life drawing
It’s so hard and yet so simple. But always useful. I came across a really good session in Dublin, in a lovely Georgian room, with great models.
Telly drawing
I disagree with all that snooty art college talk about not using photo reference to draw. It does depends how you do it, of course. No point doing something photorealistic – that is the realm of – you know – photos, but to use it to study poses or freeze action on the telly so you …
Fionn MacCumhaill
Some images I made for the supplement to today’s Irish Daily Mail to illustrate the legend Fionn MacCumhaill. It is a great subject for illustration, plenty of heroes, magic and bravery. Very enjoyable.
news
I went to Life Drawing last night. Something of a cross between a packed Dublin pub on a Friday night, and drawing class in art college – I found a little spot on the floor and drew in my sketchbook and was perfectly happy. It’s nice sometimes to do something so familiar. I was also …
2014
HAPPY NEW YEAR, visitors. May it be good to you. Working freelance on a long-term project does have its challenges, as you may know. There are times when you can’t see your way through what seems like a never-ending tunnel of slog. As a comic-making friend summed up: “Making graphic novels is just so grueling.” …
The Laydeez who do Comics
I was asked to be guest blogger at the fantastic most recent LAYDEEZ DO COMICS meeting here in Dublin at the Odessa Club, last weekend. VINI, VIDI, DOCUMENTI ..or something. It was really fun to be the cartoonist du jour. Thank you, laydeez! Here is my “document”.
madrid
I flew to Madrid last week to give the good boat Phizz the Whizz a push out onto the oft-choppy waves of the internet, with my colleague and friend, the redoubtable Maria, whom I have known for actual decades. (We met in ’95 when working in Corel, shared an apartment in Rathmines.) We enjoyed recording the localised …
comic in a box
Today the stars are aligned like this: The excellent MART are opening their newly refurbed and amazing fire station this evening with this show. My piece is a sort of convergence between the comic format and fine art convention: yes, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Rather than trying to straddle the gap between comic …
Graphic Short
I am very much enjoying making my graphic short for the Observer Cape Comica Graphic Short competition this year. HAPPY DAYS, folks. Contrary to what might seem common sense, the constraints are helpful rather than restricting. Funny, that. Leonardo was right. It is autobiographical in content. In my own name! Eek. I feel slightly exposed …