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A Tight Ship

This is MY shoe

Exhausted Lizard!

And a cat walk cycle...

Back in the Saddle

Happy bright, cold Monday! I had a couple of commissions for Christmas this year which I thought I could post now.

This was based on a Norman Rockwell, and is now the third pastiche of him I've done. Can't be done enough I think!

Norman Rockwell - Triple Self Portrait, 1960

The one below is a portrait commission of some lovely cats, Scout, Al and Coco!

And in really happy news, the keyboard that I spilled a whole beer over at the office Christmas party, resulting in a complete lack of capital "i"s, has miraculously regenerated over the holiday! A New Year's miracle, no doubt.

Beautiful Digby model!

I just received a most super surprise parcel from the lovely illustrator Rachel Clowes. Her son Harry made a model of Olive in clay a while back - and here is his Digby Dog! He comes with a separate stand, and uses it a treat. He's so special, thank you Harry and Rachel, I love him and will treasure him!

Co-edition giveaway - FINISHED

This is now finished, thanks for playing guys!

I have some extra Digby co-editions, so I'm wondering if anyone would like some multilingual Digby action? 

If you're interested, please leave a comment in the box below specifying which language you'd like, by midday on Monday 5th January. If there's more takers than books per language, I'll pull names from a hat, chapeau, hattu or Hut!

I can post free to Europe, but for anywhere further postage to be paid by winner please, by Paypal or bank transfer.

Plus two copies of the Toucans in German!

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.