COLOURS OR CHORDS?

The Amazing World o' Stuff #2 - Gig poster

2012-02-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

Update: I'll be playing with Elle S'appelle at the aforementioned Used Vinyl Club with The Loose Moose String Band in March - only went and did the poster for that too, didn't I?

The Amazing World o' Stuff

2012-02-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Over the last year I've helped out with keyboard duties for my friend Andy in his band Elle S'appelle - he's been recording a belter of an album by himself and I've stepped in here and there to either record a bit or play live when needed. Next month he'll be doing a limited release of the album at his new band night, so I whipped up some artwork for it:

My keyboard playing is up for debate but the night is going to be undeniably boss, and the album is totally killer. Here's a link to the night and also to a video of us playing at the Pixies 10 Bands night...

Brian Blog #3: We have been Blessed with a child...

2012-02-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

Work is continuing with this latest Brian Blessed app, and I managed to pull a few string and get this amazing nugget as a present for my friend Alex to celebrate him becoming a father - it really couldn't have gone any better, and Brian really pulled out all the stops.

I thought I was a fan before, but now I fully love him - the man doesn't appear to have an off switch.

10 Bands 10 Minutes - A Neil Young tribute

2012-01-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

It's that time again - this Saturday we're hosting another 10 Bands night, and the theme is Neil Young. Aside from a change of venue (this time at The Kazimier) it's business as usual: 10 bands/artists each doing a 10 minute set, and each featuring at least one song by everyone's favourite brute with the fragile voice. It's a great line-up and there'll be a few fun collaborations happening this time, so make sure you get there in time to catch everybody.

As usual, I've put together a poster to mark the event. I wasn't sure what artwork to base it on this time, but I settled on an interpretation of the classic Harvest typography - can't help thinking it would have been easier to base it on this effort though...

(Incidentally, I found this belter of an illustration by John Allison the other day and became instantly frustrated that I didn't do something more along these lines. Balls.)

Percy Gulliver's Printshop and Social

2011-12-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Great news - fellow gig posterer Gary McGarvey (you may know him as Horse) has set up shop temporarily on Bold Street, and will be supplying Liverpool with alternative gift options in the run up to Christmas. As well as selling a number of my posters/prints/comics, there's also a boss selection of screen prints, t-shirts and other work from loads of brill local artists.

Check out this video and link, and make sure you pop in - its open late and will be host to numerous dj's and bands throughout December.

I've also dug up some old work that I did with a friend, and am pleased to say that Fantasy Fantasy will be on sale here, available to purchase for the first time in a long time.

Here's a saucy reminder:

Blessed Blog #2: The Man with Two Brians

2011-12-12T06:21:00.001-08:00

A few months ago I got an email asking if I'd like to work on this iPhone app - it was mostly finished but needed an animated Brian Blessed riding a rocket to really set it off, and they'd seen my previous post and thought I might be able to help. It's demented and great, so if the idea of a bellowing national treasure waking you up is something that appeals to you... well you should totally buy it.

I'm in talks to develop another app with them, so watch this space if you've got a soft spot for Big Bri.

Lollaparooney

2011-11-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

This weekend, my friend and future studio buddy Niki decided to throw a party to celebrate two seminal events - specifically her birthday, and the airing of the first Hollyoaks episode to feature her as head writer. Congratulations!

We played alongside some other bands, and I thought it might be nice to sort out a gig poster for her to mark the event.

I'm all out of bubblegum...

2011-10-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the artwork for a tribute album of John Carpenter scores - everyone involved is an 8-bit artist which means it will feature loads of cool-sounding videogame interpretations of his already cool-sounding themes, and I'm a big fan of both his films and his soundtrack work, so I'm dead happy to be involved. It's been organised by arcadecoma, who previously put together this 8-bit weezer tribute, and did this banging cover of my bands song 'Metropolitan'... *

As well as the above artwork, here's a sample of the back cover:

* buzz off all those hyperlinks.

Just the facts, ma'am

2011-10-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

I blasted this Department of Eagles drawing out to try and win some Bella Union goodies and gig tickets via The Line of Best Fit... I don't think I was successful although to be fair, it could have done with being significantly more twee (or significantly less cartoony and silly)

It's a long shot, but it just might work...

2011-09-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

I've been working on an illustration based on the films of the Coen Brothers, specifically the period from Raising Arizona through to the Big Lebowski. I like all the wide angle shots they use, hence the stacked letterbox outcome of this print.

Seeing as it's the Coen Brothers, I was spoiled for choice when it came to quotes...

(It's a work in progress at the moment, as I'd like to include the railroad from O Brother Where art thou as well.)

You know, it's so nice when it happens good...

2011-09-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, here's the fully assembled Seinfeld illustration - I'm getting few copies printed on a big A0 sheet on Friday, then they'll crop them ready to be delivered early next week.

I can't wait to watch them slice this fat bastard up!

When you control the mail, you control... INFORMATION!

2011-09-19T04:01:00.000-07:00

Finally, the big boy. When it's all put together, Newman will go right in the middle of the piece, imposing himself on everybody like a bad smell. He is merry though, I'll give him that.

(Also, this bit is my favourite Newman moment.)

White Lotus. Yam-yam. Shanghai Sally

2011-09-19T03:46:00.000-07:00

I'm down to the last few now - here's J. Peterman, importer/exporter of exotic garments and master of the poetic sales pitch.

Gotta support the team...

2011-09-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Another minor character that I'm pleased to be able to include: David Puddy

I considered having him wear the eight-ball jacket - or even sharing a meal of dip with George, and then calling him out on double dipping the chip.

MAYBE THE DINGO ATE YOUR BABY!

2011-09-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

Next up, Elaine - I've done her doing the dance from the Little Kicks episode. As George put it, it's like like a full bodied dry heave set to music.

It's outrageous, egregious - preposterous!

2011-09-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Alongside the main characters, I'm doing five extra recurring characters - and I'm happy to say that selection includes Kramers lawyer of choice, Jackie Chiles.

Apparently there were plans for a spin-off show - probably for the best that it didn't come about.

These pretzels are making me thirsty!

2011-09-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Next up: Cosmo Kramer - man's best friend. Giddyup!

If you watch the show, the background should also be familiar...

Billions of blue blistering barnacles!

2011-09-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

After a heroic run as indie heavyweights, our friends The Bluetones are unfortunately throwing in the towel after one last tour. We've been asked to play their final show, and to mark the event I'll be doing an extremely limited run of these Tintin themed posters to promote the gig.

It's just a work in progress at the moment, so that mustard background might be subject to change...

Million to one shot, Doc...

2011-09-15T03:46:00.000-07:00

Frank Costanza. It was a shame not to be able to include Estelle in the line-up, but at least she's present in doll form in one if the linking panels.

I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable...

2011-09-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

Here's George Costanza, the George you know - Movie George, Coffee shop George, Liar George, Bawdy George!

If you look closely at some of the other illustrations, you'll see the rest of that fishing rod eventually hooking a marble rye from Jerry...

... And you wanna be my latex salesman!

2011-09-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the first of the Seinfeld illustrations that I've been doing - they'll eventually all fit together to form a big mad print. In case it's not clear, this one is Jerry...

More Seinfeld buttons...

2011-09-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a better look at the rest of the connecting icons I'll be using in the finished image - I'm going to put them in between the various characters as a way of connecting them with plot points.

(Looking at them in this layout, I can totally imagine them as a neat little sticker set - I'd probably put the Bro one on my homework diary if they were.)

Work in progress: Seinfeld buttons...

2011-09-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

Been working on a big Seinfeld illustration and it's going to be pretty densely packed with details - these are a selection of icons that connect Newman to the rest of the cast.

NEWMAN!

Congratulations Emma and Gregor!

2011-09-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

A friend very kindly commissioned me to do an illustration of some friends of hers who were getting married - lucky for me that they were getting married in Iceland in a ridiculously picturesque setting, and I was able to match it with the style of illustration. The church at the top might as well be a photograph, it really was that small and that sweet.

Gingerbread Academy II: Their First Assignment

2011-09-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Following on from the last bit of work I did for them, this is another artists impression for Gingerbread Academy - hopefully they'll get me to do another five installments like the Police Academy series did.

(I might duck out on the last one like Guttenberg...)

We have to go back to the Island...

2011-07-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

I've just started in my new studio space, but prior to this I had a placement with Setgo games who are based in the same building. My role consisted of working on Castaways, an adventure game set on a desert island.

I dabbled in game design and story development aspects, but I mainly made artwork to be used within the game itself. Here's a selection...

Blessed are the Primates

2011-07-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll here, so I'm adding some old work - get onto this Brian Blessed monkey mash.

Also, I did a couple of freelance portrait jobs ages ago that I never posted - I don't know the subjects, but I think the pictures came out ok.

How to Design your Dragon 2D

2011-07-05T05:09:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I agreed to do some character development on a pitch for a children's show involving a young dragon called Alan, along with a variety of dragon classmates and teachers.

I came up with a design for Alan that was ultimately not what the brief called for, but I've included it here because I think he's pretty endearing.

Here's a selection of some of the other original character designs:

I'll be putting together a one-sheet of the finished designs and sending it off - if you're interested, any progress on the pitch will probably be posted here.

When Larry met Monty...

2011-07-03T19:13:00.001-07:00

I put this together for a friends birthday, as a way of combining Larry David and Monty Burns- it didn't really come together as well as I'd hoped it would, but the idea kind of works in theory.

I mean, they're both bald rich curmudgeons, right?

Gingerbread Academy

2011-07-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

Gingerbread Academy is a nursery under development, and once finished it'll be located round the corner from my flat.

I was asked to provide an artists impression of what the building would look like once all the scaffolding has been taken down, which would in turn be thoughout their promotional material.

(Whilst scouting out the location I met the owners dog, Casper, and I would have much rather provided an artists impression of what he would look like sitting on my lap.)

Panic on the streets of Liverpool

2011-07-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

Once again, I did a run of posters for the recurring '10 Bands 10 Minutes' gig that we put on every few months at the Masque in Liverpool - this time the theme was The Smiths, and as per usual it was a belter of a night. The line-up was as follows:

Mark Magill
The Readymades
Cavalier Song
Town Bike
Go Heeled
Sparkwood & 21
Puzzle
Hillary and the Democrats
House That Jack Built
Married to the Sea

Click on the links for some videos from the night, and make sure you come to the next one - we're thinking Neil Young, David Bowie or Prince.

All I know is... there were rumours...

2010-11-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's that time again - we're putting on another 10 bands 10 minutes show, and this time everyone's going to cover Pixies songs. Playing on the night are:

Married to the Sea
Voo
Elle S'appelle
House That Jack Built
Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies
Cavalier
Dire Wolfe
The Loose Moose String Band
Hillary and the Democrats
Stephen Hudson

I've done a black and white poster to promote it around Liverpool, and I'm working on ideas for a colour version to sell on the night. It's going to be absolutely boss.

Back in Blue

2010-11-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

I'm back on tour again with The Bluetones, so I've done another Charley Harper inspired poster* - this time we're doing 18 dates, which is plenty of time to either become best friends or mortal enemies. So far, so good...

* not that there's any link between him and the band - he's just a class act, and I figured it was a more grown-up audience than usual who might respond to a mildly classy illustration.

That pesky giraffe...

2010-10-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of short-notice posters I put together without much time to spare - all I could think of using was this dinky little giraffe in both cases, although I managed to pop some support from a monkey and frog into the Bright Light one.

The Sustainable Health Partnership

2010-08-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

I've put together a couple of posters for The Sustainable Health Partnership, illustrating the balance of funding in the NHS and the instabilities in public health systems - note the little team of guys investigating the volcano.

Poster, QUICK!

2010-05-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

I rustled up this poster for the Harlem gig in Manchester, and wasted a day inventing a classy font which I didn't even use - sometimes when a band has songs with names like 'Psychedelic Tits' and all their myspace top friends are dogs in hats, you don't really need to worry about class.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth

2010-04-30T06:26:00.001-07:00

My sister Elizabeth recently turned 30, so I did this print for her as a present.

We used to slide down the stairs on fold out brown mattresses into piles out of cushions - it was brilliant.

Where did you go?

2010-04-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we'll be setting off on tour with the Bluetones for a few weeks, so I've been working on a poster for them to flog each night. Its a work in progress, and a nod to an early album cover of theirs (as well as the illustrator Charley Harper).

Tour poster via indecision

2010-03-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

I ran out of time and laptop battery when I was doing this poster, and I couldn't work out whether or not aspects of it should stay or go, or if it was even any good - too late now anyway, they're at the printers because we set off on THURSDAY. Can't wait.

Entschuldigen sie bitte!

2010-02-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Guten Tag!

In October 2008, we toured Germany for a fortnight and it was amazing... and now we're finally heading back! I've been prepping some artwork for the jaunt, here's what I've got so far:

Above is a flyer for our single launch with En Transit in Frankfurt, followed by a standard poster to be sent to all the venues with a gap for any venue specific details. I should be making a special tour poster with all the dates on too, once they're all confirmed. HOORAY!

Meet me in Montauk

2010-01-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

This is another film illustration thats been unfinished for a while, so I've just decided to settle with it as it is. I did it all from scratch on Illustrator as a way of becoming familiar with the software, but in retrospect I think it would have benefited from combining hand drawn elements like in the Groundhog Day series I did.

Still, boss film.

Strap your hands across my engines

2010-01-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

This is the finished print for the Springsteen tribute gig we did, encorporating the stars & stripes and some massive muscles. The gig was brill, and this years plan is to do 10 bands gigs a lot more frequently - there's possible ones in the pipeline for Pavement, Pixies and maybe Talking Heads, and I'll be doing limited prints for all of them.

If you want to buy this print or any of the previous ones, pitch an email my way or alternatively head to Good Grief! upstairs in Afflecks Palace in Manchester.

10 Bands 10 Minutes - Springsteen flyer

2010-01-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

We had another 10 Bands 10 Minutes gig, and this time around I made a separate photocopy-able flyer to promote it. There were a lot of details to cram in and it kind of made the colour print look confusing when I tried to include them, so having this separate one solved that problem.

I also couldn't decide on an idea, and this way let me do both of them.

work in progress...

2009-10-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Liverpool Music Week is fast approaching and I'm doing the poster for our show with Field Music, Hot Club de Paris, House That Jack Built and Meow Meow. I'm not sure whether this idea is finished, it doesn't feel quite done yet but unless I crack it soon - well, this might be the finished jobby...

Hello Digger E.P Launch

2009-10-13T14:29:00.001-07:00

Following on from a previous post concerning artwork for my bands ep, I can now happily announce that we're launching it next week. It'll be a free show with our friends Puzzle who are also releasing a cd, and we'll have support from House That Jack Built and Cavalier. I've rustled up this poster on Illustrator and did the thing that I often do when I've got all the text and no idea for an image - make the text the image and act like that was the plan all along.

(Incidentally, I created this font to be used for a band logo and I might develop it for use so keep your eyes peeled if you like it.)

Don't mess with me, Porkchop

2009-09-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

I re-watched Groundhog Day recently, and its brilliant. Apparently they wanted Tom Hanks for the role, but I'm glad Bill Murray did it instead.

(Not to knock Tom Hanks at all - his laugh in The Money Pit is unbeatable...

Phil?! Phil CONNORS??

2009-09-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

I love Ned, and the main reason I did multiple Groundhog Day illustrations is so I could include him. He's only in the film for a few brief moments, but he sure as heck-fire makes an impression.

Am I right or am I right? Or am I right? Right?

Did he actually refer to himself as "the talent"?

2009-09-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

The guy who plays Larry is great at being kind-of-a-prick (for example when he leaves a tip at the bar and then takes it back when nobody's looking).

He's also good as Woogy in There's Something About Mary - so much so that even though I made a point of finding out the actors name, I still refer to him as Woogy in my head.

Three hundred and thirty-nine dollars and eighty-eight cents!

2009-09-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

As far as Rita goes, she's generally ok considering she's played by Andie MacDowell.

Although I really hate when he's learning everything about her and he makes a toast to the groundhog, and she gets all sniffy and says 'Well, I always drink to world peace'.

SO WHAT??

Thats right, woodchuck-chuckers - it's GROUNDHOG DAY!

2009-09-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

The strangest thing has happened to me - the other day I made a new film illustration for Groundhog Day...

Then the following day I made an illustration for Groundhog Day...
Then the following day I made an illustration for Groundhog Day...
Then the following day I made an illustration for Groundhog Day...
Then the following day I made an illustration for Groundhog Day...

This first one is a wallpaper design featuring the alarm clock.

I'd like to dedicate this to my grandpa, who showed me these moves...

2009-09-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Next up in this series of film illustrations is Little Miss Sunshine - I did this from scratch on Illustrator as a kind of learning exercise, and learnt that in future I will more than likely not do things from scratch on Illustrator.

By the end of it, I realised some of the things I drew at the start could have been done in a fraction of the time, and that I'd been making things needlessly difficult for myself - hooray!

Hello Digger

2009-08-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

My band recorded an e.p a month or so ago and we've just got the cd's back from the printers, complete with artwork by yours truly. You'll soon be able to buy it on our website, and on itunes... but then you'd lose out on the packaging.

Why would you want to do that?

Super Trumps character design

2009-04-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

I designed 2 sets of trading cards a few years ago, but never got round to getting the second set printed. Heres a small selection of some of the characters from that set...

10 Bands, 10 minutes ago...

2009-04-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Its about time we had another 10 bands 10 minutes night, so we've been discussing what the theme should be this time around. The last two were tributes to Dookie and Weezer Blue respectively, and I designed the posters for each one - its proving harder to decide on a band/album this time around though. Some of those put forward have been Springsteen, Pixies, Pavement and the first Rage against the Machine album, but we're open to any suggestions...

Are you chewing gum???

2009-04-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a week, so I'm a little behind with this film drawing project. This second one is based on Sideways, which is brill.

(I made it a simple cartoon so I didn't have to draw the millions of lines on Thomas Hayden-Churchs crag-tastic grill)

And the nominees are...

2009-03-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Films I'm planning on including in this film drawing project:

Sideways

Little Miss Sunshine
The Thing

Groundhog Day

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Twelve Monkeys
Dead Mans Shoes

Harold and Maude

Capturing the Friedmans
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

I'm open to suggestions, to some extent.

Ich mochte MATCHING POSTERS bitte!

2009-03-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

I did these two posters for when we toured Germany last year. It turned out there were posters already made for us when we got there and theres a chance there were more posters than gigs.

I did manage to create a couple of pleasing fonts anyway.

Namby Pamby is the new black

2009-03-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

I did this logo for my band without thinking about how it could be used - it kind of implies that we use harps and piccolos a lot more than we actually do. I also did the cd artwork and some badge/tshirt designs.

For proof that our soppiness is minimal, have a listen.

I ain't no suit-wearin' businessman like you...

2009-03-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

There are so many characters to choose from in 'The Wire' - I settled on sixteen. Initially this was going to be a t-shirt design, but I think it'll work better on a tea towel.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

Das Boton Gig

2009-03-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

I've been learning to use Illustrator - this is my first attempt at making something from scratch.

This is my boy, H.W...

2009-03-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a new project

Each week, I plan to complete a drawing based on a film. Thats it. I made a list of films that are good, starting here with 'There Will Be Blood' - but I may not limit myself to the good ones.

Surely there's room for a picture of Nicholas Cage vs The Bees?

All aboard

2009-03-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, here we go.

In this picture, the ship represents this blog - a gargantuan barnacled home for the forseeable future. And then there's me, nervously clutching a big burlap banana full of drawings, posters and garish tat. These are uncharted waters for me, but I'm looking forward to navigating them.

Until I set up a new online portfolio, you can find a lot of work done over the past few years here at my website. Its a pretty confusing jumble - I've been effectively using it as a blog these past few years, minus any organisation or recognisable timeline.

I also have a number of posters on gigposters.com

Anyway, more to come!