tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29797042321032142182024-03-06T03:32:57.171+00:00aqwaticaqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-19082490380747067272011-03-24T13:18:00.009+00:002011-03-24T13:47:07.957+00:00Ruskin Explains MangaI'm reading J<span style="font-weight: bold;">ohn Ruskin's "The Nature of gothic"</span> at the moment.<br />I noticed he describes exactly what Manga is, (or any artistic label, that's the point) better than almost anyone. I've edited his text here, replacing various words and examples- and repeatedly the word <span style="font-style: italic;">"Gothic"</span> with <span style="font-style: italic;">"Manga"</span>. Take a look.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(also cross-posted at the <a href="http://mangoartjam.blogspot.com/2011/03/ruskin-explains-manga.html">Mango Art Jam blog</a>, for those who don't like reading white on black...)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /></div>We know already what the early Disney art style is from which the transition to Manga was made, but we ought to know something of the modern Manga style into which it led. I shall endeavour therefore to give the reader in this chapter an idea, at once broad and definite, of the true nature of Manga style, properly so called; not of that of Japan only, but of universal Manga.<br /><br />The principal difficulty in doing this arises from the fact that every book in the Manga style differs in some important respect from every other; and many include features which, if they occurred in other books, would not be considered Manga at all; so that all we have to reason upon is merely, if I may be allowed so to express it, a greater or less degree of Manganess in each image we examine. And it is this Manganess the character which according as it is found more or less in a book makes it more or less Manga--of which I want to define the nature; and I feel the same kind of difficulty in doing so which would be encountered by anyone who undertook to explain for instance, the Nature of Redness, without any actually red thing to point to, but only orange and purple things. Suppose he had only a piece of heather and a dead oak-leaf to do it with. He might say "the colour which is mixed with the yellow in this oak-leaf, and with the blue in this heather, would be red, if you had it separate; but it would be difficult, nevertheless, to make the abstraction perfectly intelligible; and it is so in a far greatest degree to make the abstraction of the Manga Style intelligible because that character itself is made up of many mingled ideas and can consist only in their union. That is to say, giant eyes do not constitute Manga--nor tiny mouths--nor speedlines, nor screen-tones; but all or some of these things--amid many other things with them--when they come together so as to have life.<br /><br />Observe also that in the definition proposed I shall only endeavor to analyze the idea which I suppose already to exist in the readers mind. We all have some notion, most of us a very determined one, of the meaning of the term Manga; but I know that many persons have this idea in their minds without being able to define it: that is to say understanding generally that Naruto is Manga and Spiderman is not, that Love Hina is Manga, and Watchmen is not, they are nevertheless, no clear notion of what It IS that they recognize In the one or miss in the other such as would enable them to say how far the work by Kodansha or Marvel is good and pure of its kind; still less to say of any nondescript art, like Adam Warren or Jiro Taniguchi how much right Manga element there is in and how much wanting. And I believe this inquiry to be a pleasant and profitable one; and that there will be found something more than usually interesting in tracing out this grey shadow many-pinnacled image of the Manga spirit in us; and discerning what fellowship there is between it and our Western hearts. And if, at any point of the inquiry, I should interfere with any of the reader's previously formed conceptions, and use the term Manga in any sense which he would not willingly attach to it, I do not ask to accept, but only to examine and understand, my interpretation, as necessary to the intelligibility of what follows in the rest of the work.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /></div><br />Now go and read <a href="http://www47.homepage.villanova.edu/seth.koven/gothic.html">The Nature of Gothic, by John Ruskin (From The Stones of Venice, Vol.II)</a><br /><br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-57993775036978345752011-01-01T04:58:00.001+00:002011-01-01T04:58:48.714+00:00Die 2010 DIE.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtU_B7tKk6l_jhy40R7LbaqyVnhDCV9PwCagNpmC0-Qu5KXawXzzqo0G12VVCEB8wg7xB35U6VjTqnQuq0wh5z3cr1YTZ_KYS5w5JWLN0Q3DTQWUAWL6qOguPUDME8K52FadUQuJL7hxU/s1600/nye2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtU_B7tKk6l_jhy40R7LbaqyVnhDCV9PwCagNpmC0-Qu5KXawXzzqo0G12VVCEB8wg7xB35U6VjTqnQuq0wh5z3cr1YTZ_KYS5w5JWLN0Q3DTQWUAWL6qOguPUDME8K52FadUQuJL7hxU/s320/nye2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557076015095019410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have this tradition, see, of posting random text message drunkeness while under the influence on New Years Eve on this blog. The message is as follows: gbashkp9'nkm,sqag<br /></div>Congratulations. And a good one to you.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs1QO50EKZHt3DT2G5ogc4eNRP6DbrLz4lDp4o_r1OR6ow9wAPZzJuUdiT6BHTq4_wtmysJ2IYMZSRls87lWvlJE6FJTIRWM7xA3Yhs6BKS3hU9NX-bwbOBYbfnTcJRQb4E2zDdwGFTLu/s1600/nye1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs1QO50EKZHt3DT2G5ogc4eNRP6DbrLz4lDp4o_r1OR6ow9wAPZzJuUdiT6BHTq4_wtmysJ2IYMZSRls87lWvlJE6FJTIRWM7xA3Yhs6BKS3hU9NX-bwbOBYbfnTcJRQb4E2zDdwGFTLu/s320/nye1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557075916401360434" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fJYjcrAnOV6t31QBTkAbF963Z71l_F9LvR4BpmvSYWKnKdth6-cVaHnucV7lo0_STahD9X241D8yMd01DBoa0aOwdx1utb-Ca1oLVZonh6XbYsf7Yqg8c7m1cgoin3-CQ99zyT-P4Se2/s1600/nye3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fJYjcrAnOV6t31QBTkAbF963Z71l_F9LvR4BpmvSYWKnKdth6-cVaHnucV7lo0_STahD9X241D8yMd01DBoa0aOwdx1utb-Ca1oLVZonh6XbYsf7Yqg8c7m1cgoin3-CQ99zyT-P4Se2/s320/nye3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557076123784347858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Worried Earnie, <a href="http://reddavebatcave.com/">Red Dave</a>, Homie, Sam.</div>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-73465109229540805382010-12-29T16:37:00.003+00:002010-12-29T16:43:44.282+00:00Fight Dinosaurs with lightsabers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3XkGCSblcu6XZG5wBGkiX_9OSAB0hAuI21mNM7OtiA0Vx4mCopIRTVXqed-jo77OFXmsg1ww4anyJ69hv5bH9ELBT-MBGqGVKqgqlbv7FdTBwIQNEzUHlx8mPTjvrpaIt27Gxrt75j1R/s1600/xmaspresent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3XkGCSblcu6XZG5wBGkiX_9OSAB0hAuI21mNM7OtiA0Vx4mCopIRTVXqed-jo77OFXmsg1ww4anyJ69hv5bH9ELBT-MBGqGVKqgqlbv7FdTBwIQNEzUHlx8mPTjvrpaIt27Gxrt75j1R/s320/xmaspresent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556145763353178258" border="0" /></a><br />One of my clients asked me to do a poster for his six year old son as a Christmas present. The specific brief was to include dinosaurs, lightsabers, his electric guitar, his Kung-Fu pyjamas, explosions and ninja cats.<br />Rarely in my profession do we get paid for this much <span style="font-weight: bold;">awesome</span>.<br />I don't know if the "client" liked it- but I really hope so.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-8157012971176917092010-07-23T17:48:00.005+01:002010-07-23T18:03:01.976+01:00Silver Silhouette.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhFXM-AdBl1IQHPTVRU_sOXn3ZJbmClkgsM-dgWM7SBumgT5j4tnzklDyzyzSfGATn9Qtcii_pdNscXU3kk0wXQBSRDdiXFqqgmPkIov6W7x-D_HMGN3dLKIRUUSdowcaBDbjujnbej5d/s1600/modelinialogo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhFXM-AdBl1IQHPTVRU_sOXn3ZJbmClkgsM-dgWM7SBumgT5j4tnzklDyzyzSfGATn9Qtcii_pdNscXU3kk0wXQBSRDdiXFqqgmPkIov6W7x-D_HMGN3dLKIRUUSdowcaBDbjujnbej5d/s320/modelinialogo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497146731270671858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANBKdXB68Jm4VUQwO8Nr5V6a_40beDerUfzmUSnFd_VrB8MXoMAuMPBM4vh2CymKxXFAFBSD48PPUw3Np9vEXofSs5ShsU9g-rEVqgWPI3Y1PkO2-nDdGm7Wf2KsskWo1sOLTa3JEGeHv/s1600/henry.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANBKdXB68Jm4VUQwO8Nr5V6a_40beDerUfzmUSnFd_VrB8MXoMAuMPBM4vh2CymKxXFAFBSD48PPUw3Np9vEXofSs5ShsU9g-rEVqgWPI3Y1PkO2-nDdGm7Wf2KsskWo1sOLTa3JEGeHv/s320/henry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497148011948750034" border="0" /></a><br />So my new webcomic is up on giant model fansite <a href="http://www.modelinia.com/articles/the-silver-silhouette-episode-1/21027">Modelinia.com</a> It's about supermodels. Being superheroines. It's pretty silly. I was collaborating with <a href="http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2009/09/it-girl-francesca-hammerstein/">Francesca Hammerstein</a> who fed me high-life fashion info. Also thanks to <a href="http://orowsell.blogspot.com/">O</a> who gave me some typically snide insights into the seedy underbelly of the fashion world, unfortunately mostly unprintable!<br /><br />I had a lot of fun drawing different models, and especially other characters that inhabit the fashion world. Just wait till you get to the episode with<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Anna Wintour </span>and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Giant Japanese Robot invasion. </span><br /><br />Sometimes I find it hard to belive I get paid for this stuff.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-12942919436588581862010-06-30T15:52:00.003+01:002010-06-30T15:53:50.498+01:00Bruce.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UgragvCgCx51bC3ib6woTBrIqxTqr0atYT8qDiq1XNI9jL-rhalKzfNU8l9ez8Ym4_hrpHW5wpWul6XtJAuq_tLFha-oSDAViXeNFsAQyUOJfgh2KO1Q3VSDBOw7vH_fjTkN2dEMWIvg/s1600/bruce.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UgragvCgCx51bC3ib6woTBrIqxTqr0atYT8qDiq1XNI9jL-rhalKzfNU8l9ez8Ym4_hrpHW5wpWul6XtJAuq_tLFha-oSDAViXeNFsAQyUOJfgh2KO1Q3VSDBOw7vH_fjTkN2dEMWIvg/s320/bruce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488579954559372706" border="0" /></a><br />Y'all probably seen this already. I really need to get back to working in colour. I've got this sneaking feeling i'm forgetting how.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-53769602753572894082010-06-08T23:42:00.003+01:002010-06-08T23:49:08.995+01:00Stop Presses.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtIoORJC4DgMxOpmbC7C8vdDueZRkx8x5bBBUA7hm4WVqDjz5fMkvokwDaznGSCK8ByoKzEhZgCHH-lddC2zmOqyprL8WtHH-9rrUdf5hU50N8xfjTUqHH6q9H0MRlEBaV8jsBCJEzoOk/s1600/doodles.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtIoORJC4DgMxOpmbC7C8vdDueZRkx8x5bBBUA7hm4WVqDjz5fMkvokwDaznGSCK8ByoKzEhZgCHH-lddC2zmOqyprL8WtHH-9rrUdf5hU50N8xfjTUqHH6q9H0MRlEBaV8jsBCJEzoOk/s320/doodles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480537220942216354" border="0" /></a><br />Artist actually uploads art to blog. WORLD ENDS.<br />--some liquid City doodles.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-30811908474442750362010-05-31T16:28:00.012+01:002010-06-04T00:22:57.991+01:00MCM 17.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iJIO9SNZlX5qyJNNjILY0X725710nOpuFXzgYzc1ybUMFxgxhxtuXoU7ri4neRR4dcmJr9zuIKcGZ7NMZ_RjEgrVjTnXJ9_JwmecV5M5Ik5Cq6UlWp_fYVzvpwG8J82AX6BNVro23WXv/s1600/100_1040.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iJIO9SNZlX5qyJNNjILY0X725710nOpuFXzgYzc1ybUMFxgxhxtuXoU7ri4neRR4dcmJr9zuIKcGZ7NMZ_RjEgrVjTnXJ9_JwmecV5M5Ik5Cq6UlWp_fYVzvpwG8J82AX6BNVro23WXv/s320/100_1040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477465337080633378" border="0" /></a>Another May, another MCM.<br />This time I was selling at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">DFC</span> table, trying to shift some of the gorgeous new <a href="http://www.thedfc.co.uk/davidficklingbooks_dfclibrary.asp">DFC Library </a>books. <a href="http://theetheringtonbrothers.blogspot.com/">Bob Etherington</a>, turned up to pimp <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monkey Nuts</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Baggage</span> and all their related crazyness. Nobody sells like the Etheringtons. It's like they're a magnet for doe-eyed teenage girls.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXekKhZPFaK-CHpPmAgHty-MOj-wS5ForFldbMpRLJcAogglqg7FX8Hph78gxUbwHAC9c-yWxx0fZvqS_OM8QS3MqH5wKhKfgV0mepF4HVpHnlPRCIyLMXq9sGjLPvoTXECKCsLcBemMjK/s1600/100_1035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXekKhZPFaK-CHpPmAgHty-MOj-wS5ForFldbMpRLJcAogglqg7FX8Hph78gxUbwHAC9c-yWxx0fZvqS_OM8QS3MqH5wKhKfgV0mepF4HVpHnlPRCIyLMXq9sGjLPvoTXECKCsLcBemMjK/s320/100_1035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477464088866864098" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.adambrockbank.com/">Adam Brockbank</a> and Ben Haggarty were there on behalf of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mezolith</span>, looking a little bemused, <a href="http://www.daveshelton.com/">Dave Shelton</a> signing<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Good Dog bad Dog</span> and <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/">Niel Cameron</a> to remind everyone the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mobot High </span>graphic novel will hit the stands anytime soon! <a href="http://www.garynorthfield.co.uk/">Gary Northfield</a> and the impossibly energetic <a href="http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/">Sarah McIntyre</a> had their own tables to man, but the popped in and out as the weekend rolled by.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bDVgKaFuzHwroPKA2JbTNbHaxLYUvkI_R4bbVO2uCUyCkUef65RnSJK1IYt-iLSl6ast5wSyR6olxaKxYGFqNKh4ycmEgfYLdnoPmx1-13z81FX2MvbUyfVVOjLxPjfAXKGGRq_DXqfJ/s1600/100_1044.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bDVgKaFuzHwroPKA2JbTNbHaxLYUvkI_R4bbVO2uCUyCkUef65RnSJK1IYt-iLSl6ast5wSyR6olxaKxYGFqNKh4ycmEgfYLdnoPmx1-13z81FX2MvbUyfVVOjLxPjfAXKGGRq_DXqfJ/s320/100_1044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477464200528196466" border="0" /></a>Highlights for me were Seeing <a href="http://www.svetlania.com/">Svetlana Chmakova</a> again, who has an anthology book out with <a href="http://www.sweatdrop.com/">Sweatdrop Studios</a>. She made good on her debt of two drawings, from the last time she was in the Uk. So now I can say I have two Svet originals and you don't. Nya Nya Nya!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzG92n_HPa4ZPl20CwZnRPe1R0E9xnA7ilZtJFjaOiUKmnMD4Q-ByT-kiyTvq_og8yblyvH_O8wdf7sFGG24K6fRy2IIwZjQTmMFom62vj9rGPf64qBXV3D6sR8Qgfo5K6-4wG61TCshs/s1600/100_1043.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzG92n_HPa4ZPl20CwZnRPe1R0E9xnA7ilZtJFjaOiUKmnMD4Q-ByT-kiyTvq_og8yblyvH_O8wdf7sFGG24K6fRy2IIwZjQTmMFom62vj9rGPf64qBXV3D6sR8Qgfo5K6-4wG61TCshs/s320/100_1043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477465128077464274" border="0" /></a>I bought some great small press too, Particularly<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ross Burt's</span> <a href="http://rossburt.blogspot.com/">Astrofunk #2</a> and some gorgeous postcards by<a href="http://sunshee.blogspot.com/"> Celine Choo</a>. She's one to keep your eye on for sure! Special mentions also go to Pud and <a href="http://www.emmavieceli.com/">Emma Vieceli</a> for all the mind-bendingly hard work they put into the Expo twice a year.<br /><br />Housemate <a href="http://deathtripdeathtrip.blogspot.com/">Ronnie</a> made a video. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Warning</span>- lots of flirting and piss-takery.<br /><object height="316" width="526"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xOMSaeN-hjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xOMSaeN-hjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="316" width="526"></embed></object><br /><br />Then I went home and got stuck in a <span style="font-weight: bold;">lift</span>. I had to stare at this graffiti for at least half an hour while I tried to escape. Look, it has a diagram!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTdSNBo4lzVYAZ29x3o2Tjsx3qT1n4_S40wd9kGqAFxwFBt0OsuOULKCPQ9U7H6ooY0D7f4wenBCYGaeDL8FCW7kZp-WnIlj8IP1uJBWirH33NZ-D1HR1qldekpPpmS8osOOtyiuaIElJ/s1600/100_1034.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTdSNBo4lzVYAZ29x3o2Tjsx3qT1n4_S40wd9kGqAFxwFBt0OsuOULKCPQ9U7H6ooY0D7f4wenBCYGaeDL8FCW7kZp-WnIlj8IP1uJBWirH33NZ-D1HR1qldekpPpmS8osOOtyiuaIElJ/s320/100_1034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477463800917647282" border="0" /></a>Later.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-3761582792726123972010-04-18T18:37:00.015+01:002010-04-18T19:23:06.950+01:00Blog? What blog?If there's one thing I<span style="font-style: italic;"> truly </span>suck at, it's blogging.<br />When I do remember my camera, I forget to put the post online for...oooh, about a <span style="font-style: italic;">month</span> or two. So here's some photos from stuff I've been up to in the big smoke.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5lU7A47DiyZA8OkbMAKLIr7Z1ctXZyWXSW25lHwB7qyCkojfmbQtCH17h3aQYsU9Exgiu9NQwMYT1hfAus7X_bH99NjHm_p_R82ENhetJG86NAjv838YS1_OBLWKYcMcvD8ZrsVaGwH3/s1600/100_0939.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5lU7A47DiyZA8OkbMAKLIr7Z1ctXZyWXSW25lHwB7qyCkojfmbQtCH17h3aQYsU9Exgiu9NQwMYT1hfAus7X_bH99NjHm_p_R82ENhetJG86NAjv838YS1_OBLWKYcMcvD8ZrsVaGwH3/s320/100_0939.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461537945519126322" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Webcomix Thing! I especially enjoyed picking up books<br />from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/landoism">Lando</a>, <a href="http://www.nichangell.co.uk/">Nichangell</a> and <a href="http://tozocomic.com/">David O, Connell.</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFfzrJFeU_75ttMbV8enBdk7tV10sd59W1jcr5X8zeLCFfAYh1lJnjBrmZQEE2tRX3eEcmhYxEFzs1U5V6io9HT49on5rnuvChzl-GYtrId8bhifsKQu3fZUFSX4i4NagGzgvfpYMZbRn/s1600/100_0945.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFfzrJFeU_75ttMbV8enBdk7tV10sd59W1jcr5X8zeLCFfAYh1lJnjBrmZQEE2tRX3eEcmhYxEFzs1U5V6io9HT49on5rnuvChzl-GYtrId8bhifsKQu3fZUFSX4i4NagGzgvfpYMZbRn/s320/100_0945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461540682564309426" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Schmurgencon 4, where I was lucky enough to be<br />awarded the <span style="font-style: italic;">Lifetime Achievement Award </span>by <a href="http://schmurgenjonerhaffs.blogspot.com/">Schmurgen</a><br />himself. Now I have to retire. Or <span style="font-style: italic;">die.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlevdSG-XbM8nnq7XNiuEc7JW1vyp907DJ8fHm1PaymIIA7w1mEWdAyE4SCWtId5MIuquB9tofoKYnOb7MV5EMdeytdwPtqk43iiKTnCCITSrmThtTK4nY53rF_le19F4OvrM_OXNOi_J/s1600/100_0956.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlevdSG-XbM8nnq7XNiuEc7JW1vyp907DJ8fHm1PaymIIA7w1mEWdAyE4SCWtId5MIuquB9tofoKYnOb7MV5EMdeytdwPtqk43iiKTnCCITSrmThtTK4nY53rF_le19F4OvrM_OXNOi_J/s320/100_0956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539347345877586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4gyXGdg_e2EluBRWfmH6E2wXlR4Q10Ixu0tmqVWwuSBZU6QyRFn67-hAQ0o2SOm1p-QmTbL_Ab2fAWdQdOwPqG5t0DlhSVMYvEN91VNP5OHQQoAEoAgw1sMcq1Ib0-WMImo6ML8lj6_V/s1600/100_0959.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4gyXGdg_e2EluBRWfmH6E2wXlR4Q10Ixu0tmqVWwuSBZU6QyRFn67-hAQ0o2SOm1p-QmTbL_Ab2fAWdQdOwPqG5t0DlhSVMYvEN91VNP5OHQQoAEoAgw1sMcq1Ib0-WMImo6ML8lj6_V/s320/100_0959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539480771260194" border="0" /></a><br />Private view of the fantastic Louise Thomas' exhibition,<br /><a href="http://www.artslant.com/lon/events/show/99701-everybody-is-a-lake">"Everybody Is a Lake"</a> Which is still on, Check it out!<br />That's <a href="http://www.studiocanoe.com/">StudioCanoe</a> there, looking thoroughly mongol.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X2s30nCsYP303l0bc5-q1-4OJgKg0JP96oFYx41pF7SL_nO01SUOReg3w79GllqhCt-gkQhVC6IqTr7NwGN1KVt-dhsE1RFsImt9uguZwpTMPFThhyphenhyphenmKQx0WhigI7hX_XPvrWQZsmUv8/s1600/deathtrip.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X2s30nCsYP303l0bc5-q1-4OJgKg0JP96oFYx41pF7SL_nO01SUOReg3w79GllqhCt-gkQhVC6IqTr7NwGN1KVt-dhsE1RFsImt9uguZwpTMPFThhyphenhyphenmKQx0WhigI7hX_XPvrWQZsmUv8/s320/deathtrip.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461539108393437122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.deathtripdeathtrip.blogspot.com/">Death Trip</a>, my housemate Ronnie's Punk night in E3.<br /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/wetdogthebest">Wetdog</a> really smashed it. Me and R4ggs were danc'in.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cDXF7-whqkHtUcsMTaP_NEbQ2HN12r3kEuZXDYhNmt1lredShQgaLWwkjArvWV44Hk0ROnyt-EwW7i7KDQwnlFpPwmqNJP4ICiD4tpNWWtDamjzbR2kYbixHup7REqr_KyykyAbFLIjk/s1600/100_0987.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cDXF7-whqkHtUcsMTaP_NEbQ2HN12r3kEuZXDYhNmt1lredShQgaLWwkjArvWV44Hk0ROnyt-EwW7i7KDQwnlFpPwmqNJP4ICiD4tpNWWtDamjzbR2kYbixHup7REqr_KyykyAbFLIjk/s320/100_0987.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461538493029333890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViKThFpsbp9G0-7qi93pwU1RqfmqVOZSprok03_Zeo7KtWs-qenj50DAA9mYKsYNlhgksMxOd3UXG15M3hQeVqMq6S5g-yjmrKZYLw1XXS8Jt5oE-DqQUJkDGL9gue0ZA8Xjx4d_WTaOt/s1600/100_0999.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViKThFpsbp9G0-7qi93pwU1RqfmqVOZSprok03_Zeo7KtWs-qenj50DAA9mYKsYNlhgksMxOd3UXG15M3hQeVqMq6S5g-yjmrKZYLw1XXS8Jt5oE-DqQUJkDGL9gue0ZA8Xjx4d_WTaOt/s320/100_0999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461538114980561762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbl1qlk95VEJwKpTlEE_KgfV7sE06vKewNtyiChpw4kBllxHVBgmKLnThgsNMDH5ORRd4Ibo88whmUcxrplU6S_G6EbfvI96ES2CJ9SX3kbrpF4EXUoj2pQ_zMQ4htKnMjTnaiVAFZXa_/s1600/100_0988.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbl1qlk95VEJwKpTlEE_KgfV7sE06vKewNtyiChpw4kBllxHVBgmKLnThgsNMDH5ORRd4Ibo88whmUcxrplU6S_G6EbfvI96ES2CJ9SX3kbrpF4EXUoj2pQ_zMQ4htKnMjTnaiVAFZXa_/s320/100_0988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461538331904185154" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The <a href="http://fleecestation.co.uk/">Fleece Station</a> Party, where far too much<br />cake was consumed.<br /><br />Also, and probably most importantly, The <a href="http://www.davidficklingbooks.co.uk/davidficklingbooks_dfclibrary.asp">DFC Library</a> kicked off with the beautiful <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mezolith</span>. But some people are actually <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span> at this blogging thing, <a href="http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/286514.html">so I'll leave that to them.</a><br /><br />Till next time!<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-64822284245773920482010-03-18T20:36:00.007+00:002010-03-18T23:25:13.603+00:00Liquid Dev 1.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNPiPCBGZyFgXjNdhsd4_4VuLXvOQneQIXyxVOYAcoh9ngfFjcuOvU9s4ncy4g95ezduOSYiBDdvzTljSvOnajpcnN4es13dzf93w309VyR2d8P8orD0A8dQNu2MGbm-vnegvFbqFSZsI/s1600-h/liquidlogo3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNPiPCBGZyFgXjNdhsd4_4VuLXvOQneQIXyxVOYAcoh9ngfFjcuOvU9s4ncy4g95ezduOSYiBDdvzTljSvOnajpcnN4es13dzf93w309VyR2d8P8orD0A8dQNu2MGbm-vnegvFbqFSZsI/s320/liquidlogo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450078571742435714" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZg8isEi2VCkex1r7mD_BYtcFkIGWi8I21AmdvTOsxXAbAgJpCqe2Sa4hTGCjPTkHZ7hb40wdgc-Ra-Zk0mP-ZoAHZ6R1YaAc9HOA99vVzNjsULpDpwHQnDikDD8dV7Hhi1amoVCKgwZO/s1600-h/husanipinup.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZg8isEi2VCkex1r7mD_BYtcFkIGWi8I21AmdvTOsxXAbAgJpCqe2Sa4hTGCjPTkHZ7hb40wdgc-Ra-Zk0mP-ZoAHZ6R1YaAc9HOA99vVzNjsULpDpwHQnDikDD8dV7Hhi1amoVCKgwZO/s200/husanipinup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450079663069966738" border="0" /></a>So I'm trying again with <a href="http://aqwatic.blogspot.com/2009/05/on-liquid.html">Liquid City</a>. I was really unhappy with it as it stood after the "promo" I made for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MCM</span>, so I went back and redesigned the bastard from the ground up. What I was worried about in the first instance was the total failure to get across the feel of the city. Liquid was supposed to be slutty, slimy, vapid and stupid. What the promo was pushing was just a generic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cyberpunky</span> mess. This redesign, I feel, is much more on the nose.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUjjd5ytXLx8oxqdatWlbbaSz_9EtnYx8-RmyIyon5Mv97wCDS_u1OchNXwhnLxWysr7Noia2PrIJpOmjk96dw3fsrEd3pgqY8wfRfunJZxHx_pL4qIJyp86uGMJlWwDbyhyphenhyphenZPkGgDfHu/s1600-h/alouitiuspinup.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUjjd5ytXLx8oxqdatWlbbaSz_9EtnYx8-RmyIyon5Mv97wCDS_u1OchNXwhnLxWysr7Noia2PrIJpOmjk96dw3fsrEd3pgqY8wfRfunJZxHx_pL4qIJyp86uGMJlWwDbyhyphenhyphenZPkGgDfHu/s200/alouitiuspinup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450080371069302066" border="0" /></a><br />I'm still arguing with the way I want to draw it, and these pinups <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">i'm</span> currently pretty unhappy with. They're missing a couple of things <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">i've</span> figured out as "probably important in comics" lately, but are still much more in the vein of what I wanted for the book. I'm going to stop faffing around with style choices soon, mind you. I have a couple more characters to design, a couple more locations and then it's straight into test pages.<br />I feel like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">i'm</span> getting there. Albeit bloody slowly...<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-67661793616654838352010-02-28T15:37:00.011+00:002010-02-28T16:40:02.505+00:00Frills.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2RvL0wVNWxNfjv_0R3bHFDrsoTP9N961O0J8CEXOV1cNRl_rF7O27GYqFRCtMTlvbrCapOwhSS0CucgJUt6H2xXYyvVUflaEgoXpBw-aHaCWoVCj815QXgJDF3hXv4MiP8uKN4Eprslt/s1600-h/100_0902.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2RvL0wVNWxNfjv_0R3bHFDrsoTP9N961O0J8CEXOV1cNRl_rF7O27GYqFRCtMTlvbrCapOwhSS0CucgJUt6H2xXYyvVUflaEgoXpBw-aHaCWoVCj815QXgJDF3hXv4MiP8uKN4Eprslt/s320/100_0902.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443319131289758834" border="0" /></a><br />So This Saturday I headed over to the <a href="http://www.japaneseartfestival.com/">Japanese Art Festival</a> in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Richmond</span>. It was my first visit to this con and it's a cute little one if I do say so myself. I didn't stay that long, however, as I had a meeting with one of my elusive and mysterious scriptwriters who happens to live in the area. Previously, at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese embassy</span> a couple of weeks ago, <a href="http://www.fyredrake.net/">Sonia</a> had c<span style="font-style: italic;">ruelly</span> and drunkenly tricked me into agreeing to accompany her to the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/lolita_festival/">Lolita in Wonderland</a> event in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bethnal Green</span>. Feeling I needed backup to avoid being <span style="font-style: italic;">torn apart</span> for my lack of wildy-expensive imported frills, I cruelly tricked <a href="http://www.kazmantra.co.uk/">Kaz</a> into tagging along. Bethnal Green's not the best place in the world to get a drink if you're dressed in full evening wear and studded rhinestone boots, but I managed to remember the existence of <a href="http://www.bistrotheque.com/">Bistrotheque</a>, a very (very) groovy artists-cum-indie rockers hangout in a warehouse down a dark alleyway. So we all went for cocktails and discussed the artistic merits of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ero manga</span> while Sonia regaled us with the stories of her sexual exploits that I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> didn't need to know.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVPooRdHmCpMNgYqkapUIeisMhW9S78s3H5oVrCMr4bmXKv_mCeVOiPSeiJ3mnN3-mwTU4hZJSxXKalPsYPxMzeI5fRF-WE4ZyrWkEr-BLSwUL0oNZHQSr67aUQ7UVakm4VW51EGn-HJw/s1600-h/100_0881.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVPooRdHmCpMNgYqkapUIeisMhW9S78s3H5oVrCMr4bmXKv_mCeVOiPSeiJ3mnN3-mwTU4hZJSxXKalPsYPxMzeI5fRF-WE4ZyrWkEr-BLSwUL0oNZHQSr67aUQ7UVakm4VW51EGn-HJw/s320/100_0881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443323589144885906" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The Lolita show was actually much less terrifying than I had imagined. Annoyingly, <a href="http://blondedebates.livejournal.com/">Blondedebates</a> had already skipped town by the time I staggered in, so I had to lean on Sonia and Kaz for moral support. We got into healthy debates on <span style="font-weight: bold;">corsets</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">dungeon photography</span> and the joys of <span style="font-weight: bold;">nurses outfits </span>with various people, defaced nearby walls with soon-to-be-priceless artwork and admired solid gold bespoke knee-high boots that I can't afford.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgYTKc2c73NQFlsSMXX1kuDnmfINrg2AurxX9Y-mbSd_upYXFdps0wDJBszXX271GZo1rdgnKwoX7L8tMM2S3p2fnY6dIrhrH2xbOtaIcYx1wi4ukxdO8OeDEA3v91B5VWRqOCqh3k6se/s1600-h/100_0883.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgYTKc2c73NQFlsSMXX1kuDnmfINrg2AurxX9Y-mbSd_upYXFdps0wDJBszXX271GZo1rdgnKwoX7L8tMM2S3p2fnY6dIrhrH2xbOtaIcYx1wi4ukxdO8OeDEA3v91B5VWRqOCqh3k6se/s320/100_0883.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443325636399249746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiijqEs0GFNtzQcAiu3MurH0JzERHUln3zSEnvzvcqbrvU5CurHPRFG_Ahie0w3197p4YlndCvX6jrFqsnNPkfvFocwrno8KElsBhd5HJ8eGjiG7ZypfuidlvQEL_sS5klrY7U33oo1djB/s1600-h/100_0886.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiijqEs0GFNtzQcAiu3MurH0JzERHUln3zSEnvzvcqbrvU5CurHPRFG_Ahie0w3197p4YlndCvX6jrFqsnNPkfvFocwrno8KElsBhd5HJ8eGjiG7ZypfuidlvQEL_sS5klrY7U33oo1djB/s320/100_0886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443330576649814882" border="0" /></a>At that point my companions were forced to take their leave, so I walked to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brick Lane</span> to indulge my bagel fetish. I thought i'd phone up <a href="http://www.studiocanoe.com/">Temujin</a> and try and drag the evening out. Temujin had been drinking since eleven in the morning and could now barely <span style="font-style: italic;">talk</span>, let alone come out to play, so I returned! And was very glad I did. I was able to witness <a href="http://boykitten.co.uk/">Boykitten</a> demonstrating the art of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese self-suspension bondage</span> and had the finer points of the Lolita lifestyle expertly explained to me by <a href="http://ciel-art.com/">Wing</a> and her friend in wonderful tartan print Metamorphose (whose name escapes me). Finally I was utterly terrified by Wing's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ball Jointed Dolls</span>. But then they <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> terrify me.<br /><br />All in all, a magnificently weird night.<br />~John~<br /></div></div>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-79755792381207889662010-02-22T01:37:00.008+00:002010-02-22T02:20:52.997+00:00Of Late.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yCntIZMBSRjOSDCxMM2plItXpMLNTGe6B9SYsDf0l6nlt3ya7hMK1QmSxmlI38QJmrqlBTcPrUMRDnw-1AFUhmh7JjhdqKfWd47JgX6WPI6ef3Rau1JdNFRFNy_nMlQB3YDtT6ClAuAn/s1600-h/100215.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yCntIZMBSRjOSDCxMM2plItXpMLNTGe6B9SYsDf0l6nlt3ya7hMK1QmSxmlI38QJmrqlBTcPrUMRDnw-1AFUhmh7JjhdqKfWd47JgX6WPI6ef3Rau1JdNFRFNy_nMlQB3YDtT6ClAuAn/s320/100215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440880332896506466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Okay so, first of all, Public security notice - <a href="http://www.myspace.com/trashkit">R4ggs</a> lost her phone on a bus.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Again</span>. No, I don't know where she is. Stop asking. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Madrid</span>, I think.<br /><br />Lately I've been terrible at keeping up my new years resolution to be dull, stay in and draw comics. I noticed the Ambassador's Secretary taking photos in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese Embassy Jiman reception</span>, but I guess that comes with the diplomatic immunity. Suffice to say, I didn't take any- but the free wine was flowing and I was wearing the worlds worst skintight <span style="font-style: italic;">leather pants</span>. So that was probably for the best.<br /><br />I then headed out to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phonogram Wake</span>, which rolled on in tremendous style. I believe several people had to be carried home by their significant others. A quick recovery and i'm off to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">rop in and Draw</span></span> event at the <a href="http://www.nottinghillartsclub.com/">Notting Hill Arts Club</a> with <a href="http://www.dreamtripper.net/">PhoenixBlue</a>, again forgetting my camera. How <a href="http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/">JabberWorks</a> does this stuff, I'll never know. I met her and <a href="http://www.emmavieceli.com/">Emma Vieceli</a> <span style="font-size:78%;">(whose name I can now spell correctly on the first try)</span> for way-too-much-sushi too, but more on that later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAS4WKierD4OukYpRdmq3pkqx7IIwaMFfDDPA0ahC5f2a2MPP8Se8srGhOQSvqTzDCRVGe77CmdLgmTtSy0aUrQcoDYMKEf76doXEwu0YvIWfYlMAxUY5kNPlZ8NMlBKx_KE1sICyzLyO/s1600-h/100_0853.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAS4WKierD4OukYpRdmq3pkqx7IIwaMFfDDPA0ahC5f2a2MPP8Se8srGhOQSvqTzDCRVGe77CmdLgmTtSy0aUrQcoDYMKEf76doXEwu0YvIWfYlMAxUY5kNPlZ8NMlBKx_KE1sICyzLyO/s320/100_0853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440880664433368386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I met up with <a href="http://nanarealm.blogspot.com/">Nana Li</a> in Cambridge the other day to see the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sargent, Sickert & Spencer</span> exhibition at the <a href="http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/">Fitzwilliam Museum</a>. It's a good show, if a little on the small side- and with a somewhat tenuous link between the artists.<br />We also went Life Drawing, but I was wildly distracted by the Cambridge architecture dept's ceiling. That's going in a comic, for sure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeV8AnXSKvaUppxLKhyDNimCgqkMy-6Y5SNCGbHXRPrlk6MaP-i0LUZzMVJl3rzSDYB9MryNOra2GsXbXzyWUDK44rsEwVbYjKKnZOBXgl14MM9OhArJdxfkRhZ0j76t69mFe6_VcCFij/s1600-h/100_0852.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeV8AnXSKvaUppxLKhyDNimCgqkMy-6Y5SNCGbHXRPrlk6MaP-i0LUZzMVJl3rzSDYB9MryNOra2GsXbXzyWUDK44rsEwVbYjKKnZOBXgl14MM9OhArJdxfkRhZ0j76t69mFe6_VcCFij/s320/100_0852.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440881243683801506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And Finally, <a href="http://www.nickabadzis.com/">Nick Abadzis</a> is, as of Sat, a resident of Brooklyn NY! I dragged myself (all the way) over to Richmond to wave the good ship Abadzis on it's way. I met some of the old and new owners of <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x227q9_spaced-jar-jar_fun">TWAU</a> and some very groovy Italian animators.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALzJK6Rv9oRqi2HxgnevFd8fCbOgbCKUL83oAvh7qd9xxhJhkxVH4aL0w5yp93Zv6YvMzF-EQaHNgH0Thp9qFVa6dnvFzST1-G7FZKBiopnyY-yOQpnKzpqXi4uEfrbZSJ2Ur4FHaLvov/s1600-h/100_0747.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALzJK6Rv9oRqi2HxgnevFd8fCbOgbCKUL83oAvh7qd9xxhJhkxVH4aL0w5yp93Zv6YvMzF-EQaHNgH0Thp9qFVa6dnvFzST1-G7FZKBiopnyY-yOQpnKzpqXi4uEfrbZSJ2Ur4FHaLvov/s320/100_0747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440884167477320242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right, I'm out. This week I <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> get some work done.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-77507203006330160612010-02-20T09:44:00.011+00:002010-02-20T10:11:23.768+00:00Mile End.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV-r921RtI8U-NLevjP9IX2EYScp-9fVrTpopv8mqyUUdfbBcaQlVu7ZQoFBD9Pyf_Ry4aZjp9XaWguDcjQx-PdKWGW94mvOWlvt141UV93sFnOP69nxY1Ww_bF34MMn6h95hLGVPiuHr/s1600-h/100_0754.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV-r921RtI8U-NLevjP9IX2EYScp-9fVrTpopv8mqyUUdfbBcaQlVu7ZQoFBD9Pyf_Ry4aZjp9XaWguDcjQx-PdKWGW94mvOWlvt141UV93sFnOP69nxY1Ww_bF34MMn6h95hLGVPiuHr/s320/100_0754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440260524218253346" border="0" /></a><br />I recently moved into a house supplied by the <a href="http://www.bowarts.org/">Bow Arts Trust</a>. They take old council flats where the tenants are moving out, and fill the empty spaces with artists. This keeps the squatters at bay, and also provides cheap housing in London for those crazy enough to make art for a living. (like me!)<br /><br />Most of the flats are boarded up, there's great 70's graffiti all over the place and the whole thing looks like it's been made out of a single block of gray concrete. Seriously, It's like living in the Barbican.<br /><br />Anyway, when I took the property on, the cleaners hadn't been in to clear out the stuff left by the previous tenants. As I entered I heard one of them shouting down to his colleagues; "<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't worry guys, doesn't look like there's any needles!</span>"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtyqUw_ypvulVCtviWKk1RKDTr541QSNTo0OFTfkcGu-RiODusgl5izJpi4dCHZQfmd7gu7c9dgwFeFsF_jKqScldtv_FASSl8M8xDcGdeim2e8Q8-Gyoxu3m1bAvvVosU1OokQ_wRZ-8/s1600-h/100_0759.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtyqUw_ypvulVCtviWKk1RKDTr541QSNTo0OFTfkcGu-RiODusgl5izJpi4dCHZQfmd7gu7c9dgwFeFsF_jKqScldtv_FASSl8M8xDcGdeim2e8Q8-Gyoxu3m1bAvvVosU1OokQ_wRZ-8/s320/100_0759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440261907285397634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOlmWSKLzCUGd4Ya0lM4wXpwBiBjfEuwC0H6vg3PXEHVOun7f1AYnyWaRErsklJHX6dLgJcuktKlJCSyz2CygUkftyx3tYHXRgX50smyDmcgenu_c9yrv9CtM8NlDvGb60qaw1rUpEfaH/s1600-h/100_0761.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOlmWSKLzCUGd4Ya0lM4wXpwBiBjfEuwC0H6vg3PXEHVOun7f1AYnyWaRErsklJHX6dLgJcuktKlJCSyz2CygUkftyx3tYHXRgX50smyDmcgenu_c9yrv9CtM8NlDvGb60qaw1rUpEfaH/s320/100_0761.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440263427284370450" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I was planning to post up some <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> pics, to show the amount of work we've done on the place to make it our own, but it's not quite done yet, so you just get the "<span style="font-style: italic;">before</span>". I'll put some <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> pics up soon, or none of you will want to come around for tea! It's not fantastic now, but at least if any of you ever see it when it's done, you'll at least know what we were working with at the start!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHyf3t5nGAbhEOEarkMXHpDG9toXxUDN_ZWolzEsidOFfztZfFR7V5mJteFRiFMTzTEwWAvEfL6CsGvNlg2Tk_gzoCIjdicIIoJrCWqUNZAJ86g8Au1HW552lDXuSm9AEKNu55GSP1IT/s1600-h/100_0763.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHyf3t5nGAbhEOEarkMXHpDG9toXxUDN_ZWolzEsidOFfztZfFR7V5mJteFRiFMTzTEwWAvEfL6CsGvNlg2Tk_gzoCIjdicIIoJrCWqUNZAJ86g8Au1HW552lDXuSm9AEKNu55GSP1IT/s320/100_0763.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440262580966618306" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Since we're only in the house for a year, and we can do whatever we want with it, I want to get all my cartoonist friends to come over and paint one of their characters on the walls. (that means <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span>, by the way) then it'll really be a home.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxIWe1xfBAe1fGzVL_OBcNEgEMk9kVz-0BWis5q1eg28MMSMe_GrSzuDsoLROIvBZ8dUoV95WFQE9jC-rgYNCbQuDbSvcbiTbstIM8V06AAFFe08q-pPGlayGRWFMBgLY8IkXUSgssCsG/s1600-h/100_0770.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxIWe1xfBAe1fGzVL_OBcNEgEMk9kVz-0BWis5q1eg28MMSMe_GrSzuDsoLROIvBZ8dUoV95WFQE9jC-rgYNCbQuDbSvcbiTbstIM8V06AAFFe08q-pPGlayGRWFMBgLY8IkXUSgssCsG/s320/100_0770.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440264765346831282" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Also, When I first saw the house it was full of boxes and boxes of strange African on VHS drama shows , and <span style="font-style: italic;">porn</span>. O_o<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-5028169899879428572010-02-16T23:13:00.017+00:002010-02-17T00:12:19.741+00:00Play Catch up.<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I haven't blogged in a while.</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is because lots of cool stuff has been happening, I've been working on some heavy projects, my mac exploded, and I've moved house (twice). Anyway!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">First things first, it's </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Angouleme</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> baby!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yes, it's that time of year when me ( and mum) run off to france to spend more money than we make in four months on beautiful comic books, drink our body-weight in bad lager and have slurred and pointless arguments with someone we later find out was the editor of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dargaud</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, or something. As usual, it's impossible to really explain Angouleme, so i'll stick with the highlights. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 247px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJKS23x9xrClZjBk8tCFrdIhJWNr1F9tmLZAQeESTxDqCQedtk22ic-pvm98rlrOVeX18QGaVECPTJUO7vxc6lhmnUoxtZns9yqu17LjRCpt6Xw3CDPIoWZ1VDCvWLvGzMwfreZvh13Cc/s320/corto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438985830681656898" /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cent Pour Cent:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In the new(ish) museum space the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cent pour Cent</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> exhibition pitted 100 current masters against 100 greats, in continuing or accompanying a single page of comic artwork. I didn't really take it all in, as they had originals by Vaughn Bode, Posy Simmonds, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Chick Young, Moebius, Hérge</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, Uderzo, Frank Frazetta, Winsor McCay (winsor McCay!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">!) and loads more i've forgotten. Seriously, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Winsor McCay! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Outside was the statue of Hugo Pratt's Corto Maltese. I didn't even know this existed, but apparently it was there last time. He stands on the bridge connecting the old and new BD museums, defiant face to the wind. Awesome.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Also, me and mum got papped outside for a street style mag in Paris called "</span><a href="http://theglamattitude.over-blog.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Glam Attitude</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">". Win.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4UzDz8P9PfGAXR6HJHwyb4Rvo4Co7msnEb4d7o-Wow0fbOXowoAy3lqOkFI8icRMVIg_7oqQ2BAafyYiY0ms7UmVYVjGpSNJyhnk5fYqfUP9-DSgXJ0wzh_MwQZrdcfKsG8eKgKxoWed/s320/onepiece.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438986184698432226" /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One Piece /</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Makoto Yukimura</span></b><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">:</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm sure there are other places to see original manga artwork in Europe, but Angouleme is mine. It's always great to see real manga artwork up close as, unlike originals from US or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Uk publications, I imagine they're pretty hard to come by. I missed seeing </span><span style="font: 13.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Makoto Yukimura</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> talk by about five minutes. On the other hand I then wandered up the hill to one of the main areas and bumped into...</span></span></span></b></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISyRurLlMZ-aFgLZmOdaRjQ2kJLowHEcRGvkEuoF8C2l2Xut-MkbWnU3Tt7PumWy2AbK8M5A1t4hPnaiSttwXnJDsziJvvgnhrol4nTZ4G8hoeqvlHLJgmUQBZtogwblrKRtsrpc-Jrty/s320/skydoll1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438986553588516626" /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Barbara </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(goddamn) </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Canepa!:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When you're actually in Angouleme, you have to pretend you don't like things like SkyDoll. Otherwise the Art-comics aficionados peer over their reading glasses at you w<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ith barely concealed scorn. "Soleil!? A </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Quoi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">?" Don't really have much to add to this other than it was awesome, and that I saw her painting and you didn't. Ha Ha Ha.</span></span></span></span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7W7l3gtcuShAR6sqVHOWdK74nSrTioKBLXetMfqaUF3KJ9Re_0zOIY-B9L8kjNE_WpCiFGRaMIYkoFb6ZMsRl4bqAjgKA6RybECXeuCOfEy7KVeYjgng6PN9nREm_mOxMxO4FSRRhP3R/s320/skydoll2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438987122979553666" /><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Brits abroad:</span></span></p><div> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of course, the chatting to your friends and a million inspirational artists is really what the convention is all about, and it was fantastict to see the B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S represent'in. Angouleme is like a yearly shot in the arm as you're surrounded by </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">great</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> people who.... nope, can't keep this up, it's all about the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Canepa</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOQjqcFKeol9DVgF1twhGYCoUBCc06SOlkQp3A0uD_u1PbvHdHz3rNTRNsW1nqty13ncEUKyHSHM7EKOX4oc-GzWNtEpiQhdyho_pGPQ1bnRASquw0R8OML6-PC1fnqwczLrR50_xP5Nu/s320/bastards.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438987497963150690" /></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tomorrow I shall be talking about my scary new house.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~John~</span></p></div><p></p>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-74882028922894697002009-12-08T03:22:00.013+00:002010-02-17T00:13:10.811+00:00All Change.So I did a blog reshuffle.<br />This is in anticipation of an impending site reshuffle, as the current one is out of date and... well, <span style="font-style: italic;">broken</span>, actually. I have<span style="font-weight: bold;"> lots</span> of stuff to show you guys! But more importantly, Just as I'd updated this blog, my mom went and stole my <a href="http://www.midnite-owl.com/">splat!</a> Plagiarized by my own mother, I dunno, what's the world coming to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also, <a href="http://trashkitrules.blogspot.com/">R4ggs</a> was in a photo shoot yesterday with<a href="http://www.showstudio.com/"> Nick Knight</a>. She'll be in I-D magazine next year, and probably invited to a star-studded exhibition. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bitch.</span></div>~John~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr8MQHg4_pICxyoEJUWHNJIyaPrs7ieh5_an6E67dHZj40QjbXMsRYBPEiXGHq9uTWtbnRqzL7bDJyQrKMYQ9iEJtFi5O2YcRPFz7c5OX10DrNKscKSWhkC2nIdYIRf6w2BRE9N5fE8dA/s1600-h/trashkit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr8MQHg4_pICxyoEJUWHNJIyaPrs7ieh5_an6E67dHZj40QjbXMsRYBPEiXGHq9uTWtbnRqzL7bDJyQrKMYQ9iEJtFi5O2YcRPFz7c5OX10DrNKscKSWhkC2nIdYIRf6w2BRE9N5fE8dA/s320/trashkit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413317735233787970" border="0" /></a>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-15843505020278237712009-09-14T00:23:00.005+01:002009-09-14T00:31:04.123+01:00Boomer.<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQen3iVpPR5lzz__1KayGIa5fmfZx0lwBSMTV91grrBGXgpJ1vardAqqizdD-Xl-Z9aVoEelOGLUc1iSD7XGI8X4T9dWjvhiWeNZ56Hs80mw4U_DOwRI7k7tqbuj69d0UojoRV7ihhwn4L/s1600-h/brq2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQen3iVpPR5lzz__1KayGIa5fmfZx0lwBSMTV91grrBGXgpJ1vardAqqizdD-Xl-Z9aVoEelOGLUc1iSD7XGI8X4T9dWjvhiWeNZ56Hs80mw4U_DOwRI7k7tqbuj69d0UojoRV7ihhwn4L/s320/brq2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381097581076019282" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I just got in touch with an old <span style="font-weight: bold;">uni friend</span>- now a bigshot marketing man- who showed me some of an old <span style="font-weight: bold;">music video</span> that he directed, which I did all the concepts and the storyboards for. This was back in Uni, mind you, so please excuse the crappy drawings. I tend to shy away from storyboards nowadays, but It's fun when people take your artwork and run with it though!<div style="text-align: left;">~John~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM1ml5ec-XjCZXQ6S-8iU0ZtmPOlvEqoNfRW5ItdDp0ZPnBHWHzIecR6Eklokk1p4jbV4UJkvpBNFQOP7iePM5mF0JQBwymctAM7SFYuhRdVZymJAtUBAOLY7mjilZBkB28DpXxKQNMcQ/s1600-h/brq3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM1ml5ec-XjCZXQ6S-8iU0ZtmPOlvEqoNfRW5ItdDp0ZPnBHWHzIecR6Eklokk1p4jbV4UJkvpBNFQOP7iePM5mF0JQBwymctAM7SFYuhRdVZymJAtUBAOLY7mjilZBkB28DpXxKQNMcQ/s200/brq3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381098592053151154" border="0" /></a></div>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-41558081252362572692009-07-12T16:06:00.007+01:002010-02-17T00:14:43.762+00:00Who are these people...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG24d_3-mcw_h7-6PZst5tgnIm9JaEWjV6GcPVJ39kKT0DCDIMTJXuyykRhhR-w3_JIOchY1bR8vMy59hmqb1YNEs-nhYIumb49X3EP9BUOIfZtSSjDa2-C6xGZW4DojZCzPStEHmgxlNl/s1600-h/party3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 62px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG24d_3-mcw_h7-6PZst5tgnIm9JaEWjV6GcPVJ39kKT0DCDIMTJXuyykRhhR-w3_JIOchY1bR8vMy59hmqb1YNEs-nhYIumb49X3EP9BUOIfZtSSjDa2-C6xGZW4DojZCzPStEHmgxlNl/s320/party3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357597691786588418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">and why are they in my house.</span><br />So we threw another house party. About 60-70 people turned up, but given the natural flow of houseparties there were thankfully only about 50 people in the place at any one time. We bought a <span style="font-weight: bold;">barbeque</span> and then realised nobody knew how to work it- so we enlisted the help of a nearby scotsman. They know how to do these things. Also got invaded at one point by some of the <a href="http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/london/cable-street-studios">Cable Street Studios</a> massive, since it's just around the corner, and the E1 Asian boys- who insisted on playing bangra. I also spent half the night explaining to gatecrashers and the various circles of friends that didn't quite overlap that, yes, that girl you're after is gay. So's that one, and all them over there.<br /><br />Fun facts:<br />-At least two gatecrashers mistook us for a nightclub (win)<br />-The mirrored dancefloor didn't work. I <span style="font-style: italic;">told</span> them it was a waste of time!<br />-One guest's girlfriend gave him a stern lecture warning not to partake in any of the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oNOKCYeABhYMtnj8ZtbCiHVUZuJpbdx9WwWlr33RWsve6Tsa6Xsibws_cl2XX138U_1QZ-iqRT9vK8C_VhN9_5l0mv5SsF4JaR7iLjRA-lAmj6i06oo7UYyQE6cq0_QIT6sVR2iktPzv/s1600-h/screening.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oNOKCYeABhYMtnj8ZtbCiHVUZuJpbdx9WwWlr33RWsve6Tsa6Xsibws_cl2XX138U_1QZ-iqRT9vK8C_VhN9_5l0mv5SsF4JaR7iLjRA-lAmj6i06oo7UYyQE6cq0_QIT6sVR2iktPzv/s320/screening.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357597370552236594" border="0" /></a> debauchery that my parties are (apparently) infamous for. She had a list.<br />-A man appeared selling lauging gas, but had forgotten all of his laughing gas.<br />-It took us 4 days to clean up.<br />-Nobody was sick (on the premises)<br /><br />So Just when we'd cleaned up e v e r y t h i n g some guy decided to have the screening of his new film in our front room. <span style="font-style: italic;">"There won't be any more than 10 people here" </span>he said <span style="font-style: italic;">"honest!"</span> Filthy <span style="font-weight: bold;">liar</span>. I swiftly escaped the event itself and whent to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Fabric</span>. Which is another<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">horrible</span> story alltogether.<br /><br />So at the moment, construction is underway for the start of my sister and Housemate Ben's <span style="font-weight: bold;">film set</span>, which will most likely be constructed and erected all in our front room. I shall post some <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAlRndEtbLrko_nVSAywnhh9tnO99XI5fOnTblYDgTDurDgFngYmUQsJHY2lj_fFYPG_I8oNwZAlv61HKYOJ86kf1RlXPfJtR_vNjPHZEY2pFWV7JyeAxt_veku6BdTGyXf5_U4NTb_fx/s1600-h/set.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAlRndEtbLrko_nVSAywnhh9tnO99XI5fOnTblYDgTDurDgFngYmUQsJHY2lj_fFYPG_I8oNwZAlv61HKYOJ86kf1RlXPfJtR_vNjPHZEY2pFWV7JyeAxt_veku6BdTGyXf5_U4NTb_fx/s320/set.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357597818038459394" border="0" /></a>more photos when it comes along a little.<br /><br />But really, you've got to wonder- <span style="font-weight: bold;">who are these people and why are they in my house?</span><br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-26201441037345175572009-06-27T19:38:00.006+01:002009-06-28T03:54:19.314+01:00On MJ.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFigpfedh2NpytWpPnzgT9SBpvnrTsc1FxESrj9A3QnLmslR2hlILqlvw_z6IeMlo23I-jjGU3WfFNdtO62KCb9GWE_ajtkQJ1boteoJ0U3TleB9Gpl2LcrO4yDahBH5VnNpp_AR120sh/s1600-h/jacko.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFigpfedh2NpytWpPnzgT9SBpvnrTsc1FxESrj9A3QnLmslR2hlILqlvw_z6IeMlo23I-jjGU3WfFNdtO62KCb9GWE_ajtkQJ1boteoJ0U3TleB9Gpl2LcrO4yDahBH5VnNpp_AR120sh/s400/jacko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352079610198660370" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >1958 <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">–</span> 2009</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span>Total<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span>Legend.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-48821240625500889382009-06-15T17:07:00.003+01:002009-06-15T17:49:31.579+01:00On Jeeves and on Wooster.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWWkYbP97vNrx5CFuhX8vUaw7eOQmeRK_IQr1Khv9yJf53cgrVK7DKOhSwq9ewPVBQNd6oLyZf7j5dnuSBBt-wCqWzXjC1zUvxwI16kKaejDJUWiFg8MKDnjgADXiL0Vn_Du0PVzo4RLk/s1600-h/jeeves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWWkYbP97vNrx5CFuhX8vUaw7eOQmeRK_IQr1Khv9yJf53cgrVK7DKOhSwq9ewPVBQNd6oLyZf7j5dnuSBBt-wCqWzXjC1zUvxwI16kKaejDJUWiFg8MKDnjgADXiL0Vn_Du0PVzo4RLk/s320/jeeves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347596561151553218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>s I've worked this week I've been listening to far too much <span style="font-weight: bold;">P.G Wodehouse</span>. Most notably, the Jeeves stories. I find the two characters especially interesting. Here are two people who, in an almost Buddhist way, have found their path; their calling in life.<br /><br />As Jeeves repeatedly exercises his intellect and supreme cunning we are forced to wonder, as does Bertie, why he spends his time pressing the young master's trousers. Similarly, we find ourselves with mixed feelings about Bertie. He is, without a doubt, a<span style="font-style: italic;"> "good egg"</span>, but the lazy, foppish upper class twit he is jarrs with our modern ideals.<br /><br />I find it interesting that the modern capitalist in me frowns upon Jeeves, for possessing such potential- and ignoring it in favour of Bertie's trifling problems. Nowadays we are judged on our position, achievements or wealth- and those who do not choose to climb the ladder, despite obvious skill, rub us the wrong way. As Master Wooster himself remarks; Jeeves should be prime minister by now.<br />In the same vein we (as modern Wodehouse readers) frown on Bertie Wooster for <span style="font-style: italic;">"not doing anything"</span> with his vast wealth. Despite his admirable, yet stupid, character we resent all those who have not earned their money - and especially those not spending it on something <span style="font-style: italic;">appropriate.</span><br /><br />I find both these characters very comforting. Jeeves does not <span style="font-style: italic;">"know his place"</span> in the world- he is not <span style="font-style: italic;">forced</span> to be a valet, he simply<span style="font-weight: bold;"> enjoys</span> it. Despite intellect that could have him heading multinationals, he spends his time serving tea and mending socks. This is because he <span style="font-style: italic;">likes</span> mending socks. He <span style="font-style: italic;">likes</span> tea, and he <span style="font-style: italic;">enjoys</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">serving</span>. Similarly, Bertie<span style="font-style: italic;"> likes</span> lunching at the Drones Club, smoking cigars and having the odd whiskey and soda brought to him after dinner.<br /><br />For various reasons this pair <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> be distasteful to our eyes- but Wodehouse forces us to see them differently. Who are we to complain if Jeeves wants to waste his talents on Bertie, and who are we to complain if Bertie wants to waste his money on Cigars? Who <span style="font-style: italic;">were</span> we to complain that a valet should not get above his station, and who were we to moan that a young master should be a captain of industry, or a regiment.<br />Our modern, or dated ideals of how the world<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">should</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>work are all totally lost on Jeeves and Wooster, and so much the better.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carry on gentlemen!</span><br /><br />~John~<br /><br />Ps: I had a dream last night that the cast of Harry Potter met up again when they were 35- now being divorced, bankrupt and/or addicted to crystal meth. It totally rocked.aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-61663381862819023622009-06-06T21:40:00.004+01:002009-06-06T21:46:18.197+01:00Viva!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyrAuYmRU96Zy3CnP_ARuNaXmBcWRheUjkZ4estJihVI3U-NOw2KiDGBpc1BxNGDx1Xrz1AmuqG-HYf1_bIk4T0-KFILeCkt4ax9vff5oukuId1fNVcugrNtcwzxSGXz0zYxZT_IM6F6u/s1600-h/dunebike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyrAuYmRU96Zy3CnP_ARuNaXmBcWRheUjkZ4estJihVI3U-NOw2KiDGBpc1BxNGDx1Xrz1AmuqG-HYf1_bIk4T0-KFILeCkt4ax9vff5oukuId1fNVcugrNtcwzxSGXz0zYxZT_IM6F6u/s320/dunebike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344318307218526418" border="0" /></a><br />I've been messing with <span style="font-weight: bold;">screen print-esque</span> images lately, for a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> graphic novel pitch </span>I'm (slowly) preparing at the moment. I had all the layers and textures already prepared, so I made fun of poor <a href="http://www.garenewing.co.uk/">Garen Ewing</a> while I was at it. <a href="http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/207698.html">Everyone else is doing it</a>, I blame peer pressure.<br />~John~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfAM4jjTh1dqoFE95HsboE53Pu2-9xK5gv9JHsxhZo8_0Wf4MdmiXqaVWT75LDGKX5FADtfEQsZW82NHTJSf2ZSUPQIP-hX6ax-REepwGposYkFHkd88HEYbo_Fhi39cg-mbOFgT1_15q/s1600-h/garen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfAM4jjTh1dqoFE95HsboE53Pu2-9xK5gv9JHsxhZo8_0Wf4MdmiXqaVWT75LDGKX5FADtfEQsZW82NHTJSf2ZSUPQIP-hX6ax-REepwGposYkFHkd88HEYbo_Fhi39cg-mbOFgT1_15q/s320/garen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344318494244987650" border="0" /></a>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-88758352671179798482009-06-05T17:33:00.006+01:002009-06-05T18:02:26.601+01:00Ink.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqmH3aftpbDkvuoOcMu6qrhkrerSBIpShHWDoI17KDPYo64kalFpBhyphenhyphenwHCl-8jYUXOgmRLlBiZwCNcMHVaEk2RXRQKQhIfNniRIAdG0ebI1cNNMv-E_mPbCovpm87ufdhrUVc0qM4AA3r/s1600-h/worker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqmH3aftpbDkvuoOcMu6qrhkrerSBIpShHWDoI17KDPYo64kalFpBhyphenhyphenwHCl-8jYUXOgmRLlBiZwCNcMHVaEk2RXRQKQhIfNniRIAdG0ebI1cNNMv-E_mPbCovpm87ufdhrUVc0qM4AA3r/s320/worker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343889707372097842" border="0" /></a><br />Now, see, why don't the rest of my comics look like this? Probably because I can't draw for spit when i'm not working from life or a photo? Discuss.<br />Anyway, ink. I recently had what the cool kids call an <span style="font-weight: bold;">"epic facepalm"</span> moment when I realised that I should probably be using my world-weary crowquill <span style="font-size:78%;">(try saying that ten times when you're drunk) </span>like a feather duster rather than a sledgehammer & chisel. Not to say that <span style="font-style: italic;">carving</span> isn't useful when drawing, but somewhere along the way I seem to have skipped the subtlety that should come with ink. While I was inking this I was reminded of old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Punch</span> pen and ink illustrations. I don't know if you can find any collections of these wonderful etchings and drawings but they're well worth hunting for. I found four volumes of the Punch Picture library in an antique bookshop in Cornwall. Cost me a bloody fortune. Worth every penny. Also, while we're on the subject of ink and tone- all you <span style="font-weight: bold;">manga people</span> should do yourselves a favour and look at the etchings of <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=goya+etching&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xEwpSvqsMYTNjAf0yMn_Cg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title"><b>Francisco Goya </b></a>who, using copperpoint etching and <span style="font-weight: bold;">aquatint</span> (one of the most satisfying and deliciously poisonous art methods ever) in my opinion made better use of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"screentone"</span> ( and quite possibly <span style="font-style: italic;">ink</span>) than anyone since.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR28Fjvsp_3ZloJFuuRm2mWm8KX4ryfUVsqWjd7b8-SmtB7GthlrKVftj_GHBaS193zbj4i97gsLpZ6cHzQCgSTNilE8m7wIXBJMjklnfA_kZQtwVMFlUZGmj7TDKSCwSWLlyU4ReR4kv/s1600-h/36disast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR28Fjvsp_3ZloJFuuRm2mWm8KX4ryfUVsqWjd7b8-SmtB7GthlrKVftj_GHBaS193zbj4i97gsLpZ6cHzQCgSTNilE8m7wIXBJMjklnfA_kZQtwVMFlUZGmj7TDKSCwSWLlyU4ReR4kv/s200/36disast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343889855178513810" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Shouldn't have posted that etching up. Now my drawing looks <span style="font-style: italic;">totally</span> crap. How <span style="font-style: italic;">big</span> is that ear! Ugh!</span><br />~John~</div>aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-82620458655147783162009-06-01T21:50:00.002+01:002009-06-01T22:15:25.994+01:00Logos.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBa7-N-mjNOFNWsrWBe0FMRbLWIxuG21b9uvrCQd-SaaKv6xnSl78hjaGOM5BcP_9wOZ7ZOPeW4OogrWO7zbnbt598aHbvTJey8NRPs-1pJmvIN1G6rUZoBQaFWaf7tgnpNR3zqOuHpDL/s1600-h/logos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 78px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBa7-N-mjNOFNWsrWBe0FMRbLWIxuG21b9uvrCQd-SaaKv6xnSl78hjaGOM5BcP_9wOZ7ZOPeW4OogrWO7zbnbt598aHbvTJey8NRPs-1pJmvIN1G6rUZoBQaFWaf7tgnpNR3zqOuHpDL/s320/logos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342467684873698018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Io01Q26XjL2JaWDcJen6f4ewNMpSV7E54rfkYyKdPqCqO7AoiM_c1iO7RPT3H7isPlr8RGlJqJaTi7fNTT34cRZGQ4tx5-7GxskRFK6yNLQ0f2MdpSJ0pGFl8j2VWaoP7jGb09gDSod4/s1600-h/johnblakelogos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 47px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Io01Q26XjL2JaWDcJen6f4ewNMpSV7E54rfkYyKdPqCqO7AoiM_c1iO7RPT3H7isPlr8RGlJqJaTi7fNTT34cRZGQ4tx5-7GxskRFK6yNLQ0f2MdpSJ0pGFl8j2VWaoP7jGb09gDSod4/s320/johnblakelogos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342467054527260930" border="0" /></a><br />I've been designing <span style="font-weight: bold;">logos</span> lately. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">hate</span> designing logos. Like, with a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fiery</span> passion. Logos for other people is even worse.<br />On the left you'll see the fun process I went through to carve out a Logo for the "John Blake" comic. Each one of these revisions had to be run past the publisher and further "tweaks" had to be made.<br />On the right you can see some of the logos <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">i've</span> made for myself over the years. I like big, iconic logos generally. The stronger the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">silhouette</span> the stronger the logo, in my opinion, but that's a pretty uninformed opinion.<br />I wonder what it is that makes a good logo in the end? Obviously memorability, but how do you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">achieve</span> that nowadays when we're bombarded with branding at all times? Also, the idea of riding alongside established branding has always <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">confused</span> me. "Apple white" is probably a good example of this. Slap enough <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">translucency</span> and reflections on your site icons and you can conjure up an image of crisp minimalism which is already established in the viewers mind thanks to other products.<br />It's all very psychological. I'm torn between wishing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">i'd</span> studied graphic design, and being very glad I didn't.aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-44630819735696475372009-05-31T00:41:00.002+01:002009-05-31T00:42:25.546+01:00So close yet so far.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwzZyc_tVaBrxAo8V1dAfrg4nPGz6KJHfZSuZcHku3MnLPvhtk9rkaMfm2AF13c8V6QnqKjxyezSszNZ7NK56KkAnho2IukfxVTXxSa39ye6-dqMn7w5By7RPigVbnL7HaxNYi7a3meiD/s1600-h/Picture+24.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwzZyc_tVaBrxAo8V1dAfrg4nPGz6KJHfZSuZcHku3MnLPvhtk9rkaMfm2AF13c8V6QnqKjxyezSszNZ7NK56KkAnho2IukfxVTXxSa39ye6-dqMn7w5By7RPigVbnL7HaxNYi7a3meiD/s320/Picture+24.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341766478965725538" border="0" /></a><br />Next time, I <span style="font-weight: bold;">will</span> get someone cavity searched.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-55430005160762939742009-05-28T18:09:00.009+01:002009-06-02T17:30:24.112+01:00On Liquid.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsvsAMrPu_FwkDxs3Zqcwc2TldVS2bg8MJTp0Eb5ljC6VRV6PfjJXX_zZ9nx4iCV-NPrEzLeUeC3EZzzV7nUO1_REQFVGeBHZHL2vyuqIcTa6b6tZz3QyMNkgnNRpT1u52PGZ__r_0kcv/s1600-h/mcmadvert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsvsAMrPu_FwkDxs3Zqcwc2TldVS2bg8MJTp0Eb5ljC6VRV6PfjJXX_zZ9nx4iCV-NPrEzLeUeC3EZzzV7nUO1_REQFVGeBHZHL2vyuqIcTa6b6tZz3QyMNkgnNRpT1u52PGZ__r_0kcv/s320/mcmadvert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340925601686951858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRbsP-ykZq2xVWf_WrpFSsaG7q7lc6xc1k0uhasTS9cyc4frfHP1ncqdaVyMrJs22-2RQ3lrIyNnqmeB7ZtuZcwbk3BV3FMg9swx5Gg-4M7V7MgL9RmEc2FAw7Kr4pcs6JS8a_BJwkHFE/s1600-h/liquidfanart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRbsP-ykZq2xVWf_WrpFSsaG7q7lc6xc1k0uhasTS9cyc4frfHP1ncqdaVyMrJs22-2RQ3lrIyNnqmeB7ZtuZcwbk3BV3FMg9swx5Gg-4M7V7MgL9RmEc2FAw7Kr4pcs6JS8a_BJwkHFE/s320/liquidfanart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340926146295386354" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I exhibited at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MCM</span> expo in London, selling my excuse for a comic, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Liquid City</span>. It was only 15 pages long, but I still managed to shift a good 50-something; which was nice. It was also fun to catch up with the myriad of comics and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">manga</span> reprobates that the expo attracts. You all rock. Especially <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emma V</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna</span> and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Pud</span>- who worked their arses of for the glory of the "comics village". The highlight of the weekend for me had to be receiving a piece of on- the-spot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fanart</span> from the amazing <a href="http://www.ciao-gatto.co.uk/">Rachel Saunders</a>. I'm a big fan of her work and her heavy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Masamune</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Shirow</span> influences. Take a good look people, that's how you draw a hand.<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-44692668590758527872009-03-16T20:42:00.011+00:002009-03-16T20:59:27.429+00:00Or you'll go blind.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonxhrNxa0T0PPBGGCVz2s__6440L86kNphUa93uBIbaozODuZkB6KzYwa-SVxKpwPJAzKXxhNZaJdWvcRBniBe1GAO6u7Me6JT-MvhwOjuHPtB152EjJUdS4wxTh1nm-yTiS4IoWpwKnz/s1600-h/guy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonxhrNxa0T0PPBGGCVz2s__6440L86kNphUa93uBIbaozODuZkB6KzYwa-SVxKpwPJAzKXxhNZaJdWvcRBniBe1GAO6u7Me6JT-MvhwOjuHPtB152EjJUdS4wxTh1nm-yTiS4IoWpwKnz/s320/guy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313889931176385314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is the kind of drawing that's like eating a big bar of chocolate or posting to <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">deviantart</span></span>. It's good for making you feel better and...well that's about it really.<br />But you get to wave it around and shout "look! I'm a <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span> artist! Look at my <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">renderi</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ng</span>!</span>"<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How to do this:</span><br /><ul><li>get a photo. (Yay)</li><li>put down a midtone grey</li><li>smudge all over with a rag</li><li>draw photo</li><li>use fingers to "blend" (eww)</li><li>erase with putty rubber.</li><li>do the arty-arty dance.</li></ul>It's artistic masturbation but sometimes you just <span style="font-weight: bold;">gotta</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">XD</span><br /></div>~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2979704232103214218.post-52782101230819237002009-03-12T21:02:00.004+00:002009-03-12T21:24:47.087+00:00Lifedrawing.avi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieviI92T7pyMb5V1F4jgjGqzsNmBbObzouuaVfh7yhP3ztcgBCd5zu6waflahyI3epweviuRKhWU29N2d2qauoWQWKL0bRYPWzBEPWhXOL9mW_dNvtDxeGWUrAh4K2OJJ0Ih1ZqMvOvVNk/s1600-h/boxers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieviI92T7pyMb5V1F4jgjGqzsNmBbObzouuaVfh7yhP3ztcgBCd5zu6waflahyI3epweviuRKhWU29N2d2qauoWQWKL0bRYPWzBEPWhXOL9mW_dNvtDxeGWUrAh4K2OJJ0Ih1ZqMvOvVNk/s320/boxers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312414286422977202" border="0" /></a><br />I spent a long time drawing from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yoga video</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">s </span>and exercise videos as warmup sketches every day. Then for some inexplicable reason I stopped- probably just when it was getting interesting.<br /><br />Lately i've just got back into it again- and have been on the hunt for boxing and wrestling clips online to draw from. One interesting exercise I found while doing these, was to pause the video and do a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> gesture study</span>. Then you advance the video a couple of frames and do a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> constructed drawing</span> ( block and shapes- etc.) on top. You really get a better feeling for the movement and form of the figures. Much better than using them almost as interesting photo-stills.<br /><br />I've found kickboxing and wrestling to be the best motion videos to use- not much clothing getting in the way, and plenty of muscles to get your pencils around. Also, if you search for <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Naked Gymnastics"</span> there's a whole softcore porn fetish for girls stretching and leaping about etc. Which is pretty cool if you can put up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">porno-jazz</span> in the background.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.daedalusblue.com/forums/drawings.jpg">here</a> to see a small collection of my Yoga drawings from a couple of years ago. Yeek, old drawings are painful to look at!<br />~John~aqwshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11486623648905691899noreply@blogger.com2