MA(aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!)

Busy trying to hammer a wooden stake into the heart of my MA. Every time I think the deed is done - red eyes flick open and the screaming starts again.

With just a presentation to go - The MA Exposition is now up and y'all can go see it (even if it's to spend an idle five, sheltering from the shared joke we British like to call 'summer'). Having said that - I did notice the roof was leaking - so keep your brolly handy.

... And look who made it onto the NTU homepage!!!

I'm telling you.

What can't you sell with zombies?

I ❤ coloured pencils

Just managed to squeeze this article in for Artists and Illustrators Magazine before my second daughter Violet decided enough was enough and hit the missus with a whole bunch of bad-ass contractions in a successful bid for a brand new life ex utero. Considering how much Violet has cried about it since, she obviously regrets the whole affair - but she's out now and my wife assures me it's a one way ticket. So that's that.

The magazine is on the stands now!!! and the article is a solid four pages of 'how to...', or rather 'how I...' use coloured pencils. Sooooo - if that's something of interest and you have a £3.75 troubling the bottom of your pockets you know what to do! I recommend you pick up a copy some time anyway - as the magazine has recently relaunched and now features a pretty robust collection of practical guides and insights (and doesn't fall into the trap of being too twee).

Good then!

Gurk

"Gurk..."
Oil on Board 30 x 40 cm

(A companion piece to Thwack.)

Moleskine Update....

Recent randomness....

Start with nothing - doodle - end up with something.

(Consult psychiatrist).

Onomatoposer?

Thwack?.... Whuck?.... Whack?

The temptation to put some onomatopoeic lettering in here is killing me - but what is the exact noise of desperate bare knuckle on undead jawbone?

Answers PLEASE!!!!!!

Barcelona...

... in December - looks a bit like this.

(when seen through the view finder of a Canon G10 - if anyone's even the slightest bit interested)

Warming up to the New Year...

Having not posted in quite a while - this is just a quickie to get back in the saddle! I'm currently ploughing through an MA, and this has swallowed up a whole bunch of time. Well - that and Modern Warfare 2, which I'm currently in the process of weening myself from (I find that I now no longer blink between my optimal gaming hours of 10pm - midnight). Seriously - I'm like Pavlov's Dog. As soon as I hear the swishy swish noise of (games makers) Infinity Ward's logo ident... my eyes start to gush in anticipation of 'only staring' - in pure adrenal fixation - for the subsequent two hours.

You blink - you die.

So - I'm revving up for a new painting over the next couple of weeks, and this focus will provide just the distraction I need. As long as I resist the urge welling up inside to buy Mass Effect 2.

mUst Ressissst - urge........!!! .

ANYWAY!

This post features a couple of recently published pieces.... which is nice. Artists and Illustrators Magazine have published a 'how to' type article, written by yours truly in their Feb Issue (now off the shelf I think). It was a four page spread, and focused on producing a portrait. Many thanks to Steve Pill for the invite to do something. Next - a piece accepted by Spectrum 16. Run as a competition, the annual features the best in fantastic art from around the world. I'm stoked to have a piece accepted for this book - and kinda thrilled to have it on a page sandwiched between two images by the amazing Carlos Huante. Wow. Given the quality of Carlos's work, mine looks all the worse for it... but hey.... Carlos Huante everyone!!!!!!!