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Life model
Back at Betty Frankenstien's Drawing Room, after a good few weeks' absence, I found that I was a bit rusty at the old life drawing. Eventually, the scribbling cogs began to turn smoothly, so I carried on using that technique where I try and keep my pencil on the page as much as possible. I quite like the results (a whiff of Egon Schiele, perhaps?) and the wiggly lines make me think of blood vessels, tendons and the nervous system.
Three cushions showing images by Matt Bannister
I've just entered a design competition through online store OhhDeer.com adapting some images that may be already familiar to you, dear Reader. The concept of the contest is as follows: I create the pillow/cushion design (or three in this case) which is uploaded onto their site. At the end of the 'live' period (I think it's mid November) the designer of the cushion with the most social media sharing AND sales will be asked to join their collective. It's a very clever device and a good way for them to see a whole range of artists' work, but within a real commercial setting.
If you're reading this, please share your favourite cushion (via the relevant Facebook link on the OhhDeer.com website) or even buy one! Even if I don't win, the automatic designs the competition creates look great, and may have inspired me to do something like this myself in the future.
Click on each design below, and it will take you to that product on OhhDeer.com.
Dinosaurs design
Three dragons
Sphinxes
Yellow giraffe illustration
I thought I'd share a birthday card I knocked up yesterday for a little relative of mine. A sweep of yellow acrylic paint and some permanent ink et voila! One giraffe. I've now started to build a mental list of zoo of animal numbers. I'm sure more will end up escaping in due course. In fact, I should probably take a trip to London Zoo and sketch a load of exotic beasts from life, shouldn't I?
illustrations of people helping each other
I recently did some cartoon style images for the launch of a new time sharing scheme (sometimes known as time banking), based in Sutton, Surrey, called Sutton Shares. Run by the Volunteer Centre Sutton, it's for the London Borough of Sutton. I'm happy to see that they've used some on their website, but I also understand that they've been showing them to people during the scheme's training sessions, and using them as part of their handbook. Always happy to help a good cause with my felt tips and photoshop!
suttonshares.org.uk
Crystal Palace Subway
I returned to the Crystal Palace Subway last Sunday, as it was open to the public as part of London's Open House weekend. The Friends of Crystal Palace Subway, who ran and organised the visits across the weekend, were giving out postcards of my 'Subway Sphinxes' image to visitors: an arty freebie for the lucky people who managed to get tickets and a little bit of self promotion for me. Thanks to Jules Hussey for being the keeper of the cards. Some of the team were also wearing the t-shirt I designed too, which was great. I'm very pleased to have been involved in a small way with this project, and it's definitely something I'll be continuing to support.
Crystal Palace Subway
