Website

It's been nice going through old work to update my website (that sounds contradictory - but I guess some of the old stuff still seems relevant, and it's nice not to have it buried in my blog). 

I found this picture of Molly Ringwald, looking stylish as always... her character in Pretty in Pink was the reason I started sewing aged 15, and has been the longest running style influence in my life. I used to think about making myself a WWJD-style bracelet for when I was clothes shopping - if ever I was unsure of what to buy: WWMW - What Would Molly Wear?

Hifest

I had such a lovely day at Hifest in Hastings yesterday. I went with Alice and Barney, and shared their table, and their snacks. I met so many great people. The organisers had done an excellent job of spreading the word and getting people through the door - it was a great turnout, especially for the first year.

As usual, Al and Barney were the best company. They were there with their new collective, Pinch Press - check out their stuff! And Barney's new graphic novel, Beetroot, is out any day now. I was lucky enough to see an advance copy yesterday - it is SUPER, and I can't wait to get my own copy!

Some of the wares I was selling 

 Setting up our stall! 

Al and Barney manning the stand

The quality of other exhibitors was really wonderful - I could've ended up spending any money I made, but limited myself to these great pieces - the vase screen print is by Melissa Castrillon, the house with yellow moons by Somin Ahn (I love it - where is that house? What's happening? Why are those pigs hanging around???) and this brilliant card by Benjamin Phillips - a real pet portrait! Lovely lady dog.

I'm already looking forward to next year, and will plan to spend longer there and see Hastings. I can hardly feel walking from the carpark to the exhibition hall crossed it off my list...!

**Soundtrack: Absolute Crock: Tush, ZZ Top**

Bits

I've practically finished the book I've been working on! So it's on to new things... this Saturday is Hifest in Hastings. I'll be there with half a table and bits and bobs to sell. Come along, O please do!

 I've finally worked out how to use my printer, thanks to a top paper tip from Emma Farrarons - so I'll have some digital prints, I think mostly on A5, with me. 

Some of these lizard guys for sure:

I've also given my website a good makeover, through Cargo. It's at the same place as ever:

www.torfreeman.com

and now has space for books and everything else that my coding wasn't quite up to including on the last site. Please check it out! 

And lastly, here are some ballet cats, for no good reason. A palette cleanser, maybe. 

Plus I've been trying to draw hermit crabs and those dudes are HARD.

Iguana make a riso

Of this guy... thinking about colours. Oh, which to chose! Should he even BE a riso??

He's looking at YOU...

and he's LOVING the view!

Drawing this guy MAY not have been the most constructive use of my time. But when you wake up thinking about a way to finish off the iguana head you drew a couple of weeks ago, and that way is to draw him sitting on a chopper - that's urgent work!!

"Don't leave me hanging!"

Bits of news

I'll be taking part in two events in the next couple of months. 

The first is Hifest, the Hastings Illustration Festival on the 6th of January, at which I will have a half table. I'm really looking forward to it - there are some great exhibitors showing and events happening. I'll be selling some (hopefully new) prints, cards and other bits and bobs.

I will also be taking part in an exhibition, A Long Way From Home. All the proceeds from this will go to Crisis. It runs from the 11th-14th of December, details below - it should be a great exhibition.

Olive giveaway!

Anorak Magazine are doing a giveaway on their blog today, until the 25th of November. If you leave a comment telling them the most embarrassing present you've been given, you will be in with a chance to win one of three copies. Yay!

Happy Halloween!

Here are some old Halloweinie pictures. But don't be frightened, they're all just kidding!

Hope you all have super spooky days! 

Bitty bits

I'm still working towards my book deadline and concentrating on that, fitting in some Cacahouète and friends too! And turning my thoughts towards cards again... was thinking about them today, and how my line perhaps doesn't work so well at that size, and that they should be more graphic... I've been keen on making cards for so long and yet somehow always feel quite seized up thinking of how they should look. Anyway, one day soon I hope!

He's actually Crocahouète in this issue! 

Bedtime for dogs and peanuts!

Cat-tus

Pencil cowgirls

Book deadline!

Yoga Cat printing!

Yesterday I went for my induction at a new (to me) print studio. I absolutely loved it there - and had a great time printing up these yoga-loving cats. 

They are now available in my SHOP - for any yoga lovers in your life!

On the way to the studio - so much STUFF.

Cats on the printing bed!

Shake a tail feather!

Printing

I'm going to a new printing studio tomorrow for an induction and to have a go with these yoga cats. I will have half a table at an illustration fair in Hastings in December, so I'm thinking about what I should have for sale. 

Not yet sure how big or how many per page I'm going to have these guys... but I'm keen to do some printing before I forget again!

Good Meowning!

EVIL CARS!

I'm colouring, colouring, doing a spread today which has lots of my drawing nemesis - CARS. But I am getting better at these bad boys! By the end of this spread I'd better be anyway... 

"Please see to my car my good man!" says the lovely sheep.

Bean bag dreams

Cats and Confetti

A couple of months ago I did a commission for a wedding announcement card, which was a first for me - I really enjoyed it! 

(Card printed by The Imaging Centre, who I've consistently had good results with.)

***Congratulations Sophie and Nick!***

Roof!

A few more pics of the studio - there's a hatch in our ceiling and a flat roof on top, with great views of Soho roofs... And great Rear Window-style spying opportunities! Polishes glasses...

CHIM-CHIM-CHEROO, guys!

New Studio

I've moved studios! It felt a bit soon, having only been in Dalston for a year, but the west-east commute was just starting to feel a real waste of time. It's very exciting to be in the centre of town now, and to have halved my commute. But I'm dangerously near the fabric shops of Berwick Street... I popped out for lunch just now and came back with shirt fabric, a thimble and 10 buttons. I must get a grip! 

Down the alley, to the door, up the stairs... to my desk! 

Which needs some loving decoration on the wall there, and then it'll be COMPLETELY perfect! I feel very lucky to be in a such a special place, and I'm going to make the most of it, and work HARD!

Vinyl guys

I'm working on a book at the moment and I've got my head down! But I was inspired by one bit to draw some vinyl-buying keensters - I'd like to do a print of these guys, along the lines of the intellectual cats. Maybe saying I Heart Vinyl or somesuch... anyway here are some of them!

And I'm moving studios next week, which is exciting. I'm really going to miss the people and place where I am now - the darned commute has beaten me. But I'll be back to do some more screen printing, as I don't want to forget what I've only just learned!

Eyeing up the Rod Stewart...

This Bruce is in fiiiine condition!