Art
I realised looking back through my character studies that i often visualise a figure from the same angle/perspective so I should in theory be able to combine the studies into one piece. I made a believable environment and lit the figures from the same source.
Degas said ‘a work of art is never finished just abandoned by the artist at some point’, I stopped when the piece seemed to stand on its own but I could have gone on forever.
All we need is permission from the Polish government, the necessary financial backing (and the technology to make the rainbows) and we could achieve our dream of establishing a rainbow factory in the beautiful Tatry mountains!
Concept art – ‘The Polish Rainbow Factory’ O’Keeffe 2019
Concept art for ‘Pioneer Travel Solutions’. The future is bright, there are other earths, there will be other Hawaiis…..I hope.
Sketchbook page of character studies. Using the pause button to stop video of a woman in conversation, a method of studying uncontrived/natural facial expressions. February 2019
Concept work for :Un militarised non-combatant transport devices for the new world. Feb 2019
Hybrid vehicles and supply carriers for the modern pioneers based on albatross, ape, dragonfly, ostrich and horse skeletons.
Spec sheet for dual/triple sport carbon/steel/perspex hybrid suit
–
In the future sport will be more exciting- Tiger wresting, lion tailing or polar bear holding custom protective wear for the modern sports enthusiast. 2019
Character sheet design-
Modern headware options series/4 Tony O’Keeffe February 6th 2019
First three pages from the original storyboard of Elephantstopper video of ‘The Shin Bone Tree’ 2012. Looks like we cut the ‘falling over on the zebra crossing’ scene!
Link to the finished film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fer9vjEmPHk
Sketchbook page- ideas-mid January 2019
pencil, ink, white ink- drawings that attempt to answer the age old questions such as ‘Which direction are my tits pointing in?’ 
I don’t only teach on the fine art degree at Leeds city college but also on the concept art (for games) course. Here is another example of the typical concept art exercise.Brief: To produce x2 sheets of variations on a theme- ‘1970’s International football players hair styles”.
Assorted background character concepts. Procreate and iPad January 11th 2019
Sketches of the hand and the arm featuring light and shade on midtown paper 
(plus a labrador) apple pencil, Procreate, iPad December 2018
To employ eighteen identical templates in order to demonstrate the importance of lighting, weight, space and the other formal issues that constitute drawing.
Figures 1&2 and 7&8 are the male and female templates for the exercise.
Figures 2&3 and 8&9 are shrouded in (red) semi transparent drapes to accentuate the light as it falls from above and to the left.
The halloween costume skeleton figures draw attention to the ‘bones’ as they appear two dimensionally on the skin and not as a representation of the skeletonThink about the contrast in the generic male and female clothing- waist heights, looseness of clothing or difference in the weights of fabrics (which influences how they hang or change in motion).
Think about the lighting as it hits the subject and use examples that demonstrate an understanding of a variety of technical and formal aspects of drawing such as space, transparency, colour and articulation (of the joints of the figure). Always include the shadow and the direction of the light.
Selection of images from ‘Tower Of Pressure’ graphic novel written by Agnieszka Szczepanska. 2018
Latest ongoing illustration projects, character developments, storyboards and sketchbook work.
Having looked at CCTV for images that appear to represent genuine, authentic, uncontrived examples of human behaviour, I turned to search for a more physical archive (as opposed to Google’s digital form) to draw from and change physically.
Photoshop allows us to alter imagery unblemished or invisibly. I like the idea that the postcards are ‘obviously’ changed/altered by hand and not by machine- with guile not technology.
‘Adjusted Postcard- Romford Market’ 5×7 2017
I was trying to make the couple with the pram the true subject of this image as opposed to Romford Market, the place they are in. I wanted them to define the place not the other way round. Im also thinking of paint’s ability to cover things up, disguise, hide etc
The couple look isolated now and there is an odd melancholy about the image.
‘Adjusted postcard of Station road New Milton’ 2017 
Some of the people who people these postcard scenes appear unselfconscious. All of the photos were taken in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s before the ‘selfie age’. Cameras were still fairly novel and people didn’t know what to do in front of them. This next group are trying to laugh and relax, look ‘normal’ but there is a stiffness about their poses that suggests a deep discomfort at being photographed. Or maybe this is them relaxed on holiday?
‘Adjusted Postcard – Corton beach holiday camp’ 2017
I began by thinking about erasing things. Rauschberg famously erased one of DeKoonings drawings and Cristina de Middel used correction fluid to edit chairman Mao’s Red Book.
I wanted to erase a photo of Margeret Thatcher. I found an autographed version of the photo I wanted but it was too expensive. So I thought until I can raise the funds to obliterate Thatcher I’d practice on another odious Margaret- Princess Margaret.
She looks like a fussy cloud of pollution. This is a postcard of her sister Queen Elisabeth with faeces on her coat-
A small amount of paint in the right colour and in the right place can be very effective. Here I have suggested Queen Elisabeth the second has faeces and blood on her coat and up her neck. I wanted to give the impression that she had hastily dressed having just come from an abattoir or murder.
(Adjusted Postcard)’The launching of HMS Ark Royal Invincible’ 5×7 2017
I wonder if I could have made this event even more disappointing by removing the tug as well as the battleship? Its as if it was launched and sank immediately.
The crude or hurried painting-out obscures but doesn’t deny its deceiving the viewer. I thought about the way Doris Salcedo talks about the crack in the turbine hall floor in the Tate being filled after the piece had finished. She said it left a scar like the scar that is left in her country by the disappearance of political enemies of the state. It is till there in the floor today and always will be. The scar signifies reality and stands as evidence of the owner’s lack of passivity. A record or the consequence of an event.
O’Keeffe2017
Dedicated to the memory of David Smith and also to my Mum Jean who continues to sparkle with a twinkle in her eye.
A printed version of ‘The Smith’ by Tony O’Keeffe will be available soon, contact for more information.
(copyright- Tony O’Keeffe June 12th 2019)
Disclaimer- This book is dedicated to the memory of David Smith and to all brave people who face terrible things. If you know someone who you think is too young to learn about terrible things then perhaps read them a different book?
Part six, the final part is coming tomorrow.
Disclaimer- This book is dedicated to the memory of David Smith. David was a brave man and as often happens to brave men- he had to face some terrible, terrible, terrible things. If you don’t think someone is old enough to learn about terrible things then don’t read this book to them.
Part Five coming soon-
Disclaimer- Again I personally wouldn’t read this to anybody under twelve but I leave it up to your discretion.
Dedicated to the memory of David Smith and to all brave people who suffer terrible consequences for doing the right thing.
Part two in which Mitty’s big sister Meeny moves in to the field with her weird boyfriend….
Part three – ‘The horror, the terror’ is coming tomorrow!
Introduction-
Part one of my book about the life of David Smith.
I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable reading this to anyone under 11/12 years of age- As in life there is some violence and there is some swearing which I’ve handled as carefully as I could but I don’t feel it’s suitable for young people simply because there are some things in the world that we are better off learning about as late as possible and this is one of them.
I dedicate this book to David’s memory and to all brave, good people who suffer for doing the right thing.
(Part Two is coming soon)
