Concepts, Narratives and Images July 21-25

Workshop alert! I’ll be teaching a class on illustration at Touchstone Center for Crafts from July 21-25th. We’ll be specifically going over how illustrations for editorial pieces, magazine and book covers are created. We’ll pick out specific text or titles that resonate with us and build them into finished illustrations and throughout the process learn how composition, color and being great editors can create a powerful and direct image that visually communicates the accompanying text.

Link to class info: https://www.touchstonecrafts.org/workshop/concepts-narratives-and-image-w-phil-ashworth/

I hope some of you out there will be able to join me in the Laurel Highlands this summer. I can’t express enough how nice it is to be secluded in those trees next to a little creek that runs behind the studio as you work. Every time I am teaching there I really tap into such a peaceful and focused work routine. There’s a very good reason why you sometimes read about musicians going to some secluded studio in the countryside to record an album.

Below are some examples of illustrations that I’ve done in the past that I think are a good example of what we will try to achieve in the class. The first is the myth of Robert Johnson going to The Crossroads to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for the ability to become the greatest blues guitarist. I have clearly focused in on the moment where the devil and Robert make the deal as I think it displays a crucial moment in the story and the part of it that is most visually exciting.

The other illustration is my ode to the Roger Corman cult classic, Death Race 2000. For this one it wasn’t so much about illustrating a specific moment but more the general energy and conflict in the story. It gives the viewer a brief visual summary of what to expect before they even start the movie, and hopefully, enough to make them want to hit play.