CUSTOMER SERVICE

(Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper)

I did this piece for Inktober as a reference to the way many artists are so afraid of causing offence that they self-censor, causing their work to be bland and void of any creativity. They opt for the easy life, shying away from any kind of confrontation, especially in this age of social media.

Trolling has been around for a lot longer than the internet. It's not a new phenomenon. It's just easier for people to do now. If any artist is worried about upsetting anyone then they should  consider calling it a day, because they're really wasting their time.

MOVING HOUSE

 

(Gel Fineliner on A5 paper)

Still keeping the works "vanilla" with these Inktober submissions (not following the prompt words).

This is a simple image of a small house on legs. It didn't really take me that long to do, but the result is quite good.

MAD DOG

(Gel Fineliner on A5 Paper)

 One of the age-old responses from dog-owners: “He won't bite you” along with “He's good with children.”

He's a dog, and like all dogs, they're bred from wolves. Given half the chance they'd revert back to their natural pack instinct. The only reason they don't is that they see you as the pack leader who regularly feeds and pampers them.

“Oh, my little darling isn't like that!” I hear you say, as if you're talking about a child. “He gives me kisses by licking my face. It's his way of saying how much he loves me.”

He licks his balls and arsehole with that tongue, so what's he really saying there?

The first prompt-word for Inktober2024 was "backpack" in the suspiciously themed list that was released last month. As in the preview post I made last, I decided not to bother with them and go "vanilla" with them all by drawing whatever I wanted each day.

When The Black-Sun Knight Got Tongued

 

(2B pencil on 85mm x 65mm paper)

It's a smaller dreamscape piece, and I wasn't going to keep it, but I did like the title I gave it!

Silas Grimbeard

 

(Fineliner on 115mm x 87mm paper)

A grumpy dwarf wizard, travelling with his feathery familiar.

This piece was done to try out some cheap gel fineliner pens I'd just bought, and they seem to work quite well, giving a good line and a decent opaque finish to the black areas. Not bad considering they're 3 for £1!

Merry Christmas 2023: DICKIE DUGGS

 

(HB Pencil on 120mm x 90mm paper)

For the artwork and story for this year's Christmas card, I've focused on a hapless stand-up comedian, and how not believing in fairies can be very bad for your health!

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And you can read the stories from previous Christmas cards by just clicking on each of the years below:

2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2022

The Old Librarian

(fineliner on 190mm x 130mm paper)

This was a pen sketch that I did last year which I decided to finish-off a little more. The initial idea of it was a bookish, wizard-like, individual who was something of a travelling library, and wore one of his books as a hat.

The Clueless Wizard

 

(2B pencil on 110mm x 81mm paper)

An odd dreamscape piece which produced the unlikely pair of characters of a wizard and, what looks like, a rocker, with the wizard having trouble deciphering a magic scroll he's been given. The rocker doesn't look too impressed!

Freaky Blinder

(2B pencil on 130mm x 90mm paper)

 I've never watched Peaky Blinders, but whilst I was casually sketching, I came up with this orc character with a flat cap and cigarette and remembered some of the images I'd seen from the show. So I decided to call it "Freaky Blinder" in relation to it.