Artist Profile
David DeLeod
I decided to do my artist profile on Australian artist and designer David McLeod. His works consist of still and moving images. McLeod explores a newfound curiosity for computer-generated imagery (CGI) by creating and incorporating CGI illustration and animation into new pieces of art. McLeod using a variety of tools to create his art including Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, RealFlow, Vray, and Maxon Cinema 4D. McLeod has been making this type of art for over fifteen years. His art is on display on Bĕhance, Instagram, and his own website, where the public can observe his work. He is most known for creating 3-D environments, typographic treatments, and short films that highlight bright, vibrant color schemes and organic movement. His most known works are content he has created for clients such as Nike, Apple, Toyota, Canon, and Mastercard to name a few. I would even argue that the pieces he posts on his Instagram in this golden age of social media could be his most famous “exhibition”. While not traditionally an actual exhibit, it allows his audience to consume his content in a different way. It also allows his audience to interact directly with him, where at an actual art show you would not have that opportunity. His Instagram also shows a lot of the progression of his pieces and shows how his brain works in an organic and nature-focused sense (even though ironically, he is using a computer to produce it).
When I started looking through McLeod’s work one word came to mind. Flow. I was taken aback on how every single piece of his art seemed to go together, work with each (even if they didn’t look the same), and well…flow! The beauty of his ability to make each of his creations seemingly flawless, yet unrealistic and organic, yet with obvious notable use of CGI is absolutely incredible. I found myself being inspired more and more as I scrolled through his website, Bĕhance, and Instagram. The three pieces below stood out to me the most for their unusual color schemes, abstract forms, and their reason for being created.
BBC2
This first piece was created for BBC2, their first identity update in over 25 years. Not only did these two pieces create abstract representations of normal things, like fireworks and dough balls (Or whatever else you may see!), he also incorporated sound, so you also had audio stimuli to go with the visuals. It helps emerge the viewer more deeply into the piece. I honestly could not look away when I viewed these pieces. I had to watch each video a few times to take it all in and to really grasp what he created.
Nike
This second piece was created for Nike to advertise their new line of Nike Air VaporMax shoes. The animation incorporates several bubble-like objects that morph and shift along with the shoe, probably done to emphasize the breathability of the shoes as well as the name “air”. Again, like all of his pieces, I was amazed by the level of detail and the organic movement he incorporated into this piece. I have never wanted to buy a pair of Nike shoes before, but this video made me want to purchase these shoes. So, a round of applause is highly deserved for McLeod.
AMFURSANDS - 2015
This third piece was created by McLeod so he could experiment with the different characteristics of hair. This series of six images shows McLeod’s combined interest in typography and organic movement (without the actual movement this time!). The hair looks so realistic that if you look at it long enough you almost see the movement of hair strands. The colors, patterns, and backgrounds for these pieces also struck a note with me by how visually pleasing they are to look at. This collection of pieces really struck a note with me because as soon as I saw it my mind went “you have to learn how to do that”. It really has inspired me to want to explore the world of CGI and animation.
McLeod. 2015
McLeod. 2015
McLeod. 2015
McLeod. 2015
Works Cited
http://davidmcleod.com/amfursands/
http://davidmcleod.com/bbc2/
http://davidmcleod.com/nike-vapormax/
http://davidmcleod.com/
https://www.ba-reps.com/illustrators/david-mcleod
https://www.behance.net/davidmcleod