Awkward First Meetings - #QuickDraw submission

Each Thursday at 7pm OFF LIFE magazine posts up a topic on Twitter using the hashtag #Quickdraw - the idea being that illustrators and comic book artists produce and post up an illustration by 8pm, ie within the hour. 

Yesterday evening the theme was "Awkward First Meetings" and I submitted the drawing above.

i-SPY Apocalypse - 7 mundane signs of the end-of-days

We all know about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, right? Famine, War, Pestilence and Death. Well here are seven slightly more mundane signs of the impending end of days. How many have you seen?

Festival Nightmare - #QuickDraw submission

Each Thursday at 7pm OFF LIFE magazine posts up a topic on Twitter using the hashtag #Quickdraw - the idea being that illustrators and comic book artists produce and post up an illustration by 8pm, ie within the hour. 

I'm not particularly fast at illustrating, often drawing an image two or three times before I'm satisfied with it, plus I'm often busy at that time on a Thursday. But last week I found the time to have a go and the picture above is my submission on the theme of Festival Nightmare.

Chasing invoices

Taking part in "The Great Invoice Chase", a tedious but necessary event in the life of every freelancer.

"Fights of Fancy!" a book of illustrated comic verse.

Who would win a fight between a potato and a halibut? If a beagle squared up to a cockatoo, who would be the victor? What would be the outcome if a pirate fought a parrot?

The answers are all contained within "Fights of Fancy" - a small hardback book of illustrated comic verse that I collaborated on with my friend Steve Redshaw over the past few months. It's my second venture into publishing (the first was my Football Phrasebook, "Do you speak football?") and was printed by Ingram Spark.

It's currently on sale from my Etsy shop for £6.

"Do You Speak Football?" A handy book of illustrated soccer phrases in 7 languages,

"Do you speak football?" is a handy soccer phrasebook with 22 key football phrases translated into seven languages - Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch and Italian.

It's the result of my first foray into the world of self-publishing. I wanted to make a small hardback book partly to find out how self-publishing works and to understand the actual process, and partly just for the fun of holding my own little book in my clammy little hands. (I'm planning to write another post soon about the experience as there's not much info out there, and specifically my experience of using Ingram Spark's self-publishing Print On Demand services).

Thus far I've only printed up a handful of books for family and friends, but it is available to buy from my Etsy shop if anyone's interested.

Say Hello to 2014

Happy 2014. Another year is upon us - let's hope 2014 brings us all what we want and hope for, rather than what we deserve. Even those of us with monkeys for brains.

The Great Christmas Sprout Divide - which side are you on?

Sprouts or No Sprouts? That's the big Christmas question. Which side are you on?

Where does punctuation come from? - A comic strip

This is the third of the one-page comic strips I recently drew up, and probably my favourite as it involved more writing that the others. I think this may have potential for a series, we'll see but I certainly plan to do a few more like this. Click on the image to view it larger and actually read what it says!

Late Night Visitor - A comic strip

The second of three one-pager comic strips I recently created. I'm pleased with the simplicity and colours in this one, and the premise is simple but nicely surreal I think. Click the image to view larger, natch.

The Proposal - A comic strip

The first of three comic strips I recently created and submitted to OFF LIFE comic for inclusion in their issue #7. This was my first attempt at storytelling/sequential/narrative imagery for a very long time. I feel it just about works, though it rather resembles a series of animation stills rather than actually flowing as a story. Not too shabby a start though. Click on the image to view it larger.

Illustration Friday - Underwater

Another quick image created for Illustration Friday for this week's theme, "Underwater". As ever any feedback and comments are welcome.

Illustration Friday - Hidden

Another Illustration Friday picture. I haven't posted an illustration for Illustration Friday in quite a while, but managed to find time to produce the above image for this week's theme of "Hidden". As always any comments are welcomed.

Illustration - Seven Deadly Sins

A new Beyond Thrilled illustration, just for fun, illustrating the classic Seven Deadly Sins; Greed, Lust, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath and Sloth. I've opted not to label them - you'll just have to guess which is which.

The Apostrophe Cowboy

One for the sub-editors and punctuation pedants - say hello to the Apostrophe Cowboy.

Recent illustration work

Just thought I'd post a couple of recent illustrations I've produced. I may at some point think about printing them up as screenprints if I think there'd be any interest in them - as they're both designed with a limited colour palette/overlays - but for now they'll just be added to my portfolio on the hireanillustrator website. 

Firewood Poem screenprint

New year, new print! This two colour screenprint illustrates the traditional Firewood poem, written by Mr. Anonymous, and comes in two gorgeous colourways. Perfect for that little bit of wall next to the fireplace! If you'd like to buy one, it will be in my online shops very shortly.

Firewood

Beechwood fires are bright and clear, if the logs are kept a year

Chestnut's only good they say if for long it's laid away

Make a fire of Elder tree, Death within your house shall be

But Ash new or Ash old, is fit for Queen with crown of gold

Birch and Fir logs burn too fast, blaze bright up and do not last

It is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread

Elmwood burns like churchyard mould, e'en the very flames are cold

But Ash green or Ash brown is fit for Queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke, fills your eyes and makes you choke

Applewood will scent your room, Pearwood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs if dry and cold, keep away the winter's cold

But Ash wet or Ash dry a King shall warm his slippers by.

Anonymous.

Illustration Friday w/e 2/3/2012 - Capable

Another Illustration Friday contribution, this time illustrating the word "Capable". Something which in handyman terms I'm very much not. This drawing kind of reprises some sketches I did a few years ago on the theme of "My part in the war against inanimate objects", and shows my admiration and envy for "handy" heroes who wield power tools with confidence and can fix and build stuff without it falling apart. Still, most of them can't draw for toffee. Anyway, as always any comments or criticism is welcomed, thanks.