Winter is coming

Looking out the window and the swirling wind and rain its very clear that the Autumn is clipping by very quickly.

You're a star

Bit of a red, blue and turquoise theme going on around here at the moment! New wee Christmas decorations now in the UK and North America shops.

Happy Halloween

Ann and I always try and decorate the stairwell of our building for Halloween and this year we decided to have a go at some origami bats, pumpkins and skulls. I think our neighbours got a bit of a shock when they got up the next morning to discover an army of paper monsters hanging from invisible thread all the way down the stairs. See the below photos.

I thought people might like to attempt making their own so have tried to draw up the instructions below. If anything is confusing then let me know in the comments below and I'll try to explain.

As well as the origami monsters we also filled a bright orange pumpkin lantern bucket with sweets and left at the bottom step along with a little note inviting our neighbours to help themselves. I also created a set of other  colourful card with vampires, witches, mummy's and other creatures for hanging on the doors.

Happy Birthday Wishes

Few new wee pig card designs coming soon.

Looper

Anyone else see Looper? I thought it was a really interesting film but it was partly spoiled for me by the weird makeup effect to make JGL look more like Bruce Willis. It was pretty effective but knowing what JGL looks like I spent most of my time trying to spot which bits were real and which were fake and wondering if his eyebrows would get a separate credit at the end.

Sun and Moon

You only live twice

Thunderball

Odd Job

From Russia With Love

Dr No

50 years of Bond

Daniel Craig

Quick 23min sketch for Little White Lies movie Sketchathon.

Dockwood by Jon McNaught

The talented Jon McNaught has a new book out soon called Dockwood. Its apparently about autumn, a nursing home and a paper round. Having once upon a time had a paper round which included an old folks home I look forward to reading it. 

There was a really comfy chair on the second floor of the home on which I would take a five minute warm up and read the comic strips on the back of the papers before setting out for the last house which had a large and rather angry dog. I wonder if Jon's book will touch upon such wonders.

www.jonmcnaught.co.uk

Three Wise men

Completed set of figures

I was approached, by Folksy at the end of the summer to design a bespoke item, as an exclusive Christmas product.

My desk during the initial design stage

I love decorating the house for Christmas and try to make sure all our objects have good stories behind them. For the last few years, we have collected unusual items to hang from our tree from every destination we've been too, from red felt maple leaves in Tokyo to small decorated elephants from Jaipur or an odd wooden spoon from Stockholm. Most are handmade and unique and as a result we look forward to unwrapping and discovering them again each year as we put up the tree.

Initial sketch proposal for approval by Folksy

I wanted my Folksy object to capture a little of that feeling. I wanted it to be something that people could treasure and enjoy every year. The Russian dolls series of work that I've made seemed to fit the bill perfectly so I set about designing something bold, bright and warm that would go well with the dark green of a Christmas tree. Eventually I settled on a set of three wisemen, with the smallest doll also containing a single wooden star threaded to hang from the tree.

Making the dolls is quite a long process. First I need to get some blank hand-turned doll sets from a little man in Ireland, then several coats of white paint are needed to give a good base to work from. I then rough sketch out the designs with pencil. I try out colour combinations on the computer to give me a good starting point but in reality it takes many, many test colours with repeated sanding in between to get the colours so I'm happy. Once all that is done, the dolls get a further light sand to take off any rough bits of paint and then the final line detail is added in pencil before several coats of satin varnish to seal the pencil and to give a bit of protection to the paint.

You can see more images of the final results on the Folksy website here.

Dolls at various stages during initial design

There were 14 different designers asked to take part in the Christmas Collection and here are links to products that they designed:

• Three wise men by Hole in my Pocket
• Christmas Pudding Soap by Scent Cosmetics
• Stationery geek Poster by Crazy Bear Studio
• 'Icicle' glass fairy lights by Red Brick Glass
• Three Kings Paper Craft Set by Happy Thought Paper Crafts
• Two Tone Crochet Boot Cuffs in Mint Green & Cream by Lumi
• Christmas Notebooks by Felt Mountain Studios
• Wooden Reindeer by Erin Rose
• Emperor Penguin Jug by Julia Davy Ceramics
• Cyclamen Pink Hot Water Bottle by jules hogan knitted textiles
• Toy Angel Decoration by Jane Foster Designs
• Woodland Mug - Christmas by Jilly bird
• Tweed teacosy by A Very British Affair
• Christmas Bunting by Bread and Jam

Axis @ The Manchester contemporary

A selection of my work will be at the Axis stand of The Manchester Contemporary art fair on 28-30 September 2012 with a private view taking place on Thursday 27 September 2012.

For the fourth year, a carefully selected range of UK and international galleries will come together to display the work of some exciting emerging contemporary artists.

Combined with the art, which is all available for sale, will be a full programme of events including artist talks and guided tours of the stands.

Opening Times

Friday 28 September 2012	11am - 7pm
Saturday 29 September 2012	11am - 6pm
Sunday 30 September 2012	11am - 5pm

My dad is bigger than your dad

Happy Father's day to Ukraine (last week) and Luxembourg (next week).

7 Stanes

Ae: The Talking Head Stane

Really like the sculptures by Gordon Young. They were a made for the 7stanes which are seven mountain biking centres developed by the Forestry Commission spanning the south of Scotland, from the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway.  At each centre a stone sculpture was installed which made reference to a local story.

This is similar to a project I completed as part of my Architecture PostGrad Thesis, entitled "The Art of the Storyteller" where I travelled Scotland gathering stories from the people I met. I then designed 10 folly buildings/ installation that told some of those stories through their forms. Its something I've been thinking of returning to one day, as I gathered way more tales than I was able to use.

 Mabie: The Ghost Stane

Kirroughtree: The Gem Stane

Hippy Bathday

One of many new cards just uploaded to my Etsy and Folksy shops.

Little Campfire

Spotted via sharesomecandy.com

Really like this little camp-fire lamp by 5.5 designers, seems in keeping with my Lucky Pine Sawmill series. Would be great in a Lumberjack themed restaurant on the tables.

New secret Commission

I've been asked to make something for someone for a Christmas event they are going to be promoting. At the moment its all very top secret and all I can reveal that it has resulted in my spending a very long time with paint brushes and that the above image is the final chosen result of extensive colour mixing.

Couple of days left to finish the sample product for a Photoshop and hopefully be able to say and show more about it soon.

Horse Rabbit

I just drew this on my phone. I like it, I don't know why. I think its the rubbishness of it that I find appealing. I think he would have done good in the horsey dancing events at the Olympics. Looks like a good mover.

New Cards

A selection of new cards arrived today. Will get them packaged up and on sale soon.

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