In case anyone was worried, the Protest books arrived yesterday, and they are fine. More than fine actually. I’d even go so far as to say great! I really was beginning to have literal sleepless nights over them, so this is very cheering. You can see a flick-through, at the chipped nail varnished and multi-silver-ringedContinue reading “It’s here, yay!”
Tag Archives: drawing
What’s happening this week?
Today was the last day of Inktober. In as much as it is a challenge, I guess I aced it? It was good to post something every day, plus, Instagram likes that too so I saw my follower numbers and engagement etc go up, for what it’s worth. The downside, of course, is that timeContinue reading “What’s happening this week?”
Running around
A real hit-and-run post this week, as I’m busy packing. Actually my suitcase was already half packed, because last week I went down to sort a few things out for my elderly parents in Devon; having come home to briefly touch base, I’m off to Somerset for a three day work retreat, and from thereContinue reading “Running around”
Perfection is the enemy of progress
Just how good does your drawing have to be when you’re making a graphic novel? And at what point do you decide to screw up a drawing and start again?
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”
Sketches from Kendal
Our trip to the Lakes Festival was so eventful that I plan to make a comic about it — that’s always supposing life quietens down enough to allow for a bit of drawing soon. Meanwhile, here are a few sketches I did from behind our table. Click any of them to see at a largerContinue reading “Sketches from Kendal”
See you at the Lakes – & I’ll have a new comic with me
It’s not long now until my compadre in comics, Zara Slattery, and I hop onto a train to make the long journey to the Lakes International Comics Art Festival. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come and see us. Here’s a map of the Clocktower building (click to see bigger) — we’ll beContinue reading “See you at the Lakes – & I’ll have a new comic with me”
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”
Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 1: one man and his gluestick
So, here it is! Every time we go on holiday I swear I’m not going to bother with a sketch diary — and every time, I end up spending more time and attention on it. I suppose I have to admit that there’s no escape now. This is what I do. So here’s part 1Continue reading “Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 1: one man and his gluestick”
What I said at Gosh Comics
The launch for Salon of Rejects last night was really fun. Thanks so much to Gosh Comics for hosting it, and for all the people that came out on a chilly Wednesday night. Since the pessimist in me was expecting an audience of two people and a pet dog, I was really delighted to seeContinue reading “What I said at Gosh Comics”
A round-up of my favourite #HourlyComicDay strips, 2016
I hope you enjoyed my Hourly Comic Day comics this year (in case you didn’t see them, they’re here). And if that whetted your appetite for this peculiar artform, here are some of my favourites from other people. It was much easier to find the good ones this year than in previous years – itContinue reading “A round-up of my favourite #HourlyComicDay strips, 2016”
Can I be a mother and a successful artist? Hmm, let’s see
This piece of graffiti is a fairly new addition to an underpass on one of my running routes. I enjoy graffiti and street art well enough, but my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a piece of it that spoke so directly to my own concerns. I’d like to meet whoever scrawled this andContinue reading “Can I be a mother and a successful artist? Hmm, let’s see”
I drew everything in my daughter’s Christmas stocking
If you do something two years in a row, does that mean it’s an annual tradition? If so, I seem to have landed myself with a very fiddly one! [Click to see bigger] For comparison, here’s last year’s drawing:
A week in Barcelona, final part: rainbows, closed doors and iconic pavements
Here’s the final pages of my Barcelona sketch diary. You can see part 1 here. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here. And part 4 is here. As always, click and click again to see each page at a larger size. Now read on…
A week in Barcelona, part 4: giant heads, small press comics, and food colouring
This is part 4. Part 1 is here Part 2 is here Part 3 is here Click each image and then click them again to see them at a larger size. That blue sketchbook ends up being the one I did my Clovember drawings in. Tomorrow: the final installment.
A week in Barcelona, part 3: flea market, Parc Guell and a gypsy’s arm
Click each page and then click again to see bigger. This is part 3 – part one is here and part two is here Tomorrow: an incredible stationery shop and a nice bit of Miró.
A week in Barcelona, part 1: it smells of wee
In autumn half term we rented an Air BnB in Barcelona. It was a nice holiday – it gave us an extra little burst of summer weather when the UK was just starting to turn grey and damp. As usual, I made a sketch diary of our activities; as usual, it took me several weeksContinue reading “A week in Barcelona, part 1: it smells of wee”
How I experienced the life of a model, with Gudrun Sjoden
I haven’t exactly been blessed with the looks of a model, so no-one was more surprised than me to receive an offer to be photographed for a fashion catalogue. In fact, my first reaction may have been a snort. But it all makes sense when you find out that the invitation came from Gudrun Sjoden.Continue reading “How I experienced the life of a model, with Gudrun Sjoden”
Finally: my Frome holiday sketch diary
Well, this has to be some kind of record: I’ve only just finished my holiday sketch diary, 22 days after returning home. I think we can safely say that it’s time for another holiday now! I’ve been thinking about why it’s taken so long, and my best guess is that I broke my own guidelinesContinue reading “Finally: my Frome holiday sketch diary”
Why I’m not out to play much this month: nine steps to make a comic strip
As you know, because I’m always moaning about it, cartoons are a really labour intensive form of artwork. Back when I first got into comics, I’d draw directly onto the page with pen. “The page” was often the back of an A4 letter, or a cheap pad. Sometimes I hadn’t even figured out theContinue reading “Why I’m not out to play much this month: nine steps to make a comic strip”