Haddon Hall statue

The beautiful marble statues you find in stately houses here with all their crazy drapery are irresistable for sketching. This one is in the chapel of Haddon Hall on the tomb of Robert Charles John Manners, Lord Haddon, died Sept 28 1804. He looks like he was a child.

Digital painting from a pen sketch I did while standing in the chapel being pooped on by bats in the eaves.

Either/Or and Refugee Week

Hey all,

this past week was Refugee Week, which saw a lot of fantastic events around the UK getting people connected and motivated, and fostering education and understanding and all that good stuff ^_^

On Friday I went down to Loughborough University for a seminar on Women and Migration, which had a nice mix of policy and art-related groups present.

I thought it might be appropriate to post one of the stories from Little Thoughts (my mini-comic) - and if you're in London btw there are a few copies at Gosh at the moment! (Go! Buy! ^_^)

Refugee Action is a great group, so check out their website to learn more, keep up to date, and get ideas on what you can do to help. Their Refugee Awareness Project booklets ("Make Your Neighbourhood Nicer: How to Welcome Refugees and Asylum Seekers in 11 Easy Steps" and "Mobiles, Money and Mayhem: The Facts and Fibs About Asylum") are also gorgeous pieces of design as physical booklets, and are downloadable on their site.

http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/

Extra note: in the latest Geek Syndicate podcast (85) (www.geeksyndicate.co.uk/) there's a very very lovely little review of Little Thoughts, which totally made my day. Thanks David! ^_^

Oh yeah, final note - trying "normal" sized text (above) - even though I think the "small" (here) makes the blog much nicer looking as a whole, wondering if people are less inclined to read small text. Thoughts?

Reminder to VOTE FOR GEEK-GIRL!

Don't forget to add in your vote for Geek-Girl at Small Press Idol! I've ended up shifting from colourist to doing art for the zero issue of this project, and enjoying trying something different for me! Here's a pinup for the series, plus, check out this comparison from art to lettering! I've never had something I've done lettered by someone else, and I'm amazed how he's managed to do it without covering up the art or looking awkward - I finally understand the job of a letterer! ^_^ Lettered by Jaymes Reed. 

To check out the fully-finished, lettered pages, click on the link below--then click 'post reply' at the site and type a big 'YES' to vote for Geek-Girl, so I get to draw a cover (need votes to keep a cover slot for Mysterious Visions Anthology)! 

http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/ForumsPro/viewtopic/t=4296/start=260.html 

Bristol Roundup

Okay yes, this is supercrazy late. In all fairness though, I came back to MA evaluations and a photography exhibition (looked awsome, and we had 800 people through over the long weekend, so that's all good!)

Anyway! Obviously, I met loads of fabulous talented people at Bristol, so I definitely needed to post some links. Go look at at least some of them, otherwise you'll be missing out!

Firstly, I somehow ended up in the most awesome corner of the whole hall. Yes I did.

For starters, I had Caroline Parkinson as my tablemate, who brought her some gorgeous new work. Check out her recently redesigned site!

Then on the one side, we had as neighbours the amazing trio of Jamie McKelvie, Marc Ellerby and John Cei Douglas! (I missed picking up a copy of John's gorgeous minicomic Buffalo Roots, but he was kind enough to send one to me! It's beautifully done)

What's more, on the other side, I had Thomas Plaskitt, whose work is some of the most thoughtful and inventive I have ever seen, ever. It will be to your detriment if you don't check out his work. I came home with a copy of his minicomic Dreams, which is packed with surprises and oddities - it's seriously a wonderland.

Moving on from this fabulous little corner of the world I ended up in, I had as my roommate the lovely Blossom, and got to see some of her new work - exciting stuff!

A couple of minicomics I picked up that I really enjoy:

If you want breakfast in bed eat in the kitchen, by Cliodhna Lyons

Hazy Thursday by Oliver Smith

Also lovely to see some Emma and Sonia from Sweatdrop, to (briefly) meet the very talented Kate Brown, (also briefly) meet the Geek Syndicate guys,  and to see the very cool John Aggs and meet illustrator David Andrews. 

Had a lovely chat with Yosh from Yokaj Studio. Also, couldn't help doodling on one of their doll templates for their onsite Yokaj Doll contest, which won and has been turned into an adorable icon on their bbs. Go look, it's cute ^_^

Oh! And finally, for something that is not comics (gasp!), go check out The Polaroid Press, Matthew Sheret's art and writing project featuring weekly updates of polaroid art and flash fiction. Gorgeous site design and earthyy, atmospheric writing.

Whew!

Little Thoughts - MiniComic preview!

Okay, here we go! This is the minicomic I'll be bringing to Bristol with me. It's 24 pages, and features four short stories - Tango, Joined, Either/Or and Distance. Here's a sneak peak at the cover, and the first two pages of Tango.

Bristol poster

Okay people, Bristol con is next weekend! If you're there, come and say hi - I'll be very findable because this monstrosity will be attached to my table somewhere in poster size! Worth checking out the full size version to hunt for monsters, birds, ghosts and guitars!

PS - Don't forget to vote for Geek-Girl in Small Press Idol - voting is still open this weekend! Scroll down to previous two posts for voting links and instructions!

Geek-Girl illo

Don't forget to give Geek-Girl your votes! 

http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/ForumsPro/viewtopic/t=4163.html

Voting stays open until May 4th for Round 2, and remember that you can vote every day!