Thought Bubble - sketches begin!

As I've been doing for Hi-Ex! for the last two years I'll also be doing prepared sketches and art for the Thought Bubble convention this November. I've recently taken it upon myself to try and remember how to paint traditionally with paint brushes and paints and leave behind my stylus pen and computer so apart from the usual pencil sketches I'll also be bringing along some painted versions of new and previous sketches.

To begin I've got a pencil version and painted version of my contribution to the Down The Tubes 40th Anniversary of the Moon landing which I also posted over at Scotch Corner. And another painting previously seen there of an old sketch of Dalek Sec.

Tweet

Thought Bubble - 21st November 2009

I'm happy to announce that I'll be attending the one day comic convention, Thought Bubble, on the 21st of November in Leeds. The convention is (I believe) in its third year and is part of the Leeds Sequential Art Festival running from the 20-22nd and that itself is part of the Leeds International Film Festival, so I'm sure that that will cover something for everyone one way or another.

I've heard lots of good remarks and comments about the last two conventions with everybody speaking highly of the organisation involved, the guests and the friendly atmosphere which I think is key to a successful event. So having shunned comic conventions other than the excellent Hi-Ex! for the last three years its time to dip my toe back out there again.

As with the Inverness show I'll be producing some sketches and this time paintings in advance of the show. Also I'll be bringing along some prints and a folder full of original art. Anybody purchasing a sketch, painting or piece of art will be entitled to a free copy of 'One Last Time' (while stocks last) my short story compilation from the 1990s. I'll also be bringing some copies of The Dangerous Book of Heroes along with me so if you haven't bought this mighty tome yet you can always grab it from me at the show (well, grab and pay for it).

I''l start posting up the new sketches for this show soon but for those who can't make it and do come along to Hi-Ex! have no fear I'll still be working on those too!

Tweet

Journey into Space (again!)

Once again its time to post up the finished image from the recent Radio Times commission. I have already posted the image on the new art blog Scotch Corner but I'm not against re-showing an image or cross blogging the same item, it is my work after all.

Nothing much more to tell about this illustration than I've already mentioned. I must point out though that it was a lot fun to do and I've been extremely lucky in the last year that the Radio Times has given me an excellent range of work, never a dull brief from those guys and girls! I'll post up the approval sketches too and you'll see how it changed from a fairly generic space man pose into more episode specific illustration.

Tweet

Timeframes

Last Sunday I spent the day in Dundee at the third annual comics conference, Timeframes. I had been to the venue, Dundee University, before to see the Beano's 70th Birthday Exhibition but this was my first attendance at the conference.

To be very honest I was convinced to go along based purely on the opening of a new exhibition based on the art of Starblazer, a popular science fiction digest comic from the 1980s. However, I did enjoy a large portion of the talks that took part in the lecture hall including an excitable Emma Vieceli, fellow Scotch Corner contributor Gary Erskine's talk on his work on the latest Dan Dare series and the always amusing Alan Grant.

Also of note was a great talk by Bill McLoughin, editor of Starblazer and Keith Robson, artist on the title. The schedule of the day meant that each guest only had around 20 minutes to talk and I almost boo'd annoyingly when they had to finish their talk. It could easily have been an excellent hour long talk as they both seemed to have some great stories to tell.

Jeremy Briggs has posted a review of the event on the Down The Tubes website and sums up the day very well. While I was there I had taken along my moleskin sketch book and did little ten minute drawings of some of the guests, all very quick and scrappy but fun to do. So a special prize (a congratulations head pat) to anybody who can correctly name any of the scribbled guests. And apologies to those who I jotted down, you look a lot lovelier in real life.

Tweet