Saturday 14 December 2013

Easy way to feed a cat a worming tablet....

This week was worming tablet week for my cat. He wasn't very happy about it.






Like so....I look forward to the day worming tablets are made of soft chicken.

Getting my cat to swallow it was impossible. Last time he had his worming tablet, it was administered by the vet.

Boy, didn't he make it look easy?

So when I tried it, my cat was having none of it.

Solution? Bung it in a kitty treat and feed it to your cat. He might not be happy, though....

Too bad...happiness is knowing you got the job done and you can get back to drawing again!


Tuesday 3 December 2013

What a cartoonist shouldn't forget...


A cartoonist shouldn't forget to showcase his or her work, even if you are not sure if it is funny. Point is, if you like your work, post it anyway.

Editors are judge and jury of the cartoon. What one Editor finds funny, another may not. But that doesn't matter. The same goes for your friends...

Anyway, enjoy--I quite like this one...this is what happens when you flout tax rules in pubs and eateries...you get fined. You can expect a friendly visit from your local tax inspector, too...




Thursday 28 November 2013

How to make a cheap joke which can sell...


I read somewhere that puns are the lowest form of humour. I don't care very much for that finding because cartoons with puns can make a sale, especially if the cartoon sells at a local level.

And I find puns very funny. Sometimes.

Anyway, my client liked this cartoon very much because I used a pun. If puns create laughter on programmes such as The Simpsons, then why not use them in your cartoon?

I wish I could make the image bigger. To crop it would only make the image bigger at the expense of sharpness and detail. Enjoy, nonetheless....

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Why it is important to draw fine lines


When you draw a cartoon, it is important to show your strength in creating a strong drawing. For example, if you draw a cartoon character in strong and bold lines, then your confidence as an artist will manifest itself through your artwork.

Many drawings have been rejected because Art Editors don't like artists with a self-conscious drawing style. They want a drawing that does three things: oozes panache, easily conveys a message in a funny way and reflects the style of their magazine.

If you mean to draw a cat, then you have to draw a character that looks like a cat. I like my cats to scowl and to have piercing blue eyes.

Over the last two weeks, I spent many hours using brush pens to draw cats for a client. I enclose the second cartoon, fyi, which comments on the ongoing filthiness that exists today in pubs and restaurants.




Monday 25 November 2013

How to brighten up your day with cartoons.

It has been a while since I last posted some work. Over the last few weeks, I have been submitting cartoons for publican's trade journal, OnTrade.co.uk. This week, I will be publishing a select few, for your viewing.

If you are having a bad day, it pays to forget your woes and simply get on with your life. You won't get much done if you sit around moping or dwelling on the past. And if that sort of thing becomes a habit, you will start to think the thoughts of a desperate man. Being able to think positively means you can live and function in a positive way. You will be able to plan projects, meet deadlines and you will sleep well.

So, if you have drawn cartoons over the last fortnight, like I have, do go to the trouble and post them online. That means you have to sit down, scan your work onto the computer, edit it, crop it and give it the showing your work deserves. After all, you are doing something creative, and this sort of thing will get you praise.

When you think how long the process takes (which isn't very long), then that's one thing out of the way.

This is called being professional. In other words, acting like a professional person who believes his work deserves a wider audience. Who knows, someone might print out your cartoon and stick it on the fridge.

Enjoy--here is the first cartoon: a situation we can all relate to!


Tuesday 3 September 2013

Introducing my first draft: why you will never get it right first time round.


Alien--my comic strip, based on the movie of the same name.

The comic strip is a first draft, just to show what it looks like first time round. Of course, this is a rough draft--some cartoonists or comic strip artists draw the layout, composition and storyboard in pencilled scribbles, but I like to use a felt pen. It gives a finished look to the comic.




The layout for the comic is good. There is a sense of structure, however the comic is somewhat let down by the dialogue in the last three boxes--this is why this is a first draft: you will not get it right first time round, especially if you do not work to a written script, like I did up there.

I drew this quickly before I would forget the dialogue (although in the end, I didn't think it was very good, but a good starting point for draft two). I do like the composition, though--appropriate for a strip with little space in the frames.


Thursday 22 August 2013

New comics--in two minutes, these strips will brighten your day.

It's been a while since I last posted. I have been working on my comic strips, Dog vs Dog.





And I did a painting as well. This is titled, "The Owl and the Pussycat."

Friday 26 April 2013

What is the funniest joke this year?


What did the singer Meatloaf say when he couldn't find any soap? I would do anything for Dove.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

What is the best way of learning toy photography...?


Today, I bought a new toy. This is one of the most exciting things about toy photography. Here he is, below...


Five minutes later, an arm snaps off. It pays to be gentle.



Good news--the limb actually fits back in its slot. I suppose that happened to C3-PO, himself.

Today's lesson isn't about manhandling things. It's about learning. How do you learn about your craft? Some people learn by reading or listening to podcasts. Others, like me, get stuck in and learn about the practice of toy photography. Of course, breakages will occur.

There is nothing wrong with reading. I still read, and so should you. When you read about your craft, you are inspired to take notes and when you feel you have read a lot, your style creeps up inside you. The same goes for podcasting.

People ask how they develop their style. Style creeps up on you; and soon enough you have developed your own style without realising it. The secret is to learn all the rules and methods before breaking them or using them to suit your style.

What do I do as a toy photographer?
  1. I visit charity shops and look for small toys (the smaller the better). I also look at online auction sites or classified websites that give away toys. 
  2. I plot a storyline for a toy photograph. The photographs above, aren't very good toy photographs because there is no story to them. A good toy photograph should have a sense of story.
  3. I try to imagine the toy as a human being or an animal. That way, people can resonate with your work. 
  4. I look at blogs and websites dedicated to toy photography/photography.
  5. I look at popular culture--watch movies, read, visit galleries etc. 
Over time, you soak up ideas and you pick and choose those you think are worthy of a storyline.

When you are plotting a storyline, it is a good idea to carry a notebook with you to write down your thoughts. The first things you write will not be very good, but at those early stages, it's about brainstorming. Or in other words, quantity of ideas rather than quality of ideas.

Usually in a storyline, it is a good idea to have two or three characters, so you can illustrate a relationship between the two.

Better still, use humour. If you are lacking in humour, that is not a problem. If you want to know how to write a joke, I can show you how. Better to reserve this for another blog post, though.

Thursday 28 February 2013

Who's watching ya, baby?






Wouldn't want to be a canary in a cage with eyes like that looking from above, would you? It's hello, but it is not hello as you and I know it...

Today's cookery tip:

One part whiskey and one part balsamic vinegar= canary marinade.

Basically, you can apply this tip to any meat, but on this occasion, I am applying to the canary I caught earlier.

Take a small frying pan and heat oil until it is very hot. Drop the canary in and cook each side at four minutes apiece. Bung it on a warm plate and, as the canary marinade sauce in the other pan is still very hot, pour it over the meat and serve with your favourite beverage...mine is beer (none of that cold lactic muck in a saucer). If the sauce isn't thick enough, you could add some maple syrup.

Perfect on a cold winter's evening (and before the owner gets home from work)...

Thursday 21 February 2013

Two book reviews: what are your views?

COMIC BOOK REVIEWS. 

The Wolf's Whistle by Bjorn Rune Lie.

A beautiful book with echoes of Richard Scarry's work, it is a natural fusion of superhero comics and children's stories. Colourful all the way through, the book is an absolute delight to read and will have you coming back for more.

The story? Albert, a little wretch of a wolf spends his lunchtimes drawing comics and dreams of having his work published by Wonder Comics. He is bullied by three porcine brothers. Later on, he takes on his oppressors under the guise of the Lone Wolf, thus fulfilling his destiny as a superhero.



The Bento Bestiary by Ben Newman and Scott Donaldson.

The eighteenth-century Japanese artist, Toryamn Sekin portrayed spirits of the Yokai tradition, namely Godzilla, Hebi and Inugami--all of which were an ancient race of demons that terrorised the world.

To keep this tradition alive, Ben Newman and Scott Donaldson revisit these demons in a bold and colourful manner to incorporate worldwide themes that grace our world today.

That's it, really. And they've done a pretty good job of it.

Monday 18 February 2013

Which two comics should you have read by now?


I have recently been reading two excellent comic books, both of which were published last year. Ben Newman and Scott Donaldson's, The Bento Bestiary and Bjorne Rune Lie's The Wolf's Whistle. Recommended.



Review tomorrow. Stay tuned (in the meantime, try and buy them before they get snapped up...).

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Can cats do a handstand? You betcha...




Can cats do handstands? Well, if this isn't evidence...hehe!

Is your cat an acrobat of sorts? Send us your views. Best picture wins pride of place on this blog. Yay.

Tuesday 12 February 2013

How five layers of clothing keeps you warm on a cold day.


It has been very cold recently, which has made life uncomfortable. On days like these, it makes sense to look for solutions. Hot drinks are a good idea, but they are something of a short-term remedy. Do drink tea, anyway--the antioxidants are very good for you.

Your room should be warm. You need a good source of heat, such as a radiator or a fireplace. Here's how it's done.



Sitting next to a piping hot radiator is a good idea. Blankets and throws trap the heat, as this cat, above--the star of Waylon Comics--demonstrates....

Wearing layers of clothes help: I personally wear five a day and this always keeps me warm. Granted, you may be the subject of ridicule, but at least you're not cold. If you are a cat, you might find it helpful to puff out your fur...

haha...just joking. Wrap up well. 

Monday 11 February 2013

What are Waylon Comics?


Yay--2013 reaches our shores. Doesn't time fly when you are having fun? I've had too much of it, but that doesn't matter. When I have fun, I am at my most creative (however, you do lose track of time)...

Two new strips grace the front of this blog--Waylon Comics.

What are Waylon Comics? Just a new comic on the block. Or two new comics, rather. I feel I owe it to you to showcase some new comics.

Enjoy.