What a Week - DRN CONVENTION, JONSI, AND ROCK CHIC

Jónsi

Well, what a week indeed. Infact it was so full and fascinating I completely forgot to write it up! 1 day only now till I head for Sweden until Sunday, then back to fair Glasgow for 3 days before I head to Moscow where I will be having lots of fun doing a week of music inspired art workshops to a range of ages from 2-13! Can't wait :) Have been advised to take warm clothes.

So the Jónsi week began with a lost and found train journey at 6.50am from Glasgow to Brighton, where with a second journey re-planned out and executed I arrived there half an hour before I had been initially due to. All hail the milk of human kindness and that lovely lovely train guard.
Thus my itinerary for the next few days was set in motion. 'Get to Brighton, meet up with some great friends in the evening - Don't get drunk! Wake up and refine presentation for the Drawing Research Network Conference at Brighton University, Enjoy at least a couple of talks, remove heart from mouth, do my own presentation/workshop flawlessly (or at least impassioned and engaging!), relax, enjoy the company of other drawing professionals in the golden glow of post-presentation, then gather art materials and paper for drawing Sigur Ros's Jónsi, whose own performance is later that very evening. Great co-incidence, and very much a 'killing of two birds with one stone' affair.

For those not in the know, I have arranged with Jónsi and his manager that I draw 3 concerts of his current UK tour, so tonight being my 2nd, the 5th of Sept. in Glasgow being my first. The aim is to gather up a visual collection of improved knowledge of his stunning show, involving beautiful projections, animations, special effects and ultimately gorgeous music. The third and final one in the UK will take place at the HMV Apollo in London on the 26th of November. It's sold out, so if you can get a hold of a ticket via a respected ticket re-selling site and can get to London, I would thoroughly recommend it - this final show will have the full works, the mighty skill and creativity of London company 59 Productions who designed and made the visual effects. It is a piece of art, and one of the best live music performances you will witness for quite a while.

So after the wondrous concert at the Brighton Dome, it was time for my last night in the fair seaside resort before I headed off to London for a couple of meetings and a night on a thames barge with some great friends and a good bottle of wine. :) Travelled to Glasgow the next day, with one nights grace before the highly anticipated Rock Chic charity event the next night.

It went over and above my expectations - what a great night! Totally class entertainment - when there wasn't a band playing, there was a fashion show with a fab choice of clothestuff, a brilliant cocktail maker/juggler/man of dynamite, stunning sparkly cocktails or glasses of fizz on entry into the venue, very tasteful balloon, flower and glass table decorations, a stall with brilliant, quirky and very tasty little custom-made cakepops, along with projected music doodling by yours truly, and masterful veejaying by Scott. Also my drawings wouldn't have been possible without Jazz's expert light wizardry. Drawings below, and lots of money raised for the Paul O'Gorman/Beatson Leukaemia Research Centre in Glasgow.


Figure 5

Attic Lights

Pooch Poochettes

Soul Foundation Beginning

Soul Foundation - Getting into it - Total Visual Carnage! Yes!!

Jónsi, 02 Academy, Glasgow, 05092010

Exquisite, bustling, quiet, beautiful, frenetic, joyous, a call to arms and to hope, a call of the wild, of nature, of seasons to show that the world still turns, life exists and will survive. A peacock tail of sun rays in a period of economic gloom. En masse, the little man can turn things around.

What a show, really, seriously. The unique sounds, imagination, atmosphere and sense of play from the multi-talented Jónsi and friends. The award winning UK based 'Fifty Nine Productions' is the team behind the amazing special effects and stage design. It really is something special, and will make any gig you can make, one to remember. Shows are indeed selling out though, so really you need to act fast or check on reliable ticket reselling sites. They do exist - a friend of mine got tickets to the November London show for face value. And that show my friends, will definitely be something to talk about.

So this picture, is phase one. My first impression. As you can tell, I noticed a lot. Keep your eyes peeled for the 2nd picture I do at the Brighton Dome next Tuesday.

What have I been up to? Tangents...and sweary words!

Taken from 'Blitzy Boy's Night On The Town'

Ah, it's all been a bit chaotic recently. I've been working on a lot of doggy illustrations for a lovely children's book called 'Blitzy Boy's Night on the Town' written by Maria Walker Cairnie about a group of doggy pals who know the value of friendship and having a good time with your mates. Based in Glasgow, it's been very much inspired by a lot of dogs, and a few folk too, who I've happened to meet in the city. Suffice to say it describes a theoretical slice of what it might be like if dogs had places to hang out and have fun without their owners. It's been great fun and I look forward to working with Maria on the next book in the series, which all support the interactive events she has produced including the Blitzacise class for kiddies and this upcoming Saturday - Raining Cats and Dogs If you've got kids and you're into dogs, I would suspect it might be a lot of fun!

I also recently found out I will be flying out to Moscow in October to teach a week of arty stuff to a school there. The hope is to do drawings inspired by music and is for all ages from age 2 up to 13 - it's going to be some project!! Really rather excited about it. Will keep you posted on developments.

Sunday I'm flying out to Sweden and will be attending the Polar Music Prize on Monday with sketching tools in tow. Björk and Ennio Morricone will be receiving their prize from the King of Sweden himself. I think I possibly might die of excitement. They've put me really near the front while Mattias will be sitting up on a balcony somewhere! Don't know if I'll be drawing on paper or iPad yet. Will have all the materials at hand anyway, so will be decided nearer the time. Did you know Bjork is doing the soundtrack for the animated film 'The Moomins and the Comet Chase'? That is going to be two loves in one!

Speaking of comets, here is a little video of the recent comet shower as seen from the Joshua Tree National Park, sound track by Sigur Ros - gorgeous little film - see it here - http://vimeo.com/14173983

I've also been in talks with Jonsi (of Sigur Ros) and his manager and have organised to draw three of Jonsi's concerts on his UK tour. Having watched the videos on the 'Making Of', the whole show looks like it's going to blow my mind. It looks amazing. I urge you to check out his website, music, and especially the videos. It's going to be really special drawing his show - Iceland really has created some phenomenal musicians.

What else have I been up to? I guess I should put my recent (and first ever) drawings on the iPad - more to come soon.

Quickbeam - click to get a link to their myspace - lovely stuff.

And then there was the guinness fuelled soiree in the oldest pub in Glasgow - The College Bar. Rich pickings for salt of the earth character in there I tell y'! I needlessly worried that my boyfriend Mattias who's from Sweden might have difficulty enjoying or understanding the banter that was being thrown about, but he was right in there insulting them back. Guess having a healthy obsession with Rebus, Cracker, Ian Rankin and UK comedies like Monty Python and more recently those by Armando Iannucci equipped him with a certain sensitivity. Paper and pencil supplied by the lovely College barman Stuart, drawings were then left with the boys to copy and distribute amongst themselves. Warning: Expletives abound. :)

College Education from Alan, Howard, Jake and Jim.



The long suffering College bar man Stuart.