AI Art doesn't exist. Also, how do you get your brain going in January? Do you know what a 'reverse centaur' is?
I've done lots of reading and listening to get motivated, and warm up the creative neurons.
From Rutger Bregmans's Rieth Lectures to Corey Doctorow on AI. Here are mt thoughts.
Updated Jan 2-26.
It's capturing an event as it happens with engaging, dynamic and colourful visuals. More than that, it's a great way to engage, educate audiences and support team learning.
Live scribing is;
Live art is a great way to create more engagement, helping teams or attendees retain information once an event has taken place. As you may know, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.
With the live art I create for clients, all artwork is owned by the clients once it has been created, and can be reused however they like. Often on office walls or social media.
Clients include:
Large format paper
and marker pens.
Very flexible for most events.
Digital pen tablet
connected to a stage
screen or projector.
Connecting virtually
to an online meeting.
Above are photos from a diverse range of events; a nursing lecture, a team building day and a conference on tech research at Newcastle University for the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Live scribing is used for a wide range of events, and I'm always happy to suggest ideas on how best it can be used. If you think it might be useful for your event but are not sure how, I'm always happy to chat and offer suggestions.
Some photos from an event at Z-arts & MADE in Old Trafford. 'Exploring The Creative Potential for Manchester to become a UNICEF Child-Friendly City'.
Other images from live art events;
Previous clients I've created live art for include;
photos by Lizzie Henshaw / NIHR
As someone who lived in Salford for seven years, I've seen the prosperity and the challenges the city faces, and understand how very different a place it is from its neighbour, Manchester.
There was a lot to digest and translate, and I think understanding the people and the challenges helped me capture the key messages for the organisations and charities who were present, to have their voices heard and recorded. The Mayor of Salford was in attendance
Little did I know this would be a warm-up for a bigger project involving Salford's bid to become a Unicef Child-Friendly City, but more on that in a later post.
Links:
Fairer, Greener, Healthier Salford
The Lowry at MediacityUK
Salford City Council
Mayor of Salford
More Live Scribing
This wasn't your average production of Cinderella; it was very rock and roll and great fun to work on with the team from the theatre. They had a really clear idea of what they wanted, but were also open to suggestions. There were a couple of revisions until we arrived at the right composition, see the early sketch below.
The main aim was to keep the colours bright and put plenty of energy into the scene, while keeping it easy to read visually, and I think we really nailed that.
Early sketch:
This poster illustration artwork was created in Clip Studio Pro and Affinity Designer on a Wacom cintiq
Links:
John is available for illustration commissions and works directly with clients. Get in touch to find out about rates, usage and how to get the most from an illustration commission.
In this motion graphics video for drone security, the whole process was covered in-house. From script to screen, creating illustrations, motion animation and voiceover.
The illustrations were clean and functional while retaining a bit of personality and character. Instead of 3D or vector graphics, digital illustration was used to create the assets, images and backgrounds. This allowed for a quick turnaround, and as with all projects at Rockest Steps, nothing as outsourced, it's all in-house.
*This is an edited version of the final video
Motion graphics animated videos are great for engaging audiences. Using dynamic visuals, text, and motion to simplify complex information. They capture attention more effectively than static images or plain text, making it ideal for marketing, education, and storytelling.
Infographics, charts, and diagrams get your message across, and they are cost-effective too. You don't need expensive equipment or a day wasted on filming locations. This makes them a versatile solution for social media, websites and presentations.
Beyond engagement, motion graphics enhance brand recognition by incorporating consistent visual styles, colours, and logos. They are particularly effective in digital marketing, where social media algorithms favour video content. Increasing audience reach and interaction.
Additionally, motion graphics videos are much easier to update, unlike live-action videos which may become outdated. Their ability to simplify communication, boost conversions, and enhance storytelling makes them an invaluable tool.
Links:
Last week, there was a mighty disruption in the design space when design app company Canva released the latest version of its newly acquired professional design software Affinity, for FREE. The day after the announcement Adobe, the big dog of design tools (and makers of Photoshop), saw their shares almost halve.
Hands up, I'm a card-carrying Affinity user; I left the Adobe ecosystem and its cloud-based subscription service in 2019 and haven't looked back. Back then, it felt like something to stay quiet about to be considered a professional designer, a bit like the term 'working from home' before the pandemic.
What's the catch?
I used to be a big Adobe fan, most designers my age are (40+...ish). I'm old enough to remember how game-changing Photoshop was when a boxed copy cost £2,000. I sympathised with their move to the locked-in subscription model thirteen years ago, knowing before that just how rife piracy was among young design students to get hold of it on CD-ROM.
Also, when Adobe released InDesign, a desktop publishing package that was so good that rival company Quark Express disappeared without a trace in two years. Quark was so big it didn't see Adobe as a threat, and when they did, it was too late.
The new Affinity has paid options. It comes with Canva's AI tools (urgh, no surprise) as a subscription extra, but you don't need that to use the tools. The App, the tools, are free.
So what's the play? Canva's have openly said they want to take on the 'locked in, cloud-based, big brother' subscription model, and have even taken a jab at Adobe AI training practices in a recent promo video. Well, the most obvious hook of 'free' is access.
Student loans
Consider design students. Most are taught with Adobe, leave university (hopefully) with a lovely degree, but then lose access to their student account. If they want to keep designing with the software they've been trained on, even before they get a job, they need a new paid Creative Cloud Adobe subscription. A great deal for Adobe to get 'em early, not so great for students. Now, young designers have a valid alternative at a time when the cost of living is high and rents are high. I'd be surprised if many don't turn to Affinity.
UK-based Affinity has been around since 2014 as a paid app (£150 for the lot), slowly making a name as a legit software alternative. When Canva bought them up in 2023, designers were worried about Canva's plan, expecting a locked-in subscription. To understand why Canva has gone the other way, we can look at what their goals have been so far.
Adobe's have the excellent drawing tool Fresco app for free, everything else is subscription-based, which is understandable as a biz model. This applies to anyone, regardless of their role, from pro designers to marketers and social media managers.
Canva has made headway in the 'non-designer' Giving teams of marketers and social media managers tools to help get work out the door faster.
For years, professional designers have baulked at Canva's simplistic tools. I've been a very reluctant adopter of Canva. As a designer, I don't like it. From a client's point of view, however, I totally get how accessible it is. It's not intended for professional designers. Affinity then, is Canvas' gateway drug of sorts - professional tools that segues into the marketer's ecosystem. As Canva said in last week's launch, 'Affinity is for designers, Canva is for teams'.
This has happened before.
Video editing app DaVinci Resolve put up posters in music venues in the US and UK. Quite a move. It had a download QR conde on it and was also given away free. The owning company (Black Magic) makes video editing hardware, cameras and desks. They decided to release the accompanying software for free to coax users into their hardware ecosystem. DaVinci Resolve started as a simple video editing tool, and due to its success, it's now an industry standard option and a very good mascot for the brand.
Canva have been upfront in their recent launch and seems to understand it's not how good Affinity is but how much they can be trusted not to backtrack or bait and switch.
I don't think we'll see an sudden change (apart from the sudden drop in Adobe shares last week), but in the next couple of years, I suspect more young designers going freelance due to the lack of jobs, will design in Affinity to get themselves started.
Reading online news, I think it's the fifth time I've come across an article on the 'death of social media', which I doubt it is. Also, what if you're using a tool like Linktree? Would a website do that job better? I'd say yes to that too, but first, here are a couple of examples I've recently built;
Divergent Sparks
Divergent Sparks the consultancy of Chris Tavner, a personal coach specialising in people with neurodiversity.
Lil Sanderson Studio
Lil Sanderson is an award-winning ceramics and heritage craft artist.
With both of these simple website projects, the aim was to make them hassle free.
The clients chose the domain name, and I did the rest. From the website design, build and support to answering questions and providing a solutions as they grow. it's a simple package creating the site and hosting with an annual fee, all using WordPress and it's tried and test features.
So why consider spending time on your website over social media? Here are my following reasons;
One page websites are perfect for start-ups, SME's and personal brands. They are ideal for those who don't always have time to update their website, but need a presence on the web where they can be found and contacted.
Above all these reasons, I would say the most important aspect of having a one-page website is trust. Once you have a domain name registered and an email set up, you're more likely to receive enquiries using Gmail or Outlook. Your own domain shows you are serious and accountable
With the two sites I did recently, they're actually two-page websites, with the second page being the contact form. These are what we can 'evergreen' pages, where the content doesn't need to change.
So if this sounds like a solution that might work for you, get in touch.
Updated Sept 2025
Wonderful to see a project I've invested a lot in come to life. Hot off the press, the brand guide for Child Friendly Salford. Massive thanks to Salford City Council for all their support. The guidebooks are being sent out to communities around Salford later in the year.
We've run workshops and art sessions, and with the help of Salford Council and the Youth Council Steering Group, developed the style and identity for the brand. I'm really proud of what we've achieved.
We pitched back in March, and I was pretty sure the combination of illustration skills and performing family-friendly comedy made me the right guy for the gig. I showed my stuff to the children, and they seemed to agree. Caroline Boyd took charge of logo, colour and typography while Pauline Johnson was on child engagement for the workshops. I project managed and did the illustration work.
Going forward, community groups wanting two run events as part of the child-friendly will get the brand guide book which includes artwork by the children, design instructions (brand guide) written from a children's viewpoint making them easy to read and understand, as well as a whole library of illustrations (seen here) to use however they want.
Some of the images here are very loosely based on children I met during the project, and my eight years living in Salford. Others are made completely up :)
Salford has a unique personality and feels very much like the North East, where I'm originally from. It's been an amazing experience and I've thoroughly enjoyed finding the voice of a Child Friendly Salford.
Over the last couple of months, I've been working in a team, listening to children, finding out what they want to make their city safer, to create the brand design, assets, and illustrations for Child Friendly Salford.
The 'Child Friendly City' is a UNICEF global initiative to make cities….well…. child-friendly. Many cities in the UK have begun this process and this was Salford's opportunity as part of a wider 'Greener Healthier Salford' incentive.
These photos are taken from last week's children's workshop. The venue is Salford GRIT, the new art studio in Salford shopping centre that's only been open a few weeks and is already bursting with creative folks. Handier still is that it's a 5-minute walk from the equally new and impressive Salford Youth Zone.
Who's we? Well, that's the freelancer's day connection. Myself, Caroline Boyd (from Boy oh Boy Design) and Pauline Johnson (Civic and Social) pitched ourselves to Salford as a collaboration. Three folks, experienced independent creatives, coming together with the just the right set of skills to make this project pop. A few agencies pitched, and we got the commission.
It's been a long time since I project managed or art directed, as I'm very hands-on, and the division of work has been split between design, illustration and workshops.
In the interview, we were grilled by the Salford Youth Council, and one child asked, "What makes you different from the other people we're talking to?". I think my answer was the right one.
Here's also a sneak peek of the illustration sketches, and all will be revealed next month. I'm really proud of what we've achieved so far; it's been an amazing project to take on.
Links
Salford Council
Unicef Child Friendly Cities
Salford Youth Zone
Onside Youth Zones
Illustration
Brand Design
Whether it's the branding for Salford's Child Friendly City incentive, Q and A's with attendees at a live scribe event or running a session at the opening of Stockport's Stockroom, social engagement has now become a part of Rocket Steps overall offering.
Since joining GRIT studios in late 2023 I've been able to combine these skills much more often, and I thank them for spotting new opportunities for me to do so too.
You see - full disclosure - when I'm not designing and illustrating, I'm performing and teaching. I've performed and taught comedy and improv on and off for almost twenty years. I'm also involved in TEDx Warrington. I consider myself a 'creative generalist' and have for a long time. It's a slow burn to skill up in a few different areas, but the career rewards, I think, are much greater.
Having an eclectic skill set offers a few different ways into a project. My involvement can involve helping to spark curiosity, build trust, and create a space where people feel safe to express themselves. It's not just the 'what' of a projects outcome, but finding the best 'how' to get there, where everyone feels invested.
Art can be a catalyst for change, and I see my role as helping others tap into that potential. Whether it’s sparking joy, raising awareness, or building community, I’m there to make creativity a shared experience—one that lingers long after the workshop ends.
Previous clients for this work include:
Salford City Council
Trafford Council
Stockport Council
Grit Studios
Sickfest
Stockroom
Greater Manchester Youth Network
I've always wanted to walk the full length of the Irwell River in my home city. From Old Trafford, through Manchester and Salford. So I was inspired recently to attend a full room at Factory International for the launch of CyanLines. It's a bold goal to make the canals of Greater Manchester accessible, connecting the green and blue spaces together. 100 miles of nature walk in 10 years.
It's a pretty audacious idea, and would need a lot of cash, but I was inspired enough to live-scribe it, and also needed to run out my new drawing tablet.
Looking for a live scribe (live artist) for your event? Get in touch.
Links:
It's a term that's been around for almost twenty years, referring to how the visual language of comics can explain complex issues or offer a light-hearted on a serious subject. There's an annual conference too, where professionals discuss how best it can be used.
Here are some illustrations excerpts from a comic strip I did recently, on the subject of scientific samples. I worked with the author on a script that was provided and added the humour where it would fit best. I'm happy with the results, and clean line is my preferred style.
More about Graphic Medicine.
Unlike standard pamphlets or medical texts, illustrated narratives make complex ideas clear and memorable.
For healthcare and med comms organisations, it provides a way to communicate with empathy. A comic steip or visual narrative can highlight patient voices and build stronger trust between providers and communities. Educators and medical professionals also benefit: illustrated stories make sensitive topics easier to discuss, and aid conversations and learning.
For patients, custom illustrations can transform intimidating medical info into something more approachable, helping them feel supported by seeing their own experiences reflected in visual form.
Links:
Here are a couple of slices of the work I did last week for the Side by Side in Rochdale, a new Festival of culture and the arts.
I couldn't make all of it, but I was in on the feedback session, and there was an incredible buzz. A session called 'No Such Thing' where people were invited to have conversations with folks they didn't know sounded right up my networking street.
My diary is slowly filling up for live art and portraits in November/December, but I still have space in Sept/Oct for folks in the events space looking for something a bit different.
Links:
Rochdale Council
Touchstones Rochdale
Side by Side Festival
Live Scribing