It’s been a while since I updated my news blog. Things have been rather quiet on the project front due to the pandemic (like for many), so I don’t have a lot of new client work to show you, but I thought I would say a quick hello.
I recently started a TikTok channel, where I mostly post recordings of live drawings (digital and analog). So if you are on there and enjoy drawings, drop by and have a look.
I only have 120 followers here so far, so you can become a member of a highly exlusive club. 😀
Welcome to my latest Fall 2018 newsletter with a glimpse of what I am currently working on and recently completed projects.
Dear Reader,
It has been quite a while since my last newsletter. I have been so deeply involved in various projects that I simply did not get around to writing and putting one together for you. I always love to be very busy and active, but it is now really high time to give you a brief update on my recent artwork and activities, so it is with great pleasure that I present to you this October 2018 edition of the Ian Marsden Illustration Newsletter.
Below a selection of sample artwork and highlights from recent projects.
GOOGLE DOODLES
I was delighted and honored that I received a shoutout in the recent “Inside Google” Blog post celebrating 20 years of Google and the history of the Google Doodles. From 1999 to the end of 2000 I was the artist creating all Google Doodles. It is very nice to be remembered in this way.
Many thanks to Google and to Ryan Germick the Principal Doodle Design director.
Some really exciting news: I have signed a book deal with Schiffer Books for my first graphic novel and my first book in the U.S. market. It is for the graphic novel adaptation of “The Way I Was” the adult memoir of the late Broadway and Hollywood composer Marvin Hamlisch. The publication date for the graphic novel is spring 2020.
Many thanks for the excellent representation by my literary agent Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary
Article from Publisher’s Weekly 20/09/2018 below:
Here a world premiere sneak peek over my shoulder…
VIDEOS / EXPLAINER VIDEOS / WHITEBOARD VIDEOS
HAWLIK GESUNDHEITSPRODUKTE
I had the great pleasure of adapting a series of texts about the harvesting and production phases of their high-quality vital mushroom products for Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte GmbH and transforming them into short videos with elegant watercolor illustrations and pleasing voice overs.
In a nutshell – Video production for Hawlik Gesundheitsprodukte GmbH
I was involved from the initial conceptual sketching phase and storyboard, then personally illustrated each scene and added light, unobtrusive animation and finally I produced a series of 6 different videos in 3 languages (English, German, French) for which I also supervised the recording of the voiceover in person in studios in Paris and Berlin.
The German voice was recorded in Berlin with the renowned actor Kaspar Eichel (German synchronization voice of Robert Redford, Richard Dreyfuss) at Livelive studio (in cooperation with the agency Sprecherdatei), the French voice was recorded in Paris with the Actor Daniel Beretta (French synchronization voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others) in collaboration with Titrafilm, the English voiceover was provided by David A. Watson and the agency GreatBritishVoices.
You can see all 6 videos in all different languages on the official Hawlik Youtube ChannelHere:
Having these videos available as a marketing tool for their website but also for trade shows and for their sales department is an invaluable asset. Highly complex processes and details of the production can be relayed to clients and buyers quickly and in a pleasant format in various markets/languages 24/7.
It was a lot of fun working on this rather extensive project and I am delighted that the client was very happy with the result and customer reactions have been extremely positive.
I am delighted to announce that I am collaborating on an ongoing series of training videos for the Johner Institut GmbH in Konstanz, Germany for their e-learning platform. I myself am providing the English language voice and I am also the spokesperson. The collaboration has been highly stimulating and creative and it is a true pleasure to work with Prof. Dr. Christian Johner on his videos for the Johner Institute teaching platform. More details on this project perhaps in a future update.
Prof. Dr. Christian Johner and Ian David Marsden in the video studio.
BUSINESS ILLUSTRATION
As part of the usual illustration services I provide, it has been my great pleasure over the past months to work with various agencies and companies / corporations, many of which are regular clients, on their needs for high quality, clear and appealing business graphics and illustrations for their external or internal communication needs. Here a few recent examples.
WINE LABELS
I am continuing the relatively new avenue of my career of wine logo and wine label designer and artist. My most recent design is a fun logo and label illustration for ‘Domaine Les Tuileries’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I like it a lot personally even though I dialed the “French” button up to 11, evidently.
I got a lovely mention in an article in the French press / Midi Libre. Thank you very much.
The local Mayor’s office in the village where I live asked me if I would design the Mayor’s New Year’s card. I was of course honored to come up with a personalized card and drawing for this purpose.
Thank you very much for taking the time to browse through my newsletter. Unless we speak directly beforehand, my next e-mail to you will be my traditional Holiday / End of the year greeting.
Click on my business card above to send me an e-mail [email protected]
Or call me directly at +33 (0)6 42 49 82 11
Online portfolio: www.marsdenillustration.comIf you are also on Instagram
please visit my channel and say hello!
I have just put together a collection of items in my Red Bubble shop featuring some of my artwork and drawings that people often ask me about.
(Like the baguette girl, the Fez Man etc.)
You can get all kinds of items from phone cases to framed prints, t-shirts, post cards, stickers, posters, throw pillows and even clocks and bedding.
I hope you enjoy the selection.
Send me a snapshot or tag me on instagram if you buy something, I would love to see what you got and where you placed it.
I will share some of the images in my blog and my social media as well.
“Sergei turned to marketing manager Susan Wojcicki, who found illustrator Ian Marsden and put him to work.
In May 2000, Ian created the first Google doodle. It featured—surprise, surprise—aliens making off with our logo.”
The Very First Google Doodles by Ian David Marsden
As a professional artist, illustrator, cartoonist and character designer, one of the highlights of my career so far is certainly that I happen to be the very first Google Doodle artist. 🙂
It was tremendous fun and I was totally delighted when Google contacted me to be their first artist. Back then I was working out of a one bedroom studio in Santa Monica, California and we were trying to keep our little two year old baby in diapers, so the whole magical world of the internet in it’s very first pioneer days was a wonderful and thrilling place to be and I was honored and thrilled that I was able to actively participate with Google and some of the other projects I helped realize back then. Even in those early days it was clear to me (and most other people) that Google was headed for greatness. 🙂
Google MentalPlex Technology
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
1st Google Doodle Series - Google logo gets abducted by aliens
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
4th of July 2000 Google Doodle Series
Sydney Summer Olympics - Torch
Sydney Summer Olympics - Kayak
Sydney Summer Olympics - Gymnastics
Sydney Summer Olympics - Archery
Sydney Summer Olympics - Track and Field
Sydney Summer Olympics - Diving
Sydney Summer Olympics - Cycling
Sydney Summer Olympics - Weights
Sydney Summer Olympics - Soccer
Sydney Summer Olympics - Basketball
Sydney Summer Olympics - Closing Ceremony
Happy New Year 2001!
The first Illustrations I made for Google, were shown on April Fool’s Day 2000. Google launched the amazing MentalPlex Technologywhere you could just think of what you were searching for and Google would find it. I created a little character and made some animated GIFs to explain how it worked.
My first ‘Google Doodle’ series was also the very first actual Google Doodle – namely the Alien abduction of the Google logo which happened in May 2000.
The third series of Google Doodles I designed were the Olympic Doodles for the Summer Olympics in Sydney – Google Doodles Summer Olympics in Sydney with the little ‘Kangaroodle” I also created for Google and for the event. I have never received more fan mail than I did during the days these olympic google doodles were online. Hundreds, probably thousands of e-mails from all over the world. All of them positive and friendly. 🙂
Exciting News and Updates from Illustrator Ian David Marsden
I am a freelance illustrator, designer, cartoonist and I also produce and animate whiteboard and explainer videos.
You can sign up for my newsletter in the box on the right. I send a newsletter roughly four times a year.
My artist portfolio, biography, client list and referrals/testimonials can be found on my homepage at: http://marsdenillustration.com
I hope you enjoy these latest updates including some exiting news about my graphic novel project, new clients, new YouTube drawing video tutorial and more.
Dear visitor to my blog,
2016 started off in a very active, busy and fun way for me.
Publishing
Some very exciting news for me personally, is that a graphic novel project I have been developing has been accepted and is now being represented by a New York literary agency. I look forward to telling you more about this very soon. Below is a little teaser sample:
Object Design / Licensing
RITZENHOFF
will be unveiling two new cappuccino cups with saucers, which I designed, at the Ambiente trade show in Frankfurt (12th to16th February 2016).
Ambiente is the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair, which boasts a globally unrivalled range of products in the Dining, Giving and Living areas.
The cups will be available in retail stores world-wide and also in the Ritzenhoff online shop here: LINK
New Projects
I regularly consult as an artist and designer on projects where I am bound to contractual discretion. This means that I am not at liberty to display or reference my work in my portfolio, blog or newsletter even for self-promotional purposes. Nevertheless, without divulging any further information or details, I am thrilled to have worked on projects for the following new clients.
Logos
Mensa
, the international High IQ Society has awarded their 2017 International Board of Director’s meeting (IBD) to the town of Nice, France. Out of a selection of proposed graphic solutions, I am delighted that my design was chosen as the official logo and CI for the event. (Logo horizontal landscape version below)
Design for the new logo for WO magnetic water purification devices.
Character Design
One of the departments of the University of Bern in Switzerland commissioned me a while ago, to design a series of likeable bear characters that should also be appealing to children. I added some new bears to the ever-growing family in January.
Another fun character design project I have been involved in for a few years is this one for the company Si. I was originally tasked to take their existing “Pfiffikus” mascot and give him a more dynamic and modern appearance, all the while retaining his work clothes and color scheme.
Over the years, several poses and applications of the character have been created. All versions are created as fully-scalable 100% vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Labels / Packaging
I am currently designing a series of labels for exclusive, high quality oils and vinegars.
Leisure Projects
In-between projects or just to take a break (yes, I take breaks 😀), I like to relax doodling in my sketchbooks or on loose scraps of paper around my studio (or tablecloths or whatever I can get my hands on). Some of these scribbles end up on my Facebook and other social media. (Another favorite source of distraction) Links at the bottom of this e-mail. in case you feel like joining me.
Here is another personal, non-commissioned art project. A modern interpretation of a moon symbol. (digital print on canvas 80 cm x 60 cm)
Printed media
I recently received a package with my copies of the printed Digades Dfreeeze app brochure featuring a multi-page comic I drew. I am very pleased with the result. You can read the whole booklet here: LINK
I designed and implemented several catalogs and price lists for my very good customer Sanafort, a producer of high quality vital mushrooms, teas and health supplements. http://www.sanafort.ch
Video / YouTube
My latest video on my YouTube channel is of me drawing the little bird for the header of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy it. LINK
Well, that’s all for now. I hope one or the other item might have been of interest.
Can you believe that it’ November again? It seems like the months have just flown by since I last sat down to write you a few lines from my illustration studio.
I’ve been having a lot of fun doing freehand sketches between projects. Here are some glimpses into my sketchbooks and Moleskines.
I’ve been posting some of my doodles to my Facebook page and sometimes I also upload short videos of my sketching to my YouTube channel.
This year we created a 12 page comic which continues the adventures of the main protagonists, Michael, Anne, Stefan and Julia and their Dfreeeze car heater remote control application.
Regular client Sanafort AG (a renowned Swiss producer of natural Reishi mushroom and other tonic herbs and food supplements) needed website and newsletter graphics for Christmas and the New Year and to advertise upcoming product launches and promotions.
As always they allowed me a lot of creative freedom and I think the results are quite elegant.
My very good personal friend Helmi Sigg, Swiss actor, comedian, writer and renaissance man has partnered with STEINER Meats to create their own delicious Swiss-made twist on New York Style pastrami.
He entrusted me to create the logo for this culinary delight which is aptly named ‘Pastrelmi’ after it’s creator.
The last few weeks have been very exciting on a personal level, as we have been preparing for my first exhibition of original drawings in quite a while.
Over 60 pieces of artwork are on display in the exhibition, organized by the Association Artistique Monet at the Espace George Brassens in St Gely du Fesc (Montpellier).
I am exhibiting together with famous French cartoonist Ptiluc and two German artists, Heike Negenborn and Carmen Stahlschmidt.
It would be my pleasure to talk to you about any new projects you might have.
Please call me at +33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at [email protected] for a free consultation.
Welcome to my first newsletter of the year.In the past few months I have collaborated on various exciting projects, and welcomed new clients such as KHW, Ransom Publishing and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
Allow me to present a few brief highlights.
CURRENTLY ON MY DRAWING BOARDRight now I am working on a series of T-Shirt Designs for WWE WrestlerJohnny Mundo
(Previously known as John Morrison).
Here is a sneak peek of one of my sketches ‘hot out of the oven’.
My next e-mail will feature the finished, awesome Johnny Mundo designs.
PUBLISHINGI had the pleasure of illustrating a fun children’s picture book for Ransom Publishing called THE SECRET EGG by John Townsend.
I will place links in my blog when it is available for ordering.
PLEASE CLICK HERE for more of my art for Children and Young Adult Readers.
NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
I frequently contribute editorial illustrations to magazines and newspapers.Here is a drawing I created for an article about the city of Zürich for the NZZ am Sonntag. (Published Sunday March 8 2015)
Storyboard, illustrations and animatic animation for a brief video animation to be played language independently at trade shows and on-line.Client: KHW / Wüstenschlitten. Click here to see the video: https://youtu.be/UWKJrpV4eWA
I was invited by Cyril Schicker to create the artwork and flyer for an evening with Dirk Bernemann at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich.Cabaret Voltaire – Dada Haus – Spiegelgasse 1 – 8001 Zürich http://www.cabaretvoltaire.ch/
PRESS / LAST BUT NOT LEAST
I was delighted that French Entrée Magazine did an interview and feature on me, where I create my artwork and the region where I live (very rural but wonderful).
I am an independent illustrator, cartoonist, and designer and I also produce quality animation and whiteboard or animatic videos.I am available for new projects.
Ces derniers mois jai eu le plaisir de faire des illustrations pour plusieurs projets très intéressants et d’accueillir de nombreux nouveaux clients.
Parmi eux la maison d’édition Ransom, KHW et Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
Permettez moi de vous présenter quelques aperçus:
ACTUELLEMENT SUR MA TABLE DE DESSIN
Une série de dessins pour des tee shirt pour Johnny Mundo alias John Morrison, lutteur Américain professionnel de la WWE.
Vous trouverez ci dessous la première de trois esquisses prévues. Elles devraient être finalisées le mois prochain.
Scénario et Illustration
Pour Powerpoint et bande dessines imprimes pour support commercial.
Client: Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.LIEN Business Illustration
AFFICHES ET POSTERS
J’etais invité par Cyril Schicker pour dessiner l’illustration et l’affiche pour l’annonce d’une soirée avec Dirk Bernemann au Cabaret Voltaire; Maison Dada a Zurich:
J’ ai fait l’objet de quelques parutions de presse, internationale et locale, qui soulignent à la fois mon environnement local dans le village de Vacquières (Hérault 34) et mon activité artistique.
Interview with Illustrator Ian David Marsden in French Entrée Magazine Issue 108 , Jan/Feb 2015
Sylvia Davis from FrenchEntrée speaks with Ian David Marsden about living and working in the little wine village of Vacquières, in the Hérault region of the Languedoc-Roussillon. France.
Die 2 Monate seit meinem letzten Newsletter waren äusserst interessant und aktiv.
Ich hatte das grosse Vergnügen mehrere neue Kunden begrüssen zu dürfen und an diversen spannenden Projekten sowohl als Zeichner, wie auch mit Ideen und Kreativität beteiligt zu sein.
Hier sind einige ausgewählte Höhepunkte aus den letzten Wochen.
VERLAGE
Ich freue mich Richmond / Santillana als neuen Kunden zu begrüssen. Ich hatte die Gelegenheit eine Serie von Illustrationen für Lehrmittel zu zeichnen.
Mit grosser Freude darf ich ankündigen, dass ich ein sechstes Objekt mit der Unterschrift ‘Marsden‘ zur Design Kollektion von RITZENHOFF hinzufügen durfte. RITZENHOFF ist einer der führenden deutschen Produzenten für Trinkgläser.
Ein weiterer Neukunde über den ich mich sehr freue, ist digades.
Für eine tolle neue App die sich dfreeeze nennt, wurde ich beauftragt eine Serie von Illustrationen für Printwerbung und Plakate zu entwerfen. Mit dfreeeze kann man vom Smartphone aus die Standheizung im Auto fernsteuern.
Whiteboard Eklärvideos zur Werbekampagne die oben unter “Werbung” bereits erwähnt wurde.
Je ein Englisches und ein Deutsches Whiteboard Scribing Explainer Video für den Kunden digades und ihre dfreeeze App produziert. Auf eine verspielte aber doch elegante Art wird erklärt wie die App funktioniert.
Ein Projekt, wo es darum ging für GMX.net eine Reihe von animierten GIF Grusskarten zu entwerfen, hat sehr viel Spass gemacht. Die Sujets waren ‘Halloween‘, ‘Weihnachten‘ und ‘Silvester‘.
https://navigator.gmx.net/
(Sie brauchen ein GMX Benutzerkonto um die Karten zu sehen und zu verschicken)
PERSÖNLICHE PROJEKTE
Zu guter Letzt bin ich endlich auch wieder einmal dazu gekommen, in eigener Sache einige Tutorial Videos aufzunehmen, und auf meinen eigenen YouTube Kanal hochzuladen.
In den Videos spreche ich leider Englisch, aber ich denke für Leute die sich mit der Software auskennen ist es vielleicht trotzdem interessant meinem Arbeits-Prozess zu folgen.
Hiermit kommen wir zum Ende dieses neuesten Newsletter. Ich bedanke mich sehr für Ihr Interesse.
Ich bin ein unabhängiger und freischaffender Illustrator, Designer und Animator und ich bin für neue Projekte sehr gerne verfügbar.
Trotz meines englischen Namen und dem amerikanischem Slang in den Videos, spreche ich auch Deutsch und Schwiizerdütsch und ich freue mich von Ihnen zu hören. 🙂
The few months since my last update have been highly active and interesting.
I have had the pleasure of welcoming several new clients and collaborating, drawing and generally being creative on many fun new projects.
Here are a few brief highlights of what I have been up to.
PUBLISHING
I welcomed Richmond Publishing / Santillana as new clients and had the wonderful opportunity of creating a series of illustrations for educational materials.
I am very pleased to announce that I have added a 6th object bearing the Marsden signature to the Design Collection for renowned German glasswork manufacturer RITZENHOFF
My latest creation is a 50 clBeer Glassfeaturing a little Viking Character who appears to be quite ready for action (or at least ready for another refreshing pint).
Another new client I had the pleasure of welcoming is digades.
I was entrusted with the task of creating a series of illustrations for print ads and posters showing the efficiency and ease of use of their new dfreeeze app, with which you can remote control your car heater from your smart phone.
I also produced 2 Whiteboard Scribing videos in English and in German for the dfreeze product using the same characters and illustrations. (see below)
WHITEBOARD VIDEOS
English and German Language Whiteboard Scribing Explainer Video produced for digades and their dfreeeze app explain the dfreeeze app and how it works in a playful yet elegant way.
I had a lot of fun with this recent assignment for GMX.net, for which I was invited to design a series of animated GIF Greeting cards for various occasions such as Halloween, Christmas and the New Year.
Last but not least I was able to complete some personal projects and I created and uploaded some new tutorial videos for my own personal YouTube channel.
In this latest series of videos I show how I draw on my Wacom Cintiq pen display, which has become an invaluable tool for me, in Adobe Illustrator software.
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