We've had a facelift!

We've had a quick facelift on our website to help #switchonyourbusiness Check it out here: www.morgangleave.co.uk

Our birdie has a name!

Saving the business world... One illustration at a time!

Are you a superhero of sales?  A bantamweight of business?  A maestro of marketing? 

An original hand drawn illustration from me could give your customers a smile and your business a boost. It may lead to people remembering you, and enable you to stand head and shoulders above your competitors. 

I've created cartoons and comics from an early age.  It's what I love doing above all else creatively and makes me quite unique in the heady world of art and design for business.  That's certainly not to say I can't design a stunning brochure or flyer for you, but my cartoon work is when I really sing (so to speak...)  My talent as an illustrator has won me jobs and prizes, and is my raison d'etre.

Everything starts with an original hand drawing, which is worked on with pens, pencils, paints or computers, according to what feels right, and what the client is after in terms of a finished piece.  I'm passionate about creating great work that hits the target and exceeds client expectations, as the piece below did. 

If you would like to have a talk to me about creating something truly special for you and business, look out for me at events around Leicestershire or drop me a line... it'd be great to talk and maybe create something for you. 

(PS: Sneaky plug... with Christmas coming up, an original illustration makes a lovely and unusual gift!)

Our bird needs a name!

Our new art and design website is live!

Our brand new art and design website is live!  

Please visit: www.morgangleave.co.uk 

We offer a wide range of creative services for to businesses of all shapes and sizes. We have over 25 years of creative and business experience, and look forwards to creating exciting, fresh and vibrant art and design for your business.

We care about the impression that art and design can make on your customers, and pride ourselves of creating quality promotional material that gets your business noticed and create the best impression for it and you.

Please stand by...

Robert Smyth Academy Enterprise Days 2014 - Part 1

I went back to school yesterday.  Yesterday was the first of this year's Enterprise Days at the Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough.  I was there between 1984 and 1987, doing my CSEs and O Levels.  It was strange but lovely to be back in my old school, and great fun working with the business students there. 

After a rousing assembly to get us fired up and ready to take on the day, we split into groups with a teacher and an advisor/mentor in each classroom.  ( I was lucky to pull double duties, as one advisor couldn't make it, which meant flitting between two rooms!) 

The challenge was to create a music festival, make promotional material, and to design and create a prototype of a product to sell at it.  The team with the most votes at the end of the day won.  Simple? Well, not quite so simple... 

As mentioned earlier, every room had an advisor in it.  The advisors were all from businesses large and small.  Our role was to help, advise and encourage the students, being able to give them real world advice and experience.  It was also interesting to see who was being most competitive, with students, teachers and advisors all wanting to win. 

First task of the day was name and theme the festival, after which, teams split up into design and product development.  My role was to help and encourage the students in these tasks.  Personally, I think my rooms had an unfair advantage here, as I was the only creative (by profession) advisor.  Students were coming up with some really good ideas, and I helped coming up with name ideas and developing products.  I also helped students to think about product purpose and appearance, price and promotion.  This was really good fun, with some of the teachers acted as shopkeepers. Students had to purchase resources to make prototypes, work to a budget, and be aware of unit cost and profit. 

After lunch there was a little time to fine tune prototypes, then done to 'The Max'  (the old gym...) to set up stalls and pitch ideas to the other teams.  Each student had a token to be spent on a stall they liked most, the stall with most tokens winning the first trophy of the day.  There were prizes for best pitch and an overall winner chosen by the judges (advisors included).  I am very proud to say that two teams I was working with came second and third overall.  I just need a first place next week! 

It was fantastic witnessing students pitching their ideas and products with plenty of confidence and energy.  As one of the judges, I visited every stall (about 30 in all), and was really impressed by how positive and confident they were in presenting their ideas, especially to a complete stranger.  14 year olds are usually confident with those of their own age, but an unknown adult can crumble that confidence.  I was proud of how the students handled themselves, were professional, confident and most importantly, believed in what they had created.  They were clearly enjoying the experience too. 

After a tense judging discussion, the overall winner was decide upon.  'The Welly Fest' with their convertible wellies won overall with a great product and excellent pitch.  (I was genuinely impressed with their pitch, which was clear and confident with plenty of enthusiasm.) 

The first of this year's Enterprise Days was a great success. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the students and seeing their creativity and hard work paying off.  It was great being back in my old school. I'm really looking forwards to doing it all over again next week, with the winners, of course! 

Thanks to all at the Robert Smyth Academy for a fantastic day, especially Phillip Sullivan for organising the whole day and Helen Sawkins (teacher with one of my teams) for her support in the classroom. 

The Baba Yaga

The heavy music magazine Archiv Hate has reached its tenth issue, which is a great achievement for any publication. Even more so when you realise that its creator Arturs Vilmanis pretty much puts the whole thing together himself. (With a little help from a select crew, of which I am proud to be a member.)

I feel that this is the strongest issue yet in terms of layout and design, with great use of white space and striking imagery and text.  There's going to be a short haitus for the summer festival season, but Arturs will be back in the Autumn with more heaviness.

You can read and download issue 10 here: 

http://www.archivhate.com/2014/06/archiv-hate-interview-magazine-issue-10.html

Under the weather

This might be a bumpy ride, so bear with me whilst I figure this out.

Mental health is a major issue in the workplace these days.  It’s a major issue everywhere. This is a good thing, as mental health has been overlooked and misunderstood for a very long time.  We’re just starting to understand what causes mental health problems and how they can affect people personally and professionally. Having seen friends and colleagues laid low by mental health and have little or no understanding of their condition shown by their employees, some of whom think that they are simply ‘making it up’, and are not really ill at all, it’s about time there was a change.

Just this morning, I was stopped in my tracks by anxiety, immobilised by thinking about what I had to work on first, and for a while I couldn’t do anything at all. Now, working for myself, you would think this is less of an issue than if I was employed. Well, yes and no.  As I’m in the midst of setting up our business, there is the juggling act between admin, promotion, and actually working.  I’m very mindful of generating income all the time, and that can cause stress, which can lead to anxiety, which can lead to depression.  And that’s when nothing gets done.  There are great organisations, like Blurt, for example, who offer incredible support to those with mental health problems.  They offer practical advice on how to cope with and raise awareness of them. We need more organisations like Blurt.

So, where am I going with this?  By writing about mental health in the workplace, I hope I can raise a little bit more understanding and support for it and the people that are affected by it. Just because someone appears okay whilst at work doesn’t mean that they actually are.  Some people can function better with mental health problems than others.  When I was first diagnosed with stress and anxiety 12 years ago, many people wouldn’t believe that I struggled with them and that I had a history of depression.  At that time, I could put on a front; seem happy and confident, so that’s what people thought I was.  Over the years, my depression has been better and worse, and I am now fortunate to have a very understanding GP who has been incredibly supportive.  Not everyone is this fortunate.

There is countless work days lost due to mental health problems.  Often, those with these problems simply cannot get up when the alarm goes off and are pinned to the bed, immobilised by depression.  When they talk to other people, they will often say they are fine, not wishing to upset or make a fuss.  People often cannot understand problems like this, telling others to ‘pull themselves together’, ‘get over it’ or ‘don’t let it get to you’… This doesn’t help.  And this is where you come in.  Don’t assume that everyone is okay, many of us aren’t, but choose to hide it.  If someone seems unusually quiet or withdrawn, maybe ask if they’re okay.  If they seem sad, offer a tissue and an ear if you can.  Talking about problems can really help people, even if you don’t understand it yourself.  Just listening to someone who is not okay is an amazing thing to do.  The more of us that can do this for others, the less of a problem mental health at work can become.  That’s a really good thing for all of us.  

What's so social about social media?

Do you tweet, like, post, share of favourite? Do you know why?

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like can rule and control some people’s lives. The influence of such sites can be felt all over the world.  Scores are seen roaming the streets, heads down, fingers and thumbs poised over screens on smartphones and tablets. Social media is a double edged phenomenon as whilst it does actually encourage people to be sociable and interact with other, it’s online and not face to face.

In a time when we are so connected with each other by the web and the devices that allow access to it, it’s interesting to see how anti-social using social media on these devices make us. You can be sitting in the same room as others but be completely removed from them as the hold of Facebook, Twitter et al is so strong that you can’t stop checking updates; being involved in inane conversations; fawning over pictures of kittens or watching videos of others in ridiculous situations. (I can as guilty as the next of doing just this.)

There’s a flip side to this as well, as social media allows you a voice for important issues; to raise awareness of the plight of others; address injustices; educate; inform and empower. It’s all just a matter of how you approach these platforms and choose to use them.  They can be used as a vital tool for good.  Think about how many people use them and how powerful they have become.

So what does this mean for your business? As so many are online sharing, liking, posting and watching social media isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Businesses would be foolish to ignore the importance and impact of social media. Having others like, share and post about you, your products and businesses across social media platforms is a win-win situation. It works as potentially free advertising, whilst gaining recommendations and referrals. Your involvement is minimal; as others do all the hard work for you once you’ve created a post, tweet, blog, etc. There are companies and individuals that exist solely to enhance you profile on these platforms, such is the importance of them. They take the bewildering variety of platforms and make them relevant to you and your business, shouldering the burden of updating, posting and sharing. We can do that for you if you'd like us to.

I hope this post makes sense and strikes a chord with you. I’d love to hear what you think about this issue and how it affects you and your business. We can even meet up and have a coffee, talk and really be social if you’d like.

The first advert for Morgan Gleave Art and Design

Premiering the first video advert for Morgan Gleave Art and Design, offering creative services for businesses of all shapes and sizes.  You can watch it now at: http://youtu.be/Ze_bwh66niE
This is a fun advert created in-house (music too!) giving ideas for some of the creative services offered, and showing some of our illustration skills, as well as our own theme tune! Hope you enjoy it, and please share with colleagues, customers, friends and family.

Thank you for watching!

Face the fear...

What is it that stops you realising your dreams?  What is it that keeps you awake at night?  What do you see when you look in the mirror?  Fear of failure?  Money worries?  Think you’re not good enough?  Think you’re bad?

These are the kinds of issues that keep many people from being their own person and being successful.  I had another one of those episodes this morning.  Will my business be a success?  What if no-one hires me to create stuff for them?  What can I do to make my studio successful?  I was plummeting further down this path and thinking that it might be better not to be in business…

Rather than let this stop me, I’m now writing this post and will create an illustration to accompany it.  I’ve taken the negative energy and turned it around and put it to good use.  I hope the post helps you too.  This approach can be applied to a lot of situations, especially in business.  If you are feeling negative about a task, you can ask yourself why and analyse it, but you can also take the negative feeling, focus on the task in hand and nothing else, and achieve something worthwhile.  When you’ve finished the task, think about what you’ve just achieved.  Now move onto the next task.  By the end of the day (which may have started badly), you’ll be amazed by how much you’ve achieved and how positive you feel.  It is a cliché, but hard work really is its own reward.

The next time you’re faced by a list of tasks, mental or otherwise, that you don’t really want to do and feel bad about, do them.  Don’t fuss, don’t sigh, just do them.  Focus on getting the list ticked off, and be happy when you have.  It’s easier to get on with stuff, even if you’re scared of doing it, how it’ll turn out, how you’ll feel, or how others perceive you. 

 

To end on another cliché, face the fear and do it anyway.  You’ll feel better when you do.

 

Creative services for businesses of all shapes and sizes...

From a logo to a website, business cards to brochures and so on, Morgan Gleave Art and Design can create anything and everything for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

I've been juggling words for copywriting and search engine optimisation over the last few weeks, as my new website is being developed. You know the drill, choosing the right buzz words and key phrases that will entice customers to your site and hire you.  I learnt a lot over the last week about marketing and image, and that the way I choose to portray my business.  The opening statement above is a key example...

I like it as it states clearly what I offer to businesses, and the kind of businesses I'd like to work with. It also reinforces the sometime slightly off-kilter and humorous approach I take to creating art and design.  It helps me and my customers stand out and be unique in a sea of bland, safe, but very nicely put together, design and identity.  That's something else I learnt from a marketing meeting last week.

I think what I'm trying to say is that if you and your business would like art and design that is slightly odd, unique and sometimes funny, you should contact me.  I'm open for business, and ready to make you stand out from the crowd in the competitive world of promoting your business.

Free The Flight of the Conchords!

Everyone likes free stuff, right? Well, here are some fun FREE paper toys which will look wonderful on your desk at work, and make you the envy of your colleagues. (Maybe...)

These are my interpretations of Brett and Jemaine from the wonderfully funny 'Flight of the Conchords' that I created as paper toys a little while, but still seem to very popular around the globe.  They are not officially sanctioned by HBO (who hold the show, not the character copyright), but were sent to them for 'approval'.  Hence, they are free, and not for commercial but fun usage. They'll brighten up any workspace.

Download, cut, fold, stick and enjoy!  Oh, and if you take any lovely photos, I'd love to see them... I must make a gallery at some point.

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Flight%20of%20the%20Conchords

THE PRICE OF GOOD DESIGN

What is good design worth?  £10? £20? £30? £100?

You can pay as little or as much for design for your business as you wish; after all, it’s your money.  But would you expect your customers to pay you then give them poor products or services?  Of course you wouldn't.  You want your customers to have the best that you can give them, and it should be the same with design for your business.

You can be the best salesperson, builder, IT technician, dog walker, driving instructor, whatever, but if your business, even if it’s just you, has a poor visual identity, you’re losing out.  The economy has forced us all to seek out the best value for money, and we’re trying to save wherever we can.  Your business might be the most cost-effective decorating service in your area, but a bad identity can let you down when competing for work.  And those kinds of impressions can stick around.

Having a well thought out and delivered identity is vital for your business.  It gives you an edge over your competitors, creating excellent first impressions (which do matter), reinforcing quality, and leaving a positive lasting impression on your customers (and your competitors).

Good design doesn't have to be expensive.  £100 can give you a logo and business cards that create excellent first impressions for your business or service.  If a job or sale is worth a £1000, surely spending 10% of that on quality material to promote your business and enhance your reputation as a provider of quality work is worth it?  Especially if you’re just starting out in business, it’s worth spending a little more time and effort on getting the right identity for you. Again, good first impressions are vital for new businesses, no matter what size or shape.  It could even be the difference between securing valuable work, making your venture a success or sitting at home watching daytime TV.

Below is just an example of what could happen if you use bad design (or designers)...

AJATAR

Here's a piece I finished last weekend for online heavy music magazine Archiv Hate.  I was given creative freedom by the editor to create something that fits in with the heavy tone of the magazine. Following on from my piece for the previous issue,I researched Eastern European folklore, and came across the evil female deity Ajatar.  As she is from the folklore of the editor's home country, she was a natural choice.

http://www.archivhate.com/2014/04/archiv-hate-interview-magazine-issue-09.html

CHANGES AHOY!

It's been quiet round here for a while, as there are some big changes ahead for my studio. The first change being a studio rather than just a business.  It reflects what I do far better, and feels more natural.

There's been lots of training and development over the last few months.  I see this as a fresh start, with a new approach to my craft, business and life.  A new identity will back this up soon, but for now, planning and development will be my focus.  Updates will appear here and also on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/morgangleaveartanddesign?ref=hl

100!

Just had to share this... the Morgan Gleave Art & Design Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/morgangleaveartanddesign?ref=hl) has reached 100 likes.  I'm really pleased with this, as the majority of likes have been 'organic', so word is spreading, and reputation is building.  Happy!

THE NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE!

At last!  My new art, illustration and design website is finished and is now live at www.morgangleave.co.uk !

It's taken a long time to get the site looking right, and to choose which projects to put onto it.  I think there may still be a few little snags but it's good to go!  I'm really proud of the hard work I've been putting in over the last few months with the site and numerous other projects.  Now I'm ready to take on any an all creative challenges you wish to throw at me!

There are paintings, drawings, design, websites and comics for you to see and enjoy on the new site.  I'm  looking forwards to hearing what folks have to say about the site and my work.  As the saying goes... if you like what you see, tell others.  If you don't, tell me.  I want to make sure that the work I have out there is the best I can possibly create, and want everyone to know about it.

I hope you enjoy the new site, and please tell folks about it.  I'm always open for commissions and projects large and small, and freelance work is always welcome if that's what you require.

Thanks for listening, Morgan.

STONED ARABELLA

So here's the thing...  I love comics. Always have, always will. The same goes for creating them. It's my favourite creative outlet, and one that I am constantly creating and striving for better results, pushing myself every time.

So, here's a new experiment.  I have a concept in mind to create a new comic book about an all female rock band and their lives.  Gigs, love, work, all that... I'd already decided that the artwork would be digital from original hand drawn layouts.  I've added an extra twist/challenge though, to only create artwork in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. No line work, only sold shapes.  It's a work in progress, but here's a sample panel I created yesterday afternoon. I like it. 

There's a whole story to come up with yet, but visually, I think it really works.  Let me know what you guys and gals think...

YOUNG BOB

Last week was seriously full of drawing, inking, lettering, scanning, Photoshop and Illustrator. Young Bob is my graphic novel set in a fictional 1950's London, inhabited by Goons, Teddy Boys, Ealing cast members and more... The first 'section' of Young Bob was created and submitted to Myriad Editions in Brighton.  I was glad when everything was sent off on Sunday morning, I can tell you! 

There's a little run of story-boarding to do, then I can crack on with the artwork, then get Young Bob finished and ready for publication. Fun!

WEBSITE IN THE WORKS

As the new and improved version of our website is under construction, please keep an eye on the blog and our Facebook page for updates. The website will be up by the end of the week. 

POSTING BY DESIGN

Welcome to the new blog for updates about Morgan Gleave Art & Design. There will be updates on projects, collaborations, publications and more besides...

To start off with, here is some helpful and humorous advice whilst looking for gainful employment...