Jeff Kilpatrick - Sketches of Fishtown

I met Jeff Kilpatrick through my friend Concetta on our first trip to Philadelphia and we always hang out whenever we visit. Jeff is the kinda person you want to know when you're visiting a big city - a through-and-through local who always has a million stories to tell. He's also one of the nicest dudes you could ever meet and man, he cooks one hell of a meal.

Jeff is a working cartoonist, teacher and founder of the Philly Cartoonist Society. His artwork is awesome. He's got that real-deal, old-school thing going on. A real drawer. For the past couple of years he's been working on a series of drawings inspired by his neighbourhood called Sketches of Fishtown:
Apart from being fantastically touching little tributes to Fishtown in their own right, what really blows my mind is that Jeff has 95 of these under his belt. 95! The whole project is a funny, poignant and heartfelt document of a fascinating corner of the city. The first 50 or so are available in a book, click here for a little info from Jeff about picking up a copy or two. A second volume is in the works.

Work in progress

I've started work on a new wee project. A little magazine thing. Hopefully by mentioning it on here I'll have to stick with it until it's done. Hitting my online shop in March!

Propagate

A very quick little drawing for Illustration Friday. The topic is 'propagate'. I'm just about to start on a new wee project. Hyped.

What I Wore Today 2

Another little thing for the Flickr group What I Wore Today (in drawings).

Survival in the City

This blog post has moved to my new website. You can view it here: Survival In The City. Sorry for the inconvenience. It's a slow process moving 400-odd posts somewhere else. I imagine I'll mess up a wee bit along the way. Cheers.

Tree With Water

Tree With Water

ink & acrylic on card

2008

back to artwork page

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Adrift

This is my submission for the Illustration Friday topic 'adrift'. It started out as a very graphic Adobe Illustrator piece similar to the eye thing I did a couple of weeks ago. Halfway through, I decided I wasn't feeling it and put together this little drawing instead.

While it's not a million miles from a lot of my other work, I tried to keep it simple and resisted the urge to go crazy with lines and patterns like I often do. Click for big.

What I Wore Today

There's a really cool Flickr pool called What I Wore Today (in drawings). The idea being that you draw a picture of yourself wearing the clothes you picked out (or threw on) today. I decided I'd have a wee go, mainly for something to draw while sitting at the computer.

I found out about the site through the work of 3 different illustrators that I subscribe to: Jen Collins, Lizzy Stewart and Carolyn Alexander. Each participate fairly regularly and always have a great take on it. If you're not familiar with their work, have a look at what they're up to, they've got crazy skills.

As far as my regular participation goes, I'm not sure my patience is up to an endless stream of 'today I wore a shirt' / 'today I wore a t-shirt' drawings, but we'll see. Girls are better at this kinda thing.

Painted Twigs

Another snap from How Children Learn at the Changing Room. I painted a bunch of twigs and combined them with RueFive's birdhouse-like sculptures. If you've never drawn patterns on bumpy sticks, let me tell you it's maddening.

Michel Gondry - Oui Oui

There's two things I can go to if I'm feeling a bit stuck and I need some inspiration. Two things that motivate me more than almost anything. One is No Direction Home, the Bob Dylan documentary by Martin Scorsese and the other is the Directors Label Michel Gondry collection.

Yeah, well, who doesn't like Michel Gondry? He's the best. He puts that kinda perfect mix of child and adult in everything he does. Just ideas - bang, bang, bang, idea, idea, idea, one after the other. His execution, too, is spot on, all kinda scrappy and handmade. It almost seems like his ideas come out so fast that he can't waste time making the edges perfect. That little I've Been Twelve Forever film just gets you going, it just makes you want to make stuff.

Anyway, on the DVD there's a couple of videos for Gondry's band, Oui Oui. Since seeing them, years ago, I've been trying to find the songs online with no luck. Couldn't find them anywhere. Well, not until the other day at least when I had another search about, as I do from time to time, thinking 'right, I'm gonna find these bloody things', and you know what? I did. I found them. Some blog had put them up. They're pretty good. Probably won't set your world on fire, but for anyone else who was after them just to have them, because they're pretty cool wee songs, then, there they are. Plop them on your iPod.

For a taster, here's the video for Les Cailloux:



Of course there's tons and tons of other Gondry / Oui Oui stuff on YouTube. That DVD is a killer though, compared to the other Directors, he really put in the work. Loads of cool little animations, models and sketches and stuff.

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.

Untitled Structure

This was part of the How Children Learn show I did with RueFive last May. Working in the Changing Room was a great opportunity to try out some new things. The space allowed us to put together some larger scale / sculptural stuff that was a nice departure from our smaller drawings and the like. This structure emerging from the fireplace was one of the first ideas we developed.

Top 5 places to go in 2009

If there’s one thing I did in 2009 it was go places, probably because my fiancée, Alex, can’t sit on her arse for more than 5 minutes. Last year, I must've been on at least 100 open top buses and 20 merry-go-rounds. The places we went were often small, cold and wet, but boy did we go there anyway. Here are my top travel bits and pieces:

1. Philadelphia
Philly is fun. I’ve been a bunch of times now and I’ve not spent one second it the city that wasn’t completely and utterly brilliant. Everywhere you look, there’s something to see that makes everything back home seem really, really, really soul-crushingly boring. It’s tricky to sum the place up properly, but a few of my favourite things to do in Philadelphia are:

Reading Terminal Market:
A huge and hectic indoor market crammed full with stalls selling wonderful food, from Chinese soups to Amish ice cream. You could eat here every day of the year and never get bored. I got hooked on raspberry lemonade.

North Bowl:
This place has everything you’d ever want from a 10-pin bowling alley. Black and white photobooths, waitresses bringing you beer and chips, high-heeled bowling shoes and a mezzanine with pool tables and vintage arcade games. Fun as hell.

Mutter Museum:
Not really for everyone, the Mutter Museum holds a collection of medical oddities (siamese twins, giant tumours, miscellaneous body parts in jars) that’s fascinating but, at the same time, a bit horribe. Despite it’s ‘freak show’ line-up, it’s all presented fairly straight. It’s kinda like the museum of childhood.

Love Park:
As a bit of a skate-nerd, I knew Love Park pretty well before I even set foot in the city. It was regarded as being one of the most important street spots in the world, until they went and banned skateboarding. On holiday, this meant a whole lot of measuring ledges against my knee.

Get engaged:
If you’re in Philadelphia with someone you love, pop them a question! Have a think about it first because they might say no. I guess that would put a real downer on things. I got lucky though.

We also had a few excursions further afield. We spent a few days in a little place called New York, which was pretty cool (it is very tall). We rode the rollercoasters at Hershey Park and drove to Ocean City in New Jersey for some seaside Americana. Our whole trip would have been completely impossible without our friend Concetta, so big love to her. Going on such an elaborate no-holds-barred adventure did however mean that the rest of our many trips had to err on the side of tiny.

2. Arran
Alex has family on Arran so we were back and forth like crazy. Every time I visit, it’s like stepping into an idyllic childhood world; we hunted eggs in Alex’s grandparent’s magical garden, met the smartest dog in the world, picked shells on the beach, crossed rivers on stepping stones, saw dolphins in the sea and lived in a house with a big painting of Mother Goose on the side.

3. Bristol
I hardly knew a thing about Bristol before we went, I can’t even remember why we decided to go. I kept thinking we were off to Brighton. What a silly man, Bristol is fantastic. It’s a really nice city. There’s lots going on so we spent most of our time just wandering around, discovering things. We managed to catch the big Banksy show and also a little Stanley Donwood show. I visited Here, where I’d had some work up in July 08 and I got to muck about at Lloyds, which Alex loved.

4. Anstruther
Thanks to my longtime love of the Fence Collective, Anstruther and its neighboring East Neuk villages have been a regular destination for years now. In April, a bunch of us headed up to catch Homegame 6. The music was fantastic as always, Alasdair Roberts, Found and the aforementioned Jonnie Common were highlights alongside the collective founders, King Creosote and The Pictish Trail. However, with the Homegame, the gigs are only a part of the trip, wandering around, fish suppers, icecream, pubs and playing Monopoly are just as important.

5. Oban
We got bored of being a young couple so we tried our hand at being an old one and headed off to Oban. Apart from a brief visit to Balamory, where I managed to drop my cone, we barely did a thing. Well, that’s not quite fair, it was a really nice few days. Mull is beautiful, Oban has some amazing little shops to explore and they’ve still got a Pancake Place for God’s sake! It’s also busier than New York.