Speed Sketches on a Train

On my last train journey to glorious Suffolk I unwisely decided to do some speed sketching. I tried to draw some interesting things I saw from the window. I frantically sketched easy to draw items as they sped past. There's some of Peterbough, Ipswich, March, Ely and Whittlesea.

This sort of thing is only recommended from hyperactive geeks.

Thought Bubble, not this year!

Over the last couple of years, I've attended Thought Bubble in Leeds. I've shared a table with Paul and Britt in the Geordie Ghetto with the other Paperjammers. Generally I've had a great time. It's a great event that's well organised and I've met loads of amazing folks there.

But this year I'm not be an exhibitor.

My main bugbear is the Sunday session. Frankly, last year's Sunday was poor both in terms of trade and footfall. I had great sales on Saturday but next to nothing on Sunday. Also, two days sitting behind a table was too much. After an hour on Sunday I knew it would be a drag with much fewer people and a strangely flat atmosphere.

I've got no axe to grind with the event or anyone there, I'll be there but as a punter this year and I'll probably have a great time.

Newcastle Mini Comics event Roundup

Here's the full right up of the Newcastle Mini Comics event on our Newcastle 24 Hour blog.

It was a brilliant day and I had loads of fun. Paul and Ingi's presentations were both great, loads of people turned up, some great comics were made, everyone had a fantastic time. Then the beer and bait was ace afterwards. Thanks to everyone who helped. I'm exhausted.

What next? Loads of the folks asked about future events. What this space.

Sexy Lollipop Lady

I've never seen a Lollipop Lady like this, but I keep looking.

I did this sketch using my Wacom tablet and GIMP. It was an attempt to draw a semi-realistic pin-up babe. I'm very pleased with her, she feels sexy in her skimpy outfit but retains a comic feel. I'm pleased with the way the cartoon underwear looks especially with the patterns on her smalls. The lace top was very easy to do on GIMP.

I might try some more ladies in different poses and outfits soon.

Happy Easter





My friendly Robot Egg Crowd and I wish everyone a happy Easter.

Prints and cards of this cartoon are available on my Deviant Art page.

Newcastle Mini Comics 2012

Here's the poster for our Mini Comics Making Event at Newcastle Library this year.

Ingi Jensson drew the poster, I just added the text.

Everyone's welcome to come along and have a go at making a mini comic. Or listen to Ingi and Paul's Comic Wisdom presentations.

Interchange-V

I've been working on a new webcomic project with Paul T and Matt B called Interchange-V. It's at an early stage and we're still working on scripts and technology, but at least we've got a plan.

We've got a website. There's nothing on it just yet, but soon a little picture of a robot may appear.

http://www.interchange-v.com/

Watch this space, it will be good, but just wait for a bit.

Newcastle Mini Comics 2012

It will soon be time again to make some Mini Comics in Newcastle.

We've got Newcastle Central Library booked for an afternoon of mini comic making fun.

Schedule for the day is

11.45 - 1.00    Comics Wisdom: Some comics presentations by Paul Thompson, Ingi Jensson.
1.00 - 5.00      Mini Comic making
The evening     Food and drink in Newcastle, venue to be confirmed but probably Weatherspoons in the Haymarket.

Event is free come along at any time. No experience required.

We've got a Facebook page if you want to have a look.

2012 Comic Plans

After the Christmas and New Year lull I have finally got my comics mojo back (about time too as it is February). Over the last few days I've started drawing again in earnest and workin with some collaborators for upcoming projects. Here's a breakdown of what should happen for me this year.

Trainee Space Chef 2
Currently working on a fantastic new Trainee Space Chef script from Quinston. It'll be at least 16 pages of Space Crime Fighting hi-jinks. It'll be full colour and promoted mainly as a webcomic.

Project Robot
An eight page Robot project using an existing character. This is a great script written by Paul Thompson and will be fun to do. To be published in a small press anthology, currently waiting for feedback from the editor before putting pen to paper.

Secret Robot Project
A series of short stories using existing characters with a collaborator. Part of a big and bold plan which could be amazing. Can't say too much yet, very hush-hush.

Mini Comics Making Workshop
Arranging a Mini-Comics workshop in Newcastle Central Library on 21st April. Will also include some comics presentations from local comics gurus. Should be a fun event like the one last year.

Secret Webcomic Project
With collaborators Paul Thompson and Matt Bovington we're working on an anthology webcomic. It's just out of the chatting-about-it-in-the-pub stage but should appear soon as we are all keen.

Ar**Canc**
Waiting for some scripts from Gordon but will continue this year. Delaying a little until we can get the blog sorted out and made more user friendly.

Taxonauts 2
Matt and I still have plans to do another Taxonauts, may wait til later in the year as we've not started talking about the script yet. Also, I need to find some more outlets and distribution channels to sell it through.

Canny Comics Con
Let's just see

It doesn't look much but I've bound to have forgotten something.

Beetle Drive Robot Doodles

I was at a beetle drive recently at a local church hall. As I was very bad at playing the game of beetle I drew a few robots in the panels of the beetle card. I'm very pleased with the finished result which was done with a biro and a couple of coloured pencils.

For those of you who don't beetle was a game played at social gatherings in the distant past. It's good fun and based on drawing parts of a beetle based on the roll of a dice. It's surprisingly good fun and is great way to get talking to people.

A***C***** Review in Comics Heroes

It was amazing to read a review of *rse*ancer in Comics Heroes Magazine. It's always great to read a good review about something you've done but this was is a proper magazine on sale in WH Smith so it made it sort of official.

Anyway the review described AC as "...incredibly funny, jaw-droppingly honest and, frankly, inspiring, utterly refusing to wallow in self pity." Which was pretty much what we were aiming at. They gave us four stars and like my "expressive artwork".

What made this even better was that neither Gordon or I had chased Comic Heroes for a review and it came totally out of the blue for both of us.

I'm chuffed.

Sketching in the Laing Gallery

I met up with Mike D in the Laing Gallery in Newcastle for some sketching and some coffee. We had a good chat about various things and looked round the excellent Mervyn Peake exhibition.

My sketch is posted above, I think Mike's are for his Coffee Shop project.

See more of Mike's stuff here.

Canny Comic Con Roundup

The Canny Comic Con is now over and I'm exhausted. It was an amazing couple of days of comic related brilliance. Starting at the drink and draw session in the Tyneside Cinema and ending with the raffle on Saturday it was a non-stop comic wonderland. It was great to see some real comics heroes alongside the local small press comic crew. It was good for a middle-aged judge to turn up and keep order.

There are far too many people to name check each but a round of applause must got to Alex whose energy and enthusiasm were boundless. All of the events, workshops and panels were great and the who event ran like clockwork thanks to the library staff and the efforts of Stacey, Paul, Britt and Iain.

My Mini-Comic workshop went well with the help of Mrs Cuttlefish, Cuttlefish Jnr and Matt B. There were a wide range of attendees and it was great to chat to people about making comics.

I caught a couple of workshops which were both great and then I won loads of Viz goodies in the raffle. Also had some good sales thanks to the Paperjam Comics stall. Particular thanks should go to Nat and Eve for helping to carry what seemed like half a ton of comic stuff back to my car.

It was great to see lots of old comics pals and some new ones particularly from GLoW (the Glasgow League of Writers). I finally met up with Gordon, my collaborator on A*r*c*n*e*. Although I didn't spend as much time speaking to him as I'd planned.

The drinks in the Five Swans afterwards was also great. I can't really remember what I was talking about but I hope I didn't embaress myself too much.

Next year? Lets see.

Comic Workshops at Canny Comic Con

I'm going to be running a couple of workshops at the Canny Comic Con. Here's a few pics of my minicom called Making Foldie Mini Comics.

The workshop will run between 11.30 -1.00. We want as many people of all ages and abilities to get involved and have a go. The time has changed a couple of times but this is now confirmed.

In addition to our workshops there will be stalls, discussions, other workshops and loads of other great comicy stuff. To find out more click the link on the right.

The workshop will be held in Room 4 on floor 3 of the library, just upstairs from the main hall. It is near to the Graphic Novels section which is great. Come along and say hello.

As the photo says Comics are for Everyone.

Canny Comic Con Posters

The posters for the Canny Comic Con have been finished and are ready for the wider public to be amazed at.

The art was done by yours truely, the text and layout was the wonderful work of my Paul (Hollow Earth) Thompson.

The posters explain everything you need to know about the con, but more details of workshops and activities will follow soon.

Thought Bubble 2011 Roundup

Well Thought Bubble comics convention is now over and I'm exhausted. I had an excellent weekend with the Paperjam Comics Collective folk squashed in the Geordie Ghetto corner of the hall.

 

I shared a table with Paul (Hollow Earth) Thompson and Britt (Cutting Paper) Coxon. We all made some sales, with Saturday being the good day and Sunday being slower and quieter.

 

I met loads of great folk whilst there and will try to list them all below, if I miss anyone I apologise.

 

Graham Pearce (Sgt Mike Battle) - Excellent bloke and excellent comic
Metaphrog (Night Salad) - I loved their Louis comics, beautiful artwork and touching story. Picked up Red Letter Day. Lovely people.
Gary and Chris (Villainous) - Great chaps from Glasgow. Looking forward to reading issue 2.
Suzy Varty - North East comics legend. Great chat with her about Canny Comics Con.
Luke Halshall (Geek Syndicate) - Fantastic fellow I could have chatted with him all day.
Ed Murphy (Rough Cut Comics) - Great bloke, should be coming down to Canny Con. Forgot to buy any of his comics.
Philipa Rice (My Cardboard Life) - The family and I love her stuff. Picked up some real goodies from her stall.

 

My crowning moment was getting my copy of Cursed Earth signed by Mick McMahon. He then did me a sketch of old school Dredd in profile with massive chin. Excellent and awesome don't even begin to describe it.

 

Here's my Awards for the Paperjammers who were there:

 

• Best Negotiator - Paul Thompson for the 'Starkings Gambit' technique. Honourable mention for Sophie and her Genki bargaining.
• Best Sale - Paul Thompson and his print, he could of sold it three times over.
• Most Difficult Request - Jack Fallows requested to draw a Tortilla (Half Tortoise & Half Gorilla)
• Best Curmudgeon - I've decided not to say who won this. But one Paperjammer was complaining about the overly strict approach taken by the Rollerskating Chicks in Gold Hotpants who were policing the event.
• Best Photo Opportunity Spotted - Britt Coxon, the roller boot moment was great.
• Best Photo - Me. But some of the roller photos are too racy even for the internet.
• Best Table Cloth - Daniel Clifford you can't fail with polka dots.
• Most Considerate Significant Other - Lily Daniels, Daniel wouldn't have survived without her.
• Best Resurrection - Gary Bainbridge, we thought he was a goner for after the Wiessbier.
• Best Dancing - Gary Bainbridge, see above.
• Best Sweets - Lydia, Lobster Tails were strange but exciting.
• Best Artist not in Nelson - Terry Wiley, where's the justice?
• Saddest Sight on Sunday Morning - Ian Mayor, Tales from the Hollow Earth 3 didn't deserve that.

And for anyone who didn't win an award just remember that it's not the winning but the taking part that counts.

I'll have to go through it all again in a few weeks at Canny. Excellent!

Canny Comic Con Thaumatrope

Team Cuttlefish built an amazing thaumatrope to promote the Canny Comic Con across the comic-speaking world. It is a technological marvel and will promote an awesome comic event.

Taxonauts Cover

Taxonauts Comic is printed and on sale now. Or to give it its full title Taxonauts, Teabreak in Hyperspace. The long hard slog of scripting, drawing, lettering and printing has now been completed. The finished product is great and a cool addition to every comic collection. As you can see the cover looks ace and the inside is pretty good too.

Written by Matt Bovingdon and drawn by me, Taxonauts is an all-ages comic in the style of British understated sci-fi. It's a relaxed stroll through the Deep Space Tax Office with our wages slaves of the future; Gladstone and Speigel. It's got aliens, spaceships and meetings. Printed 24 A5 pages B&W with a full colour cover.

Taxonauts is now onsale at the Travelling Man shop in Newcastle and the record shop that Matt works in by the station but I don't know its name. It will also be onsale at this year's Thought Bubble Comic Con in Leeds and the Canny Comic Con in Newcastle. If you are there come along and say hello, I won't try and make you buy anything as I'm a very poor salesman. It may be available elsewhere soon.

"This is lovely"  ...... Lydia, Paperjam Comics Collective

Kitchen UFO

This is a little wam-up cartoon I did on my Wacom Bamboo tablet and using GIMP. It's a doodle of me making first contact with an alien civilisation. Although the incident depicted did not actual happen, many exciting things have happened to me during breakfast. One day I may sketch the Zombie-Toaster incident.

The tablet is great for doing these quick cartoons, the ink pen with the diamond nib at 100% opacity is very satisfying and does give a nice finish.

I've recently been busy doing a couple of logos for the Canny Comic Con. These are being lettered by the marvellous Paul Thompson. When they're finshed I'll post them here. I am really fond of the robot but less so of the monster.

Picture of Me

A cartoon of me in space.

This is a sketch I did for the Canny Comic Con blog (see link at the side of the page). It is to promote me as a guest and a seller of comics. CCC is a comics convention we are organising for December 10th this year. It's to promote comics in general and North East comics in particular. It's a free event and the main aim is for it to be fun and be accessable for the non-comic reading public.

The sketch itself is fairly accurate (apart from the Spacesuit and the space location) but I am bald and I sometimes wear a tie. But if I wanted everyone to know who I am I wouldn't call myself Cuttlefish.