'Bring on Spring!' butterfly sample ....

little preview of some experiments for a new project ...

On hold ....

I am making a lot of calls to utility companies as I have moved house recently ...

(having said that the last one was v speedy)

Did you?

Did you vote yet?

...In case you don't know - where you been? - about this excellent organisation for artists, follow the link for info... https://www.a-n.co.uk/join_in/article/663847

Vote for Me, Bec G !

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME :-)

It's Monday morning and I am swamped with piles of pressing admin ... I'm sure you are too ... but can I press you to take a moment to vote for me ? Please. Here's the link ...(you need to be an A.I.R member and your password to vote will have been emailed to you on Friday ...I'm told to let you know to check your spam box) http://www.votepopularis.com/air/index.shtml

ideas for Christmas cards ... - no.1 Stag and Moon ...

...have begun drawing some provisional ideas for Christmas cards ...whaddya think? need colour? ....

Residency pieces ....

I'm stalling on starting new work ...have a drawing project to begin but am reluctant that big white piece of paper still seems too big and white, and besides, my desk needs tidying, and the pots need washing up, and oooh, I could do with another cup of tea, and oh, accounts need doing, and it's Friday ...argh! Here's a pic while I procrastinate ...this is a piece that I made for my residency back in August, 'winged toys escaping jars' (photo's are by Pete Kelly, thank you PK)...

Lady red.

I haven't drawn anything in ages, I've been upholstering. Lady red is from some months ago, she was drawn in a little black square book and she has extraordinary ribs.

'Stop Thief!'

I've have a story about an incident that took place as I traveled by the early doors Monday (bank holiday) train from Brighton to London. It's a strange train that 3.50am train, only take it if you really, really have to! I boarded this early train for a trip to Manchester for an artists residency. I packed my bags full of everything I needed and that included all my tech equip-camera, laptop-, arts materials, plastic lobster, clothes, make-up, snacks.You name it. I also took a pillow with me hoping that I could catch some winks whilst travelling. Bit of a mistake. Those early trains are for having your wits about you. I was trying to cat nap on the train, not being really successful and there was a creepy man loitering about. He came and sat near where I was sitting and was trying to 'sleep' or at least giving that impression. I thought it was all a bit weird as he was with friends but also not sitting with them. I tried to ignore him, and at one point, coming up to East Croydon station even looked pointedly in the opposite direction as I was feeling a little uneasy. After the train pulled out of East Croydon station, I looked back across into the train, in the direction of where this man had been sitting and he was gone, and so was my bag!!! I could barely believe it. I jumped up and stared at the empty space on the shelf where my bag had been no less that 2 ft away from me. - I'll cut the details a bit because this is far longer than I meant it to be... I ended up calling 999 and jumping off at the next stop, where I was told I would be met by police officers. Sure enough I was, and I asked if we could head to East Croydon station to see if my bag had been rooted and looted and dumped somewhere nearby, on the off chance, you never know, I was desperate, my life valuables were in that case. I sat in the back of the van as the police officer drove us (a police officer and me) to E Croydon station. I was sat with my back to the windscreen in the back of a police van and turned my head around so I could see out, as we drove along and came to take a left turn I looked across and there was the man off the train trundling along with my bag like it was no big thing. Ha! I must have shouted 'Thats him' about four times, and 'and that's my bag' about three times! The policeman turned the van around and pulled onto the pavement right in front of this man. I had all my belongings back, plastic lobster, camera, laptop, clothes, make-up, art materials, drawings, food, paperwork ...you name it. There was a lot in that bag and I was so, so, so, so, so, grateful to get it back, and so relieved. You've no idea. After all this, police statements, etc etc I was back on a train up North. All this before 7am on a Monday morning. I drew the lobster for a thank you card for the policemen who helped me.They were so brilliant, I was helped all the way, and supported and taken care of, there were strangers on the train who really nice when I was going nuts in disbelief when I spotted my bag gone, and all the police, the BTP, the emergency number operator, PC's who drove to East Croydon and essentially caught him. I was helped a lot on that trip. Thank you!

'Whisper' the Persian ...

....meet Whisper the Persian, think with those eyes he has special powers ... pet portrait (and for a tattoo) - how do you draw a white cat on white paper ? ...

Pet Portraits - 'Sam'

This is Sam, isn't he beautiful ?

I do Pet Portrait commissions, drop me an email, prices start at £70 for original pieces and you'll love it, it makes the idea christmas or birthday gift ....

Slideshow of images from Residency ...

Tracey McGuiness-Kelly and her husband Pete have put together this fantastic overview of our residency ... - you can spot my work, it's slightly weird, hybrids, installed pieces and little theatrical goings on ...there are my drawings too ...but I'll put some on here ... http://gallery.me.com/petekelly#101305 It's a superb document of the show ....

'Make a Wish'

...cabinet installation - one of the numerous toy 'hybrids' created during the residency ....'Make a Wish' ...

'True Love'

...another of the 16 or so cabinet installations, 'True Love' ...

The Usual Suspects (cabinet installation)

'The Usual Suspects' is one of the small vignettes I installed as part of the exhibition (at Stockport Museum and Art Gallery, August, 2011) ..there are about 16 in total, 4 cabinets of 4 shelves, or thereabouts ...stories, stories, stories everywhere! ...

co-resident artist tracey McGuiness-Kelly ...

I met Tracey earlier in the year before the residency, she does vibrant,childlike and delightful illustrations based on colour and shape, a very talented lady. I learnt a lot from her during the residency. She used to live and work in NYC ...and is now based in Marple where she continually and consistently makes wonderful images and illustrations ....see www.teeleedesign.com

SMBC Artist Residency August, 2011

For two weeks during August, myself and illustrator Tracey McGuiness-Kelly we commissioned be artists in r

residence at Stockport Museum and Art Gallery... for two weeks we put together toys, drawings, mini-installations culminating in a room of childlike imagination ....

Prop making ...Brighton til I Die

...lots and lots of signs, props for the very funny and exciting production of 'Brighton til I Die, Theatre Royal, July, 2011

240 Puppets

Puppet prep for an Arts Week at a primary school in West London ( - with H2oh!education www.h2ohentertainament.com )
2 days - 240 children - 240 puppets ...