New Linoprints

Recent linocuts produced in reponse to a new logo brief for a shipping company based at Salford Quays. Not quite what they were after, so won't be used, but I think I might start my own firm now I have a logo. I thought the heron represented timeless and effortless grace and soloidity, as well as suggesting a positive ecological element (one full cargohold of grain can replace 100 wagons on the road). I did the yellow and grey on the same inking, before cutting away to print the black outline.
The crane (from a photo taken next to their dry docks) is quite a landmark down there. In black it looks a bit brutal, so I mocked up a more positive one, inspired by old transport and shipping posters -

Gripping documentary

The results of yesterday's digital video training course. I am now a master at iMovie.

Creative Consultants

Did some work recently with Manchester Art Gallery's Creative Consultants. They commissioned me to help them document the project they have been involved in. They gave me the script and basic storyboard and left me to it.
Copies available in the gallery where their exhibit/project is on display.

Rochdale project

6 page story produced with 3 Year 10 lads at Balderstone Technology College Rochdale. Similar to the 3 page comic strip made with the Sugar Group (see previous post), I transcribed the recording of an hour's conversation, which the group then edited, selecting which parts to use. I then drew out the panels and speech bubbles, then participants added drawings of themselves in the appropriate panels. Prior to this we did a practice by drawing self portraits in 5 mins then 2 mins, 1 min and 30 seconds (great way to reduce your drawings down to the essentials and speed things up). Finally I inked the figures and backgrounds.

Click to enlarge-

Sugar Group pages

3 pages produced in collaboration with members of the Sugar Group (older diabetic Afro-Caribbean women) who meet at the Kath Locke Centre in Moss Side. As part of the larger Community comics project, I worked with these ladies on this strip. All the speech is taken directly from recorded conversations we had. From the transcription we chose the most important dialogue, which I then laid out into speech bubbles. The group then decided both what should be seen in each panel, and how they themselves wanted to be depicted - having seen the childrens work in which they depict themselves as animal characters (partly my influence) the group decided to be roses, a lily, a hummingbird and a butterfly.
The results of the whole project, including all the comics and drawings produced by the youth groups, will soon be available as a PDF.

Click on each page to enlarge.

Community Comics Exhibition

The result of a project I've been working on over the summer in Moss Side. I've been employed to gather responses to the JRF's study on social cohesion, part of the study having been undertaken in Moss Side. Working with three youth groups and one group of older people I've taught comic skills which have then been applied to making drawings and strips about how individuals feel about their area, it's perceived problems and poor media reputation.
I'll be posting the resulting artwork once it's been 'premiered' this week at Manchester Town Hall, plus a short report on the experience.

Kids Art Club flyer

Final version of the flyer. Anyone interested in the actual sessions (Sat 6th Oct, 3rd Nov, 5th Jan, 2nd Feb and 1st March, for 6-11 year olds) ring the gallery on 0161 235 8869.

Another toy box

Toy Boxes

Sometimes I get really nice requests that are right up my street, like this - decorating toy boxes for Manchester Art Gallery. They are going to form part of one of the sessions that they run for visiting schools, this one for primary age and all about the differences between old toys and new ones.

Current Comic Scholars

I'm in the middle of a set of sessions with some of the youth group who attend Carmoor Rd West Indian Centre. I took their photo at the start of the first session, then presented them all with a copy of this group portrait ...

...and so they drew me.

WWII Comic Project

Here's a few images from a recent Creative Partnerships project with Year 6 of St Mary's RC Primary in Eccles. I'll be putting a full report on my proper site soon.

We realised that the felt tips all had different funny smells. Several were passed around for all to sample.
Over 8 full days we covered all the skills required to write and draw comics, resulting in Wicked War. A small sample -


During the sessions we learnt about the history of comics, different styles and genres, even making our own romance comic. We also got to watch lots of old cartoons and read all kinds of war-related comics, including amongst many others Ethel & Earnest and Barefoot Gen (which blew them all away). We all really enjoyed working together, and the work they produced was consistently brilliant. Many even felt that they had learnt stuff -