A trip

I'm back in London after a month in California, spending two weeks in Los Angeles and two in San Francisco. Whilst away I thought I'd try some small paintings. Virtually all of my sketchbooks are black and white so I thought I'd take the plunge into colour. It wasn't an entirely comfortable experience but I'm glad I forced myself to do something different. I want to write about all the terrific people I met and drew too but I'm too discombobulated with jet lag right now. More soon......








































































































































































































































































































...Right I'm back after a doze. Below is the first drawing I did in LA before abandoning pencil for paint. Underneath that are some of the characters I saw during my stay.

I just wanted to add that I met some incredible people and artists this time around, and I really have to thank them for making my trip so enjoyable. So in no particular order I salute Matt Jones, Nick Sung, Noah Klocek, Stephane Kardos, Space Dog Books, Ricky Nierva, Kevin Dart, Andy Grisdale, Don Shank, Alex Woo, Dave Needham and Boris Hiestand

If push came to shove and I had to pick a highlight of the journey it was meeting Sanjay Patel. Sanjay's artwork adorns San Francisco due to his outstanding show at the Asian Art Museum. I found it so inspiring to see vector art getting the recognition it deserves. There's no button on the computer that says "make great art". Sanjay's work is pound for pound the best I've seen. Chatting to him was a wonderful experience. There's wisdom, magic and a great spirituality to the man.

California

I'm very pleased to be heading out to California next week. I'll be at CTN in L.A before taking a few weeks rest. The trip culminates in the release of Treasure Island up in San Francisco with the wonderful folks from Space Dog Books. See you soon!

Night & Day: States of Mind

I'm very pleased to have helped out with issue 3 of Night and Day, a long forgotten journal first created in 1937 and edited by none other than Graham Greene. Tom Avery and Parisa Ebrahimi have resurrected the magazine and created a new electronic format. My task was to create an illustration around the theme States of Mind.

I chose a phrenological map of the human brain. My mind island is divided into individual States which in turn act as feelings. What is your current state of mind? As for me, I've crash landed in one and perpetually exist in another, yet seek a path back to one I visited before.

Well done to Tom and Parisa- you can download the issue free HERE

October

Autumn

27 degrees....

...on the river today!

September Sketches

I've been out and about with the sketchbook, down on the South coast of England as well as West London.

Game Over

My Mac G5 has gone to the great server in the sky. One google, one gurgle and he was gone. Apple are really struggling at the moment so I'm more than happy to give them money for a new Mac. I hope to be back soon. In the meantime I'm using mediaeval instruments like pencil, paper and paint. Only I can malfunction now.

Roehampton Estate

A few weeks ago I entered Roehampton estate armed with only a sketchbook, ruler and pencil. The buildings probably seem ugly to many, but I'm attracted to their scale and angularity. In particular I like the physical space the "legs" of the larger structures create. Whilst sketching the second drawing down a voice shouted out from one of the balconies.
"What you doing, drawing?"
"Yes," I replied, although I couldn't see the person anywhere.
"Well I'll put some music on for you."
And with that I was treated to a wonderful mixture of electronic dubstep and liquid drum and bass. The music seemed to have the same mass and volume as the buildings. I visualised these monuments as giant speakers pumping abstract concrete shapes into the atmosphere.

I never did see the person, but I thank them for inspiring me!

See, people aren't all bad are they?

Fire & Ice

A double page illustration for Nobrow.

June people

All Saints Church

I often ride past this small church in Putney, so I thought I'd have a stab at painting it from memory.

TI again.

The illustrations for Treasure Island are finished and with the programmers. There were roughly 40 illustrations in total although not all may be used. Good luck to the Space Dog team moving forward, can't wait to see it finished! Below is my attempt at a painted cover, just for development. This started out as the rough before the final painting but ended up as the only version. Perhaps the face could be cropped at the nose giving more emphasis to the tattoos.

Now I need a new project!

"I'm sitting down to enjoy my holiday"

"SCRUBBERS"

"PenRITH"

Withnail.

"I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame the earth seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy the air, look you, this mighty o'rehanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire; why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, how like an angel in apprehension, how like a God! The beauty of the world, paragon of animals; and yet to me, what is this quintessence of dusk. Man delights not me, no, nor women neither, nor women neither."

A firm young carrot.

Commision for an avid book reader.

Low Tide.

Mr Arrow disembarks.

I've almost reached the half way point illustrating Treasure Island. Some visuals like this one may not make it into the final I-Pad version, but may be interesting to post.

In my humble opinion the only thing missing from Stevenson's wonderful tale is a good old storm. Perhaps on the night that Mr Arrow mysteriously disappears.....