Blog of The Dead - Sophie artwork

 

I'm so glad that I can finally reveal a project I've been working on for months:

 

The Artwork for Lisa Richardson's upcoming Debut Novel:

'Blog of The Dead - Sophie'

The book is based around the story of the Zombie Apocalypse hitting Folkestone, and features many well known local places and names, including Googies Art Cafe and it's proprietor Keith, Kay McLoughlin, Stewart, Liam and a number of fictional characters including the narrator Sophie, who reports on the horrific scenes via her student blog.

But I won't tell you more than that as it will give the plot away if you haven't read it yet.

The original blog diary can be found here

 

The original sketch based on Lisa's brief.

 

 Primed and marked up blank dolls.

 

 Waiting to be varnished on the studio shelf

 

 The finished Kindle book cover, Russian Dolls & cover design by me. Photography by Ian D Johnstone.

 

 Photography by Ian D Johnstone.

 

 Photography by Ian D Johnstone.

 

Photography by Ian D Johnstone.

 

Photography by Ian D Johnstone.

 

 Kay and her axe ready for action.

 

 2p piece to show the scale - but I even got those darned croc flip flops in!!

Close up of the Narrator Sophie's face.

 

 Side view of Sophie.

 Liam gets turned into a zombie after an unfortunate incident in Debenhams. You can tell he's loving it. Bastard!

 Blood splattered biker jacket.

 Ripped off arm & hole in the head. To be honest he looks like this most Friday nights.

 Tracy was a generic zombie I invented for the purpose of being able to really go to town with the gore! I'm quite fond of Tracy, I imagine her as the kind of girl who looked after her appearance and dreamed of her wedding day and nice little new house in Broadmead Village, and really just wanted her Mum to be proud of her. And now she's got to be a bloomin' zombie with gore all over her and Liam for company! Poor Tracy.



 'Works in a shirt with her name tag on it.......' (after Mark Ronson). Some of the tiny details like this were more for my amusement and the challenge of working on such a tiny scale.

 

 Side view of ribs & arm socket.

 Stewart, aka Tess Jones, looking determined.

 Tess always has his guitar handy.

 

I will post a link to the actual book once it is published.

 

PS: You might get the impression from some of the comments above that I don't like Liam very much! In fact, I love him to bits but just like giving him stick ;)

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Post UPDATE - 16/05/13

The book is launched and downloadable from Amazon UK for the amazingly bargainous price of £2.02. Just click here for the link.

If you don't have a Kindle, you can download free kindle reader software from the website, just click the 'available on your PC' link below the 'Buy it now' button.

In honour of the book launch, one of the frequently featured locations Googies Art Cafe have launched a limited edition Zombie Burger!

 

Apparently it DOESN'T contain Rotting Human Flesh or Braaaaiiiiiiinnnnnsssssssssss!

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Post Update 13/06/13

The dolls and cover artwork were featured in an article in the Folkestone Herald

 

We had great fun at the photoshoot, and it gives you an idea of what the real life characters look like!

 



Folkestone Mermaid Festival 2013

 

So I haven't blogged for a looooooong while!

I have either been busy, or struggling with the lethargy & depression that BPD brings, so sorry about that.

Anyhow, I am feeling a bit better now and have been able to start/finish some work that has been on the go for a while.

This is my old sea map inspired map/poster for the 1st Folkestone Mermaid Festival, which is taking place in the coastal park on Saturday 1st June 2013.

 

 

(click on the image for a larger version)

 



Events will include;

2pm - Mermaid Parade, starting from the Leas Lift and finishing on Mermaid Beach.

 

3pm - Fancy Dress Competition

6pm - Siren Song at the Amphitheatre, live music from local ladies including Maiuko.

For more information, have a look at their facebook page in the link above, or go to www.folkestonefestival.org.

 

For a taster of Maiuko's music, watch this:

 

 

People Whose work I admire: 3 Tattoo Glass by Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer. "Ooo the Farks 'e then?"

For those of you not familiar with the modern Hounslow parlance, the above question put forward by my friend Kay roughly translates as 'I have never heard of this artist, please tell me more about him'. Which is exactly what I'm going to do in this post.

I first saw Tom's work in the B&B Project Space when his lovely Mrs left some fliers after doing a Club Shepway event or a Lady Lucie photo shoot. I can't remember which.

I think the image on the postcard was this one:

 

It pretty much blew me away how beautifully a traditional technique could be used with much more modern imagery to create such a fantastic piece of work, and it kind of struck a chord with me (I'm a sucker for traditional workmanship done to a high standard) and inspired me to put into practise an idea that had been swilling round my head for some time; Embroidery techniques plus tattoo imagery = Tattoo Tapestry:

 

 

Unfortunately the Emily Peacock Tapestry company beat me to it when it came to getting tattoo imagery tapestry kits out on to the market (grrr!) and then every f***er started doing it. But I'd like to churlishly point out that I thought of it first! Anyhow to cut a long story short, the Tattoo Tapestry episode was part of what made me decide that life was just too short to be stuck in an office job and I should just do what I want. So Thank You Tom.

 

Tattoo Glass can be seen everywhere from The Crobar in London, Tattoo Shops up and down the country to private houses and everywhere in between.

 

 

This giant glass window is in The Crobar, Soho.

 

I believe this piece was part of a Libertys window display, and is now in The Intrepid Fox pub.

 

This gorgeous panel was made for Feline Tattoo Studio, Sheffield. I want it.

 

It would be really, really hard to pick a favourite Tattoo Glass piece, so I'll post a few images and let you decide which ones you like best.

 

 

One day I'll get a panel made for me and Herman the cat just like this.

 

It's the little details that make all the difference - my favourite bit of this sugarskull is the Newky Brown eyes.

 

 

Everybody needs a Pirate Ship & bottle of Rum.

 

 

A Mermaid Panel done for the R.A.R.E. (Rock & Roll Expressionists) show at Resistance Gallery, which I went to. Each artist was also a gigging musician, we got to see people such as Vince Ray, Gaye Advert and Tyla play as well as look at their artwork (although I think my brother was more interested in the charms of 'Bonette' Miss Miranda than the artwork or bands).

 

Hand painting panels before insertion.

 

Some very lucky person's front door.

 

 

Tom's website for Tattoo Glass is here. He takes commissions for any size and budget, and exhibits regularly in the UK. See the site for more pictures of his work & news on events & shows.

 

When he's not cutting his fingers on sharp bits of glass, inventing cocktails or trying to board Thames Houseboats Pirate style at 3am (a story for another day) Tom is also a pretty shit-hot musician. A (small) selection of his current & previous bands are below:

 

The Yo-Yo's video for Sunshine Girl from about 2000 - also starring a gorgeous Black Cat:

 

 

My Loyalties favourite, Sofa Surfin' UK live and very noisy!

 

 

And the awesome Banjoey Ramone - who me, Malicious Opera & Sweary Seagull have vowed to see but, um, somehow haven't quite got round to yet.... We're busy OK?!?

 

 

 So Kay, I hope that answers your question, and before you ask, No he's not one of the Lostprophets, and yes, at 14,592 he has has more hits on youtube than you (Public Health Warning - you may need earplugs to watch the last link!).

Have a good weekend Folks, and don't forget to Rock N' Roll! I'm off to the Windfarm Christmas Annual launch, and to find out why half the Kent Police force are parked on my street. See ya!

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As a footnote I'd like to point out that the Koi Carp panel (below) was stolen from The Old Cinema in Chiswick two weeks ago. It wasn't insured so is a massive loss to Tom. If anyone sees it doing the rounds in the art world please contact Tom (his website is here)

 

Born Schizophrenic - a Young Girls Story

I came across this video about a young girl with schizophrenia from birth, whilst randomly looking for something else and became fascinated, not in a morbid way, but with the difficulties and bravery faced every day by this family. I watched the Oprah special on this little girl, but It was not as good or insightful as the five part 'Born Schizophrenic' documentary below.

 

 

Childhood Onset Schizophrenia is rare, but not unheard of; there other children with similar or the same diagnoses as Jeni shown in the 5 part documentary below.

 

The footage taken of Jeni as a baby appears to show her seeing hallucinations in other parts of the room, so it is thought she has had this condition since birth.

 

Wednesday is a Rat, and 400 is a black cat who both hurt Jeni by biting, scratching and hitting Jeni until she obeys them and hurts someone else. The 'lucid' part of her knows this is 'wrong' but the psychosis and hallucinations are so strong that telling her that Wednesday, 400 et al are not real would be like me telling you that you are not real.

 

What is truly incredible here is the way the family have stuck together and trusted their own instincts to treat their little girl; it was recommended at 7 years old that Jeni be taken away to live in a psychiatric facility for her own and the family's safety. Her parents refused to allow this to happen as they wanted to be part of their little girls life, so they came up with a novel solution; they would live in two different apartments, one for Jeni and the parent acting as 'carer' which was set up like the hospital ward she often recovered in, and one set up for their baby boy Bodi, so that he could grow up in as normal environment as possible whilst he was too young to understand his sisters violent episodes.

 

The parents worked as a 'tag-team' for about 3 years, to bring their children up (whilst Mr Schofield had a full time job! The family are now united again and living in one apartment together, and it would seem that their unusual approach has paid off, with the two children having a good relationship with each other. Unfortunately it now looks like the youngest, Bodi, may have some symptoms of Schizophrenia, on top of Autism.

The family have set up a charity 'The Jani Foundation' to highlight the plight of Children with mental illnesses or disorders and the lack of services available to them. From what I've read of it, Michael's blog seems particularly interesting as it is well written, honest and insightful.

 

There is also a book 'January First', which I will be looking out for. You can read an excerpt here.

 

I'll let you watch the documentary and make up your own mind. It is difficult viewing in parts but very touching.

 

 

 

 

 

The Top 5 Internet Cats. Meow!

 

Another list. This time of the best Internet famous cats that you should all know about!

 

(It's my blog & i'll post what I want to OK?)

 

1. Lil Bub!

The amazing, adorable polydactly dwarf kitty who has come from outer space to save us all!
 

 



Bub has one extra toe on all her paws, plus two opposable thumbs on each front paw, she also has a rare genetic mutation which means she is a 'perma-kitten' and will forever remain small, as well as being a dwarf with incredibly short legs and a long body. In addition she never grew teeth (don't worry, her appetite is fine) and her lower jaw is smaller than usual, hence the tongue.

She is a happy healthy cat and lives in Indiana, USA with her 'Dude'.

Here's a video of Lil Bub at the park. Her facebook page can be found here.

2. Colonel Meow

One of the grumpiest kitties on the net, Colonel Meow likes scotch, treaties and planning world domaination. He hates Boo and the Vet. He is a Himalayan and lives in the USA with his 'Master' and a golden retriever called Boots, who doubles as his bodyguard/henchman.

 

He has an adoring army of Minions who send in fan art, honouring his grumpiness in all it's glory.

 Join the Colonel's Army here.

3. Anakin the Two Legged Miracle cat.

Anakin is a beautiful little kitten, born without any back legs or pelvis. He was part of a feral colony living in the woods in Florida, and was rescued by his current owner from near her Dad's place of work. It is not known why he has no pelvis & back legs, but his x-ray is below.

The owner has set up a facebook & Frequently Asked Questions page for Ani, originally for family and friends, but like all things facebook, it has gone worldwide!

Below is a video which shows how Anakin walks, and that he plays like any normal happy, healthy kitty.

 

4. Oskar the Blind Cat

Oskar the blind Cat lives with his brother and best buddy Klaus. I believe they are moving to Seattle for Christmas, so good luck with that boys!

 

Oskar has been blind from birth, but his other 4 senses are very well developed.

 

This is his brother Klaus.

 

 

 

Oskar and Klaus model their own range of designer cat ties and other goodies here.

 

 

I love this Rebels with Fuzzy Paws logo!

 

5. Henri the Existentialist Philosopher

 

Henri makes me laugh out loud. Another Seattle resident, a selection of his videos art house shorts are here:

 

Paw de Deux

 

 

Le Vet

 

 

Henri on Politics:

 

 

And I think the BEST EVER YET Henri film, L'Haunting

"No one ever dresses as Crippling Self-Doubt...."


Kitties of the Internet, I Salute You!

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As a footnote; the Walker Art Centre in Minnesota recently held an 'Internet Cat Video Film Festival' which included some of the above mentioned moggies.

'Henri 2: Paw de Deux' was awarded the Golden Kitty award by Walkers website viewers.

For more info on the festival see this NY Times article or the Walker Art Centre website.

The Film Fest was so successful it has now started touring to other parts of the States!