MCRmix - a blog by Claire Gamble: July 2010

Today at 6pm, I conducted the first live Twitterview for MCRmix with Manchester-based graphic designer and artist Justin Eagleton. Justin has recently embarked on a new art brand called Eyekons, which promises to be a great commercial success. We spoke about how he begun his career, who he thinks has the sexiest eyes and what he loves about Manchester. For those of you who missed the Twitterview, here’s a manuscript of it:

@ClaireEGamble: Hi Justin! Are you there?

@JustinEagleton: Yeah I'm sat in my office feeling nervous at your grilling!

@ClaireEGamble: This is no firing line Justin, all good fun...First question...

@ClaireEGamble: You’re obviously an arty farty type of guy - at school, did you always manage to colour in without going over the lines?

@JustinEagleton: Haha My brother is a brill artist n I wanted to be as good as him. I got my A levels n started designing props n sets for TV

@ClaireEGamble: An arty family then! Q2 - So what's your CV like (props for TV sound fun!)...anything impressive?

@JustinEagleton: I worked a lot on studio tour designs. I made a frying pan that Mavis cracked Derek with once n I blew up Des Barnes boat!

@JustinEagleton: My brother is a joiner but still an excellent artist. We paint murals in childrens hospitals a few times a year together.

@ClaireEGamble: Haha, a very unique CV then!

@ClaireEGamble: Now, I spy with my little eye...some famous people in your new work. Where did the idea for @Eyekonsdesign come from?

@JustinEagleton: Shading from the sun in Santorini last year. I drew Ayrton Senna eyes from a mag on hotel paper. I brought the napkin home!

@ClaireEGamble: Have you still got the napkin?

@JustinEagleton: The Senna drawing will stay with me n for when I get where I want to be with @Eyekonsdesign. The name Eyekons just works!

@JustinEagleton: Here's airbrush painting I did when I got back of Senna from the napkin idea. http://tweetphoto.com/30176235

@ClaireEGamble: The Eyekons are very good, how do you create them? Tracing paper and a biro?

@JustinEagleton: First source the right icon n pencil draw it from a few images for ref. Scan it in to PC. Enhance eye highlights n add quote

@JustinEagleton: I might do a biro collection just for you...a spin off!

@ClaireEGamble: Who has the happiest eyes in the world?

@JustinEagleton: Easy! ME! I'm building a business doing something I love and personally I have baby due in 2 weeks so it couldn't be better

@JustinEagleton: In 2 or 3 weeks I will probably have the sleepless eyes too!

@ClaireEGamble: Who has the wisest eyes in the world?

@JustinEagleton: Eric Cantona! Real hero of mine with intense eyes. Wasn't always wise on the pitch but had stature n presence without words.

@JustinEagleton: Eric said it all on the pitch. His eyes said it all off it and as mad as he was he had journo's hangin on his every word

@JustinEagleton: @Eyekonsdesign of Eric Cantona. The quote I chose was the seagulls one. http://tweetphoto.com/30178336

@ClaireEGamble: (I expect you'll be tuning into Doctor Who then, if the news reports today are right!) And who has the sexiest eyes?

@JustinEagleton: Sexiest got to be @showbizshel. The wife! She may be reading this with 'the bump' so best keep them sweet.

@ClaireEGamble: Good answer! Hello @showbizshel and mini-showbizshel :-)

@JustineEagleton: Haha what a thought. Mini showbiz shel!! The sparkliest baby ever covered in MAC! 8) hope it's a boy now!

@ClaireEGamble: Do you think you’ll get bored of just drawing eyes? What about ears? Or elbows? Elbows are very underrated.

@JustinEagleton: Love drawing eyes, faces, people n capturing character so simply. 'The mirror to the soul' I have as my tag line. So true!

@ClaireEGamble: No elbows then?

@JustinEagleton: I might draw Bury's finest Guy Garvey from Elbow does that count?! 8)

@ClaireEGamble: Tenuous link, but I'll let you have it. So what does the future hold for @Eyekonsdesign?

@JustinEagleton: Exciting times. I'm currently liasing with a few 'celebs' to get endorsements and raise the profile. One big North West one

@JustinEagleton: I'm working on tshirt branding nxt week n just generally trying to get Eyekons on the map n something Mcr n I can be proud of

@ClaireEGamble: Can you mention any names?? Anyone from Manchester?

@JustinEagleton: One big North West footballer wants to be involved and a famous boxer. I'm saying no more it's early days n superstitious

@ClaireEGamble: No walking under black cats for you then. On the subject of the North West - what's your favourite thing about Manchester?

@JustinEagleton: Everything! Manchester is where I was born, live, work and love. Being Mancunian is something I'm very proud of.

@JustinEagleton: My good friend has a brand that sums it up for me. On the 6th Day God created Manchester!

@ClaireEGamble: I don't think I've met a Manc yet who isn't proud! A couple of other tweeters had some Qs...

@JustinEagleton: Cool fire away I'm into the swing of it now. Is anyone still awake? 8)

@ClaireEGamble: @Nicole_Kenny asks: "If u could meet 1 person who you've featured who would it be & why?" (I bet I could guess the answer!)

@JustinEagleton: Cantona for obvious reasons but Marilyn Monroe is the fantasy dinner date. I'd like to know what the story was with her

@JustinEagleton: She'd have to be alive tho. Cos dead would be a little weird.

@ClaireEGamble: Yeh would be slightly odd..! (But good fantasy dinner date option!) and final question is from @GemmaHaddow...

@ClaireEGamble: @GemmaHaddow asks: "Has there been anyone you've tried to draw, but you just can't seem to capture?"

@JustinEagleton: James Dean. I left at the sketch phase. It's been there 6 months n I will finish it one day! Great image tho

@ClaireEGamble: A good icon...good moody/sultry eyes too! So that's the end of the Twitterview - you survived! A BIG thankyou Justin...

@ClaireEGamble: ...a manuscript of the Twitterview will be up soon on the MCRmix website http://mcrmix.blogspot.com/...

@JustinEagleton: Thanks so much Claire it was a v. enjoyable chat. Hope tweeters got something out of it. Follow me or @Eyekonsdesign for news

@ClaireEGamble: Speak soon...and look after @showbizshel and the bump! (and maybe practise drawing elbows.)

@JustinEagleton: Will do. As long as I supply her with MAC make-up and MAC D's she is happy! #tweetsponsoredbymac

Thursday 1 July 2010

Eyekons, by Justin Eagleton

"On the 6th day, God created Manchester..."

Live Twitterview with Justin Eagleton at 6pm tonight