The Hand Drawn Creative Blog

New G FORCE prints are coming soon!

Been pretty busy, but I'm finally making some progress…

 

Off to the Shops?

I've been toying with the idea of a new online store for a long time now. My Etsy page has done me proud over the last couple of  years, but I've struggled with the lack of control I have over the page structure and overall design.

When appearing at London's Go Global Conference late last year, I was impressed by Mary Tan White's talk about her company moonfruit as an alternative to Etsy. As a result, I've spent the first week of this year designing my own fledgling online store The Hand Drawn Creative Shop (keep it simple). Now I have all my stock on offer in a clean, HDC branded environment (great!)

Dan Dare Print re-stocked

You may have missed this first time around, but I've printed a new batch, up for sale right now at the Hand Drawn Creative Store for a mere £20.

Vintage Automobiles Print

These illustrations have been on sale before in postcard format, but I've gathered them all here on this colourful little print to celebrate some of my favourite cars.

The Vintage Automobiles print makes a great gift for father or son and will look right at home in either the nursery or the study (My framed copy currently resides in my baby boy's nursery). Each of the cars featured the print are around the size of a Matchbox or Hot Wheels car.

Take a closer look at the Hand Drawn Creative Store

Brave Sir Robin

I've contributed this piece Brave Sir Robin to the travelling Elemental Birds exhibition, curated by my good friends Andy & Inga Hamilton (AKA MyTarPit & Rockpoolcandy)

 

Bearing in mind the brief's call for positivity, I drew upon my own recent life experiences (starting a new career as a freelance Illustrator in the depths of a recession). It can sometimes feel like it's "you against the world" – but when you manage to pull it off against overwhelming odds, there's no feeling quite like it. I've transferred this sense of "positive defiance" into my piece "Brave Sir Robin, which was inspired by actual events.

From my Garden studio, I often see a little robin in my garden who always holds his own & stands his ground
when larger birds (especially magpies) try to scare him off. I always think "good for you little guy." Stay strong - stand firm!

The Elemental Birds project is a very special experiment to see if artists, printmakers and craftspeople can physically embody feelings of peace, harmony and goodwill in their artwork and tangibly affect the environment in which it’s shown.

Currently in the USA, the exhibition will also be stopping by Lisburn as well as New Zealand and Japan.

PYRAMID ATLANTIC, Silver Spring, MD. USA. 26th September - 3rd October 2011
http://www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org/...

USA Show:- RICHARD F. BRUSH GALLERY, Canton, NY. USA 23rd October – 9th December 2011
http://www.stlawu.edu/gallery/

NI Show:-R-SPACE GALLERY, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. UK dates tbc 2012
http://linenroomslisburn.com/

NZ Show:- Warepuke Print Studio, Bay of Islands, North Island, NZ dates tbc. Xmas 2012/early 2013
http://www.nontoxic-printmaking.co.nz/...

Menswear

I've recently hooked up with a small, exclusive menswear brand nineteenthirty to create some new illustrations. Here's the first illustration I've created for their new range of 4oz. eco cotton backpacks.

Nineteenthirty's Bronagh also kitted me out with this swish new shirt (for when I finally find the time to go out somewhere nice). I'll also be helping to dress the walls of Nineteenthirty's new retail venture on Belfast's Lisburn Road this December – pictures to come.

And let no-one know until I'm gone

Freshly reprinted for those who missed the first run. 20 copies have been made available through my Etsy Store. Just click on the image below.

Belfast Culture Night (Part 2)

We actually made it up to the Culture Night in the end. My Lara Croft piece was up & lots more top class illustration was on show too. My favourites were definitely by Julie Turkington, Mark Reihill & Matthew Knight on the night. The second Belfast Culture Night seemed to be in full swing when we left. I'll try & come up sans kids next year to get the full effect of the evening. Prams can be a nightmare at these big events.

 

 

Gamer Culture at Belfast Culture Night

I'm leaving the house tonight (a rare occurrence these days) to pop out to Belfast Culture Night, where I'm taking part in Bag of Bees' Gamer Culture Exhibition Should be a blast, I'll take the camera up to get a few snaps to upload in due course. In the meantime, here's my entry up close…

Like to draw? You'll love this…

Isn't it great to see good old fashioned drawing skills join with new technology so seamlessly? The new Wacom Inkling works on the premise that your best illustrations always start with a simple sketch or doodle. This great new illustration tool from Wacom promises to be affordably priced (approx. £150.00). The neatest feature for me has to be the sketch to vector export. Pretty impressive stuff – if (like me) you carry a sketchbook everywhere you go, this is one Wacom gadget definitely worth further investigation.