Sleep 2: The Sleepquel.

Blowing the dust away from this sleepy blog, here's the second instalment of my Sleep series. 

The first one can be found here. Enjoy!

General Election 2015 - The next televised debate.

Sleep.

Cheeky Bugger.

Flurry of updates.

Hello Hello.

This is a bit more of a wordy blog post than usual, thought I'd give a quick update on what's turning out to be a very eventful couple of weeks:

Designers / Makers

This has been quite an exciting development, Designers / Makers is an agency for contemporary design, looking to help promote and develop freelancers and brands. The premise is that you apply for a year long membership, if they deem you suitable, you're in. Think of it like the Justice League - but for creative types. That's how I like to view it (I'm Batman).
They organize marketing and selling events for your work (also via their online shop) and offer advice on professional development. I have my own profile up on their site, scroll down to the bottom to see. Definitely more news to follow soon.

For Arts Sake re-stock

Had a re-order of stock at For Arts Sake which is always appreciated.

Brand spanking new card designs

I'm also happy to announce that I've released some new designs onto my shop. I've produced 5 new designs with a view of making 5 more in the next month or so. I'm happy with the results. I surprised myself with the quick turnaround of just a week to think up and complete them all. Hopefully they'll do just as well.



I have a few other projects in the pipeline including a Film Noir comic based in a school environment which I've been dipping in and out of for the past year, more info to follow soon. As well as that, I'm currently planning a 'video comic' collaboration which I'm very excited about. These things always take a while to process and finish off so patience is a virtue (for now).

TTFN

Hello You Creatives.

A while ago I did a comic about the video shop in West Ealing which surprisingly got some really good coverage.

Really chuffed that it's now featured on the Hello You Creatives website here.

West Ealing video shop.

Astroskull 3.

Got round to continuing another Astroskull. The skull is different from the original strips, I want to play around with the look more, I like the idea that the appearance of the skull constantly changes within the confides of it's suit. Is it an actual skeleton? Is it a ghost? Illusion? We'll see.

Previous Astroskull strip.

Gerald the Bear.

I was clearing out some old folders and came across this comic I started, I have no idea why I stopped doing it as I loved the character. Anywho, I polished off a few details and finished the text so here it is! May do some more. 

Rob Hoey Comic.

From one fun project to another, shortly after our shoot with Pinch TV I got an email from Matt Bell asking if I'd be interested in an illustration job. I stroked my (lack of) beard and agreed enthusiastically.

The brief was to make an A2 sized comic, in the style of Beano/Beezer/Viz for Rob Hoey's birthday that was coming up, a surprise gift (quick note, Rob has received said illustration so this isn't some sort of spoiler post!). Matt wrote the script, and I went from there. It was a really fun project to do and something a bit different and (blowing my own trumpet) testing my versatility as an illustrator which is always welcomed.

I managed to get it printed off and dry mounted at the gallery I work at which was a huge convenient bonus. Some pictures:

Bit blurry this one - the illustration freshly printed.

The illustration after it's been dry mounted, it's basically a method of attaching prints and artworks to mounting surfaces by heating a shellac tissue between the mount and the print. Just so it's more durable and not as flimsy.

A closer look.

I attached a love letter for Rob a small note for Rob for any framing recommendations.

The bad boy wrapped in about a million layers of tissue paper.

Phew, been a very busy month. Very glad I had this week off work (beside the rain part). Next step I would like to do is to start to build an ACTUAL website, we'll see how that goes.

Tar Tar For Now.

Phoney's Autopsy.

Jobseekers/Knobseekers.

Afternoon,


As many of you may know already, I am currently on Jobseekers Allowance. Since graduating, the only design studios that would take me on have been short term placements for 2 weeks or so, but about a month ago I gained a substantially longer placement at One Little Indian records for 3 months. 


Well, my 'claim' is now in jeopardy. I work 24 hours a week at OLI, unpaid, but I do get travel expenses. Before I started at OLI, I had told jobseekers week after week that I have this lined up, and they seemed happy for me, thinking this could lead onto something more permanent.


The other week, I was telling them I may have another 3 month internship lined up afterwards, and I enquired as to how many hours I can technically do unpaid. When I mentioned to them that I currently do 24 hours at OLI, it caused a big confusion, about 3 of the workers there - credit to them, were very helpful and nice - they honestly didn't know. I guess my situation is rarer than your standard Jobseekers claimer? 
Apparently my claim is in trouble because I'm meant to be available 40 hours a week to look for jobs. I still fill out the 3 'searching-for-jobs-boxes' you have to fill out weekly. I really don't understand where they're coming from, as you're encouraged more and more (by them) to do volunteering and free work. 
Jobseekers HQ in Glasgow are going to decide what to make of me, I'll either be cut off, or get a reduction on my claim by the looks of it. Either way I'm incredibly annoyed, to get into the design industry (in fact, nearly every industry) you have to get unpaid work on your belt, it's an important experience and more and more studios have been demanding this. Not only this, I feel I really haven't done anything wrong (although I would say that I guess?) I told them weeks and weeks before starting this internship what I'll be doing, but either through lack of training or caring, they didn't realize the potential disaster for me?
Gah. 
I may even have to pay back the money they paid me, which, quite frankly, I don't have. 
Here's to being in debt!
The illustration below should get how I feel across. Wish me luck guys and gals.

Jamie