Let's get through these cobwebs shall we? Hello all, it's been a while since I posted on here. There's been a few things going on at DH towers, although they are in various stages of limbo, awaiting the green light. It's best not to elaborate just yet so here's a recent commission in stages (by way of posting somekind of image to the post) Also, I've been spending money like water recently, so in a futile effort to get some money back into the bank I had a go at setting up an online shop. I must be the only person to have tried setting up one of these and actually ending up with everything in my cart, twice over. http://blackboarboutique.bigcartel.com/ Well, that's it for a few months I think. See you both again soon.

Hello Folks, Here are a couple of blank covers I've done recently. I'll be doing blank cover watercolours at the upcoming Earls Court London Film & Comic Con, so if you fancy one let me know in advance, chances are I won't be able to knock one out while you wait. I'll have a selection of original art pages for sale too, including this Hellboy A3

Look forward to seeing some of you there.
cheers
Dave

FANTASTIC BOUCQS TO BUY

Warning: subliminal advertising included, reading this could be costly.

I am always amazed at the diverse styles of work available for all ages in the sequential art field, attending the BD & Comics Passion event in South Kensington once again proved no exception to the veritable melting pot of art styles. This was the third event of its kind organised by Helene Fiamma and the staff at the beautiful building which is the Institut Francais.

BD & Comics Passion is a four day event, covering a multitude of genres, media and formats, from pop-up comics to figurines, absolutely every aspect of this great hobby is covered. The main draw for me, if you pardon the pun, was the opportunity to meet bd legends REGIS LOISEL and FRANCOIS BOUCQ. There was a cosmopolitan array of creators on hand, to chat and sketch throughout the weekend, including Posy Simmonds, Hunt Emerson, Glen Baxter, Penelope Bagieu, Ian Culbard, Pascal Garray, Mark Stafford and many more.

On Saturday's agenda was the big launch of Loisel's PETER PAN - collected in one lovely-looking volume, in English, for the first time, published by John Anderson's SOARING PENGUIN. This really is a beautiful book, and one that should be on everyone's bookshelf. If you dont have room... throw something out :)  I had seen a couple of the individual albums previously (this book is comprised of all six vols) when they were released in europe, and I remember thinking at the time 'if only this would be translated at some point', well, now I have my wish, not only is it translated, but it's deluxe too. Most folk reading this would be already aware of Loisel's prolific graphic novel output, his work at Disney (Mulan)... but this creator's Peter Pan is no sugar-coated tale. It is rooted firmly in the grim underbelly of old London Town, make no mistake, this tale is right up my cobbled-stoned alley BUY.

Regis is a gentlemen and despite the language barrier, I got the impression he liked my work too, which is always cool to know. We exchanged sketches, and when I saw what he had done for me I had to take mine back and elaborate on it a few more minutes. I was also lucky enough to get some sketches from the genial Francois Boucq--- well, I say sketches, but they were 'drawings' all done using a brush pen, which was handled with consumate skill. I have been a Boucq fan since I first saw his work in Heavy Metal magazine way back in the mid-eighties. This weekend was certainly one to remember. Although the attendance was not the same as that of a 'normal' comic show, the passion for the medium was there in fans and creators alike.

Saturday evening was the inaugaral Drink and Draw event, a bizarre mix of wine tasting, and artists sketching projected onto the big screen. I'm not a wine buff, but nontheless it was an interesting and fun event. My hotel was great, situated just a few doors away from the venue, thanks to my wife for finding that one on the net;)

Sunday, was spearheaded by a Francois Boucq workshop, which sadly, I could not attend as it overlapped the Loisel Peter Pan talk, this was the only downside of the whole event (the bad timing of events, not Loisel's actual talk you understand) hosted by Alex Fitch. The interpreter did a fantastic job of reiterating comments and questions from Loisel and Fitch and it made for an entertaining hour plus. Going behind the scenes of the artists's thinking process during this During the couple of days I managed to have a chat with Mark Stafford who has just illustrated a Victor Hugo story for Self Made Hero. THE MAN WHO LAUGHS is a real tour-de-force, evoking all sorts of emotions whilst reading. David Hine has done a superb job transforming Hugo's original words into an easily- accessible masterpeice for today's readers. Mark's signature style is is very much suited to this book and is enhanced even further by his own textured colours. The Man Who Laughs is not funny at all and yet another must read gn BUY.

I guess you all must have Boucq and Jodowsky's BOUNCER? If not, why not BUY. In fact any book by Boucq BUY.

I'm signing off for now, but if I could make any suggestions for next years guestlist it would be BLACKSAD artist Juanjo Guarnido and  FRANCOIS SCHUITEN....any chance, Helene? Thanks for organising such a great weekend, hope to see you all next year.

Hi Folks  I've just recently resurrected a few characters from my first gn SPIRIT OF THE HIGHWAYMAN, this is for a short story for David Lloyd's ACES WEEKLY, slated to go in Vol 4, which is currently available to subscribers. This is a strange one, in as much as I have absolutely no idea how it ends yet ;) anyway, here's a taster.

Hello folks
How are you all? I've been fairly productive just lately, despite upping sticks to a new (ancient) house, with stone walls so thick no modern communication device can penetrate. So apologies for delays in posts, at least now I have an excuse. The Batman pic was produced for a German collector who has a perchant for battle damaged heroes, and the first time ever I get to draw Daredevil, albeit it in London as opposed to Hell's Kitchen. Whilst composing this peice it suddenly occurred to me that it would be a nice nice touch to include the Old Bailey in the background. Pop back for more soon. 

Hellboy peice

I have many artists that I really admire, and this recent peice encompasses two legends. Arthur Rackham, the victorian children's book illustrator is a major influence on me, although I dont think it shows in my work so much. Mike Mignola is a current master of composition and creepiness currently back on his Hellboy series. For this illustration I thought it would be visually interesting to include Rackham's signature 'humanised' trees, with everyone's favourite red devil getting to grips with the root(s) of the problem. Talking of problems I have a huge one with my car, major league bill of £600 :( so really struggling to try and get some cash together, may have to sell this peice if you are interested, just let me know-either of Facebook or this dusty ol' blog. Back again soon...

Hello all---Well, over a week ago already since LSCC. What a great show it was, sold all the pre-con painted sketches which paid for the rather expensive weekend. Sadly I didn't get to even see any of the major names due to the enormous queues that were a permanent fixture of the show. I was on David Lloyd's ACES WEEKLY table and the sketchcards went like proverbial hotcakes. It was a great idea for people to be able to take away a tangible item (with a free sketch from any creator no less) and get access to the entire contents of ACES WEEKLY vol 1 at the same time.  It was great to meet other Aces conspirators Bambos, David Leach, Kev Hopgood and loads more coming and going over the weekend. I've signed up for another  ACES stint (or could it be two? one with a named writer attached, stay tuned for more). Our table neighbour was a Belgian creator Ivan Petrus who was promoting his WW1 book The Gathering, a superb read, with a colour sketch in every book. There is a possible project which may bare fruit here also, but more on that later. I had the chance to have a quick chat with Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl) who was not that far away, I bought three of his fantastic prints and picked up my pre-convention commission-----heaven's to betsy, here it is in all its glory. I asked Jeremy if he could produce a Springheeled Jack peice, and just by looking at a few images online, he came up with this jaw-dropper....

Batman commission

Hello folks
Ages ago I was asked to do a 'Batman on gargoyle' commission for a collector over on Comic Art Fans website. He collects art from many top rank artists, so I knew had to go to town on this one. I started it last weekend, but only got to do the figure, so spent time during the frozen nights this week building the rest...brick by brick.

In other news my pitch for Springheeled Jack is in the first stages of decison-making at a US comic company, it will be a few weeks yet, but you will read the outcome here. Don't forget to pop back soon.

Hello all
Looking round my spare room, I see that there's no that much room spare at all. So, I'm going to delve deep into my archives and start selling some original art. Currently I've got well over 200 A3 pages, propped up against the wall. So, anyone who might want original art pages from Springheeled Jack (only a few left), The Sixpenny Murder (8 page story), Mother's Love (a 16 page horror tale for Split Lip webcomic), Paradise Mechanism (22 pages) Madam Samurai (160 pages, both books) an abondoned 'FAIRIE WARS' story, written by New York Times bestseller Herbie Brennan (fantasy type thing) and other odds and ends---- please message me via Facebook in the first instance, make an offer for your favourite page, and you just might snag it. Pages start from as little as £10. Obviously they will vary a little depending on how long that specific page may have taken me to produce. I'll attempt to set up some kind of gallery if I get chance...