knunk

Tell you what. I don't think its ever been this bad. Its not the work, there's plenty of that about. The problem is getting paid. Okay that was always a problem but this past few years its got worse and worse. Nobody wants to pay anymore! Its the same story for my freelance chums. All of them are owed money, huge amounts of money in some cases. Many of the folks are walking a financial tightrope. Growing overdrafts... remortgaging their houses.

Us freelancers are paid to do good work, on time. Frankly its insulting to wait 2 months then have to start begging for your money. I recently had work with a well known studio on a very cool show. The kind of thing you'd do cheap just to have it on your CV. Well I did do it for cheap. Very cheap. I gave them an awful lot for the paltry sum. They repaid me by making me wait 3 months then deducting tax and NI from me. I told them I couldn't conitnue because of this.



This stuff has almost brought me to my knees. I have kids and a house and bills too. I work like a bastard to give people my best. Look after your freelancers folks.



On a brighter note. My writer pal is free and has come on board to work with me on my own show. So its given me a push. Development on it has taken a jump forward. I think the look is getting there. The image above is some early development from it.

The latest Skunk is done. It was a great script. Dont think I've pulled so many faces drawing a board.

My Ex Mrs found this online for me today. Its one of my first comic covers done in the 80s. Its bloody terrible, but its great seeing it again. I haven't seen it since I drew it all those years ago. I remember being really nervous about it. I was only a young pup and those Marvel guys were like bearded gods. Bless them for letting a kid have a go.

Have a great year all!

I couldn't stop drawing this fella over Christmas for some reason. Hope you all had a good one.

Just completed the first pass on the latest Skunk board. Skunk totally wigs in this show, he's nails! As is the chap above.

Thanks to Gez at stardotstar for sending me this pic. The Aliens cartoon on the big screen in Manchester...cool!
This past week Ive had some fab design work to do. Loads of fun. I wish I could post them.

Heres some more oldies. Colour notes from Wacky Woods this time. We made 3 pilots. One in India and two here. Still waiting on this one.
Wise Old Owl made me laugh. He's not wise, old or an Owl. He's a sheep in a tree.
Class!

Heres a few colour notes I did ages ago. I wanted to go a bit lino print but the client chose a rougher style. Theres also a few ealy PS paintings for the same project and a BG idea. It was Lightwave and PS.... I never saw the final thing.

Busy busy


Sorry for the long delay. I'm coming to the end of the latest Skunk board.
I've been having fun drawing Mr Fish below.




no new "proper" art so heres an old one of some trains.



chuf chuf...

Grim Reaper chav doodles.

I went outside again yesterday. It was weird. All big and that.
The parks nice, apart from an odd young chap (pictured).
I think his little brother had nicked a bike from out of my skip. My two boys and me had a game of cricket with young Faheed and his cousins, who hit the ball so hard it hit a plane (pictured) he's only ten.

Where's the sun gone?

Apologies for the lack of drawings. Here's a doodle from last night. A beefy version of one of the fab Skunk characters.

Monday night, the Cornerhouse in Manchester was the place to be.
The four episodes of Safe and Sound, made with my good mate Chris Wayles, were getting their big screen debut.
Many thanks to my chums at stardotstar for a great evening. And extra big thanks to Guy, the creative force behind SnS, and Nic, the boss.


Waylo turns on lazer vision


Waylo, me and Paul (soon to be a dad)


Metz and Trix and Courtney looking at someone with a cool camera.


Pauls hair makes a break for it.


G-men


"Look at Jez's shit camera!"


Hair fight!