Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey

So you may, or may not know that I recently started a project for +Dead With Tequila. I'm really excited about this one, because it really takes me back to doing one of the things that I love most, and that's cartooning. 

Now, I would never go as far as to call myself a cartoonist, not by a long shot; I'm a graphic artist. I had an amazing art teacher at school who, before she started teaching, use to work as a graphic designer. She was always so supportive, and was always eager to see what I had in mind for my next piece; she really stoked the fire, and would frequently throw new ideas at me that I may never have considered if she hadn't planted the seed. Not that I didn't get that support at home. My mum is also an artist, as was her mum. Both my younger sister and I, grew up being able to paint and draw before we could read and write. When I was little my mum would collect the +Disney comics and have us drawing the characters, and colouring them in. So cartooning was something I started really young, and it pains me to say it, but I haven't done anything like it in ages; so for me this new project is like being a little kid again, but with my own designs and ideas. 

If I'm totally honest with you...I don't like painting. The whole "It's so relaxing" thing just irritates me. I don't find it relaxing, to me, painting is some what of a chore. I do it because I have to, or because it's the most appropriate, viable medium to use for a piece at the time. it's not because I can't paint. I'd like to think that I'm fairly alright at it (if you disagree, that's fine, I love you anyway :]) I just don't find it all that fun. My preferred mediums are Pencil, Pen, ink, Chalk, Charcoal (I love the mess it gets you in!) and of course digital. Paint certainly doesn't make it onto my list. As much as I enjoy creating things on my graphics program, there's nothing like being able to get out all my pencils and fine liners and... just... drawing things. Like with this awesome project!!

This project will become a hybrid of drawing and digital. I'm creating a cartoon series of little weird characters. For this to work on a mass scale (by mass scale I mean, they won't be one offs) my plan is to draw my characters, whole, and at different angles, as well as broken down into parts.  By this I mean arms on their own, legs on the own, heads, bodies etc plus any little extra bits, like plants or bombs (hint hint). Once I've got all of these parts drawn and inked, they will get scanned and taken into my design program. This will mean that I can then build my characters however I want them, without having to redraw them each time. It will also mean that I can get them printed multiple times.

I'm hoping that once I've done a bit more on this project that I will feel as though I can share some "in progress" pics with you. Keeping it all to myself is killing me. Even Carrie (my partner in crime at Dead With Tequila) hasn't really even seen what I've done so far. She knows the very basic form of my plan, but that's about it! I've already started throwing names out there, trying to decide on what to call the collection already. 

I'll tell you this: 

It's all going to be black and white, if I add colour it will be in small places. All the characters are animals, and yes, they do all have names! It has a strong influence of the Day of the Dead festival. Bookmarks.

Make of that what you will.


So, you still, with me after all that?? :P If you are, you can leave a comment below, or find me over at Twitter (see right hand column)              

We Interrupt Your Internet Surfing With Flash Update Post

Okay here we go updates. Quick fire style!In the Tomb:

• +Dead With Tequila Giveaway details are up!! Find out how to enter HERE. Bundle totals approx £15 worth of goodies.

• May 22nd is World Goth Day!! Dead With Tequila will be having a one day flash sale to celebrate!! 10% off throughout the store with coupon code GOTH10.

• The Wild Life Collection will launch in he store in June!! Date to be confirmed. this collection is raising money for the WWF. £2 will be donated from every item purchased in this collection.

• I've just stared working on a new art collection for Dead With Tequila, which I'm very excited about. It's quickly turning into more of a project than I had originally anticipated. I keep having more ideas and adding on to the plan, and then adding extras onto those things, and giving myself too many choices. Good problems though....May be I should just stop choosing?? Do them all?? Hmmm...

In other news, and not so other news...

• On the subject of the last bullet point, I'm really getting into this new collection, which means some other things that I've already started are gonna fall by the way side a bit. I only have so many pairs of hands (Well, one. One HAND that is...just the right one, never had a left. I have on good authority that I'm not missing out on much, but I digress) so things like Hearts Are Made For Breaking And For Pain Part 2 (part one is here) are gonna be a while....sorry. It's all going to be worth it in the end....I think... maybe I'll post some pics of the "in progress" project. Not making any promises though :P

• Now because I'm all for promoting other people's creative awesomeness, and because I think she is super wonderful; this is for anyone that that is yet to experience the wonderful evil writer extraordinaire +The Girl With Words. What the hell are you waiting for?!?!? Yes you will suffer, because she is amazing at writing and causes you to get way to emotionally attached to fictional characters, which is just testament to how great she really is; you really should give her a read. #OrangeSky is nearly at an end (dive in here, FYI I will hunt you down if you don't, I have my sources) If you're new to her own brand of evil, I suggest you start here with Silent Scream (the last set of brackets applies to all you people also, just a heads up.)

• While we're here in fiction land I've said it before in various locations,but I'll say it again.... If there are any scientists reading this, (or you know someone that is a scientist pass the memo along please) can you stop focusing on the silly stuff, like the origins of the universe and dark matter, and focus on the more pressing issues, you know, the important things like making it possible to hug and converse with fictional characters, and being able to physically step into a book... Also magic carpets. We need magic carpets.

I don't think I missed anything...Anyways, you know the drill, questions and comments are welcome, leave them below, or come bug me over on twitter (there's a button in the right hand column ;] )