Village of the Damned Festival

I really should have posted about this earlier but time escaped me a little. There's a brilliant little short horror film festival going on right now in Auchmithie, near Arbroath, Scotland. The Village of the Damned is being put on by Helen Macdonald (of Jolly Good) and Ross Bull (of Agitator) over the Hallowe'en weekend. If by any chance you're near enough to get to it, go, go go. You can find all the information you need on their blog.

As well as the films, a small group of artists (including myself) will be selling work during the festival. I unfortunately can't make it up there in person but if you come across a print or something then it might be mine. For more information about the artists, go here.

Have a good Hallowe'en folks. Don't dress sexy, don't dress wacky, don't be a celebrity or a superhero. BE SCARY! and if you can't be scary, be wonderful.

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Giveaway Results

The above video announces the results of my Rocket Launch giveaway. Well done, I guess! Big thanks to everyone who entered and/or posted about it. Apologies again for taking so long (technically I'm another day late but blame a slow YouTube upload for that). I'll be in touch with the winners tomorrow about shipping out your stuff. I claim no responsibility for any trauma inflicted by the horrendous sound of my voice.

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Giveaway (give us a minute, eh?)

Hello. A very quick message about the giveaway - I have been delayed in announcing the results. Ah, sorry pal. Don't worry though, I've collected together all the entries and everything will be done and dusted tomorrow. Promise. My excuse is a long, elaborate tale of missed-trains and last-minute deadlines that would honestly make a pretty decent movie. Anyway, what did you expect? I'm giving away free stuff for God's sake.

Also, thank you very much to everyone who entered and to everyone who tweeted / posted about this. I appreciate it greatly and I'm a little embarrassed that I can't start the week with a bang. Tomorrow's announcement (with full-on video) should hopefully make up for it. Well, to those who win something at least.

If I have pissed you off beyond comprehension, leave a comment below. Otherwise I'll presume everyone couldn't give a monkey's.

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The List: Edinburgh

Along with the student I posted a while back, I was also asked to put together a couple of other drawings for The List's Student Guide issue. Chiefly one of Edinburgh (above) and one of Glasgow. Either click the image or click here to see the full illustration.

On the whole, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, especially considering that it was quite a short brief. I'd have loved a few more days to really work into it a little more, but hey, who wouldn't? The main thing I got from the brief though, was rediscovering drawing actual things. Real life, actual things. It gave me a ton of ideas for new drawings and hopefully I'll get a good chance to get some of them down soon. My new Glasgow surroundings will come in very handy indeed.

In time, I'll get the other drawings up here too. Keep your eye out for the actual, physical Student Guide issue of The List too (mostly available for free at Scottish colleges / universities) Also, If you're a new reader, hello! Please check out my giveaway for a chance to win some free prints, zines and other things.

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Rocket Launch Giveaway

To celebrate the launch of my Rockets screenprint in my shop, I've decided to host my first ever giveaway. Starting today (Monday 18th October), I'll be accepting names from anyone who wishes to win some free stuff. The winner will be chosen at random (I've got a good idea for this) in one week on Monday the 25th of October.

The prizes are as follows:

> First prize gets one of my Rockets screenprints in a nice tube.
> Second prize gets a copy of my Red Neck zine, a Rock, Paper, Scissors print and some badges.
> Third prize will receive a copy of Red Neck and some badges.

There will also be a 'bonus prize' for one person selected from entries that include my special secret word. This secret word can't be found on this blog, but somewhere else online. These entries will be included in the main draw too, it's just an extra wee chance to win something. Have a snoop.

To enter: just send your name or nickname (just something I can identify you with) and, if you like, a vague location to this special email address: davidgalletlygiveaway@gmail.com before next Monday.

I'll announce names publicly when I pick the winners but not addresses or anything creepy like that. If anyone with a blog / Twitter etc would like to give the giveaway a mention, I'd greatly appreciate it. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing too.

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Rockets Screenprint

Today I'm very happy to add a new screenprint to my online shop. It's called 'Rockets' and it's bloomin' massive (well comparatively, for me at least). It was handsomely printed by Julie and Natalie at Early Griffin Press and I have a small number of the limited run of 50 to shift here. So, let the shifting commence!

'Rockets' is a two-colour screenprint printed on very nice, archival quality, acid free 200gsm white Heritage paper. It measures 40cm x 50cm (a good size for framing) and comes to you, friend, signed and numbered by the artist (me) for just £40. It's so highly detailed that the photos don't quite do it justice as, honestly, it's pretty hard to take a picture of without it looking all compressed and weird.

If you don't know Early Griffin, check them out here. They're a small screenprinting company who work closely with invited artists to produce a series of screen prints in limited editions of 50, with 3 artists in each series. My print, part of series 5, sits alongside some awesome work by Hannah Waldron and Christopher Bettig.

Actually, this print has finished for a wee while now - I've just been delayed in posting about it because of the whole moving house thing and, strangely, some difficulty in finding decent cardboard tubes to post them out in. Well delayed no longer! I've got my tubes at the ready should anyone wish to pick one up, you can do so: here.

One more thing, to celebrate the launch of 'Rockets' (ho ho) I'm planning a special 'Rocket Launch' giveaway next week (from Monday 18th October), so stay tuned to the blog (perhaps subscribe?) and my Twitter (perhaps follow?) for more details. Also, I can't pull any favours for tweets / links / blogs pointing this way, but maybe doing so would increase your karma and therefore your luck a little? No, no, I kid. I'll be fair. I will simply love you forever if you shout me out.

Rockets
by David Galletly
(printed by Early Griffin Press)
£40.00
two-colour screenprint
40cm x 50cm
signed and numbered edition of 50
archival, acid free 200gsm white Heritage paper
available here.

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Got Myself Connected

So after a couple of weeks since moving in, our new digs are finally connected to the good old internet. Thank God. It's funny how disconnected you feel when you're, um, disconnected.

I'm writing from the spare room of our new flat in Glasgow. I have a nice view out the window beside me (tenements, trees, the city centre if I crane my neck), a glass of juice (apple) and the radio going (6 Music today). Things are a-ok.

After I've caught up with the important things (emails, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, blogs, forums, comics, etc), I'll get stuck into some work stuff. If you can, please stay tuned to my blog (subscribe if you haven't) because I've lots of stuff to post about.

Hi, Hey, Hello

Sometimes you just post a funny picture of a dog.

I've been really busy this month with a few different projects. One of the weird things about being quite busy is having lots to blog about, but no time to get the blogging done. And now that things are a little more relaxed, I'm so out of the habit that I don't know where to start.

So, starting tomorrow (it's always tomorrow), I'm going to sort out my blog / website / twitter things and hopefully get back into some kind of routine. Stay tuned for some new work, new stuff for sale, new stuff I like and a new giveaway.

Oh, and nice to see you again. You're looking well.

The Donaldson Boy

That's me back my holidays. Had a very nice time indeed. A surprise birthday in Glasgow and a few days in Blackpool going on the rollercoasters and playing the penny-falls on the pier. A few photos are up on my Flickr here. I'll try to put together a video clip too.

Anyway, the real point of this post is to mention that I've illustrated (former Arab Strapper) Aidan Moffat's first short story 'The Donaldson Boy' for the current issue of The List. I was super-happy to be asked and I had a lot of fun drawing 'Donny', the titular, overweight boy-racer. You've still got the best part of a week to pick up the magazine and you really should because, alongside Aidan's, there are a couple of other short stories worth a read, illustrated by Lizzy Stewart and Joe Baglow, no less.

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Away for a wee bit

A very quick note to say that I'm away for a few days this week on a short summer holiday. Today is my birthday! Look at the cake Alex & my Mum made me. That's how you treat a man. Took the photo on my new camera too.

Any orders from my shop will ship at the end of the week. Just incase. Bye bye.

Turn Up The Colour at Analogue

Analogue Books are having a group show in August and I'm very happy to be involved. Look at all those names! Jeez, that's crazy. I hope I don't mess up.

As you can see, the show is called Turn Up The Colour, so I expect it's gonna look pretty crazy (in a good way). It'll be awesome to see these really great artists going all-out with a title like that. I'm not actually sure what I'm submitting yet (I have until Friday to do something about it) so um, better get a move on. I've done so much black & white work recently that I'm maybe a little daunted by the idea of getting the crayons out.

The prices will be on the good side of £100 and there will be a lot of work up for grabs. So, if you've been thinking about buying some art recently, you'll definitely find something at Analogue. I guarantee it. Be quick though, the festival crowd will be out in full force, snapping things up. Come along to the opening on the 30th to be front of the queue, to meet the artists and to have a drink.

Here are the full details:

Turn Up The Colour
Various Artists
-
Show runs: 31st July - 30th August
Private view: Friday 30th July, 7-9pm. All welcome
-
Analogue Books
102 West Bow
Edinburgh
EH1 2HH
+44 (0)131 220 0601

I might actually use the chance to make a couple more red & black drawings. I've not done any of those in ages. Ah, who knows. Visit the Analogue blog for easy-to-click links to everyone taking part. Share this info in any way you can. Cheers.

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Desktop Background

I had this pattern sitting on my computer, drawn recently for something that was never used. It's been scanned so big that I tried mucking about with it as a desktop wallpaper. I guess it kinda works. You can see all the mistakes because the original was much smaller, but hey.

I've uploaded it as a 1920 x 1200 jpg so it can be used as a background. Just click here image for the big, full image. I'm planning on playing with the colours and tidying it up a little more (perhaps drawing another?) so stay tuned for less janky looking efforts. Thought I'd use the traditional blue desktop for this one though - like someone's went crazy with a pen over it.

Any suggestions, colours, requests etc. for backgrounds, let me know. I don't particularly intend to use one of my own drawings as my wallpaper so if someone out there knows what they'd like to see, I might have a go.

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What I Wore Today 12

After the video, going back to drawing these things seems a bit boring. Maybe that's why the colours are a bit crazier than usual. You should, of course, be checking out the awesome Flickr group What I Wore Today (in drawings) for tons of submissions by tons of great people. My favourite contributor is probably Carolyn Alexander because she's all sweary and that.

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Gulf Fundraiser

A few days back I mentioned a huge art sale at the awesome My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses. Well, the online shop is live now and all sorts of drawings, paintings, prints, jewellery, sculpture and more is up for grabs.

Some important facts:

1. All proceeds are going to the Gulf Restoration Network. Artists have put their work on sale as a donation to help out. Many items are free shipping too.

2. The shop is only open for a limited time. If you want to grab a bargain (and do a good deed) you have until the 5th of July.

3. Everything seems to be selling out fast, so don't hang about. Tweet / email / blog etc. to spread the word. Get everything bought.

4. You can go directly to the shop by clicking here.

Please have a look, you might find something you like. I'm happy to say that my drawing sold on the first day! Big love to Meighan for organising everything and to all the artists who contributed. Make sure you subscribe to My Love For You... because it's a great place to discover all sorts of brilliant art, design and general cool stuff.

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Skull

Good gracious I've been busy. I was doing so well with the daily updates for a while too. Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things after today.

The above image is from my zine, just a quick thing to post up here really. Today is my first day off in a fortnight and I need to rush. I'm away for a picnic with my girl. A real one - bikes, baskets, tartan blanket, the lot. Bye bye.

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Work In Progress

Meighan from the fantastic My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses has been gathering together artists to submit work to a huge art sale. All proceeds will go to help tackle the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm very happy to be taking part. The above video is a tiny work-in-progress of the Treebark drawing I'm providing. Keep tuned here and to My Love For You... for more info. I think the sale will start on Monday 28th. Not only will you be getting the chance to pick up work by some really great artists, you'll be helping out the Gulf Restoration Network too.

My drawing will probably be $55 with $5 postage. If someone buys it, I'll donate back the postage to the GRN myself with a little extra on top. Even if you hate the drawing, buy it anyway. I'll be just as happy.

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Watering Can

Hello to Monday, hello to another week. This one's gonna be a busy one, I can feel it. There are a few things coming soon I'm pretty excited about posting up here. So, um, stay tuned I guess.

The above image is from my Red Neck zine. Still available in my online shop (which I'm planning to expand if not this week, then next). Thanks very much to anyone who's picked on up so far and apologies for my month-long sales pitch. Haha, incidentally, they are now also available at Analogue.

In a very British way, I think I've been trying to post a lot about other people's work recently to reassure myself that, after a nice little spell at selling my wares online, I'm not so blinded by success that I now only care about shifting prints and living the big life. By 'big life', I of course mean 'buying a new pair of trainers and perhaps some wheels for my skateboard'.

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Souther Salazar

A few years ago I read a comic by Souther Salazar called Fervler 'n' Razzle in the anthology Kramers Ergot 5. It was a beautifully weird collage of cut paper, drawings and text that told a tale (or two) about an 'ancient giant bird' called Fervler and 'either a squirrel or a mouse or a cat' called Razzle. I really loved it and have tried to keep up with Salazar's work ever since.

Comics are just the start, this dude is a damn fine maker-of-things. Paintings, sculpture, collage, installations all jumble together in colourful little worlds full of weird monsters and landscapes. I remember being so charmed by his work that I tried to emulate his style a little in a few drawings - it didn't work (it never does), I guess that's a compliment of sorts. Man, his art looks fun to make.


Yesterday my copy of Salazar's new zine, The Day We Learned To Fly arrived. I've made a little flick-through video to let people see it. My intention is to show off the really neat layout with it's different colours and fold-out parts rather than to 'spoil' the artwork by revealing everything. Hopefully I flip through it quickly enough leave you wanting a closer look. By the sound of things, The Day We Learned... has sold out anyway, but I'll not go crazy with scans or anything incase another batch appears for sale. Watch in HD for goodness.
For more Souther Salazar things, you can visit his website, add him on Facebook or follow the blog he co-writes with Monica Choy. His etsy shop has some really nice prints and you can read a great making-of post about the zine here.

The music in my clip is once again from John's ABC by Fence. This track 'J' (they're all lettered) just so happened to be exactly the right length. Not much more thought went into the decision than that.

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Christopher Bettig opening

A few posts back I mentioned that the new show All I Heard Was The Echo In The Light by the artist Christopher Bettig was opening in Edinburgh. Well it damn well did. The exhibition can be seen now at the fantastic Analogue in the grassmarket. Go visit.

I managed to get along for the launch and had a really good wee night. Analogue parties are always great. They show really good artists, everyone is always nice and friendly and there's a chance to catch up with lots of folk I don't get to see very often. I also got the chance to have a chat with Christopher Bettig himself - he's a really nice dude.

All I Heard... is one of the best shows they've put on. The first thing that'll knock you out is the ceiling - Bettig has covered the whole thing in bunting and little flags and the effect is really cool. On the night you could see big smiles come over everyone's faces as they walk into the room, staring upwards, all caught up in the colours and patterns. Around the walls are heaps of different prints, collages, sculptures and paintings that, despite being pretty intricate objects in their own right, have a really nice lightness to them that doesn't weigh the show down. Every piece of work invites you to scrutinise it, to inspect the stitching, printing or pattern.

I recorded a few little clips while I was there - my shaky hand and failure to change any of the settings on my camera doesn't really do justice to how stuff really looks (hey, I'd had a drink, give me a break), so visit in real life if you can. You have until the 10th of July. Analogue have screenprinted t-shirts designed by Chris and he has also made a really cool zine that's definitely worth a look.

The music is from the weird instrumental compilation called John's ABC by Fence. It's proving pretty good for soundtracking little videos. I'm going to keep trying to upload as much stuff to YouTube as I can in an effort to improve my shoddy camerawork. No doubt half of it will end up on the blog, but should you be someone who is inclined to subscribe to a guy's channel, you can find mine here.

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Drowning Man

Here's another page from my Red Neck zine. I'll be dropping off a few copies at Analogue Books in Edinburgh today. So now, if you're nearby, you can have a flick through the whole thing without buying it. You should buy it though, or something else from those guys. They've got loads of cool stuff. The Christopher Bettig exhibition is brilliant too (more about that later).


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