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June 11, 2010#

Surprised At Discovering No "Serious Consequences" Under The Sofa, The Taoiseach Practices His Look Of "Steely Resolve"

Taoiseach (tee-shuck) is the Irish official term given for the leader of the country; the equivalent, i suppose, of Prime Minister. The unofficial term given for the this leader of the country, is “Biffo”.

Triggered by a great line uttered by a friend, in response to the news that there would be “serious consequences” for Israel should any harm come to the Irish being held after the Gaza aid flotilla massacre. Article here.
It was also a chance to practice painting this man, possibly the most uninspiring of individuals….
May 29, 2010#

Willie O’Dea In The Heat Of Battle

Willie O’Dea is a Limerick man and former Minister of Defence for the Irish gov, but resigned recently over a recording ‘scandal‘.
He also pulled a strange photo shoot for the press a while back, and one dark evening, during elections, he and some of his ‘representatives’ knocked on my door and assured me he ‘represents the area’ and ‘knows where i live’ should i ‘need anything’…. i’ve kinda been endeared to him ever since that.

Update: This illustration has now been published! Info here.

April 20, 2010#

Better To Have Drunk And Lost Than Never To Have Drunk At All

This is about a short mans violent battle with alcohol and therefore everyone around him. It is the companion piece to The Gouhl, as after all – they are a couple.
March 20, 2010#

Bi And Large (Volume Study)

This began as a pencil sketch of a stereotypical representation of some of the people one might meet in the streets around where i grew up. It was very a colourful, and flamboyant kind of area where one’s gender had little to do with it’s presentaion. Wanted to get used to creating volume and mass in colour, and also play with some fleshy tones.

March 20, 2010#

New Irish Folklore

As an outsider coming to live in Ireland, i had many misconceptions about what it would be like here. There is a lot of folk lore here, and i have always had an interest in myths and the like, for almost any culture, since before i could read – looking at picture of the Greek and roman legends, hearing stories of Australian Aboriginal dreamtime, as well as the Irish and English tales.

Now, i don’t expect to see any leprechauns or banshees, but i was expecting rolling green hills, plenty of stone walls, dread-locked sheep, and wrinkly old men tipping hats. What i wasn’t expecting was piles of rubbish on the roadside, colonies numbers of caravans parks on roundabouts or median strips, tracksuits tucked into socks without a tongue anywhere near a cheek, and pyjamas. Pyjamas everywhere….

March 20, 2010#

French Man (Attitude Study)

Shortly after Ireland were knocked out of a position in the soccer world cup 2010, when the ref failed to notice Terry Henry molest the ball with his hands, i found my self in France to attend a wedding. I had 40 minute train ride to spend doodling, and thanks to a fellow facing me on at an opposite window, i manage to capture the perceived attitude of arrogance the Irish were assuring me the French had. The man didn’t look like this or have the attitude, but he was French.

March 18, 2010#

Limerick Woman (Attitude Study)

It’s weird in this cold dark country how the women seem to have evolved to utilise make-up foundation as a way to change ones own skin tone to another. Many women walk through the shopping malls in their best pair of pyjama’s, with an iridescent orange face – presumably designed to give off the impression of a healthy tan. But the tan stops at the jaw line, the concept of ‘blending’ having been bred from the gene-pool along with shoulders and good teeth.

What lies beneath, from jaw to cleavage, is the natural pale blue if Irish skin. A pale green eye-shadow is often selected to complement this and heavy black eye liner ensures the look of an infant at mummy’s make-up table is complete. Add large gold hoop earrings and you’re nearly there.

Lastly adopt a look of aggressive distaste one might use after stepping in something nasty.

March 18, 2010#

Torment

Done while thinking about a good friend and work colleague who was going through a particularity hard time. It was his own stupid fault, but the heart still goes out….

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