Stuff I've been doing
Has it really been that long since I updated here? Time is flying this year. Our From The Horses Mouth book released and we continue to get very positive reviews from magazines and blogs. I have no idea what sales are like, but it is great that the cartoons are out there and being enjoyed. We still hope to get to some form of country or horse show this year to meet people and talk about the book, and I will draw cartoons in their copies. I know that the publishers are keen for us to do this.
The Zang Fu book is progressing nicely despite a long stay in Sweden recently with Lotus Nei Gong (the school of internal martial arts my co author Damo heads up). Being close to Damo, even though he was naturally very busy, gave us opportunity to discuss our book and I have come back with lots of new story ideas and characters from his conversations and lectures. One of the largest organ pairs (lungs and large intestine) is complete and the publishers are pleased, as are the students whom I gave a sneak peek to whilst in Sweden. Still a lot of work to do though before the November deadline!
With all this activity I was delighted when an old character who I draw often for any greetings card sent to my Mum or Dad took on a new life under my pen. I am spending more time on the phone than usual which gives me time to let my right hand draw what it wants whilst my brain engages in the conversation. There is a way to go yet, but I have high hopes for a comic strip about a cairns terrier named Monty with more issues than the Times newspaper and just as much character. Watch this space........but don't hold your breath or forgo toilet visits because three months might slip by again!
The release date for our collection of horse cartoons is very close now, and we are really pleased to see that Horse & Hound magazine have featured it on their web page. You can check out the feature here. The book is available from amazon or direct from the publishers on their website.
We are very excited about the book, and the cartoons look and feel great in printed form!
A lot has happened in five months, and I will announce it in stages rather than one huge post. One of the most exciting developments is that our cartoon collection 'from the horses mouth' has been picked up by a publisher. Contracts were signed at the end of 2014 and the book will be released by Kenilworth Press within Quiller Publishing in March. They are selling it through equestrian and countryside events as well as on their website. It is also available through amazon.co.uk and will be released on the 31st March.
The book has not only the 101 cartoons produced for the lulu version (now withdrawn obviously!) but extras too, and they are all in full colour! Vicky and I are now working on the sequel......watch this space
I'm doodling. Productive doodling as these telephone scribbles are continued character ideas for one of my current projects. I am also working on a logo and that Chinese medicine book I keep talking about.
Seeing your work used in any form is very pleasing, but I especially love the gorgeous boxes Elegant Merino have produced for their woollen garments using the logo I produced.
If you are looking for luxurious woollen garments and accessories in New Zealand merino wool, then check out Elegant Merino.
If you are looking for a logo, then please get in touch with me :)
I'm not finding much time to draw or doodle right now, but I hope this will change once we are settled into our new place and have broadband from Monday.
Here is a twenty second doodle for now........
Cartoon monkeys doodled earlier whilst deciding how one of the Zang Fu characters will look. It is progressing nicely and I am becoming more familiar with Manga Studio :)
It's been a while since I posted. I'm drawing, but I can't share yet as I'm trying to complete a batch of cartoons for a proposal to a publisher. So I'm keeping my powder dry so to speak.
Here is a doodle as I sit in front of the tv wishing it wasn't so rubbish :)
Getting the hang of drawing in Manga Studio, but I have a way to go before I can create comic pages in it quickly, and I need to produce thirty pages for the publisher for one of the projects to get it started officially.
No pressure!
My old faithful Autodesk Sketchbook Pro has been struggling of late with my two new projects, as they are both comic based and it isn't specifically geared to that kind of art. It has also been corrupting my work which is quite depressing.
One of my Digital Illustration students reintroduced me to Manga Studio, so I am rapidly absorbing what I can do with this cool piece of software. Clearly this is a mad doodle amongst a whole page of experiments.
I am convinced that with more practice this will be the software for Project Zang Fu.
Apologies for the lack of updates the past couple of days, but I am really excited that the next phase of our move is complete, and equally excited to be back in Sussex!
Now I can concentrate on those two book projects I have been talking about, reenergise my martial arts training and catch up on marking assignments for my digital illustration students
(thanks for your patience the last few days guys!).
Life is sweet and the future is digitally coloured :)
Lots of reading and resting today, so no productive doodling, but I thought I would draw this little snapshot of our mammoth 12 hour drive on Friday.
Small island, too many cars, bottleneck.
I've missed a couple of days updating the site as I have been in a car travelling back and forth to the area of the UK where my girlfriend and I are moving to. Way too many hours in a car really! We calculated that we could have flown half way around the world in the time we spent sitting behind the wheel of that van!
Hence no updates.
This is the beginning of a revamped cartoon for Project Sven which I worked on today. Not sure yet whether it will remain black and white or be coloured....
