Sperm Whale

This will make your face cheeks hurt...

Cheers Vicky for showing me this...

Just had to put this up....drawings and art soon I promise

Now I feel like an English Literature student

These are the reasons why I haven't posted any artwork in ages, so deal with it. As much as I love drawing, I haven't drawn 'properly' for a few weeks now... instead, I've been getting my nose stuck into a good book, and these four beauties are what I have read in the past few weeks.



A friend lent me this book and I'm so glad he did as it's wonderful. A heart-warmingly, amusing tale of an American Jew who visits Europe in search of a woman who saved his grandfather during WW2. Very funny with a USA-lovin' Ukrainian translator and a sexually frustrated dog named after swing crooner Sammy Davies Jr with some sad bits and sometimes a little confusing, but I think that's just me being dumb (hey I'm allowed to be, I'm blonde now!) There is a movie of this too, directed by LIEV SCHREIBER! Not only is this guy a brilliant actor (I don't think he's actually in the film though) he has the best name ever and I love bellowing it, so imagine me bellowing it...LIIIIEEEEEV SCHREEEIBERRR!!!



I haven't actually finished this book yet as it is a hefty one! I am about half way through and so far I have been enjoying this classic tale of avenging a big white whale, but I find myslef struggling because the text is so prolific. I guess I just need to concebtrate more. This novel does have some wonderful imagery which has been made into exquist visuals time and time again, and I intend to work my making magic to create some drawings that are equally as hefty as Mr. Melville's work of art. Watch this space.



I read Margaret Atwood's 'Surfacing' while at school and absolutly fell in love with it. It's many underlying themes, including nature, women's relationships with just about everything in the 70's and complex main character absolutly fascinated me....and the fact she was an illustrator! I studied this book so friggin' hard and made stupid amounts of notes on it for part of my Alevel English exam, that you would think that I would be totaly put off, but it didn't. It just made me love it even more and nderstand everything Atwood was trying to tell her readers. Please, if you are going to read it, read it slowly and don't take all her sometimes seemingly over-the-top description for granted, as it is beautiful.

A Handmaid's Tale is just as good, but (I found) a whole lot easier to read. An intreqing tale of an alternative realisty (sorta science fiction I guess) about women who are there for one reason only, breeding. Loads of inbetween-the-lines feminist stuff going on. Well actually, a lot of it is blndingly obvious like the fact all of womens rights are taken away!



And finally, Silvia Plaths collection of random short stories and musings. What can I say- tormented writer?! I don't know much about Plath except that she only wrote one 'proper novel,' 'The Bell Jar' which I havent read yet, was married to Ted Hughes and she killed herself in 1963. I guess I should wikipedia her!
Some of these stories I enjoyed and her way of writing is sorta lke a stream of consciousness, nothing really well polished as such, I guess I like this as that's how I write. (to be refined, I have to write, wrtie, re-write, edit, re-write, edit, edit, re-write and then check for spelling mistakes, grammar error and slang, but I like slang, I'd rather keep it in...rad, stoked, super stoked, cool, psyched, innit, sick, dope fuck that, everything else and that's why most of the time I put pictures up and little else).
I rekon if you just want a book you can dip into about nothing specific at all, then you should read this. I'm gonna read the Bell Jar at soem point but I got loads of other newly-ish bought books I need to read first...1984, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Che Diaries, Silence of the Lambs.

OK, now I'm just being silly! :)

Charlie's Artwork

Charlie is my next door neighbour. He is five years old and today he hung out with me and made these rad pictures. The one is me playing my guitar and the other is me on my skateboard. Right on l'il dude!!

BRASH ZINE

Ok, so I gotta a new zine which will be doing the circuit. This one is issue 1 of many more to come and is bigger and better then the li'l free ones. Going to 'print' tomorrow (ie I will be going to find a photocopier) and you all should buy one at the stupidly cheap price of 20p! HOLLA AT ME!

Another Rad lady...LYN-Z!!

Volcom News | ROAD TESTED: LYN-Z ADAMS HAWKINS

Seriously sick!

This girl is up there with the rad ladies

BRASH BOOB!

Here's a snippet of things to come...

Printed, Framed and ready to Purchase

Get down to Studio4 Gallery at the Custard Factory in Birmingham to buy one of my Led Zep Screenprints, your wall needs one of these in its life!! Cheers Log :)

Cornwall's Answer to Venice Beach

So I've just come back from Cornwall today and it was a pretty dope holiday. Despite having to rely on folks for lifts to places of civilisation (ie Newquay...such a skatey/surfey town it's unbelievable!) and spending pretty much 2weeks, 24/7 with just my family, it was probably one of the best holidays! I tried surfing which was one of the most challenging, yet brilliant experiences I have ever experienced. It really makes you appreciate skateboarding a whole lot more I tell you! I met some rad people, while skating in Newquay so I'm stoked on that and I made these zines which i gave out. I am planning to photocopy more so if you want one you know where to get me! (blossompossom@hotmail.com)

Boardmasters...YEAH!!

I'm currently holidaying it up in Cornwall, which is why my blog is low on the posts, but don't you worry, I've still been a busy bee down here in the South West. Having fun is a priority however, and my sister and I went to Boardmasters Festival in Newquay today and saw some sick vert skating as well as the Vans team shredding it on the mini (where I'll be tomorrow!) as well as some pro surfing on the beach.

Above is a stunning photo my sister took of Ben Grove killing it!! A rather plesant fella too I might add! :) (well done vicky!).

Will post some stuff about latest zinage I made speshly for the festival soon.

RIP Harvey Pekar

A little late, I'm sorry, but it's taken me since I found out the great Harvey Pekar unfortunately passed away to do this drawing, but here it is now.

ooops

I painted this for my good friend Log, for his birthday, which was on friday. He is probably the raddest person I've ever met...and we share an appreciation for Ed :)

Log's blog: http://logulogu.blogspot.com/

GIY ("Gnargore It Yourself")

Yessss, I went to the Gnargore premier last night and it fucking ripped! Well done boys! and this is some of their rad artwork in zine form.....sickk!!! Stoked that I got on the ramp (when it got quiet) after the mayhem that was boys, boards and noise all over the fucking shop....RAAAADD!

Now go and listen to The Wizard real loud!!! and thanx for the hat Tom :)

Frustration and Super Sickage

Feeling very frustrated at the moment, so imagine my excitement when I come to check my blog and see what fellow bloggers are up to, I find all these super sick photos of Ed T in action on the Chromeball Incident. However, imagine my frustration comes back again because I cant comment on the blog post (or on many other blogs come to mention it) so I'll just write it on my own blog! FUCK THAT!

What a dude!!! Watched the beautiful Losers documentary again the other night and some stuff Ed says is totally inspiring; about Margaret Kilgallen and awesome skater girls making videos and zines. Empowering :)

That's all I wanted to say 'like'

Brummie Boys Shred!!

Come to the Gnargore 'Wizard Council' Skateboard Premiere this saturday at the Custard Factory, Birmingham. It starts at 6 and there is a raffle with prizes apparently! ooh and skate the Ideal ramp after :P
Here's the Gnargore blog: http://gnargore.tumblr.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

She's been through a lot and she should have a goat bought for her....never mind those African children!! (I don't mean that, African children need all the goats they can get so buy them loads!)

I'm going back to the family 'cos I've had all I can take

Yesss, I am home now.

MY FIRST COMIC BOOK!

As part of the end of year show my fellow illustration buddies and I had to organise, based on the theme of local folklore, I made my first ever comic. It is the story of zoo proprietor Edward Cross and his animals when they had to move from the Exeter Exchange menagerie in Strand to a new location in Walworth, in the 1800s. I had a rad time making this comic, from risographing to wandering around Manor Place and Surrey Gardens in Walworth. I guess the drawing was pretty fun too :) Unfortunately, the risograph printer broke before I had chance to print the front cover so each comic will have a different, hand-drawn cover!!!! Each copy will be unique and special so IF YOU WANT ONE, GET IN CONTACT WITH ME. ONLY 8 COPIES. Not sure on the price yet.

Victorian Pistol

Skateboarding=happiness

Back from Stockwell and it was the raddest skate I've had yet. Ok it's not entirely skateboarding=happiness, it is more the people I've met and friends I've made and how far I've come since skateboarding. I've been learning to carve round the bowl bit at Stockwell and I can do it now. Thank you French, Stu, Jonas, Josh, Kev, Nico and Paul :)

If you need a new board, get one of these OR DIE!





(ok i dont have on yet but my next board will deffo be Lovenskate of Witchcraft)

RISOGRAPH PRINTS

I love the risograph machine. Here is the Giraffes comic strip and my first three colour print. Stoked. and now I'm going to Stockwell. Even more stoked!! :)

GIRAFFES IN BURGESS PARK

Comic Strip I have done as part of our 1st year illo show at The Crypt (I'll post more details soon). I did Risograph prints of this which, again, I will post up soon.

Machotaildrop

I went to the movie premiere of Machotaildrop last night, it is the weirdest film about skateboarding you will ever see. Just go with it and let the quirkyness wash over you :) and Ed Templeton was there. Rad!