The graphics were inspired by Lee’s first solo exhibition ‘Hypnagogic Tableau’. The body of work concept is to look through a lucid window of space between consciousness and unconsciousness, past and present, technology and nature, and allowing you to experience all the sensory freedom that comes with that space. The piece “Good Dream” was adapted to the Endeavor Ranger snowboard.
endeavorsnowboards.com/
Photos & video by Sam Page @velvetseaproductions velvetseaproductions.com
Put your phone down and pick up our latest collaboration with NSW-based visual artist Lee McConnell. In our latest drop, Lee combines ideas of overconsumption in our society by blending the vibrant colours and finer details of nature into elements of our digital realm. Expect a range of 100% eco-friendly graphic tees, corduroy pieces, and unique accessories - all crafted from hemp and premium organic cotton blends.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative process - what inspires you?
I’ve always illustrated and drawn since I was a kid, I think a lot of inspiration has come from kids' books that I’ve had, early record covers my dad had, or cartoons I watched growing up: The Ferals, Captain Planet and stuff like that. My creative process is mostly organic, it’s all from the hands. Starts from the mind, down the arm, out my left hand, onto the paper, and then I just draw that out. I rub stuff out heaps because there are always elements where things are wrong, or the shapes change and building it out keeps you in tune with what you’re putting down. You’re not just relying on being able to go back and chop and change shit easily, you can’t command-z like a computer. Computer's are pretty amazing and do some awesome stuff, but like everything else in the world, they make everything too easy for you.
Talk us through the creation of our debut capsule - what was the highlight of working with Afends?
Afends approached me to do the collab, and we bounced some ideas about what we could do fot the artwork - it was as though I was creating stuff for an exhibition. The highlight is the sustainable stuff they do, it’s really good. The fact they are going out of their way to build a hemp farm and produce their own hemp to make their product - it's pretty sick to see. All the colours, and the quality of their product is pretty amazing.
Take it back: that was the underlying concept. I guess it’s just a take on the overconsumption of nature. It's so nice to just go for a walk through the bush and be connected to that. Paying attention to the detail in everything is what really centres me. It can be as simple as the texture on a leaf. There's so much pattern, detail and life in everything, and I'm super inspired by that. I try to incorporate and marry colours together that create this euphoric feeling – an idea or a concept and I drive that home. The thing that really glues it together is the colour, I’m drawn to the colour first. One thing that’s kept my work breathing, fresh and stimulating is the fact that it is ever changing, and never the same.
What's your favourite project you've worked on?
I think out of everything that I’ve been doing lately, doing a record cover for a band is probably the thing that I enjoy the most - animated vinyls too. I really enjoy creating record covers, and some of the things you can do now are pretty bullshit. The last one we did, for Dune Rats, is a lenticular print which, again, is inspired by when we were kids and playing with Tazo's. We also did a 2-part album for DZ Deathrays, where if you put them together, it makes one landscape scene.
I did some photographic sort of stuff for Jack River, it was like this collage, crazy kind of landscape thing that Holly dreamed up. It's a pretty special album because Holly and I grew up together, and there are a lot of memories: good, bad and sad ones, and the cover had to tell the same story as the music. She was putting on a little music festival in her hometown of Foster and wanted me to do the poster. When that kicked off, I also did a lot of creative direction and installations for the festival based off the poster artwork. Working in your home town, having lots of friends involved and creating things together - that’s what it’s all about, it's so fun. I’m not really musically talented, but I can be creatively involved one way or another, and it’s pretty cool to be involved in the visual side of things.
“Somewhere Down The Barrel” 2022
Dune Rats new album ‘Real Rare Whale’ is out June 24. You can now pre-order the album along with a heaps of merch bundle options featuring the artwork I created for the album.
Here is a bit back ground behind the creative process….
“I had travelled down to Eden to catch up with the boys while they were writing the album. It was the first time I had been amongst it in person while the writing was and demo’ing was happening. We start on the artwork concepts during this time while the creative juices were on a high. For me it was the best way, to be there amongst the energy and excitement of writing a new album. To be all together in the same room to bounce ideas is pretty electric. We always have great brainstorming chats but rarely are they face to face so this was special. We listened to the album many times over glasses of red and dinners made up mostly of Eden’s fresh seafood. With the sense of this album being super fun and at heart really just wanting create a good time. The artwork in Dunies fashion was to be bold colourful and fun to match.
One night Danny told a story of ‘Old Tom’ a famous Orca from the area who was around in the early 1900’s who was famous for his co-operation with the local fisherman. With Old Tom being a rare whale in during his time and the album born in Eden it seemed fitting to call the album Real Rare Whale. A title which was so fun to run with. I imagined the whale almost instantly and when I sat down to draw the process was pretty quick and easy knowing it was the one. Another character born into the ever expanding world of Dune Rats. It’s always a fun journey for me creating artwork with the band. We are all in it from the get go with this one being extra special as we made a bit of holiday around it together. This album has been my favourite to work on. I’m super proud of it and can’t wait for everyone to enjoy it.”
LONE GOAT GALLERY, BYRON BAY
12 July - 6 August 2019
‘Hypnagogic Tableau’ takes a look through a lucid window of space between consciousness and unconsciousness, past and present, technology and nature, and allowing you to experience all the sensory freedom that comes with that space. The show will feature plays on light, painting, installations and video work. ‘Hypnagogic Tableau’ is Lee McConnell's first solo exhibItion.
Artworks in order -
‘ANSWERS’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 2900mm x 1600mm
‘CONVERSATION TOO LONG’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1820mm x 1210mm
‘INTO ACTION’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1820mm x 1210mm
‘LISTEN & LEARN’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1210mm x 1520mm
‘GOOD DREAM’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1210mm x 1520mm
‘SUNNY SIDE A’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1210mm x 1520mm
‘THINK HARDER’ 2019, Acrylic on canvas, framed, 1210mm x 1520mm
‘A TV NEVER WATCHED YOU’ 2019, Mixed media
‘EGG ON A TURNTABLE’ 2019, Mixed media
‘INCOMMODIOUS’ 2019, Mixed media
‘LET IT OUT BEFORE IT’S OVER’ 2019, Mixed media
Photography - Amac
Video - Ashi Arizona
Music - Los Scallywaggs ‘Smile Stranger’
I was pretty damn stoked when I got the artist residency for Splendour in 2019. I had done a bit of work with the festival in the past so they were aware of my work. They had recently started up the residency where they choose an artist to create the event artwork each year that filters through the whole festival for that year. I was the second year of the program and got the chance to be heavily involved with a lot of the creative direction across the festival.
I had a lot of fun bringing the poster artwork to life then translating that too the lineup announce video which I conceptualised and directed working closely with Cumulus VFX in Byron to create the animated journey through the poster world as the lineup is announced.
I held my first solo exhibition at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron launching in conjunction with Splendour and the residency. Splendour put on a fun opening night with margies flowing. It was a bit overwhelming to see a crowd turn up for my work alone. So happy to see a lot of people enjoy the show and as a bonus making some sales.
Got to paint the tunnel on the way into the festival site which was the biggest mural I’ve done to date. Had heaps of fun using spray cans for the first time.
Intro by Splendour below..
“Please welcome Lee McConnell to the team.
Splendour in the Grass is thrilled to welcome ARIA nominated visual artist Lee McConnell as the Artist in Residence of 2019. Lee’s #collab with Splendour will see him create the event’s 2019 artwork and bring it to life, working his magic on some amazing installations across the festival site.
An intimate gathering for aspiring artists, a select handful of lucky Splendour ticketholders will have direct access to Lee and can get the low down on how he got to where he is today. Stay tuned on how to apply!
Whether you’ve got a Dune Rats record on repeat, you’re a lover of Jack River, or you’ve scored some Mambo threads, there’s no doubt you’ve travelled through the vivid and distinctly Australian flavoured worlds created by Lee in his artworks.
His aesthetic has become widely recognisable, notably through his long term collaboration with Dune Rats where he directs their artistic media, from music videos (6 Pack), stage installations and animations, to the album packages themselves. Ever moshed with a giant beer can at a Dunies gig? You’ve got Lee to thank for that.
In visual worlds apart, he’s also designed all of Jack River’s single and album packages, including her recent collaboration with Peking Duk – ‘Sugar’. Lee also holds the title of Creative Director for Jack River’s festival, Grow Your Own.
Lee takes inspiration from the strangeness of everyday reality – making it brighter, stranger, and like you’ve never seen it before. Dive into his world at Splendour in the Grass!”
Links -
https://2019.splendourinthegrass.com/
https://2019.splendourinthegrass.com/news/the-artist-in-residence-for-2019-is/
COOPS LANE, MELBOURNE CENTRAL, VIC (Group exhibition)
October 2019 - January 2020
I was very happy to get an invite 2 exhibit in a special celebration of 50 years of Sesame Street. 50 artists all getting 2 have their take on characters that shaped us in 1 way or another. I was never that good with maths but I could count watching Sesame Street 2x a day, so to be given The Count as my character to was rad and a fun 1 2 do. AH AH AH!
Curated by Eddie Zammit & Radio Velvet
Exhibited artwork -
‘50 YEARS AND COUNTING’ 2018, Giclee Print on Fine Art paper, 420mm x 594mm
Part 1 released 30 August 2019 / Part 2 released 9 July 2021 / I OH YOU Records
Artwork / Design - Lee McConnell
Artwork Concept / Band Photography - David Herington
Animated Vinyl art direction & design by Lee McConnell / Designed and constructed by Drew Tetz
Here are the both Part 1 & 2 of DZ’s ‘Positive Rising’ records. Stoked with this whole campaign and the finished product of each vinyl. The initial concept of one whole apocalyptic landscape of day to night, was an idea of David Herington’s, DZ’s all round tour manager, guitar tech wizz that shoots beautiful photos too. DZ were round at my place one night after a gig at the Northern in Byron we were chatting and I showed them stuff I was working on for Splendour in 2019 which was much in the vein they wanted the cover art after also seeing what I did for Jack River who also plays on the same team of I OH YOU. So from there we shot the band walking in the their grey suits. Bunny Man (David) shot the photo you see in centre fold of the record cover too. I then began to search for the right photos to collage to build the Mad Max inspired scene. Some of the of the photos, my own, that I took on my travels through the top of Chile and parts of Bolivia. The bits of scrap metal, train skeletons and junk were from a train graveyard in Bolivia. I used black as the back cover and background for the 2nd record design to contrast the white used on ‘Part 1’ as the day. The animated vinyl addition to Part 2 was awesome to work on with animator Drew Tetz. This was the first time creating a zoetrope using photographic elements.
Released 14 November 2019
“Mr Simple is excited to release our latest collaboration, with none other than the crowd favourite and one of Australia’s oldest & best beer brands, Victoria Bitter. We’re fans of classic timeless design and Victoria Bitter is an iconic beer which is perfect for Mr Simple. The range consists of 8 classic pieces to kick summer off strong. Our design team used inspiration from the Victoria Bitter archive for some classic vintage tees and we teamed up with ARIA nominated artist Lee McConnell for some pop art inspired twists on VB’s iconic logo. The campaign is shot in the bar at our office that we turned into our pop art inspired VB bar.
See you at the bar.
Cheers, Mr Simple”
DISNEY ‘MICKEY MOUSE ARTHOUSE’
COOPS LANE GALLERY, MELBOURNE CENTRAL, VIC (Group exhibition)
November 2018 - February 2019
I was invited to exhibit in a group show curated by Eddie Zammit & Radio Velvet celebrating 90 years of Mickey Mouse. 90 Artists from around the world did their take on the famous rodent. I chose to take a page out of Alice’s book showing Mickey’s graceful fall through the test of time and technology.
Exhibited artwork -
‘90 YEARS DOWN THE MOUSE HOLE’ 2018, Giclee Print on Fine Art paper, 420mm x 594mm
Photos - Aaron White
Tunnel mural for Splendour In The Grass 2019 as part of my artist residency.
Video by Ashi Arizona
12 January 2019 / Harry Elliot Oval, Forster-Tuncurry
Creative Direction & Artwork - Lee McConnell
Animation - Cumulus VFX / Kyle James
Video - Sam Page / Velvet Sea Productions
Photos - Charlie Hardy / Ben Everden / Alex Knox / Kane Grosvenor
Grow Your Own Music & Produce Festival was a dream of my good friend Holly Rankin (AKA Jack River). We both co-founded the festival in our hometown of Forster-Tuncurry after both wanting to give our community a way for the youth coming up to show their talents whether it be in Music or Art. The festival after a couple of years grew and Holly’s dream of shining light on local Farmers & Producers with a sustainable support your local side added into the music festival.
We started out with local bands playing and had Dope Lemon headline in the inaugural year. With the festival becoming more popular we were able to book bigger bands. Having both worked in the music industry and on festivals Holly and I both wanted to bring the experience home for our town to enjoy. I had the role of Creative Director which was super fun working with close friends to bring the festival to life. Such an enjoyable experience building the event from scratch to then see all that attends enjoy it.
On the artwork side of things Holly and I will come up with a theme. This year in particular was inspired by the film ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids’. Once I designed the poster it was then onto storyboarding and directing the animated lineup announce video, followed by the site creative where me and my team build the entrance way with giant cutout flowers. We did a lot of cutouts throughout the festival and also built standing bars which were part of an art gallery that we had featuring the likes of Ben Brown, Ozzy Wrong, Lauren Webster, Kentaro Yoshida, Jack Irvine and local Indigenous artist Lara Went of Yukul Art to name a few. Super proud of this one!
Artwork and design for Dune Rats 2nd No. 1 ARIA charting album ‘Hurry Up And Wait’. Something a little different this time with the Zoetrope picture disc that animates when played at 33 1/3 rpm and filmed at 24 fps. Check out the little video I filmed :)
I designed the disc with Tee Ken Ng who is a master at the maths behind setting up the vinyl to animate like so. It’s pretty exciting to see the extent you can really push the design of this type of thing.
From album to merch to tours posters and animated tour announce videos we didn’t stop there design a massive inflatable rat bursting out of the wall that is surrounded by the band as characters and type I illustrated the album and its singles. Was pretty mazing to see the curtain drop and witness the show. Gave me tingles. Proud moment to design something so big that big and have everyone in the sold out crowd see it and enjoy it while watching you mates kill it on stage to their fans.
Check out the photos and the video shot and put together by Tom Healy. Shows were nuts and the last big tour shows before Covid locked down Oz.
Thanks to Dune Rats, Matty Woo and BMG x
A few things I’ve collaborated on over the past few years with Birds of Condor. Starting with the ‘Playa Straya’ capsule which was designed to take a bit of Australia to the golfing world with fun little light hearted graphics that were a bit commentary on Aussie larrikinism and featured across a few different products..
We did a ‘Putt Loose’ range together creating yardages with artwork from a bunch of different artists. I designed the logo and created the ‘Hawaii Fore-0’ print for the loud shirt range. We also worked on a fun yardage print in collaboration with Byron Bay Golf Club for their bar staff to where at the club house. Always fun to see this stuff kicking around.
Go check it all out at birdsofcondor.com/
Article courtesy of Birds Of Condor for Caddie Mag Vol. 7