Arrest All Mimics: The Original Thinking And Creative Innovation Podcast

Fiction, non-fiction, TV shows, film, stage or real life experiences at the pub. No matter the medium, we all love a good character. But what makes us engage with them? Why do we loathe a good movie villain? What makes us cry when we know a sad moment in a book is not real and what gives you the best chance of succeeding in the world of graphic novels? Author and artist Karen McLeod joins me to talk about her alter ego Barbara Brownskirt, who has a series of upcoming live shows and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall. She takes us along on a fascinating journey, which led to her sitting at the bus stop, reading the world’s worst poetry to anyone who’ll listen. Why is it important to understand the backstory of our creations in order to inform what the reader or viewer will see and how much of yourself should you use in character creation? This is a fascinating insight with much valuable advice for anyone interested in creating literary, audio or visual characters in all disciplines. Send us your character

Andy Council is a multi-disciplinary artist and illustrator. His iconic dinosaur and monsters, built from cityscapes and trash are full of life, energy and a dry humour.I meet Andy to discuss his roots, the origins of his creature creations and the Bristol creative scene. He has some hilarious tales of public interaction with his works, whilst out working live.We talk about the balance the range of digital and large scale works and the smell of Montana 94. Mmmmm.....Get us your thoughts on Twitter @arrestallmimics and don't forget to review the show on iTunes!http://www.andycouncil.co.uk/http://www.illustrationweb.com/artists/AndyCouncil/viewhttps://twitter.com/andycouncilhttps://www.instagram.com/andycouncil/https://www.facebook.com/AndyCouncilArt/

The work of Lucinda Rogers was pasted front and centre in my university workspace. Her expressive, loose reportage illustration left me in awe and eleven years after my graduation, she kindly gives me her time to hear her inspiring journey.We discuss drawing on location and the challenges, joys and oddities that come along with public working. Lucinda tells some great stories about working in new York City, Marakech and London.The importance of making sure we have great art directors and protecting London's creative scene are hot topics as one of the illustration industry's greats joins the show!Get us your thoughts and any of your own on location stories at @arrestallmimics on Twitter now!Episode 71 is supported by: http://illustrationweb.comhttp://heartinternet.co.ukhttp://printed.comShow notes:http://www.lucindarogers.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/Lucinda-Rogers-691769897581010/https://twitter.com/lucindadrawshttp://theaoi.com

Here are five things we learned about creativity from Stephen Bliss. Illustrator and artist Stephen Bliss moved to America to take on a job with Rockstar Games. Nobody could have envisioned the explosion of controversy that was the Grand Theft Auto video game series.  I met Stephen in Brooklyn to talk about his journey pre-Rockstar, how it felt to be the man behind the cult video game artwork, and his fascinating new direction since leaving the company.  New York City and its wealth of ripped subway posters have provided the basis for his stunning new large-scale originals and we talk about what it means to feed off the environment around you and why New York is so unique. Creating large-scale street art is something new to Stephen and we talk about breaking away from screens and how he's successfully transitioned to work on buildings. These are fascinating insights from a man who continues to set trends and move forward fast. http://stephenbliss.com https://illustrationx.com http://instagram.com/stephe

David Cohen, film director joins me to take us through The Lost Sands, his finalist movie in the Sci-fi London 48-hour film competition.See the film at: http://www.davidcohendirector.com/gallery-3/In a golden era of television and with mainstream movies reaching new levels of possibility, David pulls back the curtain to discuss what it takes to produce a film. He details the creative roles, what they mean and what is required of that person and the overall team.Set design, art-direction, direction of photography and sound are all covered and we talk about the advantages of disadvantage where budget and small crew numbers are concerned.This is must listen for anyone with aspirations of working in film.Get us your thoughts and own film production experiences over @arrestallmimics on Twitter.http://www.davidcohendirector.com/https://vimeo.com/davidcohendirector

Illustrator Sandra Dieckmann returns by popular demand to talk about her debut children's book, Leaf. The story is an incredibly moving and visually impactful tale of acceptance, understanding, alienation and empathy, published by Flying Eye Books.Sandra's stunning array of colours, warmth, detail and natural world are showcased in spectacular fashion as we follow the journey of a polar bear who one day arrives unexpectedly in the woods, facing distrust, fear and isolation from the residents. She joins me to talk about the process of getting the book published, how she created Leaf and what challenges came with writing the story, ahead of its imminent release.Sandra is much loved in the world of makers and illustration and her second outing on the show gives us more invaluable insights into those industries and children's publishing.This is must listen for anyone interested in children's literature and conveying an important message through their work.Get your thoughts over to @arrestallmimics on TwitterPre-o

Angela Morris-Winmill joins me to discuss her intriguing journey, switching from a successful career at the forefront of London high-street fashion, to working as an independent multi-disciplinary artist.Angela took bold steps in leaving the world of full-time employment to pursue her creative ambitions when the time was right. She talks about knowing when to make such a big change, the risks and challenges in doing so and how she went about making the leap.We also explore the idea that coming from a different background into the art world can be a huge advantage and how to recognise stand out skills leaned in employment. Angela's fusion of fashion, sculpture, painting and drawing has brought about unique results with a sexuality and character and we dissect the eyeballs, torso and anatomy of her brilliant work!Let us know if you'd like to switch from freelance to employment, vice versa or whether you have done so at @arrestallmimics on Twitter.http://www.angelamorriswinmill.com/https://twitter.com/sculptress

Pricey has been working as a photographer at Arsenal Football Club since 2002. He works in many areas of the club, for both the women and men’s teams and on the media side of the game. Self-taught, he worked his way up the ranks, beginning with a trainee role at Colorsport. For a man who admits he never really harbored any serious creative aspirations, his portfolio of football photography is second to none and loved by Arsenal and football fans globally. We discuss the lessons he’s learned along the way, the magic of the moment, the crucial balance of instinct and technical ability and why former goalkeeper Jens Lehman now refuses to play in goals! Let us know if you’re self-taught and favourite sporting photograph @arrestallmimics on Twitter.https://twitter.com/priceyd101http://arsenal.com

The transition from education to the harsh environment of the 21st century creative industry is not an easy one. Few of us know where we want to go or how to get there, even if we do.Hazel Mead, 3rd year illustration and fine art student at the University of Coventry details the experience, how she’s starting to build bridges into industry, hopes, fears and dreams. The lack of guidance upon entering the industry can be a culture shock and we discuss ways to help your self, make those crucial early connections and more.Get your experiences and thoughts over on Twitter @arrestallmimicshttp://hazelmead.wixsite.com/artisthttps://twitter.com/HazelMeadArthttps://www.instagram.com/hazel.mead/Graduate portfolio/support site: https://www.artsthread.com/

Paul Shipper’s stunning film and TV artwork began with movie posters on a bedroom wall and inspiring trips to the video library in Manchester. His contemporary twist on a classic era of movie posters has earned him a following comprised of both cinema fans and industry icons alike.He joins me to discuss the journey, from being wowed by the artwork from such timeless films as Star Wars and Indiana Jones as a boy to joining Simon Pegg for movie premieres! Paul and I also discuss why digital is not a dirty word, his wonderful Carrie Fisher tribute illustration for Empire and upcoming Star Wars work.Get us your feedback over @arrestallmimics on Twitter.http://paulshipperstudio.com/https://twitter.com/paulshipperhttps://www.instagram.com/paulshipper/https://www.facebook.com/paulshipperstudio

Welcome to Slayzytown, where ice cream eyes and inverted pop culture characters are the tip of the ice berg. I meet the south London street artist and illustrator to talk about the weird, wonderful world he creates.How does a modern artist try to make a living whilst staying true to the world they wish to create? Slayzy talks about galleries, prints, sharing the inside of his lively mind with fans of his work and influences from the world of Japanese animation among many others.Come with us on a tour of the town he runs, where anything is possible if you can just pour your mind into a cone and stick a flake in it. Enjoy your stay!Get your Slayzytown experiences to us at @arrestallmimics on Twitterhttps://www.instagram.com/slayzy/http://slayzytown.bigcartel.com/https://twitter.com/slayzytown

Smart Up Visuals are a visual storytelling agency. The trio of Kristina, Lina and Karina turn words into illustrated stories and join me to share their inspiring story. We discuss the origins of their graphic scribing, which is often carried out live at conferences, events and in animated videos.How do they manage the pressure of working in front of large audiences, with no margin for error and how have they managed to work with such clients as LinkedIn,Ted x and BBC?We also talk about tapping into your instinct and learning to trust where it might take you in the creative world.Get us your thoughts over on Twitter @arrestalmimics!

There are few styles as immediately recognisable as the digital portraits of Stanley Chow. The Manchester raised and based illustrator is globally recognised as a heavyweight in the illustration industry, his work being seen regularly in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Nike, WWE and Wired among many other high profile places.Stanley shares the inside story of his success from the roots of his skills, humbly beginning drawing on chip paper at his parents' chip shop, using biro pens to tales of first being in trouble with The White Stripes, then working with them, a job that would play a big part in the launch of his career.How does he go about fighting the fact that his work is one of the most mimicked and parodied in the world? We talk about his work blowing up, how he keeps himself hungry and why he continues to create heartfelt personal projects.Get your feedback over on @arrestallmimics on Twitter now!http://www.stanleychowillustration.com/http://stanleychowfc.bigcartel.com/http://www.thestanleychowpri

Kerry Hyndman has just won the Blue Peter Book Award for 'best book with facts.'The London based illustrator has brought to life David Long's 'Survivors: Extraordinary tales from the wild and beyond' with her stunning full colour illustrations for Faber & Faber. I catch up with Kerry to talk about the experience of bringing to life such an original children's book with often graphic tales of human endurance.With a narrative so powerful and evocative that the imagination of young people will likely be consumed by larger than life stories, how did Kerry tackle such a creative brief with her predominantly digital style of image making? Kerry shares an encouraging tale of arriving in the world of illustration via a fine art degree, working with publishers Faber & Faber and discusses her map illustration work. Join us in quite possibly the first podcast to be recorded in the turret of a library building...Get your thoughts over to @arrestallmimics on Twitterhttp://www.kerryhyndman.co.uk/http://www.kerryhy

In the second part of the mental health and creativity special, I'm talking to a range of people in the arts about what their creativity provides on a more human level. We're dropping the client lists, the awards and the shiny Instagram profiles and exploring the mind and soul, how it can be enriched by the act of creating something from nothing.I'm joined by Illustrator Malika Favre, musician, DJ, producer Dirty Freud, painter Ray Richardson, poet Mark Mace Smith, artist Angela Morris-Winmill and two-piece hard rock band The Hyena Kill.Please share your thoughts on the show at @arrestallmimics and tell us about your thoughts on the matter, or experiences. It's a big one for open discussion, we need to get this conversation loud and roaring.http://malikafavre.com/http://www.rayrichardson.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/citizenmacepoethttp://www.angelamorriswinmill.com/https://www.facebook.com/DirtyFreud/http://thehyenakill.com

On a very broad scale, we all suffer the down sides of being, in the words of illustrator Ste Johnson, the only animal on the planet with the power to introspect and think this way, don't we? Whether it is depression and unhappiness, or simply occasional insecurity and anxiety, as human beings, life can sometimes give us a rough ride. But what role can creativity play in preventing, alleviating, coping with or channeling negative emotions?A few years ago I came across CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, a brilliant charity who use the arts in their work to prevent suicide, the single biggest killer of young men in the UK.In part one of this two-part special, I'll be chatting to Paul Shiels from CALM about some of the issues associated with masculinity and male stigmas that have transcended generations. Three times as many men take their own lives than women and I wanted to explore my own belief that creativity can be a crucial asset in fighting this problem.I'm also joined by illustrators Danny Allis

Would it be fair to say that every creative professional, beginner, student or casual ink head has at some stage struggled to settle on a style? Do we even have to? Why is that so frustrating? Willkay Oddking is a broadly skilled artist, designer and illustrator working with the likes of Adidas, G-Star Raw, Converse, BBC and under his own Oddkingdom brand.Will joins me at my studio to talk about his versatility and why he's content operating as something of a creative chameleon right now, until a style grabs him and screams 'settle on me!!!.' We talk about London as a creative city, the balance between his work as a graphic designer, illustrator and live artist and where he'd like to head. This is one show for those who have not yet found confidence in the direction they are heading and offers a nice alternative to working in the creative industries with a signature visual identity.Get your feedback over on @arrestallmimics on Twitter!https://www.oddkingdom.com/https://twitter.com/willkay_oddkinghttps://www.i

I'm kindly invited to illustrator What Katie Drew's studio where as you'd hope, sits a desk smothered in incidental ink splats, chance smudges, marks and some smirk raising doodles. With a truly humorously naive, organic style, I talk to Katie about the evolution of it and a journey via the world of advertising. We discuss how time out and a look into other disciplines can help in the long run, why a talented network can be crucial and Katie's strong presentation of her work.Moving image is becoming more and more ingrained in our daily lives, the way we digest our information and I talk to Katie about her stunning animated RSA short film collaboration with George The Poet. She also tells me why 5am is a slice of horror in her world right now and how motherhood can impact a freelance creative journey.This is a fascinating insight into one of the most deceptively simple, yet powerful styles in the game and the lady behind it. Get your thoughts over on Twitter @arrestallmimics now!http://whatkatiedrew.com/intro/

What makes a strong portrait? Stylistically, it's wide open to the viewer's taste and use in context. But what is the essence of a great artistic representation of a human being? I'm joined by Beka Smith to discuss personalities, eccentricity, warmth, the importance of how others perceive the subject and other variable factors to consider when creating a portrait.Beka is a London based portrait artist who's work has been seen in the BP Portrait Award and on Sky TV's Portrait Artist of the Year show. After an uncertain start, trying to work out a creative career path that felt right for her, she found her way into portrait art in an unconventional way, picking up some hilarious and touching stories en route.We discuss how she attains portrait commissions and the many, many things that a portrait artist has to go through!http://www.bekasmith.com/ - Beka's official sitehttps://twitter.com/BekaSmithArt - Beka on Twitterhttp://instagram.com/bekasmithart - Beka on Instagram

I head to the Design Week office in central London to talk to editor, Tom Banks about the brilliant Age Of Design project. Design is now a key driver for businesses and organisations looking to innovate, differentiate themselves from competitors and get closer to their users.But what do these organisations mean by design and how are they using it?Throughout the Age of Design project, we will investigate a series of key case studies of businesses using innovative design – from public sector organisations looking to improve their customers’ experiences to car companies using design to innovate and prepare for the future.Our panel of design experts will provide commentary and analysis and consider how design thinking could shape our future experiences.We will aim to analyse, explain and celebrate the design’s power to change, shape and improve organisations.Welcome to the Age of Design.How do you integrate design throughout your creative business? Get your feedback over to @arrestallmimics on Twitter!https://age