Spudzilla

Long ago in the warmer parts of last year I dug up a potato of obscene proportions. It became known as Spudzilla. Sadly, before Spudzilla could gain renown throughout the land it became chips. Many many chips. Yum.
Note: despite the nature of the photo, no children were encouraged to eat raw potato, just chips. Yum.

Stuff has happened, followed by other stuff that also happened.

I have a moment to breath while I await the next stage of various projects that I am currently involved in. Since the last time I arranged words on this space I have been busy making pictures. So here is a selection.

There it is, samples from some of the projects I have been working on. The image of the japanese woman was produced for a story about a tea shop written by author Andrew Segal. The story has been published in an e- book called Fables 4 Japan (book2). 100% of the sales from these books will go to the Red Cross in care of the March 11th earthquake victims.

Take care

Nip 'n cluck

Thought I'd better just pop by the old blog and flash a recent pic at all who dare to visit this place lost among the many. The theme of Midget pirates doesn't get the exposure it deserves and so here is my attempt to bring it to the downward-glancing pirate fans. http://www.catling-art.com/AngryPirates.html

There's been time passing in these parts.

Its been a while since I last posted a blog here. I sure have been busy. There have been projects of many flavours and evidence of these can be found on my website http://www.catling-art.com/ . Its not all up there yet but more will appear soon.

I'm on my hols to foreign parts this year. I'll be having fun with strange languages, customs and smells. Yep, I'm off to South Wales. Well, the word 'welsh' does mean foreigner.

Anyhow, Merry summer type Christmas.

Well, I got into the Christmas spirit with this illustration. I really wish I could have done it at Christmas so that I might feel right for the occasion (drunk and bloated) but I suppose its too late by then. Maybe next time I have an out of season illustration to complete I'll fill my pockets with ice cubes to create the right ambiance (hmm... pocket ambiance?)

I shall spew forth more at a future date.

Until then.

The scribbley, scrawley good stuff

The latest additions to my illustration portfolio are complete. I have attemped to take the advice of my agent and work to a similar technique to that of Bruno Merz. I have, however, not decided to take up the practice of music in the hope that my house might stand a little longer.
The first illustration is based on my own story about a disadvantaged giant and uses rougher outlines than I'm used too. The trees are drawn in a style similar to Bruno's and so I think I have at least moved in the right direction. The second illustration again is based on my own story about a young girl who has a potion for every occasion. These are not Bruno Merz illustrations but just take a little something from his work.
Take a look at the above links and compare. I would be very interested in your opinions and so please do comment.

The fluff's on hold

yesterday I decided to prod my agent to see if he thought that the mouse gawping benevolently at disguised acorn would pull the publishers. Well, he had other ideas as to what I should be doing. He sent me the illustrations of another chap on the agency's books, who it seems is no longer on the agency's books because he has gone and got himself all famous, not with illustration but music. You may already have heard of him, Bruno Merz. I think my agent figures that I should use his looser technique, something that sells perhaps. Well, anyway, I spent this afternoon listening to Bruno as I worked, excellent stuff. Is it possible that someone can have too much talent. Doesn't he realise that there are people out there with no talent at all?  Maybe I should learn to play an instrument and sing...hmmmmm!
UPDATE I'm designing cuddly toys which is something new for me and by way of another departure from the norm I'm producing an illustration of an old type of whaling vessel. I suppose its some kind of artistic historical reconstruction.
The fluffs on hold for the moment but I shall return.

To fluff or not to fluff.

In the past I have made attempts at creating illustrations of the soft and fluffy animal type. My problem has always been an inability to do cute. I suppose that I must have progressed through art college with high ideals and a head full of radical noises. The idea of doing cute n' fluffy would have had me running for the gag bag. Since having kids I have mellowed and decided not to conquer the world of illustration. Instead, I will conquer the technique of cute. My first attempt involved a couple of mice doing something vaguely amusing. I sent it to my agent for feedback and later the phone rang and the response was short and sweet, "...but they're rats!" he said in a tone of incredulity. So much for my debut.

I have made some vague attempts since but now it is time again, the season of fluff has returned and the god of Mousey Nutkin must be appeased.

The illustration below is my latest attempt and I think I'm starting to get somewhere.