A MOST AMUSING ANGLE
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CARTOON CENTURY BOOKThis chunky book called The Cartoon Century delves into the history of political cartoons on a year by year basis from 1900 onward.
There's around 6 cartoons or so for each year with explanatory captions about the content. Needless to say, its laughs are derived from serious material. It was published in 2008. |
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TERRY GILLIAM ARTWORK
There's lots of Monty Python memorabilia out there, some of which I have at home, but this book here is slightly less known about.
Titled "Animations Of Mortality", it came out in 1978 and is entirely devoted to the work of Terry Gilliam.
So plenty of animation stills, colourful graphics, behind the scenes info, original idea sketches, storyboards etc.
Surreal zaniness in full flow!
Great to view all this artwork full page sized of course, and so it was a real joy to see the even larger sized Gilliam based decor above the door at the Palace Theatre for Monty Python's "Spamalot".
I took this photo in 2006.
Titled "Animations Of Mortality", it came out in 1978 and is entirely devoted to the work of Terry Gilliam.
So plenty of animation stills, colourful graphics, behind the scenes info, original idea sketches, storyboards etc.
Surreal zaniness in full flow!
Great to view all this artwork full page sized of course, and so it was a real joy to see the even larger sized Gilliam based decor above the door at the Palace Theatre for Monty Python's "Spamalot".
I took this photo in 2006.
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UP AND AWAY
I like how these ripped pages mimic the flight path of a hot air balloon.
I assume it was intentional as each sheet has the image of a hot air balloon on it.
It's the work of 23 Magpies and I took this snap in 2017.
I assume it was intentional as each sheet has the image of a hot air balloon on it.
It's the work of 23 Magpies and I took this snap in 2017.
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EARLY BANKSY BOOKSI've been keeping an eye on Banksy since his early Bristol days and so these books were purchased when they were originally published.
In date sequence order they are... "Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall" - 2001 "Existencilism" - 2002 "Cut It Out" - 2004 I find his wording as amusing as his images. I seem to remember these only cost about £5 each at the time but now they have become collectors items! |
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BROOKES BOOK
This is the second volume of "Nature Notes" by Peter Brookes, and was published in 1999.
It's a compilation of the series dating from '97 to '99 which were featured in The Times.
As you can see from the cover, it depicts all the politicians from that era as animals, insects, birds, weeds, vegetables and so on.
Great caricatures with witty captions.
Mine has the added bonus of it being a signed copy.
It's a compilation of the series dating from '97 to '99 which were featured in The Times.
As you can see from the cover, it depicts all the politicians from that era as animals, insects, birds, weeds, vegetables and so on.
Great caricatures with witty captions.
Mine has the added bonus of it being a signed copy.
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LAMPOONING LONDONThis exhibition took place in the Museum Of London in 2006 and was titled "Satirical London".
It covered 300 years of satire and had early exhibits from the likes of Hogarth & Gillray all the way through to modern examples such as Private Eye & Spitting Image. Above is an 8 page press release that also incuded a CD which has a preview of some of the exhibits. I also managed to take these 3 snapshots of the entrance area leading into the exhibition. |
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THE ESTABLISHMENT LP
I don't recall this historical item being on display in the "Satirical London" exhibition.
It's an original recording of the first 3 shows at The Establishment, the London club that opened in 1961 and the home of the "new satirists".
The albums material was selected by Peter Cook and features John Bird, Eleanor Bron, John Fortune & Jeremy Geidt and this rare piece of vinyl was released in 1963.
It's an original recording of the first 3 shows at The Establishment, the London club that opened in 1961 and the home of the "new satirists".
The albums material was selected by Peter Cook and features John Bird, Eleanor Bron, John Fortune & Jeremy Geidt and this rare piece of vinyl was released in 1963.
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RUSHTON'S ROYALSThis pack of playing cards titled "Pack Of Royals" came out in 1995.
They are the work of humorist/cartoonist, Willie Rushton. He describes the cards as "reflecting the majesty and dignity of the Royal Family". The 3 examples I've put on display give you an idea of the horrors that are inside the pack! |
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BERT AND JIMII was having a little wander around the Albert Hall in 2006 and I noticed an architectural detail that I had not seen before.
It was a rather eye-catching psychedelic mosaic. It instantly reminded me of a postcard I have of Jimi Hendrix painted by Martin Sharp back in the 60's - all that colour swirling out from the centre. Knowing that Jimi had played here, made it seem quite fitting. I discovered later, however, that the 60,000 tile mosaic was designed by artist, Shelagh Wakely, and was a new addition to the building in 2003. The mosaic pattern was related to the chaos theory and not psychedelia of the 1960's. Nothing to stop me having it as my own imaginary memorial to Jimi though! |
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PLAYFUL EYE BOOKThis book called The Playful Eye was published in 1999.
It's absolutely loaded with all sorts of visual treats that tease the eye and play games in your mind. Optical illusions, hidden images, transformations, rebuses, upside-down pictures, double images, that kind of thing. Great fun and really clever with most of them taking you by surprise. They are all gleaned from the 19th & 20th century, so all could be described as vintage, which meant the vast majority of the images I had never seen before. How many cats can you see on the cover? |
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I first see my shades on top of my pad.
I then see an owl, am I going mad?
Well actually, after a visit to my psychiatrist, she said there is nothing to be worried about and explained that it's the diamond shape mimicking a beak that causes the forming of an owl image in the mind.
It's perfectly natural apparently.
I then see an owl, am I going mad?
Well actually, after a visit to my psychiatrist, she said there is nothing to be worried about and explained that it's the diamond shape mimicking a beak that causes the forming of an owl image in the mind.
It's perfectly natural apparently.
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BRAIN DAMAGEThe comic "Brain Damage" hit the shelves in the late 1980's and was geared towards the more adult market.
It featured some of UK's well known cartoonists such as Neil Bennett, Martin Honeysett, Tony Husband, Tony Reeve, Bestie and few others. The content was a bit anarchic, rude, brutal, mad, and as with Kevin Woodcock's contributions...surreal! I think it's quite easy to get the gist of it just from the cover! This one here incidentally, is issue 1. |
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REAGAN PUPPETS
Well I don't miss this guy's mugshot cropping up in the media anymore!
It's Ronnie Reagan of course, with these 2 puppets of him seperated a decade apart.
The photo him in a cowboy boot is a postcard, the image of which was published in the New York Times in 1975.
The photo of him looking much older was taken by my brother in the mid 80's and was part of a window display at London's Virgin Megastore.
Both are the work of well known Spitting Image artists, Roger Law & Peter Fluck, and on the back of the postcard you can see I have their autographs!
It's Ronnie Reagan of course, with these 2 puppets of him seperated a decade apart.
The photo him in a cowboy boot is a postcard, the image of which was published in the New York Times in 1975.
The photo of him looking much older was taken by my brother in the mid 80's and was part of a window display at London's Virgin Megastore.
Both are the work of well known Spitting Image artists, Roger Law & Peter Fluck, and on the back of the postcard you can see I have their autographs!
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DUCK SOUP MAG
I remember Reagan saying he "forgot to duck" when he got shot, so I've taken my cue from that and put up a couple of issues of Duck Soup.
The pair here is the cartoon publication in its second incarnation.
It originally cropped up in 1979, ran for around half a dozen issues, then halted.
It bounced back in 1985, as in the above, but once again, after only 6 issues, it crashed to a halt and that was it.
The mag, which unfolded into a tabloid size newspaper, featured some of UK's top cartoonists - Birkett, John Glashan, Ken Pyne, Heath, Austin, Steve Bell, Nick Newman, too many to mention in fact.
The pair here is the cartoon publication in its second incarnation.
It originally cropped up in 1979, ran for around half a dozen issues, then halted.
It bounced back in 1985, as in the above, but once again, after only 6 issues, it crashed to a halt and that was it.
The mag, which unfolded into a tabloid size newspaper, featured some of UK's top cartoonists - Birkett, John Glashan, Ken Pyne, Heath, Austin, Steve Bell, Nick Newman, too many to mention in fact.
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ARNOLFINI ANIMALS
I took this picture outside Bristol's Arnolfini art gallery in 2002.
I kept an eye out for these creatures running around when I was there, but didn't see any!
It is actually an artwork by Julian Opie.
I kept an eye out for these creatures running around when I was there, but didn't see any!
It is actually an artwork by Julian Opie.
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PUNCH PLAQUEI popped into Harrods in 2006 to visit Cafe Punch.
Thought it would be good to view the original Punch cartoon artwork they had framed on the cafe walls, but when I started my look-see I discovered the tables were blocking access. I didn't want to appear uncivilised by stretching across them while folk were having their snacks, so I quietly popped back out again. I had already eaten so didn't stay for a cuppa and settled for this photo of the golden plaque instead! |
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RONALD SEARLE BOOKThis book goes back to 1983 and is called "Ronald Searle In Perspective".
It delves into his history, showcases his greatest hits, and has room for some previously unpublished work too. Many of his drawings are printed across 2 pages so it's really great to view his artwork large sized. Those lush lines! I removed the dust jacket because it looks a bit classier with just the silver signature on black. |
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AUSTIN EXHIBITIONThis is the catalogue for an exhibition that took place in London in 2007 as a tribute to cartoonist David Austin, which was held at the Newsroom, the Guardian's visitor centre.
The book has lots of memories from his family, friends, work colleagues and fellow cartoonists, along with a fair amount of Austin gags too. |
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BATTERSEA ERRORI was in London in 2013 and went walking along beside the Battersea Power Station building site, which was fenced off.
On the hoardings it had a nice bit of stencil work depicting the station which was repeated every 100 yards or so. I thought it was quite a nice graphic, so I took a snapshot of it. It wasn't until I got home and viewed the photo that I noticed it was spelt BATTEPSEA with a P not R. Not sure if this was the only example of the spelling mistake or if it was the same on all the others the entire length of the fence! |
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One thing about Adidas Tubulars is, insects stand a better chance of survival, compared to Dr Martens boots for example.
You see the size of the cavity the sole design has, well that's the safety zone for bugs when someone is out wearing Tubulars!
You see the size of the cavity the sole design has, well that's the safety zone for bugs when someone is out wearing Tubulars!
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LODOWN MAGI remember grinning in the shop when I saw the cover artwork for this Lodown magazine.
This particular issue goes back to 2004 and it has a special feature on the drawings of graphic artist, Geoff McFetridge. It's he who did the cover. Just the utter futility of the pencil figure putting a line down at one end and rubbing it out at the other, is pretty funny! |
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INSIDE OUTBack in the early 1980's, there was a fashion fad started up - wearing clothes inside out.
This was a street style look mostly worn by clubbers. For example, I bought a fleecy t-shirt in a boutique in Edinburgh and prior to this trend it would normally be worn with the fleece on the inside, but on this garment it was inside out, along with the bulky crude seams on show! I kept the tag it came with because the snooty chap on it was the polar opposite of being trendy! |
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BIG IN BIRMINGHAMOn a visit to Birmingham in the early 2000's, I went into this pub and immediately spotted a good photo opportunity.
There was a rather gorgeous female working behind the bar, so I went over and asked her if it would be ok to take a snapshot. "Yeah, no problem" she replied. So I went back over to the doorway area ready with my camera and when I turned around, she was standing behind me. "OK" she said "Where do you want me?". I had to tell her it was a photo of the pub I wanted and not one of her, so she scuttled away probably feeling a little bit deflated. Anyway, the reason for the snapshot was, it had this massive neoclassical style painting on the wall which was a bit different from the usual kind of pub decor. A bit oversized and a touch over-the-top perhaps but it didn't seem out of place in such a large space. |
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COCKTAIL LADIESThese cocktail ladies have been in my family for decades.
My grandparents had them when I was a schoolboy in the 1960's and these glamour gals would make an appearance every time they had a party. I was always amused by the design - the ponytail was to hang the cocktail lady on the rim of a glass, and when peckish, their tiptoes would be used to stab into the cheese chunks and pickles! Good kitsch fun for a kid! |
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JAPANESE BONSAIThis is a very early effort of mine when I first started trying out graphic art on computer.
I was still at the "finding out what all the tools do" stage as I was creating this image. It's not one that I circulated around the magazines so it is unpublished. And for those of you who don't have an atlas at home, the bonsai foliage forms the map of Japan. |
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