#jimmyturrell

STEVE STACEY x JIMMY TURRELL x BECK 

Steve Stacey collaborated with Jimmy Turrell to co-create the artwork for Beck's forthcoming album Colors (released on Capitol Records this October).

The inner package design features photography from our own Eliot Lee Hazel

Jimmy's determination is inspiring. He described his long, hard road to success where he was honest in telling us how often he had stubbled down. Jimmy studied Graphic Design and Illustration at LJMU and years later went onto doing a MA in illustration at CSM. When he left LJMU he found it a struggle to find work and left for London. He began by doing small jobs given by friends and lost a potential break-through in doing an album cover for Prodigy. Nonetheless his love for design made him determined to continue to seek work in this field. Finally he got a break-through and from there clients came pouring in. He got himself an agent which helped him make his practise more professional and price his work fairer.

What I like most about his work is the use of mixed media. I myself have been stuck between Graphics and Illustration but Jimmy has found a way to do both. He collects tones of collage materials all of which are organised neatly so when he gets a new project he knows where to find the images he wants. Organisation is key to a successful design business he said but doesnt mean you have to be clinical about it!  

- http://www.jimmyturrell.com

Yellowwire by Starlife by Jimmy Turrell and Marcus Lyall. A excellent example of his use of collage and craftsmanship. 

This guest talk from Jimmy Turrell went by very quickly because it was so enjoyable listening to him talk and seeing the things that he had produced. I found it so refreshing hearing him talk about his handcrafted practice and knowing that you can still earn money doing what you love without having to be an expert on computers! He talked to us about his background, growing up in an urban scene, 'the biker well' in Newcastle he showed us images of the strange architecture  layout and colours of the buildings he grew up by. It was obvious as he himself pointed out that he was 'influenced by the surrounding primary colours'. The architecture and whole feel of the place was quite futuristic in a way which later tied in with this style, as he deliberately modernized all old footage, photographs and traditional practice  He also told us about being mesmerized by his dads record collection as a child and that the fluorescent colours and detailed almost modern illustrations had always stuck with him.  

He told us a bit more using examples of his style and explained that he loves traditional practices such as collage, painting and screenprint which was so inspiring to hear from a successful illustrator and filled me with hope for the future as I also love using tghese processes. At this point also he admitted he is awful at using computers and that in a way its actually improved his practice by becoming expert in his field and that we too should 'let your weakness' guide you' in this way.