Present

I hope your Christmas was Good.
I ate well and did little overall, in a good way.

Now it's over I can post the pieces I was commissioned to create for presents.

The above piece was created for my good pal Thomas. It's an amalgamation of things he likes.


Pencils.



This Portrait was for a very good customer of mine. Hopefully her boyfriend (and his dog) were pleased with it.


First attempt.

Hinterland

I doubt this is good professional practice, but I'm quite excited by this next piece.
Here's just a tiny hint.

Plus! - The Lost Levels (aka - my awesome housemates) will be playing at The Arts Centre this Thursday. Be There!

MaskAlbum

I've set up a little Facebook page to run alongside this here blog. You can become a fan of it if you prefer to be informed of updates that way.

Currently Enjoying - Beruit

Telly

I have nothing much that I'm able to report at the moment, things start getting secretive near Christmas. The Walls have Ears and the Wires have Eyes.

A few sketchbook bits here though.
Above = TV watching drawing.
Below = Good thoughts.

Smooth

Watercolour sketches from a little Vogue magazine that found me whilst on the train home from London the other day.

Brush & Spoke

'Mellor Velo Roma' piece posted on Brush & Spoke - a website built to showcase bicycles, bicycle related art, and anything else bicycles!

Ride

Finally I can upload this piece to this blog and my portfolio site, as it's been published!

The Ride journal is comprised of articles, photography and illustrations from a wide range of contributors, getting wider each issue. I was very pleased to be able to have a piece in their publication and an invite to the launch party in Stoke Newington. It was a good night.



The article I was given told the true story of a cyclist in New York getting knocked down by a car for the second time within 12 months. His life subsequently entered a dark place. Gradually he managed to pull himself through thanks to his memories of better times riding in the sunshine.
Quite a tragic story to try putting a picture to, I went for the pre-impact moment before it all went bad.



P.S - Dark was the Night = :D

Hiawatha

Latest Poetry Analysis piece for the Epoch Times UK, published today.
An Extract from 'The Song of Hiawatha' by Longfellow



Extract
"He had moccasins enchanted,
Magic moccasins of deer-skin;
When he bound them round his ankles,
When upon his feet he tied them,
At each stride a mile he measured"



Second Illustration in recent weeks that uses a low angle shot of a male head ('Awake' was the first). I've had enough of these for now, maybe I should do birds eye view shots next as a remedy.


The aforementioned moccasins, I might get some.

Sendak

'Where The Wild Things Are' won't be released until around the 11th of December here in the UK. Thought I'd use the opportunity to create a illustration in anticipation.



The shading layer pic ^above^ is an accurate depiction of my excitement about this film.

Hot Little Hands

A rough idea for a recent commission, of which I forgot to photograph the finished piece.

PRINTS!!

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High Quality, Kid!

Wood

Latest piece for the Epoch Times UK newspaper.
To accompany An Extract from The Divine Comedy by Dante (net version).

The Wood

"In the midway of this our mortal life,
I found me in a gloomy wood, astray"
(Exctract)

This was pretty much a 24 hour turnover piece, would've had longer if I'd got my act together earlier. I didn't really give myself enough time to think through the image beforehand and just went at it instead :(



I prefer the original line piece.

Audio

Portfolio piece.
A lovely image that has been rolling around in my imagination for a while now.



Having recently relocated to Norwich city, I'm on a job hunting mission at the moment. The colder weather and state of unemployment does have it creative benefits though i.e. plenty of drawing time.

TrackBite

Keeping on the bike tip, photographed here is one of the many designs on the Fox's Sports biscuits.



Other sports are depicted, even skateboarding, this one's best though.

Velo Roma

Latest personal piece that I'm very pleased to have finished. For a while now I've thought my portfolio needed something sunny in it, just need to get some pieces with happy smiley faces in and I might have everything covered.

The main inspiration/source material for this illustration was a simple photo I came across. Thanks to fellow Suffolk/Norfolk creative 'Cloudy'.


Slightly rose tinted version.

Still Awake

Now in colour. Not sure if I've got the best result possible?

Made

I've been clearing my room out in preparation for moving to Norwich this coming weekend. I found this little collection of origami Lotus Flowers under my bed that I made years ago to be handed out at a Falun Gong parade/event. I never got around to giving them to anyone to use until now.
Thought I'd take a snap before I post them off.

I've got moving nerves.

Awake

Latest piece for the Epoch Times Art & Culture page.
To accompany a poetry analysis of 'To Sleep' by William Wordsworth, which is all about not being able to nod off.
Something I am glad to say I don't have too much trouble with.

I wanted the picture of the little sheep in the corner to have a Chris Wormell print look. A poor quality print out of a Deer, by him ,looks over me from the wall next to my desk. You can see it in the background here. Mr Wormells Artwork has had quite an influence on me over recent years.

Next on the to do list: Kittens, More Owls, Musicians and Allegories (maybe).

Caps

I work in a Bookshop at present. I get a little bored sometimes when it's quiet, as you can see.

1984

I've finally finished this portrait commission which I've been harping on about to friends for quite a while now.



The moment I was given the photo to draw from I was rather excited by the 80s look of it. Being a child of the 80s myself, that era for me is full of memories of cartoons, toys and play. The recent retro trend in the fashion world hasn't sat too comfortably with me as I feel I don't connect with it in that way. I've never thought of the 80's as being a particularly attractive era either.



Strangely, now I'm presented with it as something to work from, I feel rather warm and fuzzy in response. There is something awfully comfortable looking about it all, and I think that's what I'm liking.



I got pretty nervous about handing this one over to the commissioner as it's their parents depicted. I wasn't present when they came over to collect it, but I'm told they were very pleased. Relief!

Heds

Rough bits and bobs.

Jasp

Sketchbook page.


Pencils for latest personal piece which will take a while to complete as paying jobs must be given priority these days.

I'm going to be 27 next Tuesday and I'm not sure what to make of that.

TwentyFive

Birthday Commish for a man whose drops-ins are the stuff of legend, whose curly locks are a thing of beauty, and who does a very good impression of Morgan Freeman.



Saw Jeffrey Lewis at the weekend, was Rad.

Chips

Rockit

The friend I've painted standing on the right of the page was nowhere near this grumpy looking in the original photo, it just came out that way.

Bills

A rather swiftly commissioned piece for the parents. Made in exchange for a chip off some MOT induced debt.

Smilers

This week Mum, next week Bill Callahan.

Norwich Arts Centre is Golden.