Blackshapes

Notes through the Net

2012-01-25T12:25:00.001Z

Erm... happy christmas

2012-01-22T22:05:00.001Z

I'm sorry. I haven't blogged up much lately cos I've been bogged down.

Even worse I missed my annual xmas card post. I did make a card this year but it was right at the last moment and you most likely didn't get one. Please be assured it's not cos I don't love you anymore. It was just really hectic round that period in 2011. I have a small few left though. If you'd still like one anyway email me your address to: Philip dot Barrett at gmail dot com (you know the symbol replacement thing). I'll put a quick sketch in for compo. First come first served.

Here was last years card - front:

Inside:

Back:

2011-12-05T19:52:00.001Z

This Thursday, December 8th, 6.30pm at Block T in Smithfield, Dublin, the strictly limited screenprinted versions of the posters from the Hollywood Babylon movie nights are up for show and purchase including me version of the Crank 2 Poster. Tiger beer and all - I'll be there.

The Nightingale and not the Lark

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000Z

For an interview that never happened...

2011-12-01T21:09:00.001Z

Lots and lots of little people...

2011-11-16T12:33:00.001Z

En Vacance

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000Z

A while back I did some illustrations for John Robbins short story 'Vacancy for Satan':

Stath Time

2011-11-09T20:36:00.001Z

A poster what I done for Hollywood Babylon's Crank: High Voltage screening innit.

My kingdom for a Note

2011-11-05T13:00:00.000Z

2D jam from the summer

2011-11-02T12:00:00.000Z

Until now I forgot about these jam pages from the 2D Comics Festival during the summer which included super-talents, Jim Medway, Gary Northfield and Vicky Stonebridge:

The Black Bus

2011-10-30T14:57:00.000Z

The Well Below

2011-10-02T20:27:00.000+01:00

John Robbin's excellent 'The Well Below' is now available from the Bockedy Books section of the Blackshapes shop here. As with all the Bockedy Stock it comes highly recommended - the Irish Comic News website agrees.
John's Inside Outsiders book is now available to read online. Note, it's down to the last few copies in the shop and is never to be reprinted.

Sorry to hear you're gone Dylan

2011-09-13T12:23:00.000+01:00

I was very sad to hear the news of the death of Dylan Williams today.

Dylan was one of the most generous, decent, sound people in the world of comics, a brilliant cartoonist, Sparkplug comics publisher and all-round source of good vibes.

I sent Dylan some of my mini-comics on spec soon after I first started making comics and I was stunned to find him full of encouragement and support via email. He went on to distribute some of those minis and eventually published the Matter Summer Special in 2006. Despite probably driving him crackers with the amount of time it took me to get that comic together for publication he would still regularly get in touch to see what else I had on the go and how it was progressing and could he publish it?

The first time I met Dylan in person was my first real visit to the states in the early 2000's. The centrepiece of the trip was the SPX con in Bethesda of that year. On my own and undergoing extreme culture shock, I very nervily introduced myself at the Sparkplug table and Dylan immediately went out of his way to make me feel welcome, put me at my ease and introduce me to other cartoonists. Subsequent meetings at other cons met with the same generous welcome and sharing of his time. I particularly fondly remember a trip to Portland zine Symposium when I was living in Canada when Dylan his partner Emily and bunch of local cartoonists took me and Jesse out for something to eat after the con and treated us like old friends.

I had the privelege of helping out with interview of Dylan on the Inkstuds podcast and despite my sometimes inane and ill-informed questioning remained his usual gracious, self-effacing and encouraging self. Dylan's positive attitude and generosity were an inspiration that have definitely rippled outwards and will continue to do so - it's an attitude that's at the source of the Summer Edition fair and the Dublin Comics Jam over here and I've no doubt many others have been similarly touched.

Dude, I'm sorry I never managed to thank you properly, pull the finger out and do you some really worthy comics in time.

You will be missed.

Notes of All

2011-08-11T22:12:00.000+01:00

Robbins Video

2011-07-11T21:25:00.000+01:00

John Robbins nice rostrum camera type videos with panels from his comics are overdue a mention. All are available from the Blackshapes shop.

Whilst stocks last orders of more than one book come with a copy of the Park and The Littlest Arsonist (click and wait for the animated gif):

Mindfield meltdown

2011-04-28T13:08:00.000+01:00

Along with a bunch of folk from the Dublin Comic Jam I'm going to be doing court sketches, comics and cartoons at the Mindfield festival this weekend - come and say hullo if you're around.

What I am at but not why it is taking me so long

2011-04-21T21:28:00.000+01:00

Up at the Catalyst Arts Comic Fair this Saturday, [23rd April] also in their awesome exhibition. If you're in Belfast come along - it'll be class.

Little Book

2011-03-19T12:48:00.000Z

Everything is in Notes pt.2

2011-03-12T12:33:00.003Z

Christmas 2009

2011-03-09T22:01:00.000Z

My apologies if you didn't get a card from me this year - it's not because I don't love you anymore. Things got really busy towards the end of the year and I just didn't get it together in time to send out widely. Here's my effort from 2009:

Front

Inside

and Back

Everything is in Notes

2011-03-09T21:58:00.000Z

vote for the hat

2011-02-22T12:33:00.001Z

Got an image into the recent Upstart project. As well as providing an alternative to all those horrid visages on the Election posters the project is intended to highlight creativity and the arts. My contribution looks a bit archaic and incongrous (and dare I say obvious?) next to all the hip graphics (Archie Templar's excellent effort notwithstanding). Haven't spotted where mines is located though - if you do please let me know.

UPDATE: A very nice person from the campaign posted photos of the poster in situ - see below.

(Any similarity to The Hat is entirely coincidental.)

The Park is unresolved

2011-02-16T12:00:00.019Z

The cover of The Park mini-comic was a bit of a wrestle and what I settled for finally in the previous post still doesn't quite nail it.

It was to be a wraparound cover to emphasise the theme of the story. This was the first shot which felt a bit cluttered and over-textured:

This simplification didn't seem to solve things:

In hindsight I think it's the story itself that prevents the cover coming together.

Mortal Tedium

2011-02-09T21:55:00.000Z

John Robbins 'Mortal Tedium' is now available from the Blackshapes shop here. As with all John's books it comes highly recommended.

As an added incentive buy any 2 Bockedy Book titles and get a free 'The Park' mini - unavailable elsewhere.

Notey Note

2011-02-09T21:43:00.000Z

Paul Francis has kindly put one of my notes up on his blog. While you're at it check out Paul's intriguing and brilliant web comic Back Then.

Christmas 2009

2010-12-23T17:25:00.002Z

Inside

and Back

Watercolours

2010-12-03T12:46:00.001Z

Framed in those poundshop clip frames - 100 x 150 mm. E-mail me if your interested (prices include postage).

Band - Sold

Woman on Kennel - 11 euro

Pictures on Cardboard

2010-11-29T12:45:00.001Z

Ink and watercolour with whiteout on Cardboard - 100 x 160mm. E-mail me if you're interested in 'em (prices include postage).

Girl - 8 euro

Kid - sold

Guy - 8 euro

Note Copout Again

2010-11-09T16:27:00.001Z

Note Backlog pt.4

2010-11-01T21:06:00.001Z

The note backlog pt.3

2010-10-27T21:38:00.001+01:00

The note backlog pt.2

2010-10-15T12:00:00.002+01:00

The note backlog pt.1

2010-10-11T21:22:00.001+01:00

Little Rowena

2010-09-26T15:03:00.000+01:00

Irish 24 hour comics day

2010-09-21T16:49:00.002+01:00

On 9th/10th October in the Central Hotel Dublin, the annual Irish 24 hour comics day kicks off a week later than everywhere else in the world but is none the less for it. I'll be there and a bunch of other folk besides. More details on the where and what and so on here while the Facebook group is here.

There's a corresponding anthology comic available on the day which, if it's anything like last year's promises to be one of the better anthologies of the year. The theme this year is '5' - didn't manage to get my effort in on time so it's here instead:

Third

2010-08-24T18:58:00.000+01:00

Threes, the mini-comic Maeve Clancy, Cliodhna Lyons and myself did for this years conventions is now out of print for ever (see the cover here). You can read my contribution online here.

Narman the Narwhal

2010-08-19T12:00:00.001+01:00

Tipple Dance

2010-08-16T20:28:00.000+01:00

Good oul Mindpuss sent me this note along with a copy of his excellent bumper compilation 'Complete Tales from Mugland' a while back. Definitely a 'Blackshapes Recommended' - purchase from here.

Summer Edition 2010

2010-07-14T20:39:00.001+01:00

It's happening again - the Artist's book, Comic and Zine fair I help organise, that is. All day, Saturday 24th July in Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin. Everyones going to be there - you should come. More here.

Here's the back of the flyer (Front in the right hand column):

And the comic from last year's while I'm at it:

Rí-Rá agus Ruaille Ruaille

2010-06-16T21:04:00.000+01:00

Rí-Rá is an Irish language comic primarily aimed at the kids in which I've done a 'Nicol Og' strip for a couple of issues now. Nicol Og or 'Young Nicola' is actually the same character from the 'Touched' strips that appear on the blog occasionally. Rí-Rá is a top class little package - well worth a gawk whether Gaelic lingo enabled or not.

gentle hulk

2010-06-09T22:05:00.000+01:00

2D festival last weekend was a very good ol buzz all in all. I even managed to inveigle some more original artwork out of Luke F in the form of this here Hulk (see first bit here). In the spirit of the festival he was dashing off sketches at a rate of knots. This lad is an easy bet for future comic super stardom. Pure class.

Threes

2010-05-31T20:15:00.000+01:00

Cliodhna Lyons, Maeve Clancy and myself put together an A6 mini to shill around the various cons and fairs this summer - next stop Derry 2D on the June 6th closely followed by the Point Village Market on June 12th. The cover design features an overlaid drawing by each of us while the content stories (without much previous consultation) are serendipitously unified.

2D Gallery Appearance and New Book

2010-05-26T20:40:00.001+01:00

As a bit of a precursor to this year's 2D comics festival in Derry from 3rd - 5th June there is an exhibition of Irish Comic Art in the Void Gallery till the 4th June at which I have a couple of pieces. More details on the flyer:

I'll be at the festival on Saturday 5th June at which there should (hopefully) be the launch of 'The Human in Me', a 60 page collection of my short strips. There are over 20 pages of new material and any stories that have appeared before are out of print so if you missed Matter #11, Matter #9, Matter #3 or Lint - the cream of which is herein.

P.S. It'll be up for sale on the website very soon.

No Tea

2010-04-28T22:24:00.000+01:00

Notish

2010-04-03T13:00:00.001+01:00

notely

2010-03-30T17:38:00.000+01:00

The Old Dears

2010-03-08T10:40:00.000Z

Off Note

2010-02-22T12:00:00.003Z

Note-o-riot-e

2010-02-18T17:12:00.000Z

Evening Stroll Late September

2010-02-14T12:00:00.001Z

Stay Off the Drink

2010-02-10T21:37:00.000Z

Note on your Nelly

2010-01-31T13:00:00.002Z

Cavalcade of Notes

2010-01-27T21:21:00.000Z

What's Up November 2008

2010-01-22T12:00:00.001Z

Hack

2010-01-19T17:25:00.003Z

Don't go in the Forest

2010-01-13T12:00:00.005Z

My First Festival

2010-01-08T11:43:00.002Z

The mini-comic version of My First Festival is now available over in the shop.

Toucher

2010-01-05T12:00:00.001Z

Note that I wrote

2010-01-02T22:15:00.001Z

The frankly awesome James Lloyd has been kind enough to scan up a note o' mine over on his excellent blog (blackshapes endorsed perusal pleasure guaranteed)as well as including a scan of the Gazebo cover original with all the whiteout intact. Eye-feast on this guy's artwork - pure class.

Also worth a look is the Moronoid Blog - an anthology which I have contributed to (and will do again) - you can purchase a copy there and all.

Just What...

2009-12-11T12:04:00.002Z

Don't forget the culmination of the 'Just What I've Always Wanted' comic art exhibition in the Twisted Pepper this Saturday - Bands, DJ's, Artwork, Fun. All proceeds for charidee with pieces not sold by Saturday to be put up on ebay.

Christmas 2008

2009-12-09T16:36:00.002Z

Working on this years Christmas card at the moment. Here is last years front:

Inside:

And rear:

Click on the label below for previous years cards.

Just What I Always Wanted

2009-12-03T16:25:00.001Z

'Just What I Always Wanted' is an exhibition of Irish comic-book art exhibition on display in Twisted Pepper, Abbey Street, Dublin from Dec 1st - Dec 12th.

Organised by them ComicCast lads, all the pieces are for sale and all the proceeds go towards Temple Street and Crumlin Children's hospitals. If they ain't sold by the 12th they'll be going up on ebay until they blooming well are.

Have a gawk on the photos part of the facebook page to see some of the class artwork in there.

As well as contributing a piece I got to do the poster above. It took me a few attempts though. Here was the decided upon thumbnail:

I made a bit of a bags of the legs and had to lengthen them in photoshop. Even so it just didn't look quite right:

When in doubt stick in a cute girl. But maybe not one with an elongated bigfoot style arm:

Ah sure it all came together in the end. Thank goodness for colour.

That was then

2009-11-25T19:05:00.001Z

Last year, for Free Comic Day Liam Geraghty and myself did this free mini-comic for the day - read it all here.

Rejiggage

2009-11-12T21:20:00.001Z

Currently rejigging some artwork for the exhibition at the upcoming Independents Day fair on the 22nd November.

This effort for the Irish 24 hour comic day anthology got a bit of hand colouring:

While this oldie got touched up and relettered:

The original version.

That She Wrote

2009-10-28T15:09:00.001Z

More semi-sequiturial filler/warm-up gubbins.

Buy the original artwork.

Note-a-lot

2009-10-21T11:53:00.001+01:00

Paul Francis got there first on his own blog but this terrific note-to-me is well worth a second post - a veritable lesson in picture making:

Check out Paul's 'Down and Out in the London Borough of D___'

Some other notes of note of late:
- Glorious Chris Judge and myself's note jam
- Note to Mindpuss on the incomparable Mindpuss blog
- Saintly Salvo's note to Salvo
- Deirdre the topper's note to Deirdre

24 Hr Comics Day

2009-09-27T17:00:00.001+01:00

As well as the eponymous endurance test of enthusiasm that is the 24Hr Comic draw-athon itself, this years 24 hr comics day on the 17th and 18th October in the Central Hotel Dublin has a host of other fantastic events.

In a super team-up with the Children's Book Festival there'll be workshops galore including:

a free for all mega-huge page comic jam
a pop-up book workshop with the multi-talented Maeve Clancey
a make your own mini-comic workshop from Bridgeen Gillespie and yours truly
a manga drawing workshop from real bona fide Japanese mangaka Tsuyoshi Ogawa
a hideous beast drawing workshop from illustrator Sarah McIntyre

Those good ol' boys from the Comiccast are doing a round table on getting started and self-publishing in comics.

There'll even be a 24 themed anthology available on the day as well as the usual reading corner featuring the very best in international mini-comics!

Click here for the Facebook group and email cliodhna@ztoical.com to sign up - quick!

My First Festival

2009-09-21T13:52:00.001+01:00

Old mucker Waltzer (initiator and kind host of the Wage Slave archive) put together an excellent zine on the subject of festivals in time for the Electric Picnic earlier this month to which I contributed a 6 page reminiscence. Check out Waltzer's blog for a link to an Issuu version of the zine and behind the scenes photos of its creation. I may make a mini-comic out of my story at some point for the print junkies who fail to get their hands on a copy.

Pet the Mindpuss

2009-09-11T12:00:00.002+01:00

Good old oneiric master Mindpuss has put up one of my notes over on his triffic blog.

Note On

2009-09-05T11:48:00.001+01:00

The talented Luke F did me this brillo note last week. I also got to pore over some of his original artwork too - beautiful stuff - this lad is a pro in waiting. Check out Luke's new comic Waiting Room available now from the usual spots in Dublin.

Deirdre kindly put up my Note to Deirdre on her blog and all.

Pangea

2009-08-06T09:59:00.001+01:00

If you're in Dublin this evening, Blackshapes recommends you head along to Chris Judge's exhibition in the South Studios, New Row South - round there by St.Patricks Cathedral - sure to be some cracking artwork on view and plenty of those lovely watercolour and ink pictures Chris has had up on his blog lately.

Kick in the Arsonist

2009-08-06T09:47:00.002+01:00

There are a limited number of free 'The Littlest Arsonist' comics left which Liam Geraghty and myself did for Liam and Craig's Comiccast first birthday. You can get one from 'The Winding Stair' bookshop on the quays at the north end of the Ha'penny bridge if you're in Dublin city or you can get in touch with the Comiccast here if you want to get one by post or you can mail meself - email in the profile to the right.

P.S. I'm on vacation for a week so I'd be getting to them after that point if you've mailed and you're getting frustrated waiting.

Paper Cut

2009-08-03T12:52:00.001+01:00

Did this cover for Paper Cut zine a while back.

P.S. Check out the newly revamped Windell Comics site - you can now watch their hilarious and impressive promo vid online as well as buy the comic (which you should).

Tidalism

2009-07-22T18:59:00.001+01:00

Paul Francis has recently put up one of my notes on his blog here but much more noteworthy is Paul's comic Tidalism here - a terrific piece of sequential art with perfect text and black placement.

The Littlest Arsonist

2009-07-20T16:41:00.001+01:00

For the last two weeks I was working like a maniac to complete Liam Geraghty and myself's 'The Littlest Arsonist' in time for the The Comic Cast birthday bash last Friday. The comic was given out free on the night (a topper night it was too) but I only managed to get 68 of them printed in time as I misjudged the work involved. Keep your eye (and ear) on the Comic Cast website to pick one up sometime soon.

Downright Bockedy Publications

2009-06-26T19:29:00.001+01:00

New over in the shop - Blackshapes is downright delighted to stock John Robbins Downright Bockedy Publications. Click on over to the comics section to see samples and order via paypal. Remember Blackshapes stands by everything it sells!

Beyond the Valley of the Notes

2009-06-19T09:24:00.001+01:00

Nótaí Eile

2009-06-11T16:19:00.001+01:00

I was honoured to be asked to contribute an illustration to a section of Uiscebot's fantastic 'Fat Girl on the Luas' series.

Look, just start from the start and read the lot so far and I'll say no more.

Uiscebot even sent on a brilliant 'in-advance' response:

Fear

2009-06-11T15:50:00.002+01:00

This story was done for the excellent 2D festival anthology entitled 'Fear' which I was at last weekend. I can't find any examples of the original Jackpot story it is an homage to but 'Good News, Bad News' used to have a similar set-up of alternating panels e.g. 'The Bad news is we're going on a school tour to the museum - "Booo!" followed by a trip to waterland funworld - "Yaaay!"' etc.

Blessed with Notes

2009-06-02T22:05:00.001+01:00

Man, another pleasant surprise of a note, this time from the very talented Deirdre - I can only agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed thereon. (Looking forward to checking out Deirdre's Downpour at Derry this weekend).

2D Festival

2009-06-02T21:57:00.001+01:00

As well as a stellar bunch of professionals, a good representation of the Irish small press and myself are going to be representing at the 2D Comic Festival in Derry this weekend. Definitely worth a look if you're in the vicinity. Last years had good people and a very relaxed atmosphere and it's a fantastic location.

2009-05-26T17:46:00.001+01:00

Another Note to Phil

I was very pleased to receive an unexpected and hilarious note from regular Matter reader Paul...

2009-05-13T21:11:00.001+01:00

Note to Phil

Luckily for me Mindpuss has the note contagion. Hit up his blog for a fantastic selection of artwork and really, you should have Mindpuss #1 already.

2009-05-07T16:39:00.000+01:00

Windell Finally

If you're in Dublin and free on Friday 8th May get yourself up to Anseo on Camden Street for the launch of the Windell Classics Compendium by Gar Shanley and Salvo. I was lucky enough to get a bit of a sneak preview and it's one of my comics of the year so far. Scorching satire, at times bleak, at times surreal but made with a lot of love - a definite blackshapes recommend.

2009-04-15T21:24:00.000+01:00

ComicCasted

Liam Geraghty has gently interviewed a selection of Irish small pressers and myself on the always entertaining ComicCast podcast! Have a listen here.

2009-04-15T17:21:00.000+01:00

I Have Taken Note of It

2009-04-08T14:49:00.001+01:00

N.B.

2009-04-03T17:36:00.000+01:00

Blackshapes Version 2 and Matter #11 for order online

Head over to the Comics and Back Issues section to get the revised version of Black Shapes and also Matter #11 (a compendium of all the latest web material). No new content unfortunately but Black Shapes has a new colour cover and a revised A5 layout (with some new panels) to make for an easier read.

2009-03-25T16:56:00.000Z

Gazebo for order online

Gazebo is now available from the comics and back issues section and you can also now order your comics in the currency of your choice (CAD to come Canadian friends!).

2009-03-16T14:36:00.001Z

Day of the Patricks

2009-03-10T22:38:00.000Z

Dystopic Delight

Chris Judge has done a deadly take on some of the local comics heads in the latest Dystopia strip over on his blog and included a version of one of the matter covers in a panel! That gave me a great laugh - class! Have a good goo at Chris's blog as well as his illustration site while you're at it - a true renaissance man.

2009-02-25T18:46:00.001Z

Ghoul's Night Out

2009-02-18T21:01:00.000Z

Free Art Friday

Did this page for free art friday a while back. I've not quite got the grasp of them colouring pencils yet.

2009-02-11T11:48:00.000Z

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

Click here for me entry in the comic challenge. For this round, entrants had to do a comics adaptation of a song but without using the actual lyrics of the song if you get my meaning.

2009-01-29T20:27:00.000Z

White Van

I've started a lot more comics than I've ever finished. Rushing headlong into a story without knowing how it's going to end can yield interesting results. Sometimes though it can just get bogged down and you can't be bothered finishing it. I dug this start out of an attic sketchbook box recently so it must be about 5 years old. There are some alright bits in there but I have to admit defeat - its well mired. Click here for the story so far.

2009-01-27T09:10:00.000Z

And More Notage

Jim Connolly has kindly (and hyperbolically!) put up one of my notes on his blog. Have a good gawk at Jim's top notch crispy artwork on there and all.

2009-01-14T16:36:00.000Z

More Notes

Good old Salvo put up one of me notes on his Blog recently. You must have a thorough look at his stuff - the lad is brewing up something insane and inspired in the Irish midlands and drip feeding us addictive doses. Word has it something printed is imminent (or should that be immanent) - I am tenterhooked.

Edit: Stop press Addendum
Even as I was writing the above, winging its way to me via an post was the following 'Note to Philip' from Salvo himself. Astonishingly sharp draftmanship in stark contrast to the grubby missives I do be sending - pure class. And not a dash of whiteout - I thought for a brief second it was a printout - what a wonder!

Here are a few older notes of mine:

I should acknowledge: this note thing is Robert Crumb 'Your Vigor for Life Appalls me' inspired - that book is a collection of his early letters to pals, quite often accompanied with hand-drawn covers. Highly recommended book if you can track one down.

2008-12-31T18:06:00.001Z

Touched... again

2008-12-29T20:56:00.000Z

Note to Bob

Comics phenomenon and renaissance man Bob Byrne has kindly posted up me (long overdue) 'Note to Bob' - have a gawk at it here. You should surely know the word on Bob already. If not, get with the program and check out the site and samples (particularly Mr. Amperduke) and his often inspired 'rants' section: rude, impassioned and funny cos it's true!

2008-12-17T18:21:00.001Z

Note to Mike ... and back

Pen and ink pal Mike Myhre has done a brillo 'Note to Phil' which I am eagerly anticipating reception of! Click here to view it and have a good rummage round the rest of Mike's excellent posts while you're at it.