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Ben Tallon

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Champagne and Wax Crayons: Riding the Madness of the Creative Industry Paperback – 16 April 2015

by Ben Tallon (Author)

4.8 75 ratings

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This is the story of Illustrator and art director Ben Tallon's journey from his childhood hobby of drawing, to a freelance career working with the world's most glamorous clients in illustration, graphic design, music, film and television. Detailing highs of securing dream client World Wrestling Entertainment and lows of unconventional methods of paying the tax bill, this humorous, brutally honest documentation of navigating the art world alone and breaking into new markets introduces the real side of the creative industry and what you need to do to make your way to the top. The creative industry is built on opinion, ideas and ever-changing trends. Individuality is everything and how each person responds to adversity, triumph and disaster especially in the freelance world is impossible to teach or understand. This original and engaging book contains savvy advice from someone who has survived the unpredictable and often surreal world of the creative industry.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

LID Publishing
Publication date

16 April 2015
Dimensions

14 x 1.3 x 21.5 cm
ISBN-10

190779493X
ISBN-13

978-1907794933
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Product description

About the Author

Ben Tallon is an internationally renowned Illustrator, artist and art director in film, music and TV. He works with clients including WWE, Channel 4, The Guardian, Russell Brand, Unicef, Manchester United and The Wall Street Journal.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ LID Publishing (16 April 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 190779493X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1907794933
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14 x 1.3 x 21.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 895,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 4,226 in Business Life (Books)
- 4,598 in Biographies about Artists, Architects & Photographers
- 5,581 in Job Hunting (Books)

Customer reviews:
4.8 75 ratings

About the author

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Ben Tallon

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With searing wit and bare-knuckle prose, Ben Tallon digs deep into the darkest pits of the human psyche and reminds us that we are animals.

His dark fiction explores that which we try to hide in polite society. Human vulnerability, inescapable realities, and the terrifying everyday are the stars in his warped show.

“Ben Tallon really captures a certain ‘did I just see that?’ British griminess. This is the kind of in-the-shadows suburban horror I love. Always in danger of getting out of control.” - Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead.

"A brilliantly warped mind." - Katy Cowan, Creative Boom

"Proper moody and horrible stuff, this." - Shaun Ryder, Happy Mondays

"Ben writes like he draws: vivid, instinctive, and intense. He lands the reader straight in the story and marches them through a cityscape that is simultaneously humdrum and horrific. All told in big, confident splodges that stick in the mind." - Nick Asbury, author of Perpetual Disappointments Diary.

“Tallon's Notes are written in a spare, pummelling fashion like conkers dropping from big trees onto expensive cars. He's telling us that the world is underpinned by a disturbed hilarity. This is a book that smells like my old socks. But the sort of old socks you like; because they're yours; that smell, that stink, it's yours.” - Austin Collings, author of God’s Fox and The Myth of Brilliant Summers

"Ben's mundane world is our world. His skill is pulling back the veil, and showing us the depravity that lurks closer than we allow ourselves to realise." - Susan Earlam, Author of Earthly Bodies.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

75 global ratings

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Steven Johnson

Inspiring and entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2015

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I bought Ben's book after reading a review on twitter and Ben himself alerting me to the book being out. I liked the idea of reading a freelance illustrators experience as I wanted to see how his path to success worked out. I also liked how he had worked and lived in parts of England I had experience in.

What I got was something much more than an interesting story, it's a book full of understanding, conversation and support. Ben's had a fantastic journey with up's and down's that let you realise that if you push for it and go for it and love what you do - that will help you so much. His writing is superb - it's almost like he's got a crowd of mates hanging on every word he spills over a few drinks at the pub.

Through Ben's writing you get a true sense of what's involved making a go of freelance illustrating and through his experiences he gives you advice and tips to make it yourself.

The book is well written and so easy to read - I got through it in a few days.

Highly recommend to anyone embarking on a creative career whether self employed or not

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Herbie84

Must-read for anyone wanting to succeed in any type of creative industry

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2016

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I bought this book as a frustrated creative hoping for some inspiration. Although I'm not wanting to follow his path in the world of art I definitely found Ben's tale inspiring as well as funny and entertaining. This isn't a predictable or clichéd rags to riches tale giving the author an opportunity to brag about their success. Instead this is a story of a pretty normal (whatever that means) student who has gone through some lean times and grafted to achieve some of his goals but is still having to work hard to continue his success. It is a story that people will be able to relate to as the secrets to Ben's success are working hard, being persistent, building relationships, all things that anyone can put into practise and achieve in any field whether it is writing, stand up comedy or becoming an actor. The book is a decent length and for someone who is an artist by trade the author's down-to-earth and humorous writing style makes for a nice easy read which you don't have to be "a creative" to enjoy. I look forward to the follow up.

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Mel

Fantastic - couldn't put it down!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2015

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I have read a few books recently giving advice on embarking on a career as a freelancer in the illustration industry, but none have been as engaging as this one. As an autobiography, we are taken through the highs and lows with the author, picking up valuable tips along the way. The difference between this book and many of the 'how to' manual style books available is that we are let in on the darker times, the self doubt, the long hours, the knock backs and times when work and money are short, as well as the highs, the dream jobs and lucky breaks giving a far deeper insight into the industry than any other book I have read, giving far more weight to the lessons or tips we glean from these candid accounts. I found this book difficult to put down, and think it is one I will be re-reading. The illustrations and humour also make it a pleasure to digest. Highly recommended!

3 people found this helpful

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ryanjohnstonco

Truly inspiring and an absolute must ready for freelancers!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2019

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This book was simply incredible, from the moment I picked it up I just couldn't put it down. Ben writes about everything, the ups and the downs and everything in between. This is a book that doesn't just say "Oh yeah so I got WWE and Manchester City as clients...", this tells the struggles/effort/delight/sadness of what he went through to be where he is today. So many times while reading this I genuinely thought "I've felt that" "I know exactly what happened next" etc because we all go through the same rollercoaster of freelance life. The hints and tips at the end of each chapter are truly inspiring and have set me on my way to doing what I love to do everyday.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2019

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Ben Tallon uses his own experience of starting out on the freelance life to good effect in this memoir. He is honest about his own aspirations and setbacks as an illustrator. The book is a useful and reassuring guide to anyone setting out on the same precarious path.

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Miss A M Robinson

The perfect read for creative students everywhere!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2015

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I read this with my teacher hat on...and boy is it refreshing! Tallon reminds us that it is ok to be creative. That you can make a career of it. That the governments ebacc is not the be all and end all. He does so with humorous anecdotes, and numerous references to putting the kettle on, reminding us that despite his extraordinary list of clients, he is just a 'normal' person, if in his own words a little 'weird' at times! He makes his readers believe that his journey, really is possible for other creative minds to travel too.
In particular, the 'what I learned' sections are brilliant for young readers today, fresh out of college or university.
From one believer of a good cuppa making everything better to another, well done on a marvellous read!

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Max Lilley

Excellent book for all Creatives

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 January 2019

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If you are a creative of any kind, artist, illustrator, designer or maker, this book is a must read, especially if entering or in freelance work. It's a very honest and informative read with extra information that most creative guidebooks don't highlight. It's also quite comforting as it humanises all the up's and downs creatives go through when travelling through their careers and the creative industry as a whole. Ben has written a cracking book and it is worth every penny. On a side note, check out Ben's podcast Arrest all mimic's, which is equally as engaging.

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Amazon Customer

If you want to become a freelance illustrator, read this book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2019

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For anyone looking at how to make the transition from graduate to freelancer, I would recommend they read this book! Not only is it incredibly useful, but it is also funny and very relatable to the 'post uni' adult life struggle. This book really helped me after finishing university and not quite knowing what next steps I needed to take. It also accurately portrays the highs and lows of self employment, and the joy of reaching personal milestones. If you want to become a freelance illustrator, you need to read this book!

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Champagne and Wax Crayons: Riding the Madness of the Creative Industry Paperback – 16 April 2015

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