Table Manners

This is one of many spot illustrations I did for the Horrible History magazine published by Eaglemoss. I haven't seen it for ages and just came across it whilst browsing through some folders. The title says it all really.

I can hear tiny footsteps in my head

Back again, after a small flurry of activity and a hugely painful, close to incapacitating back pain, which is now on the wane. Hoorah! And...Phew! Didn't fancy having to go and get it "looked" at. Here's another Hi-Fi Choice illustration, I'm guessing it was something to do with sound and emotion but I can't recall exactly what the column was about. All I remember is being asked to have Numskull type characters in it. I don't know if they're still in The Beano but they used to be in it when I were a wee lad.

Update

I haven't been able to post anything for a day or two due to a work deadline which is now over, I've also got to finish some work on another project which means I'm going to busy over the next few days too. This means that it'll probably be a short while until I post again, unless I get a few minutes in which to goof around, of course.

Sons of the Dessert Wine

This is another illustration done for Hi-Fi Choice magazine, I tried to make the two guys on the right look a little like Laurel and Hardy out of consideration for the Masonic theme. I think this one was about a wine tasting society that would enjoy fine music with their fine drink. The column I was illustrating in the mag tended to take some real audiophile story or fact and then expand upon it. Not all of the Hi-Fi work was fun to do, having to draw highly uninteresting home stereo kit in most (if not all) of them was usually the worst part. Every now and then I'd have some fun with the rest of the content, this was one of them. Not sure about the smiling bloke on the floor though, he doesn't look quite right, perspective's a bit collywompus. At least it looks like he's having some fun.

Why this blog is called What Are You Doing Here?

Primarily it's a bit of an in-joke amongst friends, it's a phrase that we associate with this guy we used to know (a good few years ago) who would often use it when bumping into you somewhere out and about. It always sounded like he was surprised you were there or as if he was suggesting you oughtn't to be wherever you were, you know...like a pub, a gig, a shop or other such exclusive venues. He would also say it in his Donald Duck on helium voice (which wasn't an affectation, it's how he actually sounds) and it would often be accompanied with a squelchy tap on your shoulder. I shudder even now just thinking about it. Many of us came to dread the shoulder tap. He had an uncanny ability to turn up when you'd least expect it, like the baddest penny there ever was. Nowhere was truly safe. You could try and hide in a cupboard but he'd probably already be in there, waiting...tap, tap!

The same question is also used over and over again in many TV shows, listen out for it, if you've never noticed it you probably will now that it's been pointed out. It's just one of those things that people don't often say in reality (apart from the aforementioned accquaintance) but is ubiquitous on the telly - much like "Let me get this straight..."

Update: Looking back at it this may come across as being a bit mean about the person in question, but I'm not going to change it as it does sum up how things seemed at the time.

Christmas Card

I haven't posted in a very long time but I've decided to see if I can give this blogging lark another go. This is a card I did recently for the company where my girlfriend works. Her boss wanted something to send out to their clients which was also specific to the company. They make facial hair for films and TV, the basic idea was suggested to me and this is what I came up with. This was the first bit of artwork I've produced in quite a while that I could say was in my own style (whatever that may mean). In other words it was an absolute pleasure not to draw in the style of the Horrible History/Science books. I ought to try and do it more often.