Wednesday 28 November 2012

How your pet can inspire you

Sometimes, it is nice to know what your cat is thinking. Here's what I think via letter, the things my girlfriend's cat is thinking when he is eating his duck in gravy supper....



"Dear Mum, Dad and the Cats at the Cats' Home,

Enclosed is a photo of me in my new abode. No, I'm not eating (again): somebody glued my paws to the floor and I can't move. Hehe. Just yanking ya chain. I wanted to tell you life is good out here. In fact, I think I have got it made. Plush carpet, nice chair, cranked-up thermostat, toys, food for life (all the duck in gravy I can eat). I still make a mess when I eat, I must say. Nothing's changed, I hear you say.

In the evenings, I sleep on the sitting room carpet, next to a piping hot radiator. It's sheer bliss, you know? And my owner's like, "Aw, he's got Chewbacca legs and rabbit teeth," and I'm like, "What rabbit teeth...?" Later on, I get to sleep on the bed with my new owner and her boyfriend. I think it's fun, especially when the light goes out. I don't fall asleep straight away. I think cat thoughts. I feel wanted, you know? Sometimes, I even sharpen my claws on the quilt in the middle of the night. I can also sharpen my claws on the sofa and the carpet:

My favourite item to claw is the sofa because I like the scratchy noise. Sounds like tearing velcro, you know? When I claw it, she's like, Oy! But I scratch it three times then give up. Very soon, she will have to buy a new sofa and it will serve her right for telling me off.

When she's at college, I scratch it five times without stopping. I repeat this six times in six hours.

I might start clawing the curtains, too. Who knows? I have to keep my claws sharp. Maybe film and post a video online about my exploits? It's exciting stuff.

Oh, and I can jump onto the dinner table in two clean leaps. Chair, then table. Around six in the evening on a Saturday night, I have been known to tuck into the remains of an unwanted supper. Scientists got it wrong: fish and chip suppers aren't fattening.

My favourite toy is a long strand of thread. I go absolutely nuts when I play with it. Sometimes I have a mad half-hour when I run up and down the landing with my yellow ball. See, I pretend he is the mouse I am hunting tomorrow.

I wanted to say there is hope out there for you, even if the boss woman of the Cats' Home said I wasn't fit for re-homing. (Ex-squeeze me?) Daft mare. 

Keep well and hear from you soon.

Lots of love,

Waylon (my new name--I like it: makes me feel like an outlaw.)xxx"


Tuesday 27 November 2012

How supermarkets can fire your creativity.


"Recently, I was a victim of a prank. For a laugh, somebody put me on a supermarket check-out....



And it turns out, all along, that I had a bar-code on my back..."

Thursday 22 November 2012

Why drawing comics is great fun.

I enjoy drawing comics as much as toy photography. I am not sure there is a reason why drawing comics is fun. All I know is that it is a welcome break from toy photography. Changing art mediums is a good idea: it can enhance your creativity. There is also the thrill of trying out new pens.

Art shops, too. Any excuse for visiting art shops. I love visiting art shops. I am not sure why, but the smell of paint, carbon and aerosol make me nostalgic.


Enjoy....comic strips don't have to be perfect--mine are rough sketches. Sometimes it's much more fun to draw the roughs because you don't have to worry about technique: telling the story is more important here.



To recap: changing mediums is a good idea--very often, a project can become stale; and sometimes drawing comics allows you to go wild in your sketchbooks. 

Actually, it's not necessary to use a sketchbook. File paper or photocopy paper is just as good (and cheaper, too). Create. Because you can.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

How to create a story in ten minutes once again

Two days earlier, we had this little chap waiting at the chippie for his sausage, chips and curry sauce.



The mouse story at the chippie was part of a filler for something much bigger: in other words, a link between one story and another. Let's have a look at how the story unfolded. 

Ask yourself what happens when you go to a chippie. Write a list of things and work those experiences into the story.

Let's look at the scene before he queued for his his meal.




At 11pm on a Friday night, the mouse entered the chippie in a pensive mood. His bills were piling up. He wondered how he might pay his electricity bill.

"Darn bills," he said. "Must auction off my cheese knives online...sell my cheese photos...cancel my subscription to Cheese Eaters Illustrated..."

His thoughts rudely interrupted: suddenly, the mouse turned his head. He was startled by the arrival of a drunken bear with a drum. Thumping a drum. "Brilliant," the mouse said to himself. "A real Ace of Diamonds, aren't you, sir?"


Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

So the mouse queued for his supper, ignoring the bear.



When he ordered his portion of sausage, chips and curry sauce, the man at the fish bar said to him...



"Sausage, chips and curry sauce...AGAIN?"

And the mouse said,



"Well, why not? You think I eat cheese all the time? Well, I don't. I got high blood pressure, the doctor says. Goodnight."

And the man at the fish bar said, "Oh, right. Goodnight."

But he knew the mouse would be back tomorrow.



And the mouse also knew he would be back tomorrow.

Have a go writing a simple story. A ten-minute piece of work. It is important that you don't procrastinate: just do it, create. Like I say, create.

Because you can.

Claim token :  QM23W9FNZ8JU

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Create a better life for yourself.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to aim high in life. We all have dreams. We have feelings. So let's aim high. It's not impossible if you really try. 

This little chap has dreams and aspirations.




"I'd like to fight the heavyweight champion of the world...."

Monday 19 November 2012

How to create a story in ten minutes.


I like to tell a story or create a snapshot scene using different photographs of a toy. You can also do the same. It's a quick and easy thing to do, if you want a brief story to use as filler in a bigger story.

For example, if you wanted to create a scenario where a mouse visits a fish and chip shop, you could use four photographs to show the mouse moving in a queue.

In the last photograph he will face the fish and chip server and say the words below,



"Can I have a sausage, chips and a curry sauce, please...?"


It's a simple and fun task that takes no more than ten minutes. Enjoy.

Thursday 15 November 2012

How public feedback helps you create fresh posts.

In today's entry, I want to show you how public feedback helps you create new posts. In away, the approach is almost like cell division.

For example, yesterday's post is one whole cell.

Public feedback splits the cell, so you have two posts--the second one being a fresh post waiting to be written.

Yesterday's post, which featured a picture of a cat...was meant to focus solely on the cat, but there was a comment, "nice washing on the radiator".

Having read this, this, you could be inspired to create another post. 

For example, on the theme of washing, you might be inspired to take pictures of laundry and talk about the colour scheme in the pictures:







Or...you can go the opposite way and post a picture of a cat next to a radiator with no washing in the background. Two more posts for you.






Then you tell your joke. But I am told, jokes are not funny when they are repeated. So....


Wednesday 14 November 2012

Why humour is important....


I think blogs should post the odd joke or two....



What do you call a wildcat-turned actor? Colin Feral.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Why it pays to be busy, busy, busy...


This story below, outlines the reasons to be busy, busy, busy.



"Dear Mum and Dad,

I know you worry very much about my career in the movies. I want you to know I have branched out. For example, I have become a poster model. 

Better than that: I collect royalty checks for being a stencil for t-shirts and mugs. See the picture on the left--that's me.

It's much better than the stint I had in the museum, dressed as a warrior. I don't think you ever saw a picture of me in warrior costume (below). 



See what I mean? 
These earrings never suited me. 


Here are some other stencils. Let me know which colour is your favourite.




Personally, I think green is mine. 

In short, being busy, busy, busy has improved my CV. I want employers to think I am doing other things rather than sitting at home with the telly.

Maintaining a strong work ethic, you know? That's what it's about...adding a few strings to your bow.

And it pays the rent, too.


Your ever-loving son, 

Dennis xxx..."


Friday 9 November 2012

How The Robot Saw The Light, Became The Light.


We begin this blog post with a story, How The Robot Saw The Light, Became The Light.

Once upon a time, there was a robot and his friend, Jason. They lived together in a small house in London. Their hobbies included Su Doku, football, fish and chips and computer games.

Oh, and it's worth pointing out that Jason invented the robot. So good was the invention, the robot could even cook fish in his microwave belly while playing the piano. When the piano didn't sound right, the robot (with the fish still cooking) became a piano 'tuna'.

The robot had never been happier. His past life as a kettle was nothing more than a footnote for his memoirs, nothing more....




They spent many hours playing computer games.

Then they spent many hours remembering footballers' names.

Then later, Jason said to the robot... "I got something to tell you. The news will be hard to take in...."






"I'm running off with a kangaroo," he said. "We love each other and we're running away. This means I'm leaving you."

"Oh," the robot said. "Maybe I can come and say goodbye? Say farewell to an old chum?"

"Oh no," Jason said. "We'll never see each other again. I'm leaving you for good."

"For good?" the robot said. "I thought we were friends forever?"






The robot looked at him. And although he was made of a kettle and a microwave with metal limbs attached, he still had a heart.

He heard his friend open a suitcase.

He heard his friend stuff a suitcase.

He heard the 'phweeee' of the zipper on a suitcase.

Then he said to himself. What about me? What about me?

But Jason left the house with his suitcase.



He waved his friend goodbye.

Then he thought, maybe he'll come back....




He waited until the night came.









Then he waited until the sun rose.


And until he became a pop art postcard that sold in the shops.






Then he was all alone. He realised that without Jason, he would have no money to pay the rent.

He wouldn't have a roof over his head.

He wouldn't have a room with a bed.

And most of all, he wouldn't have a chair for his Ted.

So the robot applied to be a street lamp. He heard it paid good money. And he would meet new people, too. This was something he wanted very much.



And he lived happily ever after.