Friday, 23 September 2011
Venice - Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre have just returned from Venice, where they made this little piece of nonsense.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
How much art? Venice Biennale report
How much art? Too much art, that's how much. Today was spent almost entirely trying to do the two main sites of the Venice Biennale, Arsenale and Il Giardini.
Yesterday we discovered that there are Pavilions of art for various countries, scattered around the town and free to get into. So far we have enjoyed a splendid mosaic if Ukranian eggs, a mix of excellent Arab art, the surprisingly good CatLunyan and Balaeric piece which looks at first like just one big photo, and an incredible collection of art from China and other eastern countries including a particularly well endowed Mickey Mouse. With many more of these Pavilions still to discover we knew we had to devote a day to the big centres, for which you needed to buy tickets (a perverse system meaning you could only buy a 20 euro ticket for Arsenale and Giardini combined but had to use both halves on the same day) though still it was hard to avoid stopping en route (at the interesting Roma pavilion and, fabulously, at an exhibition by an artist we know from Bristol, Marina Moreno which we knew was on but stumbled upon the location of by accident).
So we'd had lunch before we got to Arsenale and at first we were a little nonplussed by our 20 euro art in its big buildings compared to the free stuff. Then there was more and more and more. And by the time we were halfway along the Arsenale building (we thought) we allowed ourselves nearly an hour watching the most brilliant piece called The Clock for which the arist Christian Marclay has assembled film clips featuring the actual time which run in real time - for 24 hours. Clips from everything from Raging Bull to Little Miss Sunshine, the Prisoner, James Bond films, Billy Liar, Harold Lloyd.... we must have seen clips from 100 movies in the time we sat watching, all showing the real time as depicted in the various films (from 2.10 to 3pm or so). And it continues round the clock, what a nifty piece of totally obsessive and brilliant work.
Then we moved on and there was more art and more and more. Are you familiar with the concept of bring "arted out"? On a normal day we can get arted out by two exhibitions in a row. Today we were consuming art, and walking round one of the most stunning and visually diverse cities on Earth, from 10 in the morning until they closed the doors on the last Pavilion in Il Giardini at 6 o'clock with half a dozen countries' work still unseen. Sorry Russia, Denmark, Korea and the rest, I'm sure you're stuff's cracking, but our twenty quid day tickets have run out and tomorrow a dozen more free Pavilions beckon.
In contrast to the hectic art-cramming that comprises our day, in the evening in Venice there is sod all to do. Thank heavens for free wifi in our hotel.
Wishing you were here, love Hev and Kev.
Yesterday we discovered that there are Pavilions of art for various countries, scattered around the town and free to get into. So far we have enjoyed a splendid mosaic if Ukranian eggs, a mix of excellent Arab art, the surprisingly good CatLunyan and Balaeric piece which looks at first like just one big photo, and an incredible collection of art from China and other eastern countries including a particularly well endowed Mickey Mouse. With many more of these Pavilions still to discover we knew we had to devote a day to the big centres, for which you needed to buy tickets (a perverse system meaning you could only buy a 20 euro ticket for Arsenale and Giardini combined but had to use both halves on the same day) though still it was hard to avoid stopping en route (at the interesting Roma pavilion and, fabulously, at an exhibition by an artist we know from Bristol, Marina Moreno which we knew was on but stumbled upon the location of by accident).
So we'd had lunch before we got to Arsenale and at first we were a little nonplussed by our 20 euro art in its big buildings compared to the free stuff. Then there was more and more and more. And by the time we were halfway along the Arsenale building (we thought) we allowed ourselves nearly an hour watching the most brilliant piece called The Clock for which the arist Christian Marclay has assembled film clips featuring the actual time which run in real time - for 24 hours. Clips from everything from Raging Bull to Little Miss Sunshine, the Prisoner, James Bond films, Billy Liar, Harold Lloyd.... we must have seen clips from 100 movies in the time we sat watching, all showing the real time as depicted in the various films (from 2.10 to 3pm or so). And it continues round the clock, what a nifty piece of totally obsessive and brilliant work.
Then we moved on and there was more art and more and more. Are you familiar with the concept of bring "arted out"? On a normal day we can get arted out by two exhibitions in a row. Today we were consuming art, and walking round one of the most stunning and visually diverse cities on Earth, from 10 in the morning until they closed the doors on the last Pavilion in Il Giardini at 6 o'clock with half a dozen countries' work still unseen. Sorry Russia, Denmark, Korea and the rest, I'm sure you're stuff's cracking, but our twenty quid day tickets have run out and tomorrow a dozen more free Pavilions beckon.
In contrast to the hectic art-cramming that comprises our day, in the evening in Venice there is sod all to do. Thank heavens for free wifi in our hotel.
Wishing you were here, love Hev and Kev.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Don't call posts "Doctor Who Swipe File". Ever.
Having been away for a couple of days, performing with the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre at a wedding on the Mull of Kintyre (in the castle where Paul McCartney used to live, another story for another day), then spending a day caricaturing in Leytonstone, I came home last night to find I'd unwittingly wound up some comics people by posting a blog which I'd thought was funny at my expense and which everyone else thought was intended as an insult to another artist. Oops.
Having first suggested a Doctor Who USA cover I'd spotted was not the first Dr Who strip to "do an Escher" (having done so myself earlier), I then a few months later had the Phantom Stranger cover pointed out to me so mentioned that in a later blog.
The third blog was meant to follow up those two, making light of my over-exuberance in labouring this point. Out of context it made me look like an arse, so once again I apologise. Especially to those who, after 22 years in the comics business, are encountering me and my work for the first time.
On the plus side, that third fatal blog is my most read of this month so far. Small consolation. Ooh, and I see I got mentioned on Frank Cho's website. There's only one thing worse than being talked about...
Having first suggested a Doctor Who USA cover I'd spotted was not the first Dr Who strip to "do an Escher" (having done so myself earlier), I then a few months later had the Phantom Stranger cover pointed out to me so mentioned that in a later blog.
The third blog was meant to follow up those two, making light of my over-exuberance in labouring this point. Out of context it made me look like an arse, so once again I apologise. Especially to those who, after 22 years in the comics business, are encountering me and my work for the first time.
On the plus side, that third fatal blog is my most read of this month so far. Small consolation. Ooh, and I see I got mentioned on Frank Cho's website. There's only one thing worse than being talked about...
Thursday, 15 September 2011
New Term, New Comics by Kids - Comic Art Masterclasses
Yes my Comic Art Masterclasses for kids in schools started in earnest this week, with two days in Bradford and two in Swindon. These front covers are from those schools, along with the classes I did over the summer holidays in Waltham Forest, Maidenhead and Weston Super Mare (click to enlarge and see more in the gallery).
As always I aim to teach kids all there is to know about the fun fine art of telling stories in pictures (did I ever mention I've been writing & drawing comic strips for everyone from The Beano to Marvel & Doctor Who to Viz for over 20 years?), producing a comic book in a morning or afternoon session, a copy of which they each take home, containing a strip by every one of them plus an individual caricature by me.
If you would like me to come and teach your kids, do please get in touch.
RECOMMENDED COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS for Comic Art Masterclass students, teachers and librarians
Tweet
Meanwhile that Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre video about the London Riots has now had 48,921 viewings, making it our most popular of 2011. For the record.
As always I aim to teach kids all there is to know about the fun fine art of telling stories in pictures (did I ever mention I've been writing & drawing comic strips for everyone from The Beano to Marvel & Doctor Who to Viz for over 20 years?), producing a comic book in a morning or afternoon session, a copy of which they each take home, containing a strip by every one of them plus an individual caricature by me.
If you would like me to come and teach your kids, do please get in touch.
RECOMMENDED COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS for Comic Art Masterclass students, teachers and librarians
Tweet
Meanwhile that Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre video about the London Riots has now had 48,921 viewings, making it our most popular of 2011. For the record.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Where's Twitter when you want it?
Twitter disappeared tonight just when, after a couple of days without using it, I felt the need to express myself passive-aggressively through it as we started to get music booming through from the flat upstairs, which is quite unusual. I had to resort to Facebook to let it out (and hope someone was reading).
Dear upstairs, that stereo is way too loud! Downstairs will think its us. (Dear downstairs, it's not us). 10.15pm Wednesday
Dear Upstairs, we can now hear We Shall Overcome, every word. It's 22.22 on a school night! (Dear Downstairs, hope you're reading this - it's SO not us)
Oh good, now upstairs has moved from Springsteen to something that sounds like Me Myself & I by DeLa Soul. It's 10.30pm on a school night.
Can now hear De La Soul, 3 is a Magic Number the floor from upstairs. Have rung to complain. They can't hear the phone. Now 10.45pm on a school night. Going to have to go up and say something.
(Seems he did hear the phone because...)
Phew, that's better. Music got turned down at 10.45. Thanks upstairs (and downstairs I do hope you've been reading this. We don't own any Bruce Springsteen or De La Soul, it wasn't us!)
That said, I can still hear what maybe an unfamiliar De La Soul track. If it hadn't been for the table-shaking level of earlier, we'd think that stereo was quite loud. What's changed up there? (22.45)
I was just about to "tweet" that the music upstairs had stopped at 23.16. He was changing the CD. It got turned down but it's still bugging the hell out of someone with an early start tomorrow (and possibly a cold). I DO hope downstairs don't think it's us.
(Finally, at about 23.20...)
I think it's finally finished. That was a long hour to be without the steam-valve release of Twitter.
So, who wants to buy a flat?
Dear upstairs, that stereo is way too loud! Downstairs will think its us. (Dear downstairs, it's not us). 10.15pm Wednesday
Dear Upstairs, we can now hear We Shall Overcome, every word. It's 22.22 on a school night! (Dear Downstairs, hope you're reading this - it's SO not us)
Oh good, now upstairs has moved from Springsteen to something that sounds like Me Myself & I by DeLa Soul. It's 10.30pm on a school night.
Can now hear De La Soul, 3 is a Magic Number the floor from upstairs. Have rung to complain. They can't hear the phone. Now 10.45pm on a school night. Going to have to go up and say something.
(Seems he did hear the phone because...)
Phew, that's better. Music got turned down at 10.45. Thanks upstairs (and downstairs I do hope you've been reading this. We don't own any Bruce Springsteen or De La Soul, it wasn't us!)
That said, I can still hear what maybe an unfamiliar De La Soul track. If it hadn't been for the table-shaking level of earlier, we'd think that stereo was quite loud. What's changed up there? (22.45)
I was just about to "tweet" that the music upstairs had stopped at 23.16. He was changing the CD. It got turned down but it's still bugging the hell out of someone with an early start tomorrow (and possibly a cold). I DO hope downstairs don't think it's us.
(Finally, at about 23.20...)
I think it's finally finished. That was a long hour to be without the steam-valve release of Twitter.
So, who wants to buy a flat?
Dr Who Swipe (not really a swipe) removed
Sunday 21.54. I've removed this post. It was meant as an amusing post-script to my earlier post on the Escher subject, getting a laugh at the expense of my own over-exuberence. In isolation, and out of that context, it of course was neither funny nor accurate. I have now removed the post.
I have tried to apologise to all commentators personally, but cannot find contact details for Jarno, Renoir1976, WyldRyce, or nemisonic. I hope they read this.
I have tried to apologise to all commentators personally, but cannot find contact details for Jarno, Renoir1976, WyldRyce, or nemisonic. I hope they read this.
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Coma Girl Youtoobling
Enjoyed a new comedy on Channel 4 last night called Coma Girl, which inspired some Youtoobling (you know the drill by now, videos that lead to other videos)...
Girlfriend In A Coma, The Smiths inspired by the rather good #ComaGirl on C4 #youtoobling
Since Yesterday, Strawberry Switchblade RT #ComaGirl C4 #youtoobling
Don't Fear The Reaper, Rose McDowall Strawberry Switchblade #youtoobling #ComaGirl
Don't Fear The Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult #youtoobling
Reap What You Sow, Vanessa Haynes #youtoobling
Reap What You Sow, Billy Stewart #youtooling
A Fat Boy Can Cry, Billy Stewart #youtoobling
Praise You, Fat Boy Slim #youtoobling
Happy Hour, The Housemartins #youtoobling
Happy Hour, Cheryl Cole & Rihanna. Sounds piss-miserable to me #youtoobling
Happy Boy, The Bolshoi. Blew my family clean away #youtoobling
.. the Bolshoi Ballet, Jump Back In The Alley & Nanny Goats, Reasons To Be Cheerful, Ian Dury #youtoobling
John Coltrane Soprano Everytime We Say Goodbye #youtoobling
Every Day I Write The Book, Elvis Costello #youtoobling
So It Goes, Nick Lowe #youtoobling
Reeling In The Years, Steely Dan + Bill Cosby #youtoobling
Wow, never seen this. David Bowie Space Oddity on Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special 1973 #youtoobling
Laughter In The Rain, Neil Sedaka on The Midnight Special #youtoobling
Crazy On You, Heart. The Midnight Special #youtoobling
Crazy In Love, Ofra Haza & Beyonce #youtoobling
Girlfriend In A Coma, The Smiths inspired by the rather good #ComaGirl on C4 #youtoobling
Since Yesterday, Strawberry Switchblade RT #ComaGirl C4 #youtoobling
Don't Fear The Reaper, Rose McDowall Strawberry Switchblade #youtoobling #ComaGirl
Don't Fear The Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult #youtoobling
Reap What You Sow, Vanessa Haynes #youtoobling
Reap What You Sow, Billy Stewart #youtooling
A Fat Boy Can Cry, Billy Stewart #youtoobling
Praise You, Fat Boy Slim #youtoobling
Happy Hour, The Housemartins #youtoobling
Happy Hour, Cheryl Cole & Rihanna. Sounds piss-miserable to me #youtoobling
Happy Boy, The Bolshoi. Blew my family clean away #youtoobling
.. the Bolshoi Ballet, Jump Back In The Alley & Nanny Goats, Reasons To Be Cheerful, Ian Dury #youtoobling
John Coltrane Soprano Everytime We Say Goodbye #youtoobling
Every Day I Write The Book, Elvis Costello #youtoobling
So It Goes, Nick Lowe #youtoobling
Reeling In The Years, Steely Dan + Bill Cosby #youtoobling
Wow, never seen this. David Bowie Space Oddity on Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special 1973 #youtoobling
Laughter In The Rain, Neil Sedaka on The Midnight Special #youtoobling
Crazy On You, Heart. The Midnight Special #youtoobling
Crazy In Love, Ofra Haza & Beyonce #youtoobling
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