There’s definately more than a little bit of steampunk influence in Lex. While looking for inspiration I came across the mindblowingly beautiful work of sculptor Stephane Halleux. His sculptures are life size and bigger, made from what looks like recycled machine parts, leather and plaster of paris(?). You can really see his experience as a stop motion animator in his creations. Each one has a distinct emotive character.

Left to Right: Monsieur Hublot, Boxer, The Flying Civil Servant & Alien by Stephane Halleux

The visual style and graphics were inspired by many things, old machine parts, old posters and other flotsam and jetsam, but particularly helpful was the wonderful work of Mutt Ink. Their dark, fairytale like, layered collagey style appealed to Lex’s aesthetic sensibilities. I don’t know why but their work on the Alchemist reminds me of Guillermo del Toro. That may be because I just watched The Orphanage – scariest movie I’ve seen in ages (maybe ever).

The Alchemist by Mutt Ink

And  an all time favourite. Shaun Tan.

Shaun Tan

In the end Lex is a mixture of influences, photography and illustration, and lots and lots of layers and bits and pieces. Now we want to make him fly…

The inspiration for our critters comes from heaps of places. Some quite random.

Thanks to Alberto Cerritino for being a great source of inspiration for illustration style. I love the way he uses colour, layering and digital imagery to create illustrations which are a mix between digital and craft/collage. Check out his stuff it’s great. Thanks for the inspiration.

edward gorey

Cyril Underwood’s character is kind of Edward Gorey meets Tim Burton. He’s actually named after an oldstyle typewriter.

our very first critter

The first few had lots of fancy attachments, we had grand ideas, of attachable wings. With each critter having different bits depending on what it was.

critter number 2

This little owl, had 3D eyes on the side and a little bird that sat on it’s head.

That was until we realised how fiddly they were to put together, and found out how expensive it was to do a different die knife for each one.

So we simplified it down to 2 standard templates – eyes on top – or on the side, with a roll fold base to make it sit back slightly, we kept the little pop out feet, but ditched all the attachments.

Critters- 2009 Illustration Style

The illustration style has changed but the basic design has remained the same. Limiting the design made it heaps easier, as we were no longer reinventing the wheel each time we came to make one. In fact fewer options has allowed us to be more creative with the characters and illustration style.

It’s true that “Its not where you take things from, but were you take things to”. As Jean-Luc Godard famously said. But without the inspiration from the great work of others, it would be a lot harder.

Critter 2010 illustration style

Critters- “ooo they comes from many places” – the people you see down the street, the quirky characters we’ve known, children’s books, toys.

An illustrator whose work has been inspirational to the style – is Alberto Cerriteno – an illustrator, animator and designer based in the U.S. His collagey style which gives the feeling of handmade and digital collage, has a beautiful layered quality. And the colours are awesome. Thanks for creating such inspirational work.

Alberto Cerriteno

Cyril Underwood, half man half typewriter, with his Victorian sensibility and flaily arms, is a mix between Steam punk, Edward Gorey and Tim Burton. If you haven’t heard of Edward Gorey, check out his book “The Epileptic Bicycle”.

It is true that “It’s not where you take things from — it’s where you take them to.” As Jean-Luc Godard is famously quoyed as saying. But without the inspiration we are given from the great work of others, it would be a lot harder.

Cyril Underwood

Edward Gorey

steam punk inspiration for Cyril