tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18673289642601209502024-03-14T01:59:10.343+00:00Jemima Lee - Artist's JournalI am the all-singing, all-dancing crap of this worldJemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-67431236106203866502011-08-06T18:37:00.008+01:002011-08-06T18:53:46.685+01:00Exaggerated SeriesFiller post, by nature. Just thought I'd post some of my most recent work: a small series of caricatures of myself, my boyfriend and my sister...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXDS_DUL3rw/Tj18mQvHYiI/AAAAAAAAArs/KdXJ0fYLjKY/s1600/jem1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXDS_DUL3rw/Tj18mQvHYiI/AAAAAAAAArs/KdXJ0fYLjKY/s320/jem1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637799305307185698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeV8JI02pMY/Tj18mK3fS7I/AAAAAAAAArk/_Hneg0-FWsU/s1600/dan1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeV8JI02pMY/Tj18mK3fS7I/AAAAAAAAArk/_Hneg0-FWsU/s320/dan1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637799303731694514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6j0sC7MxCE8/Tj18l5w1zEI/AAAAAAAAArc/7AEig7wcvms/s1600/bex1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6j0sC7MxCE8/Tj18l5w1zEI/AAAAAAAAArc/7AEig7wcvms/s320/bex1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637799299140406338" /></a><br />Hoping to add my brothers and maybe my parents/friends to this series. I've finally finished uni and am free to do as I please until I can get a job, haha! Moving into a Bungalow soon too, so it's busy times for Jemmy. Still, I'll be doing some work for a friend of mine and his business, so that'll hopefully bring some money in. Until them I'm free for commissions, but am working on starting up a professional business: calling cards, stickers, postcards, felties etc... also hoping to show up to some conventions with my work within the next year.<br /><br />Blogs on the way:<br /><br />+ Kapow! Comic Con<br />+ Highgate Cemetery (and other photos)<br />+ Liverpool Tattoo Convention<br />+ Manchester MCM Expo<br /><br />In the meantime, here's my latest avatar(d):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UVncSxoug8/Tj1-H_Yq8uI/AAAAAAAAAr0/K2cU_nkjfGA/s1600/jemavatar.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UVncSxoug8/Tj1-H_Yq8uI/AAAAAAAAAr0/K2cU_nkjfGA/s320/jemavatar.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637800984276824802" /></a><br />Finally (I promise), I've given my <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/~JemimaLee">FanFiction.net</a> account a serious make-over and joined <a href="http://www.fictionpress.com/~jemimalee">FictionPress.com</a>, so if you're interested in reading some of my written work, both fan and original, just click on the links! :)Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-25573775203550839832011-04-12T15:38:00.005+01:002011-04-12T15:54:52.595+01:00More Character Designage!: Bluey and DomNot much explaination needed for this post, assuming you've read my <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2011/04/character-designage-blue-and-dom.html">earlier one</a>.<br /><br />Here's some more examples of my character design process. I basically draw, and draw, and draw the characters until they start to gradually look on-model in each drawing. I don't think I'm quite there yet, but having all the images nearby helps to keep my characters looking fairly similar in most pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5VoG-a5_fc/TaRkvLgxxkI/AAAAAAAAAqs/s44NTk-lK_s/s1600/dom2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5VoG-a5_fc/TaRkvLgxxkI/AAAAAAAAAqs/s44NTk-lK_s/s320/dom2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707398807897666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2FozyaWGl4/TaRkup9SiDI/AAAAAAAAAqk/cl43kmLK_Io/s1600/dom3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2FozyaWGl4/TaRkup9SiDI/AAAAAAAAAqk/cl43kmLK_Io/s320/dom3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707389800679474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLkPNk9CG2Q/TaRkuDRGzZI/AAAAAAAAAqc/0s34ddP6stc/s1600/dom4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLkPNk9CG2Q/TaRkuDRGzZI/AAAAAAAAAqc/0s34ddP6stc/s320/dom4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707379414814098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cR7jydB1ITY/TaRkt1u5bbI/AAAAAAAAAqU/Qxpg-Wi3UtY/s1600/bluey%2Band%2Bdom1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cR7jydB1ITY/TaRkt1u5bbI/AAAAAAAAAqU/Qxpg-Wi3UtY/s320/bluey%2Band%2Bdom1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707375781670322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YKmvnD745cE/TaRktXQ4TZI/AAAAAAAAAqM/ggKG1TvpeNo/s1600/bluey%2Band%2Bdom2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YKmvnD745cE/TaRktXQ4TZI/AAAAAAAAAqM/ggKG1TvpeNo/s320/bluey%2Band%2Bdom2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707367602703762" /></a><br />As an added bonus, some Blue and Dom trivia for you:<br /><br />Bluey's real name is unknown, as is her entire background. As her friend, Dom accepts that she's insanely secretive and he doesn't pry. Maybe I'll give her a name and a back story eventually. Or maybe I already have. Who knows?<br /><br />Dom's second name is James and, as mentioned before, he was born in America, more specifically in California. He spent his childhood surfing and playing on the beach in summer, until his parents moved him and his three older siblings to the UK, for a life of rain, rain and... more rain. Dom is really homesick, and particularly proud of his West Coast heritage, which he doesn't shut up about.<br /><br />Until next time, check out this <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2011/04/bluey-and-dom-comic-preview.html">comic preview</a> featuring my little muses.Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-16029369673143149962011-04-12T15:30:00.003+01:002011-04-12T15:35:49.983+01:00Bluey and Dom comic previewHere's a preview of a short Bluey and Dom comic I've done today. Still umming and ahhing over whether to colour it, or just add shading. Also, the speech bubbles here are only temporary. Any constructive critique would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMHd1OTIBAI/TaRiMWyCDcI/AAAAAAAAAqE/c_SDMX6Z_7o/s1600/preview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMHd1OTIBAI/TaRiMWyCDcI/AAAAAAAAAqE/c_SDMX6Z_7o/s320/preview.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594704601514380738" /></a>Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-26161089407572392552011-04-01T19:23:00.003+01:002011-04-01T19:43:18.307+01:00Character Designage!: Blue and DomWow, it appears I may have something relevant to talk about for once: my artwork!<br /><br />I don't usually post my pictures for fear of theives, bandits and ruffians making off with my goods, but then again, I need to get my work out there somehow.<br /><br />Bluey and Dominic are two characters I came up with when I was about fourteen, as a way to vent my teen-angst. Since then, I haven't really been able to put them down, because I love them so.<br /><br />Dominic is shy, sweet, adorable, and always looks ill. He's a bit of a pervert too, as his hormones generally run his life. Girls love him, women want to mother him, guys want to kick his pathetic arse. Oh, and he's a yanky-doodle, because I love Californian surfer dudes :)<br /><br />Bluey on the other hand is his polar opposite; loud, obnoxious, promiscuous as hell (kind of a lovable slut), and a bit of a tough cookie. But underneath she can be nice sometimes, and she's ferociously loyal, unlike Dom who's cheated once or twice.<br /><br />The pair are best mates and get up to all sorts of shenanigans, though I can't think of any off the top of my head... except an old Legend of Zelda Cosplay comic that I'm going to re-boot at some point.<br /><br />Anyway, there's a brief description of them both. Enjoy the doodles:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-ogMl9hBXU/TZYYuHyzzmI/AAAAAAAAAp0/5cjFcZx7ZMs/s1600/bluey1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-ogMl9hBXU/TZYYuHyzzmI/AAAAAAAAAp0/5cjFcZx7ZMs/s320/bluey1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683168072257122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1lQhnAAAlg/TZYYthUI5tI/AAAAAAAAAps/hai_iz3FWuo/s1600/bluey2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1lQhnAAAlg/TZYYthUI5tI/AAAAAAAAAps/hai_iz3FWuo/s320/bluey2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683157743068882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJmmxYstkD4/TZYYtEN4xtI/AAAAAAAAApk/lE85Zw_8Upg/s1600/bluey3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJmmxYstkD4/TZYYtEN4xtI/AAAAAAAAApk/lE85Zw_8Upg/s320/bluey3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683149932218066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIWq_asAiBw/TZYYsl-74bI/AAAAAAAAApc/70mspfvvMZc/s1600/bluey4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIWq_asAiBw/TZYYsl-74bI/AAAAAAAAApc/70mspfvvMZc/s320/bluey4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683141816443314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zmjR7Jv6AQ8/TZYYr6UIFtI/AAAAAAAAApU/In4mmNzeT2o/s1600/bluey5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zmjR7Jv6AQ8/TZYYr6UIFtI/AAAAAAAAApU/In4mmNzeT2o/s320/bluey5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590683130094163666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXh4Jzl3Ncc/TZYbmslJj9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/ryC8fjCnhtM/s1600/dom1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXh4Jzl3Ncc/TZYbmslJj9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/ryC8fjCnhtM/s320/dom1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590686339043004370" /></a><br />You'll have noticed there's only one page for Dom, and that's because this is basically everything I've done today. More Dom to follow, and also I'll be designing tattoos for them both.<br /><br />The idea behind these character sheets is to give me a solid (or thereabouts) basis for them when I'm drawing them in comics and illustrations. It also helps me get to know them a bit better, since they've been on the shelf for a while. Anyhoo, as you can see I like to play around with shapes: Blue is mostly soft shapes and curves, because she's so laid-back and fancy free. Meanwhile, Dom is made up of straight lines and angles, because he's rigid as hell and always stressed... aha! See what I did there? Always gotta think about these things in character design.<br /><br />The whole shapes idea also helps to emphasize the opposites between the pair, and also the size difference (Dom is a good head taller than Bluey-the-shortarse).<br /><br />*sigh* How I love character design! :) I'll post some more soon, and hopefully I'll soon have some of my other comic characters Morgue, Gor and Demon Bob. Imagine that...Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-20178656260613854222011-03-20T15:29:00.007+00:002011-03-20T16:04:03.947+00:00Shouldn't really be playing games, buuuut...Having a blog is handy for bragging about things, sharing your dirtiest laundry with the world and spreading juicy rumors like <span style="font-style:italic;">“I think my brother is gay because he’s currently dancing around in my sister’s silky green underwear…”</span><br /><br />But having a blog is also a great way to tell people how awesome things are: like my boyfriend, for example.<br /><br />My wonderful, selfless Dan has gone and spent a whoppingly unnecessary amount on me for our two-year anniversary. Whilst most women will mope over jewellery, clothes and other boring things, Dan has gone a bought me a 3DS!<br /><br />Now, don’t get me wrong, I love him to bits anyway, and I’d still be with him without an anniversary present. The reason I feel the need to sing about this is because of the sweet way he was going to surprise me, and because considering we’re both trying to save up for a trip to New Zealand, this is a pretty big commitment. And for me, it’s also the first time I’ve ever had a brand new console bought for me (my dad used to nick second-hand consoles from his squaddie mates. I’m <span style="font-style:italic;">seriously</span> not kidding).<br /><br />So it may sound materialistic and shit, but I couldn’t really care less. It’s no different from some ditzy bitch drooling over a diamond ring. We’re both really looking forward to Thursday now, for the midnight launch of the 3DS, and the Friday, when we’ll spend all day playing on them.<br /><br />Now I have to come up with something extra special for Dan, with very little money. And if I can’t return the favour this year, then I will someday, when I’m loaded…<br /><br />And so dear friends, this week I leave you with this image:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xmdij5sClQ/TYYlNxIq5YI/AAAAAAAAApM/mby9fFZFaEk/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 170px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xmdij5sClQ/TYYlNxIq5YI/AAAAAAAAApM/mby9fFZFaEk/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586193306257909122" /></a><br />Ignoring the obvious spelling errors there, you read right, fellow nerds. A <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDCZX5b8Q6s">Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright crossover</a>... I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a game, including Phantom Hourglass. I literally started shaking.<br /><br />I mean the only thing that could beat this would be Legend of Zelda meets Another Code, with Kyle Hyde thrown in for good measure, vs. Layton PHD and Ace Attorney! It’d be some kind of badass mystery/puzzle-solving, action, adventure, save the Princess, “j’accuse!” hybrid…<br /><br />I’m getting ahead of myself though (assuming you understood anything of what I just said). For the moment, Layton vs. Wright is set for a Japanese release only. However, I hold faith that America and the UK will get their hands on the game eventually, seeing as how popular the two franchises are here in the West. If not, I’ll learn Japanese just to play it.<br /><br />Personally, I’m a much bigger fan of Phoenix Wright; it’s witty dialogue, absurd mysteries (ghosts as murderers?!) and insanely likeable characters are what I keep returning for. The banter between Nick and Maya always makes me laugh. However, I’ve recently warmed up to Layton too, having completed Curious Village after about four years. I love the endless puzzles and I adore the animation, and whilst I often want to kick Luke-cockney-brat-Triton in the teeth, the Professor himself is pretty damn cool.<br /><br />This crossover also means that, for the first time ever, Phoenix Wright is going to be fully animated and talking! Having spent the last decade or so in Link-like silence, I’m really excited about this.<br /><br />So yeah, that’s my geek-out-of-the-week.<br /><br />Until next time!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-24783521784099362272011-03-16T17:38:00.005+00:002011-03-16T18:14:16.545+00:00Feltie Goodness!After a busy week at Creative Futures (more on that in my next post), I was pretty much done with lectures, and looking forward to the practical side of the <a href="http://www.feltmistress.com/#">Felt Mistress</a> workshop.<br /><br />I got the feeling that it would be a very simplified workshop, seeing as how detailed the work of Louise Evans (The Felt Mistress) is; I knew we’d never get anything so extravagant done in a few hours!<br /><br />However, I was really impressed with the results, and how well a lot of the felties turned out, despite the time limit. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that we all skipped lunch and worked straight on into the afternoon. But we were enjoying ourselves – even those who had never sewn before seemed to be having loads of fun discovering a new craft.<br /><br />As for me, I’ve sewn before, on and off, but the majority of what I’ve made in the past has turned out well. At the moment I’m currently working through a book I received as a Christmas Present: the awesomely cute <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844485919/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0740797646&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1TK8GPBDFMBYECSJMS8W">Zombie Felties.</a> Ironically, Louise mentioned that the same people who created this book are working on bringing one out for her. So I’ll be keeping my bug-eyes open for that.<br /><br />Here are my first two creations, Ramone the mummy, who unfortunately lost one of his beady eyes. I managed to reattach it by nailing the poor bugger to my pinboard. Somehow I don’t think he minds, being dead anyway:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czRuXkNBvRg/TYD8xKMV2nI/AAAAAAAAAos/-vjDGKT74EE/s1600/163016_490885073278_664618278_5787795_8098154_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czRuXkNBvRg/TYD8xKMV2nI/AAAAAAAAAos/-vjDGKT74EE/s200/163016_490885073278_664618278_5787795_8098154_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584741459419322994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_ob44Td5d4/TYD8xB2hoGI/AAAAAAAAAok/pgRKLKcBKX8/s1600/166464_490885238278_664618278_5787798_5357534_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_ob44Td5d4/TYD8xB2hoGI/AAAAAAAAAok/pgRKLKcBKX8/s200/166464_490885238278_664618278_5787798_5357534_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584741457180336226" /></a><br />And Cujo, the zombie puppy, who now sits proudly on my boyfriend’s shelf:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FB4Pa6PZViY/TYD86zZQ1uI/AAAAAAAAAo8/izGr9_assLI/s1600/167779_491273948278_664618278_5793400_7660554_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FB4Pa6PZViY/TYD86zZQ1uI/AAAAAAAAAo8/izGr9_assLI/s200/167779_491273948278_664618278_5793400_7660554_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584741625098196706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TxbBFVdlfo/TYD86yQC1sI/AAAAAAAAAo0/FEX8DEIIOLw/s1600/168530_491273588278_664618278_5793391_2381287_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TxbBFVdlfo/TYD86yQC1sI/AAAAAAAAAo0/FEX8DEIIOLw/s200/168530_491273588278_664618278_5793391_2381287_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584741624791094978" /></a><br />These teeny tiny felties are no bigger than the palm of my hand, so working on a larger feltie in Louise’s workshop (and without glue!) was a little daunting. But once I got into it, I remembered how relaxing sewing is, and how adept I am at it… perhaps there’s something I can utilize there…<br /><br />Here’s my finished monster:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFIoa-sWv18/TYD7GWblgXI/AAAAAAAAAoM/T5h59_WtZ58/s1600/IMG_3436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFIoa-sWv18/TYD7GWblgXI/AAAAAAAAAoM/T5h59_WtZ58/s200/IMG_3436.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584739624458486130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zzcf9JjfaE/TYD6timp7vI/AAAAAAAAAoE/SWyTzXM4R6k/s1600/IMG_3451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zzcf9JjfaE/TYD6timp7vI/AAAAAAAAAoE/SWyTzXM4R6k/s200/IMG_3451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584739198229409522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wiOIdq9K490/TYD6SMKPFXI/AAAAAAAAAn8/yYOHz6yRlNQ/s1600/IMG_3450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wiOIdq9K490/TYD6SMKPFXI/AAAAAAAAAn8/yYOHz6yRlNQ/s200/IMG_3450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584738728348161394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-zdIOBEM3g/TYD55HyXamI/AAAAAAAAAn0/3ZfaYMoD2kI/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-zdIOBEM3g/TYD55HyXamI/AAAAAAAAAn0/3ZfaYMoD2kI/s200/IMG_3448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584738297677572706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhPRihaB0iU/TYD5X4VAHqI/AAAAAAAAAnk/Xfty-b0Dcqs/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhPRihaB0iU/TYD5X4VAHqI/AAAAAAAAAnk/Xfty-b0Dcqs/s200/IMG_3453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584737726592196258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hGU5F7ii6M/TYD5YHB826I/AAAAAAAAAns/GtD49YRcvyI/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hGU5F7ii6M/TYD5YHB826I/AAAAAAAAAns/GtD49YRcvyI/s200/IMG_3452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584737730538822562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QNsDeNSCpLY/TYD4h_xir4I/AAAAAAAAAnc/8W9r_9j4RdU/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QNsDeNSCpLY/TYD4h_xir4I/AAAAAAAAAnc/8W9r_9j4RdU/s200/IMG_3454.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584736800878014338" /></a><br />I call her Kimi, as I wanted her to look as though she’d belong in Japan. Her hair was made from a beard template, and her tummy is a nose piece. Her buns were meant to be horns, and I added the ribbons, butterflies and flower-bellybutton for funsies. I also gave her some fingernails and rosy cheeks for added girlieness. I’m pretty chuffed with how she came out, and surprised, considering I wasn’t able to cheat with glue. I also learned a new stitch, the Blanket Stitch, which I used to sew her body up.<br /><br />As for the Felt Mistress herself, she was really cool. Friendly and chatty, I found her to be very encouraging. Her work is really unique and, above all, adorable! Perhaps it comes from her working with her partner, illustrator <a href="http://www.jonathan-e.com/#">Jonathan Edwards.</a> I’d come across Edwards before and love his bold, funky characters.<br /><br />Can’t help feeling that perhaps PIXAR should hire these two to work on Monsters Inc. 2, as their combined style would make for some really interesting character designs and plushies. Plus, imagine how badass a Felt Mistress-style Sully toy would be!<br /><br />Anyway, I’m hoping to carry on with making felties and, given enough time, I’d like to make two plushies of my Morgue & Gor characters for my final year show.<br /><br />In the meantime, check out my little flower pin cushion that I made:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsTv5D1Wj1I/TYD78-0lu6I/AAAAAAAAAoc/8Ur5mvcz6Yo/s1600/pin%2Bcushion%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsTv5D1Wj1I/TYD78-0lu6I/AAAAAAAAAoc/8Ur5mvcz6Yo/s200/pin%2Bcushion%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584740563013712802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdJvhvo2OeE/TYD78nZuuxI/AAAAAAAAAoU/_pWa3x5STIw/s1600/pin%2Bcushion%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdJvhvo2OeE/TYD78nZuuxI/AAAAAAAAAoU/_pWa3x5STIw/s200/pin%2Bcushion%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584740556727040786" /></a><br />I have some gorgeous Chinese fabric lying around and needed a pin cushion for my humble sewing box (I call in humble because it’s half empty). Using a book I’d bought a while ago, the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/S-W-Sew-Everything-Workshop/dp/0761139737/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300299185&sr=1-1">S.E.W. Workshop</a>, I was able to churn this out in about an hour. Although it went all kinds of wrong, I’m pretty chuffed with it. I think sewn things are much better when they’re obviously handmade. And luckily I had a little Lady Bug bead hanging around to emphasise that it is in fact a flower, and not a deformed blob!<br /><br />Hopefully, with some practice, I’ll be able to use the rest of this Chinese fabric to make a dress or skirt, as it’s too beautiful to be stuffed in a bag at the bottom of my wardrobe.<br /><br />Anyway, I’d recommend both the Zombie Felties and the S.E.W. Workshop books to anyone wanting to learn the basics of sewing, as they’re both incredibly easy to use, colourful and fun. Also, you might want to check out a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternacrafts-Hi-style-Lo-budget-Projects-Make/dp/1584794569/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300299219&sr=1-1">Alternacrafts</a>, which also features sewn projects, but also has a lot of other creative and simple crafts for you to try. Plus, it’s recycling, so win-win!<br /><br />And obviously, check out the websites and work of both Felt Mistress and Jonathan Edwards. Really inspiring stuff!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-56406867711470362042011-03-13T14:56:00.019+00:002011-03-14T01:44:19.628+00:00Manchester Tattoo ShowLast weekend, my boyfriend and I went to our second tattoo show (the first being <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2011/02/brighton-tattoo-convention.html">Brighton for my birthday</a>). This time, however, it was a lot closer to home, in <a href="http://web.me.com/ajp81/Tattoo_Show/Welcome.html">Manchester.</a> Initially I was planning to go via train, on my own, and only for the Saturday, as Dan and I are saving up for a working holiday and are trying to reduce our spending.<br /><br />But by some miracle of the Gods, we won a pair of two-day passes from <a href="http://tattoorevolution.wordpress.com/">Tattoo Revolution magazine</a> – thank you, you marvellous, marvellous people!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Odd, but wonderful side note: this is the third competition we’ve won in the last four months. Just goes to show that if you enter things, you do actually have a bloody good chance of winning!</span><br /><br />So, happily, I was able to take my boyfriend along with me, we were able to drive and park in Manchester for free, and we went for both days. We saved even more money by taking packed lunches (like primary-school-style.)<br /><br />Here is Dan looking pleased with himself…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLdgn8xCIbM/TXzs9lvyt8I/AAAAAAAAAkM/HCyuGiUMqNs/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLdgn8xCIbM/TXzs9lvyt8I/AAAAAAAAAkM/HCyuGiUMqNs/s200/IMG_3408.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583598180881315778" /></a><br />Anyway, this show was by far a lot more fun than Brighton. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Brighton – the seaside, the atmosphere, the endless body mods, cupcakes and candies – but for some reason I felt more relaxed in Manchester.<br /><br />For it’s 10th Anniversary, the show took place in the Central Exhibition Centre, a place I’d visited before when I went to the Manchester Stitch and Creative Crafts show. Whilst the crafts show utilized the entirety of the exhibition centre, the tattoo show only used about half of it, making it a much smaller event than Brighton.<br /><br />However, it was far more spacious, with better lighting and a larger stage area for the competitions. There was also music playing over the venue from Rock radio, which was pretty awesome. I later learned from some tattooists that they kept repeating the same songs over and over, and it was annoying those who had to sit there for hours on end.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dr3PPMtAtbA/TXzxh_uqU_I/AAAAAAAAAk8/WTKkDis8cc8/s1600/IMG_3319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dr3PPMtAtbA/TXzxh_uqU_I/AAAAAAAAAk8/WTKkDis8cc8/s200/IMG_3319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583603204377695218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kvME6oDxaU/TXzzfbeEvAI/AAAAAAAAAlc/SD11jvBYHrE/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kvME6oDxaU/TXzzfbeEvAI/AAAAAAAAAlc/SD11jvBYHrE/s200/IMG_3337.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583605359307963394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dsgb8ksVzM/TXzzfKhJb0I/AAAAAAAAAlU/2UidtE7nOy0/s1600/IMG_3336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dsgb8ksVzM/TXzzfKhJb0I/AAAAAAAAAlU/2UidtE7nOy0/s200/IMG_3336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583605354757451586" /></a><br />There were a few things missing from Manchester, that weren’t at Brighton: live bands, seminars, scarification, an art gallery… On the other hand, they made up for it with a hoard of Harley Davidson Motorbikes on display, several more international and traditional tattooists, a piercer from Affleck’s Palace and tonnes more free sweets from most of the stalls (I’m a sucker for free stuff).<br /><br />Here's me planning to steal a bike...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYmvS7clFUE/TXzs9awTuFI/AAAAAAAAAkE/m5HssMIjEfU/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYmvS7clFUE/TXzs9awTuFI/AAAAAAAAAkE/m5HssMIjEfU/s200/IMG_3405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583598177930688594" /></a><br />So after taking hoards of pictures, which you can check out below, I really enjoyed myself. And so did Dan. We stopped by the Tattoo Revolution stand to thank Alex Guest for our tickets, checked out some of the competitions, and I came home with two new piercings from Quincey the Piercer, taking my body shrapnel count up to fourteen – twenty by the end of the year I hope!<br /><br />And whilst there were no cupcakes for sale, there was something called <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_118590698207120">The Cupcake Club</a>. Now, I loved this, and had I not wanted to have my first tattoo be a design of my own I would have gotten one there and then. The idea behind The Cupcake Club is that you have a tattoo of a cupcake, and the money goes to the Help For Heroes Charity. Whilst some people were having large, customized cupcakes, I couldn’t help but admire the tiny £30 cupcake designs on display. I was eyeing up a lemon cupcake, a cupcake with spider legs, and a “bleeding” cupcake with a dagger protruding from it. These tattoos were no bigger than a 50p piece and were really cute. I’m hoping for The Cupcake Club to show up at the <a href="http://www.tattooconvention.co.uk/">Liverpool Tattoo Convention</a> in May, as I’d love to get one!<br /><br />I stopped by the <a href="http://www.vividtattooarts.co.uk/meet_jon.html">Vivid Tattoo Arts</a> stall to watch my friend Sam getting scrawled on by Jonny Handsome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvtgyrA0Ggc/TX1TJJurawI/AAAAAAAAAnU/1T9tVebJkZs/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvtgyrA0Ggc/TX1TJJurawI/AAAAAAAAAnU/1T9tVebJkZs/s200/IMG_3423.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583710529704913666" /></a><br />I couldn’t help but coo over Cathy Sue’s artwork either. Her sketchbook was full of colourful punky chicks, and her style along the lines of what I would like to do. I managed to sneak a photo of her working too:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd67L7KCmXo/TXzdvtqQMlI/AAAAAAAAAj8/znJ__jRwEq8/s1600/IMG_3419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd67L7KCmXo/TXzdvtqQMlI/AAAAAAAAAj8/znJ__jRwEq8/s200/IMG_3419.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583581449812980306" /></a><br />Sam showed me some of his work, two by Miss Sue:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsM9LJMMF6o/TXzduy-cF9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/CjftYQ_irsQ/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsM9LJMMF6o/TXzduy-cF9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/CjftYQ_irsQ/s200/IMG_3374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583581434059954130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TQbyIWuo9w/TXzdugN74fI/AAAAAAAAAjc/_hxWu6Bog2c/s1600/IMG_3373.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TQbyIWuo9w/TXzdugN74fI/AAAAAAAAAjc/_hxWu6Bog2c/s200/IMG_3373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583581429024678386" /></a><br />And work by Jonny:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j4x3_DYEFIo/TXzdvF3zR4I/AAAAAAAAAj0/8KTXq8dTM6o/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j4x3_DYEFIo/TXzdvF3zR4I/AAAAAAAAAj0/8KTXq8dTM6o/s200/IMG_3376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583581439132387202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LTWGqQrCgnU/TXzdvMuX-kI/AAAAAAAAAjs/YHpB4tswvAk/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LTWGqQrCgnU/TXzdvMuX-kI/AAAAAAAAAjs/YHpB4tswvAk/s200/IMG_3375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583581440971897410" /></a><br />Whilst there were a huge number of fantastic artists working that day, I only managed to photograph a few of them. However, take a look at this awesome selection of artwork:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3IrPwU_7YE/TX1LeC1BCjI/AAAAAAAAAmE/3i7da3VwKRI/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3IrPwU_7YE/TX1LeC1BCjI/AAAAAAAAAmE/3i7da3VwKRI/s200/IMG_3369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583702092536678962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ORCK7x9l5yE/TX1LeFFVsbI/AAAAAAAAAl8/VykNkMRyp1Y/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ORCK7x9l5yE/TX1LeFFVsbI/AAAAAAAAAl8/VykNkMRyp1Y/s200/IMG_3361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583702093142012338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-umKq_7--UHM/TX1Ldze1JwI/AAAAAAAAAl0/tBxx6CQHRgM/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-umKq_7--UHM/TX1Ldze1JwI/AAAAAAAAAl0/tBxx6CQHRgM/s200/IMG_3357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583702088417093378" /></a><br />Dan Gold:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aAhaTLmfCHY/TX1LdpwY5LI/AAAAAAAAAls/bNBngt3kTrE/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aAhaTLmfCHY/TX1LdpwY5LI/AAAAAAAAAls/bNBngt3kTrE/s200/IMG_3353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583702085806384306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4mav1GjRj4/TX1LdTYSVAI/AAAAAAAAAlk/MahiVclP59s/s1600/IMG_3338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4mav1GjRj4/TX1LdTYSVAI/AAAAAAAAAlk/MahiVclP59s/s200/IMG_3338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583702079799710722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3Cw4zcuuuY/TXzwkE9BNbI/AAAAAAAAAk0/t4vZBRREX1Y/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3Cw4zcuuuY/TXzwkE9BNbI/AAAAAAAAAk0/t4vZBRREX1Y/s200/IMG_3311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583602140628202930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6DCejNBlnJY/TXzwjlKfG6I/AAAAAAAAAks/28SDlHDcPPU/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6DCejNBlnJY/TXzwjlKfG6I/AAAAAAAAAks/28SDlHDcPPU/s200/IMG_3310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583602132094753698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2iqet-bmWY/TXzxicryXgI/AAAAAAAAAlM/ZmC5zuEcUOs/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2iqet-bmWY/TXzxicryXgI/AAAAAAAAAlM/ZmC5zuEcUOs/s200/IMG_3333.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583603212150267394" /></a><br />Hayley from AAA Tattoo Studio:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ETQAlwF6g4/TXzxiW4czjI/AAAAAAAAAlE/GqGg9rsJHB8/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ETQAlwF6g4/TXzxiW4czjI/AAAAAAAAAlE/GqGg9rsJHB8/s200/IMG_3322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583603210592767538" /></a><br />Golden Dragon Tattoo Studio:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ2dkBtXF2U/TX1QzsFDE_I/AAAAAAAAAnE/mpibR1dG_bI/s1600/IMG_3431.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ2dkBtXF2U/TX1QzsFDE_I/AAAAAAAAAnE/mpibR1dG_bI/s200/IMG_3431.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583707961945166834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fUQm3jg0eM/TX1Qz-u75gI/AAAAAAAAAnM/XiKi5gXrEYQ/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fUQm3jg0eM/TX1Qz-u75gI/AAAAAAAAAnM/XiKi5gXrEYQ/s200/IMG_3432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583707966952695298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSv3xnhaRYU/TX1QzV2tLAI/AAAAAAAAAm8/rn4TjIVzxiQ/s1600/IMG_3428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSv3xnhaRYU/TX1QzV2tLAI/AAAAAAAAAm8/rn4TjIVzxiQ/s200/IMG_3428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583707955979430914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KBFOPSLTh0/TX1QzDitvvI/AAAAAAAAAm0/G2TK2K__6VQ/s1600/IMG_3427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KBFOPSLTh0/TX1QzDitvvI/AAAAAAAAAm0/G2TK2K__6VQ/s200/IMG_3427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583707951063744242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzCMUqNbxTw/TX1PZaLt1-I/AAAAAAAAAms/C7xsjG5BJ8U/s1600/IMG_3413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzCMUqNbxTw/TX1PZaLt1-I/AAAAAAAAAms/C7xsjG5BJ8U/s200/IMG_3413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583706410953070562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDCUKqyQZ9k/TX1PZD4yldI/AAAAAAAAAmk/b1sSah75YFY/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDCUKqyQZ9k/TX1PZD4yldI/AAAAAAAAAmk/b1sSah75YFY/s200/IMG_3395.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583706404968109522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xqaGF8SKEw/TX1PYwQv68I/AAAAAAAAAmc/BxkFJUrZvGM/s1600/IMG_3390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xqaGF8SKEw/TX1PYwQv68I/AAAAAAAAAmc/BxkFJUrZvGM/s200/IMG_3390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583706399699889090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6k5DTqZmFQM/TX1OSdPqsmI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eZpdwsnbLSA/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6k5DTqZmFQM/TX1OSdPqsmI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eZpdwsnbLSA/s200/IMG_3387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583705192004235874" /></a><br />Body Garden Tattoo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMfchQfirTA/TX1ORzrNCSI/AAAAAAAAAmM/Hpfw6eITHW8/s1600/IMG_3385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMfchQfirTA/TX1ORzrNCSI/AAAAAAAAAmM/Hpfw6eITHW8/s200/IMG_3385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583705180845443362" /></a><br />Check out Richie the Barber, who didn’t mind posing for plenty of photos. Only wish I’d stuck around to see his stage show…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JXY_NOgzVg/TXzcTxg7hRI/AAAAAAAAAjU/2LOZGvICbP8/s1600/IMG_3363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JXY_NOgzVg/TXzcTxg7hRI/AAAAAAAAAjU/2LOZGvICbP8/s200/IMG_3363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583579870299653394" /></a><br /><br />What I love about these conventions is that it’s not just tattoos and piercings; there are also jewellery and clothes stalls, plus places to buy bizarre ornaments and decorative items for your home. I came across these fantastic customized skateboards:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf-H4dVnuLk/TXzs-j4JCLI/AAAAAAAAAkk/7rtam023gWs/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf-H4dVnuLk/TXzs-j4JCLI/AAAAAAAAAkk/7rtam023gWs/s200/IMG_3396.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583598197559330994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkG-dIjlTiI/TXzs-ZErLcI/AAAAAAAAAkc/U1wUBS7t88s/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkG-dIjlTiI/TXzs-ZErLcI/AAAAAAAAAkc/U1wUBS7t88s/s200/IMG_3346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583598194659110338" /></a><br />I absolutely love this sexy cartoon pin-up style, and I’d really love to know who the artist is. If you know, please tell me!<br /><br />I also fell in love with a little store called <a href="http://vampirebunnies.bigcartel.com/">Vampire Bunnies.</a> The girl who owns it specializes in making what I can only describe as the nerdiest clothing line ever, and it was awesome! I found dresses and handbags made with prints of The Little Mermaid, Pokemon, Fairly Odd Parents, among others. And the gal can customize too! I really wish I’d bought one of them now, but I do know that the shop resides in Affleck’s Palace.<br /><br />Typically of tat-cons, there was the usual collection of artist’s sketchbooks, which was handy, as they give me a good idea for what I’m aiming for in my final year project (more on that in the near future).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj_WRx1cKao/TXzs-JEQ9wI/AAAAAAAAAkU/3M2c2qjygyY/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj_WRx1cKao/TXzs-JEQ9wI/AAAAAAAAAkU/3M2c2qjygyY/s200/IMG_3433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583598190362425090" /></a><br />And finally, I can’t go without mentioning the <a href="http://www.chachachilli.co.uk/">Cha Cha Chilli company.</a> This was an odd discovery, but a really cool one, as I absolutely love chilli! I had several free hot-as-hell tasters, and finally decided on a gorgeous fiery coconut sauce, so I can pimp up some chicken. Nice!<br /><br />So there you have it: a great weekend out, and one that really inspired me. Really wish I could go on and mention everyone and everything I saw, but I’d be here forever. I cannot wait for Liverpool now!<br /><br />Until next time (probably this week…)Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-36818899107787350442011-03-11T21:59:00.003+00:002011-03-11T22:09:52.571+00:00"We'll give 'em to Rango!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDeFcr-dlf4/TXqcVZBbcSI/AAAAAAAAAjE/sdvCoNq1s8c/s1600/rango_poster_3_6dbe_517141t.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDeFcr-dlf4/TXqcVZBbcSI/AAAAAAAAAjE/sdvCoNq1s8c/s320/rango_poster_3_6dbe_517141t.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582946579387216162" /></a><br />I try to avoid writing film reviews anymore, only because it takes up quite a lot of my time (something that takes you five minutes to read could take me two hours to write and edit, only because I’m so anal about spelling, grammar, etc.)<br /><br />But I really couldn’t miss the chance to write a quick review (or urgent recommendation) about “Rango”. As always, watch out for possible spoilers…<br /><br />You may or may not have heard about this unusual movie, and that’s why I’m here to tell you “for the love of GOD watch this movie!”<br /><br />The sad fact is that it isn’t Disney, it isn’t Pixar, it isn’t Dreamworks, and that means that not many people are apt to give it a shot. This is a film all of it’s own, something you’ve never seen before, a mental mindfuck, but a gloriously-rendered one that rips of your head off and glues it back on upside down.<br /><br />It tells the story of a Chameleon with an identity crisis, who finds himself in the remote desert town of Dirt, where he adapts the persona Rango: a gun-toting hero. He is quickly made Sheriff of Dirt and given the responsibility of looking for their water supply, which has been vanishing mysteriously.<br /><br />In the meantime - through high-speed bat chases featuring a hilarious rendition of “The Ride of the Valkyries”, insane dream sequences featuring a CGI Clint Eastwood (I think), and madcap theatrical performances - Rango falls for the deadpan, no-nonsense Beans, and comes face to face with Rattlesnake Jake… seriously, this is the most badass friggin’ snake villain ever! Suck it, Jafar. He has a Gatling Gun for a tail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_OOLJk0DMs/TXqcViAlZFI/AAAAAAAAAjM/fWpJv6GmC3Q/s1600/Rattlesnake_Jake_Rango_2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_OOLJk0DMs/TXqcViAlZFI/AAAAAAAAAjM/fWpJv6GmC3Q/s320/Rattlesnake_Jake_Rango_2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582946581799593042" /></a><br />I think the reason this film works so well is that, by usual standards, it doesn’t work at all. The characters are ugly, the setting murky and miserable, the story unheard of… but from a storyteller/character designer’s perspective, this movie is perfect.<br /><br />The characters, those weird, wonderful freaky looking animals are so beautifully crafted! Every one of them looks and acts completely different. It features some of the most amazing character designs I’ve ever seen, and this is coming from someone who isn’t exactly fond of drawing animals.<br /><br />The cinematography is astounding, and often so realistic I had to remind myself it was animated. But what can you expect from the people that worked on Pirates of the Caribbean? Director Gor Verbinski really knows how to make thrilling movies, that’s for true.<br /><br />The voice acting in this movie really brought out something special in each character: Johnny Depp as Rango was his usual charming, quirky self. Isla Fisher struck a chord with me, as Beans was unexpectedly funny, while still being a pretty tough female. But by far the best voice award has to go to Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake. He gave me “slithers” down my spine.<br /><br />Apologies for the above pun.<br /><br />And finally, the music… what can I say really? Hans Zimmer is a leg-end. Just listen to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0dbbUu9Uok">this example.</a> I love it. Gives you a good idea of the rest of the soundtrack. Fast and fun!<br /><br />Saying that however, I feel very strongly that this film should not be aimed and marketed at kids, because it is so much more than just a typical kid’s cartoon. It’s made by people who love and appreciate great animation, great characters, great music and classic storytelling with a twist. And if it doesn’t win Oscar for best animated film next year, I will literally scream, because I really don’t think it can be topped in 2011 (Christ, what have we got to look forward to with “Rio” and “Hop”?)<br /><br />Anyway go see Rango, enjoy it, agree with me, and come back and tell me I was right!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-69838161925311013432011-03-11T20:46:00.007+00:002011-03-11T21:13:29.383+00:00COMPASS Charity Art Exhibit and Auction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qz4SluldR0M/TXqP8aVYBRI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Er6Tko4YY1E/s1600/Compass%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qz4SluldR0M/TXqP8aVYBRI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Er6Tko4YY1E/s320/Compass%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582932956103050514" /></a><br />Anyone who knows me knows I love doing things for charity, whether it’s to help children, babies, animals, baby animals, soldiers, or poor goth girls murdered by chavs. I guess I just think that if someone can live comfortably on £100 a month, they can probably afford to give about 5% to a good cause. Every little helps…<br /><br />So when I spotted an advert in a Liverpool Gallery asking artists to donate work for a charity auction, I jumped at the chance. Not only would I be helping out a good cause, but I could also get my name around a bit, whilst doing something I enjoy. I decided to make it into part of my first Negotiated Study project for University too, with additional paintings to follow later this semester.<br /><br />I produced two pieces:<br /><br />“Violet”, featuring my character Bluey enjoying a bubble-blowing session…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Th6EAXLjB40/TXqPMmRR_JI/AAAAAAAAAis/ZjapXKT15hY/s1600/Compass%2B3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Th6EAXLjB40/TXqPMmRR_JI/AAAAAAAAAis/ZjapXKT15hY/s320/Compass%2B3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582932134673382546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOd6iWkDItw/TXqPMRsTHeI/AAAAAAAAAik/LY95XRGB-60/s1600/Compass%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOd6iWkDItw/TXqPMRsTHeI/AAAAAAAAAik/LY95XRGB-60/s320/Compass%2B2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582932129149558242" /></a><br />…and “Lil Night Music 2.0”, my homage to one of my favourite paintings, Dorothea Tanning’s <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=25977">“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">It felt quite good to have my name up there...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRrDrTne360/TXqPNJxAmnI/AAAAAAAAAi0/DkZIke4-4s4/s1600/Compass%2B4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRrDrTne360/TXqPNJxAmnI/AAAAAAAAAi0/DkZIke4-4s4/s320/Compass%2B4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582932144201702002" /></a><br />The pieces were based around the central theme of human form and emotion. It fitted perfectly with the aim of the charity, <a href="http://www.compass-counselling.org.uk/">COMPASS</a>, which arranges counselling for adults in Merseyside. As a regular sufferer of depression, I found this to be a cause rather close to my heart.<br /><br />The exhibition took place in a little community centre in Liverpool; the walls were decorated with large animal creations by some of the local children, which was adorable. But the artwork to come was immensely good, and I’m only sorry I can’t feature the pieces here (don’t wanna get sued).<br /><br />But I was chuffed to see such a variety of work; my cartoony-stuff next to large-scale tattoo-style paintings, alternative-model photographs, surreal paintings, masks, portraits, life drawing… there was a lot of great work, the only downside being that a lot of them were priced as though they were up in the Tate. I figured with it being an auction in the middle of a small community, and for charity, that a lot of the artists should have lowered their prices, and I was right, as not many of the pricier pieces were sold, which was an awful shame.<br /><br />I, being of modest talent (and little of it), put my pieces up for auction starting at £20 each. So I was terrifically pleased that “Violet” sold to a little family and their daughter for £28, which means at least two people must have been bidding for it! I’d really love to know how they’re getting on with my artwork, so if you bought “Violet” please drop me a message.<br /><br />Unfortunately, “Lil Night Music 2.0” didn’t sell, but I’m not disheartened. I feel the concept was too personal to me, and wouldn’t make sense to anyone who didn’t know the significant details of <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=25977">“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”</a> (the sunflower, the flowing hair, the murky colours…)<br /><br />However, it is still up for sale at £20 (not including p&p). So if you’re interested, please email for enquiries.<br /><br />I can’t finish the blog without mentioning two people. First of all, Kim Jones, who organised the event and managed to raise money for a great cause. Congrads to her!<br /><br />And also, Graham Jones, the photographer behind the exhibition (who I really hope doesn’t mind me posting his pictures here!). He was super friendly, and called me “very photogenic” which was flattering… you can see some of his work on his website <a href="http://www.omegaphotos.co.uk/">here.</a><br /><br />So all in all, a great day for me, I really enjoyed it, and I’m happy that I sold my first piece to what seemed like a loving little family, and for a cause that will hopefully make a difference to somebody’s life someday.<br /><br />Here’s to my next exhibit!<br /><br />FOOTNOTE: Should’ve mentioned this a while ago, but I was lucky to win a drawing competition for <a href="http://www.bizarremag.com/">Bizarre Magazine</a>. The theme was fantasy body-mod, so I went a bit mad and created this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECZ5C4KlgLw/TXqM0-J5d7I/AAAAAAAAAiU/CiI-T1XSM5I/s1600/mod-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECZ5C4KlgLw/TXqM0-J5d7I/AAAAAAAAAiU/CiI-T1XSM5I/s320/mod-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582929529744750514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ihAt-zM24/TXqM1LKQK6I/AAAAAAAAAic/jzeJ1vwvlIE/s1600/bizarre%2Bmag%2Bcomp.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ihAt-zM24/TXqM1LKQK6I/AAAAAAAAAic/jzeJ1vwvlIE/s320/bizarre%2Bmag%2Bcomp.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582929533235899298" /></a><br />The mad Tank Girl-esque chick sports a stretched tongue, triple-pupils, webbed fingers and a cosmetically removed nose. Anyway, it won me a bunch of Bizarre stuff, including bacon-flavoured soda, several weird books about gruesome things, an inflatable baby bottle, a “Gay for Pay” t-shirt and “30 Days of Night” hat that I gave to my boyfriend, couple of magnets and stickers, and a DVD called “Twin Cheeks”. I’ll leave you to figure that one out…Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-26761877249660184562011-02-24T00:42:00.007+00:002011-04-07T17:30:17.705+01:00Brighton Tattoo ConventionWell it’s been a long time since I last wrote anything, and I have much to talk about, so let’s think of a logical (and quick) way to do this…<br /><br />I’m going to divide these next few posts up in order to get a good overview of them all, because I’ve been up to quite a bunch of things these last few months.<br /><br />So I’m starting off with the <a href="http://www.brightontattoo.com/">Brighton Tattoo Convention</a>…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1woSiEedz5E/TWWuDYu0hsI/AAAAAAAAAgk/O46_UARV5C4/s1600/signpost.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1woSiEedz5E/TWWuDYu0hsI/AAAAAAAAAgk/O46_UARV5C4/s320/signpost.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577055086769899202" /></a><br />Deciding to go to this was kind of a last minute thing for me, but I was bombarded with advertisements by Tattoo Revolution magazine and figured “What the heck?” It was around my 22nd birthday and I’d get to spend a few days alone with my boyfriend, ogling tattooed strangers. Hit and a win!<br /><br />First of all, how fantastic is Brighton?! We stayed at the Premier Inn, right smack bang in the middle of everything, and three minutes from a Yo! Sushi, where I inevitably had my birthday meal. We were also less than ten minutes walk from the Odeon too, and went to watch Tangled in the evening, with a bunch of other geeky adults.<br /><br />Anyway, the convention… I’m trying not to jabber too much, because I have so much to talk about, and so little space and time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38c0Fx6KRuQ/TWWsNN-v4pI/AAAAAAAAAf0/prEYiT-makQ/s1600/crowd.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38c0Fx6KRuQ/TWWsNN-v4pI/AAAAAAAAAf0/prEYiT-makQ/s320/crowd.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577053056659350162" /></a><br />This was my first tat-con (yes I’m lazy and thus forth will refer to it as that) so it was extremely overwhelming, both in good terms and bad terms. The good being that I got to see so many shit-hot tattoos, and everyone seemed really friendly. There were cupcakes, and a corset shop and hundreds of free stickers (the cheap-man’s way of covering my sketchbooks). And best of all I got to meet Alex Guest of <a href="http://tattoorevolution.wordpress.com/">Tattoo Revolution Magazine</a>, who turned out to be cooler than I could have imagined, and gave me his business card and a fortune cookie which said I was going to get a pay rise very soon. Cheers Alex!<br /><br />Dan and I also pondered over him getting a tattoo, after we spotted the Bad Bunny Tattoo Studio sketchbook, and fell in love with their quirky new-school drawings. If it hadn’t been for the hefty price tag and my lack of funds, I would have bought the book, but luckily you can still see some of their artwork on their <a href="http://www.badbunnytattoo.com/">website</a>.<br /><br />Of course, there were plenty of juicy pieces of artwork hanging around, as you can see from my eager snaps…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XwIetrYiCOo/TWWuEIjqLTI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Hc7_HQQUpkU/s1600/tat2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XwIetrYiCOo/TWWuEIjqLTI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Hc7_HQQUpkU/s320/tat2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577055099607985458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lit7-gwqoGw/TWWuDkaYbuI/AAAAAAAAAgs/YrMxMgixnVk/s1600/tat1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lit7-gwqoGw/TWWuDkaYbuI/AAAAAAAAAgs/YrMxMgixnVk/s320/tat1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577055089905397474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W84k_ohWh_g/TWW0N8PgFnI/AAAAAAAAAhM/8Xsu-7iGCyE/s1600/tat5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W84k_ohWh_g/TWW0N8PgFnI/AAAAAAAAAhM/8Xsu-7iGCyE/s320/tat5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577061865170671218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wXZgpEydJXI/TWW0N2MpGJI/AAAAAAAAAhE/qImhiqiFujU/s1600/tat4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wXZgpEydJXI/TWW0N2MpGJI/AAAAAAAAAhE/qImhiqiFujU/s320/tat4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577061863548065938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jkIz5Np6t8/TWW0NlEUCwI/AAAAAAAAAg8/cZspZA-viC8/s1600/tat3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jkIz5Np6t8/TWW0NlEUCwI/AAAAAAAAAg8/cZspZA-viC8/s320/tat3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577061858949729026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyYhAVEHp9g/TWW2iGE-8HI/AAAAAAAAAhU/HmxFGqonUYY/s1600/tat6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyYhAVEHp9g/TWW2iGE-8HI/AAAAAAAAAhU/HmxFGqonUYY/s320/tat6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577064410431549554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyGmexXng-k/TWW2iRA6OFI/AAAAAAAAAhc/FNdzTLrgGlE/s1600/trad%2Btat.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyGmexXng-k/TWW2iRA6OFI/AAAAAAAAAhc/FNdzTLrgGlE/s320/trad%2Btat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577064413367253074" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">We even spotted some traditional tattooing!</span><br /><br />The downside to the Saturday was that, for once, instead of sticking out, I basically just disappeared into the crowd. And I felt really insignificant for not having my first tattoo. So I spent much of my birthday feeling sorry for myself, and not paying attention to the fact that I should have been enjoying myself!<br /><br />So after some initial scolding by my boyfriend, we decided to enjoy the Sunday, which we really did! We watched a couple of the Tattoo competitions, oohing and ahhing at some awesome artwork, my favourite of which was a Doc Brown (Back to the Future) tattoo, it made my day.<br /><br />Then, as if by some miracle, Art Historian <a href="http://reading.academia.edu/MattLodder">Matt Lodder</a> presented a seminar about tattoos as art objects, which was not only fascinating in itself, but was also completely relevant to my final year Dissertation! So I listened with rapture, while Dan made a recording, and for the first time that weekend I had the gumption to approach Dr Lodder and talk to him. Far from looking like your usual old-fart art historian, Matt Lodder was a tattooed and pierced young dude who dressed like he’d just jumped out of the ’40’s. He was so incredibly friendly, and offered to help me with my Dissertation (which he did, evidently, but that’s another story).<br /><br />Dan and I spent the rest of the afternoon looking in on <a href="http://www.squidgyart.com/">the Sugar Project</a> (and I wish to God I could bid on one of those!!!), eating chips, and finally landing ourselves in the “cinema” watching <a href="http://horismokumovie.com/">Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry</a>. I’d been meaning to watch this for a while, and I wasn’t disappointed; it’s a hilarious, and often poignant film, about the original old tattoo dude, Norman Keith Collins and his bizarre life. Apparently, the version we saw was the short version (about an hour and a half) so I still have more to see. But if you watch it, keep an eye out for “Crazy” Philadelphia Eddie, he had me giggling every time he was on screen, funny git!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McfwkQ7PhoA/TWWuC2kJX9I/AAAAAAAAAgU/7MbpFyQ6A00/s1600/sailor%2Bjerry.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McfwkQ7PhoA/TWWuC2kJX9I/AAAAAAAAAgU/7MbpFyQ6A00/s320/sailor%2Bjerry.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577055077598322642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOlpIHB7MSY/TWWuDGLpbcI/AAAAAAAAAgc/7iX3Pv96W9A/s1600/sailor%2Bjerry2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOlpIHB7MSY/TWWuDGLpbcI/AAAAAAAAAgc/7iX3Pv96W9A/s320/sailor%2Bjerry2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577055081790533058" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Some stills from the Sailor Jerry Cinema...</span><br /><br />We ended the day on a high note, wandering up to the piercing/branding room where we watched a huge guy have the number 13 burned into his neck (electro-cautery tattooing) by the very talented Quentin from <a href="http://www.kalima.co.uk/">Kalima body piercing studio</a>. We got to talking when he noticed me drooling over pictures of tongue-splitting (seriously, Google that if you don’t know what it is). He told me that he was one of the first people to have the tongue-splitting procedure over here in the UK, and told me about his way of doing it, and how he encourages his clients to really think about the painful body mod. Something which I am doing, after taking his card.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_E8DdZCNRM4/TWWsNvAiKnI/AAAAAAAAAgM/-WdsdH3tfX4/s1600/quentin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_E8DdZCNRM4/TWWsNvAiKnI/AAAAAAAAAgM/-WdsdH3tfX4/s320/quentin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577053065525209714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bf0e8xc_fk/TWWsM236sZI/AAAAAAAAAfs/iJrQ12_H9hM/s1600/branding.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bf0e8xc_fk/TWWsM236sZI/AAAAAAAAAfs/iJrQ12_H9hM/s320/branding.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577053050456682898" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Quentin and his victim...</span><br /><br />Finally, I can’t talk about the convention without mentioning the few celebrities that we saw. Dan Gold and Phil Kyle of London Ink fame were there, working hard. I have to admit, I’ve always thought Phil Kyle was pretty awesome, so it was cool to see him there. But I had to giggle when my boyfriend asked, “How long to you reckon Dan Gold will take to do that tattoo?” as he’s known for being a tad slow. He might be a bit of a cheeky bastard I suppose, but I still get goosebumps when I see someone off of the telly… I just wish it had been Jodie Marsh so I could fix her freaky nose with my fist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wyutRJET63Q/TWWsNeifFvI/AAAAAAAAAgE/syS5RLPvAIs/s1600/phil.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wyutRJET63Q/TWWsNeifFvI/AAAAAAAAAgE/syS5RLPvAIs/s320/phil.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577053061104211698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejOhl6Ndocs/TWWsNBq-AUI/AAAAAAAAAf8/P3y-ZyQx66I/s1600/dan.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejOhl6Ndocs/TWWsNBq-AUI/AAAAAAAAAf8/P3y-ZyQx66I/s320/dan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577053053355163970" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Phil Kyle and Dan Gold getting it on!</span><br /><br />So, despite a rough start, all down to my own insecure feelings, I really did enjoy the con, and I’m hoping to go the Manchester Tattoo Show next month, and the Liverpool con in May. I’d recommend those wondering if they should go to one, to just do it, and don’t let fear of intimidation ruin it for you. You don’t need a tattoo to have fun at these conventions, and nobody will judge you.<br /><br />Luckily I learned from my experience, and next time I’ll be getting more out of those fantastic tattooists, than just their business cards (of which I got like sixty of them…)<br /><br />Until tomorrow then!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-3245624564216924272010-11-30T11:18:00.003+00:002010-11-30T11:23:22.220+00:00Please Vote!Wow, I'm so chuffed to make it to the finals of the <a href="http://gorillaz.com/evangelist">Gorillaz Design the Evangelist competition</a> :) But it would be great to get to the semi-finals!<br /><br />If you think I deserve the chance, then you can vote for my entry <a href="http://gorillaz.com/evangelist/detail?d=5128">here</a>. You also get to see my entry being drawn in super high-speed, so it gives you a good idea of how I work.<br /><br />My love to you all! xJemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-30095071635532490932010-11-21T23:00:00.006+00:002010-11-21T23:22:08.129+00:00Too much thinking for this ol' fuddy-duddyWell, it's been a while and I am now in my final year at Glyndwr University, still plodding onwards. I wont bore you with the details of the last two months, suffice to say that Orlando was riotous fun! I'll dive straight back in with my November blog...<br /><br />About a fortnight a go I scurried off to Liverpool for a good dosage of culture, as the 2010 Biennial was being held. With various galleries and museums participating in the festival, it seemed like a great time to have a nose and see what was new in the arty-farty world. I headed over to the Walker Art Gallery to check out a painting competition.<br /><br />For a student of the arts, I find it very discouraging that the majority of these competitions still focus on pompous nonsense when it comes to works of "art".<br /><br />I was, for the most part, disappointed with this year's <a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/">John Moores Painting Prize</a>. Whatever happened to painters actually being able to paint? It seems that any so-so can chuck a blob of acrylic onto a canvas nowadays if there's an "idea" behind it. "Oh, it represents the randomness of life." Get over yourself.<br /><br />Honestly, there were only two or three paintings even deserving of the £25,000 prize, and you can bet your bare arse none of them won because the meaning is too obvious.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/prizewinners/middleton.aspx">"Protest, 1st April 2009" by Nicholas Middleton</a> is a beautiful painting, done in monochrome, of a crowd of people at a rally. The expressions and details are so mesmerising it's almost like looking at a photograph, but the tiny brushstrokes hint at the human talent behind it. I could practically hear the noise of the crowd whilst gazing into it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmm-HVTlgI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Il8AT4v6mWA/s1600/middleton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmm-HVTlgI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Il8AT4v6mWA/s320/middleton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542144402506618370" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/exhibitors/ward.aspx">Christian Ward's "Frontier Monument"</a> spoke less of obvious talent, and more of imagination. The lack of perspective is overshadowed by the painting's mad colour scheme and landscape. It's a Nirvana that I would have pictured as a child, but that's not to say I wouldn't want to dive into it now. I think my fascination with this one is it's resemblance to something out of "Yellow Submarine". Whilst I was looking at it a group of children ran over to it, exclaiming that it was their favourite. "There's lots of purple", "look at the lovely trees" and "I like the squiggly-armed guy" were some of the phrases they used. I think when a child "gets" your work, then that's something to be proud of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnBRYajnI/AAAAAAAAAfc/F3swocLiU7E/s1600/ward.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnBRYajnI/AAAAAAAAAfc/F3swocLiU7E/s320/ward.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542144456743620210" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/exhibitors/evans.aspx">"An Alpine Biodome" by Geraint Evans</a> was an interesting piece. Not something I would have on my wall at home, but well executed and an obvious example of work by someone who I imagine would do well in design and architecture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnA0bvz1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/8jEx2TXaWso/s1600/evans.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnA0bvz1I/AAAAAAAAAfM/8jEx2TXaWso/s320/evans.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542144448972967762" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/exhibitors/fulford.aspx">"Near the Site" by David Fulford</a> is, I think, worthy of a mention because it comes across as as storyboard. I couldn't quite make out the story, but I loved the colour scheme of a Sunday afternoon in the summer; all dull yellows and browns. Even without a story the pieces stand individually as photographs, as though someone has hurriedly painted them to capture a moment in time. There were 60 small canvas paintings in total, and another reason it bodes well with me is because the idea relates to one of my Negotiated Study projects.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnBIj18qI/AAAAAAAAAfU/2JWjvXv2s14/s1600/fulford-new.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TOmnBIj18qI/AAAAAAAAAfU/2JWjvXv2s14/s320/fulford-new.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542144454375633570" /></a><br />Finally, it's worth mentioning that there are five extras this year, as the JMPP celebrates a new venture by opening the competition in Shanghai. My favourite of the five shortlisted was Li Weizhou's "Where are we from? Where will we go?" From a distance it looks like a large blank canvas with a tiny queue of people running across it, but close up, you realise that these tiny people all look completely different, and all appear to have personalities about them. I also loved this painting because of the medium used: ink on rice paper. That's new to me, but the effect is beautiful and works for the enigmatic piece.<br /><br />So there were some really great pieces, including ones that I haven't mentioned, but the majority I will not dignify with a mention, because then they get free advertising. I honestly believe that if, as artists, we allow our craft to be exploited and tarnished this way, then our livelihood is going to fade very fast.<br /><br />To finish off, I will put in a mention for this <a href="http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/you-know-you-may-be-an/">wonderful little blog post</a> that kept me smiling, even when I felt done-over by the artwork thinking I don't have a chance. If you're worried that you may not pan-out as a full time artist, whatever your creative pursuit, have a gander at this list of ways to know if you truly are an artist. Hopefully it'll put some minds at ease.Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-42625619798052502162010-09-15T23:59:00.004+01:002010-09-16T00:11:21.042+01:00Leonardo Da FlakeIf I could go back in time, or bring the past forwards, Leonardo Da Vinci is the person who I (and most likely many others) would have sought out to be my Mentor. How I long for a Mentor! His eccentricities and endless drawings and notes, to me, made him seem like some sort of unreachable God or Alien.<br /><br />So I was quite surprised to read, <a href="http://www.psychologyevolution.com/psychology-evolution-community/lifestyle-wellbeing-relationships-and-health/davinci.html">in this article</a>, that he was an unstoppable procrastinator, not unlike myself. And while I spend all my time procrastinating and wishing I were dead, he managed to do it with some style. And he still sounds awesome.<br /><br />Have a read of the article and see how you feel afterwards. Do you conform like the rest of the World? Hitting deadlines on time, rushing things that are supposedly "important", but in the long run do not matter? (Like a degree in comics, when you want to be a Tattooist... *cough*)<br /><br />This quote from the article suggests imperfection is the right way to go about it:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Productive mediocrity requires discipline of an ordinary kind. It is safe and threatens no one. Nothing will be changed by mediocrity; mediocrity is completely predictable. It doesn't make the powerful and self-satisfied feel insecure. It doesn't require freedom, because it doesn't do anything unexpected. Mediocrity is the opposite of what we call "genius." Mediocrity gets perfectly mundane things done on time. But genius is uncontrolled and uncontrollable. You cannot produce a work of genius according to a schedule or an outline. As Leonardo knew, it happens through random insights resulting from unforeseen combinations. Genius is inherently outside the realm of known disciplines and linear career paths. Mediocrity does exactly what it's told, like the docile factory workers envisioned by Frederick Winslow Taylor."</span><br /><br />After all, why rush to finish something you hate on time, when you can spend years doing something you love...<br /><br />Personally, I hope I grow up to be like that mad Italian Geezer!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-26159384916499750422010-09-10T15:02:00.003+01:002010-09-10T15:11:39.271+01:00Tattoo SurveyFor my third year dissertation I am investigating Tattoo Art as it appears in/with other forms of modern art. My aims are:<br /><br />• to discover how and why Tattoo-art is inspiring other art-forms, focusing on graphics, fine art, photography, illustration<br />• to investigate why Tattoos have experienced a rise in popularity, and what benefits and problems may (or already have) come from it<br />• to look at how Tattooing has been influenced by other art-forms (e.g.: photo-realism, comics, graffiti, surrealism, graphics…)<br />• to look into the future of this juxtaposition between Tattoos and Modern Art<br /><br />I’d be really grateful if you’d take just five minutes to fill in my survey, in order to help me complete my dissertation with some interesting results.<br />If there are any questions you are uncomfortable answering, or if they do not apply to you, just leave it blank.<br /><br />Name:<br />Gender:<br />Age range: Under 18/18-24/25-34/35-44/45-54/55+<br />Occupation:<br /><br />1. First of all, do you have a tattoo, and if so why? If you don’t, why not?<br /><br />2. If you have a tattoo, what concerned you the most during the process: your own health and safety, the tattooist, the tattoo design, it’s meaning or it’s location on your body? Why?<br /><br />3. When you think of “Tattoo” what kind of words spring to mind?<br /><br />4. Now think of “Art”, and what words pop up?<br /><br />5. Take a look at these two pictures:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7eBsfF7I/AAAAAAAAAe8/R2cWMqgRGco/s1600/XFnUrTnElo5nvpkmHNjBCJ3Vo1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7eBsfF7I/AAAAAAAAAe8/R2cWMqgRGco/s320/XFnUrTnElo5nvpkmHNjBCJ3Vo1_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515286080705730482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7dSYOy8I/AAAAAAAAAe0/6eIieGQngE8/s1600/1716_l.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7dSYOy8I/AAAAAAAAAe0/6eIieGQngE8/s320/1716_l.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515286068004309954" /></a><br />Do you prefer the a) tattooed artwork, or b) the artwork of tattoos? Explain your decision.<br /><br />6. Have you ever bought any merchandise decorated with tattoo art (e.g.: clothes, iPod covers, jewellery, perfumes etc). What attracted you to its design?<br /><br />7. Take a look at these two people:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7dFGpZsI/AAAAAAAAAes/dHG46GOpfKE/s1600/eminem.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7dFGpZsI/AAAAAAAAAes/dHG46GOpfKE/s320/eminem.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515286064440895170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7cuHjvGI/AAAAAAAAAek/RrUYOgAHW0A/s1600/men-tattoos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIo7cuHjvGI/AAAAAAAAAek/RrUYOgAHW0A/s320/men-tattoos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515286058270702690" /></a><br />Who do you find more appealing: a) the celebrity with a tattoo, or b) the stranger with a tattoo? Explain your decision.<br /><br />8. Tattoos have experienced a major increase in popularity over the last few years. Why do you think that is?<br /><br />9. Do you see your current opinion of tattoos, whether good or bad, changing in the future? Why?<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to do this, I am very grateful! You can either post your answers directly to this page, or email me at BulletprufZombie@hotmail.co.uk. Please put "Tattoo Survey" in the subject box.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">*Please note: All images here are taken off Google Images. I do not own them.</span>Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-75959016575791933252010-09-08T17:08:00.003+01:002010-09-08T17:19:42.981+01:00Jamie Hewlett in a Tux?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIe1IHmfQKI/AAAAAAAAAec/EuU6CaBP6CY/s1600/tumblr_l8ep6llBoN1qzbgfyo1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIe1IHmfQKI/AAAAAAAAAec/EuU6CaBP6CY/s320/tumblr_l8ep6llBoN1qzbgfyo1_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514575419822522530" /></a><br />Thought I'd just chuck in another mention here: Gorillaz have been voted <a href="http://gorillaz-news.livejournal.com/387976.html#cutid1">band of the year</a> by GQ magazine. I am led to believe this is some kind of man-magazine ("mangazine??") about fashion and stylishness, but please correct me if I'm wrong.<br /><br />I'm not surprised they won, they're a fantastic group. They're like a brick of cheese that just gets better with age. And from that photo of singer/musician Damon, artist Jamie, and hell-raising 'toon Murdoc I get the sense that their interview is going to be particularly fun and goofy, as they usually are. So if anyone happens to buy GQ, please lend it to me so I can have a look!<br /><br />Jamie Hewlett is my greatest hero. He's an art school drop-out who went on to have his Kangeroo-shagging, bald, pin-up chick "Tank Girl" made into a movie when he was 23. Then he went on to create one of us Brits' best bands, and helped bring Monkey: Journey to the West to the stage. Go fig.Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-58447680764012043132010-09-08T16:09:00.004+01:002010-09-08T16:19:40.835+01:00Blue skies and sunshine... almost guaranteedThought I'd share this humble iPhone snap:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIeowjLLwDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9m9eT5elES4/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIeowjLLwDI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9m9eT5elES4/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514561820767797298" /></a><br />At night I sleep with my curtains open. This started out as laziness but has just become a habit now, once I realised how lucky I am to have such a great view. There are no streetlights of any kind at the back of my house, just a vast view of our land, the fields and motorway below, and a great view of the Gresford Church.<br /><br />On a good night I get the moonlight shining in my room like some Holy beacon. Obviously there are days when I wake up to grey clouds and rain, but every now and again I get a view like this, where the sky looks like a watercolour painting of washed-down blues, and the dawn is made up of neon-pinks and oranges...<br /><br />You'd think with such inspiration I could conjure up some artwork. I guess sometimes views are wasted on the wrong people and I'll only wise-up when I am faced with a brick wall.Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-10723694131243793412010-09-07T16:57:00.005+01:002010-09-07T17:19:48.552+01:00Ich bin (noch) ein StudentIt’s that time of the year again: a month before I start back at University and I start to panic because nary a thing has been done. Not only that, but a week after I go back I’m off to America for a fortnight + seven days. So you can understand my grousing.<br /><br />But all is not lost. I still have a month. And when I really think about it, they haven’t actually asked us to do much over the summer. Mainly gather research and formulate ideas.<br /><br />As I’ve come to understand it, our third year is made up of four areas:<br /><br />1. a 5000 word Dissertation<br />2. negotiated study projects<br />3. our own professional practice<br />4. research, research, research!<br /><br />It doesn’t sound like much, but I’m not convinced. However, I’m going to try and make this year fun at least. I have more control over my projects and therefore more interest in them.<br /><br />My dissertation has an introduction and a basic outline, with the (working) title “Tattoos: The Ostracized Art-Form” or “How has Tattooing influenced, or been influenced by, modern art, and in turn how has it developed into an art-form of its own?”<br /><br />Wordy, no?<br /><br />My negotiated study projects I have narrowed down to several project ideas:<br /><br />1. a book of Tattoo flash, also known as Tattoo-a-day-for-100-days (or more)<br />2. a documentary, mainly to keep my boyfriend busy, but also to examine the insanity of what it is to be an art student<br />3. a collection of mini-comics, a web-comic, an iPhone app/comic, OR a full graphic novel<br />4. a full topical book in comic format, inspired by the works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_McCloud">Scott McCloud</a><br />5. screen-printed works to sell on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a><br />6. a series of paintings in story sequence, inspired partly by <a href="http://www.spamula.net/blog/archives/000336.html">Max Ernst’s “Collage Novel"</a>, and also by a collection of paintings I spotted in Liverpool a few months ago...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLoQhwUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/C2iIOQyp2fo/s1600/Photo-0008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLoQhwUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/C2iIOQyp2fo/s320/Photo-0008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514201646174945602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLTsr3JI/AAAAAAAAAeE/e46CVuUNMz4/s1600/Photo-0007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLTsr3JI/AAAAAAAAAeE/e46CVuUNMz4/s320/Photo-0007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514201640655903890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLG0H53I/AAAAAAAAAd8/d3BoZ9Og488/s1600/Photo-0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhLG0H53I/AAAAAAAAAd8/d3BoZ9Og488/s320/Photo-0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514201637197440882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhK_WCbEI/AAAAAAAAAd0/HCQaKtI9AxY/s1600/Photo-0005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZhK_WCbEI/AAAAAAAAAd0/HCQaKtI9AxY/s320/Photo-0005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514201635192204354" /></a><br />They are by an artist called <a href="http://www.bonedaddyart.com/">Bone Daddy</a>. Although they don’t necessarily share a storyline, they do hint at the story behind each of the tattooees, and serve to make you wonder what kind of people they might be. I thought that was a great idea. And the series of paintings project would allow me to combine three of the things I love: storytelling, painting and tattoos.<br /><br />So once I’ve selected which of the negotiated study projects I am going to pursue, I will more or less chuck the rest of the ideas in with my professional practice. Currently I only have two goals for my PDP: sell myself (not literally) and enter competitions, the first of which is this year’s <a href="http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/event/manga_jiman_10.html">Manga Jiman competition</a> (cheers to Sarah from my class for the heads up!).<br /><br />Every year or so, the Japanese Embassy in the UK hold this competition open to residents over 14, hand them a theme and a limit of 6 to 8 pages, and ask them to draw a manga. I attempted to enter it in 2008, but my procrastination got the better of me.<br /><br />This year I’m more determined. Not only because it would look good in my PDP, but also because the theme is “nami” or “wave”, in english. It’s given me some good ideas, but obviously I won’t mention them here for fear of someone stealing them…<br /><br />However I will post invisible updates.<br /><br />So there’s my third year planned. Thought I’d also bring this up: Tattoosday UK recently posted a <a href="http://tattoosdayuk.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/min-jeong-seos-porcelain-casts/">piece about artist Min Jeong Seo</a>, and her porcelain casts of Ballerina arms, painted to resemble fully tattooed sleeves. This is essentially what I was trying to do last year with my (God awful) “<a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/bookjacket-brief-part-one-3d-model.html">Bookjacket</a>” brief, and I only wish this post had arrived sooner!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-4352946352087348972010-09-07T15:31:00.000+01:002011-02-24T17:28:08.639+00:00Book Review: Tattoo Mystique – Angelique HoutkampAs another small review, I thought I’d put in a mention for this colourful little book, a collection of works by Dutch tattooist Angelique Houtkamp. I first read about this in Skin Deep but (once again) have only just gotten around to checking it out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZSldev4mI/AAAAAAAAAds/v2YUog6hPKQ/s1600/tattoo-mystique-the-art-and-world-of-angelique-houtkamp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIZSldev4mI/AAAAAAAAAds/v2YUog6hPKQ/s320/tattoo-mystique-the-art-and-world-of-angelique-houtkamp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514185597283983970" /></a><br />Tattoo Mystique is second in a line of books by this incredibly recognizable artist. The first, Tattoo Darling, is still on my to-buy list, as is her newest collection, a book of black and white linedrawings for the creative enthusiast to use as he/she pleases. This I love, as it’s similar to a project I am working on.<br /><br />Angelique is a master in her interpretation of vintage tattoo designs and pin-up girls, and her fashionably freaky little ladies are plastered all over this book. They are her specialty, and one of the many reasons people go to her is that (for a fee) she will design you a unique tattoo all of your own.<br /><br />The book is jam-packed with her drawings, and they are stunning. She paints in watercolours, sticking to the theme of old-school sailor designs and often a limited colour palette, yet her work is fresh and inspiring.<br /><br />The only downside to this book is its shortness. Whilst it opens, like Kat Von D’s "High Voltage Tattoo", with an introduction by a friend, and includes an interview with the artist herself, there is very little written about her. I would have loved to have read a piece from her point of view, although she does tell us a lot in her interview. Her love for Holland, where she lives, and how she describes waking up and starting her day around noon, riding her bicycle by the river and hanging out with her friends… it was a beautiful vision that left me longing for the kind of freedom that comes with being a well-established artist.<br /><br />But until then, I’ll stick with longing to be tattooed by the Madame herself. This book is well worth the pennies.<br /><br />You can see some of Angelique’s work on her official website, <a href="http://www.salonserpent.com/Home.html">Salon Serpent</a>, where you can also sign up to her monthly newsletter! Also, take a glimpse at her <a href="http://www.salonserpent.com/Projects.html">"Projects"</a> page and see what you think of the "Babyskulls". Then take a look at these <a href="http://tattoosdayuk.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/min-jeong-seos-porcelain-casts/">painted Ballerina arms</a> (thanks to Tattoosday UK)... they are basically what I was trying to achieve with my <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/bookjacket-brief-part-one-3d-model.html">"Bookjacket"</a> brief last year, only a thousand times better. Perhaps I will try again one day, as I think these tattooed plaster body parts make gorgeous ornaments for lovers of the macabre and bizarre.<br /><br />Until next time, keep your hands dirty!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-74668654314618652972010-09-06T21:48:00.000+01:002011-02-24T17:28:08.664+00:00DVD Review: Tattoos – A Scarred History<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIVZWy9j79I/AAAAAAAAAdk/eKIgm0JkiRw/s1600/tattoos-a-scarred-history-box-cover-poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TIVZWy9j79I/AAAAAAAAAdk/eKIgm0JkiRw/s320/tattoos-a-scarred-history-box-cover-poster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513911566957014994" /></a><br />My last post appears to have been in May… I’d best get off my hiney and keep this up-to-date if I want to make out like I’m working hard!<br /><br />First of all I want to put in a mention for <a href="http://tattoosdayuk.wordpress.com/">Tattoosday UK</a>, and urge you to check it out. Without Mel Noir and her wonderful blog, the gap between myself and the Tattoo World would be that much bigger. It’s helped keep me up-to-date, even if my drawing skills aren’t!<br /><br />Now to business: this is fairly old news, but I have only just gotten round to watching a documentary called <a href="http://www.tattoosascarredhistory.com/home.html">Tattoos: A Scarred History</a>, even though I’ve had the DVD since April. I thought I’d share my observations with you (but it’s mainly to prove to my tutors that I AM researching!)<br /><br />With Tattoos: A Scarred History, I think one needs to keep in mind that if you’re already thrust quite deeply into the Body-Mod puddle, then you’re perhaps not going to learn anything new. I’m relatively new to Tattooing, and yet I understood most of the terms and practices.<br /><br />HOWEVER, that is not necessarily a bad thing, as the film isn’t made in such a way as to tell you all the ins and outs of Tattooing. It instead follows the journey of a young woman called Sousila, who is trying to discover why Tattoos are so popular at the moment.<br /><br />It’s a UK-based film which pops over to the US of A for one segment, and surprisingly is filmed in my own hometown of Wrexham, and surrounding areas such as Llandudno, which surprised me and left me feeling a bit proud.<br /><br />At 97 minutes, the film is a fascinating romp through the mad world of Tattoos that kept me hooked, made me giggle and even had me cringing at some scenes. We meet an awesome (and very sweet) dude named Spikey Bob, get a good close-up look at some controversial “Tattooees”, including one really dodgy bum Tattoo. Keep an eye out for it and let me know if it really offended you… or if you laughed like I did! Also, watch out for “Puff the Magic Dragon”. Sousila has some gumption, that’s for sure!<br /><br />One of my favourite segments included a visit to the Llandudno Tattoo Convention, of which I had never heard of before, but will now be looking at going to. <br /><br />There is also a small section dedicated to the murder of Sophie Lancaster (check out the <a href="http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/">S.O.P.H.I.E. foundation</a>), with a shocking tape recording of the night when she and her boyfriend were taken to Hospital. It was very respectfully edited into the film, and a poignant message considering the amount of stick Tattooed/Pierced people have to put up with.<br /><br />But I did learn a thing or two. Firstly, the process of tongue-splitting, a practice which I am very attracted to. There’s a gory close-up, so be warned, but those of you who are pure of heart and of nerve will survive I’m sure. I also found out what scarificiation is… but I want to leave that to those of you who don’t know to find out for yourself. I would call it next-generation tattooing, but apparently it is derived from original forms of tattooing!<br /><br />Finally, I can’t talk about the film without mentioning the Celebrity Survey. I assume it was made at a sci-fi convention of some sort, as Sousila manages to rope in some pretty impressive interviews, my favourites of which are the late David Carradine (Kill Bill), Warwick Davis (Willow), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings), and Ana Matronic or Scissor Sisters fame. There’s also a split-second interview with Gordon Ramsey that gave me a laugh, but you need to sit through the credits to watch it.<br /><br />So there’s my two pence on the film itself, but what of its host Sousila?<br /><br />Personally, I found her endearing and thoughtful. She’s just your average Josephine, not trying to be the next best presenter, and yet she was very insightful and knew how to get the interviews she wanted. By the end of the film I felt like we’d become friends. Perhaps because we’re both searching for the same answers regarding this huge subject… so kudos to her for keeping me entertained.<br /><br />I think the only con that goes with these many pros is the camera work and the sound. As the cameraman is Sousila’s boyfriend, it’s pretty clear he’s not entirely sure what he’s doing sometimes, and there are occasional bouts of blurring which distracted me a bit. Also, the sound sometimes catches you off guard, jumping between echoing, loud and quiet. But these are small problems that are easily ignored.<br /><br />So my summary is: if you love body modification, even if you think you know everything about it, watch this film. It’s funny, shocking, educational (I hear children scream) but most of all fascinating, and the culmination of a lot of hard work from it’s producers. And the cost of the DVD is a pittance. You can get it for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tattoos-A-Scarred-History-DVD/dp/B003616XK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1283807209&sr=8-1">£4.99 on Amazon</a>. It was £7.99 when I bought it, and a portion of the profits go to children’s charity Angelwish, which you can find out more about in the bonus features, including deleted scenes, a trailer, music video by Leather Zoo (seriously, check out their song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4M7Ite2IwU">"Stranger"</a>, it’s awesome!), among other extras.<br /><br />Overall, for the production values, I’d give the film a 7 out of 10. But for pure balls and value for money, I’ll give it a perfect 10.<br /><br />Until next time, keep your hands dirty!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-69806321774640720182010-08-11T16:40:00.003+01:002010-08-11T16:50:45.735+01:00Johnny Learns the Hard WayThe upcoming <a href="http://www.comicafestival.com/">Comica Comiket Festival</a>, in London, got my tutor raring to go and he suggested ways we could put forward some work for our stall. We concluded that a new copy of our student comic anthology (DAWNS) would be a good idea.<br /><br />Having missed out on contributing to the first two issues, I was eager to submit something. I was soon inspired by <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2010/07/20/shocking-pictures-of-boy-playing-chicken-with-high-speed-passeng/">this article</a> about children and teenagers playing on railway lines.<br /><br />It struck a chord with me; don’t ask me how but I have seen the results of trains hitting people and it’s very disturbing. I recalled a rhyme I was taught as a child to keep me off the tracks. There are variations to the rhyme, but I decided to use this one, and put it into comic form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFimvdI_I/AAAAAAAAAdM/Tjdf3boApaU/s1600/johnny_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFimvdI_I/AAAAAAAAAdM/Tjdf3boApaU/s320/johnny_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504178892905980914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFiCThKkI/AAAAAAAAAdE/u5JJ5cCrOhI/s1600/johnny_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFiCThKkI/AAAAAAAAAdE/u5JJ5cCrOhI/s320/johnny_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504178883125127746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFiKWMzCI/AAAAAAAAAc8/sE-UgV4X_I0/s1600/johnny_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFiKWMzCI/AAAAAAAAAc8/sE-UgV4X_I0/s320/johnny_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504178885283859490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFhsKvIuI/AAAAAAAAAc0/X0CUcADAv5g/s1600/johnny_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGLFhsKvIuI/AAAAAAAAAc0/X0CUcADAv5g/s320/johnny_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504178877182714594" /></a><br />The comic-style was largely inspired by Russian Communist Propaganda posters; bold with high contrast, minimal colour. But I was also influenced by Charles Burns’ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_(comics)">Black Hole</a> comic, which I've mentioned in a previous post, but have only just gotten round to reading.<br /><br />The most astounding thing about this comic is that I managed to finish it at all, and first in the group wouldn’t you know. Sadly, a lack of extra contributors means that DAWNS 3 probably wont be at Comica.<br /><br />No matter, the comic has given me further ideas for future work…Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-75098930203763404832010-07-16T12:02:00.005+01:002010-08-11T16:12:00.224+01:00Lost In Liverpool Tweets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7vOj2L0I/AAAAAAAAAcs/-Q-8vF25_SA/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7vOj2L0I/AAAAAAAAAcs/-Q-8vF25_SA/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504168114636861250" /></a><br />It's been a while since I've posted anything, but now it's officially the British Summer Holidays, it's time for me to get off my anatomy and work hard.<br /><br />Last week I ran away to Liverpool. I'm quite fortunate that my Dad works and has a house there, so I can pretty much escape whenever I want. Saying that though, a single from Liverpool Central to Chester Station only cost me £4.35.<br /><br />Anyway, on the Wednesday morning I visited the Tate Liverpool, which I've never been to before. I was expecting the usual pompous "art", and there was some, but I did find quite a lot of work that I really liked. I also tried something new to me and "Tweeted" my discoveries via my iPhone, which kept my friends and family up-to-date with what I was getting up to, and helped me keep track for my blogs.<br /><br />Here you can see what I "Tweeted!"<br /><br />Wednesday 7th July 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9am</span><br />"A warm breeze blows over the stank of the river Mersey. The Albert Dock is silent and still, but for a few early morning stragglers on their way to work. I am on my way to inspiration, a foreboding sense of failure filling me nonetheless. But first, I need a cup of tea."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9.37am</span><br />"The Tate Liverpool offers an exhibit on Pablo Picasso. I wouldn't say I'm his biggest fan, but I am in the mindset for looking at things from a "different perspective" today. And so I will give him the chance to teach me something. Everything is closed until 10, so I will spend a good half hour in Costa, listening to jazz. Already I'm feeling sleepy..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10.25am</span><br />"So the Picasso "peace and freedom" exhibit is off limits. I cannot afford the £8 ticket. It's a shame that one must pay to SEE art, but I suppose one has to make money some way. I was tempted by the young lad on the door to take a job here myself. Imagine: working in a museum or gallery; constant change and diversity. I would be inspired 24/7. Either the tedious artwork would make me want to show off my own, or the fantastic pieces would encourage me to prove myself..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10.35am</span><br />"I'm sat in an exhibit by one Rineke Dijkstra, called "I see a woman crying". The videos record several school children's reaction to <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=11871">Picasso's "weeping woman"</a> piece. I'm sitting alone in this big dark room watching an 8ft screen on which a young girl - slightly overweight, brunette bundles in a ponytail, not quite unlike myself at her age - scribbles away at a sketchbook with a look of earnest concentration on her face. I'm reminded of how I used to be: determined to produce a good drawing, but ultimately not caring what anybody else thought of it. Sadly I do not get to see her finished work."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7DbIEzCI/AAAAAAAAAck/zAictUnIgUo/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7DbIEzCI/AAAAAAAAAck/zAictUnIgUo/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504167362095795234" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10.47am</span><br />"In the next room, a video is filmed from three angles, featuring a group of children commenting on the "weeping woman". I'm surprised by how attentive and genuine the little Scousers are, coming out with comments such as she's "lonely", "abandoned", "upset that she's the only one that looks that way" or a "ghost". Others make interesting note of the colour scheme, saying "there's lots of blue and purple" and "maybe Picasso just wanted to paint something colourful". But my personal favourite was that she "owes money". Gives you a good idea perhaps of how these city children were brought up. Incidentally, I have never seen this painting, but I will be seeking it out to see how their comments compare to mine."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7CwvDcHI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Uvd2wK8ykwM/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7CwvDcHI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Uvd2wK8ykwM/s320/IMG_0115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504167350716559474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7Cx4JlrI/AAAAAAAAAcU/EGPGi1oySH8/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TGK7Cx4JlrI/AAAAAAAAAcU/EGPGi1oySH8/s320/IMG_0114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504167351023146674" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10.54am</span><br />"As much as I've enjoyed the "I can see a woman crying" exhibit, to call it ART is a bit of an overstatement. It is more along the lines of an intriguing documentary. I think what singed me the most is how much this filmmaker has probably been paid to do something that the average film student could do in college. It seems almost effortless, and for that reason I am evermore irked by the Tate Museums. By all means display works like this, but don't put them up on a pedestal against work that has been painstakingly created through real talent."Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-52008544162256244092010-06-05T14:13:00.007+01:002010-06-05T14:56:02.891+01:00The Mabinogi: BBC Wales ProjectWell this blog has been a long time in the making; for those of you who don’t know, about this time last year I was approached by Gareth (wont mention any last names) from BBC Wales. Apparently an old college tutor had recommended me to him for something in the pipeline called “The Manga Mabinogi.”<br /><br />The Mabinogi (or Mabinogion depending on who you’re hearing it from) are a collection of Welsh Legends and Fantasy stories written hundreds of years ago in the style of The Legend of King Arthur (he actually features in the tales). There is much written about them online, and many translations, and the BBC had decided to do their own version to post onto the BBC Wales website.<br /><br />Gareth was looking for an artist to do some illustrations to accompany the tales. They wanted them to be in a very bold, almost Manga-style, to appeal to young people. After a few “audition” pieces, where I used watercolours, and then moved onto Photoshop and Manga Studio, Gareth miraculously loved my work (you will notice that I put myself down a lot in this post).<br /><br />In August last year he presented me with the brief, and asked me to deliver by January.<br /><br />I toyed with some designs for a few months but I ultimately ended up leaving everything till last minute. In the last few weeks I attempted to learn how to use Photoshop to the best of my abilities, having to use the pen tool to draw entirely because I did not have access to a working scanner. In the end I wound up with RSI: repetitive strain injury, in which my back and neck were severely crippled, my eyes ached from gazing at the computer screen and I developed a habit of shaking whenever I had to draw.<br /><br />Interesting titbit: During the making of Toy Story 2, which was done from scratch in nine months, a number of Pixar employees developed RSI, one of which was never able to work at a computer again. Thus Pixar now have an employee protection system where they allow their workers to relax regularly with Yoga, Basketball and other activities. How’s that for employee benefits?!<br /><br />Anyway, my RSI stunted me greatly and I felt like I had really let Gareth down. But, and I must point this out as important, Gareth was so, so incredibly kind about the situation, so generous and unlike anything I had thought a client was supposed to be like! He offered me an extension and asked me to take my time, even going so far as to offer to send me a printer/scanner or software to help me!<br /><br />However, I declined and just took the new deadline. The second time around I was not going to mess up. I organised myself and worked my butt off. And by March this year I delivered to the BBC eleven illustrations and a title page, via <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/">Dropbox</a> (seriously, this is the best file-transferring site around, I highly recommend it!). The guys at the BBC were very pleased and praised me highly, which really gave me a confidence boost. They asked me to draw two more images over Easter to go with some games that <a href="http://www.cubeinteractive.co.uk/">Cube Interactive</a> had produced to go with the website.<br /><br />It was the most nerve-wracking, exhausting project I’ve ever undertaken, but also the most rewarding. I learned so much about working in Photoshop, about my own style and how I can develop my skills. I learned so much about colour theory and combinations, and composition, which this time last year I had no clue about. I also learned how textures could be used as overlays in Photoshop to give warmth and a dreamy wash to images, and I used a lot of different textures in this project, such as parchment and stone, to give each illustration an otherworldly, book-like feel.<br /><br />The style I went for is inspired by Manga, but I didn’t want it to be completely Japanese, as they are Welsh tales, so I added a pinch of realism to the character’s figures, as well as my own personal style (which frankly needs re-working so that it is more recognisable). My colour palette consisted of clichéd pastel colours, as I didn’t want anything to be too bright or colourful. The illustrations needed to retain the ancient book look, and I found that this worked well with darker colours.<br /><br />As you’ll probably notice I also went very minimal on the backgrounds. I did this for two reasons: Firstly, the background, unless stated in the story, presented no extreme importance, as the stories centred mainly on the characters and their emotions/reactions. So I focused on them for more impact, and I feel that it works well, as I was able to give each illustration a “mood” by using certain colours/textures/lighting.<br /><br />Secondly, I am not at all adept at drawing backgrounds. That’s rather an understatement really, as I have very little grasp of perspective and am still learning (doesn’t help that my depth perception in everyday life is slightly off). While I would have loved to do some amazing scenery, I felt it was in the best interests of my client that I not attempt something that I am extremely bad at, to save ruining the whole image.<br /><br />Overall I’m pleased with the outcome, and the subsequent popularity it has afforded me among fellow artists, as it was a huge learning curve for me. Sure, it may be the only commission I ever get, but it’s still something to add to my CV!<br /><br />Here are a few of my favourites from the bunch, and you can find the rest, as well as the fascinating stories, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/bywyd/safle/mabinogi/index_mabinogi.shtml">here</a>. It is all in <br />Welsh, but if you don’t speak it you can still play the games and look through the gallery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApRh5sEQiI/AAAAAAAAAb8/FwcqQu_dPCE/s1600/dragons.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApRh5sEQiI/AAAAAAAAAb8/FwcqQu_dPCE/s200/dragons.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479281539512812066" /></a><br />These are the two duelling dragons from Lludd and Llefelys. I based the red and the green on the Welsh flag, but also used those colours because they contrast so brilliantly. I think I’m most proud of this illustration because of its impact, and also the fact that it was the first time I’d ever designed dragons from scratch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApVSPZ7g-I/AAAAAAAAAcE/7CxlSmdjF-s/s1600/wax.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApVSPZ7g-I/AAAAAAAAAcE/7CxlSmdjF-s/s200/wax.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479285668510925794" /></a><br />Not a very interesting image, but I love this one for the idea behind it. Gareth wanted a title page of sorts for the website, and I juggled between the idea of having the title look like it had been carved into stone, or having the title look like an old wax seal. Ultimately the seal looked far more cool. I went through various tutorials online about how to make one in Photoshop, but in the end I wound up making it on my own by playing about with Photoshop (it’s amazing what you learn when you’re not trying to!), and I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApVSbQ25GI/AAAAAAAAAcM/RCZ7Mq3ewlw/s1600/blodeuwedd.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/TApVSbQ25GI/AAAAAAAAAcM/RCZ7Mq3ewlw/s200/blodeuwedd.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479285671694099554" /></a><br />Finally, this image is the first one I completed, and what a feeling it was! Blodeuwedd is the character I “auditioned” in the beginning when I was trying to get the job, and I bonded with her so well that I had to use her in the final image. This is where she is born into the world by broom, meadowsweet and oak. One of the main reasons I like this image so much is that I got to explore the brush tool by making my own. Each flower, leaf or blade of grass is a brush mark that I was able to create in Photoshop. I also used this “make your own” brush tool in a couple of other pictures. See if you can guess which ones.<br /><br />The Mabinogi are truly fascinating tales and it would be interesting to see this develop into a comic series, or books, or even a television show. They’re full of fantasy, magic, darkness – everything you want in a good story!<br /><br />I hope you’ll check out the Mabinogi website, not just for my benefit, but also for those others that have put so much effort into making it a reality.Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-91697129260954840082010-05-25T23:06:00.006+01:002010-05-25T23:34:15.806+01:00Bookjacket Brief Part Two – Final BlogFinally, I have completed an entire brief from start to finish. As I said in <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/bookjacket-brief-part-one-3d-model.html">Part One</a>, this has probably been my most successful brief, I hope. It was relatively straightforward and full of experimenting and workshops, which I found enjoyable.<br /><br />After the 3D workshop I was in the hub with Dave Kelly, getting ready to do the digital workshop, only to find out I already knew everything I needed to do to get on with it.<br /><br />Using the very basics of Photoshop we were to create a 2-colour and black-line overlay print of the book cover.<br /><br />I can’t stress how easy this part of the project was, I literally finished it in a matter of hours. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I don’t know.<br /><br />I’d learned a lot about drawing in Photoshop from my Mabinogi project, and so I drew up a very bold black-line image of the front cover of my Bookjacket, using the pen tool. Then it was simply a matter of filling it in with different colours to see what worked.<br /><br />The great thing about Photoshop is the hue/saturation option, which allows me to change any colour at will, allowing me to see what colours look nice where. This is the tool that made my job so easy, as I was able to mock up some designs in about an hour. Here are some, but not all, of the designs and colour combinations I came up with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMW3Y-UoI/AAAAAAAAAb0/pcwR-7K1E1M/s1600/spider+bookjacket+mono+3D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMW3Y-UoI/AAAAAAAAAb0/pcwR-7K1E1M/s200/spider+bookjacket+mono+3D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475335202685211266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMWdQZlfI/AAAAAAAAAbs/jGGk-O5VtlE/s1600/spider+bookjacket+black.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMWdQZlfI/AAAAAAAAAbs/jGGk-O5VtlE/s200/spider+bookjacket+black.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475335195669927410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMWMIo79I/AAAAAAAAAbk/Fr08jK-K1tU/s1600/spider+bookjacket+3D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xMWMIo79I/AAAAAAAAAbk/Fr08jK-K1tU/s200/spider+bookjacket+3D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475335191073976274" /></a><br />I was very partial to the neon pink/orange/yellow/black combination I came up with, and decided that those were the final colours I would use in the finished piece.<br /><br />The fortnight afterwards I was doing on the Traditional Media workshop with Sue Thornton. After looking through some of the watercolour and acrylics work I’d brought in she gave me some tips and advised me that working in acrylics would be rewarding, but challenging. I heeded this advice, but decided I wanted to try and work with that medium nevertheless (see <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/dying-to-tie-it.html">Tie Die</a> post).<br /><br />Finally, the Printmaking workshop with John Archer. I have been doing printmaking for over a year now, and although I enjoy doing it, I’m nowhere near perfect. After a disastrous start and a few mishaps I was sorry to only come out with three prints of any real tidiness. However, I managed to stick to my colour combination as you can see. It appears to work in most mediums!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLym8XwhI/AAAAAAAAAbc/ZcWOrk47-58/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLym8XwhI/AAAAAAAAAbc/ZcWOrk47-58/s200/IMG_2404.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475334579794985490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLyJNXA6I/AAAAAAAAAbU/-jhhXsrBnTg/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLyJNXA6I/AAAAAAAAAbU/-jhhXsrBnTg/s200/IMG_2407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475334571813176226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLxx2vLfI/AAAAAAAAAbM/QuCBa-1rbls/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLxx2vLfI/AAAAAAAAAbM/QuCBa-1rbls/s200/IMG_2405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475334565544275442" /></a><br />And a few experiments and painful hours later, here is the finished piece in acrylics (and a watercolour pink).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLxVaScdI/AAAAAAAAAbE/VUfWutd-hnI/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xLxVaScdI/AAAAAAAAAbE/VUfWutd-hnI/s200/IMG_2403.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475334557908758994" /></a>Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-18838648657713760102010-05-25T22:23:00.013+01:002010-05-26T11:27:38.090+01:00Bookjacket Brief Part One – 3D ModelBeware if you don’t like spiders – this blog is completely centered around them.<br /><br />Well, I have to say, this has possibly been the most enjoyable brief I've attempted this year, and (hopefully) the one that will save my hide during the assessments, as I feel I've produced my best work here.<br /><br />As mentioned in previous posts, the Bookjacket brief required us to create a book cover for a nature-themed book. From all the subjects I decided to go for The World of Spiders, because Spiders are brilliant, intricate and so beautiful (a million women are screaming right now).<br /><br />I started with the basic research, drawing diagrams such as the spider anatomy, facial close-ups, different species and the various types of spider’s webs, but when it came to the thumbnail designs it only took me about three or four drafts until I was happy with one design. See my <a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/dying-to-tie-it.html">Tie Dye</a> post to spot the design.<br /><br />I set my heart of the close-up of the spider face with their big pearly black eyes, making a few changes here and there throughout each draft. It was then that we were given our workshops.<br /><br />For the first fortnight I had a blast working in the 3D buildings, which, annoyingly, I was not aware that I have been allowed access to for the last year and a half. At first I was clueless about what I wanted to do with the project, but after some inspiring demonstrations from Dave Jones, which included showing us how to carve into polystyrene and vacuum-form objects, I asked to have my arm cast in mod-rok; my idea was to adapt my ambition as a tattooist and “perform” the tattooing onto the cast arm, using only spider-themed images.<br /><br />Here's me looking ecstatic:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xEZRypA5I/AAAAAAAAAZk/eGJXJc61JKk/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xEZRypA5I/AAAAAAAAAZk/eGJXJc61JKk/s200/IMG_1523.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475326448038904722" /></a><br />Dave handed me a book to flick through called <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-Figures-Clay-Celebrate-Ceramics/dp/1579905471">500 Figures in Clay</a>, an absolutely gorgeous collection of inspiring 3D art. I picked out a few of my favourites and photographed them to give myself an idea of what I wanted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xD3iCycDI/AAAAAAAAAZc/tlnvcuKCGBU/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xD3iCycDI/AAAAAAAAAZc/tlnvcuKCGBU/s200/IMG_1531.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325868286046258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDhCeAK-I/AAAAAAAAAZU/4Vh7VEV9vws/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDhCeAK-I/AAAAAAAAAZU/4Vh7VEV9vws/s200/IMG_1532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325481853135842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDg7Mt4zI/AAAAAAAAAZM/X7-xtrcH_zo/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDg7Mt4zI/AAAAAAAAAZM/X7-xtrcH_zo/s200/IMG_1536.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325479901586226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDgT-UCKI/AAAAAAAAAZE/Cc17vTADJwg/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDgT-UCKI/AAAAAAAAAZE/Cc17vTADJwg/s200/IMG_1538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325469372188834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDgAU9hCI/AAAAAAAAAY8/j7UR7NVxBZE/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDgAU9hCI/AAAAAAAAAY8/j7UR7NVxBZE/s200/IMG_1539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325464098472994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDfriGw1I/AAAAAAAAAY0/3ePBYrwQPbw/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xDfriGw1I/AAAAAAAAAY0/3ePBYrwQPbw/s200/IMG_1540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475325458516460370" /></a><br />Once the arm cast had dried out I painted it a pale skin colour similar to my own, then set about designing some “tattoos” for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xE9yw2OvI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_PI108N1xRE/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xE9yw2OvI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_PI108N1xRE/s200/IMG_1529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327075365042930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xE9TyPmyI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Bqvbpeg4NIg/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xE9TyPmyI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Bqvbpeg4NIg/s200/IMG_2317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327067049401122" /></a><br />I’ll be the first to admit they are not precisely what I had in mind. This 3D work was to be my piece de resistance, but I rushed the tattoos and did not put much thought into them, and so I ended up with these.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFsBs_HFI/AAAAAAAAAaU/xLMTJaHFzy4/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFsBs_HFI/AAAAAAAAAaU/xLMTJaHFzy4/s200/IMG_2360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327869649362002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFrybEDLI/AAAAAAAAAaM/3EMidgp8qmY/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFrybEDLI/AAAAAAAAAaM/3EMidgp8qmY/s200/IMG_2362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327865547656370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFrn0KSoI/AAAAAAAAAaE/EnCoeTiii6s/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFrn0KSoI/AAAAAAAAAaE/EnCoeTiii6s/s200/IMG_2363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327862700132994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFqxW7A9I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_hCBxU3pl3I/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xFqxW7A9I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_hCBxU3pl3I/s200/IMG_2364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475327848081982418" /></a><br />When it came to transferring the designs to the arm-cast, I had visions of doing it the way tattooists do, using carbon paper. Alas, I could not get hold of any, so I transferred them by hand. It was probably the easiest part of the project, as painting them turned out extremely difficult. As the cast had been made quite rough and thick I had a hard time sanding it down and there were a lot of cracks and grooves that would disturb the paint. Watered-down acrylics would not take to it very well, and so I had to take my time, painting it with undiluted acrylics very slowly. Suffice to say my neck is still aching from the concentration.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xHacs7egI/AAAAAAAAAa8/I6wvhadfpNk/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xHacs7egI/AAAAAAAAAa8/I6wvhadfpNk/s200/IMG_2365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475329766682491394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGmUSFH4I/AAAAAAAAAa0/SSL0YH4l78U/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGmUSFH4I/AAAAAAAAAa0/SSL0YH4l78U/s200/IMG_2366.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475328871069196162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGl0yGt5I/AAAAAAAAAas/gswUD7kjiKQ/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGl0yGt5I/AAAAAAAAAas/gswUD7kjiKQ/s200/IMG_2369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475328862613583762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGlQtTpOI/AAAAAAAAAak/zJFrtarNS9k/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGlQtTpOI/AAAAAAAAAak/zJFrtarNS9k/s200/IMG_2384.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475328852929783010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGlFclYwI/AAAAAAAAAac/470eM00MC24/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xGlFclYwI/AAAAAAAAAac/470eM00MC24/s200/IMG_2387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475328849906852610" /></a><br />And yet I am not particularly happy with the final outcome. I know this is because I rushed it near the end. In an attempt to polish up the rest of my projects I left this one until last minute and jeopardized it’s success. However, as my boyfriend stated, I sure did learn to plan ahead and take care next time around.<br /><br />My plan was to do a series of arm casts painted to look interesting, for example: a tattooed arm, a zombie arm, a bionic arm, etc. It’s something I would perhaps like to look into doing next year.<br /><br />As well as the arm cast I had a go at vacuum-forming a rubber spider, making a cast of it and creating my own little red latex spider. It was for no particular reason other than experimentation. However, in the end I decided to use it in the final 3D model as an arm adornment. Since glue didn’t hold it on, I actually had to sit there and stitch it to the cast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xCarZeI8I/AAAAAAAAAYs/v5W8hHCCt-A/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xCarZeI8I/AAAAAAAAAYs/v5W8hHCCt-A/s200/IMG_1530.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475324273069269954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xCaAMbM-I/AAAAAAAAAYk/NjksqCTaumA/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xCaAMbM-I/AAAAAAAAAYk/NjksqCTaumA/s200/IMG_2374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475324261471826914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB7ZqDebI/AAAAAAAAAYc/3FLFj-JaAYs/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB7ZqDebI/AAAAAAAAAYc/3FLFj-JaAYs/s200/IMG_2399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475323735731042738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB671xHjI/AAAAAAAAAYU/typuJVdtX8k/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB671xHjI/AAAAAAAAAYU/typuJVdtX8k/s200/IMG_2400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475323727727107634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB6XUfWkI/AAAAAAAAAYM/n4WhNiHsPmA/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xB6XUfWkI/AAAAAAAAAYM/n4WhNiHsPmA/s200/IMG_2401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475323717923854914" /></a><br />I guess what they say must be true: “Prior planning and preparation prevents piss-poor performance”. And don’t I know it!<br /><br />Finally, in a very sad and ironic twist of fate, my tarantula Mandy died during the project. I brought her in after being told I could preserve her in resin to use as an ornament, paperweight, fancy decoration, whatever.<br /><br />Here she is, lovely as ever!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xA4IR86YI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Cuu_Q-t73IU/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xA4IR86YI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Cuu_Q-t73IU/s200/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475322580015311234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xA3kAp1cI/AAAAAAAAAX8/X7KAc6jujO8/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_xA3kAp1cI/AAAAAAAAAX8/X7KAc6jujO8/s200/IMG_2397.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475322570279081410" /></a><br /><a href="http://jemimaleeartist.blogspot.com/2010/05/bookjacket-brief-part-two-final-blog.html">Bookjacket Brief Part Two – Final Blog</a>Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867328964260120950.post-55921493650345346722010-05-19T22:58:00.004+01:002010-05-19T23:19:07.253+01:00The Pearl of Lulworth CoveI feel compelled to share this with you all.<br /><br />When I was in Dorset during Easter, I made it a mission of mine to seek out The Shell Painter, an artist I remember from my youth.<br /><br />He would sit on the steps near Lulworth Cove beach and dazzle me with his beautiful paintings on shells, stones and bits of glass, some of them very tiny.<br /><br />I was happy to find him still sitting there, painting his lovely little souvenirs, so I had to buy one.<br /><br />I even spoke to him, told him I remembered him from my childhood. He told me he’s been doing it for twenty-odd years now, and that occasionally people would come up with their children, and insult him with comments like “you could do better than that.”<br /><br />What they don’t see is the love and care that goes into his tiny works of art, and his steady hand. I purchased a small stone off him with a painting of a mermaid on it along with a poem:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"How often and often I wish<br />I lived in green depths like a fish!<br />No noise, not a thing,<br />But the mermaids who sing<br />Whilst their tales give a silvery swish.<br /><br />Frances Cornford"</span><br /><br />Take a look for yourself, it’s beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_Ri2dWSH2I/AAAAAAAAAX0/vUxBjfhEOmo/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_Ri2dWSH2I/AAAAAAAAAX0/vUxBjfhEOmo/s200/IMG_1993.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473108134892543842" /></a><br />So I must insist that if you’re ever down in Dorset, head to Lulworth Cove beach and you’ll spot him a mile off. I took a photo of him myself, but you can find a much clearer one <a href="http://www.ukexpert.co.uk/photopost/painting/p31299-the-shell-painter.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_RiTBod34I/AAAAAAAAAXs/3AxYm3CnZE8/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ns74BFRrRzM/S_RiTBod34I/AAAAAAAAAXs/3AxYm3CnZE8/s200/IMG_1888.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473107526157197186" /></a><br />Purchase one of his little treasures and encourage more artists to live the dream!Jemimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160832035888311225noreply@blogger.com2