About the artist:
dave mckean____
born in 1963-Taplow, Berkshire
>British
>currently lives in Surrey, England with partner, Clare
>mixed-media artist
>studied design, illustration, and film-Berkshire Collage of Art and design
>published 2 comics
-Violent Cases published in 1987 -won 3 Eagle and Mekon awards
-Black Orchid published in 1988 –nominated for Eiser and Harvey award
>written and performed music soundtracks for TV commercials
>Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1986
>produced many c.d. and book covers
>film production designs
>theatrical sets
Bio: ………..dave mckean
“Dave Mckean has gone beyond the traditional boundaries of comic art with dazzlingly beautiful mixed media
images”. He has a great sensitivity to the images he works with. He is a true artist because of his ability to work
with such a diverse
group of artists and authors. He brings more than just an amazing image to the
eye, he also tells a story with almost every piece he does.
The point in Dave’s career where he began to take off, happened when he made
the 500 page comic book, Cages. He shortly became the favorite comic artist
with his endless amounts of talent.
The day I swapped my dad for two goldfish
Awards__________
1991
>Amid Award –best album cover of the year
>World Fantasy Award-for his Sandman covers
>Awards for his comics and graphics albums
1992
-Violent Cases
-Signal to Noise
-Mr. Punch
-Cages- 500pg comic novel
1987
1991
Dave McKean & Neil Gaiman
together they published comics:
-Violent Cases
-Black Orchid
-Signal to Noise- story in The Face magazine
-Black cocktail- illustrated novel by Jonathan
Carroll
Illustrated/designed/photographed:
Tori Amos
God- mixes
Earthworks/apart and yet apart
>Michael Nyman
>Alice Cooper
>Rolling Stones
>Front Line Assembly
>Buckethead
>Tori Amos
>Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Dave’s variety in media
>line-art
>painting
>digital manipulation
>typography
>commercial art
>photo illustration
>filmmaking
>graphic design
>fine art
title: counting crows/this desert life/additional art (8)
-This shows good
composition and tension
between the two hands.
-interesting contrast
between the outline of
one hand and the other
hand being more 2d.
mckean
title: Dali’s dilema/manifesto for futurism
-this composition keeps the eye active
because of the direction of the hands
onto the typewriter then up and
around to the top of the paper.
mckean
title: lovers
-So much of his work consists of
complex images.
-This one is interesting because it is
simpler than most of his work, but
gives an intimate and mysterious
look at the same time.
mckean
title: the new yorker/unidentified illustration
-Different layers of
photographs and
newspaper collage
-shape of his shoulders
brings your eye to a
vanishing point that ends
up being in center of his
head.
mckean
title: space
-this composition is
interesting because
of the shape the
figure makes as well
as the negative
space around it.
mckean
title: time
-Simple and calming
-Contrast between the statue’s static
pose and coldness and the warm
and natural form of the branches
that reach out to the sky.
- Showing all sky in background and
angle-like statue gives the
connection to how time is precious
and eternal.
mckean
title: comics journal #196 cover
-sketch at the bottom
right with the comic
text is good contrast
for the tight and
more detailed design
in the upper left
mckean
title: mullmuzzler 2
-I like the black and white
sketch-like design with
the use of minimal color
-Interesting line that
moves across the girl over
his back, down his arms,
into his hands, which
brings you to the heartlike image that he’s
holding.
mckean
title: moon 2
-Dark and mysterious
-Interesting to see the shape of her
pregnant stomach mimicked in the
cut out impression which represents
the moon.
mckean
Black and White Lies
Bibliography:
http://www.lambiek.net/mckean_dave.htm
http://www.dreamline.nu/about/?view=bios
http://www.dreamline.nu/about