You won't win it if you're not in it.

A couple of days ago we were sat down about to have our tea, and a car pulled up outside. A chap got out and walked up our path with a plastic bag, so I got up to meet him at the door.
'Jim Medway?'
'Yep that's me'
'You've won the Girl Guides guess the name of the rabbit competition from last week's Whaley Bridge Water Weekend! Here's your rabbit.'
'Brilliant, thanks, - what was the name?'
'Lance'

-and he's actually a very nice rabbit.

Gag Cartoon of The Year

I do try to avoid swearing and bad language on here, but this cartoon from the Weekend magazine is to good not to share. Someone give them a prize!

The Ahlbergs

Missed this on Radio 4 yesterday, but thanks to Listen Again got to hear it this morning - Alan Ahlberg at 70. Alan and Janet Ahlberg's books had a massive influence on my own artwork as a kid, and continue to do so. I've always been captivated by their subject matter, sense of humour, the generosity with which they fill the page, and Janet's beautiful pen and watercolour illustrations. With my mum I caught an exhibition of their work in Halifax last year (touring from Seven Stories in Newcastle), and was amazed to see how much of her work was produced actual size, and how much of it there is.
The Old Joke Book kept me occupied for hours and hours, and since 1976 hasn't aged at all, still brilliant and inspiring.



Also on yesterday's Listen Again, Michael Bond (at 80) talks about his new Paddington book, 50 years after his first. I like Paddington.

New drawing den

Done my first few days working in my new office/studio/comics den/loft, and I'm well pleased with it. I've managed to fit in all my annuals, comics and piles of paper, leaving room for a desk to draw at. Will miss working in Manchester (and hanging out with the other office chaps, nipping out to see what's new in Travelling Man, lunch from Barburrito, Yadgar, Rustica, Bread and Butter etc), but just can't justify 1 - the cost of commuting, and 2 - the hour and a half wasted sat on the train. Plus makes sense to be on hand for bring up Popeye, who is now 6 weeks away. Going to have to make sure I don't get too isolated, so will make sure to drink fine ales on a regular basis, whether in town or with folks invited out here.
So no shopping or eating distractions, but the view might obstruct doing as much drawing as I should (note the passing coal boat)-

(click to enlarge)

Links links links

I've added a button on the left (or your right as you are on the other side of the screen to me) linking you to the new subscribers offer for the exciting wonderful DFC comic. Go on, LIVE THE DREAM!
For those of you not prepared to pay for quality, you might enjoy Top Shelf's new online strips, updated daily - all looks good at first glance. I've added it to my dailies which pop up when I go online. Also on my daily visit list - which many will know of but many will not - James Kochalka's American Elf, Chris Onstad's Achewood, local lad John Allison's Scarygoround, and the always interesting Daily Cross Hatch.

YESDEAR

This just chugged past. Only just managed to catch it on camera. Not that it was going fast or anything.

Whitby

Katy and I had a few days in Whitby the other week (North Yorkshire coast, home of Captain Cook, site where Dracula - as a slavering hound - leapt ship and came ashore). Excellent cakes and pies. Quality fish and chips (Magpie Cafe). Best meal in a long time (Ditto Restaurant). Best museum ever (might warrant a post of it's own). Pleasant chug round on the world's only surviving six-wheeled steambus Elizabeth -



As you can imagine, I got very excited when we came around the corner of Grape Lane and saw Endeavour Books -


-contrary to the very appealing sign above the shop, and good solid namesake (one of Cooks sailing ships), I came away downhearted, with only one find -


I remember encountering the American (imposter) Dennis the Menace as a child, and being completely confused as to how this could have happened. Whilst I enjoy Ketchums artwork (and someone else's version of it here)-



- he's got nothing on our own original Dennis and his genius creator David Law. I will write about him at some point soon, arguing that he's long overdue a treasury/anthology/ no - Complete Dennis (followed by Complete Beryl the Peril).
Elsewhere in Whitby I got this for 50p, convinced it will come in handy if I ever need to draw crying princess cats or a riotous jailbreak -


Best find though, and at a mere £2.50 - Frou the Hare - part of the gorgeous French series by Rojan - see previous post.
Here's a teaser - will do a full post on it next.

Playing Football

A nice find at Katy's parents house - one of her brothers old books - Playing Football by M. Graham-Cameron. I expect most British readers will be familiar with Althea's Dinosaur Books, a real institution of the 70's -


I've just found her site, and I'm pleased to report she is still creating her own books, but unfortunately no longer publishing other peoples books.
I'm drawn to Playing Football by these intriguing illustrations which somehow remind me of Chaing Lee's work (previous post) - simplified and flattened figures rendered in a slightly trembling line.
What is it about this economy of line and colour that I find so appealing? Answers below please!

Secret Weapons

These'll show 'em at the UK Web & Minicomics Thing this Saturday- who can resist when there is point-of-sale clutter like this? Today I'm picking up some more goodies, so will have TeenWitch, Garden Funnies, Shorty Loves Wing Wong (proper book) and Shorty T-shirts, PQC TATTOOS and PQC SPORTS PENNANTS! All this alongside kids quicktips posters, and a couple of display files full of other comics and my examples of my teaching work.

Also on my stall, Alex Potts's Lost Shoe and Oliver East's Trains.

Weekend Leisurely

click to enlarge

By popular demand, here's some more archive material. All evidence suggests this was made one afternoon in 1998, so I'll have been about 23 (so no excuse really). Inspired by that weekend's Sunday supplements.
Original copies of this are out there somewhere, though the British Library has no record.

Our Cat

I promised myself I wouldn't fill this blog with just any old stuff, trying to keep it focussed on art and comics and teaching comics, BUT - check out these professional portraits of Ruby! It's amazing what difference a bit of sunshine makes.
Been having a lovely week (including last weekend) as I'm working from home, which means wondering off down the towpath to get some bread, and making a new sliding hatch for the canal boat (which means taking great pleasure in sanding, priming and undercoating a piece of marine ply, a little each day). I have been drawing too, but nothing shareable yet - these things take time you know.

Carlisle State Pubs

I also picked this up in Carlisle, and felt it warranted a post of it's own. No-one I spoke to while I was up there seemed to know anything about it, but Carlisle and the surrounding area had been subject to a 50 year experimental nationalisation of all their pubs and breweries.
In 1916 the measure was taken - compulsory purchase then 'disinterested management' of public houses created a sudden radical change from intensive and widespread bingedrinking squalor, to a non-profit scheme which encouraged restraint, eating before drinking, and playing a little pool to make your pint last longer. It wasn't quite rationing, but you couldn't buy a round in case you were hoarding beer for yourself.
The scheme initially aimed to tackle the problem of drunken itinerant Irish workers who laboured in the nearby munitions factory, but even when they moved on after the war and the problem disappeared, the decision was made to continue the experiment. By 1971, when the scheme finally ended, Carlisle was actually very proud of it's modernised pubs, excellent whisky and high quality beer. Local nationalised breweries pioneered pasteurising their bottled beer, resulting in the first clear and sparkling brew, as opposed to the bottle-fermented beer with deposits in the bottom.
In the 40's plans were drawn up to extend the scheme to various new towns, which could have led to an eventual full nationalisation of drinking! I find it incredible that we had this essentially communist or Soviet idea running so successfully for so long.
I struggled finding a nice pub in the city centre though.

Scriveners Books

Nice £5 find in the excellent Scriveners Books of Buxton, a shop which deserves a full review really - I could spend all day (and all my money) exploring their 5 yes 5 floors of secondhand books. Excellent children's section. Anyway I found this - a homemade booklet of kids linoprints. I've scanned a few of my favorites though they are all interesting. Above shows the cover and very stylish endpaper.




And just look at the boldness and confidence in this christmas-cardy one -



I may scan some more and post them. Will certainly write more on Scriveners and my finds as they happen.

Chris Ware Animation

How did this one pass me by?

Disaster!

Got back home from a weekend away to find my bookshelves had given up. I'm putting it down to a combination of
1) tightly packed Beano, Dennis the Menace, Bash St Kids, Beryl the Peril, Dandy, Beezer, Topper, Sparky, Black Bob, Cor!!, Krazy, Smash!, Wham!, Whizzer and Chips, Shiver and Shake, Knockout and Bobby Bear annuals
2) an unfounded confidence in my DIY skills
3) 2.4 Richter scale earthquakes in the Manchester area (even though I'm 15 miles away)

Important potato information

I don't want this blog to become like the rest of the internet, but would feel selfish if I kept this to myself. do any of our American friends know Sooty? This may be lost on them.

Resonant Frequencies

Front and back cover design, begun some years ago after attending one of those art events, and for some reason never quite got around to producing any content. Anyone feel up to it?

Dreamobile

Nothing to do with comics or workshops, except that this is what I'll be buying as soon as I make any money from it. I've long wanted an airport 'Tugmaster' customised with a waltzers fairground canopy, and then I finally saw this one at Klondyke Steam Preservation Centre in Draycott-in-the-Clay.
Also saw this -

Nice cat

Clearing up after a comics session at the Powerhouse library in Moss Side I found this, screwed up on the floor. How could someone not be pleased with this, the nicest cat ever drawn?

Kylie

Badge designs (not coloured by me) for the family drop-in activities at Manchester Art Gallery during the big exhibition of Kylies socks and blouses. Kids (well, girls) are loving it.