Blazing fruit

Two Step

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for Two Step, a short story by Maile Meloy from a new collection called Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. “I wanted to write about love and adultery in such a way that the nature of the story changes, as you read it,” she told Prospect, “in which the power shifts among the characters and what you understand about them turns, and turns again.”

Maile Meloy’s first novel, Liars and Saints was shortlisted for the 2005 Orange prize. She is also the author of the novel A Family Daughter and the short story collection Half in Love. Her stories have been published in the New Yorker, Granta, Prospect and other publications. In 2007, she was named one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists. Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It (to be published by Canongate in March) was selected as one of the New York Times Book Review’s Ten Best Books of 2009. She lives in Los Angeles.

Art direction by David Killen.

Lead your pack

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:06:00 +0000

On the field or in the office, you need to get the best from your team. Men's Fitness magazine asked England rugby union captain Steve Borthwick to share his expert advice. "Any team is home to a number of very different personalities, and as captain your responsibility is to get to know each man personally so that you can manage them individually and as part of the team," says Borthwick. For this double spread I've illustrated a range of locker room personalities: the prima donna, the nervous newcomer, the jaded veteran, the volcano, the mistake maker ...

Art direction by Donovan Walker.

The Not-Dead and the Saved

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for a poignant, thought-provoking story by Kate Clanchy about parental love and sacrifice in a hospital ward. The Not-Dead and The Saved has been awarded this year's V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize and the BBC National Short Story Award.

Clanchy's story has been praised for its "rich lyricism" and "deeply affecting style ... an account of a deeply painful experience" that becomes "richer on every re-reading." Critics were impressed by its "acute control of emotional tone and by the vividness and generosity of the writing." Listen to Penelope Wilton reading the story here.

Kate Clanchy was born in Glasgow in 1965 and educated in Edinburgh and Oxford. She currently lives in Oxford where she now works as a teacher, journalist and freelance writer.

Art direction by David Killen.

Push

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:35:00 +0000

Chicago magazine commissioned this artwork for a diary page called Push: One Chicagoan's 40-week Stumble into Fatherhood. It's a portrait of the writer and his wife, whose pregnant dreams play out like Bunuel films on three hits of acid. House-sitting a talking cockatoo, rabbit and dog, swimming in green Jell-O . . .

Art direction by Kim Thornton.

Taming the banks

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:34:00 +0000

Adair Turner, chairman of the FSA, answers a group of leading financial analysts in this month's Prospect magazine, calling for greater vigilance from big investors, global agreements that regulate financial insiders and a recalibration of moral values for the world's biggest industry.

Art direction: David Killen; inspiration: Gustav Moreau.

Haunted

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for Haunted, a memoir by Kamran Nazeer. His best friend Ben killed himself but then continued to make appearances. Kamran doesn't believe in ghosts or life after death, but he wants Ben to go.

Art direction by David Killen.

Don't Panic!

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Poker Player magazine commissioned this portrait of columnist Nick Wealthall (in the style of Lance-Corporal Jones) about the importance of keeping calm under pressure. Against all odds Nick holds up the six clubs for a winning straight.

Magic

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Magic is a short story by Carlo Gébler about a persistent drug trafficker serving time for his offences. Gébler was born in Dublin in 1954 and has taught at Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and HMP Maghaberry, where he has been writer in residence since 1997. He is "drawn to conflict as a writer, and you’ll find there is no greater crucible of conflict than a prison.”

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

Living Arrangements

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Living Arrangements is a new short story by Alistair Morgan about a woman who discovers an uninvited guest in her home. The author was inspired by two incidents. The first was "a news story about a man in Japan who discovered a woman secretly living in his apartment. He found her by setting up cameras after noticing his food was disappearing. The second was last year’s outbreak of violence in South Africa. Immigrants from neighbouring countries were attacked and killed after being accused of stealing local jobs."

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

The BMX Bandit

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:47:00 +0000

From a distance, people often think there's something seriously wrong with Benjamin's face. It's only when they get up close, and look past the baggy jeans, hooded top, and low-slung BMX, that they realise he's 43. Benjamin works for a design agency in East London and carries a record bag. He rides on the pavement, and if people get in his way he'll shout something like “gnarly!” or “yo!” At the weekends, Benjamin and his friend Jeremy used to like going to London's South Bank, to hang out with teenage skateboarders. They haven't been for a while, though, ever since Jeremy caught a gnarly air and wiped out, big-time. The doctors say he might need a new hip.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

The Urban Speedster

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Clive has a pink, all-in-one lycra leotard, and doesn't see why he ought to be ashamed about that. His bicycle cost many thousands of pounds, and is made of the same sort of stuff as badminton racquets. Clive rides his bicycle every day but, at the weekend, instead of cycling at high speed to his job in the City, he'll cycle at high speed to a bicycle shop. Here, he will spend many more thousands of pounds having bits removed from his bicycle, and replaced by other bits that are almost, but not entirely, exactly the same. Clive's bicycle lives in the living room, in front of the television. He has no wife.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

The Folding Commuter

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:08:00 +0000

In his shirt-sleeves, sensible helmet, shiny black shoes, suit trousers and restraining cycle clips, there's something about Nigel's overall cycling look that faintly screams “pervert”. Not that he cares. For him, cycling isn't about fun. It is simply an efficient way to get from his suburban semi to the station, and then from Liverpool Street to the office. Nigel has no interest in cycling culture, and is fond of telling people that being on a bike is no reason not to follow the Highway Code. All the same, he is inordinately proud of his Brompton folding bicycle. When his wife borrowed the clip-on mini-pump without telling him, he sulked for the whole weekend.

Commissioned by The Times to illustrate a selection of biker tribes for The Great Outdoors supplement.

Michael Jackson RIP

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Door in your Eye

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:37:00 +0000

Door in your Eye is a curious short story by Wells Tower about a large hearted old man viewing the world from a studio flat window. The sense of unfulfilled desire, world weariness and alienation - contained by doors and windows - immediately suggested Edward Hopper . . . which sounds unbearably sad but without spoiling the story let's just say it doesn't turn out as you might expect. Door in your Eye is taken from a new collection by Wells Tower called Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned (Granta).

Commissioned by David Killen for Prospect magazine.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:51:00 +0000

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists tells the story of a group of working men who are joined one day by Frank Owen, a journeyman-prophet with a vision of a just society. Owen's spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system rouse his men from their quietism. The book is recognised as one of the most authentic novels of English working class life ever written, a masterpiece of wit and political passion ... although it is Owen's forbearance rather than his radicalism which moves me. His capacity for suffering is almost masochistic, so I depicted him with an emaciated Christ-like aura as he endures the harassment and intimidation of his overseer (left) and employer (right).

With the recent anniversary of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' publication, and a star-studded Radio 4 serialisation, sales of the book surged. In the midst of a dire economic climate, it confounded expectations by reaching number six in the Amazon Movers and Shakers list. Last month the actor Ricky Tomlinson caused a further spike in sales when he commended the book on BBC1's One Show. A former plasterer and a union activist, Tomlinson believes Tressell's message is timely. "Nothing's changed. People are still getting killed in the building industry. There's hardly any safety work, hardly any hygiene conditions. Toilets are as rare as rocking-horse shit." Penguin have re-designed the cover (using a revision of artwork created in 2004) and a reprint will be shipping in a couple of weeks.

Commissioned by Jim Stoddart for Penguin.

The Sinking Pound

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Community Care commissioned this image of the sinking pound for a feature about how the credit crunch is affecting statutory, voluntary and private providers in social care. Art direction by Stephanie Fenner.

Darwin 200

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:52:00 +0000

February 12th 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, arguably the most influential scientist of modern times (in ways that he himself would never have imagined). No single researcher since has matched his collective impact on the natural and social sciences; on politics, religion and philosophy; on art and cultural relations. Nature magazine commissioned this portrait (c.1840) for the cover. Art direction by Barbara Izdebska.

Old school, new school

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:03:00 +0000

PepsiCo commissioned this series of character studies for Old School New School, an online game promoting Sobe, Amp and Mountain Dew products. Users coming to the website would be greeted by animated characters representing both old and new styles. Art direction by Tribal DDB Dallas.

The Band

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:45:00 +0000

Your image as a band says you are visionary or progressive or edgy, or that you're trying really hard not to care about the way you dress! A fashion faux-pas could signal the end of a promising career . . . heed the wisdom of The Rock Bible:

'If you're a man, wearing make-up increases proportionately to your inability to play a musical instrument.'

'Women should dress like color-blind prostitutes. Men should look like hot women.'

'Unless you're sitting on a horse, lose the cowboy hat.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Book of Revelation

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:22:00 +0000

Gazing into the abyss, the prophet foretells a time when many-headed wild beasts roam the wasteland of rock devouring all that remains: The Buddyheaded Pitchforkagon, Lord iTunia & His iPods, YouTuberius, SXCMJ3000 ... but alas, his words of wisdom fall on deaf ears:

'The great rock prophet ... saw maddening disinterest in his plight to save the world of rock from utter folly. Neither the meat-headed banger nor the methodical noodler saw fit to heed the admissions of those gone before them and many a false prophet and warner-monger did usher in the very end of rock.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Fan

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:29:00 +0000

No matter how talented the band, how soulful the delivery or how poetic the songwriting, it'd be nothing without a devoted flock of undiscriminating diehard fans. Here's a few guidelines for faithful followers from The Rock Bible:

'Showing up at a show three hours early to get a primo space in front of the stage is reaffirming to all those around you that you don't have a life.'

'No waiting to get an autograph for more than half an hour (although even that seems a bit too long). The band is either getting high or already back at the hotel.'

'If you ask a crew member for a set list, it's best to listen to the first answer you get. Any subsequent requests will be met with an increasing insult and chance of removal from the venue.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Keyboardist

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:21:00 +0000

If you're a talentless nobody playing keyboards for a lousy band, The Rock Bible is your manual! Before you fill up the airwaves with self-indulgent synth noodling, here are the rules:

'No keyboards without full-sized keys. Smaller keys are only for Christmas morning, when your parents think a mini keyboard will be your gateway to becoming an accomplished musician.'

'There's only one person who will look more ridiculous and offensive in leather pants than the lead singer: the keyboard player.'

'If you play the keyboard with one hand and the tambourine with the other, you are neither a keyboardist nor a tambourine player.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Singer

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Henry Owings is touring bookstores during October and November, explaining how The Rock Bible was conceived / created / written, as well as delving into his own history and work with Chunklet. Head along to one of these venues for intimate discussion, Q&A and signing:

10.25.08 - Quimby's, Chicago, IL 7pm
10.26.08 - Shake it Records, Cincinnati, OH @ 3pm
10.27.08 - Subterranean Books, St. Louis, MO @ 7pm
11.07.08 - Atomic Books, Baltimore, MD @ 7pm
11.09.08 - AKA Music, Philadelphia, PA @ 3pm
11.14.08 - Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA @ 6:30pm
11.16.08 - Sonic Boom, Seattle, WA @ 3pm
11.17.08 - Powell's, Portland, OR @ 7:30pm

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Guitar and Bass Players

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Whence cometh The Rock Bible? What's with the faux-Biblical thing anyway? Polyphonic Spree drummer Brian Teasley explains . . .

'As I peruse the aisles of planet corporate bookstore, I realise something: every two bit hobby has a Bible . . . except for rock and roll. Until now! Now there is a new demographic disease spreading like salmonella in a bowl of frat boy barf. That's right dear reader . . . The group I refer to is you and your lousy band. It's time we punished you all for your sins and sent you on the way of the enlightened'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.

The Drummer

jon@blazingfruit.com (Jonathan Williams) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Grammy Award winner Henry Owings is publisher of Chunklet magazine, a no-holds-barred chronicle of the music industry. Variously a DJ, promoter, record producer and booking agent, Owings has toured with rock bands for nearly a decade. No surprise, then, that The Rock Bible is packed with closely observed cliché-busting wit and wisdom for the celestial life of rock 'n' roll . . .

'If you get a drumstick endorsement, don't take one of those lame promo photos acting like you're breaking the sticks in half.'

'All drummers wearing headsets should be required to take a food order.'

'No drum gloves. if you can't hold on to drumsticks, you may want to rethink the "playing" part of playing drums.'

Art direction by Bryn Ashburn for Quirk.