Sneaky Peek: R is for Royalty

Hello again!

So here's a little look into one of the pieces I've been working on for my MA project: R is for Royalty. But instead of our Dear Old Queenie it's a rather intense look at a pearly king's jacket. With cockney rhyming slang hidden in some of the buttons. You really have to look for them, but that's my favourite part.
I actually already did one version of this piece using card and a etching needle to make a printable plate a little while back (experimentation on an MA = very important), but since I've decided the whole book is going to be done with my more usual pen-ink-and-digital mix it means I have to redo it. Not surprisingly I left it a while before tackling all those buttons again.

The whole book is starting to take shape now so hopefully I'll have more parts to show you soon. It won't be finished pieces though, or at least not whole ones. I'm saving that for the grand unveiling nearer my MA show in September :)

For those of you who don't already know, I've also updated my website now, so my portfolio is all up to date and you can browse to your hearts content.

See you soon!

H

Live Draw!

Evenin' all!

It's all been a bit horribly hectic with deadlines recently but I managed to get involved in a live drawing session over in south-west London not too long ago hosted by a friend of mine, Sam Baker, who asked for some illustrators to work during a video and sound installation he created.
The lovely Sara Taghdimi and I managed to created a fabric mural in just under 45 minutes to a mash up of Pink Floyd, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Wizard of Oz.
As you can expect the result was a bit random, but it was really interesting to react to the music and accompanying visuals that immediately.

More posts to come soon (hopefully!)

See you!

H

Exhibitions and envelopes

Hey hey!

So I finally worked out what I'd like/what I had time/what I could afford to do for the exhibition in terms of promo material and I now have 99 of these littles beauties...

Teeny tiny envelopes! With greetings on them! And I'm not going to tell you exactly what's in them until after the private view. Because that's how I roll.

Anyway, just for info, it's the Blackall Studios we're showing in, down in Shoreditch The private view's on Thursday 12th April (6-9pm) and then the exhibition is on till the 17th and open everyday from 11am till 6pm.

Hopefully see you soon!

H

Exhibition Booklet Idea

Hello again!

Here's a little idea for a promotional booklet for the upcoming exhibition I'm in over at the Blackall Gallery in Shoreditch, using my favourite booklet/hidden poster format. I'm not sure whether it's going to be feasible, but if I had unlimited funds/time, then hand-folding a couple of hundred of these to give out would be lovely.

In any case, if you're around on the 12th - 17th April then come check it out! There'll be 63 illustrators showing! This is the place: http://www.blackallstudios.com/

Hopefully see you there. If not, speak to you soon!

H

How today could've ended.

Were my colleagues any less than they are...

Proper stuff to come soon.

H

A much needed Gallery Trip

Hello again!

I know it's only been a couple of days since my last post, but after giving myself a stern talking to I decided I needed to get back into the habit of going to galleries and museums to draw and I wanted to post the results asap. I'd kind of trailed off a bit since my drawing-buddy Shannon went back to the US of A and yesterday I made the effort to get back into it.

I also got my feedback from my assessment, and while I actually did pretty well, they did say I should be getting some more observational and figure drawing into my sketchbooks to support my other work.

I started off looking at evidence of the ageing process in the work there (for reasons that will become apparent when my final project is complete) and then I just started enjoying the light on the sculptures (always my favourite to draw from).

Used pencil, my trusty pentel styli refill (my ultimate fav pen) and some good ol poscas. 

Anyway! I'll see you soon. I can't promise it'll be this soon next time though!

H

Movember

Hello again!

Now, some of you may already have seen these illustrations, but for those of you that haven't, here's the story.
Last November I helped money to raise awareness for men's health through Movember. As I lacked the necessary hormones to grow a moustache I said that if someone gave £20 to support the cause I'd do them an illustration of their choice. Here are three of those commissions.
I raised £243 total. I'll see if I can top it next year :)

See you soon!

H