Dunce Puss

I would like to introduce Dunce Puss, a mini comic and one of my creations now available online. 

We may be entering Autumn here in 'Old Blightly', I am also aware that Australia, a place that I lived, worked, travelled and adventured for a year in my early twenties and love, is now enjoying Spring! 

Kids loved Dunce Puss when I offered it as a treat instead of a trick for Halloween in 2013!

Dunce Puss steps in at such contrasting times!

£5.00 plus 50p postage and packing...

Leica commission and AOI support

This is the front of a brochure I have just been sent, commissioned for a client campaign: Leica Microsystems. This is one of my first big commissions  as an illustrator. After seeing some of my illustrations in the AOI images 35 catalogue, the commissioning agency: Learner Adams Bones invited me to their offices to show them some more of my work. 

Following discussions about variations of an idea of tree roots; and some from my graphic novel sequences, Ed Bones came up with the final concepts and I received some great micro direction from Lucy Pyne and the team whilst drawing the whole set which took under a month during February last year. There are many more variations of the root system inside the brochure. I am just going to show the front cover here on the blog.

Without associations like the AOI, illustrators can be at sea, I am pleased to have had their support over the last year of membership especially seeing me through the period of a commission, they have been making massive changes and developments to their services.

So nice to see it all finished, a great job!

Parallax in February 2014

I was initially invited to be part of Parallax last October '13 after Chris Barlow (an art historian) got in touch with me and said that he had seen my illustration work on the AOI portfolios. 

I was glad to be asked to be part of Parallax again in February, it was good to be among such a range of artists; a Spanish sculptress, a Spanish painter, a Swedish painter, a Jeweller, a Japanese artist who makes beautiful lamps using a very old Bizen style pottery, a sculptor from the Netherlands, some great print makers...the list is long. There was a good spirit and I think the whole event with it's new affordable format for artists to get out there could really take off. The private view was packed full and I have never felt so hot in my life, really great to catch up with some professional friends who I am thankful to for making it along.

I enjoyed introducing people to my work over the three days, it was a buzz to talk about it now that I have presented a fuller scope of the whole Domestic Bliss Graphic Novel series. I exhibited originals and also sketch book narrative as well as copy's of episode one and two, I made a few sales too.

Let me know what you think...

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Photos from last Parallax Art Fair in Oct 2013

Giclee high resolution prints on Hahnemuhle Pearl paper 290mm x 420mm

£25.00 each.

                                                                                                                      Photos by Nick Rathbone

Domestic Bliss series orginal drawings at Parallax Art Fair, Febuary 21st-22nd

I shall be exhibiting one or more original works from the Domestic Bliss series at Parallax Art Fair again in early 2014: Friday 21st February 1pm-8pm and Sat  22nd February 11am-5pm.

I am emphasising individual pages from the series with a focus on drawing and colour. The graphic novel, which is an unfolding epic story also acts as a catalogue regarding single pages and sequences.

Venue:

Chelsea Town Hall on The Kings Road, London, a short distance from Sloane Square and the Saatchi Gallery.

Here are a few links to posts I wrote about it; one from the exhibition in October this year http://gwenturner.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/parallax-art-fair.html and another with some thoughts I had after the event on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=642510602466067&id=101785636538569

'Be lovely to see you there!

End of season Domestic Bliss...

I have decided to feed finer specific news bulletins onto my Domestic Bliss graphic novel series facebook page from now onwards...

Here go's: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Domestic-Bliss/101785636538569?ref=hl

Moebius, Venecia Flotante

I feel I am in need some reflection time for this flurried year of 2013. I have learnt so much. 

For my contemplation I turn once more to Moebius. I found this picture on a blog about five years ago and I have had it on the desktop of my computer ever since. 

I kept finding clues when Andy and I were in Venice this time last year for our honeymoon. I was pleased to find an actual print hung on the wall of a second hand book store (Marco Polo), located near the famous Rialto bridge in Castello, it was similar to this picture and also depicts another little character who looks like a Doge from way back in the 13th century. The pictures he drew are of a Venice seen in the 1970's by our dear Moebius. I saw the place for the first time last year and was captivated. 

Something that Moebius manages so well here, is to make Venice and this passage under the Bridge of Sighs look like it is on Mars or something. Several passages to choose from and I feel that I am going to go right under the bridge with that little guy.

Venice reminds one so starkly, how we all discover things in our own way. It's churches provide a network of quiet retreats away from the layers of tourists that wash through the place. 

Boats full of people smiling and amazed.

Here's the reference: http://floppybootstomp.wordpress.com/tag/moebius/

Turned to Stone

Goodnight October...

When Andrew and I were in Venice this time last year for our honeymoon, I was hypnotised by this sculpture. If only I could recapture my innocent approach, as we had been in Venice only a day when we found it. It took us a few more days to discover many of the Biennial exhibitions, which were all about architecture last year. This piece was not part of it.

I find myself at times like these, needing to cling to a physical object. Rather like when the character Laura, played by Julia Roberts in 'Sleeping with the Enemy', swims for her life and is saved by clinging to that buoy out in the rough sea.

I feel the need to give my discovery back again with the pictures I captured. 

This is possibly the last in the turned to stone series.

We found him at night.

We had to return.

The above photo is taken from a-far at the top of the bell tower on Piazza San Marco. 
There he is, standing at the very tip of Punta Della Dogana.

A year later I am disappointed when I google it.

Broken hearted even.




Here is a link to previous editions of the 'Turned to Stone' series...

Parallax Art Fair

I shall be exhibiting individual original works from the Domestic Bliss graphic novel series at Parallax Art Fair this weekend. 

Thursday 17th Oct: 7.30pm, private view

Friday 18th Oct: 1pm - 8pm

Saturday 19th Oct: 11am - 5pm

Venue:

Chelsea Town Hall on The Kings Road, London, a short distance from Sloane Square and the Saatchi Gallery. It is a well known venue for such events and Parallax is very excited to host the event there this year.

Parallax AF grew from an international exhibition conceived and curated by the art historian Dr Chris Barlow. It is based on new ideas drawn from the philosophy of Art History, and a serious platform for international and national artists to present their work to dealers, collectors, critics and buyers. It provides artists with the benefit of affordable show space in a central, high profile location and allows artists to present non-commercial work, ideas and also further developed and established work.

Further information and tickets can be obtained for the exhibition days via the website below:

www.barlowfinedrawings.com/parallaxaf.html

Open studio debrief

That doesn't mean anything to do with removing briefs although OUCH! has been known to produce the most brilliant pants, (though they have gone back into development regarding the materials, and no, they won't be knitted next time). Some early blog readers might remember them, there are some images way in the depths of this blog). I started the prices high in the spirit of "The F**K It Way" (yes, it currently exists, google it). Since, there has been a lot of industry action that has helped me to level it.

Hackney, the home of OUCH! and myself is becoming rather exciting regarding loads of new cafes and restaurants and cinemas etc. I was over at Chatsworth road doing some fliering and I noticed a restaurant with some of Simone Lia's work on the walls. She is an illustrator based in London and after looking at her blog recently, and also remembering a talk she gave on my Masters degree, I found the particular part about her new Fluffy postcards useful. I bought and read Fluffy a couple of years ago and feel it is something that must be savoured for a while.

It has been a meandering balancing act between a triad of 'business head', 'sensitive artist' and my own labour circumstances. So the OUCH! online prices are now settling, and gearing onward toward the new bespoke service of hand drawn originals. After a lot of 'Compairing de' Meercat' and my own plan of action over the next several years, little hog nearly turned into a marsupial forever.

The open studio has been a good period to get a lot settled and I think the appointment system will work well for next year. Also, it would be great to get a whole network of open studios, like a trail or something...with an illustrated map of check points.

Bliss is parked for a while, the poor creature is up shit creek. My nerves need the calming balsam of a smaller story I have been working on. I can describe it as the 'Dewberry Five Oils' (google it)...of stories. 

Granny's Button!

Granny's Comics

With Ribbon binding £5.00 GBP Stapled £4.50 GBP

Finally, after too long, she has a buy now button. 

Granny is a bit of a Luddite at times. 

Post and packaging is included, ribbon or staple for binding, prod the button and Granny's Rinse Adventures is on it's way to you!

OUCH! strips: Granny's Rinse Adventures

OUCH! strips: Granny's Rinse Adventures: Here is a short story that I created recently; towards the end of 2011. I really had some fun with this one... Before entering int...

Open studio discounts

OUCH! offers 10% discounts on items at the inaugural open studios this year, for example the hedgehog card series; available individually and as bundles.

The open studios offer a chance to have a chat, which often makes it  easier when it comes to requests, good deals, commissioning, quotes and ideas bouncing.

I am presenting many original works that don't get seen anywhere (yet), so this month provides a unique opportunity. 

I was even thinking of having a 'ceremonial work burning party' as an excuse for a piss up, because I have so much stuff. So catch the need to rid myself of it reasonably while it lasts!

Ace!

The Domestic Bliss Series at Gwyl Lyfrau Penfro Book Festival in Pembrokeshire

The Domestic Bliss series is now being prestented among other titles from Seaways Bookshop, this weekend in Pembrokeshire at the Rhosygilwen book festival, an event that celebrates welsh authors.

I spend gorgious 'end of summer days' in Wales most years. Following the success of the seafaring hedgehog gift cards that continue to sell out at Seaways (Fishguard), and with Bliss' debut on their book shelves; she now wonders to wider pastures. 

Thanks to family and comrades out in the wildes of Pembrokeshire. Here's the link: http://penfrobookfestival.org.uk/

Originally drawn birthday card

A professional friend of mine and Andrew's has kindly said that it is alright for me to showcase her card as an example for my originally drawn birthday card service.

Andrew and I know Cindy Oswin through Scarlet Theatre company. I saw a wonderful production of theirs at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2001; Love & Other Fairy Tales.

I got the idea for this card from their publicity material; an image of the lady herself playing the wife of Bath, which I adapted to suite a rather grand Birthday.

I use a 10x10cm backed window to place the illustration in an A5 recycled Fabriano card.

Gwen Turner: Hatching Ideas: Inaugural Open Studios in September 2013

Gwen Turner: Hatching Ideas: Inaugural Open Studios in September 2013: I shall be opening the studios for the first time during the month of September this year. I will present some of the produce from OUCH! an...

The Domestic Bliss series on a Comic Con tour in the US of A

Since her cosy launch in February at The Poetry Cafe where it was great to have the room filled with interest and the book selling so well. Prints from the books are available here.

I didn't get any photos, apart from ones of Andrew, my husband and I preparing for it.

She is now on tour in the STATES, having a good sniff about...

Here she is among other comics on the 'Fanfare Ponentmon' stand at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Arts Festival (MoCCA). After looking around at comic book publishers, it seems the work Ponentmon produce is a little more pithy and shows more intrigue and thoughtful usage of the genre.

I was given a copy of one particular publication by Stephen Robson; it's founder, when we met this year in February at The London Super Comic Con; it is called 'Farm 54' and is about a Jewish brother and sister, it can be seen among all the comic stock in the photos below. To be honest, I am still half way through reading it; halting on reading any further until I myself cross the rather perilous central episodes of Domestic Bliss (3 & 4). She is plotted, not drafted and (of course I don't fear) that she might sag in the middle like a cake lacking the right flour balance, I must get the suspension tight. Two episodes of tight rope walking and there is no going back...

Leaving the Super Con's and arriving...at...

Stephen Vrattos, the New York partner for Ponentmon, behind the table.


At MoCCA in New York.

Then a nice review, thanks to Philip Skurski:

"This book's got style"...click here.


Between, in late April, she stopped off at an idependent comic fair: The Illustrato.rs Art Expo at The Mall Galleries, held by the education department. 
On the front line, the tables stood in a horse shoe shape, looking outward towards fine art work created by up and coming university leavers. I found out about this event from my mother. 
It is in it's first year and a well devised way of delivering work happening in multiple stages, both educationally, artistically and on the peripheries commercially. I liked it, it was classy and very well organised, and it was good to get some feedback up front. A new one to remember for the diary.

Then it was Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF), on the calender, where she sold out!
Again, among other books from Fanfare and Ponentmon stock.

There she is nestled in there!

On she goes...

Domestic Bliss series review...

"This book's got style...click here for the review

Domestic Bliss graphic novel series online print gallery

Bliss has sprouted off to a new gallery online...