Cartoons AtoZ Done

Series of b/w cartoons just completed for Paparazzi Comedian Dave Streeter's book; Midlife Comedy A to Z - a humorous look at Midlife issues for men of a certain age.  Something we share in common so was a real pleasure to illustrate these 13 chapter headers from Dave's suggestions -

A is for Alcohol

G is for Grooming

 K is for Know-All

 M is for Medical

 O is for Outraged

 P is for Parenting

 Q is for Queueing

 R is for Reminders

 S is for Sex

 T is for Travel

 U is for Ulcers

 V is for Value

 W is for Weather

In other news -
My submission proposal for The Warren festival 2019 brochure cover design got Shortlisted with one other candidate.  The organisers reckoned my Matchbook-print design was 'strong in terms of style and colour' but would require a reworking due to the central graphic, the pole supporting its radiating festoon of lights - see previous Post! won't be part of next year's event!  Also they wanted to know how I would supply individual graphic elements for featured ads, cards and staff uniforms.  So I did a quick colour sketch proposing a redesign with some explanations - here's that PDF!  Well, the other candidate landed the commission and I get drinks voucher and free entry to some choice shows, so mustn't grumble eh. 

Pulped

Pulp Detective illustrated shortstory magazine aimed at young readers got pulped by its backer/distributer on 3rd issue before it had a chance to succeed.  On accepting this regular illustrating gig, I asked its Editor 'There's nothing quite like this in the market so how can you be sure this will fly?'  'We've done our research' was his matter-of-fact answer.  So naturally I jumped on board.

 

After completing the ilos for issue#1, the commission remit changed!  Though I still had free range in picking which 10 scenes from a story to illustrate, I was now tasked to provide artwork with heavily detailed backgrounds at A4 size even though the Mag' was smaller A5, just so cropped portions could be positioned in page layouts.  My queries were summarily ignored and I accepted the extra workload because the subject matter is fascinating and pay was good.  Was quite relieved though when this venture got the bullit.

More artwork for this commission at my: Behance project page !

.

Pulp Detective #3

Some ilos completed for issue #3 of Pulp Detective before the Editor said 'Stop!'  Just as I was honing my style for this particular publication.  Seemed that their Distributor held the funding and pulled it immediately on seeing the 1st issue's 2nd proof-copy, which was no improvement from the 1st and so this indy venture was pulped.  For the record anyway here's some completed -

Lovely, wish there was more like it !
.

Pulp job #2

Gumshoe investigates heavyweight bribery in the fight game at luxury hotel. No love interest just ugly murders, bullits and blood.  I illustrated 14 scenes for issue #2 of Pulp Detective magazine -

 

Its a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it.

Pulp Detective 1

Gumshoe sits reading the newspaper's rising crime stats in his crummy little tenement office.  He's about to find bootlegging trouble going all the way up the food chain to crooked Mayor when he's hired by a voluptuous gangster's moll and wannabe movie-starlet -

 

That's my opening pic (12 in total) to a well crafted short-story in issue #1 of Pulp Detective (for younger readers).  The Ed' said "they're great, fantastic job and many thanks" and he also said the 2nd assignment's coming when this first issue goes to print.  Now I have a frustrating wait to see what the magazine looks like.
.

Detective 1930 era

I was commissioned by Pulp Detective, a new monthly magazine for boys.  It was to feature 3 illustrated short stories set in fictional 1930s American city, the era of Bootlegging, Prohibition and Gangsters.  The publisher initially called for style similar to Martin Brown's Horrible Histories and Massimo Bonfatti's Leo Pulp.  Initially they wanted to see Character-sheets of their two hardboiled Detectives, one on a city street, the other in his crummy tenement office-

Also wanted Mobster characters, I chose 3 from their featured Irish gang - 

Additionally I presented a shootout action pic showing car as described driven by the gumshoe who's stories I was now to illustrate monthly -

.

Dopey dealers at the Brighton Pier !

Its them dope dealing Furry Freak Brothers.  Legends of the underground comics press scene from way back in nineteen hundred and... I can't remember when, but was a great read by Gilbert Shelton, published by Rip Off Press Inc'.  Imagine if now in this socio-politically corrected climate, this fabulously incompetant trio together with Fat Freddy's iconic cat, continue their happless adventures here in the UK. I have re-imagined them as they run from the Brighton bus, depicted in its local corporate livery.  That's the premise for my Poster (size A3).  As I worked on this picture, it grew into a bit of a homage to other greats of the cartooning world, Gary Larson of The Farside among others. Have since removed the copper as he just wasn't working there.  Anyway, here's a close-up portion, click image for full resolution -

Lovely framed on the wall.  That's my presents sorted for this year! 

its Archy & Tex !

Two comic charactors of my own creation that featured bi-monthly on the back page of The Right Angle ( architecture magazine now defunct. ) The editor \ proprietor gave me full rain to invent the script, simply throwing me a loose theme to chew on for the forthcoming issue. This 'Fast Supper' appeared in the Jan \ Feb AD2000 issue for which i conjured up a story placing Archy & Tex at a time - AD1 of Jesus during the Roman occupation, and taking my inspiration from Montypython's Life of Brian. Click on the comic for a good read ...
That publication was my last foray doing comics on a regular basis which numbered about 8 features in total. I've done others too, sometime before i did 'Justin Gibbs and his massive fibs' in full colour for Look In ( IPC weekly kids mag' defunct ) and also i was the first artist doing 'Moody DJ' for SELECT ( music, lifestyle mag'. ) But then the eviction notice arrived at my squat so i duely handed in my last gig and decanted to Australia - which is another blog. Suffice to say that when i returned a year later ( 1994 ) the Accountants had taken over the world and i bought my first computer.

Do us some Greetingscards they said

Spoofed retro 1950s american dime pulp covers -

I put my Retro Greetings Cards to an online shop longtime ago. The purpose was so customers could edit text areas so personalise the greeting then pay and send a realworld card using snailmail.