I’m pleased to feature fellow Londoner: product designer and illustrator Peter Crawley on Ape on the Moon. I’ve been very impressed by his unique approach to documenting intriguing geometric shapes and architectural design using a roll of cotton, needle, and a healthy dose of raw talent.

He’s achieved some special effects with these materials, including, in places, an interesting texture created through what looks like ink bleeding into water. Peter has been good enough to respond to my questioning on his work.

What got you interested in illustration using these materials?

Last summer myself and four friends drove from New York to San Francisco. When we returned with over 2000 photos of the journey it was really hard to decide which one photo would sum-up the trip, the journey and the experiences along the way.

Being a fan of Jack Keroauc and of course On The Road, I stumbled across some maps he had drawn to document his trips and it seemed a fitting way to document ours.

Originally I had planned on drawing the map and using pins to hold the cotton in place, but there was something really appealing and different about stitching the thick watercolour paper. The media combination worked well, the thread gives a 3d element to the illustrations and every viewing angle has a slightly different feel.

Describe the tools you use and the process each piece goes through

After finding a suitable subject – one that has nice lines and interesting details – the subject is either photographed, edited and traced in Illustrator or drawn freehand.

The vector lines are printed and placed over the watercolour paper. I then have to decide how the piece will be stitched and meticulously pierce every hole with a pin ready for the stitching, sometimes over a thousand holes. Finally using a needle and thread, stitch the illustration.

Do you think your full time job has an influence on your illustrations?

Definitely, as a product designer I need to be aware of line, geometry, form and structure so tend to look at objects in this manner. There is something incredibly pleasing about a well constructed product, a Dieter Rams radio, a piece of Bauhaus furniture. Items like this that make me consider the lines of a piece.

I live in London and am lucky enough to be surrounded by architectural masterpieces such as the Isokon Building, 2 Willow Road and many other great art deco buildings which are a source of constant inspiration.

What are you working on next?

At present I am working on an illustration of the Empire State Building, a detail of the transmitter masts just above the viewing platform. Its quite a complex piece but is coming along well. After that, hopefully some more architectural pieces and maybe some abstract geometrical patterns, experiments with colour and texture.

ⓒ Peter Crawley, 2009

Excellent, excellent stuff, thank you Peter

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