sea legs - illustration & things

wired

2010-02-14T14:07:00.002Z

it's a really good magazine

its been a while...

2010-01-13T23:17:00.002Z

hasnt time flown by?!

lets do some sort of little collaboration! (i have been inspired by jen & alan's one here) i'm not sure what yet, but i will have a wee think.

any suggestions?

i like the colour project we did. although that wasnt really a collaboration.

hmmm...

must-try-harder

2009-10-19T17:38:00.004+01:00

quite shamefully haven't posted on sea legs in what feels like a million years! so a slight catch-up on bigger projects:

SHOP: opened an etsy shop! i'd been planning on this for what feels like an age, & it's finally up & running.

WHAT I WORE TODAY: my contributions to a group where people post drawings of what they wore, started by gemma correll. i did one for every day in september. the group even got a tiny mention in the magazine grazia!

ITUNES A-Z: latest drawing project, which i need to get back into. nice to be drawing people. impressed that i've mostly draw guys so far too.

that's all for now. i'll try to keep up a little better, but it's hard with such a lack of free time.

CALL OUT FOR WORK!

2009-10-14T10:36:00.002+01:00

Morning sunshine(s)

HAIRST: Halloween in Huntly is looking for your own made tattoo designs. ANYTHING GOES.

Tattoos will be created for the 1st of November, when there will be a fake Tattoo parlour in the Sq.

If you are up for it, then please send a jpeg (300dpi) of the design to catrin@huntlyhairst.co.uk

All artists that contribute tattoos will get a photograph of their designs in action, with someone wearing their newly acquired tattoo. We will also display them all, along with the artist's name on our website and facebook.

If you are free...

2009-10-06T15:48:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone, how's tricks? I am organising an event on Halloween and there abouts... If any of you are free and fancy coming up then you are welcome to crash at mine! Also Scotrail are doing a MEGA deal, and it would only cost you £15 return to Huntly from anywhere in Scotland... HAIRST: Halloween in Huntly, Aberdeenshire/// only 50mins away from Aberdeen!

31st of October - 8th of November 2009
Now in its 7th year, this unique festival celebrates the local harvest updates local Halloween traditions
in the North East of Scotland. The 2009 theme 'Let there be Light!' will see the Hairst turn
Huntly into a stage: illuminating the picturesque town with a light spectacle, lantern making and laughter! Including collectives Ganghut and Now Now, a continental and farmers market, music from the Bum-Clocks and Catriona MacKay, a mass Michael Jackson 'Thriller' tribute and much more...
Check out the full programme at www.huntlyhairst.co.uk

New www.johnalanbirch.com

2009-09-09T15:53:00.004+01:00

Hey one and all, it's been an absolute age since I've posted anything up here on Sea Legs, and for the first time in a good while I actually have something worth writing home about. I've just finished uploading my new website, have a look and by all means let me know what you think, I've been meaning to update my web page for some time and it's quite a feat to have it out of the way at last, hopefully I've kept the site simple enough to allow me to update it frequently. It's also put me in the right frame of mind for getting a move on with some work. Anyway, here's the link www.johnalanbirch.com.

hellojenuine.com

2009-07-29T21:47:00.001+01:00

hello friends. i've got a new layout over on my website, take a peek. if you spot any bugs, let me know!

ILLUSTRATIVE 09 Berlin

2009-07-28T15:43:00.000+01:00

I found out about an interesting exhibition of contemporary graphic art which is well worth a look. ILLUSTRATIVE started in Berlin and having been to Paris and Zurich, is now returning to Berlin for ILLUSTRATIVE 2009. It showcases cutting edge work of more than 60 artists with work covering a range of media from drawing and painting to mural collages and 3D illustrations. The collection of the work is to be exhibitied at the Villa Elisabeth in Berlin and runs from the 15th of October to the 1st of November.

Swatch Young Illustrators Award is looking for entries for Call 2009, where the nominees will be invited to Berlin and get the opportunity to exhibit their work at Illustrative 2009 in Berlin. Winners receive prizes worth 6.000 Euros along with publications and illustration agency contracts. They will also be featured in future international shows. One winner will also get the chance to design a Swatch watch. The Call for entries is open until the end of September so get those pens and brushes out.

All the information can be found at ILLUSTRATIVE 09. Certainly worth checking out.

exhibition

2009-07-26T21:55:00.004+01:00

A little bit of exciting news from me... i have been asked to take part in the 'Selected Graduates Exhibition' at The Biscuit Factory down in Newcastle! Some from the gallery was at the doj degree show and seen my work and they are wanting my recipie book and box! It runs from Friday 4th September 2009 until Sunday 11th October 2009. Anyone who is in the area please come along for a nosey!

Loren x

HAPPY SUNDAY!

2009-07-12T15:52:00.001+01:00

HELLO! It's been a while since I conversed with any illustration buddies. How are you all? Where you at? What you doing?

I am one curious (nosey) Cat!

A grand day oooooooot

2009-06-26T20:05:00.003+01:00

YELLOW,

I haven't given up hope of our GRAND day ooooooooot.

I am back in the wilderness for all of July, so how about either the 7th or 8th of August in Edinburgh? There is LOADS on.

I was thinking we could meet afternoon, prance about and then grab some dinner con vino, si?

This is my pick of the bunch: Aleksandra Mir & Nathan Coley. What a PAIR! I am sure there will be so much art, theatre and music, that there will be something for everyone.

SO who is IN?

something sunday

2009-06-23T22:35:00.001+01:00

featured on the scribble project as last sunday's something sunday. hooray!

Story from North America

2009-06-23T16:05:00.001+01:00

Alasdair found this swell animation and asked me to post it up here on Sea Legs. It's "Story from North America" by Garrett Davis and Kirsten Lepore. Enjoy! :)

2009-06-10T18:57:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, I've made a wee profile for myself on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tracey-smith/13/ba8/3a2

and one for Sea Legs, just incase anyone wants to make their own profile and link to it. I'm just trying to change the settings to get my name off as the 'owner'!

ILLUSTRATION SUN(or any)DAY OUT!

2009-06-09T19:38:00.004+01:00

HI GUYS! Wondering if you all fancy having a wee day out together in July sometime, a wee reunion? Who is in?

I am based down in Girvan, and I'm guessing most of you are about in Dundee or round about (well apart from wee Speedie and Jools). So why don't wee all meet somewhere halfway? WHO IS IN?!

collaborate!

2009-06-04T12:46:00.004+01:00

happy june to everyone! i'm not sure how many of you are keeping up with sea legs at the moment, but i just wanted to post about this project that i took part in this week, art tanks. basically, there are six window spaces up for use in the city centre, & people can propose what they might like to do with them. i think it would be super sweet if we could co-lla-bo-rate as sea legs on something? it's a fairly small space, 4.5ft x 4.5ft x 2.5ft. but with it being a year & all since we last had a group-art-thing, it'd be nice to do this. i know i've mentioned this to a couple of you & got a yes, but i think it'd be sweet if there was a small bunch of us.

ps. is the bloody banner working for you all yet?! i attempted to fix it on a crappy PC with IE, rather than on a sweet mac with safari, to see if it made any difference.

yny

2009-05-18T12:17:00.000+01:00

come along friends, hup to it.

Dundee Degree Show 2009

2009-05-10T13:18:00.004+01:00

Well can you believe it! It's almost been a year since our Degree Show. Time has most certainly flown by at quite a speed. Fingers crossed that as many of us as possible can reunite for this years show at Vision down by Seabraes and support those showing their work this year. More information can be found here

In the meantime, here's a blast from the past!

2009-05-05T02:15:00.001+01:00

Sorry for those of you that have seen this. A wee collage from Spain. More to come...

cloud

2009-04-30T16:22:00.000+01:00

golly, it's sure been quiet around here.

share some candy

2009-04-20T22:35:00.003+01:00

i have been let loose on sharesomecandy, posting both my own work, & the work of others. you can browse through some nice imagery, with the option of rating things if you feel that way inclined. it's a most awesome site, & one i enjoyed browsing before i was kindly offered a posting spot. take a peek!

Memory in the post

2009-04-01T23:46:00.001+01:00

Ok folks, want to help me out?

As a little project, i'm illustrating some of my memories. This isn't as straightforward as it sounds. It's not me drawing myself patting a dog when i'm three or flying a kite. I'm trying to draw scenes, places, people, etc completely from memory and create a collection.
Since these memories have been in my head for so many years, i'd like to let them free a bit, and i am therefore going to send them in the post to you. Yes you. Why would you want my memories? I don't know. I'm not forcing you. They will come in a pack, varying sizes of paper, varying amounts in each pack. All will be catalogued, scanned etc before traveling before being your property. So if you fancy some random art in the post. Maybe you just like the feeling of receiving mail. I know i do. Then just message me your address. I'm not a perve. I won't stalk you. Just for the record.

yny

2009-03-31T21:21:00.001+01:00

hay chaps still in dundee or near-abouts. yum 'n yum is this thursday, at dca in the meeting room upstairs from the gallery. you should come!

free encouragement

2009-03-26T22:14:00.004Z

okay, i haven't said anything in a while, so i'm posting about this. a while back i made a post about the free encouragement project, & my offering got selected! set up by the kind folks over at booooooom & design for mankind, they've now released two packs available for purchase in the free encouragement etsy shop, & you can find my offering in pack two. go have a peek! there's ten lovely cards in total, with equally lovely messages.

yeah, this is largely copy & pasted from my blog...

What a dry month!

2009-03-20T22:58:00.003Z

HOLA from Madrid

scribble project

2009-02-24T23:22:00.002Z

little bit of free time & fancy a doodle? try filling out the scribble project sheet. i've done one & it's nice for a bit of mindless scribbling. lisa, who's idea it was, is collecting her favourites & putting them out as a zine in the near future. you can download them near the bottom of the blog.

website

2009-02-20T21:06:00.005Z

hi guys. i've just made a website for a book shop in auckland. i'd like to hear your feedback on it, no matter how negative or positive. i think it is a little bit too cluttered and the text on the right is messy now, but apart from that i have been working on it too much and can't look at it properly! it's pretty much out of my hands, but it's good to know what people think...
http://www.evergreenbooks.co.nz/

BARBIE SAYS SWAPSHOP!

2009-02-17T22:12:00.002Z

Barbie Says Swapshop will give you a chance to REVAMP your wardrobe whilst escaping the clutches and monotony of the high street corporate dragons. With the credit crunch in full flow it can be a wise choice to hang onto those pennies for a rainy day, but you can still LOOK GREAT WITHOUT SPENDING A SNOWFLAKE.

Break free from mainstream fashions by bringing any old garments and accessories you have lying around in the house. Then exchange them, along with your memories, for something new and exciting!

Come along on Friday the 27th of February to the Deveron Arts Old Shop (Gaulds Greengrocers) on Bogie Street, Huntly (An hour north of Aberdeen). The fun starts at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

Give us a shout if your coming! xx

paper and shapes and islands and grapes

2009-02-16T04:53:00.008Z

1 purple and green
2 spacegrapes
3 island fold

night time beach

2009-02-15T09:59:00.002Z

a sunset picture from a small island off the east coast of new zealand.

PRODUCTIVE

2009-02-14T23:06:00.004Z

man, i wish i could be like this with my actual proper work.

i'm meeting with the former Miss Chloe James this week so i've got her on the brain.

more of the same thing

2009-02-14T21:52:00.004Z

get your thinking caps on MATIES.

i'm just experimenting with ways to get it up without the colour format changing. hmmmm, can't work out the logic behind it.

it's your favourite time of the month...

2009-02-14T10:58:00.003Z

YES. ANOTHER AS WE SPEAK.

the usual: if you have vids then send them in. however, i do realise this may not be appealing to many of you so i think i now have something more up your wonderful illustration mind's street...

at the next As We Speak there will be a stall at the night with artists books (for flicking through and maybe even buying) run by Now Now, so if that's something you think you might be interested in getting involved in HOLLER in my direction. I know you talented peeps have lot's of wonderful drawings kicking about so get them down to us and you can maybe make some DOSH and get your work distributed among the masses in the process.

as before, it's free entry on the night if any of you fancy joining us for some FUN antics, and this time Cathy will do our best not to cock up the home baking...

new poster by moi

2009-02-14T10:38:00.004Z

yes. i have been productive for a change!

does anybody have any ideas for this? we are going to have the lease of an empty shop in glesga for a week and we're looking to fill it up with lot's of cool one day projects. everything from posters and drawings on display, bands playing, some wanky performance, diy discos and art zine shops. we're looking for your proposals - maybe of you want to get together and do something?

if you've got any questions then fire them onto Nads, Cathy or moi at the nownow email address. Will anybody be getting involved?

i like your style

2009-02-13T17:39:00.006Z

Hey guys, it's been absolutely ages since I've blogged I know but here I am again! just finished uploading scans of this sketchbook project Jen and I where doing, hop on over to my blog to have a look if you would, and let me know what you think.

yum yum

2009-02-06T15:35:00.005Z

dundee based yuck n yum are looking for submissions & contributions for their spring zine issue. they make both an online & printed version, which you can pick up at the edition openings (they are fun). you can send in artwork, written pieces, sound, video, etc, i know some of you have been a part of this before. learn more here.

No tequila just yet...

2009-02-01T14:27:00.002Z

My Mexican adventure has been postponed for this year. Now off to live in Madrid and Aupair for 10months, learn the Spanish lingo in prep for my Mehico City dream living plan.

Leaving from the start of March so hopefully we can have a wee reunion before then.

plant

2009-02-01T03:10:00.003Z

a drawing of a plant in a whole in a wall, yes.

GO and have a SWATCH

2009-01-22T11:17:00.005Z

My pal (and fellow Dundee 08 graduate) Ruby Pester is doing pretty well for herself and has a performance coming up on the 14th of Feb in Glesga. It is really well worth a look.

For more details check out... http://www.newmoves.co.uk/event-list-2009-national-review-of-live-art/40-national-review-of-live-art/522-ruby-pester

Also don't know if any of you cats are still into the making of zines, badges, mixed tapes, packaging or any random crap. If so...

project #5

2009-01-07T17:17:00.003Z

a collaborative project brought to you by booooooom & design for mankind. it's rather neat, so go have a look, you have until february 1st. i've chosen, like, twelve that i want to have a shot at. i'm not going to relay what it's about here because i'm pretty sure you can all read.

FUN TIMES

2009-01-07T09:03:00.003Z

FROM TEAM ROSSI AND WEIR COMES...

Now Now presents... Make It Break It. (Pass the poster on PLEASE).

Deadline for submissions is the 28th of February 2009 (11.14am). Successful applicants will be given the opportunity of a lifetime, to present/perform/exhibit/display/represent their own individual record breaking/making attempt. The show will take place mid-March in Glasgow. More details to follow. Looking forward to hearing all your ideas. Kisses and that. Now Now

Ps. for some strange reason this poster is going a real funny colour. i have never seen a blue hot dog. suggestions PLEASE.

take art leave art

2009-01-06T20:10:00.002Z

i'd like to alert you to this. "take art leave art" was brought to my attention by an old deviantart friend tara harris. she & others are going to cover the walls of a gallery space with doodles & old drawings donated by artists & non-artists. the idea behind the show is that you view art, then take a piece replacing it with something of your own.

as you're donating your work, you won't receive any payment. after the show, those who sent work to be put up are being offered a randomly selected piece from the show in return, the postage of which tara has kindly informed me she'll pay. so of course, you should only send work you don't mind seeing the back of. perhaps you have some random scrawl you don't have the heart to bin, but don't know what to do with, or some test prints or such lying around.

i'm going to send my stuff out next monday, but thursday at the latest depending on my shifts at work. if anyone wants to send something along with mine, feel free to either give or send it to me, & i'll post it along with my stuff. let me know if you need my address. the show takes place here in february. i'll get tara to send pictures.

hei matau

2009-01-04T21:28:00.002Z

this fish hook symbolises strength, provision and safe travel over water. a maori symbol.

AS WE SPEAK (the return)

2009-01-04T17:03:00.002Z

anybody been making any vids or know anybody that has?

cathy is looking for some more to show at the next AS WE SPEAK. it's a really good opp to get yerself oot there as the last one was a GIGANTIC success - the skinny previewed it with high acclaim, it was super busy and the CCA want AS WE SPEAK to run there. however cathy is sticking to her roots and to stereo, the great dancing place. it's FREE to get in so if you are kicking about glesga then you should pop by.

cathy can be reached AT: aswespeak@email.com

oooo behave, it's the last of the noughties!

2009-01-04T16:53:00.004Z

god, can you believe it guys... that's it now over 6months since finishing uni! how fast it's flown in. i'm with jen, i'd really like to see everyone's drawings and find out what you cats are up to. i pledge to put as much up as i can, and also let you know of any openings or events happening that might interest you guys.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. i am ALL about 2009. bring it on. it's going to be GREAT. xxx

2009-01-04T14:28:00.002Z

yeah, that! i hope you've all has a tip-top festive season. now it's january & the traditional time for resolutions & all that jazz, whether you like it or not. i've got a list of twenty to-do's & promises so far (out of a goal of twenty three, like the brand new age i'll be), but perhaps one should be to better keep up with sea legs? & in turn, better keep up with my fellow doj illustrators, & share & draw & lovely things like that, etc. so i pledge to update sea legs AT LEAST twice a month. start small, but imagine how much more we could all feast our eyes on if we each updated even once a month. i know this will never happen (haha), but i plan on droning on a bit, you lucky boys & girls. & ali h has joined now, the more the merrier.

come on friends, post a drawing, you actually have ZERO excuses. happy january!

Atop a Moroccan Mountain

2008-12-17T18:50:00.004Z

I have been drawing everyday and I must admit it feels rather fulfilling to be able to say that. Some of the drawings are a bit low quality but I guess the drawings kind of reflect my state of mind for each day - some of them I really like and some of them I'm not so fond of. Anyhow, instead of posting them all here I'm just posting my favourite and if you really wanna see the rest be my guest and head on over to my blog and have a gander.

you're probably sick of this already

2008-12-07T12:29:00.003Z

back to PRing my guts out...

WANNA LOOK GREAT WITHOUT SPENDING A SNOWFLAKE?

well guys it's easily achievable with the all new swapshoptopshop. YES YES YES!

ADD me on www.myspace.com/swapshoptopshop
It tells you all the ins and outs of the event.

also could you please pass this poster onto as many pals as poss so that everybody can share in these festive fashion frolics. and then ask them to send it onto as many people they know. get some chain mail on the go.

HOPEFULLY SEE ALL YOU COOL CATS THERE.

ps. DISCLAIMER: The above event is in no way supported or condoned by TopShop. Any similarity to any brand living or dead is merely coincidental.

straight from the sketchbook...

2008-12-06T13:42:00.002Z

for your eyes only

2008-12-02T19:50:00.003Z

I Love Mondays.

2008-12-02T16:39:00.008Z

Here's a bunch of sketchbook stuff I've been doing of late. Not been feeling too well this week, just a cold though so I'll hopefully be feeling better after a good sleep tonight. I liked Jen's idea of 'Every Day A Drawing in December' and think I'm going to try that also - I was trying to force myself to draw everyday after reading 'Everyday Matters' last month - but I think that was the problem - I was trying to force it a little too much. Drawing is fun and it should feel that way. I've been drawing a lot more than usual lately and a drawing a day should be more fun knowing that someone else is doing it too...

What my inner self looks like when it snows, while my outer self

is trying to remain calm and composed at the sight of the snow...

Just a bit of fun. Based on a photo

I saw on John Darnielle's flickr page.

Today's December drawing. Not too sure where it

came from but it's a drawing nonetheless.

Yesterday's drawing. I realise it's rather messed up,

I mean who loves mondays?

a challenge!

2008-11-30T16:46:00.001Z

it doesn't matter what you draw. just draw draw draw.

banner or no banner

2008-11-23T19:15:00.003Z

okay, didn't feel like i should post without including a drawing, so here's a picture i drew whilst on a train a couple of weeks ago.

the real reason i'm posting is to ask whether everyone can see the banner image at the top of this blog. just up there, see? or not see? after it was coming up as a broken link on my family's pc, & with jules saying she didn't even know there was supposed to be an image, i changed it to a jpg as it was previously a png. any difference?

only other illustration/art related news is that i finally added some illustrations to my website (will do thumbnails another day), i did more invigilation for the edinburgh sculpture workshop this past week (more for the cv), & - along with a couple o' others - i have an image in the winter issue of yuck 'n' yum zine. won't tell you what one, & i don't want to know what sanna & alan put in as i want a surprise!

Teenagers, Tanglefoot and The Crusades.

2008-11-20T18:22:00.010Z

My attempt at the 'how I was as a teenager and how I am now thing' that Jen showed us a few weeks back. I'm not too sure if I'm 15/16 when I've drawn myself but you get the idea, also, I'm not sure if you can really read my wonderful writing.

I like good beer.

...and good pubs. My favourite Nottinghamshire pub.

www.juliapott.com

2008-11-07T14:58:00.002Z

i especially like the First Crush animation!

some of the drawings remind me of cat's work, i love this style!

just thought i would share!

AS WE SPEAK

2008-11-05T10:43:00.003Z

if you are about in glesga this is the place to be... cathy weirdo is running the night and looking for any videos. please let me know if you have anything that could go on it.

i'm going to use it as a brief and make a new vid for it. films have to be in by the 15th of nov. COME ON PEEPS. you have ages.

xxx

I've Got A Message for You.

2008-11-05T10:38:00.003Z

Quick Post as I wanted to put some work up on Sea Legs again.

Another picture...

2008-10-30T00:12:00.004Z

I'm sticking to straight drawing just now and animals seem to be the theme. As long as I'm drawing for the time being then that's good enough for me and eventually I'll start using colour again.
And isn't it so nice to just draw for the sake of drawing.

drawing.

2008-10-29T22:44:00.001Z

things. drawing things.

A picture...

2008-10-23T21:41:00.005+01:00

Yes, it has happened. I picked up a pencil and drew. As I was feeling Christmassy in October I wanted to draw a reindeer but settled for an axis deer instead. It's nothing exciting but it's a start and I thought I should share it with you.

Hurrah for drawing xxx

A sketch from my holiday in Scotland

2008-10-22T11:32:00.002+01:00

Shieldaig, Scotland

fifteen & twenty two

2008-10-21T17:02:00.001+01:00

me at fifteen & me at twenty two. response to this post. obvious changes are less colour, & less stripes.

i sing, i swim

2008-10-14T01:06:00.003+01:00

not really blog-worthy (& a terrible images thanks to my webcam), but at least i drew something! i want to draw a seabear, based on the band with the same name. so i've been trying to draw bears. & get that awesome, awesome pattern a little further out of my system.

Traffic Cones and Transcona.

2008-10-13T23:27:00.005+01:00

I don't feel like I've done much work recently but I've had a lot going around in my brain. Anyway, I was walking through perth a few weeks ago and I saw a few traffic cones set out as in the picture below. Well this is basically what went through my head when I saw them. Random, I know but I couldn't get it out of my head, so here it is...banished from my thoughts and destined to spend the rest of it's life on the internet.

Dude...

Secondly, there's an artist whose poetry I think is great, the guy's called Clive Holden and he did a bunch of poems called 'Trains of Winnipeg' a few years back, some of which are set over music by the Weakerthans (one of my favourite bands, hence how I got into listening to it) It's not the most upbeat, cheerful thing to listen to if I'm honest but I always enjoy it anyhow. One poem is called 'Transcona', it's not too long so give it a listen over at CyclopsPress if you will before or whilst looking at my picture. Also, I am aware that he is talking about Trains and Coaches in this poem but I found this pitcure of Transcona and I just really like it is all, I have such an urge to visit this place even though it doesn't sound like there's too much there.

Thank you Transcona for bringing me home.

P.S. How come nobody has posted anything in ages, come people shape up...

JAB

Better late than not at all...

2008-09-27T18:33:00.006+01:00

You know what they say, It's better that it was late than not at all. Here's my response to last weeks illustration Friday thing, the 'Island' one. Didn't much like the sound of the 'Clique' one so I don't think I'll be partaking in that one to be honest. Anyway, enjoy hopefully I'll have a chance to update my own blog this weekend - it's been a while!

Oh and a Post-Script: the guy on the Island is thinking "Gees, nothing interesting ever happens around here..."

JAB

So long; farwell...

2008-09-25T22:10:00.003+01:00

hi guys,

from monday the 29th of September i'll be in the total wilderness with no signal and very limited access to the internet. back to the dark ages and council tele for me,

If you need to reach me i would LOVE to receive your letters via the old fashioned snail mail. senf to: The Port Askaig Hotel, Port Askaig, Islay, PA46 7RB.

i hope you all have a GRAND winter and keep the drawing up. Sea Legs better still be on the go when i return briefly in February. xx

buried treasure

2008-09-19T10:28:00.001+01:00

x marks the spot

illustration friday - island

2008-09-18T18:19:00.004+01:00

knee islands!

ten years ago

2008-09-18T18:19:00.002+01:00

i stumbled across this meme quite some time ago, & planned on having a go, although never got round to it. the idea is to draw yourself as a teenager (people in their twenties who have done it generally go for ten years back), next to your present self, with any difference in style, haircuts etc becoming glaringly obvious, & quite funny. i looked horrendous when i was twelve, & i don't look back fondly on the way i look until about fifteen or sixteen, so i can imagine the contrast for me would be amusing. anyway, have a go if you fancy it, i have a feeling it's something that would suit some of us more than others, but you know.

if you do have a go, the originator can be found compiling a list of everyone who's submitted their drawings here.

Draw me your thing...

2008-09-13T15:30:00.004+01:00

Here's an open brief which some of you *ahem* might be interested in. It's for a good cause and seems quite lighthearted. Remember, no photographs!:

'The Artful Todger: The Penis in Popular Culture' Why is the depiction of the male member still considered such a taboo in today’s society? And how is it truly represented by creatives and influential figures in today’s culture? The Artful Todger proposes to be a light-hearted book, examining the artistic representation of the penis in today’s culture, and invites you to contribute. Be it a line drawing, a detailed sketch, a collage, a hand crafted piece or pop up, we want your representation in our book. There will be a whole chapter dedicated to current interpretations and selected entries will be published with the most successful entry used for the front cover. All copyright will remain that of the artist and all artists will be credited unless otherwise requested. Donations from the published work will be made towards testicular cancer charities. Successful entries may also be selected for use in the forthcoming exhibition of the same name. Please send all entries to mitey@theartfultodger.com by the 31st October 2008 for selection in jpeg format, 72dpi, no larger than A4, with your contact details. By submitting your entry you are confirming that you are over 18 and that you own the copyright to your image. No photographs please.
http://www.theartfultodger.com/

best advice i ever received

2008-09-12T23:04:00.001+01:00

how to draw anything in one step.

via drawn!

Illustration Friday

2008-09-12T20:18:00.007+01:00

This weeks word is *drumroll*...................................

island

Well done to those who posted for today! I'm still working on mine, what with all my interviews/ rejections/ bull this week, but I will post asap :)

2008-09-12T19:54:00.003+01:00

This is my response to the SMITHS word project.

Who's picking next weeks word?

Until next time... stay tuned.

little bit super excellent

2008-09-11T23:19:00.004+01:00

this is awesome.

stuff

2008-09-11T19:29:00.001+01:00

Just Look at This Mess...

2008-09-10T20:00:00.007+01:00

This is my reply to Tracey's Illustration Friday 'Clutter' task. I had a couple of ideas in my head but couldn't get them down on paper properly, my head is a bit cluttered at the moment - this is the one I settled with in the end. I must admit that it hasn't really turned out how I wanted it to - i don't think the juxtaposition of the images works too well but I did like the idea of working to a deadline, even if it wasn't a real deadline. Maybe I should've spent a little longer playing with the image in Photoshop. Maybe I'll take the idea a little further when I'm not so mad busy at work. Maybe...

Just lookit...

uhhu

2008-09-09T12:48:00.001+01:00

well done team 'symbol donkey'. we are THE BEST. good effort last night.

abc sinister

2008-09-09T12:47:00.000+01:00

i prefer this...

abc3d

2008-09-07T18:51:00.004+01:00

how awesome is this? i wish my brain & i would team up & come up with a similarly genius idea.

Illustration Friday! Well, almost...

2008-09-06T13:46:00.005+01:00

Ok it's Saturday, but the sea legs crew were on the schmooze last night so I have an excuse. Let's give this Illustration Friday thing a go, I don't think it matters if you don't have a perfect final image, just as long as it gets us drawing! Right, this weeks theme is...

clutter

Responses on blogs by next Friday please!

gocco

2008-09-04T22:48:00.003+01:00

this gocco print was a bloody nightmare to produce, but it's finally done & i can lay the idea to rest. more on the blog & flickr.

There is only one receptacle.

2008-09-03T23:30:00.008+01:00

Here's another thing that I'd been working on this past week. It'd been in my head for a while, so I figured I best get it out and free up a bit of room up there.

Now what?

Alan

new site

2008-09-03T00:54:00.007+01:00

hooray! now that other people have posted, i feel i'm allowed. i'm not going to recap on what i've done since uni; if you've not seen stuff already, you can read my blog. i've not got much in the way of finished pieces, but i've got lots of ideas floating around, something that - somewhat irritatingly - never happened at uni. but better late than never i suppose. one thing i'm starting to work on is a new website layout. i do like my current set-up (seen here) but i fancy going for something a bit more sleek, & with not quite so much work to view (less is more). i'll keep you updated, but as far as things have gone, i've decided to work with my two favourite colours, red & turquoise/teal/jade/sea blue/you-get-the-point. it's going fine so far, but you can never tell with web design.

By Jove, I've got the Sea Legs.

2008-09-02T23:18:00.013+01:00

..and i'm going to attempt to keep the ball rolling somewhat now. As some of you will be aware I have been doing a little work lately and you can have a look at that on my blog here, but I think I much prefer the idea of keeping a nice collective blog aside for stuff like this (much thanks to Jen for setting this up).

This image is one I've been trying and re-trying to put together for well over a month. I think I'm actually finally happy with it now...(all apart from the fact it's an A2 piece ang I've had to scan it on an A4 scanner and piece it together, but you get the idea).

'leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die' - Regina Spektor.

This image is the first thing that popped into my head with the first mentioning of the phrase 'Sea Legs' (albeit this is about the third attempt at the image), I'm aware it's a bit silly, but I've been in a bit of a daft mood lately. Enjoy.

'Yarrr...I tells ya, it be worse that that scurvy you hear so much about...'

Oh, almost forgot. I am working on another piece that I'll hopefully put up on here in a few days or so.

(John) Alan.

Journeys

2008-09-02T20:20:00.005+01:00

Ok lets get this ball rolling.
To keep myself drawing, and to stop the old drawing hand getting rusty i started a little sketchbook called 'Journeys'. I'm pretty bad for starting a sketchbook, and if image isn't exactly how i want it, i dismiss the sketchbook, and give up a little. I needed to get rid of this feeling, for sketchbooks anyway, and it's also good because it's not the sort of sketchbook where i sit for hours going "hmmm, what to draw...". It's a simple concept. Every time i go on in a car, travel by bus, train etc i draw everything i see. Or try to at least. Whatever catches my eye i draw it, and of course i have to draw it quickly. It's proving to be a great way to keep me drawing regularly, to loosen up a little and it's creating a nice little collection of images. Here's a few examples, more can be found on my blog. Plug, plug.

Sanna.

2008-09-01T13:48:00.006+01:00

hello!

the first of september seemed as good a day as any to start this little thing up, so here it is, & here you are. this is sea legs, the name coming from the idea that once you get used to being at sea, you've found your sea legs, & this point in time sees us trying to find our "illustration legs", if you will. also i was listening to "sea legs" by the shins at the time, perhaps a mere coincidence. for now i've invited those who i know have blogs already, & those that i've mentioned this to in person. this can expand if things take off.

as for the plans for this blog, there's nothing strict or set in stone as yet. hopefully those will come once the ball gets rolling, be that by setting mini briefs or whatever. for now it'd be nice to share what we've been doing so far (be that through drawings, photos, or the pondering of ideas), or by posting interesting finds & inspiring artists, any exhibitions you've seen or want to see, opportunities you want to share, etc etc. i'm sure you get the point, just keep it art based. i've added some links to the side bar to start off with, feel free to explore!

alright, i don't think there's much left to say. happy posting!