The Last Tree Spirit (image)

"The Last Tree Spirit" based on the song of the same name by Babble. Latest piece in the 'Bread and Circuses' project. This has been through some changes. I had this nearly finished as a kind of Pre-Raph piece. However, though I liked the piece, it seemed somehow out of keeping with everything else. It's funny how the artwork has been not only influenced by songs but from doing other pieces. I came back round to the idea of a Raggity type character that Karen suggested, and it all came together as a companion piece to No Problem. I also had inspiration listening to Tull's 'Jack in the Green'. The spirit as depicted here is possibly the antithesis to the Pigman in 'No Problem'. It is set in the same time and place as No Problem, maybe even in one of the back streets that we don't see in that one. Hidden away, the last tree spirit is planting new seeds in the cracks of the tarmac, a symbol of hope despite everything going on in No Problem. I liked the synthesis in that.

Lion-O (image)

Lion-O, third in Thundercats series I'm working on

Cheetara (image)

Cheetara, from Thundercats. Part of a series I'm working on.

Tygra (image)

Tygra, from Thundercats. Part of a series I'm working on.

No Problem (image)

'No Problem' artwork based on the song of the same name by UK band Babble This is probably the most complex, not to mention political work I've done to date. The song spoke to me about greed and that became the main theme here. So we have the pig-headed bankers leading the three-headed dog of government, carelessly spilling money everywhere whilst the poor man's hands are empty. All set against the background of a burning city, where looters steal luxury items, because it is somehow their 'right' to own them. Combination of 3d models to get the basics, and a lot of hand painting in Photoshop

Mumm-Ra (image)

Mumm-Ra from Thundercats. Pretty much finished. May tinker with it later... This one was quite different for me, have been moving away from the 3d stuff and doing far more in Photoshop lately. Apart from modelling and pose in 3d app, this was all hand done in Photoshop. Ultimately more satisfying to work on. Approx 9 hours.

Togruta Family Portrait (image)

Togruta family portrait. That pet just wouldn't sit still... yeah, gone a bit Star Wars/Steampunk on this one!

Darth Maul and Shaak Ti (image)

A bit of Star Wars fan art!

Lady of the Wild Things (image)

'Lady of the Wild Things' - based on the song of the same name by Babble. Part of the 'Bread and Circuses' project. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-and-Circuses/183565318400844

Avengers (image)

My own take on the Avengers team

Crows (image)

'Crows' was created as part of the 'Bread and Circuses' project by UK band Babble. Here, the Morrigan, goddess of the battlefields, (who also takes the form of a crow) is stealing a soul from a dying soldier.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-and-Circuses/183565318400844

The Eyeman (image)

The Eyeman - promo image for 'Bread and Circuses' project by UK band Babble

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-and-Circuses/183565318400844

Who Will Hold The Withered Rose?

Who will hold this withered rose,
And tend to it with care?
To nurture it, and let it show
The beauty it may share?
Who will hold the withered rose?

Who will tend the garden grey,
So lost and overgrown?
The pathways long forgotten,
Its secrets left unknown
Who will tend this garden grey?

Who will take the gardener,
With heavy head and heart?
And walk the paths that he may tread
An equal from the start
Who will take the gardener?

Morituri te salutant (image)

A Life Vampyric

“A life vampyric sounds idyllic, I’ll shun the light of day”.
This thought it gnawed at Vincent Lord and set him on his way

“First my name," said Vincent Lord, "it really isn’t me:
“A vamp in waiting I am so Lord Vincent it will be.

“And armed with proper moniker a castle I need too
“For this suburban 60s semi really will not do.”

So from the Abbey National his life’s savings he withdrew
And bought a Scottish castle, and hired a servant too.

A wizened, hunchbacked little man with dodgy lisp and grin
All in all quite Marty Feldman – Lord Vince was fond of him

To Bonnie Scotland they repaired to cast a shroud of fear
But the only locals living close – two haggis and a deer

“This will not do!” Lord Vincent cried, “I have no blood to suck
“If I can’t find a human soon, I’ll have to do that buck!”

“My lord,” said servant number one, “I have a cunning plan -
“I’ll thaddle up the hortheth and we’ll ride on to the town!

“Oneth there we’ll find a virgin and her thweet blood you’ll thee -
“Mayhap thee’ll have a friend with her – thort of bite one get one free”

“A crafty plan it is indeed with one small flaw I fear,
“We’re five miles north of Glasgow – we’ll find no virgins here!

“A dearth of virgins all around: I haven’t thought this through.
“We’ll have to stay at home tonight, and venison must do.”

And so the pair tucked in that night to deer steak cooked most rare
All the while bemoaning the poor nature of their fare.

The moral of this tale? With maidenhood a dying trend,
Occasionally a bloody steak is sometimes your best friend.

The Week That Was

Sunday stood, quite authoritarian, at the start of the week
Full of ideas on how Things Should Be Done
And What Should Happen

Monday dawned, grey and dismal,
And contemplated throwing a sickie
Before dragging itself in for a day
Fuelled by caffeine and idle boredom

Tuesday decided it was now suitable as a girl's name
Ran off to play with its dolls,
Before growing up and breaking some poor boy's heart

Wednesday sat at a crossroads,
Neither here nor there
Developed an identity crisis
And disappeared to join the Prozac nation

Thursday sat deep in thought
In the twilight of time
And considered the nature of fleeting

Whilst Friday let its hair down
Partied all night
Staggered home and threw up
In the kitchen sink

Saturday disarmed with a smile
Returned hope
Fell asleep with arms wrapped around

And then, the week was.