#MeetTheResident: Concrete Clouds
Can you tell us a bit about what you do?
I am an architectural illustrator and concept artist. I help to tell the story of projects by providing drawings that are stylistically tailored for each design stage, from feasibility studies through to planning and final marketing imagery. I work collaboratively with architects, designers, and developers throughout the UK and internationally. In addition to working in architecture, I also provide concept artwork for film and tv and illustrations for other creative industries.
Why did you want to start your own business?
I was working in architectural practice in London and I was always drawing. It was clear to me early in my career and architectural education that I did not want to follow the traditional path. After building up enough confidence I decided to take a leap of faith and move back to Belfast in order to work in film as a concept artist.
In order to keep myself afloat during what I anticipated to be a career path that would have its fair share of lulls, I started Concrete Clouds, doing what I had always done – drawing. With the relationships I had built in practice I was able to ensure consistent work and begin my journey on my own and on my own terms.
I also realized that I could fold conceptual artwork for film into Concrete Clouds and offer both services, with architecture providing steady work and film injecting the odd crazy adventure. Plus, the name was floating about unused since I was about 13. It was my band’s name but unfortunately, we didn’t quite take off. So I thought it fit well for what I do now all these years later.
Any projects that you are currently working on?
I am working on a number of projects, illustrating architectural practices in London and Dublin. I am also in the early stages of gearing up for a film as a concept artist. In addition, I am always illustrating and working on my own artwork, sometimes even selling the odd piece.
What is the worst/best thing about working for yourself?
The best thing is the freedom. I love being my own boss and doing what I want when I want. My working patterns are quite sporadic and intense. I like having my own space to get in the zone to work anywhere but the desk – normally on a sofa, on a beanbag or sometimes even on the floor. That’s something I couldn’t do when working for a big company. The worst part is dealing with things being more unpredictable and not knowing what will come next and from where – although having said that – I do enjoy how I could be working on architectural projects one week, then artwork the next and then something completely out there and wacky the next.
What has been the biggest hurdle for you starting out and how did you overcome it?
My biggest hurdle was motivating myself when I didn’t have work, especially when I was still working from home every day. It was difficult to separate work and home life when my office was my kitchen table and sofa. Getting out of the house into my new space at Blick has been brilliant and has ensured I feel inspired every day to create something new, even if just for myself.
What inspires you?
I am a huge film geek, comic book nerd, and music buff. I am constantly watching films and I am probably one of the last people on earth that still buys DVDs and albums. I can’t take things seriously if I don’t own them. I have thousands of DVDs and CDs, unfortunately, locked away in my family home waiting for the day I have my own house and cave to put them in.
Films, books, and comics have always been a huge source of inspiration when it comes to my artwork. I am mad about Star Wars. I listen to all my music constantly when I work. It helps me to visualize some of my weirder ideas. I am a bit of a metalhead too – likely still stuck in a mid-2000’s Emo phase.
How do you stay creative/inspired?
I think mainly by watching films and listening to music. When I have architecture or film work, I am inspired to do the best I can. With my own projects, I tend to wait until something hits me, and then I’ll get obsessed with it and churn out a ton of work based on whatever my latest fascination or idea is.
I like that approach. I don’t really get doing stuff for the sake of it. I like writing music too, and recording my own songs. It’s completely different from everything else I do but similar in the sense that I build up music in layers, in the same way, that I would build up a drawing. Most of it is pretty heavy and weird, so I doubt anyone would ever actually enjoy listening to it!
Who is your design hero?
Ralph McQuarrie – the concept artist for Star Wars. His work is incredible. He is the visual architect of Star Wars as much as George Lucas. His artwork has helped define everything I do in architecture and in my own artwork. My girlfriend bought me an 800-page coffee table book collecting all his work. It actually weighs as much as a fridge and is a hazard to even attempt to lift and read.
What piece of software/tool/equipment would you struggle to run your business without?
I rely on my iPad Pro. I use it to do all my drawings, through a combination of software called Procreate and Photoshop which I can sync up with my iMac. I used to do all my linework with a pen and then color digitally – now though I have made the switch over to full digital hand-drawn illustration. If all else fails I could still do my drawings the old school way with a pen and paper. It’s my colouring that would suffer the most without my iPad.
What are your plans/hopes/ ambitions for the future?
I am hoping to grow Concrete Clouds and work with more like-minded and exciting architects and designers, as well as with more filmmakers. I would love to work as much as possible within Film as that is my ultimate passion. Film offers a world of imagination wholly like any other and is fertile ground for drawing and storytelling. I am also writing a script for a short horror film, which I hope to finish and storyboard myself with the hopes of filming it live-action or maybe even animated!
Finally, what advice would you give to other creatives starting their own business?
If you can – just go for it. Yes, it can be unstable, nerve-racking, and everything in between but I personally, would rather than wake up every day dreading going into a job that my heart isn’t in one hundred percent. I used to call that work fear – The Doom – and I felt the doom massively, (even so bad that on a Friday evening when work had actually finished, I dreaded the thought of Monday morning before the weekend had even started). That’s when you know the doom has gripped you.
Now, I wake up excited, energized, and raring to go knowing that I am working to build something that’s my own – doing something I am truly in love with. Stick to your guns and go with your gut – if you have passion, talent, and good ideas then there is no reason why you can’t be the next person to have a successful business. Loads of people are doing it and working for somebody else is overrated anyway.
You can find their work at www.concreteclouds.co.uk
Instagram: @concreteclouds__
Share article:
Another chance to see some of the pics from our @womenfolk.co JUNIOR.SENIOR event we hosted last month!
Jul 23
Here we meet and get some advice and insights one of our newist creative residents at Blick video editor Ben O’Neil
Jul 22
Due to an insanely busy period of work and travel, this is a very belated post on some of the key lessons from our last Blick Academy Creative Talk on 5th June with Saul Duffin founder of @yeomagazine
We have a full event writeup on our blog with lots more tips and insights from Saul and lessons he has learned throughout his creative journey! (Link to blog in profile) ✨️
Jul 16
Here we meet and get some advice and insights one of our newist creative residents at Blick video editor Ben O’Neil.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work?
I’m a video editor who predominantly works in non-scripted television. Currently working on a two part documentary series for Amazon Prime
What was the biggest hurdle for you starting out and how did you overcome it?
Getting in the door. I didn’t know anyone in tv so the biggest hurdle was getting my name about and then getting hired to work on something. I made lots of tea for years then convinced someone to let me edit a small thing.
How do you stay inspired and motivated?
Watching good stuff
What do you wish you had known before starting out?
Everyone is faking it a little bit.
What’s your top tip/piece of advice for anyone wanting to follow a creative path?
Be prepared to fail and then get back up and try again. Also practice your craft as much as humanly possible.
Do you have any regrets or anything you wish you had done differently on your creative journey?
Too many to list probably. Still working on that part.
Where can people find you online?
I’m thoroughly offline but my email is mebenoneil@gmail.com
Jul 8
NI CREATIVE HUBS MEETUP #3 BANGOR
This is the third meetup for creative hubs in Northern Ireland to come together, connect, share ideas, and support each other. This time in sunny Bangor, where we will be visiting:
Boom Studios @boom.studios
Seacourt Print Workshop @seacourtprints
The Courthouse @courthousebangor
If you are involved with running or working in a creative hub in Northern Ireland, we would love for you to join us at this our third meetup.
This series of events is a collaborative project between Blick Shared Studios and Boom Studios
�Book your ticket on our website (link in profile) ✨️
Jul 2
Some pics 📸 from our @womenfolk.co JUNIOR.SENIOR event on Saturday 15th June with @wee.nuls and @majukooo sharing their creative stories ✨️
Jul 1
Happy Friday! It`s almost the weekend... some lovely light in our Cotton Court Studios earlier this week! Let`s hope we see more of it over the weekend 🌞 ☀️ 🌤
Jun 28
Last week I was very lucky to get to attend this year’s Hubs Meet Up Bautopia 4 Metamorphosis organised by the European Creative Hubs Network with the support of STPLN , the hosting hub in Malmö, Sweden.
This year’s Hubs Meetup was exclusively for European Creative Hubs Network members and was a three day event focusing on creative hubs and their current topics of interest and challenges. This year, it was all about delving into the transformations of our communities, the built environment around us and the impact of creators on designing how we live where we live. As well as the amazing opportunities for peer learning from and connecting with other creative hubs here are a few of the things I found interesting from the meetup talks:
Collaboration - is key, but people need to learn how to collaborate as it`s not a skill that’s traditionally taught in schools, colleges or universities.
Unlearning - we need to unlearn old ways of working to relearn new ways of working.
Cross-sector collaboration - will have a role to play in green and social transformation and future innovation, bringing together artists, creatives and industry. Creatives have different ways of thinking, methods and processes and are capable of shaping something new in lots of different ways.
CITY ECOLOGY WALK
We also got to take part in a city walk organised by Feral a creative studio and research platform for ecology in urban spaces which was a lovely way to get some fresh air, find out a bit more about the city, it’s heritage and ecology.
Some of the places we visited on the walk:
1. Traditional Herring Shacks
2. Traditional Herring Fishing Boats
3. Turning Torso
4. Redeveloped Industrial Seafront Area
SOCIAL IMPACT WORKSHOP
I also took part in an amazing social impact workshop, which I will share more on in coming days. Giving me lots of new tools and methods for measuring our impact here at Blick. I especially loved the advice that it`s ok to include anecdotal evidence including stories and observations, to build a broader picture of the real human experience and impact of your organisation. I`m looking forward to going through the process properly for Blick in coming months!
Jun 27
Thanks again to everyone who came to our last Blick Academy talk last Wednesday evening. We have our Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR event this Saturday then will be taking a little break from events over the summer while we get ourselves organised for Autumn/ Winter when we are hoping to also introduce some more practical workshops. Let us know if there is anything you would like us to cover!
Jun 14
Some pics from our latest Blick Academy creative talk with Saul Duffin founder of @yeomagazine Thanks so much to Saul for a brilliant talk and to everyone who came along. Full event write up to come shortly!
Jun 10
Just over a week to go until our Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR event on Saturday 15th June with two amazing creative women sharing their stories!
SENIOR SPEAKER: ESTABLISHED CREATIVE - NUALA CONVERY - @wee.nuls
Wee Nuls (Nuala) is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative director based in Belfast. She works in a number of mediums including spray paint, hand drawn and digital illustration, and printmaking. Wee Nuls street art murals can be seen across Belfast and have become a part of the visual identity of the city over the past few years. She is inspired by challenging gender inequalities, beauty ideals, sexism, and raising awareness for feminist issues in a playful way.
JUNIOR SPEAKER: EMERGING CREATIVE - MAJA SZOTKIEWICZ - OWNER OF MAJUKOOO - @majukooo
Maja Szotkiewicz is the founder of Majukooo (selling her illustrated stationery, prints and jewellery online) , and is currently in her final year of her Graphic Design and Illustration undergraduate degree at Ulster University. Maja`s work is inspired by everyday, imperfect moments, as she believes finding beauty in the mundane is the key to true happiness. Maja has been featured in Belfast Telegraph`s 30 under 30 list in 2024, was a finalist at the NI Social Media Awards in the `Entrepreneurial Student of the Year` category in 2023 and has her products stocked in 49 stockists in the UK, Ireland, US and Canada.
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): June 15, 2024
Event Time: 11.30am
Location: Blick Shared Studios, Hill Street, Belfast BT1 2LB
Book through website (link in profile) 🌼 🌸 ♥️ ✨️
Jun 7
"I made a magazine directed at my 16-year-old self, who felt like there wasn’t anything cool happening in the city."
"Like most creative people, my work is a reflection of who I am and what my interests are. I love music, comedy, art and design so I have always loved to fuse those things together."
��"I don’t think I’d change much as the failures and mistakes were probably the most valuable part of the experience."
Looking forward to hearing Saul`s story at tonight`s sold out Blick Academy Creative Talk!
If you can`t make tonight`s event and want to find our more about Saul, we did an interview with him that you can read on our website ✨️(link in profile)
Jun 5
A quick summary of the month of May at Blick! you can find details on everything on our website! Link in profile 🌟 🌟 🌟
Jun 4
Happy Monday! Start the week by checking out our latest roundup of funding, support, opportunities, events, exhibitions and festivals for NI creatives.
Read the full listings including links on our blog on our website (link in profile)
Jun 3
Another chance to find out a bit more about Saul Duffin founder of YEO magazine who is speaking at our next Blick Academy event next Wednesday evening at 7pm in our Hill St studios!
You can read the full interview on our blog or get your free tickets on our website!
May 31
Less that a week to go until our next Blick Academy Creative Talk with Saul Duffin, founder of YEO Magazine, sharing his creative story and only a couple of tickets left!
EVENT DETAILS:
Event Date(s): June 5, 2024
Event Time: 7pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Book on our website ✨️ (link in profile)
--
May 30
Our latest roundup of funding, support, opportunities, events, exhibitions and festivals for NI creatives.
FUNDING AND SUPPORT
- Design Academy Adapt Fashion Industry Program Collaboration Between VORN - The Berlin Fashion Hub and Zalando
- Invest NI Ambition to Grow Programme - Up to £45000 Funding
- Design Competition Ukraine
- Student Invent - £2500 Prize Pot
- Artist Residency Frac Grand Large/ Hauts-de-France Dunkirk
- Northern Ireland Screen New Writer Focus
- Northern Ireland Screen Short Film Call - £6000 - £22000 Funding for Individuals and Companies
- Applications Open: August Craft Month 2024
- Craft NI Gallery Maker Call Out 2024
- Áras Éanna Residency
- 143rd RUA Annual Exhibition
- Sailortown Festival Smartphone Photography Exhibition
- Digital Arts Studios STARTS4WATERII Residencies – Open call for artists
- Belfast Potters market Applications Open
- The National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme – Travel Awards
EVENTS
Northern Ireland Screen Writing for Readers - Screenwriting with Steve Brooks via Zoom
Wed 29 May
12 - 2pm
Goal Planning with Groove: Get The Damn Thing Done!
Thu 30 May
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM EDT
Online
Social Media Safety for Creatives and Professionals
Mon 3 Jun
3:30 – 4:30 PM EDT
Online
Blick Academy Creative Talk: Saul Duffin Founder of YEO Magazine
Wed 5 Jun
7pm
Blick Studios, Hill St
Digital Horizon Masterclass: “Integrating Captioning into Creative Work”
6 June 2024
10.30am – 4.30pm
Ledger Studio, University of Atypical
The Circle: Let`s Talk About Imposter Syndrome
Wed 12th June
6 - 8pm
Oh Yeah Centre
The Power of Podcasting
Thu 13 Jun
9:30 - 11:30 am
Innovation Factory
Digital Horizon Masterclass: “Build your own Online Platform”
Thu 13 Jun
10.30am – 4.30pm
Ledger Studio, University of Atypical
Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR
Sat 15 June
11.30am
Blick Studios, 46 Hill Street
An evening with Brendan Mooney MBE
Wed 19 June
Ulster University, York Street
5:30pm - 7:00pm
EXHIBITIONS
Usfolk 6
23rd May to 2nd June
The Naughton Gallery
Belfast School of Art 175 Degree Shows
Dates: 7th June Opening Night
8th - 22nd June
Read the full listings including links on our website ✨️
May 28
Off for the bank holiday and wanting to work on your creative business idea? The next exercise on our resources for creatives section on our website is now available to view and download
Exercise 4 - Understanding Your "Why" or Your purpose
Your “Why” or purpose is the reason you have formed your creative practice boiled down to a single sentence (or two). This exercise will help you to understand your purpose and communicate it to the world.
Downloadable PDF and Word Versions available on our website ✨️ (link in profile)
May 27