Reach For The Sky.

After hearing the sad news that Sir Patrick Moore had passed away I felt compelled to make a drawing of him in tribute. Like the spur-of-the-moment drawing of Bill Murray on his birthday, the image quickly took on a life on its own and I was shocked to see Patrick staring back at me.

A great man. Reach for the sky, Patrick.

A Creative Christmas.

When The Young Creatives called out for contributions for their advent calendar I contacted them saying I would fashion them an illustration of creatives at Christmas: Pantone matching food and somebody wrapping a cat. For some reason they went for it, so here it is. I am TYC's December 19th.

Merry Christmas, and to all a good cat.

Movember.

Last month I decked out my portrait with a rather dashing tash of her own, as well as completing portrait requests for those who wanted more top lip action than nature allowed over on Gallery of Mo!
My favourite illustration to do was of pals Rachel & Jody and I found the commissioned portraits to be great practice, each pushing my ability to draw faces a little bit more. I considered each one as an experiment so they certainly all look a bit different, but I want to thank everyone who donated and chose me as their hairy artiste - it was a pleasure to denote each and every.

Below is doe-eyed darling Kate McStraw (my final portrait request) and despite giving her an honorary 70s trucker tash I have to admit I prefer her pretty face without it. This drawing for me also reflects the beginning of a shift in how I deal with detail: hair in particular beginning to grow in refinement as the month went on.

With every face I draw I learn a little more, and it was all for a good cause! Don't forget to get involved next Movember.

For now, don't you all think it's time for a shave?

Beauty in the Beast.

Earlier this month I was asked to take part in a project with Jack In Water in which artists responded to their songs. My given song Beauty in the Beast was beautiful and haunting, yet conjured up imagery of vanity, vice and debauchery.

You can listen for yourself here and here are some of the lyrics that inspired me:

'Eyes are misleading

Forget yourself

But don’t fall asleep

The beast isn’t creeping

You're just sleeping

Forget yourself

And if you do

This place will change

An until you do

The beast stays vain

And the minute she forgets

That they're only friends

It starts to get frightening

And the minute she forgets

This never ends

Their moves inspire me

Have you seen them

What they're doing

In the city while we sleep

Can you feel it

What they're doing

In the city'

Trying to create a roughed up portrait of the beauty, I surrounded her heavily made-up face with angelic loose locks. A soft yet dark feathered mask provides contrast and draws on the idea of darkness behind light to be found within the song.