Pitter Patter Fest

Day 1. Brantford / Ford Plant

2 of the 4 bands listed on the bill didn't play/show up which is usually a bit of a bad omen. Good thing we shared the night with our pals and practice space cohorts Pants and Tie, who besides being an awesome band are also really snappy dressers with good senses of humor! Rob and I ate at KFC while Tim and Al made far more sensible dining decisions. Beers were drank in our van and someone told Tim and I about all the free burgers he managed to consume in one day and all the burger pals he made along the way doing it. We decided to play in the dark on the floor. It was a good decision.


Day 2. Peterborough / Montreal House

The easiest way to work out the kinks after a stint on the highway is to hit up the local amusement area (conviently located behind an East Side Marios/Swiss Chalet dining complex), hit the batting cages and make some stuffed animals.

We arrived at The Montreal House to more surprise last minute lineup changes. When rolling with the punches beer can be a pretty good place to start, because sometimes you gotta make the good times happen! Be advised: The guys in Great Bloomers may play great country dipped rock songs, but they can also dance. To anything!

Over The Top

Our Over The Top Fest show at Sneaky Dee's was fun times and we got to play with lots of A+ peoples!

FUN FACT: number of times we've played at Sneaky Dee's = 23!

Rubbernecker Release Day & Blog Stroll

Acetate Frame Inchies

Welcome to another stroll with the Rubbernecker Red Hot Mammas!   It’s an opportunity for 4 of our stroll participants to win a brand new stamp set of your choice!   The stroll starts at the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog, where you will find the rules on how to win one of the 5 individual prize sets being revealed!    If you haven’t arrived here from the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog, you should go there now in order not to miss anything!

In order to be entered win one of the free sets, please leave a comment on this post. Winners will be randomly drawn from the comments left on the design team members’ blogs and those correct, complete phrases emailed to Sherry per the instructions on the Rubbernecker Blog.  The winners will have their choice of one of ANY one of the new releases!

Here is my phrase clue for one of the prizes:  STAMPS

To find the next clue, stroll on over to Sherry’s Blog.

The Blog Stroll will end at 12:00 Noon on Friday, May 29.   Winners will be announced on the Rubbernecker Blog.   Best of luck to each of you!

Stamps: Butterfly Inchies 427, flourish Inchies 423

Paper: Coredinations Black Magic/Spellcaster, 7gypsies 6x6 Gypsy Market DP

Ink:  Stazon Jet Black

Accessories:  Foam Dimensional Tape, Window Sheet, Flat Pearls, Sanding block.  Spellbinders Classic Frames, Butterfly Impressabilities. 

 

Wacky Wednesday #13

CIMG7494 It’s Wednesday again and that means it’s time for another Rubbernecker challenge.  Today, the challenge is to incorporate frames of any kind.  Use stamps, die cuts, rub on’s, stickers, metal embellishments, chipboard etc….

The stamps used today will be released by Rubbernecker on Thursday May 28.  You will want to check the Rubbernecker Blog and join the blog stroll tomorrow for a chance to win free stamps and see all the fabulous creations the DT has come up with.  I used images from 2 new Inchie sets, flourish inchies & butterfly inchies on my card.  The frames are Spellbinders Frameabilities/classic frames and the embossed mauve layer is Spellbinders impressabilities/butterfly.    The frame is cut\embossed using Coredinations Black Magic/spellcaster cardstock.  I only used a sheet of the black cardstock that had the mauve core and back.  The center of the frame is the reverse side of the large frame center.  To highlight the embossed images, the cardstock was lightly sanded to reveal the colored core.  One of the flourish inchies was stamped around the border of the striped designer paper .

CIMG7493

Stamps: Butterfly Inchies 427, flourish Inchies 423

Paper: Coredinations Black Magic/Spellcaster, 7gypsies 6x6 Gypsy Market DP

Ink:  Stazon Jet Black

Accessories:  Foam Dimensional Tape, Window Sheet, Flat Pearls, Sanding block.  Spellbinders Classic Frames, Butterfly Impressabilities. 

 

Wacky Wednesday #12 Inchies!

Candy is the challenge hostess today at the Rubbernecker Stamp Blog and the challenge is to use inchies on your card or project. Have you seen the fun inchie sets Mr. Rubbernecker has released lately? I am combining the inchie challenge with the Featured Stamper challenge from this week on Splitcoast. The FS is our very own Red Hot Momma Joan Ervin! Her gallery at SC is a treat to look through, I chose to case the card found HERE.

CIMG7474

You know, I just realized that my cards are always more neutral shades. I love color and Red is my favorite. You would think I would gravitate to these colors with my work. The colors today came about because I was thinking of a Latte or coffee w/ cream. Here’s the details:

Stamps: Coffee & Tea Inchies 424

Ink: Distress Walnut Stain. Alcohol Inks/Currant, Mushroom, Gold

Paper: Prism Tawny Medium, Suede Brown Dk., Sugar Cream. 7gypsies Nottinghill 6 x 6 paper pad.

Accessories: Scalloped Sq/ Nestabilities, Fragments, Mini Tan Brads, Sakura glaze pen/black, Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch.

Check out what the talented design team members have created today:

SO IT BEGINS!

We started recording our first full length album this weekend!
Rob had his way with a grand piano and many pistachios were consumed.

BRING IT ON.



We haven't played any shows in the past couple months and we've got a bunch of new songs to show for it! Check 'em out at the following exciting live music events.

Summer is here - let's party!

Saturday May 23rd @ Sneaky Dee's (Toronto)
Over The Top Fest w/ Green Go, Shellshag (NY), Fiasco (NY), Bayonets.

Thursday May 28th @ The Ford Plant (Brantford)
Pitter Patter Fest w/ Raccoon Wedding, Archipelagos, Pants and Tie.

Friday May 29th @ The Montreal House (Peterborough)
Pitter Patter Fest w/ Great Bloomers, Wax Mannequin.

Friday June12th @ The Matty Eckler CRC (Toronto)
All Ages Show w/ Place Hands, The Rescue, Fall Of Heros.

Wednesday June 17th @ The Boat (Toronto)
w/ The Stolen Minks, B.A. Johnston.

Monday June 29th @ The Drake (Toronto)
w/ The Paper Chase (TX).

SHOW HISTORY

2010

01/23/2010 - Teranga, Toronto w/ Terror Lake, The Meat, Wild Boar.
03/26/2010 - The Garrison, Toronto w/ Magic Markers, Rat Tail.
04/13/2010 - The Garrison, Toronto w/ Best Coast.
07/20/2010 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto NXNE w/ Ancestors, Invasions.


2009

01/15/2009 - El Mocambo, Toronto w/ Pace the Stairs, Dance Electric.
02/13/2009 - The Atria, Oshawa w/ Ancestors, Micronite Filters.
03/05/2009 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ We Take Lovers, Buckets Of.
05/23/2009 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Shellshag, Fiasco, Green Go (Over the Top Fest).
05/28/2009 - The Ford Plant, Brantford w/ Pants and Tie.
05/29/2009 - The Montreal House, Peterborough w/ Great Bloomers.
06/12/2009 - Matt Eckler Community Center, Toronto w/ Place Hands.
06/17/2009 - The Boat, Toronto w/ The Stolen Minks, BA Johnston, Real Cops.
06/29/2009 - The Drake, Toronto w/ The Paper Chase.
07/06/2009 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Pacific Trash Vortex, Bagtag, Rattail.
12/30/2009 - The Garrison, Toronto Boxing Day Special Fest w/ Pony Da Look, Rat Tail, I Love You Too's.

2008

01/25/2008 - Pepperjack's Cafe, Hamilton. Joel Elliot's CD release show w/ Neil Haverty.
02/29/08 - Terranga, Toronto. Haggard Beast 12inch Release Party w/ Hot Monogamy, Lunchmeat.
04/03/2008 - The Savannah Room, Toronto. Wells' Birthday Show w/ Buckets Of, Hot Kid.
04/05/2008 - University Of Windsor. Smash The Glass Fundraiser w/ Buckets Of, Hot Monogamy, The Nice Device.
05/11/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. Wavelength w/ Orn.
06/14/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. NXNE w/ Monotonix
06/23/2008 - Gladstone Hotel, Toronto. GentlemenFest w/ Place Hands, Tradition.
07/17/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ We Take Lovers, Femme Generation.
08/30/2008 - L'Escogriffe, Montreal w/ The Stolen Minks, Greg Cocaine.
08/30/2008 - House Show, Ottawa w/ The Stolen Minks, The Weathermakers.
09/04/2008 - Jimmy Jazz, Guelph w/ The Stolen Minks, The MEAT.
09/05/2008 - Casbah Lounge, Hamilton w/ The Stolen Minks.
09/06/2008 - Call the Office, London w/ The Stolen Minks, The Can Too's.
09/07/2008 - The Merchant Ale House, St. Catherines w/ The Stolen Minks.
09/10/2008 - The Spill, Peterborough w/ The Stolen Minks, Fire Flower Review.
09/11/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. TW/BS EP Release w/ The Stolen Minks, Brides.
10/18/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ sBACH, Huckleberry Friends.
12/05/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Lunchmeat, Dead Messenger.
12/19/2008 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ We Take Lovers, Pants and Tie, Proof of Ghosts, CITUS, more (Covers for Cans)

2007

10/02/2007 - Salem's Loft, Toronto. Wavelength Anniversary w/ Think About Life, Animal Monster, The Winks, Drumheller, DJ Goinsteady.
08/03/2007 - Waterloo Campus Bar, Waterloo. Women's Week Fundraiser w/ Galaxy, Emm Gryner.
23/03/2007 - Concord Cafe, Toronto. ICE AGE + Movement EP release w/ The Creeping Nobodies, The Sharp Tongues, Huckleberry Friends, DJ Dan Vila.
06/04/2007 - Silver Dollar, Toronto. The Patients CD Release w/ Hot Monogamy.
10/05/2007 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ We Take Lovers, Pants and Tie, Wordburglar.
17/05/2007 - One World Cafe, Halifax NS. All ages w/ The Stance
18/05/2007 - Gus' Pub, Halifax NS w/ The Stance, The Stolen Minks.
19/05/2007 - The Reading Well Bookstore, Charlottetown PEI. All Ages With The Stolen Minks, Andrew Murray, The Barnkats.
19/05/2007 - Baba's, Charlottetown PEI w/ The Stolen Minks,Smothered in Hugs.
20/05/2007 - Vixen's, Fredericton, NB w/ The Stolen Minks.
03/06/2007 - Lee's Palace, Toronto w/ Loney Dear.
04/06/2007 - The Underground, Hamilton w/ The Patients, Ladyfingers.
15/06/2007 - Gladstone, Toronto. CIUT 20th Anniversary Party.
30/06/2007 - Schoolhouse Volume 2, Chatham w/ Ancestors, Lunchmeat.
21/07/2007 - Irenes Pub, Ottawa w/ The Stolen Minks, Play Guitar, Captain Foxy.
31/07/2007 - The Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto. Bizzare Celebration Event - The Office Christmas Party.
03/08/2007 - Duke of Marlborough, Missisauga. Beating Heart Festival After-Party w/ ARCS, False Heroics.
11/08/2007 - Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto. ALLCAPS! Outdoor Show w/ Germans, John Kameel Farah, Bruce Penninsula, more.
16/08/2007 - Call the Office, London w/ The Stolen Minks, Katie Stelmanis.
17/08/2007 - 130 King The Trepid House/Pirate Bordello, Waterloo w/ The Stolen Minks, Katie Stelmanis.
18/08/2007 - Velvet Elvis, Oshawa w/ The Stolen Minks.
25/08/2007 - Turple's Apartment, Brantford w/ Sailboats Are White, The Sharp Tongues, Dead Love Traingles, Pants and Tie.
12/09/2007 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Numbers, The Sharp Tongues.

2006

19/01/2006 - The Boat, Toronto w/ The Ghost is Dancing (CD release), Rock Plaza Central.
06/02/2006 - The Silver Dollar, Toronto w/ 100% Wool, The Patients, Broken Tree Fort.
05/03/2006 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. Wavelength w/ Books On Tape, The Airfields.
08/04/2006 - The Hooch, Toronto w/ Ca Va Mal, Bocce, Shapes and Sizes.
12/05/2006 - The Boat, Toronto. Ford Plant Fundraiser w/ Henri and The Adorables, The Miles.
22/06/2006 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. Kickball Fundraiser w/ The Ghost is Dancing.
08/07/2006 - The Drake, Toronto. ALL CAPS! w/ The Phonemes, Robocop.
21/07/2006 - Schoohouse, Chatham w/ Lunchmeat, Ancestors.
22/07/2006 - The Last Drop, London w/ Lunchmeat, Ancestors.
23/07/2006 - The Ford Plant, Brantford. Matinee w/ Sailboats Are White, Bronx Cheerleader.
18/08/2006 - Live on Daria's Radio Show CHRY 105.5 FM, Toronto.
23/09/2006 - House Party, Toronto. Bag-O-Dicks! AKA Ryan Mounseys CD Release.
01/10/2006 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto w/ Facing New York, The Inflation Kills, Royal School Series.
19/10/2006 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. Galaxy EP release w/ Dads, Librarian's Touch.
03/11/2006 - Silver Dollar, Toronto w/ Ancestors, The Sharp Tongues, Lunchmeat.



2005

19/01/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Cougar Party, The Good Ideas, 9am Social, DJ Alan.
17/02/2005 - The Poor Alex, Toronto. Pitter Patter Nights w/ The Department of Foreign Affairs, Good People.
01/03/2005 - The 360, Toronto. Laundromat 6 w/ Royal Wood, The Sketchersons.
12/03/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ The Diableros, Grassy Knoll and The Magic Bullet Band.
01/04/2005 - Healy's, Toronto w/ And The Vinyl.
15/04/2005 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto. We Like Accidents! EP Release.
12/05/2005 - The Silver Dollar, Toronto w/ Sweet Thing, Permafrown.
22/05/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Carol Pope.
16/06/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ The Ghost is Dancing, Henri and the Adorables, DJ Axewoundthegash.
25/06/2005 - The Riot House, Toronto w/ Sailboats Are White, Rock Lobster Tokyo, Lunchmeat, Nick Flanagan.
09/07/2005 - Lounge 88, Toronto w/ Millions Of Cats That Turned On Thier Masters, The Bicycles.
14/07/2005 - The Silver Dollar, Toronto w/ Spitfires and Mayflowers, The October Guard.
10/08/2005 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto w/ Kickers, Galaxy.
20/08/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto. Interval House Fundraiser w/ Cougar Party, Scandalnavia, Dance Yourself To Death, Galaxy.
31/08/2005 - The Drake, Toronto w/ Dance Yourself To Death, Hunter Valentine.
07/09/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Moggs.
25/09/2005 - The Polish Legion Hall, Toronto. Video Fundraiser w/ Lenin I Shumov, Germans.
01/10/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ With Weird War, Republic of Safety.
02/11/2005 - The Embassy, Toronto w/ Henri & The Adorables, Spiral Beach.
11/11/2005 - O'Grady's, Toronto w/ Spitfires and Mayflowers, Immaculate Machine.
12/11/2005 - The Boat, Toronto. Honest Ed's Fashion Show w/ N!fty, Nick Flanagan.
08/12/2005 - Sneaky Dee's, Toronto w/ Kiss Me Deadly, 10000 Watt Head, Lipstick Machine.
20/12/2005 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto. Bake Off w/ Henri and the Adorables, Laura Barrett, the Holiday Choir.


2004

03/11/2004 - Rancho Relaxo, Toronto w/ The Marauder, Galaxy, Boyfriend Material.
28/11/2004 Sneaky Dees, Toronto. Wavelength w/ The Diableros
03/12/2004 The 360, Toronto w/ The Spitfires and Mayflowers, The Bicycles, Honey Dear.
04/12/2004 - The Rivoli, Toronto. Pedal to the Metal 2 Craft Fair w/ The Pauls.

Rubbernecker Blog Stroll/Stamp Release Day!

Good morning and welcome to the Rubbernecker Blog Stroll. Today, Rubbernecker Stamps releases SIX (6) new sets that Mr. Rubbernecker has worked very hard to create!


To celebrate this release, we invite you to Blog Stroll along with the Rubbernecker Red-Hot Mommas. The Stroll begins at the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog where you will find the guidelines on how to win one of the five sets being given away during this release. If you haven’t started at the Rubbernecker Blog, you should go start there where you’ll find the first clue to begin your Stroll.

My Phrase clue is: at Rubbernecker

The Blog Stroll continues at Sherry’s Blog where you will find the next phrase clue.

5-14RNRelease_SaK 001

My sample today uses the newly released Flourish 463 set as well as Wildflowers 465 & Spring Inchies 425. The background stamp is Abstract Floral and the sentiment is from Fashion Icons 456. To start, the purple layer was stamped using Castaway ink and ironed to get the bleached look. I punched the edge with an EK Success victorian punch and edged it with flat pearls. The sentiment was stamped with Adirondack white ink. The dress was made using Spellbinders Classic Heart (3rd from the smallest) for the bodice, Classic Ovals (largest) and Classic Scallop Rectangle Lg. for the hemline. The dress was die cut from Prism Crabapple pink cardstock and stamped with the flourishes and castaway pad to get the sublte white bleaching. I overstamped with the flourish stamp in black and did the top with the small flower. The edges of the dress were sponged with Distress worn lipstick ink. I finished the dress with May Arts ribbon, a stamped toile flower and flat pearls. There is also a shimmer mist made with Perfect Pearls/blush/tattered rose reinker/water for a little glitz. The dress is raised on foam dimensional tape.

Stamps: Flourish 463, Wildflowers 465, Spring Inchies 425, Fashion Icons 456, Abstract Floral

Ink: Worn Lipstick Distress, Tattered Rose reinker, Black Soot, Castaway Pad

Paper: Prism Simply Smooth White, Black, Mystic Purple, Crabapple

Accessories: EK Success victorian punch, flat pearls, May Arts Ribbon, foam dimensional tape, Spellbinders Classic Heart, Classic Ovals, Classic Rectangles dies. Perfect Pearls blush, craft iron.

Enjoy the stroll!

Wacky Wednesday #11

 WACKYWEDNESDAYLADIES

It’s Sherry’s turn to host the  challenge over at the Rubbernecker Stamp Company blog today. 

The Challenge is to use stitching on your project.  This could be by machine, hand, faux…. Come join the fun and play along.  The stamps used today will be released by Rubbernecker on Thursday May 14.  You will want to check the Rubbernecker Blog and join the blog stroll tomorrow for a chance to win free stamps and see all the fabulous creations the DT has come up with.

The flourishes and butterflies on my base layer were heat embossed using Distress powder, then misted with distress reinkers mixed with water.  The butterflies are highlighted with a Sakura gel pen.  The metal corner brads were white, so I used alcohol inks to make them match the card and then stamped the flourish on them with Stazon Black ink.  The believe strip is all one sticker that I stitched to add dimension.  Check out all the awesome stamps being released by Rubbernecker tomorrow.  The design team has lots of sneak peeks for you today!

CIMG7470

Stamps: Flourish Set 463, Spring Inchies 425

Ink: Distress Embossing Pad, Distress reinkers: Tea Dye, Dried Marigold, Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Stazon Black, Adirondack Alcohol Ink, Cranberry, Espresso, Gold.

Paper:  Prism Cream, Classic Red, Suede Brown Dark

Accessories:  Pebbles inc. believe sticker, square clip, metal corners, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen, Distress embossing powder/Tea Dye, Mini Misters, May Arts Grosgrain, Sewing Machine.

Be sure to stop by the Rubbernecker Stamp Company Blog for all the details to play along and for links to the other Design Team’s creations. 

See you tomorrow!

Skyscraper Magazine.

Scanned from Skyscraper #25
Summer 2007

BIO

The Guest Bedroom are a 4 piece rock band from Toronto. Urgent and dramatic in tone, their songs are prone to swift changes in direction, often simultaneously adorned by offbeat hooks and outbursts of nervous tension. “Though their music is fairly aggressive, it never stops being fun, and even though it’s fun, it’s always emotionally rewarding.” (Skyscraper Magazine)

Formed in 2004, they've retained 3 of their 4 founding members: Sandi Falconer (guitar/vocals), Rob Castle (keys), and Tim Smith (drums). Late last year they added James Allan Toth (guitar/bass), who had started working with the band in the studio recording their upcoming release, only later to join in full time.

Historically speaking, The Guest Bedrooms 2008 release Treading Water Blowing Smoke found them “adding an interestingly proggy element to their sound.” At just under 20 minutes the EP “veers wildly between abrasive to catchy and back again, but they do it in a way that never fails to be completely listenable.” (Chart Magazine) Their two releases prior to that (Movement and We Like Accidents!) both sold out of their limited runs, received enthusiastic reviews, and charted on Earshot’s campus top 50. TGB have shared the stage with such bands as Magic Markers, Best Coast, Weird War, The Paper Chase, Monotonix, Think About Life, Numbers, and more.

Their upcoming full length A Year’s Supply Of Rabbit’s Feet will be released by Popsick Records on November 19th, 2010. At 11 songs in length, the album is darker and more deliberate than previous releases, and sees the band further experimenting with dynamics. A Year's Supply Of Rabbit's Feet continues with the pummelling, angular tracks that are TGB’s signature (“Kingdom”, “Ugly Thoughts” and “Thread”), but this time around they’ve also experimented with some more subdued, melodic instrumentation (“Dead Ends” and “Pulling Teeth”).

Discography
2010 - A Year’s Supply Of Rabbit’s Feet / Popsick Records
2008 - Treading Water Blowing Smoke EP / Popsick Records
2007 - Movement EP / Self Release
2006 - Tight 3inch Single / Self Release
2005 - We Like Accidents! EP / Self Release

Compilations
2008 - “Sleepers” - Fuck You Toronto Compilation / Haggard Beast Records

Videography
2006 - “No Thief” - Directed by Scott Cudmore

KAREN CALDICOTT


Photo credit Matt Aarvold

Karen Caldicott is from England. She is a sculptor/illustrator, who lives and works in Upstate New York. Once upon a time she would ride her bike over the Williamsburg bridge to Manhattan to deliver illustration assignments that were strapped to her back. Now she is happy that the internet allows her to live in the middle of the woods, miles from any where. When not modeling clay heads for the likes of New York magazine, The New York Times, TIME and many other major US publications, she can be found gardening or gathering wood for her pot belly stove. She's a dab hand with the 2 chain-saws she owns and also with her pool cue, (eight ball being her preferred game). She misses her old pool table from her Brooklyn loft days but instead of riding bikes through the crowded cavernous NY streets, she rides through the corn fields and serene and windy lanes of Columbia County: horse country. She lives with 3 cats and has a nice boyfriend who visits from the big city.

http://karencaldicott.com/
http://littleclaybits.blogspot.com/
http://www.dripbook.com/caldicott/splash/


When did you first decide to become an illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

From my early childhood, once the realization set in that I wasn’t going to be a professional athlete or pop singer, I knew I’d end up being an artist of some kind. However it wasn’t until I received my first commission, (a book jacket), soon after graduating from the Royal College of Art, that it sunk in, that yes, I could make a living doing this thing I loved. Those days my work was very painterly and loose. I hadn’t much idea how it might be applied in the commercial world, so receiving that call for my first job was pivotal.

This was the late eighties, and obviously before websites etc. I would walk around London with a portfolio that was so large it would barely fit in the elevators. I carried the same book across the Atlantic and walked the streets of New York with it.




Who or what inspires you?

In my early college days I was very easily influenced, Philip Guston and Jean Dubuffet come to mind. My work went through all periods, shamelessly unsure of my own voice..... It took a while, but I got there in the end, I think.

Inspiration or ideas at least, comes from a whole manner of things: for instance, my daily walk through the woods to the top of the hill (I live in a very rustic, rural setting), or my trips to NY City and a ride on the subway.

If I had to name just one illustrator who’s surely an inspiration to a lot of us its Mr Christoph Neiman, his work is just so damn smart.




Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

On my sixteenth birthday, I left home and began what would become 8 years of stumbling, bumbling and in the end learning... something at least. Luckily, way Back then in the UK, the government paid students to go to college!

The first 2 years of the Loughborough foundation course were the most intense schooling of my life ( I often think how it might be wonderful to redo them) 10 hour days, drawing, drawing, drawing.

Some times drawing in rooms blacked out, the only light source on the subject (a naked body) being a single candle. Other times work would be ripped up and thrown out of windows, humiliation being the order of the day.

After “foundation” I moved to North London's Hornsey school of art, a fine liberal institution who's walls were the historic Alexander Palace, which sat on top a large hill surrounded by park land. Attendance however was not required, you were left to your own resources which was fun for 3 years.

Before moving on to the Royal College of Art in London for my Masters degree I took a year off traveling through-out Europe and Asia, all the time filling sketch book after sketch book.





How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

I’ve gone through numerous reinvention's from simple line drawing to loose painting, it wasn’t until many years after college that I even began to investigate the possibilities of 3 dimensional illustration. Now I continue to keep my self fresh by constantly refining this process. Perhaps this Joey Ramone bust (for Rolling Stone 2000) illustrates how my process has developed over the years.




What are some of your current projects?

For the first time one of my clay busts is being transformed in to a bronze. Its been an exciting process and I’m now looking forward to producing many of my previous celebrity clay busts as limited edition bronzes.

Recently I've also been making clay objects and clay words, it’s not only portraiture that receives the plasticine treatment.







Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

I would say the year long project for New York magazine was up to this date, the best job I ever had, thanks to (then) creative director Luke Hayman, I was commissioned to make a celebrity portrait in clay, weekly for a year.... more than 50 heads, each one in 7 or 8 different poses. A lot of clay! They ran as small spots that accompanied the listings pages at the back of the magazine, the characters would be seen enjoying a night out (dressed in evening ware) dining out (clay food props included) or just hanging out enjoying the city. Making a clay bust under such a tight deadline, pushed me to work very efficiently.







Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that
you have yet to try?

I'd like to be able to make these characters move and talk, I’ve delved in to stop motion claymation but I would like to take this much further, a short feature would be nice. I’d also love to get in to advertising; my heads would enjoy that!





Any advice to the novice illustrator?

Find your voice and then keep at it, never give up, push your self hard and then harder.




What makes an illustration successful?

It should stop you in your tracks, wow you, make you want to rip it out the publication and keep it in your cupboard, or at least provoke a Google search.




What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

No worries there, the thought of the alternative, a regular job, should keep any one motivated. I'm lucky in that I’ve never had one of those errrr.. 9 till 5 things, but I’ve come close!




Finish this sentence. "If I weren't an illustrator I would have been a..."

soccer player.” If I’d been a child of the 80’s instead of the 1880’s I could have been a contender.





And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

All things football... English premier league, champions League etc. If I lived in Europe this would be prime time tv viewing, as it is, my prime time occurs over breakfast or lunch.


Photo credit Matt Aarvold