#INKtober 2014

It was INKtober, i managed a sketch every day, some ok some rubbish. Here are some of the better ones. All straight to paper with a Pentel brush pen, except for Dracula and Tyrion when I used Promarkers.

stuff i should have posted ages ago - Pumpkin Carving 2012

I ended up carving two pumpkins in 2012. I think I've improved a little bit each year since I started about 5 years ago. I find it a bit frustrating, they never turn out quite like they are in my head, I guess it's just not enough practice.

stuff I should have posted ages ago - Scarefest 3

Here are some of the finished illustrations I did for the Scarefest event. All of them can be seen here, the gallery.

Six days till ScareFest!

Less than a week until ScareFest 3: Beyond the Book. I just finished my illustrations in time and now I'm looking forward to seeing them in the souvenir booklet. Here are some of the rough pencils from a couple of my pics.

Grimalkin is ambushed

Drew flees for his life

I've inked all the pictures but I usually like the rough sketches more than the finished illustrations. I'll post the finished ones after the event.

Scarefest 3 progress

'are you sure you don't need a wee?'

Here's another pic I've done for the Scarefest 3 event in October. I now have six of the seven stories that I'm illustrating and I've completed the illustrations for four of them. This pic is from a story by Barry Hutchison, 'The Thing Beneath the Bed'. It won't actually be used for Scarefest as it is one of two illustrations I drew for the story, so I'm posting it here (only one pic per story). I'm currently working on a drawing for  the Curtis Jobling story which is a kind of missing scene from his first Wereworld book, 'Rise of the Wolf' and exclusive to Scarefest.

The tongue struck Mr. Stander on the side of the face ...

This is an illustration done for a collection of short stories that will be exclusively available at 'Scarefest 3 - Beyond the Book' on Saturday 6th October 2012, in Liverpool, U.K. Scarefest 3 is an all day festival of writing and more, aimed at fans of YA horror and suitable for all the family.
This particular pic was drawn for a story written by Philip Caveney but won't be included in the collection so I've been given the ok to post it here.
An exclusive Scarefest programme will be available at the event and will feature previously unpublished work from; Philip Caveney, Joseph Delaney,  Tommy Donbavand, David Gatward, Barry Hutchison,  Curtis Jobling and Jon Mayhew

Achtung! Vampir!

Much to my joy the fantabulous Alex Ronald sent me a 'sketch' as a prize for entering the Vampire Vixens Facebook art challenge. It is now framed and hanging on the wall above my desk. Feast your eyes on this truncated version of it ...

In other news, I have been doing some drawing but I'm unable to show it due to it being for an actual book that will enjoy a very limited publication in October. So I'll have to wait until then before I can post any of that.

Who goes there? Friend or foe?

Sergeant Major Morris - from 'The Bonehill Curse' by Jon Mayhew

Another go at a character from 'The Bonehill Curse'. Interestingly Sergeant Major Morris also appears in another great creepy story, the classic 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. After drawing him I realised he is basically Grandpa Potts from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang played the late great Lionel Jeffries. The Bonehill Curse is full of fantastic characters, I already know what I'm going to draw next.

Arabian Nightmare

Zaakiel is free!  from 'The BoneHill Curse' by Jon Mayhew

My first go at illustrating a character from a recent book I read, 'The BoneHill Curse' by Jon Mayhew. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of YA horror/fantasy or just likes a good adventure yarn. (By the way if you're not a fan of YA horror/fantasy, why not? It's really good. YA is young adult in case you didn't know.)

Exciting News ... well exciting for me anyway

I've been given what is my first proper assignment illustrating! I'm going to illustrate a small book of short stories all of which are going to be written by well known authors in the YA horror/fantasy field. It will be 5 or 6 illustrations all horror related. I'm really excited about doing it. I don't have the full details at the moment and don't want to/ can't say much more at the moment in case I jinx it/give too much away. I'm putting my comic on hold for now as I want to practice doing some pictures from books that Ive already read which I'll be posting here on my blog.

Sky Rider

I've tried this with a different background and a closer crop. I think it would look good with a more stylised background but I've not thought it through yet. I'm going to leave it for a while and maybe come back at a later date.

Sky Rider

Rocket Girl

I've probably got a bit more to do on this, can't quite decide. Got a a bit of a block on it for a while but I think it's starting to come together now. Not sure about the exploding planet either. Thinking I might change it from outer space to a nice blue sky?

Rocket Girl

Psychics .. now with colour!

Some basic colouring on my previous post

Psychics!

Cartoon 'psychics', also in colour!

Arena Charity Art Auction 2012

I had a picture accepted into the Arena Studios Charity Art Auction in Liverpool. It will be held on the 4th May at 7pm. There were a lot of submissions this year so I was quite lucky to get in. I've been to the auction for the last 3 or 4 years but only as a buyer (Although I've never managed to buy anything yet). For more details see their FaceBook page.

I delivered my picture this morning, (17thApril 2012), the lady organising it all, Pamela, seemed to really like it. I'm looking forward now to the auction.

Here's my art, it's a Post-it note fish picture, I've entitled 'Okto Ichthys'

Okto Ichthys - Grotesque fish appear spontaneously from the tenebrous trenches in a sea of boredom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Weekly Themed Art Blog

My second go at the Weekly Themed Art Blog. This week, Video Game Icons. I had a go at Lara Croft. It was a bit rushed but I think it came out ok. Could be better though.

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider

Weekly Themed Art Blog

This week I joined the Weekly Themed Art blog or TAB for short. The theme this week is 35 years of 2000AD so how could I resist. Hopefully it will motivate me to draw more.
Here's my first drawing, it's Slaine circa 1985. Glen Fabry will always be my favourite Slaine artist closely followed by Simon Bisley and Mike McMahon. Pencil drawing inked in Manga Studio.

Slaine - Time Killer

Monster Talk T-shirt

I won 3rd place in the 2012 Monster Talk shirt competition, my entry is HERE.

My prize was $30. Not sure if my design will actually be made into a t-shirt, I suspect only 1st place will get that honour.

In other news I've started to create a simple website to act as a portfolio of any art I produce, I will post a link when its done.

Rock 'n' Roll Flaming Skull

Flaming Skull

An illustration for my friends rockabilly band, The Boom Boom Booms. Still experimenting with colour, not sure if i like the scroll at the bottom? I tried to go for a tattoo-y, vince ray-y feel. Will wait for a second opinion from the intended victim.

The Boom Boom Booms

Here's a rough sketch for an idea I'm working on for a mates band, The Boom Boom Booms, check them out.