introducing StoryHands, a super awesome new illustration collective.

what is an illustration collective you ask? well I'm not sure but I'm in one now 

basically is about doing stuff together, like, collectively isn't it? so expect lots of exciting collaboration in my future. 

  

here is a copy paste of the introduction from the website (here) which I wrote anyway you know so it's not like I'm stealing. apart from the bit about the crusade, June wrote that bit.

StoryHands was originally the brainchild of June Sees and Jenny Robins, conceived on a night heady with cathartic Bonnie Tyler renditions and infinite amounts of frozen yoghurt. Their wishlist of collaborators said Yes! to the invitation to join a crusade of illustration in pursuit of perfection in fresh colourful narrative work.

John Riordan was the first to accept, having met both Jenny and June on the same fateful night in 2008 when they all went to the pub after an AOI Business Masterclass. Martyn had graduated in Illustration with Jenny from Solent University the year before, where they both did absolutely ridiculous work. Jenny and June knew Natsuki through their mutual contribution to Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, the 2011 launch of which was where Jenny first tried live portraiture and became hooked, June and Nat also being amazing live artists.

With the five emerging and talented illustrators all together, we can begin our crusade!

as a special bank holiday treat to myself, I have drawn the Voice finalists

facebook project catch up

The facebook project marches slowly on, the 100th picture milestone having been passed in february with this slightly experimental work in felt pen of Fern

and the completion of the Fs a few weeks later, making my ongoing alphabet-brick-esque summary look nice and even numbered.

Here are a couple of other recent project portraits I am pleased with

Faye

Fran, as starring in The Artist

Gehan

I am sort of on holiday this week so should be making some more progress, there's still, you'll have noticed, a lot of alphabet to go though.

Outside it is raining plenty on the Queen, and inside I am baking gammon.

I should be tidying my desk. It is horrific.

As a special treat. Here are some of my favourite expressions that Phillip Schofield pulls whilst presenting The Cube.

Everything changes. In the Cube.

Honestly, if I can figure out a way that I could just draw from TV all day that would be my perfect job. I'm thinking about doing a reality TV themed zine over summer.

On Christmas, Activism, but chiefly Making Things For People.

A facebook project portrait of Erica Sharp

Ho Ho Ho (or, backwards, Oh Oh Oh)

For it's Christmas time, when we travel far and near;

May God bless you and send you a happy New Year

Well, not any more. But the sentiment stands.

I had a most joyous season of good will. I travelled far and near and I gave and received and ate and ate and ate.

Something which I may have mentioned previously, is how busy in the manner of a bee I am in my life currently. I have a full time teaching job, an epic commute, portraits to paint, resources to make, plus illustrating for things like the Think Act Vote book which is being crowd funded here go buy them a drink or worth a general check out for their sterling work, plus the occasional magazine illo. Anyway I barely have time to watch X factor, so it's lucky that's finished.

I had thought therefore, that come the festive season I would want to give hassle free gifts, pay with the more money that I have to save the more time in the holidays I needed for sleeping and watching Gilmore Girls. But no. Before the term even ended I began to fantasize about hand making gifts.

I played with ideas of garlands and biscuits, altered vintage photographs, in the end I plumped for uniquely tailored chocolate hearts for the majority, choosing confectionery and mixing different brands of chocolate for each of my immediate and in-law-to-be family members. I also made some mini lightswitch artworks, bird shaped tree decorations and my traditional set of handmade cards for my mother's extended lot.

I forgot to do the obvious and photograph any of this, so here is an annotated diagram of how to make your own, me-style chocolate heart. I may have got carried away with the diagram. There wasn't really a bunsen burner.

Is it racist that love hearts still say BLUE EYES?

I didn't really forget by the way. It crossed my mind to record these endeavours and do like a twee crafty blog of it all. But that felt wrong. Because these things, and here we are coming to my actual point, were not for self promotion. They were for my loved ones, and also, for me. In a private and pure way, to keep me sane.

I think this is a big part of why I am an illustrator more than I'm a fine artist, and why I love doing portrait commissions, why I spend longer than I have to making resources for my Art classes,

(like this example of a one point perspective shop interior I did at half term)

why I am doing my facebook project too in a way. Making things for other people is one of my all time favourite things to do. (obvious jokes about chocolate and sex).

It's better than Art for Art's sake, Art for Sale, Art for The Betterment of The People, Art Garfunkel, Art for kids, Art for fun and profit, and Art for impressing the Opposite Sex.

Making things for other people is basically like having a dinner party, but with less last minute hoovering and soup angst.

Making things for other people is Ace.

And that's why I know that whatever happens in my life, if I have a dozen kids, or get a job so lucrative I am not compelled to draw for moneys ever again (neither of which are likely, but you never know), I will still Make things for People.

I suggest you do too.

I exercise my self given right to say 'Merry Christmas' right up until I start saying happy new year.

Merry Christmas. I may write a proper post tomorrow.

it's the most wonderful time of the year again.

I went to the Solipsistic Pop launch party, cos I'm in it and all that. Few weeks ago. Nice night, drew Owl and Mouse on a postit. I always have postits about my person as a rule now. It's a thing. Anyway I gave it to them so you can't see it sorry.

I had to leave before the end cos it was a school night, I was well grumpy about this, although thinking about it, I'm pretty sure I mostly used to leave these things about 10 o'clock before I was a teacher as well.

This week sees the launch of the The memories project although I'm not sure if I'll make it to that one.

Check out this sweet commission I did for Ellie from Bristol (not the smelly one) inspired by my friendship alphabet, but with a food/kitchen vintagey theme,

here are some of the paintings a bit bigger for your eyes to see. I will probably be doing this as a prints series at some point - let me know if you are interested and I'll make sure your in the know you know.

here is a joyful pop triptych of Emma for the facebook project, slowly getting there. Facebook just recently made it so photos go backwards in time, instead of forward. What will they think of next eh? Jackanapes.

here is a consumer rage anecdote. Two days ago, I was seduced into GAP by their 30% off of everything sandwich board attack strategy. I tried on some stuff, apparently I am a size 8 in there now, which is not to say I am a size 8 anywhere else, just that Americans are fat. Anyway I enjoyed some purchases which I was looking forward to wearing about my person, but when I got up in the morning I discovered that they still had the security tags attached.

Instantly, I was consumed by consumer rage. I felt righteously wronged and wrongfully denied my new clothes experience of the day. Forced to go to school in clothes I had already owned. I'm over it now. When I went back in the girl on the till wordlessly removed them for me barely glancing at my receipt. I'm now not sure why I was so angry. It probably says something profound about our society. Or my state of mind. There was this interesting speech by Ben Hammersley that is not really relevant but you should go read it anyway.