Thank You Tony Hart

My parents always made sure I had pen and paper handy when I was growing up, but like many people my age, Tony Hart was also an important influence. Any child watching could have been forgiven for thinking that he possessed magical powers – such was the speed and skill with which he produced a wide range of styles.

Maybe this is the path I would have always taken, but even so, I can't help but wonder how many others are now pursuing creative careers in part thanks to his influence, and I can't forget the wonder I felt watching him work. So when he passed away earlier this year I wanted to pay tribute to him. I was actually lucky enough to meet him in 2001, and he encouraged me to keep pursuing my unique style and to pursue my own path. He was very amiable and kind, just as I'd imagined he might be.

As Rex Crowle explains on his own blog post, Hart's legacy continues to be felt, and he was a massive influence on the development of LittleBigPlanet at Media Molecule.

Computer Arts Projects approached me about putting together a tutorial about the importance of pursuing personal work, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to finish the tribute illustration I had been planning - not least because it's essential that artists feel passionate about the work in their portfolio, and this was a key point to get across.

Thanks for the great times Tony. You really were an inspiration to so many, and will continue to be.



You'll find this, and two other personal pieces, in issue 122 of Computer Arts Projects. The first is a typography experiment for something I've been working on for some time, the second some concept art for a project I'm collaborating with the talented photographer Lou Denim on.