Workin' Out at Work

Hauling out some ol' archives here. This was for Mutual & Federal for a series of in-house desk planner toons back in 2005.
Speaking of working out around here, just got commissioned to illustrate a kids' educational book on rather short notice - 45 colour illustrations due in 2 weeks. Shrieeeeeeeek! But it's a fun story and I get free reign on the style, so I look forward to eating, sleeping and breathing this project until August 15th...

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The Downward Tinsel Spiral

That's right, folks. August kicks off this weekend. Frightening stuff, huh? I'm ashamed to admit that I missed not only this year's Christmas deadline for greeting card design, but Mother's and Father's Day, too (sheepish stance with accompanying blush). Think about it...in roughly three months, Christmas cards get shelf space in your local product flogger and today I think I dreaded the season. Y'know it's gonna be all green and red and gold before you can spell "Christmas bonus". Is it just me getting on in years and feeling the days, weeks and months slip by quicker? Anyone else feeling the wind and spluttering sand particles as we're left in the dust here?

Of Dolphins and Daydreams

Been insanely busy lately, which has been nothing short of a good thing, considering the dismal drought at this time last year (aherm, the reason I'm now renting a room somewhere...sigh, the perils of freelancing). Picked up a couple of good clients and hopefully things will roll along at a reasonably timeous pace from here on out. That's up to God, ultimately, but maybe He feels I'm ready to manage some full nets around here.
Just looked at my recent blogs and atomic soda is crying out for colour! So, here are some dolphins I painted back in 2000 for a friend in Cape Town. I was just looking at my landlord's whale-coated tablecloth earlier today and thinking, it's been some time since I painted sea-life. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Dubai Dromedary

An image for a fridge magnet I'm designing for a client over on the Palm Islands.

The Workout and The Sneeze

Popped out 14 toons for an HIV brochure today. With ad agencies it's always due yesterday or, at the very least, end of today. In this booklet my little character has to make sure he watches his health. This was a pretty kewl project because the style was easy for me. Ah, if only they were all as such...

Faith Factory

Sketched this puppy up quickly tonight at rather short notice for a church that's starting up a project geared towards helping the impoverished. They go in "jobless joe" and hopefully come out the other end with skills they can use to bring in an income. They wanted a clean cut, leaning-towards-superhero feel, so our fun characters come in later if the board approves the idea of cartooned pitch to business folk out there. Had lots of fun doing this one!

Synchronised Moegoes

I think I spelt moegoes wrong. Is it moegoes or mugu's? Anyone? I can hardly call myself an advertisement proofreader and newspaper sub-editor with this kind of question on the cards, huh? Eep. This was a cartoon I rustled up for what I thought might be a range of greeting cards with a South African flavour. I liked the black and white feel, but in retrospect, maybe colour was the way to go here. Some mistakes, too, I blush to note. Like the croquet sticks I'm calling water polo equipment...and there's just no way I'd hand-write the font nowadays.

Tattoo Love

I watched Miami Ink last night for the first time. I wish I hadn't because I just want to get more tattoo'd than I already am. It truly can get addictive. Or maybe that's just my addictive personality with tattoo as my potential poison of choice. Skin ink is what inspired this design for a valentine's range of greeting cards. I still diggit. Bit of pop art thrown in there, too. The thing about Miami Ink is looking at the designs these guys punt out...there's some rich talent out there. In retrospect, having almost become a tattoo apprentice myself in '98, I'm glad I didn't - I could never have cut it like those boys do. Some beautiful stuff. I enjoyed the years of designing tattoo flash for chop shops back in Durban and, graphically, it's stood me in good stead with line paths and boldness, shading and confidence with lines.