Has he got your attention?

Been a bit quiet on here recently, came back from a lovely holiday keen to get cracking on Midnight Man, then soon as the work started the same issues I have with everything I draw seemed to come right back.

I don't think it's too long before I wave the white flag on all this and move on to doing something else, it will be very odd as I've drawn comics for such a big part of my life and I will probably miss it, but the brutal truth is I'm not very good at it :-)

I hope to get this book finished at the very least, I owe it to Mo for writing me a terrific story, if all else fails this will see print even if another artist takes over.

Very busy with other stuff, just done all the design work on book 3 of Accent UK's superb WesterNoir series, working on Raygun Roads with Owen Johnson and the one and only Indio! and also started on Strange Times book 2 for Dave West and Accent UK again.

Making quite an entrance!

Here's a panel from page 1 of Midnight Man where our hero makes an entrance.

Trying to enjoy drawing more, warts and all, so let's how it goes.

More soon!!

Raygun Roads!

As my blog was feeling neglected I thought an update might be in order.

I'm involved with a super project called 'Raygun Roads' from Owen Johnson and Indio! that is just the most insane, fun thing you've seen. Check out Owen's blog for more details and to see some of Indio's psychedelic art.

I'm doing the book design, and above is the cover as it stands. Owen is talking to publishers (but might also self publish) so keep your eyes peeled for more info. There are some very clever tricks to this, not only in the storytelling but also how the overall package relates to the story as well. It's great fun and I'm chuffed to be part of it.

I'm also going to be doing design work on Stacey Whittle's follow-up to the acclaimed 'Into the Woods'. 'Deeper into the Woods' will feature the same dark fairytale quality the first book did, and with some very talented writers and artists involved it looks to be another great book.

Typical for me I've a rush job on to finish a pinup off for the end of the week (silly really as I've had loads of time to do it!) I've gone for something very simple and graphic for this, I'm just hoping it doesn't look *too* simple compared to the others in the book.

More soon.

Will Midnight Man ever be completed?

Believe you and me, this is a question I've asked myself several times these last few weeks.

When I started this project I realistically thought I could draw (pencil and ink) a page a week easy. Turns out I was wrong, and it's taken me weeks to just draw a panel sometimes and when I do complete a page I'm less than happy with what I've produced.

I've struggled with self-confidence with my work for most of my life, although just now it's gotten a lot worse. I look at the work of others on twitter/facebook etc and am in awe of them. They seem to produce amazing work and mine just looks so 'amateurish' by comparison. The lack of regular drawing has killed my work to the stage of where I'm at now, where I've had to come to a brutal conclusion:

My work just isn't good enough.

Of course, does that mean not enough for print?, for people to buy? or just for myself, for my own satisfaction? Maybe all of them, I'm not sure.

For someone who has loved drawing comics for as long as I can remember this has been quite crushing really, I either accept this and continue to get this book done, and do it for the joy of seeing the finished product, or I walk away from comics once and for all (I would still do pinups/covers/single pieces etc) but as far as sequential work goes that would be it.

I have a lot of thinking to do as I need to make this decision quickly and stick to it.

UK On Display #3 Cover featuring The Wolfmen!!

Above is my cover for issue 3 of all around good guy, comics entrepreneur/printer Stuart Gould's 'UK On Display' magazine.

I can't say enough good things about Stuart, he's one of the most infectious and likeable people on the UK comic circuit, he not only prints the majority of UK indie/small press books under his UKComics company but now he's acting as a distributor as well, trying to get these comics into as many folks hands as easily (and affordable) as possible.

As the magazine has increased in size to A4, my original drawing wouldn't have worked too well, so I offered to do a new one, and after much head-scratching I came up with the above image.

My aim was to do something fairly simple but hopefully striking. Was fun to draw the Wolfmen again.

Check out his nifty new website here!

Next up is another pinup for something I can't mention yet, then back to Midnight Man.

Porcelain A Gothic Fairy Tale

I was delighted and honoured to be asked to contribute a pinup to Improper Books' debut graphic novel 'Porcelain A Gothic Fairy Tale'.

The book is written by Benjamin Read and illustrated quite stunningly by Christian Wildgoose and André May.

You can go to the website here and drool over the art!

The other pinup artists were of such a high standard I just hope my effort shown above, didn't let the book down.

This week I've a new Wolfmen cover to do for Stuart Gould's UK on Display magazine, looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into that one :-)

Midnight Man sneak peek!

Just a little taster to show that work is progressing, albeit very, very slowly!!

Those might not be the final greytones so consider this a work in progress.

Next project is a Wolfmen cover for Stuart Gould's UK on Display magazine, should be good fun to revist those characters for a one-off piece.

More soon!!