more worries...

I wanted another stab at this... not because I was unhappy with version 1... I've just enjoyed playing around with the graphic and narrative elements. I don't know what it says about my personality but this subject has been good fun to work with.

IF "Worry" or WHY worry...?

I've gotten out of the illustration friday habit and must admit that I have missed it. This weeks topic is "worry"... who cannot relate to that one! This chap has his concerns pressing in from all sides. I think I enjoyed doing the illustration more than he did!

Ten images for Ithaca "Dream"

Not far off a month since my last post... very much time to fire up the blog before it atrophies! I've been busy on something which I'm just not allowed to talk about... the plot thickens. I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you.

Something I've squeezed in which I can blog about is a submission for the Ten images for Ithaca competition. The Greek island of Ithaca has an annual themed poster design competition. The 10 best submissions get printed into 2 metre high banners and displayed on the Ithaca's promenade for the summer. Plus the three winners get a cash prize. This years theme is "dream". It's a really open ended brief, well worth a try... though the closing date is May 31st so get a move on! Hope you like my efforts. Who doesn't want to swim like a fish or fly like a bird...? (Thanks for the tip on the competition Kev, looking forward to seeing your poster...)

Louis B still hasn't made it across the channel yet, I must get on and give him a hand!

Bleriot in progress.

It's been far too long since I posted anything! Here are some very rough and ready glimpses into what I'm working on next. After a great week spent in Paris earlier this month I've been pushing some ideas around the old sketchbook.

If you are ever in Paris and want something off the standard tourist trail I can most heartily recommend the musee des arts et metiers, the museum of science and invention. Unlike many attractions in Paris it is free to get in and free of any crowds, and what is more it offers numerous large, comfortable leather sofas and free drinking water to the weary tourist! Amongst the many, many truely amazing exhibits is a beautiful chapel housing a magnificently presented collection of various forms of transportation (plus Bartholdi's original plaster model for the Statue of Liberty and Foucault's Pendulum). Hanging from the ceiling they have Louis Bleriot's original monoplane used to fly the English Channel for the first time. I've always been a big nut when it come to aeroplanes and seeing it got me thinking that I'd like to illustrate up the first aerial channel crossing.

These posts are some initial sketches with some very quick tone added just to check I'm headed in the right direction. For fun the background sepia on these posts is a modified section from a photo I took of Bleriot's plane wing. I'd like to make use of this texture for the final pieces in some way if I can.

le fermier est sur son tracteur

This is a tweeked version of a quick piece of work I did for my day job. The client decided they wanted a different stylistic approach so back to the drawing board on that one. Things came together quickly and I had fun doing the piece (such opportunities aren't always forthcoming in my present day job...) although I was holding back on the Frenchman a little bit (see thumbnail sketch). I thought it a shame to waste the work so here it is.

PS. Isn't Babelfish a wonderful tool for all those of us who were lost in GCSE French! While we are on the subject it's also a fitting tribute to Douglas Adams... sadly missed!

chocks away Phil!

My good mate Phil has taken to the skies and is but a feathers breadth from the cockpit. WELL DONE PIP! I bags the first passenger flight with you (after Tam of course).

Icarus Chimp colour - "all's well that ends well"

Although he doesn't deserve it after the way he has been behaving our soggy simian gets his fruit after all. Ma and pa parrot have raised a thoughtful little fellow.

Icarus Chimp colour - "no he doesn't"

You cannot argue with Isaac Newton... stupidity is no defence.

Icarus Chimp colour - "he jumped...he flys"

I think I would have seen everything when I've seen a chimpanzee fly... fly my pretty fly.

Icarus Chimp colour - "don't jump"

There's no stopping the little guy... never let gravity or aerodynamics get between you and a good meal.