It must be hard being a planet: abuse from comets, space probes taking your picture without even asking your name, and that whole gravity thing – I could go on and on. The new nomenclature doesn’t help: poor old Pluto doesn’t know whether he’s Arthur or Martha. And now there are all these Trans-Neptunian Objects queueing up to join the club. Don’t they know what they’re in for? It’s a tough old universe.
Kitty Bing, stealing glamorous fashion secrets, 60s-style!
I was at Caption on Sunday, the excellent convention on comic creativity in sunny Oxford. Although I missed out on Saturday’s events, Sunday still had various treats in store, including talks from Sarah McIntyre on the way children’s picture books are making use of comic style art in interesting and innovative ways, and Asia Alfasi on her autobiographical manga about moving from Libya to Glasgow and what that meant for a comics-obsessed young muslim girl. There were loads of other things too (including cake!) but the most important part of Caption is meeting enthusiastic creators and readers. I was particularly pleased to meet Jason Little, creator of the ligne claire-style Shutterbug Follies. I’m also very pleased that my cake fairy picture, that was part of the art auction, found a happy home with one of Caption’s excellent organisers, Jenni Scott.
Messing around with colours today.
A week or so ago I went to the Mariscal retrospective at the Design Museum. These are some doodlings I did on the spot, plus a quote which I think might have come from a children’s workshop run as part of the exhibit.
It was a great little show but then Mariscal is one of my favourite artists. He’s had a go at designing and drawing just about everything from restaurants, logos, packaging, typefaces, magazine covers, comics, textiles and is most famous for the mascot of the Barcelona Olympics, Cobi. He has a wonderful energetic style and bold use of colour and has really left his visual stamp on Barcelona.
Here are a few snaps from the exhibition:
The exhibiton blog is here with many more (better) photos.
I am going to smash this week to bits! Workwise. In a nice, calm way. After I’ve had a cuppa.
There should probably be a caption or speech bubble here but I couldn’t think of anything other than “battered to death” which isn’t right because it’s more of a lightly crispy crumb coating. Plus he has obviously been cut. I should be a CSI! That pea on the left looks suspicious – book him, Horatio.
Gravity permitting, this fairy will be winging her way to this year’s Caption for the exhibition and auction. Potato-faced scrubber/British female role-model Jordan was on the TV at the time, which may have influenced this drawing.
Speaking of monsters:
I recently bought a book collection of David Weidman‘s work and really love those clashing 60s/70s colour schemes and the way he layered colour. Groovy.
Lastly, I was on the train listening to a family who were off to see Oliver! so ended up drawing Oliver and nasty Mr Sykes:
Almost caught up with myself!
It is hard to draw a cat moon-walking.
What else have I been drawing lately?
Some of my neighbours:
It’s an interesting mix of types around here. Plenty of people-watching to be had.
More dancing. Slightly more formal this time:
I had a lightly-boiled egg with soldiers for lunch the other day. Consequently a lightly-boiled egg soldier.
More to come!
I’ve been neglecting my daily drawings. Here’s a few to catch up with.
The Bat Chaps. Robin was eight years old when he joined Batman fighting crime. Have you hung around any eight-year-olds lately? Not much good when it comes to foiling bank robbers I can tell you. Unless you count vomiting up chicken McNuggets as a super power.
I went to the Isle of Wight last week to visit family and had a walk around Carisbrooke Castle. Much fun and excellent views to be had on the battlements.
I drew a couple of Norman chaps having a dust-up after that:
It put me in a bit a of a fantasy mood:
Back on track now, I think!
I think taxi drivers from different countries can probably communicate with each other in the universal language of ‘curse’.
Another quickie. No ‘hare’ jokes, please.
A quickie for today. Animal + occupation = ideas.
What shall I draw today? [Scans DVD shelf hurriedly.]
I feel sorry for all the school kids who have to wear their ties during the hot weather.
