The Cartoonist's Hat

OK! I'll talk!

2012-02-25T18:54:00.001Z

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition entry using the fixed caption, OK! I'll talk!

Take Me Home

2012-02-21T12:47:00.002Z

(Marker, coloured pencils in Japanese fanfold Moleskine)

My last addition to the Clare's Moly, part of the International Moleskine Exchange, moly_x_25.

Your Place or Mine?

2012-02-13T12:09:00.001Z

(Black marker, digital colour)

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition entry using the fixed caption, Your place or mine?

Close enough

2012-02-05T11:48:00.000Z

(Black marker, digital colour)

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition entry using the fixed caption, What the Hell! It's close enough.

Forward

2012-01-31T16:28:00.004Z

(Mixed media)

Into the Valley of Death rode the Six Hundred Pounder.

My contribution to this week's Illustration Friday challenge - Forward.

Embarrassing

2012-01-28T17:12:00.002Z

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition entry using the fixed caption, God, this is going to be embarrassing!

Now is not a good time

2012-01-15T12:15:00.002Z

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition entry using the fixed caption, Now is not a good time for this.

New Year's Resolution

2011-12-31T14:40:00.003Z

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition uses the set caption - "Well, there goes my New Year's Resolution."

And a Happy New Year to all my Readers!

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000Z

Merry Christmas to All My Reader! This week sees the "wordless theme" of Christmas Dinner in the Cartoonists' Forum Competition.

Cutbacks

2011-12-17T17:06:00.002Z

This week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition is based on the theme - Cutbacks.

Quick! Take a Picture!

2011-12-11T12:10:00.002Z

(Mixed media)

Running out of time, I had to adapt an old Illustration Friday entry for this week's Cartoonists' Forum fixed caption competition - Quick! Take a Picture! Got it in with only 30 seconds to spare.

Health

2011-12-03T16:12:00.002Z

(Mixed media)

The set theme for this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition is: Health.

Remember Me?

2011-11-26T17:42:00.001Z

(Mixed media)

This week's entry to the Cartoonists' Forum Competition, using the set caption, Remember me?

Three Basics

2011-11-25T21:33:00.000Z

(Coloured pencil in Japanese fan-fold Moleskine.)

My addition to the "colourful characters" of Kerry's Moly, part of the International Moleskine Exchange, moly_x_25.

Back to the Drawing Board

2011-11-19T12:44:00.002Z

(Mixed media)

This week's entry to the Cartoonists' Forum Competition, using the set caption.

Hair

2011-11-06T11:23:00.001Z

(Mixed media)

My contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition on the theme of "Hair".

Stripes

2011-11-04T16:16:00.003Z

(Mixed media)

This week's subject for Illustration Friday is Stripes.

Good News

2011-10-29T14:56:00.002+01:00

(Mixed media)

This is my contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition which had a given caption.

Scary

2011-10-28T14:34:00.002+01:00

(Mixed media)

This week's subject from Illustration Friday is Scary. This is a reworking of a cover for a fanzine, TRAPDOOR.

Comfort Zone

2011-09-03T12:13:00.002+01:00

This is my entry to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Cartoon Competition, using the given caption. It's a reworking of an old Out of the Blue fanzine cover.

Not again!!!

2011-08-21T11:57:00.002+01:00

My entry for this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition, which had a given caption.

Restaurant

2011-07-24T15:19:00.000+01:00

Horror Films

2011-07-17T01:25:00.002+01:00

(Mixed media)

This week's theme for the Cartoonists' Forum Competition is Horror Films. My contribution is an homage to the wonderful Charles Addams.

Sorry

2011-07-03T12:53:00.002+01:00

(Mixed media)

A last minute contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition.

My Moly

2011-06-30T08:11:00.001+01:00

(Marker with coloured pencils in Japanese fanfold Moleskine)

My second addition to my own moly in the moly_x_25 Moleskine exchange as it begins its return journey round the loop..

At the Potato Opticians

2011-06-25T14:27:00.001+01:00

(Mixed media)

The original wording of a cartoon submitted to this week's Cartoonists Forum Competition.

Launch

2011-06-22T12:03:00.002+01:00

Match me, Sidney (mixed media)

This week's contribution to Illustration Friday is a slightly reworked version of one posted here very recently. The challenge was - Launch.

Remote Control

2011-06-18T12:20:00.001+01:00

My contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition.

Swept

2011-06-13T21:02:00.000+01:00

(Mixed media)

There was an old woman went up in a basket,
Ninety-nine times as high as the moon;
What she did there I could not but ask it,
For in her hand she carried a broom.

"Old woman, old woman, old woman," quoth I,
"O whither, O whither, O whither so high?"
"To sweep the cobwebs off the sky -
And I shall be back again by and by!"

A contribution to Illustration Friday - Swept.

Tribute

2011-06-11T22:22:00.000+01:00

(Mixed media)

This week's cartoon for the Cartoonists' Forum Competition is a tribute to Dave "DC1" Carson, a member who died recently. His three main interests were Martial Arts, Cartooning and Real Ale and those are the themes we were invited to choose from in the competition.

Latest Must-Have Accessory

2011-06-05T15:02:00.002+01:00

My contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition, with the caption compulsory.

Match Me, Sidney

2011-05-28T12:30:00.001+01:00

(Mixed media)

Coloured version of Pig on a Rocket (1984)

Soaked

2011-05-24T02:29:00.005+01:00

(Mixed media)

Doctor Foster
Went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle
Right up to his middle
And never went there again!

This week's Illustration Friday subject is - Soaked. No one got more soaked than Doctor Foster.

On the Shelf

2011-05-23T16:11:00.001+01:00

(Mixed media)

I took this down from the shelf today, reworked it and .... back on the shelf it goes.

Flight

2011-05-21T12:13:00.001+01:00

(Fibretip with digital colour)

This is today's submission to the Cartoonists' Forum Competition No.95.

Flight of Fancy

2011-05-21T10:21:00.003+01:00

(Mixed media)

Two independent juries examined this piece. One liked it, the other .... smiled. So I decided to do another entry for the Cartoonists' Forum competition this week.

Safari

2011-05-19T10:18:00.006+01:00

(Fibretip)

This an old image (1984) which I'm submitting to Illustration Friday for their challenge - Safari.

Earlier in the week I spent several hours making a multi-layered coloured version in Photoshop. The file proved to be too big for Illustration Friday and I gradually reduced the size. Inevitably along the way the large file got lost and now there's no way of returning it to it's larger size. Here it is in its reduced form:

Safari in Kettle Country
(Mixed media)

[And as I now find I still can't upload my offering to Illustration Friday, it won't be there at all. Stuff it]

Production Values

2011-05-01T17:25:00.002+01:00

This week's entry for the Cartoonists' Forum Competition No.92, using the set caption.

Bicycle

2011-04-28T18:19:00.007+01:00

(Mixed media)

This week's Illustration Friday challenge is - Bicycle. I offer this informative drawing.

Yes to AV Cartoon

2011-04-28T12:29:00.000+01:00

Shy Boy

2011-04-27T13:57:00.002+01:00

(Mixed media)

One of those characters you sometimes find lurking in a folder in the drawer.

Journey

2011-04-18T23:34:00.002+01:00

(Fibretip with digital colour)

This week's contribution to Illustration Friday - Journey.

Science

2011-04-17T11:27:00.002+01:00

(Fibretip with digital colour)

This is my entry for this week's Cartoonists Forum Competititon.

Hula Hoops and Plates

2011-04-16T18:12:00.003+01:00

(Brushpen and coloured pencils in Japanese fanfold Moleskine)

My latest addition to Melissa's moly in the moly_x_25 Moleskine exchange. In Melissa's moly, things that go round .... go round.

Bottled

2011-04-14T22:53:00.001+01:00

Dandelion Wine (Mixed media)

This week's challenge from Illustration Friday is Bottled. Whenever this word comes up I always think of the 1957 novel by Ray Bradbury in which the essence of summer is bottled in the form of Dandelion Wine.

No Place Like Home

2011-04-08T16:09:00.003+01:00

(Fibretip, coloured pencils, photograph, digital colour and filter)

A new and coloured version of the previously posted Tower House.

Duet

2011-04-07T21:54:00.000+01:00

(Pentel Brushpen with coloured pencil)

My contribution to this week's challenge from Illustration Friday - Duet.

At Home with The Flyer

2011-03-31T23:57:00.002+01:00

(Fibretip, A4)

I found this in a short pile of rough drafts tonight and thought I might as well finish it. Not like I have anything else to do ...

Toy

2011-03-28T18:24:00.004+01:00

As a boy, young Rob took a keen interest in the health of his toys.

This week's subject from Illustration Friday is Toy. An old illustration given some colour in Photoshop.

Cultivate

2011-03-19T14:17:00.002Z

(Fibretip and digital colour)

A contribution to Illustration Friday - Cultivate. I think when it was originally drawn, there was something unpleasant in the bucket, but now it's just good wholesome muck.

RIP: Mike Glicksohn

2011-03-18T16:31:00.002Z

Posted in memory of my old friend Mike who died in Toronto today aged 65. He was a a Hugo Award-winning fanzine editor, a fannish giant and above all a great guy. I can't believe he's gone.

Seriously, though ....

2011-03-05T17:51:00.001Z

(Fibretip, digital colour)

My entry for this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition.

Comp No.83

2011-02-26T17:59:00.002Z

(Fibretip with digital colour)

My contribution to this week's Cartoonists' Forum Competition.

Rotor

2011-02-25T02:02:00.001Z

(Fibretip and digital colour)

When I was a kid, I was told we'd all have jetpacks by now. What happened? I don't even have a Spandex jacket.

Layer

2011-02-24T13:17:00.005Z

(Marker, digital colour)

A small contribution to this week's brief from Illustration Friday - Layer.

Totem Pole Madness

2011-02-16T22:32:00.001Z

(Fibretips and coloured pencils)

Moly_x_63, the Totem Pole Moly, keeps rolling along and seems to get stranger by the minute. Here's my latest contribution to one of the molys in the exchange

Happy Valentine's Day ....

2011-02-14T02:40:00.002Z

(Fibretip, digital colour)

My contribution to The Cartoonists' Forum Competition No.81.

Reverse

2011-02-07T22:41:00.001Z

(Fibretip, digital colour)

Arnold Green was quite perverse
And always drove round in reverse ...

This week's offering for Illustration Friday's set theme - Reverse. I can't help feeling there should be more lines to this verse, but so far they escape me.

Awards

2011-02-06T11:42:00.002Z

(Fibretip, digital colour, Photoshop collage)

My contribution to The Cartoonists' Forum Competition No.80.

The Music Goes Round and Round ....

2011-02-04T23:36:00.000Z

(Fibretip and coloured pencils in Japanese fan-fold Moleskine)

... and it comes out here. This is my latest contribution to moly_x_25, a group in the International Moleskine Exchange .

Surrender

2011-02-03T21:15:00.001Z

(Fibretip and digital colour)

Ignavus, called The Poltroon, led his people to many glorious defeats.

A last minute illustration for Illustration Friday's challenge - Surrender.

Caption competition no.79

2011-01-31T10:36:00.001Z

When I'm Sixty Four.

2011-01-29T01:28:00.001Z

If it weren't for The Beatles no one would have found it appropriate to celebrate this birthday, but as Macca made the effort to write this, why not? Happy Birthday to me.

Whatever next?

2011-01-28T17:22:00.002Z

(Fibretip, Photoshop)

There's something due any day
I will know right away
Soon as it shows ....

Dusty

2011-01-27T21:49:00.002Z

(Fibretip, coloured pencils, Photoshop)

You don't have to say you love me ....

A very late entry to the Illustration Friday challenge - Dusty.

Desert Island

2011-01-25T02:21:00.002Z

Placed third in Competition No.78 of the Cartoonists' Forum weekly cartoon competiton.

Teddy Bear

2011-01-24T11:21:00.002Z

(Coloured pencils)

If you go down in the woods today ...

Step Inside, Step Inside!

2011-01-22T02:34:00.001Z

(Fibretips and coloured pencils, digitally coloured background)

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends ....

Colonel Mustard

2011-01-21T00:45:00.001Z

(Fibretip, felt tips, digital background)

--- in the gazebo, with a stick.

Short & Curly

2011-01-20T00:46:00.001Z

(Fibretip and felt tips)

Another greetings card character.

'Umble

2011-01-19T14:11:00.002Z

(Fibretips and felt tips)

Doubled Up

2011-01-17T19:24:00.000Z

(Fibretip and Photoshop)

My entry in The Cartoonists' Forum's caption competition no.77.

Charlie and the Chicken Suit

2011-01-15T00:32:00.003Z

(Fibretip, coloured pencils)

Donning the Chicken Suit, Charlie stepped out to meet Illustration Friday's challenge: Chicken.

#1. The Great Whorl of China

2011-01-14T17:12:00.004Z

(Fibretip and xerox)

First in a series. Collect them all.

Déjà vu

2011-01-13T13:31:00.000Z

(Fibretip, Photoshop)

I've entered this for Illustration Friday's challenge, Déjà vu, but I can't help feeling I've seen it before.

Three Tiered Walker

2011-01-07T13:22:00.001Z

(Fibretip, digital colour)

The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one ... at least on one of these.

Starbike

2011-01-05T13:23:00.001Z

(Indian ink)

I found this cartoon today amongst a pile of papers. It's so old, the tyres on the bike have perished.

Resolution

2011-01-03T17:08:00.004Z

"Let's make a resolution to do something about the bats in the attic this year."
(Fibretip, digital colour)

My contribution (with a grateful nod to my mate Roy) to this week's challenge from Illustration Friday: Resolution

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T16:23:00.001Z

(Fibretip, digital colour)

Winter

2010-12-29T17:27:00.002Z

Winter (Oil on board, Photoshop)

I know, I know, it's not a cartoon, but this is now the blog for Illustration Friday projects, and this week it was Winter. No time to do anything fresh, so this is a painting given the Photoshop treatment.

When Carrots Speak

2010-12-24T03:25:00.005Z

(Printed card, gold marker, coloured pencils)

An old one. colourised.

Mail

2010-12-22T12:00:00.002Z

(Fibretip with digital colour)

This week's contribution to Illustration Friday: Mail.

On Zanzibar

2010-12-15T03:22:00.002Z

(Coloured pencils and markers in A6 accordion fold Moleskine)

This is the latest of my contributions to Moly_x_25. The previous contributor directed me to Zanzibar which, as any fule kno, is full of exotic tropical plants. The character and her dog is a continuing theme.

Phenomenon

2010-12-10T23:33:00.002Z

(2B mechanical pencil, coloured pencils on A6 cartridge)

Illustration Friday's brief is: Phenomenon. The benefits of this remarkable tropical plant, a true phenomenon, were kept hidden from the public for many years. It was left to the crusading spirits at the Daily Mail to reveal how much we owe to it and yet what a danger it presents.

Prehistoric

2010-12-06T21:17:00.000Z

(Fibretips, coloured pencils on A4 inkjet print)

This week's Illustration Friday brief - Prehistoric - happened to coincide with my rediscovery of a pencil rough for a rarely seen dinosaur. So I combined it with a sketchbook drawing of woodland and reworked the whole thing.

Dreadroller

2010-12-04T02:32:00.003Z

(Marker, digital colour, A4 cartridge)

The Dreadroller made a significant impact in the later years of the Great War.

Alien Wheeler

2010-12-03T01:30:00.002Z

(Marker, digital colour)

Mankind's greatest gift to the Galaxy was the wheel.

Modern Wheelracer

2010-12-02T02:45:00.005Z

(Marker, digital colour)

The popularity of modern wheelracing is considered to be over-inflated.

Wheelboat

2010-12-01T17:09:00.004Z

(Marker, digital colour)

The rich man in his wheelboat. A common sight in Victorian England.

Savour

2010-11-30T23:54:00.002Z

(Fibretips, coloured pencils, 2B mechanical pencil, A6 cartridge )

Another cartoon for Illustration Friday. This time the brief was Savour.

Nasty Party

2010-11-27T01:19:00.001Z

(Markers, coloured pencils, A6 cartridge)

Nice Party

2010-11-26T01:29:00.000Z

(Fibretips, coloured pencils, A6 cartridge)

Village Molys

2010-11-25T12:30:00.000Z

(Markers, fibretips and coloured pencils in Japanese accordion-fold Moleskine)

This is my latest addition to a Moleskine in the Moleskine International Exchange group, Moly_x_25. The theme of the book is Colourful Characters, so who more colourful than the Village People? Admittedly, when filtered through my imagination, they've come out looking rather shifty, but sometimes you just have to let the pencils take you where they will.

The Cartoonist's Hat

2010-11-24T23:29:00.002Z

(Marker, digital colour)

"It's perhaps important to point out that I find cartooning and painting almost totally incompatible, in that they each require a different mindset. When I wear my cartoonist's hat I cannot paint and vice versa."

"In 1973 .... I gave up all thought of art college. The cartoonist's hat was firmly on for the next 15 years."

"If [painting] keeps me sane, it's worth it, but every now and again I find my head itching for the cartoonist's hat."

Those are quotes from an article I wrote for my fanzine, PIE in the SKY, in 1992 and serve to demonstrate the ongoing difficulty I find in working in both fields at the same time. It ought not to be so difficult. I've mentioned before that Wayne Thiebaud draws a cartoon every day and while I'm far too modest to put myself in the same paddock as Thiebaud, if he can do it, I don't see why I can't. Maybe not every day, but I don't see why painting and cartooning can't co-exist in my art practice.

All of which is by way of announcing the opening of my new blog - The Cartoonist's Hat. There's more work to be done on it in terms of banner headings and the like, but I've copied across all the cartoons from Boogie Street, together with contributions to Moleskine International Exchanges. From now on Moly work and pieces done for Illustration Friday will appear only on The Cartoonist's Hat. If you'd like to keep up with those things, why not subscribe to posts using the handy widget in the sidebar?

Sneaky

2010-11-22T13:58:00.000Z

(Black marker, colour in Photoshop)

A contribution to the latest brief from Illustration Friday: Sneaky. I find I still get enjoyment from doing this sort of thing, but reactions (or more accurately, the lack of reactions) from readers of this blog suggest that these posts are of limited interest. I'm thinking that it might be useful therefore to set up a new blog to post cartoons and related drawings, such as Moleskine Exchange contributions. Watch this space.

Brand New Moly

2010-11-02T13:18:00.000Z

(Markers, fibretips and coloured pencils in Japanese accordion-fold Moleskine)

As I've indicated previously, progress on Moly_x_63, the Totem Pole Moly, has been slow, so I recently signed up for another Moleskine exchange. This is my first contribution to Moly_x_25, just beginning its second round after a successful first one.

I find it really relaxing to sit in front of the tv and draw things like this. There's no theme to this one, so I decided to start with a cornucopia and let it disgorge its contents, surprising me in the process.

Moly Once More

2010-10-26T14:21:00.000+01:00

(Markers, fibretips and coloured pencils in Japanese accordion-fold Moleskine)
[Illustration Friday - "Burning"]

It's been well over a year since I was able to add to any of the moleskines in the Totem Pole Moly exchange, Moly_x_63. Unfortunately, this seems to be the nature of the beast. Things are on the move again, however, and this is my latest addition.

RV Eye

2010-10-05T21:50:00.001+01:00

Marker with Photoshop colour

After some weeks of remembering to routinely put three drops from two bottles into my left eye in the right order each day, I went to the RVI today for a check-up. The pressure in both eyes now registers as normal, so hurrah! Most of the time, I've been quite blasé about the potential seriousness of the condition, but occasionally I'd secretly admit to a little worry or two.

Anyway, although the drops regimen has to continue for another four months (at least), I feel happier about it now and more able to concentrate on artwork.

Star Gazing

2010-08-17T14:15:00.000+01:00

A rare return to a cartoon for Ilustration Friday. It was drawn with a fine point marker and coloured in Photoshop, for the set theme, Star Gazing.

It comes at a time when the Perseid meteor showers have been shooting through the earth's atmosphere. As usual, the clouds moved in after sunset in the north east to ensure the display was hidden. Perhaps they're only available on pay-per-view.

Hickery Dickery Dare

2010-07-01T14:22:00.000+01:00

Fibretip and coloured pencil in A6 accordion fold Moleskine.

Hickery, dickery, dare,
The pig flew up in the air,
But Patrick Brown
Soon brought him down,
Hickery, dickery, dare.

Sometimes a change really is as good as a rest. I recently agreed to help out Michael Nightmare with his Piggy Moly which he'd retrieved from a moribund group of Moly Xers. When it arrived from Lynne Lamb a few days ago, I found the chance to do something that didn't involve painting very attractive, so tonight I set to and finished my contribution.

The nursery rhyme I found in Cole's Funny Picture Book, a treasure from my childhood. and I decided to make my pig a superhero. The evil Patrick Brown, his arch-nemesis, is yet to appear on the scene.