Wednesday 24 February 2010

Inspiration

Where do I get my ideas from?


Just wandering about, really...

It's a bit 'Terry and June' that gag (ask your parents, kids), but the Oldie magazine liked it- it's in their current issue.

I've never been clamped- not necessarily because I'm a law abiding citizen, but because I'm terrified of the parking enforcement officers. Why do these people have a uniform reminiscent of European riot police? They do in my part of the UK anyway. I'm never quite sure if they have notepads and pens in those utility belts, or the most powerful handgun in the world ready to blast my head clean off.

(looking at that car I drew I'm thinking perhaps I should become chief designer at Ferrari)

Thursday 18 February 2010

I didn't nick it, honest guv.

Private Eye magazine is famous for clobbering the rich and famous, exposing incompetent officials, and lampooning our great leaders in government. It also does a fair bit of investigative journalism and campaigning. I’m quite proud to be a contributor to this magazine, and their latest issue has one of my cartoons-full of biting political satire and cutting edge wit it's all about, er... hair care.
Yeah! This is gonna bring down 'the man'. Have you seen it, Brown? Well, have you?!
Ahem.

I thought it was a cute but harmless idea, inspired by watching a current pop princess advertise hair products- Shiny, shiny, lustrous and sleek will be your barnet if you buy this product- Just like this poppet from up north (small caption in corner of screen 'styled with hair extensions'). Why can't they just be honest and say, 'this is a lie'.


n.b. This toon did raise one interesting point- well, from a cartoonist’s point of view at least. I discovered today that a fellow cartoonist, Wilbur, drew the exact same cartoon a couple of years ago, but had it rejected. People think of the same idea independently (that's what I told him anyway) that's fair enough- but it's frustrating for a cartoonist to have your idea rejected, only to see someone else getting the print coverage and payment with the same gag. Only magazine editors can explain this mystery.

Thankfully Wilbur doesn't know where I live (hopefully).

Sunday 14 February 2010

Thursday 11 February 2010

Beneath the fluffy exterior evil hides

Couldn't sell this one, but I like it so it's going on the blog.

Friday 5 February 2010

Spot the difference

'The Week' is a current affairs magazine published in the UK, which distils the "very best of the British and international news and comment" and pours it into one handy weekly magazine. I was quite pleased to be asked by them if they could use my 'Hearts and Minds' gag from Prospect (see post below).

I just got hold of my copy today, and, well, although I still find it quite an honour to be chosen as one of the 'best' bits of the media, I find it odd that one of the words in the caption has been changed. No, I'm not being precious about it- I don't know if it was intentional or by accident, but to me it's altered the gag.
Or is it just me? You decide...