White Foxes

This is my latest Feral picture. It was the most complex one so far. I wanted the background to be really dense, and it required a lot of work. As usual, it's done with a fineliner, colour pencils and infinite patience.

When I draw these pictures, I come up with a general idea of the image, and then, while drawing and gradually conceiving of the details, I start to spin a story around it, trying to work out what exactly is happening. This one is a mystery even to me, as I can't settle on a single explanation. I'd like to think that there is a transformation in the works: the foxes are really spirits, and they are in the process of a magical ritual, changing a human girl into a fox. Or the opposite: a fox is becoming human, before venturing on a mission into the human world. Maybe the girl was raised by foxes, deep in the woods, and her fox family is watching over her while she sleeps.

Like the other Feral prints, White Foxes is available in my shop.

Black Cat

Not only do I have a sparkling new shop, but I've started making some old favourites available as prints. This old cat, is back by popular demand. It's as scratchy and sinister as ever. 

Life Drawing

A great, innovative little ad for a life drawing class at the Book Club in London, made by Wriggles & Robins. The way they've incorporated animation conveys the idea of what life drawing is really well.

(via Colossal)

Red Foxes

Hi everyone. I just finished a new print from the Feral series. In case you haven't noticed, the fox is my favourite animal, its only rival being the flying fox. So I'll probably do a few more fox themed ones.

As usual, it's up on my shop.

Book By Its Cover wants Submissions

Book By Its Cover is a great little website that examines all kinds of gems from the world of printed matter and gives a lot of space to small-press things. It's looking for review copies.

More info here.

Willow Baby: A Preview

I've just finished the illustrations for a new book that's set to be published by Paravion Press. It's called Willow Baby and it's a fairytale-style poem written by violinist and story-teller Max Baillie. It's the first in a cycle of 5 poems. Here's a little taste. 

I normally work with fineliners, which produce a very steady line, but for this book, I wanted a look more akin to a woodcut, so I used a japanese Pentel brush pen. It lets you make hair-fine lines as well as thick. generous ones, and it gives you less control, which can be a good thing. For the colours, I used Cretacolor AquaMonolith watercolour pencils.  Here, in fact, is the colour scheme: 

I chose autumney colours, warm and sort of faded. And as you can see, I'm big on patterns, whether it's the surface of water, high grass or tangled hair. 

A date is yet to be set for the book launch, and I will of course post about it when I know. But in the meantime, you can find more of Paravion's publications here, and see Max's  website here.

Theo Ellsworth

A friend recently handed me a zine by Theo Ellsworth and my eyes popped out like in a Tex Avery cartoon. What incredibly rich, unique imagery. I'd like to live in his world. Theo also has a really gorgeous website.

Sleeping with Wolves

Hey everyone! Here's new print from the Feral series. Just finished it last night. It's available in the Fox & Comet Shop.