17 October 2011

Alain Rolland Cut Out And Wear Mask!

This is for anyone with an interest (or at least did have) in the Rugby World Cup 2011. Print it, cut it out, slap it on your face and do your best to spoil everyone's day/week/year/life! Guaranteed to upset at least 3 million people!

14 October 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 - Semi Final Weekend!

It's almost here! The semi final's of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Wales are in the semi finals for the first time since 1987. They are up against France who have had a bit of a mixed competition, with a couple of losses but also a few wins. Wales will have their work cut out to beat the French as they are a team never to be written off. It all depends what French team turn up, although I am confident of a Welsh victory as Wales are playing so well that it's surely their game to lose! 
New Zealand vs Australia is a bit of a guess at this stage of the competition. NZ have been consistently number one in the World for a reason, but the Aussies are always a danger. Local derby's don't come much bigger than this!
To celebrate the wonderful weekend of rugby I've added a few illustrations from my iStock portfolio below. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think.

Wales vs France - Saturday 15th October

New Zealand vs Australia - Sunday 16th October


PS...Come on Wales!

10 October 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 - Wales are on FIRE!

I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong! Wales are the best team in this competition and time will tell whether they can go all the way and deservedly win the World Cup! I will be watching this Saturday's semi final against France with a mixture of excitement and expectation. I truly believe we can do it! Come on Wales...!


PS This image is available for purchase on my iStock portfolio.

04 October 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 Quarter Finals!

The quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup 2011 are almost upon us! The competition in New Zealand has been fantastic so far, and there are several teams in real contention for the title. I have several rugby themed illustrations in my iStock portfolio that can be purchased for reasonably small amounts of money. I will post a few select rugby related images over the next few weeks for all you fans of the rough and tough egg chasing sport called rugby!

Here's the line up for the quarter finals...(come on Wales!!!)

Ireland vs Wales - Saturday October 08th


England vs France - Saturday October 08th


South Africa vs Australia - Sunday October 09th

 
New Zealand vs Argentina - Sunday October 09th


As usual let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy the rest of the competition!

20 September 2011

Rambutan - St Pancras Hotel 'Thank You' Card

I've recently been working with a great company based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The company is called Rambutan, and we have just finished a project together designing a 'Thank You' greetings card for a client of theirs.

I created the image on the front of the card, which depicts the St Pancras Hotel in that there London town. If you've ever seen the place then you will know that the building is a real beauty! Very cool place and a piece of architectural brilliance. One thing it's not is simple, yet the style needed to be quite simplistic (fairly different to how I normally work).

The images below show the vector design as I created it in Illustrator, and also a photo showing the card after it has been printed.


As usual I would love to hear your comments. Cheers!

16 September 2011

Chiropractor Graph Design

Just created a graph for Matt Sutton (www.suttonchiro.co.uk). Matt is a fantastic chiropractor, and he has come up with this idea of a graph as a visual aid for his patients. The image is designed to explain the process of treatment a patient can expect when using a chiropractor. It would actually work for most practitioners in a similar field of patient care I imagine.
Hopefully it's quite self explanatory, but does make perfect sense if you've ever had any treatment from a chiropractor or similar health professional. Would be interested to know what you think, so let me know by leaving a comment!

14 September 2011

Promoting the new HR and Training division for Vanilla Recruitment

Just had these postcard sized designs printed on behalf of Vanilla Recruitment, based in Market Harborough. They were needed to promote their new HR and Training division, and designed to look like a note on a pin board (I hope that's obvious!)


13 September 2011

Warning Zone - New Frog characters created!

I have recently created a couple of new frog character designs on behalf of Warning Zone who are based on Frog Island in Leicester. A detective type frog was needed and also a version of the original frog (see this post for details) for use on a Christmas invitation.


I created a couple of sketches for the detective and then several slight variations during the vector stage of artwork. The frog above is the final version and the images below show the sketches and the vector varieties.





Below is the final version of the frog in a Christmas scene looking festive and jolly!

Let me know what you think and please feel free to  get in touch if you would like to discuss any artwork you may need creating. Call me on 01858 462779 or email me at nathan@antcreations.co.uk

Calling all Market Harborough and LE16 Creatives! Do you feel the need to network?

I'm currently looking into the possibility of starting some sort of networking group for creatives specifically from the Market Harborough and LE16 areas. Maybe getting together on perhaps a monthly basis but mainly communicating via groups on perhaps Facebook or LinkedIn (?)

I'm trying to find whether there is enough interest from people who consider their job, business or professional ambition to be referred to as creative. I'm thinking designers, illustrators, artists, writers etc. but I am really quite open to what others consider creative. All I am asking is that people have a professional viewpoint when considering their own creative skills. I'm not interested in coffee and biscuits and talking about art, but a professional group of individuals who want to help and inspire one another to be more successful in their chosen creative fields.

If anyone would like to discuss the possibility further. then please visit my Facebook page and join the discussion. I would be very interested to know anyone's thoughts.

12 September 2011

The Happy Face of Ant Creations Facebook Page

If you haven't yet visited the Ant Creations Facebook page then here's your chance! You can visit my FB page at http://www.facebook.com/AntCreations.co.uk. You will be warmly welcomed by the happy green frog pictured above, and while your there it would be absolutely fab if you 'liked' the page too! Cheers and enjoy!

Langton Brewery 'Scarecrow' Beer Label for Lubenham Scarecrow Weekend

The Lubenham Scarecrow Festival was held over the weekend and this year a little bit of my artwork was on display! This is the latest design for a pump clip and beer label for a regular client of mine the Langton Brewery. The beer is called 'Scarecrow' and was created especially for the event. Here is the design that appears on the bottles and also the pump clip which is clipped to the pump on the bar advertising the beer...


If you were there then I hope you had a great time and sampled the fine ale! Cheers!

24 August 2011

Vanilla Magazine Online Now!



Here are some online magazines I create on a quarterly basis for Vanilla Recruitment. The latest edition above is the Summer 2011 issue and the one below is the Spring 2011 issue.

If you have five minutes spare take a look, have a read and let me know what you think.




 

17 August 2011

A little emailer I created for Vanilla Recruitment

A simple little mailer created for Vanilla Recruitment to promote a recent press release. You can visit the page that shows the full mailer by clicking here.

The mailer was sent through Mail Chimp which I have only recently started using. Great site and system in case anybody is looking for a way to send emailed info, newsletters etc.

01 August 2011

Warning Zone - Frog gets the 'Graffiti' treatment

The frog I designed for Warning Zone earlier in the year (see here) has been given the 'graffiti' treatment. The company who actually sprayed the artwork on the wall are called Urban Canvas and they've done a great job! (Their site link www.urbancanvas.co.uk)
He now appears proudly outside their building at 30 Frog Island in Leicester. Check it out if you're driving by or check out Warning Zone's website at www.warningzone.org.uk

26 July 2011

New Logo for National Link Couriers

I have recently been working with National Link Couriers to help re-brand their business. They are a same day courier service operating in the Northamptonshire area. They have been in business for over twenty years and have decided that their logo and branding needed an overhaul. This is the final result...


The red and black colour scheme has been carried over from the initial logo and general company branding to add some continuity to the changes. The logo needed to convey a feeling of friendliness but also the simple message that your parcels will be delivered quickly.
We tried various solutions before settling on the cartoon type man. I have designed him to be usable as a stand alone icon, so here he is without the text...

Feel free to let me know what you think. If you need any more information please get in touch on 01858 462 779 or email nathan@antcreations.co.uk

19 July 2011

Several Simple Slideshow Illustrations

Here are a few of the illustrations I recently created for RS Components.
The cartoons were to appear on a company Powerpoint presentation and therefore needed to be simple and convey the relevant message quickly.
There were 12 in total, but the others were quite personal in their content so I have only added these four.



Feel free to comment and let me know what you think or get in touch via email at nathan@antcreations.co.uk or call 01858 462779

14 June 2011

My Great New Vector Themed Tattoo!

I thought I would share this with the world after I decided to prove my love of all things vector by getting a tattoo!

I've been working with vectors for many, many years now and therefore decided to prove my love for vector artwork by dedicating the inside of my right forearm to this little design I 'knocked up'.


Any vector enthusiasts out there will no doubt recognise the pen tool icon from Adobe Illustrator. To fully personalise the tattoo I added a little 'smiley' face complete with vector style points and beziers to symbolise the last joy filled decade or so of my life.

Feel free to let me know what you think...and yes I do realise this ink will be with me for life. I am obviously a fan of tattoo's and this one is meant to represent a great chapter of my life. That will never change and I am very happy to be reminded of it on a daily basis!

17 March 2011

Nelson Skate and BMX Jam Logos, Posters, Flyers and More!

I created these logo's, promotional posters and flyers a little while back. It's taken me this long to get them on the blog because to be honest I forgot all about them!
I did however really enjoy creating this artwork. The world of skating and bmxing is full of great images, illustrations and designs! This artwork was created to promote Nelson Skate and BMX Jam which is a day of fun and competition held in Nelson Skate Park in South Wales every year. A logo was required that represented the skate and bmx scene and would be useable year after year that would be changeable whilst keeping it's overall identity.
This is the logo I created for the 2009 competition and also the 2010 event. The different colour schemes and date show how it is adaptable and unique every year.


10 March 2011

Warning Zone - Their Frog on my Blog

Warning Zone are a company based on Frog Island in Leicester. Due to the great name of their location it was decided to promote the business by using a frog character as a bit of a company mascot. The frog will be used in numerous places but especially on the website and in particular the blog which is aptly named 'The blog on the Frog'. A brand new happy frog character was therefore required to fulfill his promotional duties.
The frog needed to be a typical green frog that can be found anywhere in the UK. He needed to convey a positive persona without being too silly but also not too serious. A fun frog but not necessarily a funny frog. The initial design is of the frog sitting on a rock or a very small island (a frog island)! At a later date the character will also be developed further to incorporate different poses and props.  Here is the final full coloured result for the initial frog pose...

04 March 2011

Mutt on the Move! Dog on the Door!!

It's another Healthy Mutt blog posting! That fab company from Orange County in California who supply all manner of healthy and ethical treats for dogs.
We all know dogs love hanging out of a moving car window and so I designed several variations that were considered as possible window mutts!
This is the mutt as he appears on his truck window advertising the company website and the alternative window woofers!

28 February 2011

Happy Rabbit in a Hole

This is the latest creation for Rabbit Rooter based in Pennsylvania.
The character has been created to promote the drainage business and will appear in many forms to market the company including truck wraps! I will hopefully get some pics to post at a later date.

24 February 2011

Lucky Langton Pump Clip!

This is the latest design for a pump clip for a regular client of mine the Langton Brewery.
The beer is called 'Farrier' and is available in many pubs throughout the area.
Here is the design you'll see clipped to the pump on the bar advertising the beer...

23 February 2011

Vanilla Magazine - First Edition is Online NOW!!!

The very first edition of the Vanilla Magazine is now online!
I create all the design and branding for Vanilla but this is the first time I've created an online magazine. Vanilla Recruitment is a great company based in Market Harborough in Leicestershire, UK.
Below is the first edition of the new quarterly magazine designed to promote the company whilst offering some really useful news, hints, tips and advice from the world of employment, HR and business in general. If you have five minutes to spare have a look through and let me know what you think.



If you would like to subscribe and receive the Vanilla Magazine on a quarterly basis please go to the Vanilla subscribe page.

22 February 2011

Super Duper Bumper Boats!

The new logo I recently created for Bumper Boats (www.bumperboats.co.uk)
They are a company providing inflatable boats in an enclosed water filled pool for events and fetes etc. Great fun for kids to get in the boats and bump each other to their hearts content!
A fun logo was required showing a couple of boat characters post bump! It needed to show the splashing water and also be vibrant yet friendly. The logo will be used on all the usual including t-shirts and advertising materials!

Here is the final result...

21 January 2011

The Healthy Mutt - Coconut Oil Label Design

I recently designed a label for The Healthy Mutt. They are a great company based in Orange County, California who specialise in natural products for dogs.
They needed a label for their Coconut Oil created especially for canines! Here is the final result...


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Cheers from Nathan