Ale Mercado Graphics

Goodbye Blogger! Hello Alemercado.com

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:08:00 +0000

It's been more than 3 years since I started blogging here. Now it is time to do some re-structuring.
You can continue seeing my illustration work (blog and RSS included) in alemercado.com

Atticus.ie will be up and running shortly featuring the graphic design side of things.

I've really enjoyed posting here and your occasional comments.
Hope to see you soon in alemercado.com

Alé

Kila's Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:41:00 +0000

Kila's Portrait
Originally uploaded by Alé Mercado

Portrait for Kila's third birthday.
It is done in acrylics on canvas. I get really nervous when I have to use real brushes! (no undo function, you see?)

Empress Wu

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Empress Wu
Originally uploaded by Alé Mercado

This is a preview of the illustrations I am developing for Koverto's marketing materials. The concept I developed is quite mad so I am really stretching my skills as much as I can... which is fun.
More to follow.
Hope you like them.

Berkeley Costume and Toy Museum Flyer

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:04:00 +0000

This is the flyer I've developed for the Berkeley Costume and Toy Museum. The pictures are by Axel Bernstorff (www.axelbernstorff.com www.studiorepossi.com) and they set perfectly the mood for the piece.

Hope you like it

Fresh Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:18:00 +0000

New week is the launch of Fresh Film Festival 2009. I've had the honour of developing the main image again.
It is great to be involved in such projects. Please DO visit their website for more information www.freshfilmfestival.net

This was published in the Tribune last Sunday.

Hope you like it.

More Sketchbook Jan 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Sketchbook January 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:15:00 +0000

A few images from my latest sketchbook

Drafts from Barnstorm Play

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:12:00 +0000

I thought it might be interesting to show some of the drafts I developed for the illustration for the New Barnstorm production.
Once I had the structure clear in my head (and the customer gave me the go-ahead) I redrew everything from scratch in Photoshop and Painter

Here you have them.

New Barnstorm Production - Boy with a Suitcase

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:21:00 +0000

This is the poster for the next Barnstorm production. It is currently with the printers.
The play is absolutely fantastic. You shouldn't miss it no matter how young you are!

The Vogages of Sinbad

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Hi there,
One of the latest projects: The Voyages of Sinbad as part of the materials developed for the new Barnstorm Production.
Keep tuned for more!

Sketchbook November 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:08:00 +0000

Hi there,
While I compile all the info on the Illustrating Illustration exhibition and the Rhyme Rag Launch, I leave you with some excerpts from my sketchbook this month. You have pieces inspired in gigs I've been to, people I've seen or illustrators I admire.

Hope you like them

3epkano's Pandora's Box

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:04:00 +0000

This is the poster for next 3epkano's gig in Kilkenny. This time they are not only putting music to a fantastic silent film; but they are also giving a full day workshop. For more info and bookings contact the Arts Office.

Sketchbook October 2008 (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:02:00 +0000

And this is the last one of the October ones.
Hope you enjoy them.

Sketchbook October 2008 (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:53:00 +0000

As promised a second batch of the sketches of that book completed in October.
Sorry It took so long.

Enjoy

Sketchbook October (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Last Ocotober I've ceompleted a full sketchbook. That had never happened before. Sketchbooks usually take me months to get completed. Here you have a selection of images from them.
Enjoy!

Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:47:00 +0000

After the US elections, the guys of Scamp.ie came up with the idea of doing a quick sketch of it.

The one you see here is my entry. Click here to see all other entries

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Hi there,
I think this is the first time I ever celebrate Halloween. I was asked to do a quick sketch for www.scamp.ie (click to see other entries too) and that's what you can see here. I will also be djing in the best party venue in Inistioge... just follow the noise!

Rhyme Rag Issue#4

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:37:00 +0000

Now!
This is the cover for this year's Rhyme Rag. Thanks a bunch to BRENB for the help with the textures!
The illustration is completely done in Painter with a tiny bit of retouching in Photoshop. I didn't even do a sketch in paper. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted, started on a blank file in Painter, sketching with the pencils tools. when I was totally happy with the composition I started collecting all the images (fountain pen, wings, splatters...) and then started drawing with the scraperboard tool.

The launch of the Rhyme Rag is next Wednesday 15th November in the Arts Office Kilkenny County Council. It is always a great night and the buzz is unbelievable so please make the effort to come!

Sketchbook October 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:58:00 +0000

While I am working frantically on the Rhyme Rag I leave you with a few images of one of my current stechbooks.
Hope you like them.

1994: Los Patéticos

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:33:00 +0000

I had to start an illustration today that reminded me of an old job I did ages ago... I tried to find it without joy. Instead I came across this I did back in 94. A couple of years before I became friends with computers (I had one at that stage but I hated it.)

Rhyme Rag 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Rhyme Rag 2008 is here! At the moment I am still developing it, but you'll be glad to know it is very well advanced.
This year I've opted for the even more complicated task of creating a full page comic with each one of the poems.
You can see here one of the panels of a beautiful poem called Morphine by Sorcha Reilly.

Adapting the poems to the comic format has been the most difficult job so far; as I didn't want to take a literal approach. I have reinterpreted the poems in a comic narrative context. This means I've used the images for some of the actions of the poems and the words for some others. While trying to keep the musicality and pace intrinsic to the poem... In other words, I am exhausted!

This week I should be posting much more stuff on the Rhyme Rag, so keep tuned!

Woodstock Explorer Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:18:00 +0000

They are here now. The Woodstock Explorer Pack is being distributed among children visiting the Woodstock Gardens now (I'm not too sure what's the criteria as the print run was quite small.)

Hope you like it.

"Sorry I can't take your call but I'm off saving the World" Anthology for sale now!

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:18:00 +0000

The Comic Book Anthology "Sorry I can't take your call but I'm off saving the wrold" is available for sale in www.goalanthology.com It is fantastically edited and produced by Cliodhna Lyons, it has some great comics in there... and it is for a damn good cause, so what are you waiting for?

September

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:57:00 +0000

While we get ready to open the Illustrating Illustration Exhibition in Spain there are lots of things happening here: The Woodstock Explorer Pack is finished and produced; so is the new Barnstorm production (poster below)

and, waiting for final approval, next year's poster for the Fresh Film Festival (detail of one of the images at the top of this post).

Hope you enjoy them

Sketchbook November 2007-September 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alé Mercado) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:02:00 +0000

You've seen some of the spreads already. This is the full sketchbook which was completed while on holidays in Armona, Portugal. Hope you enjoy it.

The Sailor with the Pipe image is by Chris Judge.