. Adam and Andrzej both worked in the games industry as designers, and I actually started my career around the same time, and all at the same studio. Their knowledge and passion for gaming was truly inspirational to me, and I will never forget all the kind and constructive words Adam and Andrzej gave to my (then very basic) digital artwork. They, as the Zamoyski brothers, were always compared to the Super Mario brothers due to their love for Nintendo, and also their extremely close bond; one that any brothers would be envious of. I wanted to capture all of this essence and spirit in the painting, so that everyone who saw it would instantly remember the awesome entity of the Zamoyski Bros that they all know and love (I can actually hear a one-up sound as I type this!). I printed this out at A0 size and handed it to their family at Adam's cremation. Their reaction was one of the most touching and emotional moments of my life, and I shall never forget it. I was trembling like a leaf, but I am so glad I managed to finish it in time without rushing it. A personal art piece really is the most intimate gift you can give to someone. A picture paints a thousand words right? So why not lovingly craft a novel with paint (or any medium!), and give it to the protagonist, a person you care deeply for. It will give you both an amazing feeling and hopefully explain to them what no words could.

All my work is painted using a Wacom tablet and Photoshop, with the occasional pencil sketch thrown in. So what are you waiting for? Go paint that thing that has been rattling around your head all this time, and take us there!

- Jeff Read.

Review of 2011. A blog epilogue...

2012-01-07T16:30:00.000Z

So what's in the pipeline for 2012... hmmmm A new Showreel, A series of podcast's featuring music and live performances, my website, prints of my photography for sale, some remix videos, I, Everyday to finally hit festivals and screenings, documentaries, work from the Adidas 2012 campaign, a few gigs with Miss Mitchell, Videos for the Cardboardboss crew, there's even talk of a trip to the Oscar's.. who knows I'm sure there will be a few surprises...

Finally a shout out to my family, friends, people who have supported the blog and to all those I have met during the past year. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have the strength to be where I'm at today... Thank you

Best wishes

Yohan Forbes

Review of 2011 Part Three

2012-01-07T11:57:00.000Z

The wheels were already in motion with the release of the 'I,Everyday' Trailer...

Project One hitting the internet and catching the attention of online magazines around the world...

Creative Review (London)

Badini (Italy)

Huck Magazine (UK/USA)

HUH Magazine (UK)

Sideroom Magazine (New Zealand)

Look at Me Magazine (Russia)


David report Magazine (Sweden)

New York based Gutfire Magazine got in contact and I had my first International interview. Followed by an archive screening of the award winning film at the National theater Flytower who I edited a special trailer for, the film played in front of a packed audience ...

Working with the Snitchthat crew filming Snow Patrol at the Shepards Bush empire...

Going to the Urban Music Awards with Johny Pach, photographing David Hasslehoff, the made in chelsea crew, Wretch 32 and a list of other celebrities. Funniest moment was in the Taxi with DJ fresh and co...

Afterward it was back to filming, teaming up with 24 Productions to capture the Behind the scenes footage for their upcoming Adidas Olympic advert and then directing, filming and editing a series of short films featuring Nani, Jack Rodwell, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Garth Barry for Adidas' Teamwear 2012 campaign.... will post more when it's released. :)

Ending the year with Wonderbra's ultimate plunge Campaign where i filmed and edited two videos, the first was a stunt at Battersea Power Station... crazy times....

The second was a video with Lydia Bright from TOWIE...

To be concluded...

Review of 2011 Part Two

2012-01-07T09:04:00.001Z

After the London riots Wimbledon became a ghost town...

and memories of escape and travels came to mind....

At the Occupation of St Paul's Cathedral, there were others out there who felt the same...

I decided it was time to get back to work... TBC

Review of 2011 Part One

2012-01-03T16:06:00.000Z

At times pictures are better than words, Here is a collection of photographs i took that summon up the past year of 2011. Starting with the Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes Bowl...

Moby at the Roundhouse...

Photographing television presenter Johny Pach...

Then a wake up call, the London riots...

TBC

Music Video: Lana Del Rey: Video Games

2011-12-18T13:29:00.001Z

There's something about the message in this song mixed with Lana Del Rey's smoothing voice and use of archive footage that made me have to post this...

Industrial 014

2011-12-16T12:21:00.003Z

Photography by Yohan Forbes

Wonderbra, Bella Sorella & Miss Bright...

2011-12-14T19:16:00.000Z

Here is the second promo that I filmed and edited for Wonderbras ultimate plunge bra campign featuring TOWIE star Lydia Bright. The shoot was on location at her shop Bella Sorella in Loughton, Essex. Full of vintage clothing, tasty cupcakes & gifts, it was a real treat to capture. The video also features music from Touchy Subject 'Count every star' a cool track which I can't stop playing at the moment. Shout out to Lydia & Georgia Bright and her cousin Kate for looking after me due to my early arrival, I definitively will be making a trip to Essex in the future.. reem!

Wonderbra Ultimate Plunge Promo

2011-12-12T17:45:00.003Z

Just directed, filmed and edited Wonderbra's latest promo for the ultimate Plunge bra on Location at Battersea Power Station. The shoot involved three competition winners bungee jumping in front of a projected image of their model Adriana Cernanov, Thanks to 24 Productions and Iris...

Red Carpet: Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part One

2011-11-21T09:27:00.001Z

I was lucky enough to go on the red carpet for the Twilight: Breaking dawn film premiere in Westfield London. All the stars of the film turned up for the big screening. Here is a sample of what was captured. Shout out to Nick Grimshaw for leading the way, Johny Pach and company...

Music Video: Aphex Twin: Rubber Johny

2011-11-11T20:01:00.000Z

The concept for Rubber Johnny came from director Chris Cunningham imagining a raver morphing as he danced. The idea evolved to the present film, in which Johnny (played by Cunningham) is an isolated deformed (possibly hydrocephalic) teenager kept on a wheelchair and locked in a dark basement with his chihuahua. The film was shot partially in infrared night vision on digital video. The film's music is "afx237 v7 (w19rhbasement remix)", a remix made by Cunningham; the credits music is "gwarek2", also from drukqs, enjoy...

Bus Stop...

2011-11-09T10:56:00.000Z

One for the picture collection...

2011-11-08T11:35:00.000Z

Industrial 013

2011-11-08T10:04:00.002Z

Industrial 012C

2011-11-03T14:06:00.000Z

What not to become...

2011-10-31T18:57:00.000Z

The Truth?

2011-10-27T17:12:00.000+01:00

TV tells me no vision...

2011-10-26T15:41:00.000+01:00

Time at Wells Studio...

2011-10-25T00:21:00.000+01:00

Creative time means work hard, play hard. A mix of editing film, photography & music. Followed by the random visit through Wimbledon's night life. New things are on their way...

Spirit Light Experiment...

2011-10-24T16:30:00.000+01:00

Lights, exposure and various camera speeds, shout out to Kit Wells....

The Hike film premiere

2011-10-23T01:34:00.000+01:00

Music: Blame Game - Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)

2011-10-22T06:37:00.000+01:00

It's a shame we play the...

The Guards...

2011-10-21T16:09:00.000+01:00