Wall

Another snap from How Children Learn. This collab wall (again with RueFive) was across the room from the fireplace structure posted previously. I'm working on editing together a few video clips I took from the show into a little walkthrough so stay tuned for that.

Oh yeah, remember you can subscribe to my site (if you like).

5 things I dig this Thursday

Here is some stuff that I've been liking recently. It's all been discovered at times when I should have been working, interacting with other people, exercising, answering the phone, tidying up, running errands or sleeping:

1. Matthew Lyons
I found out about Matthew Lyons on the art and design blog Kitsune Noir. Who doesn't love a bit of 50s / retro-future / James Bond / Jetsons style stuff? Yeah, that's right, nobody. Matthew Lyons' work combines precision and expression in a way that'll make you jealous. I've been using the above image as my current desktop background.

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2. Lego Cl!ck
Lego are doing really good things these days. They've really got it together. I also saw this awesome (and quite inspiring) little stop-motion film posted on Kitsune Noir a while back (I probably should have just included KN in the top 5) and just re-watched it this morning. Plastic fantastic!

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3. Buildings by Ligia
While browsing around, I was quite taken by a few of Ligia's Little Red Riding Hood illustrations. You get a really nice sense of cold, clear winter air in them. The buildings in the town are brilliantly handled too.

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4. Chilli Heatwave Doritos
To anyone I've not seen in a while, please be warned: I'm now a fat man. I'm a big fat man with a big fat arse and orangey powder all over my fingers. They sell these silly crisps in ENORMOUS BLOODY BAGS!

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5. Maturation by Achewood
If you're not down with Achewood, you ain't worth spit in my book. This page from last month is a perfect summation of what it's like being a paranoid man growing older.

Focused

This is my entry for the new Illustration Friday topic 'focused'. It's a bit of a departure style-wise for me, being an all-singing-all-digital graphic piece, but I'm pretty happy with it. I've been toying around with Adobe Illustrator quite a bit recently and it's much less frustrating than I remember. I really love being able to change things quickly that would take a bunch of redrawing were it done by hand. That and having ctrl-z.

This 'focused' topic was a tricky one, which is something I've found with almost every Illustration Friday I attempt. I love the site and there are a huge number of brilliant submissions every week but I sometimes feel that the topics could be stronger. When you get things like like 'crunchy', 'skinny' or 'island', it's hard not to be very literal. Lots of the entries feel the need to add a little accompanying text saying something like 'the man is focused on kicking the ball', which is fine, and the drawings are usually nice, but, y'know, things can get a little tenuous.

Not that I'm claiming to be the wittiest motherhubbard on the block, far from it, I'd just love something slightly more specific (more focused - ha ha) once in a while. The more rules and restrictions the better in my opinion, they force you to be more inventive and, when reviewing other submissions, it's really interesting to see how other people have tackled the same problems.

It might not be the best example because it's a specific title, but I was mulling over 'The Silence of The Lambs' as a potential illustration subject. Something like that, when given to a wide range of people like the I.F. crowd, would be great. You'd see it interpreted it in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, from straightforward jokes and wordplay (about quiet sheep) to more thoughtful submissions based on the themes and visuals of the source. Maybe even upping the ante and allowing two word suggestions would be enough. Who knows?

Anyway, I guess the broad single-word topics present a challenge all of their own, which is a good thing. It also encourages a lot of people to draw and get their work seen, which is also a good thing. Have a look around the Illustration Friday site and see what you think. Besides the weekly challenge, there are some awesome interviews and things up there that are definitely worth a look.

Adidas Campus Vulc

I recently got a pair of these from the new Adidas Skateboarding range. I'm not planning on skating in them for a while (my shoes work their way down a ladder until they become a 'skate' pair) but for chopping about, they're pretty fly. This is a doodle from my sketchbook that I've coloured in Photoshop. The laces are a little wonky but nevermind, it was just a quick wee thing.

Drawing shoes always takes me right back to high school art class. Every week, without fail, we'd forget to bring along some still life objects from home and therefore would need to rummage around our bag for something decent to draw. On failing to find anything, we'd reach under the table and clunk our trainers up on the desk. Our group churned out more stinky Airwalks, Vans and DCs than you could ever imagine.

A Boot

I got new boots. Click for bigger.

Dogs in School exhibition

Way back in October 2008, I was contacted by Patrick P* about a project he was putting together called 'Dogs In School'. This Saturday it's all finally coming together.

The concept is lovely: When they were kids, Patrick and his brothers and sisters would constantly be asking their parents 'what should I draw?' The responses they'd get would usually be satisfying enough to keep them busy until teatime, or at least until they reached for the next piece of paper. On one particular day, however, Patrick's Mum gave them a topic that would go on to eclipse all others - 'dogs in school'.

The resulting drawings, especially one by Patrick's brother, Mike, captured Mr & Mrs P's imagination so much that, from that day, the only response they would ever give to the question 'what should I draw?' would be 'dogs in school'. Patrick says that they drew hundreds of variations over the years. 'Dogs in school' became a family legend and an in-joke that would keep them laughing for years.

Fast forward to 2008, with both his parents unwell, Patrick decided to start on a secret project to surprise them with. He got in touch with a bunch of artists and asked them to interpret 'dogs in school' in any manner they liked. Over the past couple of years he has collected all of the work and has put together an exhibition set to open this weekend in Portland. The best part is that both his parents are now in good health, are able to attend the opening, and still know nothing about it!

So, if you're anywhere near Portland, visit the Screaming Sky Gallery between the 30th January and the 25th February to catch the Dogs In School show! Also, on this coming Saturday (30th Jan), there will be a party at the space featuring a charity auction for Project Grow and live acoustic performances by Jim Fairchild of Grandaddy / Modest Mouse, Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse & The Shins and Nate Lacy of Mimicking Birds. Holy Moly!

I have a little drawing in the exhibition. I'm really excited to see and hear how it all goes down. For more info visit www.dogsinschool.com

* I've not given Patrick's full name as he has let it be known that both his parents are active online. I sure as hell don't want to be the one letting the cat out the bag.

I.F: Clumsy

The topic for Illustration Friday this week is 'clumsy'.

I.F. Wilderness

A really quick wee last minute thing for Illustration Friday. The topic is wilderness. I had intended to draw some vast detailed landscape, full of texture and colour but, y'know, time got the better of me. These were a couple of trees I doodled in my sketchbook when thinking up some ideas.