Sketch update

Some rough sketch from a panel of my second book about the loneliness of a little Lighthouse Keeper.
You can see Book One here.

One weekend - two shows

So its a busy weekend. I'm spending most of it at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh at their DesignMarket where around 40 designers are selling their talented wares. Its a brilliant space to show work, I'm upstairs and its bright and airy and so far has been a lot of fun. Tomorrow is the last say, so if you are in the Capital, then please pop along between 12-5pm.

I've also taken a stand at the Home and Gift show in Harrogate to show some of my cards, prints and tshirts. (photos above and below) Thanks to my brilliant team who drove down there this morning to set it up all up. Its looks great, they done a fantastic job. If you are planning on visiting the shown then please come say hello at Stand F14, in the Intro North section.

DesignMarket

Free entry
Friday 13 July, 5–9pm
Saturday 14 July, 11am–6pm
Sunday 15 July, 12–5pm
I'll be taking part in The Fruitmarket Gallery's DesignMarket this weekend when they shall be welcoming a broad selection of designers from different disciplines. Here's some info from their website.

DesignMarket opens its doors on Friday evening and continues all weekend, supported by Fruitmarket Gallery Bookshop with the best art, architecture, photography, theory and design titles and a range of artists’ limited editions.
DesignMarket covers the two floors of The Fruitmarket Gallery and is arranged in the broad sections, Print (including illustration and cards), Fashion (including jewellery) and Furniture and home interior design.

The Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DF

Some of the things I'll have with me for sale.

List of participants for DesignMarket 2012

V&A at Dundeewww.VandAatDundee.com
Katie Charleson www.katiecharleson.com
Aubeebop Jewellery by Aubin Stewart http://www.aubeebopjewellery.com/
ACJ Edinburgh www.edinburghacj.wordpress.com
Catalog Ltd www.cataloginteriors.com
Doodabbery www.etsy.com/shop/doodabbery Birds of Prayers www.facebook.com/Birds.of.Prayers
Jeni Allison Knitwear www.jeniallison.posterous.com
Little Red www.little-red-shop.com (Fri + Sat only)Liz Tainsh www.abstractphoto.co.uk/
Louise Smurthwaite www.louisesmurthwaite.co.uk
Fiona Robertson www.fiorobbosblog.blogspot.co.uk
Lucy MacLeod & Dwayne Bell Illustration www.lucymacleod.co.ukwww.dwayne-bell.com
Mina Braun www.minabraun.com
Catherine Hiley www.cahiley.com
Emily Hogarth www.emilyhogarth.com
Cora Studio www.corababy.co.uk
Small Stories by Gabrielle Reith www.g-r-a.co.uk/small
Namon Gaston www.namongaston.com
Rapa Nui Gallery www.rapanuigallery.co.uk
Sheila Boyle Designs www.sheilaboyle.blogspot.co.uk
The Lindström Effect www.thelindstromeffect.co.uk
Verity Keniger www.veritykeniger.co.uk
Ziggy Sawdust www.ziggy-sawdust.blogspot.co.uk
Rebecca J Kaye www.rebeccajkaye.com
SodaKitsch www.sodakitsch.com
made with love by mrs booth www.mrsbooth.com
Matthew Carey Simos www.matthewcareysimos.com
Blair Sorley www.blairsorley.com
Tessuti www.tessutiscotland.co.uk
PickOne www.pickone.co.uk
Yoke www.weareyoke.com
Rosie Walters www.rosie-walters.com (Fri + Sat only)Sara Keith www.sarakeith.com
Robbie Porter www.robbieporter.co.uk
Kina Gorska www.kinagorska.wix.com/design
Hole in my Pocket www.holeinmypocket.com Fiona Luing Jewellery www.fionaluing.co.uk
Emma Lindsay www.emmajanelindsay.com/ (Sun only)Emily MacKenzie www.emilymackenzieillustrations.blogspot.co.uk
Lizzie Cameron www.inkcircus.co.uk

Com'on Andy

Boy that was tense. Sunday is going to be a nightmare.

Red Shirt

Tonight, instead of doing the work I was supposed to be doing, I decided to play with Photohop's animation options. The results could be the thing that blows Pixar out the water.

Will be in Cinemas, in 3D, next summer.

Axis: Artist of the month

I've been chosen as the artist of the month by the lovely folks at Axis magazine. You can read a little interview with me on their site here. You can learn all about being an insomniac, my sketchbook collection and Moomin lawyers.

Unfortunately there was not space to include all my answers so the in-depth section in which I revealed my favourite books had to be cut short, who remembers these?

"When I was a wee, I loved the Ladybird series of books that my parents bought me. My favourite tales were the one about the magic paintbrush (everything you draw with it becomes real) and the one about a series of connected events that allow an old woman to get her pig to jump over a stile."

Axis Interview July 2012.

Umbrella Objective: The Results

Umbrella Artist #20
Hole in My pocketwww.holeinmypocket.com

At the weekend was the unveiling and paradaing of all the artist painted umbrellas. Sadly, I was unable to take part in the grand day, it looks like it was a lot of fun. The guys at the Umbrella Objective did a great job and the full range of umbrellas look great and well worth checking out.

If I had my time over again I might go for a bigger bolder pattern on my umbrella. Mine is actually quite minutely detailed but I think some of the bolder ones looked brilliant.

Here's a little selection of the brollys - from space jellyfish, to stern faces, to beautiful patterns.

Umbrella Artist #10Lindsay Grimewww.lindsaygrime.co.uk

Umbrella Artist #9
Lydia Liethwww.lydialeith.com

Umbrella Artist #8
Libby Walker (Brain behind the project)
www.libbywalker.co.uk

Ray Bradbury (22.08.1920 - 05.06.12)

Sad news this week with the passing of Ray Bradbury. I was a big fan of his books, especially The Illustrated Man which was the book I focused on as part of my Higher English studies. Its a book I've always doodled around illustrating images for and I think will be the next book I tackle after finishing The Enchanted Wood.

Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury was one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers of speculative fiction. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into television shows or films.

Umbrella Objective Sneak Peak

I don't think I'm allowed to show too much of my umbrella before the great unveiling on the site. But above is a sneak peak of a bit of the umbrella I've painted for the Umbrella Objective project.

I decided to go with a space jelly fish theme and it was a rather pleasent way to spend the last few sunny days working on it. More images to follow after the launch in June.

Final Arches meal event - Change of TIME

Unfortunetly due to circumstances beyond our control, the final HIMP lecture/ performance/ meal at the Arches Cafe has shifted in time (how apt) from 6:30pm to 6pm sharp.

The focus of the event is on trying to understand the concept of "the moment" against the backdrop of the entire history of the Universe so we've got a lot to cram into the show. I'd suggest getting along as early as you can, (you can get seated from 5:30pm onwards) getting a good seat and placing your food order early.

We filled up very quickly at the last event so booking is highly reccomended - 0141 565 1035.

You can read more about that previous event and take a look at the special themed menu here.

After the event closes I'll be around to provide little tours of the work and to take any interested souls along to the hidden exhibition room in the basement where you can experience our installation "Your Move" which is really the heart of the entire event.

Umbrella Objective

I was asked to take part in the Umbrella Objective a project in which 20 umbrellas are sent to 20 invited artists, returned, documented in film episodes and featured and sold in a Showcase Parade at Artfusion in Glasgow on June17th. (List of artists involved below)

I was working on my umbrella over the weekend and have discovered that painting on an umbrella is pretty difficult. After a couple false starts I think I've got the hang of it now and fingers crossed a beautiful bright umbrella will be ready for heavy downpours by the weekend.

You can watch a little trailer about the project here.

The people involved are:

#1 Lesley Barnes www.lesleybarnes.co.uk
#2 Jen Collins www.hellojenuine.com
#3 Ursula Cheng www.ursula-cheng.com
#4 Alec Mackenzie www.badblueprints.tumblr.com
#5 Rachel Maclean www.rachelmaclean.com
#6 Gen Ryan www.genevieveryan.eu
#7 Lizzy Stewart www.abouttoday.co.uk
#8 Libby Walker www.libbywalker.co.uk
#9 Lydia Lieth www.lydialeith.com
#10 Lindsay Grime www.lindsaygrime.co.uk
#11 Matthew Swan www.matthewdanielswan.com
#12 5pence www.5ivepence.blogspot.co.uk
#13 Robbie Porter www.robbieporter.co.uk
#14 Rose Ruane www.roseruane.co.uk
#15 Greer Pester www.greercummiskeypester.com
#16 Bespoke Altelier www.bespokeatelier.co.uk
#17 Jenny MacGregor www.jennymacgregor.blogspot.co.uk
#18 Laura Martin
#19 Andrew Denholm www.andrewdenholm.com
#20 Hole in my Pocket www.holeinmypocket.com

Famous Scots

More drawings for this Scottish project. Two famous Scots.

Taking over teatime

Today I am having fun with a little design project for someone with an interest in all things Scottish. So what sums up Scotland, apart from tartan Shortbread tins.

The Universe is very big, you are very small, act accordingly

Hole in my Pocket return to the Arches with a new commissioned series of work for the Glasgow International 2012. We also have designed a series of performance events, details below.
The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow / 02 April - 31 May 2012 (Noon - 11pm)

Taking direction from the GI's programme "Real Time" Hole in my Pocket explore the experience of time from a macro/micro view point. Trying to understand the concept of "the moment"/ "the present" when viewed against the enormous background history of the Universe.

We believe that we possess too little time; this is the myth we all now live by. What is true is that we are awash in things, in information, in news, in the old rubble and shiny new toys of our complex civilization, and perhaps stuff means speed. We have lost our pace, our connection, our position in the Universe; we can no longer see the stars. The wave patterns of all our facts and choices flow and crash about us at a heightened frequency. Meanwhile we continue to live in the buzz of the Light Age. We wish to live intensely, and we wonder about the consequences. Where is now?

The 'Present'/ the 'Moment'/ the "now", as we experience it, is the freeze frame of these Choices as they are made, at the meeting point of Past and the splitting of possible Futures.

Everything that has occurred up until and while forming our choice is the Past and all action resulting from that choice is the Future. The act of choosing is the only Present that exists, a moment of time so small that it cannot be measured. It is less than the firing of a synapse, less than the formation of thought, it is the fractional inertial moment between something having the potential to occur and for that something to begin to take place and each time alternate Universes divide like cells in a culture.

In this way all choices that we make, alter the Universe.

Waiting for No man, LED, timber, glass, 2012 (More info soon)

The Last Question, digital projection, 2012 (More info)

Your Move, Glass, Timber 2012 (More info)

A Stopped Clock, persepx, 2012 (More info soon)

Time Diagrams, prints, 2012 (More info)

Moments of Greatness

PART OF OUR EXHIBITION AT GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL 2012

Saturday was the first night of our performance/ science lecture / meal extravaganza collaboration with theatre maker Gary McNair. It was a rather fun relaxed event, with the happy audience tucking into a rather delicious 3 course meal while various concepts of time were explored.

I don't want to give away too much of what the evening entails, as there are still two further events to come and I don't want to spoil it for future diners, but I've put a copy of the event place mats below so you can get an idea of the menu.

All the dishes are time/ cosmology themed with such treats as 'Cosmology Carbonara' and 'E=MC peared'. The evening is structured into three short humorous lecture blocks with small one on one interactions happening at the tables in between. (Don't worry these are very harmless so those terrified by audience interaction need not fear. Though one Audience member does get to change the entire path of the Universe.)

Tickets are on a first come, first served basis so if this sounds like your cup of tea then ask for more info at the Arches Box Office 0141 565 1000. Next event is 5:30pm Thursday 26 April with the last event taking place either on 9/10 May tbc. (You can see more about the accompanying exhibition here.)

Gary McNair in full Brian Cox mode.

 A copy of the event place mat with the menu and short description of the event.

The mysterious red and white box that lies on every table and affects how things proceed.

The Last Question

The Last Question, digital projection, 2012

In the foyer our digital projection piece was made in collaboration with Internet whizz kid and all round web-genius Lizzie Malcolm who took our idea and made it real.

This projection focuses on a micro view of Time, trying to capture the fleeting experience of thought, the momentary pulse of choices/ action being decided. The work constantly lifts questions from websites around the world in 'real time' and posts them as abstract ideas on a ever alternating yellow and black backdrop. It is very hypnotic and often humorous piece which resonates with an audience. Some of the questions being asked feel like the opening line to a joke and yet some are filled with obvious pain and sadness. It is also interesting to see how we as a species turn to the Internet for guidance in all areas of life. Some of the Questions treat the Internet as an all knowing, almost omni-present being which can solve everything; from engineering problem and history homework to health matters and emotional trauma.

The viewer finds himself trying to imagine not only who the person asking the question might be, but also pondering the story that lies behind their question. They find themselves wanting to know the answers to the questions or attempt to answer the questions themselves which creates a tension in the viewer and makes the experience start to feel pretty intense.

The title of the work is taken from a short story by Isaac Asimov in 1956.

The below animation is a small sample record of actual questions being asked to demonstrate how the screen works. The actual piece looks quite different and we will link to an on line version of that piece, once a digital home is ready for it.

Your Move

American physicist Hugh Everett III (The father of the frontman of the band Eels.) proposed in 1952 his "Many Worlds" theory, stating that many universes exist parallel to our own. The physicist theorised that each time a situation exists with more than one possible outcome, a new Universe is created to accommodate that situation. In that way, all potential outcomes are accounted for, and happening elsewhere.

Therefore, each time we make a choice, the Universe splits into parallel Universes. We make all of the possible choices we could have made but each in a different world. We however are aware of our choice only in our own world.
The 'Present'/ the 'Moment', as we experience it, is the freeze frame of these Choices as they are made, at the meeting point of Past and the splitting of possible Futures.

Everything that has occurred up until and while forming our choice is the Past and all action resulting from that choice is the Future. The act of choosing is the only Present that exists, a moment of time so small that it cannot be measured. It is less than the firing of a synapse, less than the formation of thought, it is the fractional inertial moment between something having the potential to occur and for it to happen and each time alternative Universes divide like cells in a culture.

 In this way all choices that we make, alter the Universe. 

 When presented with two options, if we choose option A instead of option B we send the Universe down a particular path. The consequences of this are unknown. who knows what life might have been like should Option B have been picked instead of Option A."

We have explored this theory in our installation 'Your Move' which is housed in a secret room in the bowels of the Arches and which can only be accessed by prior appointment through the box office.

Its a room in which choices are made and futures are formed.

Time diagrams and installation snippets

 Time diagram

 Universe diagram

Waiting for no man, LED and timber installation
Like the Universe is currently busy, processing your action. An ever moving, ever turning count of the moments of our lives until the end of time.

Timeline - Tape installation
This is the entire history of the Universe from the big band to a theorised end in 1000billion years at a scale of 1m = 10million years. It starts in the southside of Glasgow, the present falls onto a table in the Arches and then it continues all the way to the Northen outskirts of Bergen in Norway.

Theory of Time to Speed transit

Another little image from our new Glasgow International exhibition on at the Arches 2 April - 31 May.

Uppercase Magazine

Got my first issue of the wonderful Uppercase magazine today in which an illustration of my little bean man makes an appearance, where he is enjoying some typical Scottish weather. (see extract above.)

I've been meaning to subscribe to the magazine for ages, having been an avid reader online and I'm glad I finally made the purchase as the real object is very nice. Strangely my first issue to arrive was No 13 and it arrived on Friday the 13th, seems a bit serendipitous. I shall take it as a good sign and fingers crossed Friday the 13ths unlucky effects are cancelled out.

After having super glued my fingers to a hook earlier on while making something for the Arches exhibition and knocking over a neatly sorted pile of paperwork I'll take all the bonus luck I can get.

Want your very own little Bean man dancing in the rain then why not visit my Etsy page here.

Timber

Bank Holiday Blues

I've been feeling like this little pig all morning. Gazing out the work window at the lovely park, the blossom filled trees and the sprinkling of sunshine. Though in my case its a plastic bag and not a bright red bird that is fluttering around the tree top.

Arches 96% complete

Well i think a week after starting the install the Arches exhibition is almost complete. Couple of little bits to add/ change and the secret room to finish and then its all done. Woo hoo. Big thanks to Joshua for his install expertise. Without his help I'd still be laying down the timeliness through the building. If you are looking for some semi-scientific art to view this bank holiday then why not pop along and let us know what you think.
Ps - applying vinyl is a nightmare