“Have you read Posy?” asked the elderly woman who slipped into the seat beside me. “How did you first hear of her?” I thought back: “Well, the Webers were part of my childhood – my parents took the Guardian”, I said – but I could have added how, later in life, once I’d discovered aContinue reading “Comics Unmasked, Posy Simmonds and Steve Bell”
Category Archives: Cartoons
Random House
I’ve got a Facebook friend who occasionally adds a hashtag to some status update when she’s pulled off a really great piece of karaoke: #sinofpride. That’s kind of how I feel now: forgive me Padre, for I cannot help the small blossoming of pride in my bosom when I see this cartoon script, printed outContinue reading “Random House”
The art of throwing your work into the void
The last time I shared a drawing with you was on the 30th of May. That is not because I haven’t been drawing. Quite the opposite, in fact. Since then, I have been dedicating all my free time to creating a four-page comic strip for the Cape/Comica/Observer competition. Every night, I put in between anContinue reading “The art of throwing your work into the void”
A few bits and bobs
I am back from Chile It was wonderful. I did expect to have a sketch diary to share with you by now, but work trips are very different from family holidays. For starters, you’re working rather than drawing – although, I was very pleased when work asked me to draw the conference that I went out for. TheContinue reading “A few bits and bobs”
The cream of Hourly Comic Day
In my last post, I shared the results of my Hourly Comic Day. I’ve been a mere husk of a person ever since, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. So, massive kudos to everyone who did it, and a regretful ‘nuh-uh’ to the nice friends who have suggested I should do something similar everyContinue reading “The cream of Hourly Comic Day”
All my #hourlycomicday posts in one place
February 1st is Hourly Comics Day, when (mad) people commit to drawing a cartoon every hour that they are awake. I saw this happen on Twitter last year, somewhat wistfully, because by the time I knew it was happening, my day was half over. This year I was no better prepared, but I did atContinue reading “All my #hourlycomicday posts in one place”
Doilies
This strip is based on a real conversation I heard while travelling on a Brighton bus. Click to see each section larger. [Disclaimer: the cartoon was inspired by an actual conversation, but I make no guarantee about the likenesses of the people depicted] I started a new piece for my collage project, and it wasn’tContinue reading “Doilies”
Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel competition
We’re lucky in Brighton: the city is home to Myriad Editions. Few British publishers really champion the graphic novel form as much as they do, nor take such delight in stretching the definition to embrace techniques such as embroidery and lino cut. I’ve just come back from a talk, chaired by its Creative Director CorinneContinue reading “Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel competition”
Cape/Comica/Observer graphic short story – update
Just a quick camera phone snap of some work in progress, so that this post has an image – it’s not actually relevant to the rest of the post : ) An update on my attempts to gather together entries for the Cape/Comica/Observer graphic short story contest. Apparently 180 people entered this year. I haveContinue reading “Cape/Comica/Observer graphic short story – update”
Jonathan Cape/Comica/Observer Graphic Short Story competition
The shortlisted entrants for the Jonathan Cape/Comica/Observer Graphic Short Story competiton (that is *such* a mouthful. I think they need to rebrand it as ‘Plonk’ or something) have been decided. For me, as someone with a history in cartooning, it looms large as ‘THE competition’. This year I was determined to enter, because, apart fromContinue reading “Jonathan Cape/Comica/Observer Graphic Short Story competition”
Not to be negative
This was a bit of fun – it’s supposed to be an illustration of all the things that used to go wrong when you took a photo on film – you know, before the digital era. In those days it cost good money if your shot went awry. Loading the film wrongly, not winding onContinue reading “Not to be negative”
November 2012: clothes project
In November 2012, I decided to draw the clothes I wore, every day, for a month. And as if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, I also drew my daughter’s clothes. At the end of the month, a good friend commented that the illustrations would make a great comic. She said one thing that reallyContinue reading “November 2012: clothes project”