tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902846209982817082012-01-23T10:00:22.134+10:00Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.comBlogger1071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-22284604080689925532012-01-19T11:06:00.001+10:002012-01-19T11:07:25.944+10:00

Nothing quite prepares you for going back to schoolthe horrors of the classroomthe fear you're just not coolthe politics of the playgrounda constant fear of being ignoredthe looks on nameless facesand others being adored.Will they like me? Am I cool?will I be no more than a creature? Get a grip don't be a foolmy God man, you're the teacher!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-83399754568852696672012-01-05T10:57:00.000+10:002012-01-05T10:57:44.703+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-18311062830988213732011-12-24T13:44:00.002+10:002011-12-24T13:44:42.572+10:00

‘twas the night before Christmas, and out on the farman Englishman was drinking and spinning a yarntales of white Christmas and frost on the treeswe’ll get none of that here, its freaking forty degrees! the stockings are wilting by the chimney with heatwhere the cookies are melted, ready for Santa to eatthe milk would’ve curdled during the long night watchso Saint Nick asked the kids to leave a

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-5864387941263520702011-11-13T11:15:00.001+10:002011-11-13T11:15:57.632+10:00

I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war. King George V  a simple pencil sketch, nothing digital... the colour is a red biro Lest we Forget 

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-64294784128408071572011-10-24T20:53:00.000+10:002011-10-24T20:53:57.433+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-90604210352347802362011-09-09T12:31:00.000+10:002011-09-09T12:31:05.831+10:00

Over the course of the last week I've been challenging all the students and staff at my work to take part in different activities for National Poetry Week. Each day was designated a theme; WRITE, BUY, SHARE, LIVE and CELEBRATE. Yesterday I tasked people to live like a poet and submit work for publication... and today, to celebrate their achievement, I'm proud to share with you... http://

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-31543641285807038232011-09-06T13:10:00.000+10:002011-09-06T13:10:06.407+10:00

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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-48345552969430237932011-09-05T15:07:00.000+10:002011-09-05T15:07:17.593+10:00

writecan you please just readthe words without thought of performing dissection?appreciate the rhyme and rythmewithout adding unwarrented affectionSometimes a daffodil flutters and dances inthe breeze because...well, it's windy.Sometimes love is...inexplicable(without needing to be long-winded)Sometime a poet writes of deathbecause...someone died.Please stop trying to find the thingswe never

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-89058439373312738272011-09-01T13:22:00.004+10:002011-09-01T13:26:42.036+10:00

The full version of the short story I wrote which Celapene Press published in their Short and Twisted 2011 Anthology (for which I edited it into a short short story) The Adventures of Charli and the Grave   "One... two... three..." "Good girl!" "three... two... two... three..." "Erm, not quite" The long walk up Whitby's famous 199 steps to the Abbey was proving even more

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-78011804227192090452011-08-07T14:11:00.000+10:002011-08-07T14:11:05.083+10:00

  To complete the family pets pictures, here's our fish, Blue MKII A.K.A. Chuck Norris. We changed his name after he ate five other fish, we accidentally left him for nearly two weeks and he survived (unrelated to the tragic fish-eating massacre) and he's taken many a walk on the living room floor with seemingly no ill effect. Remember, you don't find Chuck, Chuck finds you!  Chuck with full

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-81356093846066553512011-08-06T07:56:00.002+10:002011-08-06T08:00:45.221+10:00

Imperfectus!  The Latin root of this week's Illustration Friday prompt, Imperfect, is Imperfectus, which means unfinished.  I thought it had a very Rincewind The Wizzard feel to it. (double 'z' is not a typo) I haven't thought of Rincewind for years then recently a student of mine asked me if I'd heard of Discworld... I've been re-reading my 30+ book collection ever since, brilliant (on the

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-80036264044397222272011-08-05T21:38:00.000+10:002011-08-05T21:38:24.121+10:00

We have a cat called FiFi (not sure why) She's a bit of a princess and this morning when I posted the pic of Odie she jumped on my lap and sat between me and the laptop, glaring. I don't care if this makes readers leave my blog for being a weirdo... I've read far too many Stephen King books and I'm not risking it. So here's cartoon FiFi. ....Happy Doodling

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-17604365111189280812011-08-05T09:21:00.002+10:002011-08-05T09:25:21.876+10:00

I haven't managed to do a lot of blogging or blog reading lately but on my sidebar I have links to some of my favourites, one of which being the Ooh La La Design Studio by Vanessa Brantley Newton and recently this post really caught my eye. Vanessa has illustrated a new book called One Love by Cedella Marley... a children's book based on Bob Marley's song... brilliant! And there's even a trailer.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-26738389092494277322011-08-05T07:59:00.001+10:002011-08-05T08:41:03.370+10:00

Look! I'm not going to keep getting it if you keep throwing it away...  oh go on then... one more time.   this started out life as a picture of the newest member of our little family; Odie the dog (I've always wanted to call a dog Odie but thought people would judge me so when this little fella was rescued and he already had that name, I knew it was meant to be) I'm not sure how he ended up

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-9229116634551501212011-07-26T08:33:00.001+10:002011-07-26T13:31:41.113+10:00

ATTENTION:RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM WITH YOUR ACCOUNTOh dear, My Nan What problem?It must be bad for them to email me,And in capital lettersWith a bold font.Oh dear it must be bad.Now what did my son say?‘Just be careful what you believe’Well, they got my name right,They got my address rightThat’s the bank’s logo.I hope no-one is trying to steal my pensionI better click here Just to be sureJust to be

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-90529810933072484092011-07-21T21:01:00.000+10:002011-07-21T21:01:46.098+10:00

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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-22872284794563751212011-07-21T20:20:00.000+10:002011-07-21T20:20:26.666+10:00

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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-61168570491009364732011-07-09T16:40:00.000+10:002011-07-09T16:40:07.692+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-29849833338381096552011-07-07T22:00:00.001+10:002011-07-08T21:09:13.730+10:00

The lovely people at Celapene Press have published one of my poems, an illustration and a short short story (the second short is there on purpose, it's about 100 words long) in the 2011 Short & Twisted Anthology Pretty stoked about that... the best part is my little girl recognising my character, pointing at the page and saying 'daddy'

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-33342066647802066262011-07-05T18:17:00.000+10:002011-07-05T18:17:24.023+10:00

Gerald had been told he made a cracking soupbut he couldn't help thinkingit was missing something... the only remedy for the common cold is good old chicken soup but what if chickens have a cold?

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-68632387841506100422011-06-04T12:07:00.001+10:002011-06-04T16:37:39.521+10:00

Bertie and Beatrice found that together, with handsfirmly grasped,the shadows held no fears“I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got, But there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-63401432283481770422011-06-04T11:51:00.001+10:002011-06-04T11:52:47.349+10:00

A bit late for Illustration Friday but I liked it so I thought I'd post it anyway. My first drawing for a long time and a very different style. My scanner is on the blink so I took a photograph on my phone and desaturated the image in Photoshop then tweaked a little with the smudge tool. Happy Doodling

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-23223728747750361072011-05-29T23:39:00.000+10:002011-05-29T23:39:28.800+10:00

A Poison TreeWilliam Blake GoAnimate.com: A Poison Tree by MrAFinlaysonLike it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!  Champagne Steven Herrick(from the novel, A Simple Gift)  GoAnimate.com: Champagne by Steven Herrick by MrAFinlaysonLike it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-52993512726170144042011-04-24T17:50:00.001+10:002011-04-24T17:51:47.569+10:00

There's fewer faster than Geoffrey on his father's Farthing!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-83222892192723979572011-04-22T21:13:00.001+10:002011-04-22T21:15:26.203+10:00

Nearly 12 years ago I was in sixth-form College in England studying English Literature, Ancient History and Christian Theology and Philosophy. I was tasked in my English class to write a poem... as it was Easter I thought I'd combine all my subjects and write a poem about the crucifixion of Christ. I was pretty happy with the poem and my teacher liked it (it was even published in an anthology

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-89904327564985094652011-04-19T22:38:00.000+10:002011-04-19T22:38:58.580+10:00

"To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping" Chinese Proverb Only a quick sketch this week with no digital fiddling. This is a direct scan from my sketchbook... you can even see the red smudge that's permanently on my scanner thanks to my beautiful girl scanning one of her paintings (she's two, it wasn't dry... love it!) I had so many

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-36630694758256738402011-04-10T23:47:00.001+10:002011-04-10T23:47:52.276+10:00

Bottled: (Northern) English slang, verb; 'to back out (wimp out) of doing something' "So did Paul ask Jenny out at breaktime?""Nah, he bottled it!"

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-60801833679884003312011-04-07T14:21:00.000+10:002011-04-07T14:21:45.445+10:00

When 'the right song'comes on while driving!  I do indeed drive a 1978 Mini Clubman LSandI'm freakin loving Mumford and Sons at the moment!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-45604783519934524802011-04-03T14:35:00.001+10:002011-04-03T14:35:55.160+10:00

Waking up before your alarm and staying in bed until you absolutely MUST get up!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-40186066234072621632011-04-02T13:31:00.003+10:002011-04-02T13:43:31.414+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-49854201900088661772011-03-30T22:21:00.000+10:002011-03-30T22:21:20.908+10:00

 Remember when you left the house in the morning,didn't return until the streetlights came on,didn't carry a mobile phone,the word 'iPod' made no sense,you talked to your friends face-to-face,you carried no toys with you, but with two sticks you could fly across countless worldsand play for hours?! Remember?

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-27558593328312905282011-03-30T22:12:00.001+10:002011-03-30T22:13:17.557+10:00

Other People's Toast!It smells better, it looks better, it tastes better! Do you keep a journal? Arty,wordy or both? Do you find that you spend more time in that journal when the chips are down? I certainly do, since my early teens I've been keeping journals in one form or another and it's clear to see a pattern of depressive writing. This can be a good thing; the therapeutic kick some of us

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-88555605201023885082011-03-30T21:59:00.000+10:002011-03-30T21:59:28.815+10:00

A quick sketch in the old Moleskine for last weeks Illustration Friday... Good to be back Happy Doodling!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-46240085084576052782011-03-17T22:05:00.002+10:002011-03-28T21:50:05.530+10:00

A performance poem on bullying for The National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, Friday 18th March 2011. This is written from the point of view of a teacher who was bullied as a student and sees the same problems in his own students.We have to 'see' bullyingWe have to 'see' the victimsand 'see' the bullies themselvesand we have to speak out

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-38735973825943544822010-12-19T10:55:00.003+10:002011-03-28T21:49:32.458+10:00

Seasons Greetings everyone! My family and I have successfully moved into our new home in time for Christmas! Still no phone line so attempting some mobile blogging! This is a card I made for my family this year... It's a copy of an Illustration Friday pic featuring my character, Benny. I'm pretty sure my family think i'm a bit of a hippy so thought this would be cool... It's also how English

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-88551952815745665062010-11-28T12:13:00.003+10:002010-11-28T14:31:21.983+10:00

The lines are from the poem, 'Slow Dance' by David L Weatherford who sadly died last year. You may recognise the verse from a hoax email that did the rounds a while back; attributing authorship to a 6 year old cancer sufferer. I can assure you this is certainly fake... a student of mine used this poem to create a visual piece of work that was so good I got in contact with Mr Weatherford's

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-31976510934819240832010-11-23T20:41:00.001+10:002010-11-23T21:00:46.058+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-78686610183314913132010-11-20T16:35:00.002+10:002010-11-20T16:44:57.478+10:00

My mate Pete's fourth picture book in two years - the man's a legend. I urge you to check this one out, dedicated to his siblings, Peter's Last Tree in the City is a beautiful story about the environment and how even the smallest of us can stand up and make a difference. Click on the image to be taken to Pete's website and you can download a sample of the book from his publisher at New Frontier.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-11245664790167431532010-11-15T17:31:00.001+10:002010-11-15T17:42:50.907+10:00

A photograph turned into lineart with watercolour, A1 size and laminated thanks to nice people at work

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-21575594331441353052010-11-14T15:06:00.001+10:002010-11-14T15:06:50.344+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-65953743240261817092010-11-13T16:10:00.006+10:002010-11-13T19:25:20.467+10:00

 Although I left England to live in Australia, this is not autobiographical (well not much) I do however believe strongly in Karma. Having studied theology and philosophy for 10 years or so, Karma is the only principle that really resonated with me -not through any ideological religious reason but simply because I know that if I do good; I feel good and if I do bad; I feel bad. So to me it makes

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-98881205107372632010-11-10T13:27:00.000+10:002010-11-10T13:27:37.332+10:00

 Manny the Money Tin Pin the Tail on the (slightly suggestive) Donkey

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-91009187004779137332010-11-05T22:55:00.008+10:002010-11-05T23:10:54.373+10:00

CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE   "All good books are alike in that they are truer thanif they had really happened and after you are finishedreading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you;the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse"Ernest Hemingway The Famous Five ruined me as a child. I loved reading those stories but afterwards I was always deeply

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-37025468810670570162010-11-03T18:06:00.006+10:002010-11-03T22:30:25.308+10:00

Spent A long straggling line; The old lady bent doublewith a dog under one armand a roast chicken in the other,The frazzled young motherwith two kids; one in the trolleycovered in chocolate,The other running riotgrabbing items from the shelves‘Can I have this?’‘I want this’‘I need this’Three teenage girls thumbing throughmagazines,chewing gum and giggling atThe farmer in his Akubrawith a knife in

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-58274292580402913822010-11-01T21:26:00.000+10:002010-11-01T21:26:54.597+10:00

I finally did it! I finally put some of my children's poetry videos online. This is what I want to do, this is where my real passion is - performance poetry for children and young adults.I just love the power of words and being able to communicate my stories in this way.Some of  them are very silly (we all need entertaining) and some of them are even quite dark (because kids aren't naive) I've

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-9679825317033030602010-10-27T12:20:00.001+10:002010-10-27T13:07:12.430+10:00

My first comic strip.... I didn't know what to do for this week's topic, I didn't want to do anything too obvious and then my lovely wife suggested I draw something to do with our weekend. My sister-in-law (actually called Beck) runs quite a few acres of lucerne (hay) and recently lost a lot of her crop due to the rain. We'd finished raking a fresh batch on Saturday when a storm started coming

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-13815697528576590392010-10-17T15:55:00.000+10:002010-10-17T15:55:56.124+10:00

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-42376113876363578962010-10-14T21:36:00.001+10:002010-10-14T21:37:37.354+10:00

Trains, planes and automobiles... more than just a boxVery rough I know (took pic with phone) and my first post for a few weeks. Life is pretty hectic at the moment but as long as I have time to play with my little girl, feel my little boy kick and spend quality time with the missus, I'll be a happy boy. 7 weeks left of work then 7 weeks off... bliss!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-64743664909025612802010-09-25T20:29:00.000+10:002010-09-25T20:29:16.342+10:00

Old-fashioned Kombi, old-fashioned architecture, old-fashioned style The Kombi is minus a roof as this is an old illustration I did for a friend who 'lost' the roof of his Kombi. He never did elaborate. This is Flinder's Street Station in (what I hope is) a Quentin Blake style.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-30997878591374258962010-09-12T12:10:00.005+10:002010-09-16T12:03:31.233+10:00

There are 10 Proverbs in this picture, can you find them?(click the image for full size) I'll post the answers on Thursday... good luck ANSWERS: 1) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 2) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree 3) The early bird catches the worm 4) Every rose has it's thorn 5) Pigs might fly 6) All roads lead to Rome 7) There's more than one way to skin a cat (look at

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-8027379164280113182010-09-10T13:08:00.002+10:002010-09-13T10:49:50.644+10:00

Text messages from my wife as she drove my beloved Mini (named Bernie) home one day last week... and I'm the one who wants to be a writer! 17:58 My journey begins with usual cheers and jeers associated with driving a mini from the local yokels at the open all hours roadhouse... my journey continues with contemplative glances out my window as I reach a steady 80kms, daring not to push it further

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-32775916597126697292010-09-08T07:09:00.001+10:002010-09-08T22:36:29.020+10:00

So my 7 Days, 7 Doodles challenge comes to an end with a slightly odd self-portrait and what have I learned from one little week of trying to create something new each day? It's hard I imagine I would've been a lot more productive if I wasn't a father, husband, teacher and footballer... but these are the things that make me me and I sure as hell wasn't going to give up time with my wife or

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-81309299359306526532010-09-06T22:32:00.000+10:002010-09-06T22:32:54.181+10:00

A work in progress for my sisters Birthday, this is us when we were kids

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-16041823067715225912010-09-05T13:49:00.000+10:002010-09-05T13:49:55.340+10:00

 Okay, so my 7 Days, 7 Doodles challenge is back on track after the chaos that was Grand Final Day, I spent the lead up to the game doing the Illustration Friday drawing; Dessert and forgot to post my 7D7D drawing so here's yesterday's and today's.We won the final by the way, in the worst rain I've ever played in. Extremely hard work but we got there in the end! Now for a relaxing Father's Day

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-70068476098284916902010-09-04T12:28:00.001+10:002010-09-04T12:32:35.203+10:00

"Honestly Daddy, I ate all my dinner, the cat must've caught a really big mouse. Can I have my dessert now please?" My first ever fully digital image! I'm really happy with it. I used an old photo of my daughter - she was actually covered in tomato sauce but I wanted to have a bash at this weeks IF without having the obvious ice-cream and chocolate in the picture... so the desserts in the

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-56829881666316596122010-09-03T18:35:00.001+10:002010-09-03T18:38:26.515+10:00

Day 3 and a simple picture of a girl. I drew this on the back of my work diary and then toyed with it in Photoshop. I'm still learning but making some progress. The next few days of my 7 Days, 7 Doodles task will be difficult: a lot of work to do, a Grand Final football match to play and Father's Day!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-38911896279259271472010-09-02T13:54:00.001+10:002010-09-02T13:57:17.649+10:00

My wife and I are massive fans of the author Bernard Cornwell and particularly enjoy his series The Saxon Stories. The main character is Uhtred and in one scene he awaits a battle in stormy weather; the rain patters on his helmet and falls in slow, cold rivulets down his back as he waits for the enemy to attack.     Oooooooooohhhh! I'm not overly happy with the picture to be honest and I

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-29000002421116111372010-09-01T16:22:00.001+10:002010-09-01T16:30:05.336+10:00

I am the King of the Procrastinators! So I've set myself a little challenge: 7 Days, 7 Doodles. I have to draw something new every day for 7 days and post it on here. Doesn't sound like a lot but you can't underestimate just how distracted I get. I'm like that dog out of the movie, UP... "Squirrel!" So as I'm the King, I've started with a queen; Queen Mab (don't worry, that's torn photocopies

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-60050494977623501842010-09-01T11:08:00.000+10:002010-09-01T11:08:47.965+10:00

I wonder if you've heard of this? It looks amazing. For a very reasonable price you are provided with a Moleskine Cahair Sketchbook and a theme (you can choose from a list or be given one at random). The idea is to fill the book and send it back to the USA where it will become part of a travelling art exhibition. People will pick up your book and look through your work... what a wicked idea!I'm

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-43800733473652324902010-08-30T20:41:00.000+10:002010-08-30T20:41:07.873+10:00

Go on, you try to move her!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-78908549774735004592010-08-30T08:40:00.001+10:002010-08-30T08:55:23.181+10:00

Now that she’s back in the atmosphereWith drops of jupiter in her hair, hey, heyShe acts like summer and walks like rainReminds me that there’s time to change, hey, heySince the return from her stay on the moonShe listens like spring and she talks like june, hey, hey Tell me did you sail across the sunDid you make it to the milky way to see the lights all fadedAnd that heaven is overrated Tell me

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-72597172303778338002010-08-27T17:46:00.000+10:002010-08-27T17:46:53.860+10:00

One of the blogs I regularly read belongs to the talented Amariah at http://amariahrauscher.blogspot.com/She has very kindly set up a competition where you can win one of her prints by replying to a simple question... this month... 'what did you do in the summer?' It's really worth a look. Amariah's art work is quite amazing, I love trying to figure out the story behind her pictures but alongside

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-12427587210348478252010-07-04T15:25:00.000+10:002010-07-04T15:25:19.299+10:00

Remember the kids TV show 'Round the Twist'? I never ever watched an episode but I know all the words to the theme tune - "Have you ever, ever felt like this?Have strange things happened,are you going round the twist"  This is just one of the many, many, many little theme tunes that have been trapped in my head over the last 72 hours... my wife and I packed up our 18 month old baby girl, left

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-12601962497346250252010-06-27T14:59:00.003+10:002010-06-27T15:04:21.536+10:00

A reworking of Shakespeare's Henry V Act 3 Scene 1 ahead of tonight's gameagainst Germany.  Come on England!!!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-2149309354402247672010-06-26T17:09:00.001+10:002010-06-26T17:11:30.191+10:00

Lenny and Jenny's Satellite of Love I really liked doing this one but it was frustrating, I either got the sky how I wanted it and no street light glow or street light glow and that annoying line between the colours of the sky - in the end, I decided I liked the street light better. With more time I could probably fix it but as I'm flying to England soon for 6 weeks to introduce my family to

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-21828228881615460232010-06-26T10:07:00.000+10:002010-06-26T10:07:51.936+10:00

It's Aliiiive!!Benny throws his hands up in the air in jubilation; two weeks after the move to the new castle his machine is finally running!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-49747449816915662842010-06-08T21:22:00.002+10:002010-06-08T21:22:38.888+10:00

My blog layout is rubbish, any ideas?

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-29646432496027371912010-06-08T21:14:00.000+10:002010-06-08T21:14:48.539+10:00

I was contacted recently by a guy who wanted me to illustrate a children's book for him... it was about pirates! Brilliant, I get to draw pirates! Garrr! Sadly, it's not going to happen, Narrr! (shame because I love his book but other commitments do get in the way) Despite this, I can't stop drawing. I made a few rough sketches to get the feel of his characters and I thought I'd share them - 

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-41390026163421352092010-06-06T12:25:00.002+10:002010-06-26T10:32:47.602+10:00

My submission for this weeks Illustration Friday topic, "trail". I started with Robert Motherwell's quote and worked from there. The character is Benny - he's one of those guys I draw all the time (usually in important meetings when I should be paying attention) The background is Danby Beacon on the North York Moors in England - the final resting place of my Nanna and Grandad. When Grandad

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-34143069463304559932010-05-30T14:29:00.001+10:002010-05-30T14:30:07.168+10:00

Sorry about the IF: Slither link, that's below - posted the wrong URL This is my attempt to colour one of the pencil drawings from a previous post - it's a digital photograph, not a scan. I'm getting closer to what I want to achieve... but still not quite hitting the mark. Had no idea how to get the wire fence on the final image so it looks like I've let my kid get up close and personal to the

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-6785658515460057842010-05-30T10:21:00.002+10:002010-06-06T12:29:09.571+10:00

Sammy the slippery snake slithered and slipped his teeth into a glass of soapy suds before slithering and slipping hisself beneath the smooth silky sheets Quick and simple.  First IF I've had on time for ages ... not happy with the colour ... the 'scan' was taken with a video camera and I have no idea how to create 'solid' colours in Photoshop. Unless it's a really clean scan, I

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-15048169535475865822010-05-29T23:44:00.000+10:002010-05-29T23:44:42.827+10:00

Thought I'd try something a bit YA rather than for children - though the illustration is still very childlike in style (I was going to put a smoke in his mouth but decided against it - he's worried about his breath afterall) This was an Illustration Friday topic last week - missed it again. Photograph taken using a video camera, then I played with the contrast and brightness in Office Publisher..

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-78709727833587497932010-05-29T23:09:00.000+10:002010-05-29T23:09:49.518+10:00

  Fearless was the topic for Illustration Friday a few weeks ago. Never did get round to publishing a picture in time but I had the idea rattling around... finally got round to drawing something this evening... only had a video camera and Office Publisher to finalise images though... still, they came out okay I think. (the lion is loosely based on the cover of a Stephen Michael King illustrated

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-1342398323521455222010-05-21T14:35:00.000+10:002010-05-21T14:35:43.462+10:00

So I didn't put a whole lot of effort into this weeks illustration - as you can see I simply scribbled all over my work diary interesting as the students aren't allowed to graffiti  but the teacher sits in the corner and doodles away... (I did this in periods 5 and 6 when my students were watching All Quiet on the Western Front so I wasn't being a lax teacher!) I couldn't get the idea out of

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-35320992663712931822010-05-15T23:26:00.001+10:002010-05-15T23:35:58.962+10:00

Love this! Sat watching Saturday morning television with my daughter Charli (17months old) - she loves Giggle and Hoots on ABC2- particularly enjoys the storytime segment (and daddy secretly wants to present the show). Recently they had a special guest to read a book - one Guy Sebastian - now I'm not writing this because I'm a closet, crazed GS fan (although he can sing, can play and writes good

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-8849129819692431912010-05-07T11:30:00.006+10:002010-05-09T09:18:45.873+10:00

Charli has bigbed all one word, - bigbed -She loves it, clambers upon the box we gave herand flops down on the sheepskin- my bigbed -Only it's not quite big enough,ours is bigger you see- bigabed -all one word. So some nights she climbs downfrom bigbed, toddles downthe hall on her chubby little legs -nappy held in a fist against her cheekand stands in front of our bed- bigabed - she whispers Then

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-74092731606777765752010-04-15T23:13:00.000+10:002010-04-15T23:13:02.835+10:00

Okay, I cheated - I should've drawn this but I'm so pushed for time so it's digital. All of these men are Alex Finlayson I know it's not really good enough to be in Illustration Friday but it means something to me so I've included it - I will draw what I have in my mind one day - I love drawing pics of family from old photographs - makes me feel connected

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-24106568063303355682010-04-03T22:03:00.000+10:002010-04-03T22:03:09.870+10:00

I've been having a lot of issues with IE not allowing me to post in blogger - not happy. That's one of the reasons for my lack of posts recently - but - not very entertaining. The other reason? Slightly more fun... You know that time in the morningWhen you wake up Before the alarm clock?That great feeling you get whenyou know you don’t have to get upthat you've got longer in bed?Where you flip

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-49431965755909207482010-03-18T20:31:00.001+10:002010-03-18T20:54:43.899+10:00

Let's see how well you know your music history... a few scattered clues in here.The process... more trouble than I believe it was worth - but still fun

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-35881302500051395862010-03-12T12:01:00.004+10:002010-03-12T12:07:53.258+10:00

This is my (extremely rushed) entry for the Marshmallow Contest set by Jose. If you aren't aware, Jose set himself the task of creating a daily marshmallow for a full year - so far he is doing a superb job with some wonderful images and amazingly, the guy hasn't missed a day! My favourites are the Marshmallow Mona Lisa (not just because I suggested it) and Number 63. So, about

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-82074874118744345062010-03-11T10:55:00.001+10:002010-03-11T10:57:23.988+10:00

I woke up this morning and my baby girl was snuggled up beside me she must've sneaked in during the night her back to my chest little body rocking back and forth as I breathed in and out I stroked her chubby little arm softly and she murmered quietly in her sleep I breathed in deep morning air and my chest rose pushing her with it her eye-lashes fluttered and she tilted her head back looking up

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-17034028281975725512010-03-07T21:22:00.003+10:002010-03-07T21:24:49.350+10:00

My entry for this weeks Illustration Friday topic; Brave. Just the raw image and verse taken straight from my book.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-23787933490802406872010-03-03T22:13:00.000+10:002010-03-03T22:13:10.587+10:00

A kid in my class today (well, I say kid, he's 16) seemed a bit put-out when I 'busted' him doodling in his notebook - he thought I was going to 'get up him' (a colourfully ambigious Aussie phrase which I'm assured means to 'tell-off') He looked really taken aback when I complimented his artistic skills. In fact I suggested he incorporate his art into his note-taking if that would help him

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-15337486599867246102010-02-27T21:27:00.005+10:002010-09-10T13:51:32.493+10:00

Punctuation: it's just a matter of perspective A woman, without her man, is nothing A woman: without her, man is nothing. Pencil, Ink, Photoshop I've always liked this little play on words - I use it often with high school English classes, writing the un-punctuated text on the board and tasking the students to finish it - always with similar results - boys pick the first, girls pick the

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-24398270556788363672010-02-07T13:17:00.003+10:002010-02-08T16:11:38.221+10:00

Play while you read! I defy anyone not to nod your head and tap your feet! I've been out for a long time - new job, new house, new town - little access to the internet. Love this weeks theme for IF and was thinking about it at a work meeting... okay, I should've been paying attention... but instead I drew the first thing that came into my head when considering 'muddy' as a theme... 'Muddy

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-40458203721426131152010-01-28T16:28:00.000+10:002010-01-28T16:28:57.296+10:00

The lovely people at DotDotDash have published my shortstory 'The Lady' online, here: http://www.dotdotdash.org/projects.html Enjoy Al (normal service will resume as soon as normality returns)

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-79675098006616087792010-01-13T17:13:00.001+10:002010-09-10T13:54:10.554+10:00

“If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by the other end of the chain. You are confined by your own repression.” Toni Morrison Notes: I'm still learning Photoshop so I thought I'd do a simple illustration. Those with a keen eye will notice two of the creatures belong to Dave McKean and Shaun Tan - I've been drawing them for a long time (you know, on memos in meeting

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-43438297730345855102010-01-08T11:20:00.002+10:002010-01-09T07:47:43.676+10:00

I know I've blogged about DotDotDash before but their latest issue is a bit special and worthy of another post I reckon... because I'm in it!  Woop Woop! That's right, the wonderful people at DotDotDash (Perth-based, literary and arts quarterly) liked a little story I wrote enough to include it in their beautiful glossy pages! Happy days! From a completely unbiased point of view (seriously) I

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-88870244501527031312010-01-07T21:39:00.005+10:002010-09-10T13:56:06.325+10:00

Colour image added Friday 8th, Big thanks to Jose and Z for the advice Orange Dresses and Sad Smiles After the accident It’s all a bit of a blur. I was so young I didn’t really understand what was going on. What I think I remember might actually be only what I’ve been told. Strange. I’ve heard the story so many times It actually feels like my own memories.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-85634618548273074742010-01-04T15:52:00.001+10:002010-01-04T16:21:05.639+10:00

I drew these a while ago for my mate Ben - the only guy I know who managed to lose the roof of his Kombi. I had an idea that I would write a daft little picture-book-style story about Matey the Kombi and his search for the missing roof. I never really got round to putting it together - though I did enjoy drawing a few different places around Australia. Do you know where they are?

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-71102713880102393502010-01-04T08:24:00.001+10:002010-09-10T13:56:37.398+10:00

One year ago, on January 1st, my Nan, the last of my grandparents, passed away after years and years of battling alzeihmers. Love you Nan x I drew this a long time ago from a photo of Nanna and Grandad's wedding day. The text is from a letter Nanna wrote to Grandad when he got cancer 20 years ago. They loved each other very much.

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-25877618461675219212009-12-19T16:52:00.001+10:002010-09-10T13:57:06.874+10:00

'What's done cannot be undone'       Macbeth Like most people of my generation I grew up reading and loving Michael Rosen, Roald Dahl and Allan Ahlberg - one thing these three legends have in common? Quentin Blake. QB is, for me, the greatest children's illustrator of all time - the simplicity and realism of his characters has always stuck with me and is something I've tried to emulate for years

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-40893038685622323102009-12-17T13:38:00.001+10:002009-12-17T15:20:32.877+10:00

So we're going to friends for Christmas dinner tonight and I said I'll do the turkey - idiot! Never done one before - so I googled Jamie Oliver and found a great recipe - then spent the last hour pretty much violating the poor bird! All the while I had this in my head... Thanks a lot Benjamin Zephaniah!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-69128314856095703592009-12-14T23:21:00.001+10:002010-09-10T13:57:30.357+10:00

 I drew this for my class on the last day of term - my last primary school class ever! (maybe) back to teenagers with me - oh dear

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-34184372876661449222009-12-14T22:40:00.001+10:002010-09-10T13:58:11.913+10:00

This was drawn with a 5B pencil - have you ever used one of those? Ridiculous! I couldn't find my trusty 2B as I finished work this week and everything's still in the back of the car. I wanted to do a convoluted picture of someone hatching a plan but a) I couldn't quite think of anything and b) my wife thought of this idea and I wanted to give it a go. I promise I won't draw a baby

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-28077424409196067922009-12-07T13:17:00.000+10:002009-12-07T13:17:42.926+10:00

I got really stuck with this one - then my daughter helped me out! Shame about the black marks on the scanner but that can't be helped ... and HOW DO YOU DRAW CORNFLAKES!

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-14746896809394383472009-11-29T13:47:00.004+10:002009-11-29T13:57:13.739+10:00

Entangled This started out as an illustration for a poem - I wrote the poem first on the subject of 'Entangled' (which happens to be a word my grade 5 class struggled with this week) Then wanted to create an image of a child struggling in class.Somehow I got caught up in the knotted shoe laces and by the end I realised the silent narrative of the picture was probably better than the poem, ah well

Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329028018044945596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-75199685936137564332009-11-29T00:14:00.001+10:002009-11-29T00:15:04.265+10:00

I first came across Illustration Friday through my mate Pete's blog Scribbly Pete (you may have heard of him - author and illustrator of Jessica's Box and Sarah's Heavy Heart - excellent teacher, great guitarist, top footy player, all round good guy and pain in the arse for us mere mortals) I loved the idea of being given a topic every week but art is not my strong point - oh sure, I can doodle

Alex Finlaysonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-72122258700365003292009-11-28T23:54:00.002+10:002009-11-29T00:15:24.787+10:00

This pic is for Illustration Friday: Music The scan is ridiculously poor, smudging a lot of the detail (which is basic to be honest) but I like the idea

Alex Finlaysonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90284620998281708.post-41530449697015713642009-11-26T10:47:00.000+10:002009-11-26T10:47:41.253+10:00

I honestly can't remember how I came to hear about this Perth-based magazine but DotDotDash is an extremely well-produced little zine full of poetry, prose and art - and I've been lucky enough to work with them on a couple of pieces. Their next issue (due in December) entitled 'Ugly' will contain a couple of pieces from me - a short 3-panel comic, and a story called The Lady - accompanied by an

Alex Finlaysonnoreply@blogger.com0