Just What...

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

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

'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

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

Rejiggage

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

More semi-sequiturial filler/warm-up gubbins.


Buy the original artwork.

Note-a-lot

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

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

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

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

Note On

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nótaí Eile

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

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

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

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.

Another Note to Phil

Another Note to Phil

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

Note to Phil

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.

Windell Finally

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.

ComicCasted

ComicCasted

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

I Have Taken Note of It

I Have Taken Note of It

N.B.

N.B.

Blackshapes Version 2 and Matter #11 for order online

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.

Gazebo for order online

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!).

Day of the Patricks

Day of the Patricks

Dystopic Delight

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.

Ghoul's Night Out

Ghoul's Night Out

Free Art Friday

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.

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

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.

White Van

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.

And More Notage

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.

More Notes

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.