Marmalade Flapjacks sketches...

I had some very welcome news from Nate Padavick, the fine and talented fellow who set up the wonderful theydrawandcook blog with his fine and talented sister Salli Swindell . The gargantuan, glorious artwork 'soufflé' that has risen on the they draw and cook site is to be nibbled down into a book of recipes for publication next year and I'm truly delighted that my multi armed flapjack chef is one of the chosen dishes. Thanks Nate and Salli!

I hate to repeat post things so, by way of padding, I happened upon the original (very rough) thumbnail layout for the artwork (in a vast pile of sketch work I've yet to fully sort!) which seemed like suitable blog fodder. I'm glad I didn't go with the fat, multi legged chef, although I did like his casual stance on one pair of legs.

If you haven't already, check out theydrawandcook. You sure to find a tasty treat!

more magpies...

While I'm on a bird theme I have negative which has turned into a positive. In September of 2009 I worked on a magpie logo project for a jeweller in Europe which, sadly didn't bear fruit. The client had run up some agreed concept development costs which, sadly, they then didn't pay for. With regret I have to revoke the copyright lines which I originally placed on the magpie work for ADEONA INFO PLASS. And now for the positive. The web is a marvelous place indeed and I'm pleased to say someone else saw the designs and wanted to use one for their jewellery business in New York. With great pleasure I present the old/new logo for MAGPIE SHINDIG. Good luck Sam, and thanks again!

some owls...

Hello blog, how have you been then...? The next few posts are mainly some bits of house keeping I've been meaning to get round to for a while now. First off the bat are a smattering of owl sketches... What's the collective noun for owls...? A hoot of owls, a stare, a goggle...? This hot off the google press... ... apparently it's a "parliament of owls", I always thought it was a parliament of rooks but it seems a lot of rooks is a "building" or a "clamor"...?! And this just in, a group of penguins is a "rookery"...?! So why is a group of rooks not a "penguinery" then...?! No one said the english language makes sense, or that google is infallible... I digress... The owl sketches are connected to a little project I have with a couple of good mates... more on that early next year. I was also in an owlish mood after I got the chance to hold a European Eagle Owl this summer. Quite an experience holding something so big (but surprisingly light, must be all feathers) a few centimeters from your face. The eyes are so piercing and yet I was told it was short sighted. I suppose if owls were as learned and bookish as fable relates they would need reading glasses...? I'm rambling...

they came from a land down under...

Just a little doodle to mark the great news yesterday that all 33 Chilean miners made it to safety! I'm sure many others have come up with the same gag but anyway...

Went to a great talk yesterday by the illustrator David Mckee (remember Mr. Benn and King Rollo...?). It was an interesting and inspiring evening. He said a thought provoking thing (paraphrasing...) he creates his children's books for the adult that a child reader will eventually become but also for the child that remains within the adult reader. A nice thought and a good rule of thumb.

say well done with a sunflower

Spent a very enjoyable weekend with friends, one of whom likes sunflowers and has just graduated. Well done again Tam :) and thanks to you and hubby for a spiffing time!

worksheets for 'Bathroom Lion' & the 15 artists in 15 minutes game!

Joining in with Cassia's game also picked up by Jon Davis. In 15 minutes name 15 artists that inspire you and you'll always stick with. In no particular order then:

1) Egon Schiele (you're right Cass!)
2) Eric Carle
3) Quentin Blake
4) Miroslav Sasek
5) Joan Miro
6) Heath Robinson (look forward to the exhibition!)
7) Alice & Martin Provensen
8) E.H. Shephard
9) Tom Oreb (animation designer in the 50's... Disney, UPA etc...etc...)
10) Lane Smith
11) John Tenniel
12) Ronald Searle
13) Saul Bass
14) William Heaton Cooper (english watercolourist)
15) Charlie Harper

That was fun! I could go on and on, and I'm sure I've missed some big favourites...

***************I forgot:

*Bill Watterson (how'd I forget HIM!!!)
*Mike Mignola
*Craig McCracken
*Genndy Tartakovsky
*John Kricfalusi

**************how did I still forget:
*Mary Blair (disney colour stylist and designer)
*Matisse (particularly his collages)
*Edward Gorey (he created such a twisted, unique world...funny ha ha and funny VERY peculiar)
*Ed Benedict (designer of many Hanna-Barbera classic characters inc. Yogi B. and the Flintstones)

They say some people get obsessional about lists... I just cannot let this one go (failed the 15 minute rule well and truly!)



And to finish the post off the author of "There's a lion in my bathroom" asked me for some themed activities for a book signing he's doing this weekend:

British bookshops and stationers in Seaford Saturday 2nd October from 10am-1pm, there will be colouring and activity sheets for children to do, plus balloons with each signed book.

So I tweaked some of the book illustrations to get colouring in pages and drawing activities. What's the most yucky food you can think of...?

Renault 4 'life drawing' sketches by way of Juno...

Odd one this post. I finally got to see the film Juno a few days ago, really enjoyed it, a fantastic script and performances. I was really taken by the production design, especially feel of the title sequence. It's nice to see that they carried through that loose naive sketch style through the film and into the promo materials and DVD / CD packaging, more often the case with an indie film than your standard hollywood fare don't you think...?

Although it doesn't tally with how I tend to go about my illustration I've always liked strong line based images, especially when balanced with bold flat graphics. Egon Schiele, Klee, Miro, Picasso... I think it was Paul Klee that talked about 'taking a line for a walk' when you sketch, and when I usually try and eliminate any 'excess lines' in my work I think it sometimes also loses a sprightliness. By way of nothing I was looking for something to warm up doodle and, for no real reason, I thought back to the quirky Renault 4 car my family drove when I was a kid. At the time you wanted to drive in the same cars everyone else did but, in retrospect, I really love the little things that made the Renault stand out from the crowd (a car outsider just like Juno in the film...? I shouldn't over analyse myself...). I remember the puzzling 'umbrella handle' gear stick that stuck out from the dashboard and the weird front bumper loops that I always thought were handles to pull the car by if it broke down! I'd usually construct my drawings with basic geometric volumes first in order to get all the relationships between elements fixed and then add line over the top but, in keeping with the Juno images bouncing around in my brain I just went at it, life drawing style, and to hell with the results. A lot of fun to loosen up and not over plan things.

colourful dozer

Here's my colour plan for the painting. I tried this planning ahead process on my last birthday painting commission and it really help me out with sequencing which colours to paint in which order. The disadvantage / advantage of course is that you have a constant reminder of what colour you are aiming for. Mixing that paint colour and making sure it dries how you intend is another matter! For now pixels are familiar territory and I'm happy with how thing are looking.

bulldozers and 3 legged dogs...

Unrelated outpourings from my drawing board. Here's a revised layout for the child's birthday painting I've been commissioned to paint. The parents opted for the bulldozer and asked for some tweaks here and there. Hopefully the little chap looks more like a caring tree planter, not a logger hell bent on deforesting! I'm thinking some nice texture and autumnal colours in all that dirt.


And why a 3 legged dog I hear you ask...? Olli's a work colleague's pooch (see my first ever blog post, boy has it been that long...) who sadly lost a leg earlier this year (well he didn't lose it, we know where it went but...you know...). Here's a quick doodle, he usually pops by my studio asking for a biscuit.

"There's a lion in my bathroom: nonsense poetry for children". The book is out now!

Well I've been away for a few days, but what a way to take the edge of coming back from your holidays, finding your own book waiting for you! I'm delighted with how things have come out in the finished book. The print quality is excellent on both the cover and the internal pages. I'd really love to be able to share some of the text with you but you'll just have to buy it I guess :) A percentage of all sales goes to a very good cause, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, so you can have a laugh and also do some good at the same time. As far as I know as yet, your best ports of call if you're interested will be:

the publishers Rebel Books LLP site
http://rebelbookspublishing.co.uk/bookshop.aspx

of course, the mighty amazon (do leave a review if you like what you see...:)

I've no idea if they will have any copies instore... but waterstones have it online.

If you do decide to buy, my endless thanks and I really hope you enjoy the book. Please feel free to drop me a line (email via my website) and let me know what you thought. You can also reach the author Giles Paley Philips via his website.

Exciting times!