Mel takes over the internet...

It has been threatened for some time now, but now it is a reality. Soon, you will be compulsively buying linoprints, teatowels, cards, all sorts of things; unable to remember how it all started but similarly unable to stop. That's right, Mel has finally sorted out her blog! Whilst this is great news, because you 'll be able to see loads more of her designs and how she prints and what inspires them (I can't wait to find out!!), I will admit to a little sadness as it signals an end of an era. Due to increased levels of 'work in situ' photography, I may have to start being tidy.

The little black notebook...

Found this on a recent visit to my folks...
there was tattered old note book nestled between books on a bookshelf - in a way that had it been in a film would have screamed that it contained spells, maps or dark secrets. Not quite any of those but a lovely find.

My great grandad I learn was a pharmacist of some standing, and this was his 'formula book' containing all his special recipes for everything from hair restorer to cold remedies. He also kept press clippings and all his old adverts, bottle labels etc. This one here is my favourite, firstly, because anyone who starts their advert "ARGUMENT' is alright by me,
Secondly, it's always nice to see that members of your family were silver tongued so and sos,
and thirdly, it works quite nicely if you replace 'Pharmacist' with 'Illustrator', 'Medicine' with 'Scribbles' etc - indeed I may have to do so and give the result to potential clients...

Good on you Great Grandad

One from the vault....

If you're ever In Fuengirola, go to....

It's a dead good multilingual bookshop, and it's run by my kin! Here's a bookmark design I did as a linoprint (God bless photoshop though -in my enthusiasm I forgot that linoprints come out reversed). I like this technique, but I fear there's only room for one linoprinter in my house...look out for Mel's blog soon...

Gamers!

Prompted to post this one having seen a post on Lining a Drawer of someone playing the DS. People playing computer games are the best models as they invariably don't move and keep the same expression for huge periods of time! Here's some sketches I did of a couple of my mates, who I don't think would have held any kind of pose for me had they not been doing pretty well on Silent Hill...

Can you work out which tentacle Ozzy has his morning snack in?

A sample piece I did a while back....

With Easter approaching...

I planned to design some cards for this Christmas just gone, but I have to admit I find this really hard to do. As time was against me I gave it up as a bad job -but I thought I'd put this sketch up as it shows how I tend to work - normally I work ideas up in pencil, try out a myriad poses and ideas all on top of each other, find the bit I like in the middle and then rub everything out around it. Doesn't quite work with pen sketches, but I like the effect.

Best pic I did last week..

This is my favourite 'speed drawing' that I did last week at the RWA. The idea of speed drawing is that you sit facing someone and you draw each other for 4 mins, then move on to someone else, then the time is reduced etc etc. This can be acutely embarrassing, but it's also fun. For this pic though I was sat in a circle with this kid and his family - he was actually drawing his mum, who in turn was drawing either me or her daughter. They were a nice family and the kid seemed properly into his drawing ( ie the one he was doing and in general) which was really nice to see.

A bit computery...

Eyop-

If any of you have returned to my blog after ANOTHER recent and fairly long period of absence then thankyou!! I have been pretty busy since Christmas with illustration projects, which I'll share as soon as I'm able. Though it's a bit slack, in busy periods I'm going to haul a bit of stuff from the archive (need to do it before my Mac dies too!) -so here's one; it's an ident for Rabbit Stew, an alas shortlived illustration collective..

More scribbling fun at Bristol Drawing Club

Went to a Bristol Drawing Club do at the Royal West of England Academy last weekend. I was in a proper grumps before going but I cheered up pretty quick. Me and this kid dutifully started off the scribbling on the big blank drawing wall...The walls of the RWA have loads of classical themes on the walls which I perloined when lacking ideas. Big thanks to whoever added this guy's little friend after I left! All photos are by ( and copyright of) the talented Max McClure by the way...see more of the day's scribbling on the BDC blog. I'll add some more of my sketches when I find em!

A challenge!

Going off piste here, but I really wanted to share this as it makes I larf. This is from the tomb of some medieval bod (sorry historians!) in Bristol Cathedral. The best explanation i can come up with is that it's a sphinx depicted by someone who's never seen one - a bit like a lion, a bit like a man and with a funny thing on his chin.....
If anyone wants to try and describe to me an animal, or I guess anything, as if I've never left the village and TV won't be invented for another 600 years, then i'll be happy to see if i can do better...

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

My girlfriend foolishly asked me to show her some of the different ways you could set up a blog - with the result that she got bored and went and did something else, and I've spent two pointless hours dicking around with horrible backgrounds. And then out of limitless possibilities i chose white anyway... On the plus side I've got a new title bit - enjoy it while it lasts though as it's not staying.....

One from me sketchbook

Self portrait

Whilst trying to avoid the fact that I have a slight idea vacuum for a job I'm working on (see peripheral scribbles), thought I might have a go at a quick self portrait. Quickly realising it was going to be a 'moody' one, I took evasive action and turned it into a doodle instead - the result was a pleasing mix of The Chipmunks and an Empire of the Sun album cover....

Actually think about it, my portfolio's littered with self-portraits I've thought better of - here's one of my faves (though probably just cos I likes the colour!). Apologies, it's dead old...

This one's for Keith!

Just to prove that i did do some drawing on my jaunt to London on Thursday as promised Keith. Didn't do as much as I should - sleep and lack of other passengers being a major factor (that and inebbriation on the return trip...)
Here is a pic of someone's reflection on the back of the driver's cab..


Also went to a Bristol Drawing Club event - here are a couple of scribbles of peeps there....done pretty much without taking the pen from the page - although slightly beefed up later as I had to use a pretty horrible pen when my 'trusty' fountain pen (see pic) let me down on the night -had to add some heavy lines so you could pick shapes from the scribble!

Sam's back on the telly!

The lastest episode of Driver Dan's Story Train to feature my illustrations aired this week. Of the three I worked on this was my fave! My scribbles pop up about 7 mins in...

It's behind you!!

Eyop, as we're not quite approaching the Christmas season I thought I'd put this up on the blog - it's from a couple of years back (hence the info on it is now all LIES!) but I've always quite liked it. Not the handwritten text though - that's a bit pony, but hey I was in a hurry!

Spot the deliberate mistake...

Spike Island Big Draw

He he! Just got back from the Big Draw event put on at Spike Island by Bristol Drawing Club - it was ace! Hoping someone took some decent pics as there was some killer drawing going on by all involved -props particularly to the Brillustration bunch, and all honorary child members! Here is my favourite picture from today - it is the sun getting in a huff and going on holiday (copyright of my boy).