Tor Freeman's Blog

Details

2012-01-30T16:34:00.001Z

Coughkaesque

2012-01-23T19:40:00.001Z

Here's the inaugural drawing on my new Cintiq! Pretty exciting stuff, think it's going to take some time to adjust and get the best out of, but having flirted with the idea on and off for about 3 years, it felt like the moment had arrived.

My life doesn't feel immediately changed, but I can sense it happening...

Play play play

Flappers

2012-01-09T13:59:00.002Z

Pancake gif

2012-01-03T10:40:00.001Z

I was thinking about this guy instead of falling asleep last night, so here he is. At university we did an animation module, and we were all meant to produce a minute-long cartoon. I think only one person managed it, as it entailed something like 600 drawings... I still have a shoebox full of my pencil sketches, mine was about a granny who knitted costumes for unhappy people she saw through her window, and then she knitted herself a butterfly at the end and flew away.

Warming up

2012-01-02T17:28:00.001Z

More warming up pics. I hadn't really decided whether to take the full week off, but once I started... It was great! The cat watching telly on the laptop in bed is pretty autobiographical of some of this Christmas holiday.

Scaly

2012-01-02T14:35:00.002Z

Happy New Year!

I've redone my website, added a bit of new work, and generally smartened it up a bit. Ready for 2012.

2011-12-25T22:57:00.000Z

Charles Addams, via Drawn.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T16:11:00.000Z

And a happy New Year! xxx

And time for another pattern!

2011-12-19T19:15:00.000Z

Foxy fiddler

2011-12-19T17:44:00.001Z

2011-12-19T12:07:00.002Z

Sketchy

2011-12-12T15:40:00.000Z

Raining chats

2011-11-29T16:24:00.002Z

Musician in the Rain, Maurice Baquet, Paris 1957, by Robert Doisneau

Plus ça change, plus c'est le même chat?

It's helpful for me doing these pastiches/copies - I find composition really difficult, and it's useful to copy what an artist has done that has worked beautifully, and hopefully take that knowledge into my own pictures more. Plus, obviously it's fun!

2011-11-29T11:38:00.000Z

So much texting.

Inspired by William Steig's C D B, such a funny book.

2011-11-28T15:15:00.000Z

A squirrel singing and bats dancing this Monday.

2011-11-25T16:15:00.000Z

Multitasking, get those dishes clean cat!

2011-11-24T19:36:00.001Z

Boop boop boop

boop boop

2011-11-24T15:02:00.000Z

2011-11-23T17:48:00.001Z

Am I nearly finished with this book... maybe, nearly!

STILL trying to think of cards... I don't know what this inertia is, I just can't seem to quite actually DO IT. Although just looked up some card making suppliers, which feels like an achievement. Now I know where to buy plastic bags to put them in, when they exist...

2011-11-18T16:29:00.001Z

Leonora Carrington

2011-11-17T16:46:00.000Z

It's suddenly gone colder and wintery, dark early and the office feels more industrious... perhaps I feel extra shut into it somehow.

I'm going to see an exhibition this weekend of some Leonora Carrington drawings. She died this year in May aged 94. I saw the Serpentine retrospective in 1991 and had never felt quite that passionate before about paintings. I bought the poster, which has now lived with me in 7 different homes, getting steadily tattier but much loved:

Portrait of the Late Mrs Partridge 1947

I remember my mum thought Surrealism was a bit of a teenage phase, and it's true I grew out of liking the others, but not Leonora. Although it is also true that I no longer paint homages to her which include self-portraits. I remember a giant oil painting I began in my bedroom which featured me as a Leonora-esque wraith wafting around my grandparent's lawn (can't remember what the symbolism was supposed to be)... it was utterly meaningless and I was SO keen on it. I remember feeling certain that when people saw it, it would blow their minds. "This was painted by Tor?" "But she's only a a teenager! She's a genius! etc" I never finished it, and the wet oil paint got covered in grime and dust. Which also reminds me of a painting I did when I was obsessed with fairies and folklore - it was of wood nymphs wrapped around trees. My mum told me years later that it was literally the most phallic thing she'd ever seen, and I cringed for a while thinking how proudly I'd displayed it in the art room. Ho ho!

I really recommend Leonora Carrington's funny, strange books, The Hearing Trumpet and The Seventh Horse and Other Tales, if they are still in print.

No no no

2011-11-14T17:43:00.000Z

So this one is meant to be Snowman as Michelle Pfieffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys. But if you have to ask... well maybe you didn't, but is this unfestive or what! I like bits of this, the colours and the cat, but as an idea it's not happening. I think my brain hears "Christmas card" and goes into total shutdown for some reason. I made my grandmother's Christmas cards for years and years from the age of 5ish, so perhaps I used up all the festive ideas ever allotted to one person... Oh man!

That time again...

2011-11-14T13:00:00.000Z

The time when I try and think of a Christmas card! I came into work yesterday and spent the whole afternoon on a Christmas Comic, having been inspired by going to the Comica Comiket on Saturday. By the end of the afternoon I was convinced it was total genius... but by the evening, and even more today, I can see it's TOTALLY random, and not funny. Bum! So I'm back to thinking along regular card lines. Not this chap, but maybe something in a carolling theme

Hoover

2011-11-11T16:00:00.000Z

I haven't much to post at the moment as I'm still working towards this deadline. I've been trying to think of a Christmas card but not getting too far yet...

Eyeballing the hoover. My hoover could do with exiting the cupboard and being used...

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-28T18:28:00.000+01:00

Well, nearly! I'm off to Bat Out of Helloween tonight - nonstop power ballads all night. And you know that can't be wrong. In honour of which: rabbit and flamingo, and Foreigner...

Party Food

2011-10-26T17:51:00.000+01:00

I've been drawing party food, treats that couldn't include anything remotely sausage roll-like. I started to remember the amazing spreads you used to see at every children's party.

Chocolate Fingers, Hula Hoops, Wagon Wheels, jelly... and you were allowed to eat as much as you wanted! I was a tediously picky eater as a child, well until I was about 23, so all the loveliness was wasted on me, apart from the crisps and chocolate. Now I'd GORGE, it all looks good! Although I'm still a little uneasy about jelly. (As Beyonce almost said.)

Pics from my phone

2011-10-20T10:04:00.000+01:00

I went to Dr Sketchy last night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. There were two models and a compere, and it was pretty informal in terms of a life class, more like a burlesque night, which took the pressure off worrying about how your drawings came out. And the super music, the mirrors and the red curtains all gave a pervasive feel of Twin Peaks to the evening. Bonus!

I finally re-found the cable which connects my phone to the computer, so here are some random pics... A bat baby which shared a bungalow with my friend and me last summer. A truly revolting dummy I found on the floor. My desk as it looked yesterday.

Colouring pieces

2011-10-19T17:45:00.001+01:00

Colouring in this picture from earlier - what are they watching?!

I'm off to life drawing this evening, I will put up some drawings if they come out interesting!

More babies

2011-10-06T16:59:00.004+01:00

Babies! Stop that crying right now!

Hallo babies!

2011-10-05T17:21:00.000+01:00

What's that you're doing there babies? Aren't you just being the cutest?

To err is human, to arr is...

2011-10-04T15:51:00.000+01:00

Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate.

Taking liberties with Lego

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000+01:00

For my nephew, an ardent Lego fan.

Can I be Frank with you

2011-09-28T16:05:00.002+01:00

Audience

2011-09-26T17:29:00.001+01:00

I'll be in an audience this week, but my face will not be worried, it'll be non-stop happy, as it's the Sing-a-long Rocky Horror Show. Although some bits can still cringe me into covering my eyes, crocodile-style. I'm shivering with an-ti-ci... pation!

Croc in progress

2011-09-25T19:06:00.000+01:00

I'm all about deadlines at the moment, here's a detail. And now I'm hungry, and it's time for dinner, the best meal of the day. Good times ahead in half an hour and counting!

GIF Animation!

2011-09-15T10:26:00.000+01:00

Okay, I'm late to this party, but now I'm here I'm staying until the end and eating ALL the crisps! My first gif animation, and this Cannon & Ball cat shows just how excited I am!

Biplane!

2011-09-14T12:40:00.002+01:00

Neeeeeeeerrraaaaaaaw!

Drawing this reminded me of the Tintin book, The Shooting Star, where he goes with the Professor to find an asteroid which has fallen into the sea, and they're on the seaplane and Tintin looks out to see Snowy holding onto one of the wings. When I was little it was my favourite comfort book when I was ill.

Careful Tintin, it's about to go pop!

Up in the sky, a man in a plane

2011-09-13T14:08:00.001+01:00

Urgh, I'm finding this week challenging and it's only Tuesday... Nothing wants to work - my scanner and printer are being SO hateful.

Last night my friend was talking about Baron von Richthofen and his flying circus, and that they'd make nice illustrations... I think so too, it might be fun to draw some planes. And I like their wide flying pants. I tried some fighter pilots a while back, time for a return.

More Southbank drawings

2011-09-04T13:14:00.000+01:00

Peeping Tom

2011-08-21T11:33:00.000+01:00

A detail from a new book. This weekend days spent at home working on my desk in the corner, eating toast, it's been good.

O Lucky Mio!

2011-08-13T13:34:00.001+01:00

I've just returned from a wonderful six days in Venice. I flew out last Friday for a course taught by an illustrator I've long admired, the wonderful Yuko Shimizu. 12 people attended, all women - five Italians, one Mexican, Brazilian, Ethiopian, Canadian, two Germans and me, representing for the Brits. It was such a fun and inspiring group.

An exercise Yuko set us for the first few mornings was "Blind Drawing" - I must have done this at college but I'd forgotten it, and how useful it might be. I have noticed that when I'm location drawing, unless I'm very vigilant, I can catch myself looking more at my paper than my subject. I think blind drawing is useful for building your trust in the movement of your hand when you're not keeping an eye on it, and for improving the automatic connection between what you see and what you draw. Also it makes you concentrate on really looking at what you are drawing.

I've posted my blind drawings in chronological order in case they are interesting- I felt I could really see an improvement. Yuko warned us our drawings would look like monsters, but "monsters of the person" - she was completely right - all the features are in the wrong place, and one has three eyes as I couldn't remember what I'd drawn. But, sometimes, the features are just those of the person I was looking at.

I also managed to get some location drawing done. The amazing thing about Venice is its beauty is non-stop. You sort of marvel at it at first, the consistent magic of it - as if you'll turn a corner and see the scenery movers peeling back a board to reveal something horrid and modern underneath. But no - it just keeps on being beautiful. And it's a total gift to someone who likes drawing old, wobbly buildings.

And if that someone gets to draw them sitting in the sunshine next to a canal, gelato in hand and with the strains of O Sole Mio floating on the air... well.

It's really been such a wonderful experience. Often I've wished that I knew more illustrators in London who I could talk with about work. The opportunity to swap tips, especially computer tips, talk about illustration and see other illustrators' techniques has been very inspiring, reaffirming and sort of moving for me. And I met some really super people - altogether I feel very lucky.

People drawing

2011-08-03T14:45:00.001+01:00

Doing some sketching for a new book, working on my people and I'm really enjoying the change. While working this morning I listened to This American Life - if you have a spare hour I really recommend this episode.

I'm off to Venice in two days, I really feel excited. Weather looks to be super hot, but our London mini-heatwave has given me some practise. I will not melt! But I will cover my pasty skin in factor 50 and stick to the shadows.

View

2011-07-30T21:01:00.000+01:00

What a constructive Saturday. I cleaned the bathroom, dyed some clothes and got a haircut. Then I finally sat down and had a go at drawing the view from my bedroom. It's been a lovely evening out, bright and clear. I sat with my feet up and tried not to get totally confused about which window went where - it's certainly more impressionistic than accurate. I don't do location drawing near as often as I ought to, but when I do I remember how peaceful it is, and how absorbing when I manage to concentrate.

The Temple of Doom

2011-07-26T16:49:00.001+01:00

I've been trying out working just in Photoshop, I love it and find time passes. Through Twitter yesterday I came across this site, Stumpy Pencil, with wonderful new brushes to play with. I'm always so amazed and thrilled by the generosity of people sharing their time and effort online. I'll keep on drawing in analogue pencil too though, as don't want that skill to go downhill due to neglect.

I followed a link yesterday to Drew Struzan's website - I hadn't known his name, but am a long time admirer of his wonderful posters.

Of the three movies (the fourth doesn't count to me, nor I imagine to lots of other fans) the second one was my favourite when I was little. Nowadays I'd pick Raiders or The Last Crusade always, but something about this one - maybe the kid Data, the bugs, the bit where the baddie snatches out a guy's still beating heart - all appealed to a younger me.

I've got to get away from cats for a bit though, going to try my hand some more at drawing people, and not let myself get demoralised by initial rubbish efforts...

Opera cat

2011-07-20T13:08:00.000+01:00

I'm having a busy few weeks, trying to get a lot done before going to Venice in August, where I've booked an illustration course. I'm seriously excited, and will try to take good pictures and blog about it when I'm back.

Captain Haddock

2011-07-12T18:44:00.000+01:00

My friend's first love was Captain Haddock, and a very fine specimen of a man he was.

Illustration Friday: Stay(s)

2011-07-08T17:50:00.001+01:00

The topic is actually "stay" but it made me think of corset stays, I've been reading Georgette Heyer so I'm under the influence of period costume...

Hello Sailor!

2011-07-06T18:32:00.000+01:00

Card ideas...

2011-07-04T18:11:00.000+01:00

I want to get together a small card range to hoick round some shops. I wonder if this one has lost something in the translation to colour though, maybe he doesn't look as pleased with himself.

Or maybe I'm just being distracted by his gorilla boobs (goobs).

New Balls and Rosie

2011-06-28T10:15:00.001+01:00

I'm the card maker, twisted card maker. This is for my aunt who loves... tennis!

And for my pal who likes this Normal Rockwell painting of Rosie the Riveter...

Radiolab

2011-06-23T15:14:00.001+01:00

I've been listening to a lot of Radiolab podcasts, and this one, Help!, is particularly relevant to illustration and the creative process. I love the format of the show and think I came quite late to them myself, but if you haven't heard this show before I really recommend it...

And so does this guy!

Lucha Cats!

2011-06-22T12:25:00.052+01:00

Another card

2011-06-20T13:53:00.000+01:00

Here's my other birthday card of the weekend, based on the poster for Journey's End. I worried it wasn't very jolly for a birthday card, but here it is.

Also, a re-posting in honour of Clarence Clemons.

Birthday!

2011-06-17T19:37:00.001+01:00

It's my friend's birthday party tomorrow, and she is (or was!) a big collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia, so this seemed a good subject for a card!

Beautiful Sunset

2011-06-17T10:19:00.001+01:00

There is a wonderful view of London from the flat, and last night the sunset was the kind that makes you contemplate life and the world, or at least makes you feel that's what you should be doing. Instead of that, I took about 30 pictures, and every single one came out pretty awful. I imagine you have to be a serious photographer with a serious camera to do this kind of thing justice.

End of Days, Shepherds Bush

And some Beastie Boy cats...

Spinning

2011-06-16T09:53:00.000+01:00

I'm extra keen on crosswords at the moment - not cryptic, sadly I've not worked those out yet - but your ordinary chaps that come in the Evening Standard. When I was living (briefly, ish) with my parents again mid-move Mum and I had some crossword-offs, and I'd get SO FURIOUS when she finished hers first. My childhood bad sportsmanship has clearly not disappeared with age, merely been repressed. When Mum gets stuck she uses a dictionary, which I say is cheating, whereas asking someone for the answer and then becoming ENRAGED when they give it is not cheating.

Illustration Friday: Swept

2011-06-14T13:50:00.002+01:00

A house-proud pup.

Working and moving

2011-06-13T12:33:00.003+01:00

I've been pretty rubbish about updating lately, and I want to be better. I've been busy moving into a new flat, and three weeks later the dust feels like it's settling a little. Here's a detail from a book I'm working on at the moment.

READING CORNER: Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. Really made me laugh, and I hadn't realised how long she and Paul Simon were together. Imagine having some of his lyrics about about you...

She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead...

Sad Clown

2011-05-06T19:05:00.000+01:00

Illustration Friday: Lesson

2011-05-03T11:57:00.002+01:00

Illustration Friday: Bicycle

2011-04-26T12:55:00.002+01:00

A SUPER week

2011-04-15T13:16:00.000+01:00

It's Turtle!!

This week has been very busy, with work and fun and work-related fun. Yesterday I got advance copies of my new book, Turtle and Me, written by Robie H Harris and published by Brubaker, Ford & Friends. I feel so happy about this one, and have really loved working on it.

On Wednesday I went to see Buck 65 at the King's College Student Union. (Student unions sure ain't what they used to be - two drinks cost my pal £10!!! What's THAT about?) I think he's one of the best things I've come across in a while. He was funny, great music and his dancing was BRILLIANT. And he told a story about a rooster claw, and a bully at his school called Tardit.

That day I also got an email from the restaurant saying they were having a "soft launch" the next day, and would I like to come - food was free, drinks were not, which I think is the least dangerous combo and one I felt pretty happy about. I was sort of overwhelmed to see the wallpaper - it was SO big, but I felt really proud about how it came out. Here I am underneath it:

Holding the ketchup was making me laugh last night. Again, pretty glad the drinks weren't free. The burgers were seriously delicious though.

Non-work related, but this website has been making me laugh all week. I especially enjoyed the big-ass beetle and the beef jerky ones...

Burger time!

2011-04-11T10:53:00.000+01:00

This is a new Byron Burger restaurant which is opening on Haymarket on the 15th of April, and this wallpaper is by me! I've only seen this photo, but feel pretty happy with it from here. In fact, I feel famous! I'm going to go and eat underneath it, copiously. But I better not drink under it or I'll probably get overexcited and paw it with grubby fingers. Hurrah! And thanks so much to Ben for hiring me!

Illustration Friday: Cultivate

2011-03-24T18:18:00.000Z

I've actually tried this same drawing loads of times, but never feel quite happy with it!

I feel like the cat in the picture I guess.

Ape Attern

2011-03-22T17:38:00.001Z

Some London Paper

2011-03-21T10:30:00.001Z

I've been working on a project for a restaurant wall, based on images of London. Hopefully when it's up I can post some pictures of me eating underneath it, and say some more about it - it's been fairly outside my comfort zone, but a really good project.

I just made it to the Norman Rockwell exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery on Sunday. It's on until the 27th of March, if you live in the London area, I really recommend it.

Norman Rockwell

2011-03-18T16:40:00.001Z

The Tattooist by Normal Rockwell

The Cattooist (surely I will soon run out of animal based puns for these pictures...)

When I was at art college we did a brilliant project to help us learn how to use acrylic paints. We had to choose a painting and replicate it as best we could, at the same time adding ourselves into it somewhere. I chose this painting by Norman Rockwell, an artist I've always really admired and loved. In it, I was sitting on the sailor's lap and he was getting "Betty" crossed off, and my name tattooed on. We were looking at each other soppily - in fact I remember my tutor helping me with his face, and it was probably the best part.

I learned A LOT about using acrylics, and they became my medium of choice for a long time afterwards. Finally in the move last week it was time to bid that painting farewell and send it to the great recycling bin in the sky. So a new homage to Norman seemed appropriate today, perhaps I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. I hope this sailor sticks with Whiskers, because his arms are too short for many more feline lovelies.

Illustration Friday: Stir

2011-03-17T16:09:00.000Z

Ow ow, the bath is too hot! Add cold, quick quick QUICK!!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

2011-03-14T11:18:00.001Z

Though the streams are swollen, keep them doggies rolling!

After seven years in my flat, I've moved. It took longer than I'd expected, of course, and I walked up and down a grillion stairs. Most of my things are in storage while I look for somewhere else to live. It's sort of nice to feel untied down by stuff, although I don't expect that feeling to last, I'll miss my trinkets! How will I manage without my jars of shells, my tin insects, my bowl of lucky finds and other sundry rubbish that I'm fond of? I suspect the answer is: perfectly well.

I must stop collecting rubbish! Roll on new pad!

Edit: It appears it should be "dogies" not "doggies". And dictionary.com says a dogie is a "a motherless calf in a cattle herd", and the word comes from from "dough-guts", because they were fed on flour and water paste - how about that? And how about I stop looking up Rawhide lyrics and do some work...

Cattern number 2: Spaghetti

2011-02-18T13:55:00.000Z

When I was younger, and occasionally still now, my dad and I would talk about our last meal on Earth choice. His is always a fry up, and I used to agree (amazing to me, considering we pretty much always chose the same thing, how much mileage we've had out of this conversation. I guess some things are just very important.)

Nowadays I think I'd have to choose spaghetti bolognese, but these cats are having it plain.

Valentine's Day Pig

2011-02-14T15:03:00.001Z

She came out even loucher than I'd intended...

Illustration Friday: Sweater

2011-02-11T15:48:00.006Z

I had a lovely sweater knitted by my friend Ella's mum, Elona, which just said my name, and was BRILLIANT. I've still got it, but sadly it would only fit me as a hat now.

Gestating

2011-02-09T17:34:00.000Z

Details from a book I'm working on, calf and puppies in PJs. Well, in romper suits.

New Studio

2011-02-09T10:31:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago I packed up my computer and pencils and moved across London to a new studio. This photo of my desk doesn't really do it credit - it's lovely here, light and roomy and with lots of other people around. All the studios are glass fronted so you can spy into them on the way to the sink, and sometimes I get to have a stare-off with a big mournful looking bulldog as I pass by.

Also it's much nearer my flat - the novelty of the commute to Angel had really worn off. Now I just have a bus ride and I almost always get the seat at the top front.

Expressive

2011-02-07T19:18:00.000Z

I've been a bit rubbish at posting lately as work has really picked up, which is great, although I'm missing my blog too so going to try to be more consistent.

Tomorrow I'm presenting an illustration workshop for a class of 5-year-olds - last time we talked about expressions, how they show a person or animal's character, and how to draw them. I thought I'd show these as examples to help me explain further. I think I really nailed it in the first one! (Although my expression specifically looks like: "Seeing someone coming in holding a cake")

Disclaimer: they are not super flattering. Of the cat. Ho ho!

Airplane

2011-01-13T11:35:00.000Z

I'm trying to always have a book I'm enjoying on the go, I've just begun Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson, an author I really like. And I'm getting slightly back into sewing, doing some hemming of a jersey top in front of Entourage last night.

Ho ho

2011-01-12T12:47:00.006Z

I'm really looking forward to seeing this, especially as it looks pretty (ahem) hammy. I'm a big fan of melodrama!

Cat pattern - a cattern, if you will!

2011-01-11T17:23:00.006Z

This is my first go at following Julia Rothman's pattern tutorial on Design Sponge by hand, cutting up my paper. My natural impatience with measuring and cutting carefully meant I bodged it a bit, and it came out a bit wonky and join-showing... it's such a great way to do patterns though, I must just be more patient next time!
Contorting cats!

Tattoo you

2011-01-05T16:39:00.005Z

Trying to get back into the swing of things, I'm not finding it so easy!
Here's a rough picture, I'm thinking about cards again and what might make a nice range. This guy could be from "Cats of the Past" or somesuch thing...

Illustration Friday: Resolutions

2011-01-04T15:15:00.003Z

Happy New Year!

Resolutions for 2011 include:
1. Practise the guitar every day

2. Run more

3. Do more sewing
4. Have a more consistently optimistic outlook

Number 4 is the one I'm really going to concentrate on this year!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T17:54:00.004Z

From me and from Liza Pigelli, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Illustration Friday: Mail

2010-12-22T17:36:00.004Z

Posting Christmas cards, hoping they arrive in time!

Piano possums this time

2010-12-16T17:12:00.003Z

Just me in the studio today, hogging the heater. I finished my Christmas card, which I'll put up next week when I've sent them out. I'm not feeling super Christmassy yet, although I am feeling virtuous, having for the first time in my life managed to do my present shopping before Christmas Eve. A relief to be avoiding that particular freak out next week.
I'd like to go to a piano bar this holiday! And sit atop it, and have a possum accompany me.

Pigs who fly

2010-12-08T18:05:00.004Z

Have been working on my card for this year - this idea didn't seem to work, though I'm not sure why exactly. I don't think it came out funny. There was a suggestion of "Pigs on earth, goodwill toward men", but it still seemed not ideal...

Illustration Friday: Sneaky

2010-11-19T17:03:00.003Z

This may be a bit of a stretch... he's a sneaky villain. But it seems to be more about the hero, and the sneaky villain gets to play second fiddle.

Illustration Friday: Burning (Love!)

2010-11-12T14:18:00.005Z

It's 1968, and here is Rhinocelvis Beetle at his peak - poured into his carapace, mandibles glinting under his curled lip. (Actually I'm not sure Elvis actually sang Burning Love in the Comeback Special, but Rhinocelvis sure did!)

Singing in the rain

2010-11-10T14:15:00.008Z

It's cold today in the studio, we have the Calgar gas heater doing its best, but I'm also wearing a wool poncho, big blanket and have two pairs of socks waiting in case things get desperate. But I really LOVE it here!

Admiring Daan Botlek's brilliant work via Drawn.

A Cat May Look at a King...

2010-11-08T15:25:00.001Z

but only if he has a mirror. Ho ho!

Working on story characters, feeling very keen on cats at the moment.

Illustration Friday: Spent

2010-11-02T15:28:00.001Z

Unlucky 7!

Dungarees

2010-10-28T15:45:00.006+01:00

Chitty Chitty

2010-10-26T14:12:00.004+01:00

I found these in my auntie's old copy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, illustrated by John Burningham. I'd never seen the book before, but I really loved these drawings of Paris.
I don't remember much liking the film when I was little, too long and creepy, but the book was written by Ian Fleming! Which seems pretty cool to me.

Illustration Friday: Racing

2010-10-25T15:09:00.005+01:00

Racing hearts

And dancing...

2010-10-20T12:20:00.005+01:00

More animals playing instruments!

2010-10-19T15:01:00.006+01:00

O when will I be sated? When will I have seen enough animals on instruments?? Will the joyous day ever dawn? I suspect not.

Poor Maurie!

2010-10-12T14:47:00.002+01:00

I have a new desk in a studio! Very exciting. Here is a picture of some malfunctioning plumbing to celebrate.

Things in jars!

2010-10-09T16:11:00.008+01:00

This morning I took my (mild) hangover to the Huntarian Museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields, where The Big Draw was putting on an event. It was very busy, and I sat on the floor getting giant pins and needles and trying to commit some of these jarred guys to sketchbook. There were several artists from the Institute of Medical Illustrators taking part and helping out, and I overheard some riveting conversations about specialist techniques and how the job works.

I went by limo - that's not weird, right?

Who are you calling a troglodyte?

I like the way I accidentally made the guy on the left look like he's lifting his skin up like a skirt to show you his insides. And looking kind of proud about it too.

The Huntarian is a super, interesting place, and entrance is free. The displays are beautiful and informative, and some of the animal foetuses (foeti? foetopedes? foetie foets?) are astonishing - there's a walrus there about the size of my hand, and although he's got no tusks you can recognise him straightaway by his tiny walrus face.

Illustration Friday: Beneath

2010-10-06T15:30:00.001+01:00

Happy Birthday Mum!

2010-10-01T15:04:00.004+01:00

Liza Pigelli wishes her a very good year.

Illustration Friday: Old-Fashioned

2010-09-29T12:56:00.007+01:00

Mudchute City Limits

2010-09-28T22:41:00.008+01:00

Today I went with my friend Elfie to Mudchute City Farm, London's largest, on the Isle of Dogs. Stepping out of Mudchute DLR station it felt like countryside, apart from Canary Wharf looming from a distance. Today was extra autumnal, the sky threatening and yellowish, and bonfire smell in the air, which turned out to be coming from the farm itself.

On the way on the DLR

Down a long path to the farm - a bit scary, where IS the farm?

Sheep and Canary Wharf

The ferret that bit me (a little) and tried to get up my sleeve

Chewing on his pen, chew chew chew

Bedtime for sheep - being herded somewhere mysterious

Brilliant goats, they were being very vocal and talking to each other at bedtime - see how exotic the one on the right is? They are Nubian goats

Darn you animals, why won't you stay STILL