I just came across the first photos from The Tokyo Art Book Fair (so wish I'd been there!!) You can see them here and here. Look out for Waiting for Sushi and my other comics in the photos!
P.S My website will be back NEXT WEEK!!! yay!
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Japan!
I just came across the first photos from The Tokyo Art Book Fair (so wish I'd been there!!) You can see them here and here. Look out for Waiting for Sushi and my other comics in the photos!
P.S My website will be back NEXT WEEK!!! yay!
Monday, 13 July 2009
Rough Work!
Just a quick post to share some old drawings I found last week. I was talking to my friend recently about how I always like the look of rough work and sketches of ideas for comics/designs more than the final artwork. The scraps of doodles I discovered show this quite well-
This envelope of doodles shows the very first drawings I did of Leaning Rabbit (you can see him leaning at the top and at the very bottom of the paper) It also shows Cheer-Up Rabbit and Block Head Beast and a few characters that never made it any further than this such as Chunky Cat and Show Cat! The "Parc Bleu" at the top refers to a comic strip I did years ago for a music zine I made with friends which was a collective name that I considered as a comic title. I might bring it back one day!
Then here is the initial idea sketch for my website banner (final one below) I like it much more than the final drawing even though it is really roughly drawn I think they have more character and energy to them. And I removed the "Oh Yeah"s for the final one too. Shame!
This envelope of doodles shows the very first drawings I did of Leaning Rabbit (you can see him leaning at the top and at the very bottom of the paper) It also shows Cheer-Up Rabbit and Block Head Beast and a few characters that never made it any further than this such as Chunky Cat and Show Cat! The "Parc Bleu" at the top refers to a comic strip I did years ago for a music zine I made with friends which was a collective name that I considered as a comic title. I might bring it back one day!
Then here is the initial idea sketch for my website banner (final one below) I like it much more than the final drawing even though it is really roughly drawn I think they have more character and energy to them. And I removed the "Oh Yeah"s for the final one too. Shame!
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Top Shelf 2- Dungaree Lion!
Take a look on Top Shelf 2 today for a new comic strip and a new character! Dungaree Lion! Let me know what you think of him! It's been a while but I've done a few new strips for the Top Shelf website so I'll make a blog post to let you know when the others are up too! :o)
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Tokyo Art Book Fair!!
My comics will be sale at The Tokyo Art Book Fair this coming weekend! They will be part of the mixed booth. I hope to get some photos from someone to put on the blog after (so if you are going please take photos for me!!) I'd love to have been able to go, I will have to start saving for next year perhaps! Oh and check out this drawing by Sachiyo Oishi, it has totally inspired me to do some felt tip pen drawings soon!
Friday, 26 June 2009
Reviews! Fashion!
Japanese Fashion Magazines, various.
I love Japanese fashion magazines! These have names like "Cutie" and are full of clothes that you just can't buy in the UK like dresses with 12 pockets and amazing shoes and every colour of everything!! (A.A are about the best place for plenty of colour options but still not enough choice!!) The only bad thing about these magazines is the fact I can't read them. But this is more than made up for by educational inserts like this-
Sex education diagrams should always be that cute!
The Tokyo Look Book by Philomena Keet.
This book is the next step for fans of "Fruits" and"Fresh Fruits" It contains the same sort of photos but with descriptions of the various fashion trends and shops in Tokyo. My favourite bit shows a picture of someone's phone with about a million phone charms- like mine! (I didn't get the idea from here though, my brain must have picked up psychic trend waves from Japan!!)
A Century of Fashion by Francois Baudot.
I bought this book because it was another 30p library discard bargain! It is actually pretty good with some cool photos in and a general history of fashion. I was interested by the tiny part on Coco Chanel because I'm looking forward to the new film starring Audrey Tautou (out soon! trailer look! AND she's in the Chanel No. 5 advert too!) It's a good book for photos but for more detailed information on fashion history I think there are better books.
From A to Biba, The Autobiography of Barbara Hulanicki
I originally borrowed from the library but thought it was so good that I then ordered it from amazon. The library copy was a much fancier hardback one with pink page edging (expensive to buy so I opted for the paperback) As the life story of Barbara Hulanicki it is the complete history from Biba from her first fashion competition design win to her mail order business then through the various shops. I won't ruin the end but it is nice to read now knowing she has recently gone on to make a bit of a Biba comeback with the release of her Topshop range and I hear there is a film about her soon. I just wish more original Biba (not crappy 80s/90s Biba) came up on Ebay at affordable prices!! but I guess everyone loved the clothes so much they wore them until they were unwearable. Bah!
Icons-50s Fashion Vintage Fashion and Beauty Ads Ed. Jim Heinmann
I have always avoided these £3.99 Tashen themed books (they do lots of art ones and various others) but I'm not sure why because this book is really good. I love 50s style fashion and old advertisements and this is a combination of the two. It has some awesome pages such as; Be-Bop Glasses and Glamorous Lingerie.
Subculture The Meaning Of Style by Dick Hebdige.
I'm pulling this expression in this photo because when I took the picture I thought this book was pretty boring and long winded, trying to be all scholarly about the aspects of style and fashion it covers. But since then I gave it another chance and it was interesting the second time (I think I wasn't concentrating before maybe...) It is a pretty good book for anyone studying fashion who needs a good place to get some quotes from. I enjoyed the glam rock part especially. Not as fun as actually going shopping though...
I love Japanese fashion magazines! These have names like "Cutie" and are full of clothes that you just can't buy in the UK like dresses with 12 pockets and amazing shoes and every colour of everything!! (A.A are about the best place for plenty of colour options but still not enough choice!!) The only bad thing about these magazines is the fact I can't read them. But this is more than made up for by educational inserts like this-
Sex education diagrams should always be that cute!The Tokyo Look Book by Philomena Keet.
This book is the next step for fans of "Fruits" and"Fresh Fruits" It contains the same sort of photos but with descriptions of the various fashion trends and shops in Tokyo. My favourite bit shows a picture of someone's phone with about a million phone charms- like mine! (I didn't get the idea from here though, my brain must have picked up psychic trend waves from Japan!!)A Century of Fashion by Francois Baudot.
I bought this book because it was another 30p library discard bargain! It is actually pretty good with some cool photos in and a general history of fashion. I was interested by the tiny part on Coco Chanel because I'm looking forward to the new film starring Audrey Tautou (out soon! trailer look! AND she's in the Chanel No. 5 advert too!) It's a good book for photos but for more detailed information on fashion history I think there are better books.From A to Biba, The Autobiography of Barbara Hulanicki
I originally borrowed from the library but thought it was so good that I then ordered it from amazon. The library copy was a much fancier hardback one with pink page edging (expensive to buy so I opted for the paperback) As the life story of Barbara Hulanicki it is the complete history from Biba from her first fashion competition design win to her mail order business then through the various shops. I won't ruin the end but it is nice to read now knowing she has recently gone on to make a bit of a Biba comeback with the release of her Topshop range and I hear there is a film about her soon. I just wish more original Biba (not crappy 80s/90s Biba) came up on Ebay at affordable prices!! but I guess everyone loved the clothes so much they wore them until they were unwearable. Bah!Icons-50s Fashion Vintage Fashion and Beauty Ads Ed. Jim Heinmann
I have always avoided these £3.99 Tashen themed books (they do lots of art ones and various others) but I'm not sure why because this book is really good. I love 50s style fashion and old advertisements and this is a combination of the two. It has some awesome pages such as; Be-Bop Glasses and Glamorous Lingerie.Subculture The Meaning Of Style by Dick Hebdige.
I'm pulling this expression in this photo because when I took the picture I thought this book was pretty boring and long winded, trying to be all scholarly about the aspects of style and fashion it covers. But since then I gave it another chance and it was interesting the second time (I think I wasn't concentrating before maybe...) It is a pretty good book for anyone studying fashion who needs a good place to get some quotes from. I enjoyed the glam rock part especially. Not as fun as actually going shopping though...
Reviews- Fiction/Non Fiction!
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguru
This was one of those books that I KEPT seeing in charity shops which, rather from making me think it was a sign I should read it, made me think- if everyone has given this away to charity then it must be bad. In the end I saw it for sale in the ex-library book section for 30p so gave it a go. I really enjoyed "Remains of the Day" by Ishiguro but for some reason I was expecting to not like this book. It turns out I was wrong-it was a book that I read in one sitting and was not what I was expecting at all. It managed to put across the same feelings about the passing of time and fragility of life that the reader gets from "Remains of the Day" but in the context of a Nineteen Eighty Four style world vision. Yup.
The Girls by Lori Lansens
This was another book I thought would be rubbish (I obviously judge a book by it's cover...) but it was better than I expected. A story told by fictional conjoined twins about their lives. I wouldn't say rush out and get this but if you see it (like the previous book) for sale for 30p it's an interesting story and a quick read.
They F*** You Up by Oliver James
This psychology book discusses the nature vs nurture debate with a focus on the power our parents have on who we turn out to be. It was interesting but will make you think twice about having kids...(unless you already have kids in which case maybe avoid reading this because it will overwhelm you with the responsibility you have over the effect you have on who your child becomes- yep it's all your fault if they turn out rubbish)
Self Made Man by Nora Vincent
I thought at first this book would be more of a stupid make over book for how to disguise yourself as a man (not that I was planning to do that, I was just interested), turns out it is a psychological exploration into how we are treated based on our gender. The woman who wrote it disguises herself as a man for a year and this is the documentation of what she did in that time- from join a bowling team, visit strip clubs, dating to joining a monastery. I was really impressed by the experiment and I'd like to read a book by a man pretending to be a woman for a year (if such a book exists) The author has a more recent book about being sectioned into a mental home which I plan to read next (because being a man made her go mental I guess)
Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup
I read this because I wanted to have read the book before the film. And as with most books made into films the book was much better. The main thing that put me off the film was the fact the presenter of the show sounded like he was saying "Who wants to be a Milliner" and I kept imagining the prize as a fancy job making hats. Which is stupid. Anyway, the film was ok but the book was better. Read the book.
This was one of those books that I KEPT seeing in charity shops which, rather from making me think it was a sign I should read it, made me think- if everyone has given this away to charity then it must be bad. In the end I saw it for sale in the ex-library book section for 30p so gave it a go. I really enjoyed "Remains of the Day" by Ishiguro but for some reason I was expecting to not like this book. It turns out I was wrong-it was a book that I read in one sitting and was not what I was expecting at all. It managed to put across the same feelings about the passing of time and fragility of life that the reader gets from "Remains of the Day" but in the context of a Nineteen Eighty Four style world vision. Yup.The Girls by Lori Lansens
This was another book I thought would be rubbish (I obviously judge a book by it's cover...) but it was better than I expected. A story told by fictional conjoined twins about their lives. I wouldn't say rush out and get this but if you see it (like the previous book) for sale for 30p it's an interesting story and a quick read.They F*** You Up by Oliver James
This psychology book discusses the nature vs nurture debate with a focus on the power our parents have on who we turn out to be. It was interesting but will make you think twice about having kids...(unless you already have kids in which case maybe avoid reading this because it will overwhelm you with the responsibility you have over the effect you have on who your child becomes- yep it's all your fault if they turn out rubbish)Self Made Man by Nora Vincent
I thought at first this book would be more of a stupid make over book for how to disguise yourself as a man (not that I was planning to do that, I was just interested), turns out it is a psychological exploration into how we are treated based on our gender. The woman who wrote it disguises herself as a man for a year and this is the documentation of what she did in that time- from join a bowling team, visit strip clubs, dating to joining a monastery. I was really impressed by the experiment and I'd like to read a book by a man pretending to be a woman for a year (if such a book exists) The author has a more recent book about being sectioned into a mental home which I plan to read next (because being a man made her go mental I guess)Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup
I read this because I wanted to have read the book before the film. And as with most books made into films the book was much better. The main thing that put me off the film was the fact the presenter of the show sounded like he was saying "Who wants to be a Milliner" and I kept imagining the prize as a fancy job making hats. Which is stupid. Anyway, the film was ok but the book was better. Read the book.
Mega Book Review Part One! Comics!
I was thinking recently how I don't read many comics so thought I'd get together all the books I've read in the past 1-2 months to see what I've read....and woah! It turns out I do read quite a lot of comics... and other books. Check this mega pile (and this is just some of them, lots already went back to the library!)-
Which made me think- hey I read a lot I should put some reviews up! I'll only put a short bit about each book but it might give people some ideas if they are looking for something new to read. So I'm going to blog about them in four blog post categories- comics, non fiction/fiction, fashion and stupid. Starting with comics (this is a comic related blog after all) It may be boring and long to read perhaps but I was planning to put more art reviews and such like on here too so that's what I'm going to do. Some people might be interested I guess...and if not um...sorry.
COMICS!!
Tales of Woodsman Pete with full particulars By Lille Carre
This book is so excellent that I think I am going to read it again right now. It makes Woodsman Pete and his bunch of friends (Philippe, Paul Bunyan & his Ox, Babe) seem real. So much so that I can still imagine Pete in his wooden cabin talking to his bear rug right now as I type.
Nicolas by Pascal Girard
This is a deceivingly cute book. Autobiographical fragments of Girard's life focusing on the death of his younger brother when he was a child. I was shocked by how powerful this book was, I think somehow the simplistic line drawing style magnified the emotions in the story. I love this book.
Funny Misshapen Body by Jeffrey Brown
This is the latest autobiograpical graphic novel by Jeffrey Brown but he has moved on from just focusing on relationships to more serious issues including his diognosis with Crohn's Disease and his development of his artwork. I think every new book he brings out takes us a bit deeper into his life and I think I personally enjoyed this book because it answered a lot of my questions of how JB got into comics and his journey through the art world from working in a wooden shoe factory to painting at art college to the world of comics. Another classic but I think if you have never read any JB before then this isn't a great one to start with just because it's more interesting given the background of his other books first.
Dreamtoons by Jesse Reklaw
This book is awesome. It is a collection of four panel comic strips of dreams that people from all over the world send to Jesse Reklaw. I'm not sure if he still does this weekly comic but I hope so because he has a talent of making this the sort of book it is hard to put down. I think a lot of people think "uh oh" when someone starts a story with "Oh I had a CRAZY dream last night..." and then begins a four hour rendition in which you feel like you want to punch them in the face and the only thing preventing you from doing so is the fear that you might knock them out and then they'll wake up only to have had a few more dreams that they want to bore you to death with. This book takes just the interesting/funny/hilarious/meaningful/random parts of these dreams and actually makes them into something you will be amazed and enthralled by. I've had this copy for years now and I can't remember where it was from but I'm sure main book shops should be able to order it still or it should be on amazon. Go find it because it is great!
Daddy's Little Girl by Debbie Drechsler
I discovered this book because I saw an extract of the original artwork at the touring Cult Comics Exhibition a couple of years ago. This is another powerful comic that deals with a serious subject- this time the author's abuse as a child by her father. It is an impressively drawn depiction of her experiences and although upsetting and chilling to read it is also full of hope.
Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs
I was amazed by this book when I read it recently. I'd always associated Raymond Briggs with the beautiful drawings of the Snowman and another of his books "When the Wind Blows" about a nuclear attack. However this is a much more personal story of his parent's lives. There is something that he captures that also made it feel like it related to my family and I couldn't stop thinking about this story ages after I'd read it- more so than any of the other real life subject comic books that I've read.
Super F*ckers Issues 271 and 273
Exciting hero comics by the same guy who brings us his autobiographocal online comic American Elf. I think these are really great- I actually like them more than American Elf (gasp!) They bring us a whole host of characters including Superdan, Grotessa, Jack Krak, Richard, Radical Randy and more. Funny, colourful and quite a lot of swearing.
Fuff/Guff issues 1-7 and Jeff's Austin Diary by Jeffrey Lewis
This is the ongoing collection of Jeffrey Lewis's self published comics which are all great but mostly I like his ongoing European Travel Diary which is continued throughout the comics and the separate Austin travel Diary zine. Every time I read them it makes me want to go on an adventure and he has a way of telling the story as if you are there with him on his journey. I'd really like it if the travel diaries were collected in one volume because it would make a great book to take with you if you were off on your travels. If you are into autobiographical comics and also have an interest in travel as well as enjoying a sprinkle of funny characters and other intelligently told stories these are a great read. Also if you like his music but haven't read the comics then you are stupid and should go and buy them now! You can buy them from his gigs and selected places online (I think I got number 7 from the Tatty Devine online shop for example)
DIY The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture by Amy Spencer
This book was really interesting and I geekily highlighted it as I read it (yeah....) I originally bought it to read it as part of my research for Depressed Cat's Guide to Alternative Press and it made me want to desperately find some of the famous zines mentioned in it. It is a great book for anyone starting in making zines or DIY music, people who already make them or if you just have an interest in lo-fi culture. It contains loads of advice, reviews of previous zines with an in-depth history and loads of recommendations of further reading and festivals etc. It's pretty good.
END
Phew, sorry that was a long blog. More reviews this week! (oh yeah and my site is STILL down ***cries***)
Which made me think- hey I read a lot I should put some reviews up! I'll only put a short bit about each book but it might give people some ideas if they are looking for something new to read. So I'm going to blog about them in four blog post categories- comics, non fiction/fiction, fashion and stupid. Starting with comics (this is a comic related blog after all) It may be boring and long to read perhaps but I was planning to put more art reviews and such like on here too so that's what I'm going to do. Some people might be interested I guess...and if not um...sorry.COMICS!!
Tales of Woodsman Pete with full particulars By Lille Carre
This book is so excellent that I think I am going to read it again right now. It makes Woodsman Pete and his bunch of friends (Philippe, Paul Bunyan & his Ox, Babe) seem real. So much so that I can still imagine Pete in his wooden cabin talking to his bear rug right now as I type.Nicolas by Pascal Girard
This is a deceivingly cute book. Autobiographical fragments of Girard's life focusing on the death of his younger brother when he was a child. I was shocked by how powerful this book was, I think somehow the simplistic line drawing style magnified the emotions in the story. I love this book.Funny Misshapen Body by Jeffrey Brown
This is the latest autobiograpical graphic novel by Jeffrey Brown but he has moved on from just focusing on relationships to more serious issues including his diognosis with Crohn's Disease and his development of his artwork. I think every new book he brings out takes us a bit deeper into his life and I think I personally enjoyed this book because it answered a lot of my questions of how JB got into comics and his journey through the art world from working in a wooden shoe factory to painting at art college to the world of comics. Another classic but I think if you have never read any JB before then this isn't a great one to start with just because it's more interesting given the background of his other books first.Dreamtoons by Jesse Reklaw
This book is awesome. It is a collection of four panel comic strips of dreams that people from all over the world send to Jesse Reklaw. I'm not sure if he still does this weekly comic but I hope so because he has a talent of making this the sort of book it is hard to put down. I think a lot of people think "uh oh" when someone starts a story with "Oh I had a CRAZY dream last night..." and then begins a four hour rendition in which you feel like you want to punch them in the face and the only thing preventing you from doing so is the fear that you might knock them out and then they'll wake up only to have had a few more dreams that they want to bore you to death with. This book takes just the interesting/funny/hilarious/meaningful/random parts of these dreams and actually makes them into something you will be amazed and enthralled by. I've had this copy for years now and I can't remember where it was from but I'm sure main book shops should be able to order it still or it should be on amazon. Go find it because it is great!Daddy's Little Girl by Debbie Drechsler
I discovered this book because I saw an extract of the original artwork at the touring Cult Comics Exhibition a couple of years ago. This is another powerful comic that deals with a serious subject- this time the author's abuse as a child by her father. It is an impressively drawn depiction of her experiences and although upsetting and chilling to read it is also full of hope.Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs
I was amazed by this book when I read it recently. I'd always associated Raymond Briggs with the beautiful drawings of the Snowman and another of his books "When the Wind Blows" about a nuclear attack. However this is a much more personal story of his parent's lives. There is something that he captures that also made it feel like it related to my family and I couldn't stop thinking about this story ages after I'd read it- more so than any of the other real life subject comic books that I've read.Super F*ckers Issues 271 and 273
Exciting hero comics by the same guy who brings us his autobiographocal online comic American Elf. I think these are really great- I actually like them more than American Elf (gasp!) They bring us a whole host of characters including Superdan, Grotessa, Jack Krak, Richard, Radical Randy and more. Funny, colourful and quite a lot of swearing.Fuff/Guff issues 1-7 and Jeff's Austin Diary by Jeffrey Lewis
This is the ongoing collection of Jeffrey Lewis's self published comics which are all great but mostly I like his ongoing European Travel Diary which is continued throughout the comics and the separate Austin travel Diary zine. Every time I read them it makes me want to go on an adventure and he has a way of telling the story as if you are there with him on his journey. I'd really like it if the travel diaries were collected in one volume because it would make a great book to take with you if you were off on your travels. If you are into autobiographical comics and also have an interest in travel as well as enjoying a sprinkle of funny characters and other intelligently told stories these are a great read. Also if you like his music but haven't read the comics then you are stupid and should go and buy them now! You can buy them from his gigs and selected places online (I think I got number 7 from the Tatty Devine online shop for example)DIY The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture by Amy Spencer
This book was really interesting and I geekily highlighted it as I read it (yeah....) I originally bought it to read it as part of my research for Depressed Cat's Guide to Alternative Press and it made me want to desperately find some of the famous zines mentioned in it. It is a great book for anyone starting in making zines or DIY music, people who already make them or if you just have an interest in lo-fi culture. It contains loads of advice, reviews of previous zines with an in-depth history and loads of recommendations of further reading and festivals etc. It's pretty good.END
Phew, sorry that was a long blog. More reviews this week! (oh yeah and my site is STILL down ***cries***)
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