Hugo teaser poster

I have to admit, I'm more than a little excited about this movie for many reasons, so thought I'd add a quick link to the new poster for Martin Scorsese's Hugo, a film about an orphan boy living in the walls of a parisian train station. (to be released later in the year)
More on this as the film approaches but for now, here's a link to check out:
http://www.slashfilm.com/hugo-teaser-poster/

Bender Crack Corn & the Rocky Horror

On Thursday evening my friends and I took a trip down to Canterbury to watch a crazy costumed skiffle group rock out hits from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I had met the band, Bender Crack Corn at a wedding a few months back (see previous blog) and following drawing their caricature they kindly gave me one of their cds, which has been playing endlessly in my car on long journeys.
The Beer Cart Arms was reasonably quiet when we arrived for a drink at 7pm but by the time the band came on for their headlining gig the place was heaving with roaring fans, some costumed themselves.
It was great to see The Monster Mash, Sweet Transvestite and a whole load of Rocky Horror hits given the skiffle twist. Great night had by all.

Loving it all

I used to find there were good jobs and bad jobs, some bookings would be really into what I do, others would be unresponsive.

But I have to say the last few months have been bliss. I have been continually surprised at how enjoyable each job is, with people up for having their pictures drawn and laughing when they see the result.

You wouldn't believe how much this helps. A caricaturist feeds off that vibe and it helps add a confidence to the drawings.

This weekend was a beauty. Despite the fact that I've been having trouble with my shoulder over the last couple of weeks (no doubt a form of RSI) I had the great pleasure of not only drawing my victorian caricatures at the Rochester Dickens Festival, but I had three weddings to attend, all of which were stunning events with great people.

It is indeed a strange thing to leave the hustle and bustle of a festival to arrive at a peaceful wedding setting. 

Thursday I was up to Surrey for a wedding at Oaks Farm Barn, a great location that I had never been to. Friday took me to The Mountains Country House, a regular venue of mine that is always a pleasure, and on Saturday I attended a wedding in Yalding which was something of a novelty. I used to go to Yalding for days out with my parents when I was a child. It is an amazing little village just outside of Maidstone with an impressive river running through it.. well worth a visit on a warm day. So nice for a venue to give me a sense of nostalgia.

Right then, I'd better make preparations.. tonight I have a last minute booking in Bedfordshire and I have no idea what to expect. 

Psychic Sally

After a busy weekend of commissions and a great wedding at the Mountains Country House, I had the opportunity last night to see Psychic Sally live on stage with friends.
I went with some trepidation as I am what I would describe as a hopeful skeptic. I simply love the idea that ghosts wander among us and that we could communicate with them but I really want something solid before I can trust what a medium tells me. I had never seen Sally on tv but I am told she is a very highly respected medium.
I will say this for Sally Morgan.. she seems to be a lovely person. Very friendly and open, and surprisingly thoughtful with regards to people's feelings. She did surprise me when she came up with the names of people she was speaking to and I found myself suitably intrigued with her show.
My biggest problem however comes with people wanting so hard to believe that their loved ones are trying to contact them and I found so many that stood up were giving away information that Sally hadn't asked for. I felt very strongly for a girl that responded to a supposed visitation from a child that had died in a car crash. The girl in question admitted that she had been driving the car that had killed the child and I thought it was very brave to stand up and admit to this, and it was very nice to see  Sally say so.
If a medium brings people hope and warmth when they have lost those close to them then I think that is a good thing. After all, isn't this the good side of religion? I only hope that mediums, whether true or false, truly believe what they are telling people.
Maybe my mistrust comes from my concern that mediums may be into what they do for financial gain.
A few years back, during the height of Most Haunted's popularity, I went to see Derek Acorah perform his show on two seperate occasions. The first time I was shocked with the accuracy of his predictions, the second time I was shocked with the inaccuracy. To be honest, I don't know what to think.
Ghosts, pop by and say hello to me.. I truly want to believe.
I thank you though Sally, for an enjoyable show.. certainly given me food for thought.

Return of the Nairn

 I feel as though I am only just returning to the norm after just over a week's holiday in some of my favourite UK destinations.
A few weekends back I was booked to work for a society called MACS, a wonderful organisation that helps children born with no eyes and partially developed eyes. It is a very rewarding booking and the families are a joy to work with.
As the booking was in Lancashire I took the opportunity to stay in Blackpool for a few days with friends where we visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach, one of my favourite theme parks. The towering Pepsi Max roller coaster had a bit of a queue but it was well worth the effort. Then there was also Valhalla, an utterly soaking experience.. how I laughed as Jon, my fellow sufferer shuddered as water poured of the end of his nose. As well as these thrill-seekers rides there were rides for the whole group (the girls being terrified) such as the famous ghost train and the mine cart ride.

This amazing weekend was followed by a trip down to Somerset to stay at Longleat's Center Parcs where some of my family joined us. Great food, lots of drinking, swimming and laughs followed. The true beauty of Center Parcs shows when the cars leave site and you can really get in touch with nature (see left). You are simply surrounded by pine forests and wildlife as we experienced on a few nights when a badger made a visit just a foot away from our patio window. We also had the pleasure of indulging in more of nature's wonders when we visited Longleat Safari Park where we hand fed deer and seals... I really am a big kid aren't I?!

Honestly though, if you want a great UK break, Center Parcs can't be beat.

Back to normality now.. albeit with a slightly more zen-like approach...

Knowle Country House

Just a few snaps from a wedding the wedding of Kathryn & Lincoln that I attended at The Knowle in Higham. A truly stunning venue that I hadn't been to before.. always a nice suprise, and the guests were just brilliant, up for a laugh and very appreciative.

It was a truly enjoyable evening and I thank Kathryn & Lincoln for having me there.

Excuse the quality of some of the snaps, holding a clipboard while taking a photo can make your hand shake!

Like a bad penny...

 The slacker returns once more to his blog...
It's been a weird couple of weeks to be honest.

Almost two weeks ago I had an audition for a popular game show. It was kind of a bizarre experience, lots of hopefuls turning up hoping to open boxes on the telly, not the most normal of days I'm sure. It was nice to see most of the people there were normal though, and I sat it the waiting area occupying myself by doodling pictures of them.
As it happens I didn't get through, and I suspect it had something to do with my disastrous video interview in which I was asked about the celebrities I have drawn.. when I reeled off the list I must have come off as a little ambitious.

The next day I returned to my 'normal' life and went back to Dickens World for a few days. Thanks to this hot weather it was a little quiet but I got the chance to draw a few people.

The following Saturday I attended the wedding of Kelly and Giles at the stunning location of the Oatlands Park Hotel in Surrey. It was something of a novelty as they had a burlesque theme to the event, meaning I had lots to exaggerate with regards to corsets, top hats and all manner of stylish quirks. It was such a busy event too that although I was doing wandering caricatures, I found myself fixed to one spot as the queue became larger by the second.

I've also attended a few wedding fairs over the last couple of weeks that have proved interesting, particularly so the one I attended last Sunday with my friends at AkEntertainments.. for some reason we had a fit of the giggles which provided my customers with very concerned looks, I can only imagine what they thought I had drawn.

Anyway, much more is in the pipeline.. tomorrow I should be attending a wedding fair at The Mountains Country House in Hildenborough, Kent. I say should as I received a slightly impromptu invite so I'm yet to find out all the details... eek!