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September 28, 2005

Pictures and words review

There is a really interesting review of the new book 'Pictures and words:New comic art and narrative illustration' by Roanne Bell and Mark Sinclair over on Pete's site. The cover is by Tom Gauld and looks a lot like a flyer he designed for There Goes Tokyo...(the printing/publishing company me and Andy started up) a few years ago.
The review is interesting to me because Pete covers some interesting points about comics and art, which used to be a real issue for me during my BA. I'm going to have to read this book myself at some point, seeing as it relates to my subject field, I'm hoping to enjoy it even just for the pictures, but it might throw up some new ideas and avenues too. I had seen a review of it elsewhere and thought that it mightn't be worth my money, but now I think I'll give it a go. And as Pete mentioned, it has a kick-ass cover.

September 27, 2005

Comics community

There have been a lot of accounts on the web about the disaster in New Orleans and horrible though they may be, they are fascinating to read. One that was mentioned on Boing Boing was written by Leo McGovern, who runs a zine. As a comic fan he has documented (almost accidently) the destruction of his collection. The only comic he rescued was a copy of transmetropolitan. Already, other comics fans have offered their condolences and even offered to donate comics to rebuild his collection. Geeky as it is, comics fans have formed such a lovely online community.
Read his storyhere.

ICA graphic novel talk

I can't make it to the graphic novel discussion at the ICA in October (as reported on Jintys site), but apparently it will all be recorded for the ICA archives. I'm hoping I can get hold of this somehow. I won't be allowed post it on my site though. Paul says he will be doing a graphic novel talk at the convention in Brighton this November. I really need to get along to this, but again, funds are low in the O'Moore bank account!

My desk

studiophoto


My desk last week.


studiospace


My desk this week. See, I am doing some work. Really.

September 26, 2005

Busy Busy Busy

Last entry for today!
I did keep telling people that I'd have a bit more time to arrange stuff after the first few weeks of uni, but I lied. apart from my busy timetable of lectury goodness, I also have a wonderful amount of freelance work! So when I am actually free, drinks will be on me. (Disclaimer: that last comment is also a lie)
I'm doing lots of neat stuff: The Big Draw at the Winter Gardens in October, book illustrations for Essential works publishing, possibly a WW2 project, and a few other things currently being discussed (but they involve stencils and Romans, respectively).
So, sorry Richmouse, but I won't be able to do that horror comic strip after all! That's one more anthology I've missed out on. Grr!

Experiment 1, goodbye!

So, after getting all fired up about my first experiment, I had a tutorial with my illustration tutor, who was against the idea. At first I was very stubborn, but I could see where she was coming from. Her concern was that it wasn't a very creative way to conduct my practical work and I should focus on a more creative way to begin with. Having thought properly about it, this does make sense, so I will save the experiment and maybe do it at a later date, if at all. At the moment I am just drawing.....a lot! Her other concern was that I worried too much about what other people thought of my work. I think this isn't a bad thing, in my case, as small press is such a sharing community, I am used to asking other peoples opinions and also I do feel that it is important for me to know that my work is communicating in the way I want it to. The best way to make sure that it is doing that is to ask the audience, right? I don't change my work based on reviews or trends, but I do like to take on board criticism. I think this is a good way to move forward.

The ArtFayre

tgtstall3printroom


Photos at flickr.
The Artfayre was good, met lots of people. The sketchbook we did over the weekend turned out really good and was useful for keeping us sane during the multiple alarm bells going off at Hull Art Labs stand.
Our 12 hr comic, called 'Sunday' is now available to buy at Travelling Man Newcastle or mail order from 145 Clydesdale rd Byker NE6 2EQ (Make cheques out to Andy Smith). Please send £2.00 plus a first class stamp.
The print room was really good, they had rare and wonderful books, fanzines and comics from all over the place. Also, Newcastle Graft, a group who have an online forum for artists to post up advice, opportunities, arrange to meet for critiques etc. which is a lovely idea.
Met some other nice people who came along and were interested in doing comics, hopefully they will keep in touch and I can see how they are getting on with their projects.

seminar pics

seminar5

New photos from the summer seminar over at flickr

September 22, 2005

No time

Due to the art fayre and my reliance on internet access at uni (everyone has had to change their passwords as the system wouldn't let them on, and there is no access in the new building yet) I don't actually have time to post anything of worth today.
Had an interesting tutorial last night and some more freelance work through, but will have to write about it another day.
Sigh.

September 21, 2005

Art Fayre Installation

Installed Waygood Art fayre stuff today. We've got a really nice space with a shelving unit. If you are in Newcastle on the 23rd or 24th Sept. please pop along. We're selling our 12 hr comic, some prints, and doing a sketchbook over the weekend which will be raffled. I'll put up photos and report next week on how it went. Click below for a full time table of the events and discussions happening at the fayre.

ArtFayre Programme 2005


Thursday 22nd September, 7pm-9.30pm

ArtFayre opens and free refreshments will be served.

Friday 23rd September

12noon ArtFayre opens

12-5pm I Love My Yugo! Sarah Carne provides an artwork and tour/taxi service all in one, in the form of her Yugo car. Trips take place every 30mins from ArtFayre and Baltic alternatively. To book a trip, visit the Waygood stand or call the Yugo Booking line 07989 496565.

1.15pm Hull Art Lab presentation at HAL stand.

2-4pm André Spicer and S Mark Gubb discussion event at ArtFayre Café, chaired by Ray White.

5pm Close


Saturday 24th September

12noon ArtFayre opens

12-5pm Sarah Carne Yugo trips take place every 30mins from ArtFayre and Baltic alternatively.


1pm ROOM presentation at printROOM stand (to be confirmed)

2-4pm Joel Fisher and Mark Little discussion event at ArtFayre Café, chaired by Ray White.


5pm Close

From 5.30pm After Fayre celebration and warm up for Park Lane party, DJs and live music from Chippewa Falls, until 9pm.

Waygood International ArtFayre 2005

22nd – 24th September 2005


Discussion Events
Waygood will be holding a number of talks and presentations during the ArtFayre. Details are correct at the time of going to press, and the talks’ titles are to be seen only as starting points from which to explore the issues surrounding the ArtFayre and contemporary artistic practice, in what we hope will be lively and inspirational dialogues between the producers, facilitators and consumers of art.

Friday 23rd of September:

1.15pm Hull Art Lab - Creativity v Imagination (or Inspiration is a Myth)

In an improvised, three-way, informal conversation, Hull Art Lab will ponder the finer points of contemporary art practice, and the unchallenged belief in ‘free’ inspiration as a driving force in artists work. Should rigour, contemplation, and careful consideration of ideas replace serendipity and chance to ensure that art avoids stagnation and the carefree repetition of ‘good’ ideas, or should the muse take control?

In this conversation Espen Jensen and Rob Gawthrop will argue these issues ‘live’ whilst Bob Levene’s contribution will be a pre-recorded projection.

2pm – 4pm. Rhyme and Rhizome - How do the recent developments in the organisation of cultural production and circulation affect creative practice?

Speakers: Andre Spicer and S Mark Gubb. Chair Ray White.

André Spicer is a member of the ephemera editorial collective (www.ephemeraweb.org). He has been involved in a range of other publishing enterprises include student media, a post graduate journal, and a mainstream print based journal. He is currently a lecturer in Organisation Studies at the University of Warwick. His research focuses on the cultural industries, organisational politics, and alternative enterprise. He is currently writing two books entitled: The Power of Resistance and Unmasking the Entrepreneur.

www.ephemeraweb.org

S Mark Gubb is an artist based in Nottingham. He has recently completed The Wheatley Sculpture Fellowship at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and, in October, is going to Krakow, Poland, to be hosted by Bunkier Sztuki as Arts Council Moving Image Fellow. Other recent projects have included ‘Romantic Detachment’ at PS1 (MoMA), New York, and ‘A Real Rock Archive’ for The Public, West Bromwich. Mark also works as a writer and lecturer and is part of the advisory panel for a-n The Artists Information Company, initiative ‘NAN’ (Networking Artists Networks). Mark positions his work in a range of contexts and has a particular interest in the cross pollination of contemporary cultures with art and the dissemination of critical and credible art in to an alternate arena; how this effects the work, the culture it draws on and the relationship the ‘art’ has with a non arts specific audience.

www.smarkgubb.com, www.arealrockarchive.com

Saturday 24th of September:


1pm. ROOM presentation - to be confirmed.

2pm – 4pm. Squaring the Circle - In an environment of supposedly mutually supportive initiatives, how does the more commercial model of some art fairs and institutions co-exist with artist-led initiatives?

Speakers: Joel Fisher and Mark Little. Chair Ray White.

Joel Fisher has a consistent and extensive exhibition history extending over a number of years. He has been honored with over 100 one-person exhibitions in private galleries around the world, and solo shows in such museums as the Stadtisches Museum Monchengladbach, The Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels, The Museum of Modern Art Oxford, the Stedleijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Kunstmuseum Luzerne. His artwork is in over 45 public collections in at least 12 different countries, such as the Centre Pompidou Paris, Stedleijk Museum Amsterdam, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Tate Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Mark Little is Senior Lecturer in Visual Culture at the University of Northumbria. His main interests include art and technology, new media technologies, the body and the urban. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the cultural studies journal, Parallax and a founding Editor of the Journal of Visual Culture. He is a practicing artist working in collaboration with Lloyd Gibson - their latest project is Zuza, a work based on the life of an Algerian woman who died on Tyneside while an exhibit at the 1929 NE Coast Exhibition.


Ray White is an independent curator and project coordinator. He is a founding member of the disco artists’ collective, has been a steering committee member of Live Art organisation platformnortheast for the last three years – coordinating the annual event this year. He also programmes for A-Side, the artists’ film and video strand of Side Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne.


Time table

Still working on mt statement of intent. I thought it was pretty much done, but after speaking to a tutor, I realised there were some glaringly obvious things I'd neglected to mention. It needs to be handed in on Friday so I should hopefully have a finished version to post up next week. I've got my own little desk and locker now (although I haven't got a key for the locker yet) and I will post up some pictures once I figure out how to get them off my phone.
Things are getting more hectic as I now have some more freelance work, doing illustrations for the Laing Art Gallery.
Also my timetable is (almost) finalised and it is very busy. There isn't much time to do any actual drawing!
To check it out click below.

Mon:
Independent study
tutorial 1 - 2

Tues:
tutorial 10 - 12, 1-3
lecture 5 - 7

Wed:
tutorial 2 - 4
tutorial 5 - 7

Thurs:
Independent study

Fri:
tutorial 11- 12
Independent study

I don't know how all these other students manage to spend all day in the union bar.

September 19, 2005

Experiment 1

One of the first issues to address when making a graphic novel is the narrative. But I'm not going to talk about that right now. I'm going to talk about the second issue to address, which is the visual style.
Normally, I'll do a story and I know how it needs to look. This time though, I need more reasoning than "Because I wanted to" or "I thought it would look good" or the wonderful "that's just how it came out." A tutor gave me a great idea. He said to do a few different samples of styles and then ask a few artists their opinion. Simple!
So, I'm looking at some of my old comics to find a page that is as close as possible, narratively, to what I want to do. Then I will redraw it in a few different ways. This means that it is not a static illustration and that I am gaining feedback on how the visuals relate to the story too. I've started to develop some questions to ask, next I will have to decide on my panel. I think I will add in some people who aren't artists, but who have an interest in the field, such as writers and critics. I think I might also include some artists from other fields.
I wasn't looking forward to doing lots of samples and having to justify my choices, but now it's turned into a fun and (hopefully) useful experiment. I may post them all up for everyone to look at and comment on.
Moving into the new building today at 4 o'clock, apparently it's not quite finished. I just hope I have some kind of locker because I'm sick of carrying in all my stuff each day. And I'm lazy.
Andy Richmond and Shane Chebsy are doing a 24 day comic, which I'm guessing isn't intended to work like a 24 hr comic because that's a long time to go without sleep. Anyway, there is a call for entries on Bugpowder at the moment, the comic is intended for release at Halloween so there is a horror theme. Andy R. did mention it the other day, I think I agreed to do a single strip, but I'm a bit pushed for time. Also, there is no guarantee that strips will get into the anthology as I'm sure they have had a lot of interest. If I do get a chance to contribute it will be a real challenge to do a good horror tale in one page!

September 16, 2005

The fayre, reviews and Malcy.

Got the prints from Lee, they are looking great! Now we have prints for the art fayre from artists: Al Davison, Jeremy Dennis, Andy Richmond, Richard Starzecki, Terry Wiley and me. Also sorted out the comic printing, although it's a lot more than we were hoping to pay. But at least we'll have something to show at the fayre!
The last few weeks have been very hectic for me, and I have missed my deadline for Comics International reviews. So, apologies to everyone who sent me their work, I know how frustrating it is waiting for a review, I am very sorry and I will send reviews off for the next issue.
I got some wonderful comics through from Malcy Duff this week, and I am looking forward to reading them. Self publishing can free the creator from a lot of commercial constraints, and Malcy is one of the few artists currently testing this. His narratives are unique and his presentation of work is getting more and more bizarre. His new one has comics within comics (actually physically stuck into panels). It's really amazing work, I will try to interview him for my research as I will have to start thinking about the format of my own work soon.
I'm off to do some research in the form of reading and drawing, then I'm off to bash things with sticks.

September 15, 2005

Fighty talky talk

heatonpark2


Last blog today (promise). I won't be blogging over the weekend because I'll be too busy at the Super Summer Seminar! If I am still alive / not in hospital after it, then I will be resuming my blogging activities next week.
Speaking of martial arts, I've just uploaded some new fighty photos to flickr.
Have a nice weekend, mine will probably be filled with pain.

Conventions - money = less research

As my work will be based mainly around Graphic novels, I will need to get to as many talks and conventions as possible. This is great in theory, but my bank balance doesn't seem too chuffed with the idea. I was hoping to get to the Brighton comic convention in November, but this is looking quite unlikely due to my financial situation. I've now found out that there is a talk on graphic novels happening in London in October (with Paul Gravett at the ICA, info on Jintys journal), which is very relevant to my course, but again I think I lack the funds to attend. If anyone reading this is going, please can you pass on any notes you have taken to me!! I will definitely be adding Pauls new book to my reading list, along with 99 ways to tell a story by Matt Madden (as soon as they are released)
One talk I think I can afford to attend (hopefully) is a discussion and networking event about websites being held in Durham on the 6th Oct. There will be someone from the University of Sunderland talking about the research they are conducting into how a viewers eye moves around websites. I'd heard of this research and been interested in finding out more, so now's my chance!

Back to Ashburne

ashburne

Things have been up in the air this week as the course is due to move to a new building, so until we move there is no point getting settled. At the moment we are based at Ashburne (pictured above) which is where I did my degree many years ago. It has been a very surreal experience coming back. I'm looking forward to movng to the new building as it is closer to town and handier to travel to. In a way it's good that not much is going on this week lecture wise as it has given me a chance to assess my project and start some research (and start this blog!)

September 14, 2005

printer problems

Today has been one disaster after another! Time is running out to get our comic printed for the art fayre and there is no printers able to do the job for a reasonable price. Most of them won't even give us a quote because it's a small print run and I guess the job just isn't worth their time. Usually I'd do it on the photocopier we have, but it's broken!
so now I'm faced with the problem that most small pressers face at some point - do I make this comic at a loss? Is it worth printing at the same price or more than cover price will be? The point of this work wasn't for commercial gain, so maybe we will just have to pay ridiculous printers prices.
I've also just finished a seven page strip that I'm hoping will be accepted for the IMA anthology. Once again I realise that typography is going to be a big issue with my work this year. Lettering is a skill and artform in its own right, and its a skill I don't have! I'm really going to have to get to grips with lettering on computer.
This is going to be a busy year!
Lee has said that the prints are ready, so we can pick them up tomorrow night. They were quite experimental! We asked artists at Caption small press convention to contribute images for limited edition prints, which Lee agreed to produce. I'm quite excited to see how they turned out.

September 13, 2005

First tutorial

This morning we had a surprise tutorial! From now on, Tuesdays mornings are a tutorial with Donna Barkess, who used to own centre design where Nigel used to work! Small world.
We discussed our intentions for the year and then got into little groups to talk about our work and give each other ideas. The interesting thing is that everyone comes from different backgrounds and the projects are very diverse. I was working with a guy interested in researching violence in computer games and the impact it has on kids, and a guy who is interested in sustainable materials and product design. That's just boiling their ideas down to the bare bones, it's a bit more involved, but they gave me some ideas that I wouldn't have considered and I hope that my input was useful to them too.
I'm looking forward to the cross pollination of ideas across different media that a course like this allows. Also, there are a lot of overseas students on the course, so it is interesting to see cultural differences in the approaches to / perception of design.
I've also been busy emailing and mesage boarding our upcoming involvement with the Art fayre. If you are in Newcastle on the 23rd and 24th Sept. pop along, if not I'll blog the event here. With pictures.
Also, (sort of) confirmed some new freelance work, delivering a workshop for the Big Draw at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

September 12, 2005

The 12 comic

hrcomic1
Andy and I were asked to participate in theWaygood gallery ArtFayre and we thought it would be a good idea to come up with a new comic to sell at it. We decided, firstly, to do a 24 hr comic. However, due to time restrictions we couldn't do this. So we thought, let's do a 12 hr comic instead.
On 11th September 2005 at 11.00 AM, me, Andy Smith and Nigel Auchterlounie got together to make a comic from initial idea through to print ready product in 12 hours or less.

hrcomic2
Each participant was asked to bring certain items to help with inspiration ( Up to 3 albums, 2 films, 5 images, 1 sentence from a book or magazine) To make sure no one had preplanned a story or idea, participants were asked to swap their inspirational material. The films and music were played together for everyone to use.
hrcomic5
Andy brought:
Albums: Fantomas - Amenza al Mundo
The best of parliament
Cut Chemist - Rare equations
DVDs: Black Samurai
Casshern
Images: Sketch magazine, pg.22 Mitch Byrd image
A page from the book of bunny suicides
2 pages from DVD magazine Hongkong
Photo of Nigel
Sentence: 'I am not embarrassed to say that in a fight your tennis shoes are your best friend' (From JKD: Principles of a complete fighter by Ron Balicki)
I brought (pictured above):
Albums: Lightning bolt - Wonderful Rainbow
OST - A life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Guitar Wolf - Jet Generation
DVDs: Das cabinet des DrCaligari
A matter of life and death
Images: Postcard: oil painting by Meredith Frampton
Postcard: Hoop de dooden do Stereograph 1860
Moving Image Postcard: Schloss Neushwanstein
Postcard:'Trailer Trash' pulp painting
Postcard: 53 stations of Tokaido: Station 13 by Ando Hiroshige
Sentence: 'Seems I'd knocked his front teeth out and they had stuck in my hand' (From 'Streetfighters' by Julian Davies)
Nigel brought:
Chemical brothers - Come with us
System of a down - Steal this album
Bill Hicks - Rant in E minor
Video: Assault on precinct 13
Images:
Cutie (Japanese fashion magazine for teenage girls)
Action! Cartooning by Ben Caldwell (book)
Sentence: 'For independent girls!' (taken from Cutie magazine)
I used Nigels material, Andy used my material and Nigel used Andys.
hrcomic7
The movies were shown with no sound and the albums were played with them. Sometimes this worked out well, like Casshern went really well with Lightning Bolt, Assault on precinct 13 was great with Fantomas and Parliament suited Black Samurai.
hrcomic9
It was interesting to see how everyone worked differently. Andy didn't start any drawing until about 2 O'Clock, Nigel did all his lettering first, then pencils, then inking and I just went straight in with a brush pen. I finished first at 5.15, so I did a pin-up as well and finished that at 5.45. I had to do all the scanning and layout etc. so it was good in a way that I finished so early. We had decided to do 7 pages of comic strip each, then Andy would do back cover, Nigel would do front cover and I would do the inside cover explaining about the comic. Since Andy was running behind we decided he should do 6 pages of strip instead (which is why I ended up doing a pin-up image to fill space.) Nigel finished at 7.15.
Andy finished at 9.00
I think the enforced inspirational material worked well. Personally, I ended up doing a story I would never have thought of otherwise. Nigel did a strip about himself ( I guess because he had a photo of himself to work from) My comic was frivolous and girly (due to the bizarre teeny fashion magazine I had to work with) Andys was a silent strip which seemed to be largely inspired by the postcard of an image from 1860.
All the scanning, layout etc. was done by 10 O'Clock .
Sending it to be printed this week, then it'll be ready for sale the following week!
More pictures with descriptions at flickr

September 08, 2005

Mission Statement!!

Okay, this blog is here to chart my progress through an MA course in Illustration and design at the University of Sunderland. The course runs from Sept. 05 - Sept. 06. I will be exhibiting, publishing and teaching outside of the course, but I think that as it is in the same field that it is still relevant, so it'll all be posted here. I'll be posting my statement of intent within the next couple of weeks, which explains what I intend to do for my course and my area of research, so that should make things a bit clearer! In the meantime, please bear with me with I get used to blogging and find out what I can and can't do!
A really really big thank you to Pete Ashton for all his hard work in setting up this blog for me. Check out his blog and also his wonderful small press site Bugpowder which is one of the most important places on the internet for small press fans and creators.
My main website iswww.lomoore.com where you can see my artwork.