I have finished page 73 of Satin and Tat and have started drafting page 74; halle-flippin’-lujah. As per my recent posts: I’m drawing on a new platform and it’s been a slight learning curve to get to grips with the various menus and tools; plus despite my high hopes at being able to import themContinue reading “Tove Jansson, graphic medicine and some small progress”
Category Archives: Character illustration
Graphic memoir as social history
Last week I had just finished page 70. This week I’ve made a good start on page 73, so I’m making progress but am shortly going to put Satin and Tat aside for a short while as I’ve had a commission elsewhere. (Yay!) I’ve been listening to a really excellent podcast recently, as recommended byContinue reading “Graphic memoir as social history”
Panel show at Sunnybank Mills in Leeds
Just a quick note to say that a page from my graphic memoir-in-progress, Satin and Tat, is on display in the Panel Show exhibition at Sunnybank Mills, Farsley, Leeds. The show runs until November 10 and also includes work from Darryl Cunningham, Joe Decie, Kate Charlesworth, Katriona Chapman, Luke Pearson, Zara Slattery and many manyContinue reading “Panel show at Sunnybank Mills in Leeds”
Satin and Tat: study sketches
Sometimes it seems like the more you learn about how to make comics, the longer it takes. While working on Satin and Tat, I’ve changed my habits a bit, placing much more emphasis on preparation. Now, before I even put the final strokes to paper (or screen, since it’s mainly digital work), I’m working onContinue reading “Satin and Tat: study sketches”
Memories of a teenage goth
I’ve been pretty quiet on here of late, mainly because I’m working away on one massive comics project that will be another several months before it’s ready to share. I do sometimes post work in progress over at Instagram though, so anyone who follows me there may already know that I’m deeply immersed in myContinue reading “Memories of a teenage goth”
80s comic part 2: what medium?
While thinking about character design, I was also giving lots of thought to what medium I’d use. Here are some experiments with digital colouring. I was impressed to find that the digital drawing app I use, Leonardo, can do a very convincing pencil crayon effect: In the end though, I decided I don’t have enoughContinue reading “80s comic part 2: what medium?”
Planning a comic based on the 80s – character design
I wouldn’t have said I was a particular expert on anything, but when I started planning a new comic based on my teenage years, I realised that we’re all extremely knowledgeable about one thing: our own lives. And if you live long enough, that makes you something close to a historian. Yes, it has comeContinue reading “Planning a comic based on the 80s – character design”
Scanning pencil crayon drawings
I know I’ve been quiet on here lately, but that’s not because I’m not drawing. In fact I’ve been drawing quite a bit, between a weekly life drawing class, comic stuff, and even a visit to the museum to sketch with my daughter. I just haven’t managed to blog about it. I’ve nearly finished myContinue reading “Scanning pencil crayon drawings”
Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 2: otters, steam trains and Ballardian dystopias
This is the second part of a holiday sketch diary in which we stayed in Totnes and Lyme Regis. Probably best not to start on day 2: you can read part 1 here. As ever, click on the images below, and then click again if you would like to see them at a larger size.Continue reading “Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 2: otters, steam trains and Ballardian dystopias”
Return to the low-tech zine
Above is a picture of a print that my husband picked up at Comica London. Sadly, my pedantic side will not allow me to hang it above my desk until I’ve added that missing apostrophe, but the message is a good one nonetheless. As it happens, in the week running up to Comica I wasContinue reading “Return to the low-tech zine”
Three handmade birthday cards
It took me about 30 seconds to decide what to draw on my daughter’s birthday card this year. We’ve both recently been charmed by Neko Atsume, a Japanese kitty-based tomodachi-style game/app, bonding over our collection of pussy cats and trying out different virtual cat food to attract them. If you’re hooked too, you’ll recognise theContinue reading “Three handmade birthday cards”
People-watching and people-sketching on the Level
Have you ever tried to draw while your pages are gently splattered by the spray of a water pistol? Me neither, until last week. Here in the UK, we’ve had an unusually consistent, hot summer, and for residents of Brighton, one obvious place to find some relief is at our new playground, the Level, where,Continue reading “People-watching and people-sketching on the Level”
Comics Unmasked, Posy Simmonds and Steve Bell
“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”
Buy a Myfanwy Tristram print
As you’ll remember, I had a few giclee prints made up for Spitalfields Market. I now have a few extras for sale – very few, so please act fast if you’d like to buy one. Here’s what I have available (if you’d like a close-up look at the images, click on each picture below –Continue reading “Buy a Myfanwy Tristram print”
Birds of tickets and stamps
Birdy on the left is a bit too unkempt, but I like the Green Shield stamps fella. Remember Green Shield stamps? (You really do need to click to see this one bigger). This one’s feathers are made of (scans of) old bus tickets.
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”
Drawing characters – and two kinds of eye-openers
I’ve had a couple of eye-openers this week – one artistic and the other cultural. Let me try to explain… Eye-opener one: mess So, it’s time to think about the protaganist in my picturebook – the one who’ll be telling the story. Here’s what I know about her so far: she’s very, very sad becauseContinue reading “Drawing characters – and two kinds of eye-openers”
Consequences
Last night, I left the house, walked over the big hill, and didn’t come back until after bedtime. AND I had charcoal under my fingernails. It was week one of an evening class on Children’s Book illustration, taught by the self-styled Baron Gilvan. When we were asked to draw enormous body segments, as part ofContinue reading “Consequences”
How do you like your tea?
This is my go at a teatowel design. How do you like your tea – two lumps like the camel? Extra milk, like the cat? Or are you sweet enough already, like the baby deer?
A Lush party
My daughter had her 7th birthday party at Lush. She and her pals had a fabulous time blowing bubbles, playing games, and, at the end of the party, choosing a couple of products to take home with them. This was the invitation.
Myfanwy Tristram 