Gurch, at The Cornershop in Stratford asked me to draw him a picture of Shakespeare holding a jar of sweets for his sweet jar labels.
The Cornershop is where I used to get changed into the Grim Reaper when I worked for Grimm's Ghostly Tours when I was 14... 14 years ago! Gurch remembered me, we got to chatting and he asked for a toon. I've been stupidly busy with DJing Subculture, Subside, and Velvet, doing Mad Science, and Mad Museum as well as peripheral stuff like networking so it took a coupla weeks from starting it, showing him prelims, acting on feedback, and getting him the final copy but he seems happy with it as I sent it off last night.
I also spent a lot of yesterday designing business cards with moo.com and VistaPrint. The Moo ones allow more creative control so I imagine they'll be for business or guaranteed clients. I've done 3 of those - one for Illustrating, one for DJing, and one for Performance (Stilts, Grinding etc).
The VistaPrint ones, will just be for handing out generally willy nilly and they're a combination of my skills on one card. I'm waiting for payments to start rolling in (end of the month!) before I order them, but they're all saved in my Carts!
And I designed, finally, some flyers/posters on Photoshop. These are for putting up, leaving in shops, posting through doors.
Two slightly different ones. One a general illustration one, one more skewed towards caricatures. Again, I'm waiting for the dollar to come through before actually ordering them.
It's been nice learning and applying some design techniques. It's the first time I've seriously designed anything like this. Maybe this learning will come in useful again soon.
All is well. MAD Museum are keen to get me in over the Jubilee, and I think Area 51 may have some work for me too. I've got a few after school classes with Mad Science this week, then half-term next week. I've done a bit of gardening, so the garden is now inhabitable to sit in and read which has been nice! I've finished my "Perdido Street Station", review here. I'm now reading "I, Partridge", Alan Partridge's autobiography - very funny! And dipping into a book of essays about the morality, legality, artistic merits, psychology and more of pornography - interesting!
All's good.
Right! Now to make sure I know all the stuff for my lesson today and get showered etc!
Monday, 28 May 2012
Monday, 19 March 2012
Monday Night... not Blue!
Today, I woke up feeling very content indeed.
I awoke at my parents', early for me at 8am. I decided not to roll over and sleep until the hour of the day had at least two digits, but rather to sit in bed read some more of One Day which I am loving. I just read for an hour and a half and was happy. I was glad to find I could remember the ideas I had for my own writing project last night as I walked here and may combine with a drawing project. I've had lots of vague ideas swirling round my head, all interconnected. Last night a flash hit me of how I might connect them all in a coherent and interesting way.
Then I got up, had breakfast with dad, did a bit of paperwork etc, then did a spot of drawing then chatted to dad some more, largely about music which led to me buying 8 Mile for him as I think he'd like it and know he'll never watch it if it's not physically in the house. He wouldn't order it off Film Flex or anything.
I chatted to dad about work and helped him swot up on a test he has to do for work on Thursday. I realised I've started thinking in a much more business-like way than I did a couple of years ago. Last week was very busy what with long days at Mad Science doing schools followed by 3 days with them at the NEC, the last of which was followed by a cracking late shift at Subside, but all of which were done with a developing cold that involved body aches, hot and cold spells, and losing my voice.
I still have the last traces of that cold so it was nice to be relaxed and somewhere as safe-feeling as my parents' today.
After dad went to work, I drew a little bit more until mum got home and she gave me a lift to pick up my DVDs that I'd mistakenly ordered to an old address of mine.
Then we watched some Big Bang Theory and Star Trek TNG together, and now I have come back and done a bit more drawing. All interspersed with chatting to lovely people on my phone all day and listening to new music. It's just been pleasant and I've felt oddly productive for a slow day. I wanted to spend some time with the folks and I have. I wanted to draw and I have. I wanted to sort out the paperwork I needed to sort and I have. I wanted to have some ideas about where to start this writing project and I have. I wanted to get my DVDs and I have. I wanted to read and I have. I wanted to check out some musicians I haven't listened to before and I have. (Gotye and The Word Alive)
All easily attainable goals but I haven't been too lazy to acheive any of them which I often do on lazy days.
The pic hasn't progressed much but here is how it's looking now:
I feel content and able to take on the world.
Tomorrow, I have to drop some paperwork off at Selly Oak Hospital before 12:30 (which will involve going home to get it first! I'm hoping dad might give me a lift. I rarely ask him for a lift actually.) and then I will hopefully be buying a car if I can find one I can afford that doesn't look knackered and hasn't already sold by the time I ring about it tomorrow.
I feel the most optimistic about life that I have in months. It's nice! I feel maybe like I'm actually starting to grow up and take control of my life rather than letting it lead me around and just holding on tight and enjoying the ride. I have a better idea of where from and when my money comes in and I've whittled down frivolous spending a lot and have a better handle on where from and when my money goes out.
I'm now quite tired and looking forward to going to bed, reading for 15 mins or so, then going to sleep before 1am.
I'm starting to feel like a adult for the first time in my life.
And I rather like it!
I awoke at my parents', early for me at 8am. I decided not to roll over and sleep until the hour of the day had at least two digits, but rather to sit in bed read some more of One Day which I am loving. I just read for an hour and a half and was happy. I was glad to find I could remember the ideas I had for my own writing project last night as I walked here and may combine with a drawing project. I've had lots of vague ideas swirling round my head, all interconnected. Last night a flash hit me of how I might connect them all in a coherent and interesting way.
Then I got up, had breakfast with dad, did a bit of paperwork etc, then did a spot of drawing then chatted to dad some more, largely about music which led to me buying 8 Mile for him as I think he'd like it and know he'll never watch it if it's not physically in the house. He wouldn't order it off Film Flex or anything.
I chatted to dad about work and helped him swot up on a test he has to do for work on Thursday. I realised I've started thinking in a much more business-like way than I did a couple of years ago. Last week was very busy what with long days at Mad Science doing schools followed by 3 days with them at the NEC, the last of which was followed by a cracking late shift at Subside, but all of which were done with a developing cold that involved body aches, hot and cold spells, and losing my voice.
I still have the last traces of that cold so it was nice to be relaxed and somewhere as safe-feeling as my parents' today.
After dad went to work, I drew a little bit more until mum got home and she gave me a lift to pick up my DVDs that I'd mistakenly ordered to an old address of mine.
Then we watched some Big Bang Theory and Star Trek TNG together, and now I have come back and done a bit more drawing. All interspersed with chatting to lovely people on my phone all day and listening to new music. It's just been pleasant and I've felt oddly productive for a slow day. I wanted to spend some time with the folks and I have. I wanted to draw and I have. I wanted to sort out the paperwork I needed to sort and I have. I wanted to have some ideas about where to start this writing project and I have. I wanted to get my DVDs and I have. I wanted to read and I have. I wanted to check out some musicians I haven't listened to before and I have. (Gotye and The Word Alive)
All easily attainable goals but I haven't been too lazy to acheive any of them which I often do on lazy days.
The pic hasn't progressed much but here is how it's looking now:
 |
| Click for bigness... |
I feel content and able to take on the world.
Tomorrow, I have to drop some paperwork off at Selly Oak Hospital before 12:30 (which will involve going home to get it first! I'm hoping dad might give me a lift. I rarely ask him for a lift actually.) and then I will hopefully be buying a car if I can find one I can afford that doesn't look knackered and hasn't already sold by the time I ring about it tomorrow.
I feel the most optimistic about life that I have in months. It's nice! I feel maybe like I'm actually starting to grow up and take control of my life rather than letting it lead me around and just holding on tight and enjoying the ride. I have a better idea of where from and when my money comes in and I've whittled down frivolous spending a lot and have a better handle on where from and when my money goes out.
I'm now quite tired and looking forward to going to bed, reading for 15 mins or so, then going to sleep before 1am.
I'm starting to feel like a adult for the first time in my life.
And I rather like it!
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Today
Here is the Steampunk piece so far: CLICK
It's going slowly but I'm really happy with how it's looking. Really happy so far!
Today - I am doing some more stuff with Mad Science in a couple of hours. A new school so that should be interesting!
Then later, I'm DJing some rock, metal, punk and alternative at Velvet Nightclub in Worcester for the 2nd time.
Looking forward to that too!
Today, I am liking the artwork of Nam Sang Heun
And I have finally listened to Matchbox Twenty. I like them. Make me think a little of The Black Crowes.
It's going slowly but I'm really happy with how it's looking. Really happy so far!
Today - I am doing some more stuff with Mad Science in a couple of hours. A new school so that should be interesting!
Then later, I'm DJing some rock, metal, punk and alternative at Velvet Nightclub in Worcester for the 2nd time.
Looking forward to that too!
Today, I am liking the artwork of Nam Sang Heun
And I have finally listened to Matchbox Twenty. I like them. Make me think a little of The Black Crowes.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Steampunk Drawing Update
Here's how it's looking so far!
CLICK!
Quite happy with how it's looking at the mo. Haven't been able to do much more on it but this is what I have so far!
Edit:
And now, I have a little bit more done on it.
CLICK AGAIN!
I'm trying something a little different with this. After laying down just a base colour for each person/thing in the picture, I'll then paint on a single layer that it ON TOP of the sketch layer.
I'm hoping this will:
a) Give it a more painterly style and
b) force me to make tougher decisions and tighten up my thinking while freeing up my style a little.
Also, I have mainly been listening to The Human Abstract (along with The Architects, Cancer Bats, and Abandon All Ships - yes - I'm in that sorta mood!).
The Human Abstract - Fusing metal with classical music in a novel way.
See here: Human Abstract – Antebellum
CLICK!
Quite happy with how it's looking at the mo. Haven't been able to do much more on it but this is what I have so far!
Edit:
And now, I have a little bit more done on it.
CLICK AGAIN!
I'm trying something a little different with this. After laying down just a base colour for each person/thing in the picture, I'll then paint on a single layer that it ON TOP of the sketch layer.
I'm hoping this will:
a) Give it a more painterly style and
b) force me to make tougher decisions and tighten up my thinking while freeing up my style a little.
Also, I have mainly been listening to The Human Abstract (along with The Architects, Cancer Bats, and Abandon All Ships - yes - I'm in that sorta mood!).
The Human Abstract - Fusing metal with classical music in a novel way.
See here: Human Abstract – Antebellum
Monday, 27 February 2012
Productive?
Entered a competition to design a cute monster for a t-shirt on DeviantArt today.
If you're a member, check it out and if you like it vote by clicking "I'd Wear This" here - http://capndred.deviantart.com/#/d4r361s
Also joined a couple more networking sites but haven't really sorted out the profiles for them yet. Later.
Watched more 24. Two more episodes left!
Listened to some Gonjasufi, some Grandaddy, and some Handsome Boy Modelling School.
Ones I've had on repeat:
Gonjasufi: Sheep, and Dobermins
Grandaddy: He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot
Handsome Boy Modelling School: The Truth, and A Day In The Life - featuring RZA, The Mars Volta & AG + Good Hygiene featuring Tim Meadows
Choonz!!!
If you're a member, check it out and if you like it vote by clicking "I'd Wear This" here - http://capndred.deviantart.com/#/d4r361s
Also joined a couple more networking sites but haven't really sorted out the profiles for them yet. Later.
Watched more 24. Two more episodes left!
Listened to some Gonjasufi, some Grandaddy, and some Handsome Boy Modelling School.
Ones I've had on repeat:
Gonjasufi: Sheep, and Dobermins
Grandaddy: He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot
Handsome Boy Modelling School: The Truth, and A Day In The Life - featuring RZA, The Mars Volta & AG + Good Hygiene featuring Tim Meadows
Choonz!!!
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Old!
Wow!
Just been flicking through my old LiveJournal Entries.
Very interesting for me. Not so sure about anyone else.
Rather than port them all over here, I'm just gonna link to that old journal here.
http://capndred.livejournal.com/
Just been flicking through my old LiveJournal Entries.
Very interesting for me. Not so sure about anyone else.
Rather than port them all over here, I'm just gonna link to that old journal here.
http://capndred.livejournal.com/
Networking
So I need to make another push at this.
I'm signing up to creative and professional networking sites. Free ones at first and we'll see how they go, and then maybe I'll think about paying for some and seeing if results are worthwhile.
I'm not sure how to use these websites properly yet but now I am on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/curtis-allen/48/9b2/3b5
And Behance - http://www.behance.net/curtisallen
And I've been on PeoplePerHour for a few months now - http://www.peopleperhour.com/freelancers/curtis_allen/portfolio/freelance_illustrator_and_artist/239446
I hope to figure out how to use these to their full potential soon.
I'm also looking into getting flyers and business cards printed up and then repeating all of this for DJing too.
Busy times!
I'm signing up to creative and professional networking sites. Free ones at first and we'll see how they go, and then maybe I'll think about paying for some and seeing if results are worthwhile.
I'm not sure how to use these websites properly yet but now I am on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/curtis-allen/48/9b2/3b5
And Behance - http://www.behance.net/curtisallen
And I've been on PeoplePerHour for a few months now - http://www.peopleperhour.com/freelancers/curtis_allen/portfolio/freelance_illustrator_and_artist/239446
I hope to figure out how to use these to their full potential soon.
I'm also looking into getting flyers and business cards printed up and then repeating all of this for DJing too.
Busy times!
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