Stand By For Magic

“The people who have come forward now, in their thousands,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:34:00 +0800

“The people who have come forward now, in their thousands, perhaps feel the same as me: why be defined by the Saviles, the Halls, the endless weird, isolated men who have been arrested recently?…Sufferers of abuse are not “victims”, not even “survivors” – we’re brilliant, wonderful human beings, out there in the world, avenging ourselves on a daily basis by living well.”

- Roshi Fernando: ”I suffered sexual abuse. I refuse to be ashamed any more.”

TW: Abuse, Self-Harm, Eating Disorders

That article, above, was written by my Mum, Roshi Fernando. After reading it I was at first shocked, because through my 22 years of life I had never once suspected that something like that had happened to her.

But more than that, I was proud of her - as proud as I’ve always been - that she chose to write about something that deserved to be written about. It was in yesterday’s papers, but I wanted more people to read it. So I made this illustration, based on the part I reproduced in bold, so that I could put it here.

This is something I feel very strongly about, and have felt very strongly about for a long time - since something similar happened to a friend of mine in University, in another situation that ended up with the person harmed being blamed and shunned. But, like my Mum, that person didn’t let it define her, and avenged herself by living well.

If you have a moment, please do read that article, and reblog this post. I’d like as many people as possible to see it.

Thank you.

Occasionally I look at the leftover odd socks I have from my...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:40:27 +0800

Occasionally I look at the leftover odd socks I have from my last creations and feel compelled to put together some new ones. And here they are.

I think I’ll call the rider Vaga, and the steed Bon.

My Evangelist (right) horsing around with MissNK’s...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:02:00 +0800

My Evangelist (right) horsing around with MissNK’s Evangelist (left). I redesigned mine, but didn’t dare with the gloriousness that was hers.

Miss EnKy has improved immensely as an artist since we both entered that (FIXED!) Gorillaz contest. She’s working in art school and developing a pretty-exciting-looking comic involving Monsters and cute girls.

And I, I…have learned how to ladder-stitch. Huzzah.

Soko’s “Dandy Cowboys” made me draw this.

You’re the Man

I’m the Girl

We look good together!

You with your hat

Me with my boots!

Further in the series of “Things I Drew In A...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:58:56 +0800

Further in the series of “Things I Drew In A Museum”, I present the badly-hatched skeleton of a Gomphothere, which was the freakiest kind of Elephant there could be; and a colour sketch of a fuzzy Mongolian hat made out of a rabbit’s face. And ears. Only marginally less freaky.

Good Things Come To Those In Pain Another selection from Hohhot....

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:25:00 +0800

Good Things Come To Those In Pain

Another selection from Hohhot. Needing an excuse to get out of my small flat, I today headed to the Inner Mongolia Museum to do some sketching, and promptly engendered a scorching migraine.

Before that, however, I took the opportunity to do this quick drawing of a tortoise-monster supporting a giant slab on his back with Chinese characters all over it. No idea what it was as the Museum has very few English signs. An old Chinese man came up as I was finishing and gave me the thumbs up, so I presume my rendition was respectful.

Anyway, it must have paid off somehow, because as soon as I’d returned home for pain medication, I found that my MA application at the University of Sussex had gone through and been accepted. So…good things come to those in pain! (Sometimes.) Huzzah!

I also saw Prehistoric Elephant Skeletons, a hat made out of a rabbit’s face, and a waxwork of a kid wearing said hat while shooting an arrow, with his grandpa looking on and probably saying “Foolish Child, What Are You Wearing”, oldly.

Stay tuned for those.

AHA! Caught you unawares, Tumblights. This is what I’ve...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:03:00 +0800

AHA! Caught you unawares, Tumblights.

This is what I’ve just done just now. Like, a few minutes ago. I realised my old i-of-phone case, was getting grotty. Also, the glass back-panel broke.

I reflected that I could perhaps spruce up mine i-of-phone for the sake of the New Year and whatnot. What I could have done was buy some run-of-the-mill decal from one of the cheap shops here in China, or from the INTERNET. But…that’s not eccentric enough.

AND SO, BEHOLD: The Cockatrice, a legendary beast related somewhat to the Basilisk, being half-Chicken, half-Snake, and all altitude. I’m sorry, I meant attitude. No, I was right the first time. I found the little bugger hiding in my suitcase some weeks ago, and half only managed to capture him by dint of supreme effort.

(By “Capture” I of course mean I made a watercolour picture of one and glued it to the new, clear-glass back panel, but IT STILL COUNTS DAMMIT)

The intent behind this is to serve as a self-reminder. The Cockatrice famously had the ability to turn people into stone; so too do our gadgets. So I’m reminding myself not to be turned into stone. Somehow.

It’s terribly ugly. I love it. This must be a what parenting feels like.

(Warning: I might be persuaded to do similar things to other people’s phones for money. My door is always open…)

I have been working on a project this week, intermittently, only...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:37:56 +0800

I have been working on a project this week, intermittently, only to realise that it doesn’t work and is terrible. In lieu of actual artwork, please accept this picture of two Mougis mucking about on the skull of some giant turtle.

I apologise and hope to make up for it with something amazing and beautiful soon.

This will probably happen every time I forget to do proper artwork. Look forward to a lot more Mougis.

“A wolf howls. I don’t wanna know how he...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:12:35 +0800

“A wolf howls. I don’t wanna know how he feels.”

An homage to the front cover of the 10th Anniversary Edition of Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, based on my very humble self. You might say it’s not much of a homage, but then these days Miller’s not much of a writer, so it all evens out.

This might be based upon my lifelong fascination with all things Batman, one bordering on the unhealthy. It might also have to do with my Mum being one of the greatest Mums in the known universe (and, by the by, she has a book out right now. Buy it, it’s brilliant.) It might also be some combination of the two.

Draw your own conclusions.

The Little Sinister Teddy Bear Thingies return, and this time...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:29:00 +0800

The Little Sinister Teddy Bear Thingies return, and this time they have a proper name! I have decided to call them Mougis.

A Migou is solitary, apelike, shaggy-furred, and lives in the Himalayas. A Mougi is the opposite of a Migou. They are social, teddy-like, smooth-furred, and live in the desert.

I have no idea what to call the Bone Beastie below them. Probably they should not be teasing it.

This took an unfathomably long time.

SO this is what I’ve been doing for three days or so....

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:23:42 +0800

SO this is what I’ve been doing for three days or so. Originally it was just going to be a simple rubber-chicken-type deal, but looking around at the spare parts I thought to myself: “Hum…I can do better”.

So was born Sizer Kozy, named after the fact that I was watching The Usual Suspects when I made him. Like many real wild animals, Sizer spends his time pretending to be an entirely different creature, mostly as a ploy for attention. Murray, the turtle-creature who rides around in his mouth, pretends to be his tongue for fun. When Murray’s not around he makes a pretty good pencil-holder.

These two may be my favourite of all the Sock Creatures I’ve created thus far.

To be fair, he’s not known for his humour. But he’s...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:30:17 +0800

To be fair, he’s not known for his humour. But he’s got a good head on his shoulders. Er…lap.

Happy V-Day, People Who Are In Love!

As for the rest of us…let’s all get a drink and forget about tomorrow.

Originally I just wanted to draw “The Bat Girl”,...

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:55:00 +0800

Originally I just wanted to draw “The Bat Girl”, like my earlier “Spider Man”. A girl with big eyes and long, webbed muscly arms and short stubby legs like a bat. This became kind of boring, even when I gave her the ‘look’ of a lovely girl with whom I used to smoke Marijuana and watch “South Park”. (Who said people who like Bats have to be gloomy?)

Then a friend of mine - a different friend - told me she used to suffer from Trypophobia, and I had to go and look up what that was.

Hee hee hee.

Dedicated to my dear ol’ Dad for lending me the book this...

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:11:00 +0800

Dedicated to my dear ol’ Dad for lending me the book this is based on. And also to Jesse Bering for writing it in the first place.

Consider this an unasked-for early Valentine’s day present, Tumblights!

whosthewhatnow: For gentleman-mummy for our sketch...

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:37:00 +0800

whosthewhatnow:

For gentleman-mummy for our sketch trade.

Chris’ half of the art trade! And a rather becoming portrait, if I do say so meself.

My first art trade! I agreed with the multi-talented Chris...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:45:00 +0800

My first art trade! I agreed with the multi-talented Chris Gugliotti that I’d create a portrait of himself and his (adorable) dog Mr. Nibbles in my style in exchange for one of me. Given that he regularly creates a series of portraits of him and Nibbles as famous duos, I thought I’d create a little twist on that theme, based on a certain famous painting by one of my favourite artists.

This was very fun to make. I should try it again some time…

Is this some sort of…Dinosaur God? Yes. Yes it is.

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:34:00 +0800

Is this some sort of…Dinosaur God?

Yes. Yes it is.

Not too long ago I contributed to a selection of art pieces on...

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:57:14 +0800

Not too long ago I contributed to a selection of art pieces on display in a gallery in the University of Kent. On the actual day, there was made mention (by a rather wonderful person) of some serious photos that were in need of some silly dictionary definitions to offset their artisticness and bring about a balance. Not wanting to let down my Silliness reputation, and with 15 minutes to go until the art-show went ‘live’, I quickly dashed to a computer and improvised. I forget whose the photos were. Nice, though, aren’t they?

I bring it up only so as to to post something somewhat complete. I’ve not been well, lately, in the head, and I’ve been up and down location-wise. I’m going to make some actual artwork over the next week, so look out for that. I won’t desert you now, Tumblights.

Stand By For Magic, as per usual.

I realise how similar in tone this is to my New Years’...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:58:00 +0800

I realise how similar in tone this is to my New Years’ piece, but I just scribbled it half an hour ago and wanted to put it up because I liked the energy it gave me. I’ve been reading “Moby Dick”, and came across this passage in Chapter 114:

And that same day, too, gazing far down from his boat’s side into that same golden sea, Starbuck lowly murmured:—

“Loveliness unfathomable, as ever lover saw in his young bride’s eye!—Tell me not of thy teeth-tiered sharks, and thy kidnapping cannibal ways. Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe.”

I’m making that last bit my motto for 2013.

I’m often told - I’m sometimes told- A fan once...

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:01:24 +0800

~~I’m often told -~~

~~I’m sometimes told-~~

~~A fan once told me -~~

My Mother recently told me that my ‘style’ somewhat resembles that of Tove Jansson. I personally don’t see it, but then I made this the next day. All rather odd.

Happy New Year!

Well, dear Tumblights. T’is the Season. It is. It really,...

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:22:00 +0800

Well, dear Tumblights. T’is the Season. It is. It really, really is.

What, you were expecting me to create something - *inward gasp* - orthodox? Far from it, Tumblights. Instead, I’ve decided to create a Moore-and-O’Neill-esque meeting of the characters, assembled under a predictably irritating team name to bring CHRISTMAS CHEER! For Reasons.

The line-up includes:

*Saint Nicholas, the historical Turkish man himself. Rather than his usual saintly attire, I’ve given him what I think the grand old saint would have worn for a portrait: a simple white robe. I’ve adorned him with a scar commemorating his suffrage as a Christian, and a nose-bandage to recall the fistfights he’d get into with other men of the cloth. He’s holding a golden ball, based on his legendary act of kindness in giving golden balls to three sisters…and thus dooming himself to an eternity of being known for his charitable goodwill.

*The Krampus. So that his presence didn’t disturb the line-up (he’s usually depicted as a giant hairy beast with a foot-long tongue and a basket on his back full of shrieking children), I went with a look based on his attire in an old illustration I saw in the National Geographic, where he’s the big biker dude who drives St. Nicholas around. Facially, I modelled him on Anton La Vey. I thought he might be a bit leery when standing between the authentic St. Nick and

*Father Christmas, aka Pere Noel, Sinterklaas, etc., as seen on countless Christmas Cards in the 1800s. Rather than Dickens’ constantly cheerful Spirit of Christmas Present or C.S. Lewis’ dour Q-From-James-Bond-With-A-Beard-And-Misogynistic-Tendencies, I sketched him as an otherwise-normal-looking bloke from Scandinavia, his beard only just turning white and his sack full of wooden and clockwork toys, and oranges. If this were a movie, he’d be played by Otto Jespersen of “Trollhunter”, whereas

*Hans Trapp, aka Pere Fouettard or The Whipping Father, would probably be played by Ray Winstone or Ian McShane. He’s a bit of a nasty bloke - his job was to follow around Father Christmas like a demented younger brother, whipping the bad girls and boys and generally behaving in a nasty manner. He has a spiritual fellow in the character Black Peter of the Netherlands, who is officially THE WORST THING EVER and thus did not make it into this group. Seriously, he’s like the Jar Jar Binks of Christmas. I didn’t even know we needed a Jar Jar Binks for Christmas. What the fuck, Netherlands.

*Santa Claus. The pleasant “Falstaff” of this group (or, if you like, “Volstagg”). The modern-day Santa Claus that we’ve all met and have a complicated cultural relationship with - especially as he’s meant to be the sum of all five of the others. I’d initially thought of plastering him with corporate logos ala Captain Amazing, but that would be spiteful and mean and not at all in the spirit of the season. So instead, he’s merrily chugging a bottle of that beverage whose makers popularised his red coat - and will by no means ever allow him to take it off.

Next year I’ll work on an expanded lineup to include the Kwanzaa Caribou, the Grand R’em of Chanukah, Doctor Divali and Great-Aunt-Islamic-Tolerance-Of-And-Respect-For-Other-Cultures-And-Their-Wacky-Winter-Festivals. She’s very fun.

Seasons’ Greetings to all, and a Happy Holiday indeed!