Kimono fabric

One of the most exciting parts of the Headspace residency has been the collaboration with Osaka-based fashion designer, Kyoko Amano. I was asked to draw a creature based on Osaka's iconic Tower of the Sun. This image was then incorporated into a design and printed onto fabric. The fabric is to be used by Louise on one of the characters created exclusively for the Headspace event and will also be used to dress (an actual, living!) model by Kyoko inspired by our character. Here's my original illustration and a sneak peek of the fabric. All will be revealed on Saturday...

Kayamori House sliding doors mural

This weekend while Louise was holding a monster making workshop at Kayamori House I painted this mural on the sliding doors in the same room. It's been a great weekend. Met loads of interesting people. Let's do it again sometime.

Drawing Cumulus competition on TOYSREVIL

Time is running out to enter the TOYSREVIL "Drawing Cumulus" competition. Prizes include an original drawing of Cumulus (by me, obviously!), Inspector Cumulus toys, prints and copies of the first volume of my sketchbook. Thanks to Andy at TOYSREVIL for organising such a great competition and Andy Woo over at Crazylabel for donating the toys and posters. Have a look at the Flickr group to to see the high standard of entries so far. I'm overwhelmed by the reaction to Inspector Cumulus. He's got a life of his own!

Headspace "Monster" Tee

The t-shirt I designed for the Headspace "Monster" event at Cafe Absinthe in Osaka is now available online. If you're outside Japan please contact Jamie via the link for details of postage. The shirts are ¥2,000 each (roughly £15 or $25). Here's a pic of Jamie modeling the shirt with Barnaby Grangle himself.

Another bloody tree

Yes, another tree but this time with a new colour pen - ochre!

A tree AND a rock

Here's yet another tree - I can't get enough of them! This one's an Acer (really it should be in colour to do those red leaves justice). Even more to follow (sorry if you're sick of trees!).

More Japanese Trees

We've moved out of Nara City for a week and we're currently staying in an incredible house halfway up a mountain in Kayamori. These two trees are outside the window - a Japanese Pine and a Maple tree. I've been testing out my new Japanese pens drawing them.

Jazz Beast!

Spotted going into the Jazz bar opposite the studio.

On the streets of Nara

Caught this chap having a cigarette on a side street in Nara. Expect more pics soon.

Japan Part 1

Konnichiwa! I thought I'd have had chance to blog before today but free wi-fi seems to be in short supply in Japan. We've spent the first few days meeting people and "networking" (for want of a better word!). We're headlining an arts and music event in Osaka at Cafe Absinthe on the 4th of June, Here's the flyer.

I'll be drawing live plus collaborating with a Japanese artist on a canvas. Louise is collaborating with an amazing Osaka-based fashion designer. Her team will be taking one of our creatures (which will be dressed in fabric of her design) and photographing it around the Kansai area. It should be a great night.

Yesterday we spent the day visiting all the many shrines in Nara (there is SEVEN World Heritage sites in one city!). In between being stopped by Japanese school children wanting their picture taken with us (?!) I manage to do some drawing. Here's one of them.

More updates soon. Mata ne!

POP! - The Elvis Story

The Elvis story as part of my "Pop" strip for the NME. I know all the facts about pop music. ALL OF THEM!

"Public Transport" for NMSD

Here's a quick one pager I did for Delaine Derry Green's excellent Not My Small Diary anthology (issue 16). The theme of this issue is transportation. I have a love/hate relationship with public transport - it's usually "hate" but I do love a good anecdote and it's given me plenty of those. NMSD 16 is in two big chunky volumes and is available here. It's brill' so go buy it.

Click on the pic to see it big.