This project is a labour of love.
I have been writing a novel called BAT SNAKE RAT. I plan to combine my love of writing with my graphic design skills to create a graphic novel. Not a comic book- more like a storey told via the medium of graphics/illustration
This work represents about 10% of the final product, this is the foundation, how I got started doing the artwork for my novel. I chose the RAT protagonist, as I felt this was the easiest route into this massive body of work.
So if you like it, there is 9x more coming soon.
My main task, was to reinvent the traditional novel. By any means necessary
So lets jump in.
FRONT COVER FOR RAT NOVELLA
TITLE PAGE
dedicated to my Best friend and some dudes i hang with
CONTENTS PAGE
I wanted to hybrid analogue with digital. Hand script VS hard font. Lo-fi VS technology. This juxtaposition of visuals is meant to reflect the nature of the narrative.
Surgeon general health warning
The first full page illustration. This is a portrait of the main character Hesh Workman. Also known as RAT.
THE FIRST SCROLL - KRANK PIPE
As the novel is designed for use on full colour tablet devices, i designed this part almost like a long web page that the user will scroll through. In the final copy i plan to have animated elements to distract and exite the reader.
I want some of the typography to sometimes be hard to read. This was from my Brion Gysin / William Burroughs influence
practive safe sex kids.
I didn’t want to have a straightforward graphical style. I chose to swallow as many influences, mediums and methods as possible. Build an anti style using many styles.
Keeps the reader on their toes. Be true to the character by being unpredictable.
SCROLL 2- SUBTERRANEAN TERRARIUM
This is a tattoo done on pigs skin. The most exotic of all the materials i used.
SCROLL 3- YOUNG TEAM
Sometimes the inspiration fell straight into my lap.
SCROLL 3- TEST SUBJECT
MMM.... LETRASET!
The grim reaper is represented as a savage CAT in the novel
PACK PAGE
I created some merchandise, this is just a taster, I have some truly unique ideas prepared for the final novel. My idea is – the novel exists as both digital and analogue components. A thick coffee table art book will be realised alongside the electric novel. Both books can be used in tandem to get the full experience.
I imagine the paper book coming with lots of tangible goodies to pull the writer further into the world I have created.
Legal amphetamine salvia concentrate – brings dizzying energy boost and a short-term hallucinogenic episode. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Okay for RAT consumption.
Twin lighters for the midnight tokers. I made two because you know your mate will steal one.
sticker sheets, so the fans can spread the message for me.
A TOY
There will be more of these to come. For each character there will be a different collectable action figure. All 3 have their own materials/style. For the RAT this toy is cobbled together from broken bits of toy I found at a car boot sale, then spray-painted white with marker pen drawn on details.
This is a short film that documents my thought process, art process, writing process and general direction.
This is the next part of the project. Now that ACT1 RAT is almost complete, I have started work on ACT1 BAT. Keep your eyes open for that one. Its going to be nothing like the project here.
Over all I am happy with the outcome of the project. I feel because have started the foundation for this massive project, it no longer feels so intimidating.
FOR SALE SOON.
