Christmas Sketchy's

I have once again attended a Dr Sketchy's event in Newcastle and once again it was magnificent. 

 It's quite refreshing to attend a life drawing class where everybody doesn't look embarrassed to be there. I can honestly say it was an entertaining and fun afternoon, we drew, we watched, we sang, we clapped and we cheered. Good.

The Dr Sketchy performers always impress me with both their wonderful performances and their willingness to sit still for such long amounts of time. I have attempted to sit still quite often and have always failed.

The variety of talent is a treat for the senses. If you're not a drawer I would still recommend this as a good afternoon of entertainment, though do give drawing a go, you'd be surprised what you can do.

Looking forward to the next Sketchy's, see you in the new year folks.

Canny Comic Con Report

The Canny Comic Con happened on the 10th of December 2011.
I would like to think it set a challenge for the larger cons to give you more awesome for your money (we did it for free).

First of all a huge thanks to Alexi Conman for taking the reins and making the CCC come into being. Good work sir. We're all proud of you. Also thanks to the wonderful Newcastle City Library who gave us shelter and tables to sell our wares from.

Now. There were so many awesome people involved both in front of and behind the scenes that I fear I would never mention them all, so instead I bring you the rest of the day in the form of pictures.

Sticker Map

The map for the sticker hunt at Canny Comic Con. That happens to be tomorrow.

On the map:
Nigel Auchterlounie
Art Heroes
Gary Bainbridge
Ben Clark
Cuttlefish
Jack Fallows

Ingi Jensson

Paul Thompson

Readers of the Lost Art

Travelling Man

And there will be many more at the con. 

Canny Comic Con

This Saturday is the Canny Comic Con. I will be there drawing pictures, selling paper goodies and running a little sticker hunt. Fun for all ages. I will share the sticker map with you all very soon but for now here's some more info on the CCC. 

http://cannycomiccon.blogspot.com/

The Canny Comic Con is a little festival of comics and sequential art. It will be held at Newcastle City Library all day on Saturday 10th December 2011.

Comics, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, manga, sequential art - however you want to refer to it, the CCC wants to celebrate everything about telling stories in pictures. Whilst it won't be on the same scale as some of the bigger UK comic conventions, we're going to have a full range of activities, including: talks and panel discussions, workshops, and a hall of stalls where you can meet some of the finest comic-creating talent from the region and beyond.

Whatever your age or experience, whether you read comics, make comics, or are just interested to know a little more, we hope to have something to interest you.

Entry to the CCC will be FREE. That's right, no charge. You don't need to book tickets, you don't need to pay us anything. Come along and support the biggest comic event to be held in the North East for over fifteen years.

Made in Newcastle Christmas Market

This weekend is the Made in Newcastle Christmas Market.

I'm really looking forward to this one,  it's going to be like a reunion. 

The market is happening a the Royal Station Hotel, which is just beside Newcastle Central Station. 

Proceeds from the £1 entry fee will go towards future Made In Newcastle projects, workshops, exhibitions and events.

RSVP our event on Facebook and help spread the word: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142991705793393

I will have my usual selection of paper based goodies, my Christmas card designs will be going at a special rate during this event, exciting stuff.

I really hope to see you there. 

High Bridge Christmas Arts Bazaar

For a bit of a warm up before Made in Newcastle's very own Christmas Market a few of us (including myself) will be appearing at the Highbridge Art Bazaar this Saturday. It should be a great day, there are many talented folk involved. 

The Facebook Event for your RSVPing and calendar needs: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176306775790337

Where to find me in December:

Made in Newcastle Christmas Market on Sunday the 4th December.

The Canny Comic Con on Saturday the 10th December.

After that who knows.

Hope to catch you all at one event or another, or all. All would be awesome. 

Thought Bubble

This time next week I will be at Thought Bubble. In preparation I have been busy putting together cards and the like.

These lovely designs will be appearing on my speech bubble cards, which I hope you will all like. I am also putting together a couple sets of blank speech bubbles so that you can make your own live photo comic. These sets will come with a link to a flickr group where you can share your comic and see others. It should be good fun. As long as I get them finished.

I will have copies of my 24 hour comic done in 2010, Not Mushroom for Thought  and a little collection of mini comics. Unfortunately my current comic project is still at the script stage and will not be ready for this years con. I do aim to have it done by Hi-Ex, this will be my first Hi-Ex, good thing I'll have Paul to show me the ropes.

On that note my table buddies for Thought Bubble are Paul Thompson and Cuttlefish. Many of the other Paper Jam Comics Collective regulars will be present. If last year is anything to go by you will probably find most of the Newcastle comics scene on the one row, throwing paper planes and challenging passing artists to 24 minute comics.

It should be good fun. Hope to see you there.

Autumn

Autumn is here, there are golden hues all around on the trees. I love the wonderful sound that leaves make under my feet.

This time of year has always been about change for me. Autumn in previous years has seen me leave a job, join the Paper Jam Comics Collective, start a new job, go on a completely spontaneous holiday and make a comic in 24 hours, take the jump into self employment and fall in love.

What's in store for this Autumn?
I can't wait to find out.

I already know I will be doing my first Designers Marketplace on the 29th of October and going to Prague with Paul. I will finish and print my second comic, list many more paper based goodies on etsy and have a right good laugh on Halloween.

What do you like about Autumn? What changes are coming your way?

Little Ambulance Bot

The Ambulance Bot was one of the six robots I drew recently. I've cleaned up some of the lines and coloured it. I may take another pass at this to add a bit more depth. Might go well on a t-shirt, so I intends to submit to Threadless in the near future. 

Robots

I plan to colour some of these little guys for prints. They were really fun to make. 

Dr Sketchy's

       

A couple of weeks ago Paul, Mark and I went to Dr. Sketchy's. It was the second of these events in Newcastle and was an absolutely great day. Can't wait for the next one. 

Making a Mess...

I may be paraphrasing but to make anything you must first make a mess.

Sometimes it's hard even to do that. Other times a design just falls into place. Making cards is a whole barrel of fun and testing out new ideas can be really rewarding.

I love that I can mix collage, illustration and recycling all together into one thing like this.

Especially when the results are so pleasing to others too.

I didn't learn this from formal education, that's for sure. What I did learn was that it's important to believe in what you're doing. It's very difficult to do good work if you don't believe in it or yourself. I know there are people graduating out there at the moment. I must say well done to you all. Don't stop believing in what you want to do.

This one is for you...

I will be at Made in Newcastle @ Grainger Market Enterprise Event

Missing MiN? Then fear not.

Time

I will be exhibiting some of my work La Boca art Cafe as part of the BeetleBugs Illustration Exhibition and Family Tea Party. Thanks to Mai for the opportunity to do so.

The event is this Sunday, from 12pm - 4pm.  Facebook Event Page
Afternoon tea, burlesque bugs and my illustration & photography. Lovely. This will be the second outing of the above piece plus some never before printed photography and hopefully a nice new piece I am working on right now.

I will post some previews after the exhibition hanging on Friday.

Goodbye 79 Grainger Street

Way back in December of 2010 we looked around an empty shell of a shop on Grainger Street, trying to find a new home for Made in Newcastle. We had peered into its windows many times, having fallen in love with the staircase and the large space at the back, not to mention great location.

Potential sparked and crackled off the walls. The weather was cold but a warm glow came from within 79 Grainger Street as we got to work transforming it into our new home.

It was a miraculous transformation, in as little as 10 days we brought the shop into being. We tamed the horror of the fridge on the first floor, found new ways to make floors and ended up with a cosy spot to hide and make during the long Winter months.

It's been a whirlwind ride. There's always been something going on at 79 Grainger Street, a regular hive of activity for all involved. Spring brought a nice fresh look to the shop, it was so nice to see that we picked a spot that the sun would sit on for most of the day.

During Spring we got many visitors to the shop, some new friends, some old. Some fury, some frilly.

It's hard to believe we were in there a whole six months. It went by so quickly. It felt even faster than when we were in 22 Nun Street for those short three months. Time is a funny thing. We've come a long way, we've all grown a bit in our own way.

Goodbye 79 Grainger Street. I will miss you, you crazy, messed up, brilliant shop. We will all miss you. Thanks.