Selfportrait
Aimee Mclachlan
I've been professional illustrator for about 4 years, an artist all my life. I usually get inspiration from life, especially life in London. People are my main interest I draw personality rather than physiques.
My drawings are quite angry, usually because I am, though not all of my illustrations, maybe I was in a better mood...
Collage like any collage you need a very sharp, clean knife. If it isn't, your material will tear. I photograph or source from magazines: skin tones (black heads, spots, wrinkles, scars), hair, teeth... etc. They have to be good quality prints (not Photoshopped to death). Then I use a Pritt stick to stick it down!
Oh, before all that I draw the image so I'm not wasting time finding things I won't need...
Then clean it up in Photoshop.
Line drawings I'm trying to push out are simply drawn with a dip pen and ink, using a mapping nib which gives a richer, less perfect line to a drawing. I find it takes forever to dry and more often than not I'll smudge it with my hand or elbow...
Photoshop is to rescue.
Influences: As I said before, the people of London. The rich the impoverished, the homeless, the obese, the insane, the brilliant... I can go on and on. I loathe and love the place. I've been the happiest and the most miserable here. Quite addictive in a way.
Influential artists: Otto Dix, Joel Peter Witkin, Bottero, Walton Ford, Honeysett, Norman Rockwell, Leni Riefenstahl, John Currin, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Paul Rand and da Vinci.
Pisces, John Smith, Tyson, Sprite
© Aimee Mclachlan
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© 2004 Aimee Mclachlan
Collage
Researching images
I mainly work for magazines, I wish i could say that I have time to research and make loads of roughs but the reality is editorial is too tight to mention. If you get 5 days its a luxury, any more its a miracle.
The hardest jobs I get are commissions about celebrities that haven't been in the lime light for a while. Researching images leads me too phoning fan clubs:
"Hi I'm a great fan of ... Johnny Vegas, Barbara Cartland etc.. I'd really like some photos sent to me... What, no don't e-mail can i have them posted? you only e-mail... Can it be Hi Res? Can I have it today? ... Hello?"
Or visiting Stringfellows: I just came out with it:
"Its for Loaded magazine... it shows Peter in a VERY good light..." Never the less I left empty handed, shouting through closed doors "I'll do it any way ...! He won't look as nice... Hello?... Oh please!."
Note: when dealing with any media folk: Don't show insecurity, never beg.
Selected Projects
© 2004 Aimee Mclachlan
Lady with dog (2003)
Sleazenation competition. Selected with 9 others as best up and coming artist.
Duke and the Vagabond (2004)
Mayfair. Yes Mayfair. Charming, friendly magazine - and they pay, on time too. Beautifully written short story, not a naked bod throughout.
Jay Adams (2004)
Adrenalin magazine. I feel there are few well designed, well written sports magazines out there Adrenalin and Bogey are the best- in the U.K. Thats my humble opinion. Jay Adams who popularised skateboarding in the 70's.
Bogey (2003)
Funnily I illustrated for both of these magazines... An article on Sporting cheats, the image is of the athelete Stella Walsh an incredible gold medalist, was shot dead by police attempting to rob a bank, was discovered to be a man by forensics.
Horoscopes: Ox (2004)
One of 24 images for Camera Press, regular and Chinese.
Bugger of Bow street (2003)
Large magazine, story written by the notorious Chopper Read (Mark Brendon Read).
Posh Spice (2004)
Sleazenation.
Lab magazine (2002)
One of three illustrations titled Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
Humpty Dumpty (2004)
A book which will be relaunched in September this year called "Heavy words lightly thrown" by Chris Roberts. Its about the history/origins of nursery rhymes. (Death, war, disease, scandal, politics).
Kitten soap advert (2000)
This was for Sleazenation magazine ages ago, I had time to do some roughs for this one.
Red or Dead (1995)
I graduated from fashion college and worked on a placement for Red or Dead producing loads of prints for a whopping £60 a week. Woo yeah. This was one of them.
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