Finally some drawings! I don't feel there's a great deal of direction with my work at the moment, in that I'm just drawing things as they come into my head so nothing really links together and flows. That's miles better than not doing any work at all though.
The picture below was based loosely on this Mountain Goats songwhich I keep listening to lately (although I do have a habit of doing that with most Mountain Goats songs. Ideally I wanted to maybe adapt this style into a comic of sorts based on the song but I've been getting other ideas that I'm keen to work on so I may come back to it at a later date. Also, it was rather difficult to get a decent photo of this in our studio as the light hasn't been great and it's about A1 size.
A landscape, based on a Mountain Goats tune.
For New Year we had a 'Hat Party', which has become somewhat of a tradition for our family parties back home in Wallasey. The idea arose when we realised some people are reluctant to go full out for fancy dress whereas there's less at stake if you just don a daft hat for the evening. Rules for the Hat Party are as follows, Rule 1. Should anyone get you a drink throughout the evening you must then trade hats with that person (makes for some interesting photos) Rule 2. There is no rule number 2. Anyway, here's a kind of Birch 'Coat of Arms' or a potential invite for our next party. Oh, and excuse my French.
We do like our hats.
It's not really a secret that I like star wars and I recently purchased a couple of stormtrooper figures partly for ornamental purposes and also partly to assist me with drawing human proportion which the below pictures will show I'm not great at.
Ghetto Stormtrooper
The final of this set of drawings is a homage to me losing my train pass last month. I must admit that I do not really lose things but humility is required at a time like this. Hoping I'll laugh at myself enough so as not to do it again. I do feel that this drawing hasn't really turned out as I'd imagined it would and so I may redo it with some colour and less fineline pen.
Loser.
Something I've been enjoying just browsing through of late is this collection of maps from David Rumsey, originally tweeted by artist Tom Gauld some time last week. Have a look if you like maps and hand-drawn stuff, there's heaps of them, I could spend hours looking at them.
So I'm off to get back to some drawings and hopefully a comic and some colour. Watch this space.
Another weeks worth of training is out of the way and I'm still fervently looking forward to when I can actually be classed as 'Part Time' and do some proper work outside of my sketchbook. Still, I've been doing a bit more drawing this week, trying to keep up this slight bit of creativity. Here's a collection of a few bits and pieces from this weeks drawing exploits:
Signpost, Marrakech.
(everything you seek is in the same general direction)
Now would probably be a good point to state that I have finished watching the Star Wars saga from start to finish, and I suppose this drawing was kind of a way to get it fully out of my system (until next time anyway...) I'm still unsure which my favourite of the movies would be but I did enjoy my Star Wars journey. I'm always disappointed that it has to end with the Ewoks being the ones who save the day, it just doesn't seem possible. Surely the Galaxy could be saved by a cooler (less cute) character?
I just felt the urge to draw an Orca Whale, not too sure why.
I've been looking for a new cup since my last one got a tiny crack in the handle and couldn't seem to find anything that I liked mugwise, when I remembered that Jen had given me a mug a couple of years ago with a drawing of a kitty on it, I really like the mug but have never used it due to the fact that the drawing wasn't permanent and I didn't want to wash it off the cup. Anyway, I decided I would use it, so I took a photo of the cup, sadly I only thought of taking a photo of it after washing a little bit of the drawing off. I was a little hungover yesterday and so my brain wasn't quite functioning at full speed.
'I Like Tea Too' (...and wine)
All of that aside, it's been a great weekend. Had quite a lot to drink on Friday, hung out with Connor, watching TV and playing Playstation3 until 4 in the morning and then last night went out for Stewart's birthday which was equally fun. Two hangovers in a row but I had a good time. Today's been nice too, sitting chilling out with Jen and being quiet on the couch, should probably make dinner soon too. Back to work tomorrow, bring on the early shift for the rest of the week.
See? Told you so. Okay so it's not a whole bunch of amazing work and it didn't take up an awful lot of my time, but it felt great to actually put something inside a sketchbook again, to feel creative for once. Looking forward to finishing a sketchbook and starting a new one - it always feels rather monumental when this happens and I was on such a roll with my latest sketchbook at the end of last year (before getting a new job), that I'm a little disappointed that it's taken me this long to get round to nearly filling it. I suppose it should be about 'quality not quantity', but at the moment I must admit the idea of quantity will probably help me build up a bit of confidence in my drawing again. Here's to art and all things creative... Fingers crossed.
This week I have been listening to Jeff Buckley quite a bit (mostly 'Hallelujah' as I'm sure my last.fm page will show), I've been wanting to listen to his stuff for a while and quite a few people over the years have said 'you'll like his stuff'. generally I'm quite stubborn if someone tells me what I'm going to like, hence why it has taken my this long to get round to listening to him. Another song that I enjoyed in particular was his cover of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released' from the 'Live at Sin-é' CD.
I couldn't find Jeff's version so here's Bob's.
Give it a listen. Go on.
I also managed to get hold of the new EP from The Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice, anyone who knows me will already be aware of how big a fan I am of The Mountain Goats, well I'm also quite fond of John Vanderslice's music too so this EP promised to be awesome even before I heard any of it. Let's just say that it didn't disappoint at all. I really hope that The Mountain Goats come back to Scotland some time soon.
The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice: Moon Colony Bloodbath
The Bank Holiday weekend is going swell, I feel incredibly lazy but it feels like i've been due a little bit of laziness after being busy with work and whatnot. I managed to get my blog unlocked again after the people at blogger decided that 'A Collage of Senselessness' was not a spam blog. It's nice to be in the mood to blog again and spend some time doing stuff like that, and for once I did a little bit of a drawing. I am aware that it was only a header for this blog but it felt good to actually put something inside my sketchbook for the first time in a while. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of blogging and drawing now anyway.
501st Legion Insignia
STATUS REPORT: 'Begun, this Clone War has'. Having started watching Star Wars again from the beginning on Thursday night, I am now mid way through the Clone Wars series which I'm rather enjoying (I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that though), although at about 12 and a half hours of viewing time it is quite a challenge so I'm taking a break just now by writing up about this nonsense. I can't wait to watch 'Revenge of the Sith', just for Ewan McGregor's speech at the end. Powerful.
Okay, I'm back again. It's been far too long since I last blogged. I've been mega busy, I started a new job last month and I've been training full time for 6 weeks altogether and still have (at least) 2 weeks of training left to go. All this work has had a serious effect on the amount I've been drawing as I think I've only produced 3 drawings over the past 6 weeks, two of which where cards (one mother's day card and one birthday card) so they don't really count in my eyes. It's not the end of the world though as the training has been a nice experience, something a little out of the ordinary for me I guess.
Once I've been 'passed out' from my training I will be working 17.5 Hours per week which is going to give me much more time to do some illustrating/blogging and the likes. Work is fine, nice people to work with and a nice change from my old job, I'm just not used to working full time really, and it's taken some adjustment to get used to and then in two weeks I'm back to part time again, so I'll be fully adjusted just in time to adjust back. Typical.
But I really shouldn't complain because I'll finally have some time to be creative at last.
3 weeks ago I moved in with Jen and Sanna in Dundee. I must admit, it's ace to be back in Dundee again, it feels like home already. Also Jen and I purchased an IKEA bed as we can now afford to as we are both working, and I've not had a bad nights sleep in it yet. Awesome.
my side of the bed.
Other news? My Mum is getting married in October of this year, I'm really happy for her and looking forward to the wedding, it's not going to be a big ceremony but I will be giving my mum away and apparently I have to make a speech which I'm not too sure about. I'm sure it'll be fine anyway.
my new Superdry shirt.
In January this year I discovered Superdry shirts, such a good make of shirt. I remember walking into a shop called 'Cult' while I was visiting Liverpool One and it was covered wall to wall with checkered shirts, I thought I was in heaven. I must admit they cost a little more than I would care to spend on a shirt really but they're awesome quality. I just purchased my second one recently after my first paycheck.
Most of my free time at the moment has been spent playing Star Wars Battlefront (I & II) on my Playstation 2 and come the bank holiday weekend I plan to begin watching the Star Wars saga from the beginning including the Clone Wars movie and all four Clone Wars spin off series (i'm currently reading the online Clone Wars webcomic as we speak too). I am aware of how much of a geek this single paragraph makes me look but I'm really looking forward to it, it's been too long since I last watched anything Star Wars. Oh, and to put a cherry on top of that already immensely geeky paragraph I purchased a 501st Legion Clone Trooper figurine for my bedroom. Sweet.
Music-wise I've been enjoying my 5 Star playlist in iTunes. I've been rating my library right from the beginning and I'm currently up to 'F' in the rate-athon. Again 'geek = yes' but it's such an amazing playlist that I don't care what you think. Really enjoying Mumford & Sons at the moment courtesy of one of Jen's work colleagues.
So the week is drawing to a close again and I'm thoroughly exhausted after an exceedingly crazy day in work today. In advance, I'm sorry for posting so many youtube videos on this particular blog post but as the title states I've just been watching films and stuff when not in work and this is what I think of them all...take some time out to watch them if you will, you may find something that you like. This is how I've been entertaining myself this week.
Running my mum's shop hasn't been quite the walk in the park that I had imagined it may be...typical really. At the beginning of the week I mentioned that a bunch of Illustration folk did the Art Bar pub quiz, anyway I was kicking myself on not being able to get the Star Wars question, so when I was reminded of the scene referring to the question by a friend, I remembered the answer...too little too late. My embarrassment at my absolute lack of knowledge about Han Solo using Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber in Episode V has pushed me back intoStar Wars mode as it must be oh, I don't know, three months since I last watched them all?...I was intending to do some work this evening but after such a mad day I'm going to sit with some beer and a pizza and watch Episode 1 (Not my favourite of the Star Wars saga...but where else is there to start?). The following scene isn't the scene that was mentioned in the question but simply a classic original schoolStar Wars scene.
Classic Alec Guinness.
'These aren't the droids you're looking for'
Generally when I have a busy day I can't be bothered doing too much drawing or illustrating, and this week was no real exception - I finished up my answer to the Illustration Friday brief to illustrate the word 'Clutter' here, which was my main illustration goal for the week. The first film I watched this week was one that I discovered through my good friend Redd, now I'd never heard of it before and I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan (apart from Star Wars of course...) but I remember he had mentioned a film called 'Man from Earth'.
Man From Earth
Now I'll admit it's an odd film but it's one that get's the mind racing. I'd say that it's the most intriguing film I've seen this year without a doubt, due mainly to the style of the film. When I first began watching I must admit i was thinking 'Well...this looks fairly low budget...' and as a result I had fairly low expectations, usually something like this may make me want to switch a film off or not give it any real attention but I must admit I was glued to this one after a short while. I couldn't have switched it off if I was forced to. I'd say to give it a watch if you want something thought-provoking to view. I liked it anyway. I'll not give anything of the story away incase anybody does decide to watch.
On thursday I took charge of mum's coffee shop, it's been okay in general I'm just pretty tired. Oh well I have two days off now anyway.
A pink Danny Wallace style car that I saw
on the way home from work on Thrusday.
I've also been getting back into Black Books again. On Thursday evening, lets just say I wasn't much in the mood for a film so I watched this.
Bill Bailey - Pure genius.
Last night's film was 'Waiting', a rather comical take on life working as a waiter. I'm not really a huge Ryan Reynolds fan, and I don't act like this as a waiter but this film does make me laugh.
Waiting.
...and then tonight I watched Star Wars Episode 1, but I already told you that though right?
Weird Al Yankovic sums up Star Wars:Episode 1 perfectly.
I also forgot to mention that due to this week being the 7th anniversary of the World Trade Centre attacks we watched a programme about the hotel next to the world trade centres, anyway, that started me off thinking about the whole 9/11 conspiracy thing. I'm not saying that I believe it as both sides have such a great supporting argument, but I know that I'd like to believe that the American government couldn't possibly do such a thing to their public. But no one seems to have a definitive answer. Anyway, I don't know, i'm the king of sitting on the fence I guess. What are your thoughts? I haven't posted any videos here simply out of respect.
On Tuesday I got to go see 'Star Wars:the Clone Wars' with Sanna which I was surprisingly impressed with...maybe because of the fact that I had relatively low expectations for it or whatever. Okay, generally the animation was a little crappy and the story-line a little impetuous and childish, but I think the Star Wars nerd festering inside me loved every minute of it. So yeah, it would most definitely have benefitted from being a live action movie rather than an animation but I was in the kind of mood where I would take any Star Wars fix I could get. If you want to know whether it's a good film, I'd say don't bother with it unless your a Star Wars fan, and even then...don't go to it with any high hopes whatsoever.
Tuesday evening we went to our friend Adam's house as it was his birthday, and then around to Jordan's for an Illustration gathering, however we didn't stay for too long or drink at all as me and Jen had to be up early doors for Dublin. Jordan also has cats...I like her cats. Apologies to Sanna for a little bit of photo-stealing here, but I have no camera in scotland with me!
Ah, the Illustration 2008 catalogue.
Jen is David Bowie Sleeveface.
Wednesday morning we were up early in order to get ourselves out to Glasgow Prestwick airport for our flight to Dublin. All of our trains were on time and as a result we arrived at the airport a good few hours before our flight so to pass the time we drank tea read through the 'Rough Guide to Dublin' in order to decide what we would do when we arrived and I drew a couple of pictures of whoever was unfortunate enough to sit at the table infront of us. My fear of flying wasn't so bad as it has been before as I managed to keep it out of my mind for the best part of our time at the airport, however I am just generally a bag of nerves whenever the plane is taking off. All of the Dublin Photos are courtesy of Jen and her camera, yeah that's right, more photo stealing. Oh and I had this song in my head practically the whole time we were in Dublin, well I had the Flogging Molly version in my head but I thought I'd put the more traditional version up as it reminds me of last time we were in dublin for the day and we went on a guided bus tour and the driver was singing it, brilliant -
The Dubliners - The Rare Ould Times.
Me and Jen at the airport.
First - Enjoy some of our Life Vest flavoured potato chips,
Then get stuck in your jacket in a spinning motion.
Thank you for flying with Ryanair.
On arrival in Dublin we jumped on a bus to our B&B in Drumcondra. The ABC Guesthouse was a lovely place run by a couple by the names of Mary and Joseph (I was going to make a 'no room at the inn' joke here but my mind isn't working this morning). On our first night we simply got the bus down to O'Connell Street, in the centre of Dublin and found somewhere to eat, I had Irish stew and an pint of the black stuff (no not Bovril, Guinness). The next day after breakfast, we went around the Temple Bar area of Dublin looking through a few galleries which weren't quite the standard I was expecting to see, but we did visit a couple of nice cafés around here and also enjoyed visiting Grafton Street, the National Museum and a really swell Vintage Poster shop. I really wanted to buy a bunch of vintage posters but they were rather pricey, I think the cheapest I saw was about €100 (£80) which seemed a little steep to me however nice they were. The museum wasn't really my sort of museum, I'm more interested in stuff about the World Wars, the fight for Irish Independence and Dinosaurs (I know, it's quite a range isn't it?) however, they did have an interesting sections about mummified bodies found in bogs across Ireland, which was rather grim but extremely intresting.
The General Post office on O'Connell Street,
where the Easter Monday Rising took place in 1916.
Coffee in a Crêpe place in Temple Bar.
Tea in a nice little café called The Joy of Cha.
That night we went out for a nice meal in Wagamama, I know it's not the most traditionally Irish place in the universe but the food was splendid, i had some kind of noodle soup with all kinds of seafood, chicken, tofu and so on. After Wagamama we found ourselves a good old Irish bar to have a few drinks at, I forget what it was called but the Guinness tasted pretty amazing. Me and Jen sat and talked about pretty much everything and I showed off my knowledge of the fairly questionably, rather cheesy un-Irish music that was being played at the bar.
What do you mean? You don't like Guinness?
Friday was our last full day in Dublin and I'd wanted to visit Kilmainham Gaol since I was in Ireland 4 years ago, I'm really quite interested in the story of Irish independence and anything surrounding that era in history. On our way to Kilmainham we got a little lost as neither of us have any real knowledge of the outskirts of Dublin, luckily the weather was okay and we didn't have to wait too long for a bus back into Kilmainham.
Me and Jen get a Little lost on our way to Kilmainham Gaol.
(I'm not scared of anything here, merely looking at an Irish flag in the distance)
I really enjoyed Kilmainham Gaol, we had a great tour guide called Ciaran who took us around and told us all about the different areas inside of Kilmainham. This tour and a visit to the tea shop and museum there took up most of our last day but i was glad that I got to see a place of such significant importance to the Irish. Anyways, the history of Ireland is a fairly long story so I wont get into that just now.
The Kilmainham Gaol 'Panopticon'. This section of the prison
was apparently used in the original Italian Job film.
'She's a part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor, take her away!'
Sorry that's the Star Wars nerd getting out again. Jen in a cell at Kilmainham.
The Stonebreaker's yard at Kilmainham, The cross is to show where the
Irish revolutionaries stood when they were shot by British firing squads.
Our last night we wandered around a bit looking for a place to have a meal. We investigated a few places around the Grafton Street area and decided on a place called 'Alfie's'. The food and service was great and there was even a nice surprise of a couple of guitarists providing the evening with some tasteful music and a nice atmosphere. After our meal we wandered back to the city centre to find a bus back to the B&B, however we got on the wrong one and had to walk some of the way back. All in all our trip to Ireland was great and i think the two full days was enough for us to see what we each wanted to see, I maybe would've like to experience a Friday night out in Ireland drinking with the Irish and listening to some traditional music but there's always next time.
I really like this photo even though it is a little blurred.
On the flight back i was in a bit more of a state than the journey there, I'm not really sure why - maybe it was just in my mind or maybe it was to do with the terrible things that happened in Spain this week that have been all over the news, I'm not too sure. So I just bought a double whiskey and buried my head in my book. Oh yeah, I forgot to say I bought 'A Star Called Henry' by Roddy Doyle at the airport as I knew I'd need something to read on the plane and it's a great book that I've read once before and being in Dublin (where the story is set) I was compelled to read it again. On arriving back in Scotland we were glad to have a lift back to Dundee from Jen's dad Mark, we both slept the majority of the way back, i didn't feel too tired but I think all the travelling we did over the few days we were away clearly took it out of both of us.
Last night was a nice quiet night, I made some Vegetable soup, we sat and watched some crappy TV and I completed 'Hotel Dusk:Room 215' on my Nintendo DS, Which by the way was possibly one of the most disappointing ends to a game that I really enjoyed playing. Oh well, I'll just have to find something else to waste my time playing now. When's 'Line Rider' out again?
John Alan Birch - Illustration. Copyright 2008 - 2011
All content posted here is copyright John Alan Birch - Illustration unless stated otherwise. Please do not use images from this Blog without consent from the author. email johnalanbirch@hotmail.com for more information.
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