Comic Book Art

When this dropped into my inbox I just knew I had to share, as a long term comic fan, (2000AD in the 80s and more recently Deadpool) I just loved these illustrations by Mark Hiblen.

Mark J Hiblen is a self-taught illustrator ( things like that just fill me with envy!) from a working-class background and a small, close knit family. His influences growing up were a love of 70's and 80's horror and pop culture.  Mark was given a boost when he was asked to create images of Vampires and Werewolves for an app on Facebook.

 Mark works mostly using an iPad and his finger. Previously his media had been pen and paper, watercolour, acrylics, and inks. However, two years ago, with the advancement in fluid design tech using touch screens, Mark decided to perfect freehand using just a finger and a screen.

Mark lives by the rule that no picture should take any longer than 2 hours! (amazing)

Mark’s childhood influences of horror films have remained with him throughout his artistic journey and he remains a fan.
Mark recounted that his dad would religiously buy him Spiderman and Planet of the Apes comics  every Sunday morning with his paper. This memory has stuck with him. Star Wars of course then appeared and like most young kids in the late 70's, Mark was hooked..

Mark has been lucky enough to have his work posted and shared by Slither/Super director James Gunn, who follows all of his latest projects and kindly used one of them to commemorate the first anniversary of the release of Guardians of the Galaxy.   The popularity of Mark’s work is growing, and it has also been shared by actors such as Zoe Saldana and Vin Diesel.

Most recently, success has come from Mark’s sketch which was created to say farewell to Star Wars actor Kenny Baker (R2-D2).

Another passion of Mark’s is a love of creating family cartoons and other illustrations upon request. Star Wars based commissions prove the most popular and when he isn’t drawing and creating, Mark enjoys spending time with his partner, daughter and crazy rescue dog Scout.

To find more out about Mark, check out his FB and Insta pages:

Thanks to Omni Search for sending me these images - https://omnisearch.uk/behind-illustrations-comic-book-artist/

Mark Hiblen Art on Facebook

Mark Hiblen on Instagram

Cardoo Colouring cards

I've looked at and liked Cardoo cards before. They are a fun idea that turns a card into a small gift. For a child they are great to add some fun to what can be a pretty, but ultimately only decorative, thing. Perfect to send abroad I use them to send to my sponsored child in Uganda.

Now Cardoo have a new range, perfect for older children, teens and adults. With the craze for adult colouring making colouring a 'cool' thing to do again, and helping lots of people to cope with stress I think they are rather a good idea. Excellent for sending to a teen coping with exams, or in hospital with nothing to do these cards are 8 pages of mandala, floral or geometric designs to colour yourslef. You could even colour half yourself first as a way to bond from miles away on a joint project and send some love.

Each card is slightly different style, but all have lovely metallic foil finish on the front so that even before colouring they are stylish and beautiful. They are complimented by a plain brown envelope - perfect for you to decorate before posting.

The cards retail at £3.50 and the range launches on 1st July 2016, with a selction available at WHSmith.

Find out more about all of the cards and look at the range of colouring cards at www.cardoo.com

Thanks to Cardoo who sent me a couple of cards to review

Art and the internet

Recently I've been excited to see photos of Banksy's new installation 'Dismaland' and I've been dying to see it for myself, but it seems that tickets are hard to get hold of, the travel is a bit far for me and it's only open until the end of September. So it seems that I will have to make do with looking at the art online.

It made me realise how lucky we are to have so much art available at the touch of a button. I have visited (and loved) many famous art galleries, Tate Modern, The National Portrait Gallery, the Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and more but even if you cannot get to these famous galleries, with the wonder of the internet you can see so many paintings (and other art forms) instantly, even on your phone.

I know that seeing a picture in real life is different, but it is so much better to see something online than not at all. And while art books have been available for years, seeing them involves trips to the library or money to spend. The joy of the internet is so much free art to look at. And then if you like it you could either plan to go and see the real thing or even buy a life sized print of your favourites.

I'm a huge fan of Salvador Dali, Picasso and Goya, loving the dark nightmare-ish qualities of some of those paintings, look at the hideous dark beauty of Goya's work "Saturn devouring one of his sons" for example.

I've seen this one in real life, amazing artist

 There are lots of websites to look at art, Artsy.net is a great place to start, because it has information aboout the artists and the works as well as pictures. (and if you are feeling flush they sometimes have works for sale)

It's a great place for kids to browse too, no worries about them getting bored and playing up in a gallery - let them find what they like in the relative comfort of your own home, children can surprise you with what they like too! Given the chance to look at paintings by the old masters they can also be surprisingly perceptive.

Do you have a favourite piece of art? Do you have any original artworks in your house? Or a reproduction print that your children love? I'd love to know!

Magpie Monday and Art (daaaaaaaaahlings!)

It seems I only have time to blog once a week at the moment! How lucky that I should choose a Monday to blog. This weekend there may have been trips to the rather fabulous Worthing Open Houses Art exhibitions (don't panic it's happening again next weekend and I strongly advise you to visit some of the houses if you can) and much admiration for some fantastic art. we especially enjoyed to modern take on art at Gallery26 (who you can also follow on twitter) , some delightful seaside paintings by Brenda Brooks and the amazing sculptures by Alan Tobias-Williams.


But it wasn't all culture, oh no, I did find time to buy a large, yet smart 'mummy bag' at a charity shop for the princely sum of £4.99. Perfect to fit a myriad of mummy goodies in yet still smart enough to use for business. The only downside was DD ensuring I sent at least 4 handbags I already own, to a charity shop in exchange. (I may have a handbag habit, don't judge me)

So here is the beauty

Posted as part of Magpie Monday - Hosted by the super MissieLizzie