Fidgety Ink

Languid Shimmering Strings

2011-01-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

Just some more exercises.

Read:

Justice League America Annual 1996

Watched:

Thirst (2009)

Braindead (1992)

Braindead was amazing, never seen it before, only heard the stories. Lived up to its reputation and more.

Sleek Latin Flourishes

2011-01-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

New year - hopefully I'll get a bit more done. Going to keep this a bit more like a diary for a bit so I can keep track of what I've done. Today:

Read:

Legends: The Collection - John Ostrander (JLA comic)

Justice League America Annual #5 'Tomorrow's League Today!'

Justice League America Annual #6 'Maximum Eclipse'

Watched:

Telescope - A Talk with Hitchcock Part 1 (1694)

Telescope - A Talk with Hitchcock Part 2 (1694)

Close Up - Orson Welles - The Paris Interview (1960)

Pirahna (1978)

Colours of Infinity (1995)

Did:

Boosting session for Bioshock 2

Read nine lessons from drawspace to get back into the swing of things

Kogumaza/ Songs of my Lap / Scotch Pine

2010-11-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

Did some sketching at this gig put on by Dizzy Storm & Game Show Lovers. Wicked gig, pictures seemed better at the time!

If you want to check the bands out

http://www.myspace.com/oogamaza

http://www.unlabel.net/songsofmylap.htm

Scotch Pine was a collaboration between Scotch Egg and Pine Forest.

Bee's Mouth

2010-11-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

And stuff from tonight - so-so stuff. The one at the top I like though - we had to a drawing in the dark and that was it. I actually thought I was using a thick black pencil, so I was a bit surprised when the light came on and it was all blue.

White Night

2010-11-02T16:19:00.001-07:00

Drawings from White Night

Long time - Oldies

2010-11-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

Been ages since I posted anything up, partly due to lack of drawing, partly due to fucked PC. Here's a backlog - First up, life drawing lessons. This model was amazing - don't think I've posted these...hmmm... EDIT: No, I haven't. Good.

Page's guitar solo to 'Since I've Been Loving You'

2010-08-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

Uncorn Power are playing NY! They asked me to do a poster, and here (they) are. Not as good as I'd hoped, but kinda charming. LOVED doing the Kirby Dots!

Slash's solo and outro to 'Don't Damn Me'

2010-08-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Moreish

Mick Ronson's guitar outro to Bowie's 'Moonage Daydream'

2010-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

The guitar solo from 'Sting Me' by the Black Crowes

2010-08-19T08:10:00.001-07:00

Life drawing, first in a good three or four years I think.

Loved it, drawings aren't great though - found the poses quite tough.

Hmmm, this is taking ages to upload, I think I've made them too big. Fuck it.

Been A Long Time Since I Rock N' Rolled

2010-08-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Not scanned in for ages.

Partly because my drawings have mainly been boring stuff - I have a whole sketchbook of dull exercises at the moment - and partly because scanning is a real ballache with my scanner/room/PC.

Here's some dull stuff, then I'll post up the life drawing I did yesterday.

"Rockin' Robin.."

2010-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Have been doing lots of drawings, honest. Not much to post though.

Putting up a new one because I've started tweeting (I know..), but found it's quite good for writing down really short, quick story ideas.

Of course, I'll keep the best ones to myself. Here's my thing if you want to check it out (still haven't figured how to use it properly mind):

http://twitter.com/cannibalgymnast

"Come To Daddy"

2010-06-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Been doing lots of drawings lately, just wanted to post up so when I look back I don't seem lazy. will post up my fav bits at the weekend.

"Got a headache..."

2010-05-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Some drawings from the market on the beach today.

..so I can't be bothered...

2010-05-31T08:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday tried drawing something different from life rather than people lazing about in the sun. So I went down near the beach were all the skaters/rollerbladers/bmx people go. Was trying to capture them at speed - tough!

Didabout six pages, but I thought I'd refrain from spamming the post with them, so I've chosen two - I think the first and second to last pages I did.

...to think of lyrics

2010-05-31T08:06:00.001-07:00

Some scribblings from last week/weekend

In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey

2010-05-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

Was on the beach all day yesterday with some friends, lots of beer and lots of sketching. Not much variation I'm afraid. Another glorious day today but I don't know if my indoor xbox body can handle another day of sun...

"Everybody Goes Surfin'"

2010-05-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

New idea I had on the way home from work - Romantic comedy as typical as it gets. Except the story is told from the perspective of the slobby comic relief best friend who isn't really in on the joke and thinks everyone is just acting nuts. For example:

Kooky (but not too kooky -just has dyed red hair and a weird obsession eg: She always cries at Daffy Duck cartoons because he gets relentlessy bullied by Bugs) Girl stands in torrential rain at 4 in the morning with a boombox (must be tapes, not 'soulless' CD or - God forbid - MP3) playing 'Be My Baby' while she mimes to it.

Geeky (but actually just an unthreatening, not complete pyscho frat boy cock) Boy hears her and looks out the window. His heart melts for this ker-azy chick and he decides he can forgive her for her drunken, misunderstood kiss with the pyscho frat boy cock from earlier.

The neighbours look out their windows and their hearts melt at such a show of TRUE LOVE even though it is 4 in the morning.

Comedy Relief Best Friend leans out the window and screams "SHUT THE FUCK UP! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? IT'S 4 IN THE MORNING. I HAVE WORK IN TWO HOURS!"

Everyone ignores him and joins in on the chorus while neighbours say stuff like "You go girl!" and (in thick Brooklyn accent) "Why aintcha never serenade me like that Harvey?" "Ah, shaddup!"

Comedy Relief Best Friend gets into bed alone.

There's a ghost in my house

2010-05-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

My hands at ATP.

I really do have a palm that big.

They are all my left hand apart from one.

See if you can find it.

With a green-fuzz skull and crossbones

2010-05-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

Sketching done at ATP - on the grass.

"Are you drawing all the hipsters?" someone asked me.

I was.

Drink the long draught, Dan,

2010-05-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

Sketching done at the last Raised On Replicas gig.

Pen was running out.

You won't find anything more ridiculous, than this new profile razor unit

2010-05-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Some sketching from a couple of weeks ago near Brighton beach.

"When I Saw, Mushroom Cloud"

2010-05-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

Had an idea of a story about a spoon. Marked here for a reminder.

It's called 'The Spoon'.

"Come To Daddy"

2010-04-29T07:45:00.001-07:00

Got some more work done on the comic - tightening up the ideas/brainstorming to make it more solid and setting out what I want each page to have. Thought if I wrote what was going on I could make it so not a panel was wasted while putting in a few extra ideas here and there. Doesn't look like it though!

Next is figuring out the problem panels - not sure how I can draw a couple of them and I don't want to have to explain much with text. My idea is that text will come last, the pictures should tell as much of the story as possible.

"..Only Part Of You Is Stuck In A Computer"

2010-04-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Rest of the roughs for the comic. Got a lot worse as I went on, just wanted to have finished it. Glad I did it though, I think the amount of pages is about right, but got to work on the panels a whole lot more. Doing this has made me see what I need to change though and come up with a few more ideas as I went through.

Eventually I'll get round to properly drawing it, hopefully the more I figure out the story layouts, the easier it'll be to draw. Very tempted to try and do the first couple of pages 'proper' but I never would have finished it.

"Cheap Cider, Cheap Cider.."

2010-04-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

"I'm Going Off The Rails On A Crazy Train.."

2010-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Had a couple of ideas on the way home, so first things first:

1) What if leaves aren't green similar to the way the sea isn't really blue? Instead they're just reflecting the land's jealousy of the sky.

2) A mobile phone company that gives you 600 minutes free a month. But if you don't use them you get to add them on to the end of your life instead to prolong it.

Right, here's a couple of roughs I did at lunchtime for the origami story, would love to work on it tonight, but got band practice in - gulp - ten minutes! I better get ready and stop typ

JOYREX J9

2010-04-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

Did some work on a new comic story (wanted to do it while it's still in my mind rather than the other one). Too knackered to post stuff up for now though, didn't get that far on it anyway. Hands are a nightmare! Origami Menagerie.

"..And I'm All Out Of Bubblegum"

2010-03-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

Over at Cowboy Dan ( http://cowboydan.org/) 's place doing some origami, and came up with a new story for a comic about origami animals. That's all for now.

Oh, and 'They Live' is awesome.

"Hail To The Thief.."

2010-03-27T05:31:00.001-07:00

Did some notes and sketches today about the comic..

" I Wish The Milkman Would Deliver My Milk..."

2010-03-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Some rough mood boards for the comic. Think I need to inject tiny little stories into each of these pages.

2010-03-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

Just posted this on the wrong blog, damn. Not sure how to delete it. Anyways:

Not an super-successful session today. I think I might have to go back to the (literal) drawing pad as photoshop is actually holding me back a little bit. Need to plan stuff properly.

"She Says There's Ants In The Carpet.."

2010-03-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Another rough, don't think it gives much away so I'll post it all. Not that pleased with it, there's a lot of unnecessary panels. Got to figure out how much I need to say with it. Thought best to plough on though, looking forward to the next one.

"It Fit When I Was Young.."

2010-03-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

Did a few more rough pages, hopefully have broken the tough part of it but it needs finessing. Rest of the story should be easier to layout.

"Time Is Running Out..."

2010-03-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

Did first two roughs for LLV today, hopefully got a plan with them. Did a bit more design than I planned, but need to nail it down so fuck it. Don't want to give the game away so I'm just going to be posting snippets.

"Girls On Film, Girls On FIlm."

2010-02-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

No girls on film here. Just a silly pic I dun dot did.

"It's The Same Old Show, The Killing Of A Flash Boy oh.."

2010-02-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Last little bit, wanted to do some really quick simple pen stuff.

"Paint it Black.."

2010-02-24T09:19:00.000-08:00

Did a quick painting from one of David Lynch's short films. It's called 'The Grandmother'. Not too impressed with the painting but it was fun to do.

"Here In My Car, I Feel Safest As All.."

2010-02-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

Totally knackered today as I didn't get much sleep so I took a day's holiday. Because it was impromptu, I was a bit worried about wasting it so I made sure I did some drawing.

Some of these are from Flickr photos, the rest are my first return to Posemaniacs.com for months and months. Quite pleased with them though, as I usually set the timer to 60 seconds or more but these were all only 30.

"JAMES BROWN! JAMES BROWN! JAMES BROWN!"

2010-02-17T14:35:00.000-08:00

Put my 360 away and got on with a little bit of work, easing myself in slowly.

Had an amazing time up in the Lake District with some friends, best holiday ever.

Did a lot of drinking, walking, eating and reading and a bit of drawing. Read 'New York Trilogy' By Paul Auster and 'Drawn To Life', a brilliant book on Disney animation. Loads of really useful tips, the most important being:

SQUASH AND STRETCH!

Most of the drawing was notes from that so I'm not posting them.

Also watched some ace films - 'Soul Power' - a documentary about the music festival that accompanied the 'Rumble In The Jungle'. James Brown is amazing in it.

Watched Withnail & I (for only the second time), a bit of 'Fishing with John', (must borrow that off Mart), 'Return to Oz' and the sublime Band in 'The Last Waltz'.

Just finished watching another great film (everything I watch and read tends to be great simply because I don't leave anything to chance, I just look up what's supposed to be the best and watch that. Too many good things out there to bother with the dross.) called 'The Face of Another'. Must buy this. Every scene is thoughtfully composed and reinforces the story. The aesthetics do not compromise the story but enforce it. Thought this was very important for comics, so when I was stuck at starting the 'Love Letter Vampire' comic I started copying scenes and notes and that's what I'm posting.

Bed.

"Our Band Could Be Your Life"

2010-01-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

Been lazy/busy. Had a really busy (not necessarily blog busy) and productive year last year, first (basic) comic produced, lots of well-received gigs with Raised On Replicas and a really feel-good xmas gig as Cannibal Gymnastics. Then I took a well-deserved lazy game break over xmas (Batman: Arkham Asylum and Fallout 3 being particularly fine), but unfortunately it's spilled over a little too much into this year. Oh well, it's only January.

Going to do some work this weekend, not sure what, but I quite fancy some painting, but I should start on comics again, though I find the idea a little daunting. Also have the problem that I had to format my PC, lost photoshop and my scanner doesn't seem to want to work anymore.

I've been rediscovering my love of art recently by re-reading Matthew Colling's 'This is Modern Art' - Basquiat, Chris Ofili, Gary Hume, Joseph Beuys, Picasso, Cindy Sherman. Really easy to read, almost a sing-song style. I must get a book about Fluxus when I can, as I loved discovering that in college. Led me nicely onto John Cage and experimental music. Silence is another book I should get and re-read.

Also read 'Our Band Could Be Your Life', very inspiring book about underground bands in the eighties - really enjoying the Minutemen at the moment with Mike Watt's awesome bass.

Some great comics as well, some Daredevil comics just after Frank Millers famous run in the 80s and early 90s Batman when Norm Breyfogle and a new Robin entered the scene.

Once again, re-evaluating what's important but too lazy to do anything about it. Hopefully next week's holiday will re-charge my batteries.

Aims this year: Produce at least two, more realised comics and do some more recording with Raised On Replicas and Cannibal Gymnastics, hopefully put a couple of albums out even if it's only digitally in a kind of vanity project type thing and really develop my slide guitar playing, I've hit a wall with it at the moment and not sure how to progress. My idea is to just play it on as many songs as I can to get away from the blues cliches (much as I love them).

"I Wish It Was Xmas Today"

2009-12-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

"And You've Got The Face On"

2009-12-04T02:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.hundreddays.net/

Doing this, managed it (barely) so far, but I've been too busy to post anything up. I'm doing a 'comic panel every day'. I thought inspiration would just come to me day by day and produce a mind-blowing twist filled comic subject to my whim.

That's not been the case. Instead I've done

A terrible page one of 'My Helly Face' , a comic I've been putting off for..ooh..probably four years now
A totally shit abstract panel that was the case of "totally forgot! I've got 4 minutes to go before midnight, quick, get SOMETHING done!". I've got an idea for it though
A random comic panel, again, badly done. I took a bit of dialogue from my Marvel Essential Horror book and drew a panel for it.

None of it makes sense, hopefully I can rescue the project somehow! I think the best way is to just draw rough outlines of whole pages so I can mess about with the story and layouts and then fill them in later. Really don't want to quit though, so I'm willing to do any piece of crap to stay in the game!

Off to ATP soon, so I'll post up the results when I get back. Going to work on stuff while I'm there -I'm always up about three hours before anyone else anyway. Then I'll send the links to the 100 days Facebook.

"Blaze of Glory"

2009-11-24T06:06:00.000-08:00

Cool, got one of my stories on the six word stories page. Only just found out when I was googling to see if my gig details were up, which they are.

http://www.sixwordstories.net/2009/07/escher’s-famous-staircase-confounds-carpet-fitters/

Here's the gig details by the way - it's called the Sanctuary Café and it's basically in the downstairs bit.

http://www.sanctuarycafe.co.uk/Sanctuary/Events.html

Thurs 17th Dec-Unicorn Power - "Pointy cone horse skewered pop by

humans" www.myspace.com/weareunicornpower

Cannibal Gymnastics - "Lo-fi stumblebee pop, with a stinger in its

heart and a honeycombed brain" www.myspace.com/cannibalgymnastics

Boy in the Cupboard - "Spanish guitar and double-bass indie

bitterness" www.myspace.com/boyinthecupboard

£2 8pm

"I'm a King Bee"

2009-11-23T04:19:00.000-08:00

Still busy writing and arranging for the gig, honestly! Will put up some new stuff sometime after the 17th Dec.

"You Were Looking For A Goldberg Machine"

2009-10-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Totally knackered. Haven't done a post in a while so I thought I'd just put one up so when I look back later I'm reminded that I was actually working. Been preparing for a gig in December. Worked on a couple of covers today. One might not make it, we'll see.

Let's see if I have any drawings to put up...
Ha! Found this - these are little things I make up just to remind me how I'm going to have my pedals for gigs - fuck it, I'll put 'em up anyway. One's the acoustic set up, the other is the electric. I think you'll find the artwork amazing. Actually the nicely drawn pedals are stolen from guitargeek.com which is amazing. Hopefully they'll never find out and sue me.

"The Beauty Of The Ride"

2009-10-15T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hurrah! My latest AC is up, so I'm going to post it here now. I get paid tomorrow, so I can actually send them the painting as well.

Lots of great work from other people as always, here's the link, you can find me somewhere.

http://acquiredcollective.blogspot.com/

I have been working recently, apart from a bout of illness this week, but its mainly been work work , music stuff for my second gig in December. I have been practicin drawing from 'famous artists cartooning course' but I don't know if its really worth posting. After I've got ready for the gig I'll get back to some serious drawing - I also have a lot of holiday due so it may be quiet for a while and then suddenly splurge.

"I Need A Fix 'Cause I'm Goin' Down"

2009-10-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

Decided if I was going to spend another Saturday night alone, it would be drunk..BLAM!

Success!

Still, finished the new AC project, I think I'm over a week late, but it actually turned out pretty good - very surprising. I like it anyway. Thanks to a bottle of red wine and about 12 hours work. It does not look like 12 hours work though.

Would love to post it up, but I want to wait until it appears on the AC blog first.

Meant to be working on Cannibal Gymnastics set today, so I'm going to have to do a lot of work on it tomorrow.

"Pucker Up (why?), 'Cause He's A Sucker, So.."

2009-09-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Just for my records..

I am actually working, but because it's painting I haven't got much to show. It's for the AC as well, so I won't post up the final before it ends up on that blog.

It's going rubbish at the moment though. At least I've made progress though.

Rubbish progress.

Really need to finish it Friday night, no matter what as I need to start putting a set together for a xmas Cannibal Gymnastics gig and I want to spend the whole weekend doing it.

In the meantime, here's an old picture I did in Paint called "Superman VS Batman"

"Sing, To The Bible Of Fantasy"

2009-09-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Man, I am so late on loads of stuff...Acquired Collective, Fourteen Nights, getting a gig setlist together....etc etc.

Here's some sketches for the Acquired Collective, time got away from me and I haven't really prepared enough. Kind of thought soemthing would just happen - hasn't so far.

Anyway, I've started painting it, hoping it will turn out cool, unfortunately I am a terrible painter. Still, I'm trying to make some kinda painting/collage/comic/story out of it.

Uh-oh!

By the way, not sure if the lyric title is actually correct - it's supposed to be from "Do You Know Squarepusher" but I still like it.

"Drink The Long Draught Down"

2009-09-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

Doing some ideas for the latest acquired collective. Going to be careful not to post too much as I don't want to post too much of the thing before I send it to the AC blog.

Luckily, I have done fuck all so far. Bought a canvas for this one, going to try and do a story collage.

Have been busy though, either doing music or drawing other stuff, just not posting it at the moment.

"Do You Want Some Chili Sauce With That?"

2009-09-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Dammit, been trying to add my mate's link to my blog and failing for about half an hour. No idea why. So here it is for now.

http://www.unicornpower.co.uk/

Happy birthday Scott!

Now to do some drawing.

"Animals Strike Curious Poses"

2009-09-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Some workings out for the latest comic. Not quite got the end yet, might make it lighter in tone!

"Did everybody see this snowman Standing in the wind alone?"

2009-09-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the saturday recording.

"The Cassette Played Poptones"

2009-09-05T05:39:00.001-07:00

Finished the 12 hour music immersion project yesterday from this book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frustrated-Songwriters-Handbook-Radical-Overcoming/dp/0879308796

Similar to what I did last Saturday, but a lot more intense. Started at 9:30am, finished 9.30pm. Always aim to do twenty, ended up with eight. Felt exhausted and still do today. A friend did it with me and we met up afterwards and listened to the results, was really impressed with what we both came up with, amazing. So, got a fair few songs from that and coupled with last weeks music means a shedload of stuff got created.

Was going to put some stuff up and remix last weeks work but I'm so tired I think I'm just going to chill and play some games, maybe sleep. Ahhh.

In the meantime, here's some of the things I used/wrote yesterday - I used some of my old popbloks as well.

And the music from the last couple of weeks:

From the 12 Hour Immersion Project:

1. Hairy Sway Rage - Sounds a bit like Lou Barlow backed by The Stooges with scrabble lyrics - "Cluster lachtose quips/I flux with pithy raintry/Maquettes create swan sludge/xxxxxx ran my wigwam"

2. I'm In The Carpet - - INFO: About laying on the carpet, getting covered with bugs who make you into their home and then turn you into a new carpet. Was going for a Syd Barret/Velvet Underground sound. This was the one where I was trying to be super quiet - "Weavels weave a second skin/When there is an earthquake it's just me breathing in"

3. Fly Red Eagle - - INFO: I wanted to do a doom metal riff that sounded like a big red eagle with lots of harmonising guitars. Ended up just making a really heavy motherfucking sludge riff with, strangely, a vocal where I was trying to do a PJ Harvey falsetto. . I never knew I could make that sound. Has a really fucked up Can sample and tambourine. Reminds me of Royal Trux, one of my favourite bands. "Fly Red Eagle/Twist my red skull"

4. pICNIC cRASHERS - This ended up being a song about insects attacking a picnic. Sounds like it's been made by sad, ambitiuous robots. Tried to use my strangest guitar sounds but keep it really catchy. "Tame fur attracts the hornets/Brazen thugs, they crash the picnic"

5. Gold Sand - My favourite of the session and most 'normal' - really simple lyrics from when I was on my first holiday in France and first experience of romance. Has a chorus that reminds me of those bittersweet 70s sitcoms - that sounds awful, but it's not. I sang some "bong bongs" like 'Satellite of Love'. "Even [the]greatest rocks get turned to gold sand"

6. Sixthes and Seventhes - Spelt wrong on purpose, I don't know why, but it ended up about being a ghost who is now going to haunt someone, sounds like it's for revenge but as I did it I realised one of the lyrics sounded slightly sexual so I went with it and the spooky "whooooo" noises have slight, erm, enthusiastic aspect of them. Only a little bit though! And, as with all good ghost stories it has a twist ending. "Gonna rattle my chains/Rattle the fuck out of them/Whoooooooooooo!"

7. Dear Doctor - Hate this one, it's balls. Thought I would try and tell a story to a music backing. I randomy picked 16 sentences from four books - 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love', 'Five Great Short Stories[Chekov]', 'The Groucho Letters' and 'L.A. Confidential'. Music was boring, although I liked the bass and a little of the guitar, and the deliver of the story sounded rubbish.

8. Batman, Answer Cupid's Signal - Ended up a little Flaming Lips/Prince. Last one and I'm really glad how it came out - didn't want to end on the low of 'Dear Doctor' so I decided to make a super poppy one. Has manual dribbling rhythm bleeps and crunks, rainbow harmonies that are all out of tune but somehow really fun, a really simple acoustic riff and a lyric about Batman. another that's going to end up in my set - not sure how I'll re-create it though. "Oh Batman why don't you/Find a wife/It must get lonely/Crimefighting Life/Racing through the street no time for dating"

From last Saturday:

Cannibal Gymnastics VS Geordie LeForge VS Pitket

SONG A_[Chocolately Funk Ascending]
SONG B_[Arcade Frosty FX Pedal Guitar]
SONG C_[Beautiful Melody Acoustic Flourishes]
SONG D_[Fukkxed Drum Pedal Copter Threat]
SONG E_[Manual Hip Hop Scratch Avalanche]
SONG F_[Geordie's Trek]
SONG G_[Crashed Riddim]
SONG H_[Chiming and Chillin]
SONG I_[Harmonicas and Handclaps]
SONG K_[Tent Roast Swan]
SONG M_[Masher Gain]

"Soon After Dark, Emily Cries"

2009-09-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

"The Scarlet Eagle Showered Silver On The People"

2009-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Phew - haven't managed to finish the invitation yet. Damn. Jukebox took longer than I thought - very scrappy, but I tried a nice clean version and I just can't pull it off. Need to do lots of work still! It's WELL too busy. Oh dear.

Been listening to 'The Piper At The Gates At Dawn' and 'Swordfishtrombones' all weekend.

Finally 'get' the Pink Floyd album. I was always more interested in it than the later stuff, but found it a little bit too twee, and the actual idea seemed better than the reality. I Still find that with 'Flaming' and 'the Gnome', but love the rest of it, especially 'Lucifer Sam' and 'Bike'. Aceness. So tired. Hand crippled, but I'm really getting into photoshop now.

"Tent Roast Swan!"

2009-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Phew, I am knackered.

Used my popblok graphic scores (link below) to do some music today.

http://fidgetyink.blogspot.com/2008/10/musical-scores-v-popbloks.html

We set ourselves rules and limits, broke some, kept others, but ended up with some pretty wild music - because we didn't have to worry about a finished product a lot of experimentation happened (much of it silly), and I'm really pleased with the results.

Along with lots of weird jams which I reckon we can use to make some wicked tracks, we managed to get at least three proper tunes (wierd tunes perhaps), one with a lush synth melody, cricket sounds made by a massively pitchshifted guiro and some pseudo-latin acoustic guitar; a motorik electro-pop tune with slide guitar and the lyrics "Tent Roast Swan!" and a really dirty dislocated guitar funk tune with a vomit choir we recorded in the bathroom.

Plus I managed to use nearly all of my music equipment (I have a lot - quantity not quality).

I'll post up the pictures when I get them. And maybe some tracks.

"Tent Roast Swan!"

"I Need To Sleep, Why Don't You.."

2009-08-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Can't....stop....fucking....about...with....the.....scanner.

Proudly displaying 'The Twins' - Marshall Blues Breaker and Drive Master. I'm a pedalhead. Now if only I could get the Shred Master I'll have the complete set!

"I've Got Wheels And You Want To Go For A Ride"

2009-08-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Some work. Went a bit off the brief so I'll have to change it, but I got really into it.

"Get With It Baby"

2009-08-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

CD design. I think I wanted to be in 4AD - I just discovered the Pixies, was finding loads of wicked graphic designers and was regularly getting wasted while playing in a band. Good times/bad times.

Unfortunately what doesn't come out in these scans are the fluorescent colours.

"So I Play The Part I Feel They Want Of Me"

2009-08-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Brighton Festival project from my graphics year. Wasn't into this until my tutors encouraged me to think of something more than a poster, for which I'll always be grateful.

Afterwards I went nuts with my ideas, never worrying about how stupid it seemed. I ended up doing a 3D magazine and a speeding poster that was made up of four separate posters that had text that could be read about ten different ways, depending on how you arranged the posters to slip together. Wish I had a copy of those somewhere, I was really proud of them!

"Hiding In Shadows Where We Don't Belong"

2009-08-28T14:38:00.001-07:00

"You're The Left Side, He's The Right Side"

2009-08-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

A really old comic I started. Jeez. I was really into Geoff Senior and his work in 'Dragon's Claws'. Still am in fact.

My idea was to use a different medium for each panel. You can't really make it out, but one panel's covered in sellotape. Seemed to use a lot of this for some reason, I think it was just really cheap.

Not great, but I do miss the amount of experimentation I did then - in everything!

"Am I Just Shooting At Mirrors?"

2009-08-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Some old life drawing - again, I think this was when I was doing Graphics, so I guess I would've been 16/17.

Hmmm, looks like I draw now to be honest.

"Boys Who Are Fearful Of Getting An Earful"

2009-08-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Some graphics technical drawing. Oh dear, I wasn't into this at all, like the little comments my tutor made on the jukebox thing. Loved graphics, hated the technical drawing side of it (because I was rubbish at it - how's that for discipline?)

"The Pump Don't Work 'Cause The Vandals Took The Handles'

2009-08-20T00:15:00.001-07:00

OK, working on something for my mum at the moment, but I got distracted by finding loads of old art while I was looking for something else. Going to do loads of posts because they tickle me.

First though: got the new Acquired Collective project this Wednesday - so - note for myself - that's a deadline of 26th September!

Here's what I got (should have done this with the last one):

"The Pump Don't Work 'Cause The Vandals Took The Handles'

2009-08-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

Nothing to post yet, just wanted to remember the title for my next post. I'll edit this later.

"Like A Wind-Up Toy You Stutter At My Feet"

2009-08-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Started work on a new comic, again not written by me, but more of a collaboration this time. Just trying out some layouts for a friend's story. Really must learn how to scan these in better so they show up. Ah well, they are quite small anyway, you'll have to just click on them to see them.

Also, this will probably be the last I do on this for a while (despite only just starting!) as I'm going to pass it back to J for the next stage (whatever that may be!).

"If You Won't Take My Hand..Keep The Glove"

2009-08-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

My first Fourteen Nights post. Wanted to get on with something else rather than try to finish it. Which is wrong of me really. Hopefully have something else to post up tonight though.

"Looks Like A Clown And He Stumbles Like A Bee/Happy Birthday To Ya"

2009-08-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

The blog's birthday is today. The whole point of this blog is to encourage me to get my arse in gear and actually do some of the stuff I keep boring people about. Mainly, making some comics. It was a bumpy first six months, and I'm still not really doing as much as I should be, but things are actually moving along.

Finished my first comic. Ever. Even the Transformer and Action Force rip-offs I did as a kid never got finished as I was too bothered about making them good.

I followed the same advice for writing a novel: "Never try and write your masterpiece first". So I've done a comic based on a short film so I don't have to worry about plot, or even in some cases the pictures (many scenes are lifted straight from the paused film), but just actually finishing it, and practicing my layouts.

I'm actually quite fond of it, although there are loads of improvements needed. Took me a lot longer than it should have as well.

1)The main problem I have (apart from the shoddy drawing, which, I do kinda like) is that it doesn't actually make any sense. The film works, which is why I chose it. It's like a little pun and I found it quite funny. My comic however, just seems confusing and bizarre. I failed to emphasise the first 'teethed smile' and so the punchline is missed.

2) I rushed the title page as a last minute add on, I didn't plan it and it happened literally as I put the brush strokes down. If I had done some thumbnails I could have made a smart little graphic piece, I think the ideas are all there.

3) Dunno why I stuck with the first page. I really wanted to do him walking down the stairs and I stuck with the idea to the detriment of the story telling.

4) Originally, the only scenes that were actually framed were the scenes from the peeping tom's perspective. This kind of got lost when I replaced a couple of scenes and then failed to frame up the last panel. Shame, as I thought that was a nice idea.

5) Lots more stuff!

Still, I really enjoyed it and feel ready to do my first story - it's still not one of my favourites so I feel safe in mucking about with it, but I have taking a LONG time doing layouts for it. Feel more confident now though that it's OK to make mistakes. It's going to be called 'Levelling Out'.

I have some other projects to do in the meantime though, a comic with my friend Joel, a wedding invitation, a 14 Nights post (its about time) and my Cannibal Gymnastics band. Jesus, I wish I was still a student so I could squeeze the time in!

Now, back to the beer and Wire's Pink Flag.

"A Host of Scowling Haircuts"

2009-08-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

So close.. nearly finished the comic. Loads of problems with it, including one major one where I realised I haven't made enough of the first smile - which is the whole point. Ah well, the whole idea was to do a comic that I wouldn't get caught up on being 'perfect'.

Defintely looking forward to doing the next project(s) though.

Need to go to bed, so here's my inks.

And a quick Emma Peel sketch because she is the best.

Since my last post I have been digging (well, mostly):

The Prisoner - Complete series - what an ending, what a great show.
PJ Harvey - 4 Track Demos
Galaxie 500 - The Portable Galaxie 500
Casanova
The Testament of Dr Mabuse
Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Elastica - Elastica EP
Sparkelhorse - Good Morning Spider
Columbo - Etude in Black
Songs in The Key of Z
Essential Avengers Vol.2
Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92
Eden Lake
Franklyn
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Trojan Dub Box Set
Frank Miller era Daredevil
The Shaggs - My Pal Foot Foot
Wesley Willis - Cut The Mullet
The Invisibles Volume 1
The Slits - Cut
The Make-Up - Live! At Cold Rice
The Make-Up - In Mass Mind

"When, Will You Come Home?"

2009-08-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

Going to do nothing today and feel ok about it. Haven't posted in a bit, but I have been drawing/practicing guitar and reading. Thought I'd give myself a free pass today. Of course, that means just trying to read and watch fucking loads of stuff and then documenting it.

Defintely getting obsessed with trying to do everything. Must chill!

Oh yeah, and my PC seems to be dying on me (well, it seems to have been for quite some time now), lost my profile settings meaning I've lost all my web bookmarks, setting, passwords and all my little program settings. Gah. Surprisingly OK about it, just wish I had the money to get a new PC quicker. Seeing it as a good opportunity to clean house instead. Hence the chill.

Annoyingly though it doesn't seem to save anything now, so when I do re-apply all the old setting they disappear each time I log in. Bah.

"When You're Stuck Like Glue - Vaseline!"

2009-08-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, kind of messed my comic up, check out the super-ugly panels at the bottom! Naturally, these are panels not in the film. Shouldn't have tried to wing it. Probably redo and scan it over later on.

DISCLAIMER: It is still unfinished, but I don't have any excuse for the bottom of the page. Holy crap it's bad.

EDIT: Just added it as a two pager with the first one. Despite this not turning out as I had hoped I'm really looking forward to finishing it and going back to my own story!

"Don't Lose Your Graceful Tones"

2009-08-02T15:02:00.001-07:00

Just realised I have 12 days until this blog is one year old. Would be a good way to celebrate it if I finished this one comic for then.

"Wanna Be A Field Day For The Sundays"

2009-08-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Still failing to finish this comic. Set myself a deadline of tonight and I can't stop messing with it and trying to improve it. I'm still kind of enjoying doing it though so I'm not sure if I should stop and just wind it up or keep reworking it.

I don't think I've even managed to tell the story, let alone do some decent pics yet. And all these are heavily based on the film anyway, not much of it is my actual original input.

Did enjoy trying out inks, even if I made a terrible mess. What I have managed is to make something a little more free and loose, but I also really like the cartoony one that's all in blue. I'm going to end up with a book worth of just alternative versions of this one story!

"BATMAN!"

2009-07-27T14:19:00.001-07:00

Cartoon from ages ago. I should do some more of these.

"Test, Test, Test, Test.. Can You Hear Me Now?"

2009-07-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Just testing something really.

"I'm a West-Coast Strutting, One Bad Mutha.."

2009-07-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture from a film I'm watching at the moment - Onibaba. I was trying to practice inking for a change.

First I messed up the larger face, never mind!

Secondly I should've left it simple black and white - it looked loads better. But the whole point is to practice and learn and I've left too much stuff half done for fear of wrecking it. So I tried adding some other shades. Whoops!

Third, it seems to have scanned in strangely. There's not supposed ot be any purple in it. I do however prefer it like this.

Still, a fun little experiment and practice that didn't take very long at all. I should do more of these.

Gotta practice for a gig tonight now.

Third season of Dexter

Onibaba

City of the Lost Children - Man what a great film! Forgot to mention it, can't believe I've only just got round to watching it.

"I'm Just A Little Bit Afraid Of You"

2009-07-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Explanation for the post below: Pencils for the comic. Messed up the second page and the whole thing isn't as loose as I wanted. Going to mess around with it a little more first. Damn!

"Don't Look on the Carpet, I Drew Something Awful on it "

2009-07-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Think of a number, divide it by two

2009-07-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

Fucking hell, my stereo's awful.

Just getting into Wire. I'm a bit behind and starting with 'Pink Flag'. Love it.

Had a week off and was going to spend it all drawing. I've only just got around to some this evening, instead I've met up with a friend and chatted about, read a lot and bought a lot of comics. Then I've been cleaning and rearranging the flat etc.

Thought I better make up for the lost time drawing with some action tonight, so I've been working on 'Teethed Smile' the Polanski adaptation. These are supposed to be thumbnails but I don't seem to be able to stick with thumbnail size! Next I'm going to do the thumbnail order for the layout and then the roughs. Going to try and finish it this week so at least by the end of the week I would've finished one comic.

Still got a gig and guitar to practice though, damn, this holiday really has just flown by. I have a tendency to stress any time off (including weekends) and worry about not doing enough. As a result I tried to read a hell of a lot. And I did.

Wire - Pink Flag

Wednesday Comics #1 and #2 - didn't seem to have #3 today!

Meat is Murder 33 1/3 book.

Feast - cool fun horror flick.

The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke - volumes 1 & 2

Solo # 5 - Darwyn Cooke

Richard Pryor Show Episodes 1 & 2

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

In the Flesh:Stories -Koren Shadmi

The Sandman Volume 7: Brief Lives

ABBA: Gold

Velvet Underground & Nico

Essential Amazing Spider-Man vol.6

Latest Buffy comics

Horror Etc podcast 92 - British Horror

and in the time it's taken me to upload my pictures I've started and finished Solo#12 featuring Brendan McCarthy. Going to have to read that one again though, pretty and pretty nuts.

"Someone Stumbles to the Bathroom with the Horrors"

2009-07-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

Finished -nearly. Still got the actual music part to do - that'll be tomorrow I think. Hopefully shouldn't take more than an evening, two at the most and the most important part is the score which I can send tommorow (once I've recorded the A and B sides of the record for the music).

Quite pleased with it in the end, looked quite close to what I originally designed, although I dropped the piano score part (too obvious, didn't really need it) and put in new clok music bits on the glue tabs. I realised I hadn't put clok music anywhere, which is important to the score, and then I realised the glue tabs had gone to waste so it seemed natural to go there. Glad I didn't end up drawing it on the hatband as I had originally intended, but I should've really taken more care with the colours - I just chucked them on. Never mind.

Added an extra inner sleeve for instructions as well - vague instructions, enough to explain a little without restricting the music performer.

Just had a cool thought - it would be nice to do this to loads of records, put them in charity shops with a link to a website - anybody making music with them could send their music to the website. Hmmmm, pipe dream perhaps.

The Sopranos Season One

Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol.5

Neu! - Neu!

Gold Blade - Home Turf

Samurai Jack Season One

Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

"She's Lost Control Again"

2009-07-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ouch, hand cramps. Started too late on the record desing, but think I've nearly finished it. Will probably move the notes somewhere else. Needs a little extra then should be finished. Not confident that it will look exactly like this (no shit!) but I'll try my best. At the moment I'm planning on tracing and painting with white paint and black ink (gulp!).

Let's see if I can cram in some Twin Peaks.

"The Sun's Not Yellow, It's Chicken"

2009-07-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Trying out some more stuff. Photoshop is getting easier, taking advantage of the layers now. Some of this is rubbish, some of it I think'll work. Might try and finish the design tomorrow so I can actually work on the real piece Thursday and Friday, then do the music for it (it's going to be a music score) at the weekend.

Fucking A-Plan.

Guitar Hero lunch, love beating the plastic

Read about Ernest Borgine, Airwolf, isolation of chickens, made up the word 'Windular'

AFX

Bogdan Raczynski

Liars - Drum's Not Dead

Episode 91 Horror Podcast

Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited

Squarepusher - Go Plastic

"We Don't Think So, You Seem Starshaped"

2009-07-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

More working on the ACQUIRED collective, not automated as I keep saying. Really finding the WACOM tablet tough, but actually optimistic I'll come up with something reasonable in the end.

Horror Podcast episodes 89 & 90

Spicy Red Vegetable Soup

Essential Spider-Man Volume 5

Sandman

Rephlexions! An Album of Braindance

The Braindance Coincidence

"Black Toothed Grin"

2009-07-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Some rough working for a short comic based on one of Polanski's short films 'Teethed Smile' - I think it's called that anyway, I'll have to double check.

"I Stay Away From the Bugs!"

2009-07-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

Some workings out for the Automated Collective blog

"The Ghost I Love the Most"

2009-07-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Drawings from Rock Band 2/ Guitar Hero sessions.

Sandman

Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5

Walden

Beetlebum on guitar

The Filth

Black Christmas

Suspiria

Twin Peaks

"And All My Violence Gone"

2009-06-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Phew, it is, as they say 'a scorcher'.

However, I am not one of those people that enjoys feeling the flesh melt from my bones.

Trying to focus a bit more - I was trying so hard to do everything I was getting nothing done. So I'm just concentrating on one thing at a time - I'll keep a record of my ideas and try to get around to them eventually. For now, I have the Acquired Collective thing to do

http://acquiredcollective.blogspot.com/

Which is my first attempt to do something more Fine Art based. I think I'm going to try and do some music with it - using my old Clok Music ideas

http://fidgetyink.blogspot.com/2008/10/musical-scores-v-popbloks.html

First though, I have to design it all as I only have one record to use. So as not to fuck it up I've traced it into Photoshop to try and mess about with it (tracing rather than scanned - why? Rather stupid of me). My first time really using photoshop as well as the Wacom tablet I've borrowed. The idea was to quickly bang out lots of variations and then choose one to create, but it's taking me ages.

Ah well. Going to bed now, hot and tired.

Here it is so far.

"It Has Turned Into Crystal"

2009-06-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

And I watched Polanski's Knife in the Water' and tried drawing from it. Last time I did this was his 'Repulsion' - just great looking films. Enjoyed this.

Tried to focus on hands a bit more as my hands suck. As does everything else, but one suckage at a time please.

"The Snot has Caked Against My Pants"

2009-06-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Day off today, so I got some stuff done.

Went to Brighton Station for a half hour of drawing and then to the beach. The sketches looked very much like these:

Love: Forever Changes

Elvis Costello: Armed Forces

Henry David Thoreau: Walden

The Witching Hour

33 1/3: Forever Changes

Batman Animated Series

"Accidents will Happen"

2009-06-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

Real late. Still not finished. New subject now, damn. Must speed up.

Here is the latest bumf.

"Nixon went for Pepsi, goddamn it!"

2009-06-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Didn't get as much drawing done as I wanted this weekend, but it was a good weekend.

Currently listening to some Alan Moore CDs:

Angel Passage

Brought to Light

The Highbury Working

Love 'em. Can easily do these a few times I think - should keep me going with my drawing until the next Horroretc podcast.

I tried to finish off my Fourteen Nights drawing, but it looked so fucking awful I thought I'd try a little longer - glad I did, I reckon I can improve it after all. Man, this is going to be so late!

Made myself an amazing dinner - it was yellow, pink, purple, green, red, fushia, brown, orange, white, gold.

Roasted balsamic beetroot & onion with a salad of sweetcorn, radish, lettuce, cherry tomato, cucumber, spring onion and a mustard and red wine vinegar dressing, and a

I was very impressed with myself.

Oh, I better post a picture hadn't I? I really suck at hands, must practice. Unfortunately if I wait until I can draw them I'll never finish the Fourteen Nights pic so I'm just going to have to have suky hands on it.

Must get around to doing that Geoff Senior article for 'Unpretty' blog as well.

"You've been cryin, your face is a mess - come in baby, you can dry the tears on my dress"

2009-06-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week so far:

Blue Beach sketches

Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis

Love - Forever Changes

Truth: Red, White & Black by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker

Spellbound alternative 80's night - Mart's birthday

Walden: Henry David Thoreau

Essential: The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 4

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot

The Woman in Black

Artichoke hearts

She Got A TV Eye On Me

2009-06-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

More refining of my Fourteen Nights idea. The guy's started looking less like a vampire and more of a cross between that creepy guy from Lost Highway and The Devil.

Checked out some 'Witching Hour' comics for inspiration, think I'm getting closer.

Had to really simplify the stuff coming out of his jacket though, wanted loads of different types of executions but couldn't really figure it out. Then again, the whole concept doesn't work as well now and I didn't try that hard...hmmmm. Maybe they could be comic panels? Then it would be like he was presenting an anthology show - shadenfreude and all that - which is supposed to be the idea - a sideshow of someone elses pain - hence 'rubbernecker'.

"And Baby Ain't You Tired"

2009-06-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, so I'm just reading. Going to try and finish The Adventures of Luther Arkwright tonight.

"And the Whores Like A Choir.."

2009-06-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Some sketches for the Fourteen Nights 'Sideshow' subject. Man, I'm already four days late with this. Still, I've out my 360 away until September so I actually get some stuff done. Might actually work. Plus I need to do some grammar correcting on my blog apparently. I'm usually so good with it as well, damn. Must be more careful.

Must make a note to look at Alex Toth's 'Witching Hour' comics for the 'Rubberneck' ghoul. I'm trying to get as much story out of one picture as possible, I could add in another character or keep Rubbernecker looking at the camera. Should do more really but I am knackered and still want to get some a chapter of my book read tonight (Walden by Henry David Thoreau).

Already managed to get in some more practice on 'Blues Run The Game' Bert Jansch version and then go for a nice beach walk.

Plus, got my assignment from 'Aquired Collective' and I have a month to submit work, so that's 15th july.

And then there's the R2D2 Godzilla comic I want to do. Going to be a busy time!

Listening to Horrorpodcast's 'The Thing' commentary, man that film rocks.

Finally did a six word story today based on a news story:

Carrot bomb. Victims suffer improved eyesight.

"Sunday, sunday here again.."

2009-06-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

..and here's some stuff from today. More beach drawings and some brainstorming for Fourteen Nights - might try and do one for their current subject. I seem to keep coming up with macabre twists on it...

"Saturday, saturday, saturday it's a saturday-e-yay.."

2009-06-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

Some more drawings from the beach on Saturday, plus some thumb drawings from the anatomical book.