The Incredible Belly Boy

Thanks to Brian Gallagher for organising another great IGI exhibition, "Mythical Beasts", at the United Arts Club. 
It was great to see everyone there, as well as the very impressive artwork.

This is "The Incredible Belly Boy", my second piece in the show.

The Doubtful Centaur

'Mythical Beasts' is an exhibition by members of IGI (Illustrators Guild of Ireland), which will be opened at 8pm on Thursday 17th July by Kevin Gildea at the United Arts Club, Dublin.Come along if you are in the area.

"The Doubtful Centaur" is one of my two digital pieces in the show, and is from an ongoing menagerie project that might become a book one day.
Many thanks to Brian Gallagher for organising the exhibition.

Alice in the Society of Illustrators Annual Show

The Society of Illustrators in New York are launching the first part of their Annual Show to-day. 
It runs till the 26th of January 2013, and I am delighted to say that a digitally tweaked version of my Alice in Wonderland picture is in the show.
My thanks to my friend Olivier Souillé of Galerie Daniel Maghen in Paris for giving me a lovely open brief to illustrate a favourite book.

"Into The Green Wood Deep" by Phil McDarby

There was another great exhibition launch at the Copper House Gallery in Dublin last evening.
"Into The Green Wood Deep" showcases the remarkable creations of my pal Phil McDarby.
Phil uses a mixture of photography and digital wizardry to create his amazing work.
It's an technique I have used a little myself, and I hope I can pick up a few expert tips from Phil.



Estelle Morgan got a nice shot of me with my old friend Niamh Sharkey who opened the exhibition.


And one of Phil and me. I'm the one with the glasses.

My Digital Christmas Card

I was a slow starter when it came to computers, but, when I discovered what could be done in Photoshop, I really got into it.
I haven't published any images that I have created in photoshop, but at some stage I would like to do a whole book digitally.



This image, which is based, of course, on Leonardo's The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist, is typical of the jokey kind of personal work that I have created on my computer.
I made this one as a Christmas card in 2001, when our first son was about nine months old.
This was pretty much an indulgence, but it was also a great way to learn blending techniques.
You can see how I use photoshop when I am composing a picture in one of my step by step videos, "Making Fairy Tales" with Full Commentary Part 1