Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 52


Week 52: Reflection.

"The witch's mirror." Sketch in black and silver Sharpies, with red, yellow and blue coloured pencil.

Update:


Week 52: Reflection II.

"Duck on the pond." Freecut silhouette symmetrical collage using metallic bronze card, watercolour pencils, white Signo pigment ink and black Sharpie. Based on a photo viewed in Google Images.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 51


Week 51: Celebrate.

"Celebrating in their snowglobes." Sketch in watercolour, and black and brown Sharpie on watercolour paper. Snow created with masking fluid.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 50


Week 50: Festive.

Symmetrical collage and freehand white opaque Signo drawings and black pencil and Sharpie shading, mounted onto Quill Metallique card.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 49


Week 49: Gift.

"Always one in reserve." Cartoon in finepoint black Sharpie on watercolour paper, coloured with watercolours, white opaque Signo and red Sharpie.

Friday, December 02, 2016

Redbubble for art by andorianlad (Ian McLean)

I finally set up a Redbubble page to host my art on various stationery, clothing and drinkware products - even clocks and phone covers!
Redbubble Imagine mugs

Redbubble greeting cards
Click www.redbubble.com/people/andorianlad/ and scroll down to see themed categories and the full range of products! Service seems to be very efficient!

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 48


Week 48: Clocks.

"Cassius Cuckoo, Magic Circle Club." From the early 60s Australian TV series, Cassius lived in a longcase cuckoo clock and told a daily riddle sent in by viewers. Symmetrical collage and watercolour, mounted onto corrugated cardboard.

Update:


Week 48: Clocks II.

"Time flies." Quick sketch in black Sharpie with highlights in white opaque Signo, metallic gold Sharpie and watercolours.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 47


Week 47: Buildings.

"1960s Street". Sketch in finepoint Sharpie, with watercolours, white opaque Signo, yellow pencil and collaged road markings on watercolour paper. Based on a photo found in a Facebook image search.

Update:


Week 47: Buildings II.

"King Kong hug." Quick sketch in black and brown Sharpies with highlights in white opaque Signo and watercolours.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 45


Week 45: Zebra.

"Deconstructed zebras." Freecut zebra silhouettes in cartridge paper, collaged onto card and striped fabric.

Update:


Week 45: Zebra II.

"What's black and white and red all over? A sunburned zebra and a newspaper." Freehand sketch of a zebra in black Sharpie with a watercolour wash and collaged newsprint. I found an ironic headline to suit this big news week.

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 44


Week 44: Spain.

Sketch in red and black Sharpie on white card, based on several Google Image photo references.

Update:


Week 44: Spain II.

"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." Cartridge papers of various colours, mesh baking sheet and photocopied flowers, collaged onto pink card. Some brown Sharpie shading. Inspiration from a Google Image search of publicity stills of Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady).

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, bonus round


Bonus Challenge: #AUSILLO

Sketch in black fineline Sharpie on watercolour paper, and coloured with watercolour pencils. (I did use an HB pencil first, before inking, which I haven't done in quite a while.) I decided to surround the girl with a few Australian inventions and icons. Based on two different photos of children, one from a Google search, another from my own collection.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 43


Week 43: Rainbow.

"Pot of Gold - Found!". Black Sharpie, watercolour pencils and Kindy Glitz glitter glue, on watercolour paper, collaged onto white card. Photographed under a halogen lamp.

Update:


Week 43: Rainbow II.

"Rainbow Paddle-pop." Just a quickie sketch of a kids' summer favourite - for all of its colours, the Streets Rainbow Paddle-pop is simply vanilla/caramel flavour. Drawing is coloured with a chunky Noor Hardtmuth rainbow pencil - multiple random colours compressed into the one lead.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 42


Week 42: Dog.

Freecut silhouettes collaged onto metallic card. Halogen light, indoors.

Update:


Week 42: Dog II.

"Bonnie." Watercolours on damp watercolour paper, black finepoint, white opaque Signo and brown Paint FX. Based on a 1962 photograph from my own collection.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 41


Week 41: Island.

Sketch in finepoint black Sharpie, plus with colored pencils. From several inspirational elements found in a Google Image search.

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 40


Week 40: Blue.

"Portrait of the artist as an Andorian from 'Star Trek'." Oil pastels on watercolour paper, from a photo from my album.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 39


Week 39: New Zealand.

"Kiwi." Watercolour, finepoint black Sharpie, white opaque Signo and watercolour pencils on watercolour paper. Based on a photo of a kiwi found in a Google Image search.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 38


Week 38: Cat.

"Catwoman consults her script." Sketch of Eartha Kitt from "Batman", based on a publicity photo. Black finepoint Sharpie and white Signo opaque pigment marker on gold Quill Metallique card, mounted on black card.

Update:


Week 38: Cat II.

"Belling the cat." Sketch of the famous fable in black finepoint Sharpie on pink card, coloured with watercolour pencils and white opaque Signo.


Week 38: Cat III.

"Meggsie hides." Watercolour, finepoint black Sharpie and watercolour pencils on watercolour paper. Based on a 1976 photo of Meggsie from my album.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 37


Week 37: Holiday.

Collage using coloured cards, recycled paper, fabrics, aluminium foil, newspaper and Kindy Glitz glitter. Shading with coffee wash and black ballpoint ink.

Update:


Week 37: Holiday II.

"Postcard from Down Under." White Signo pigment marker, black laundry marker and collage of stick-down lettering and various papers on black card.

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 36


Week 36: Pencil.

"Gone fishing." Freehand sketch in 2B graphite pencil, shaded with yellow, red and blue pencils. Based on my own photo of Dugil in 1978.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 35


Week 35: Grandfather.

"Grandfather time." Freehand sketch in black Sharpie (no pencil, no eraser), shaded with graphite and yellow, red and blue pencils. Inspirational photos sourced from Google Images.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

A weekend of art

On Saturday, I attended the annual Penrith District Show, having again lodged five artworks in the art competition.

Penrith Show 2016

Penrith District Show 2016

Wow! I was not expecting to see a ribbon! (Last year, the organisers rang me to check if I was coming to the presentation.) My little octopus, drawn and coloured a few hours after my Masterclass with Leigh Hobbs, scored himself a gorgeous red rosette for Second Prize in Drawing!

Penrith District Show selfie

On Sunday, another meetup of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge Sydneysiders was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art's Cafe & Sculpture Terrace. It was great to catch up with fellow artists Louise Harland-Cox (and her gorgeous new twins), Patricia Ward, Jolanda Jarman, Cecilia Timm, Peter Hinton and Ramona Davey.

Meetup

Meetup sign-in

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 34


Week 34: Intricate.

Black finepoint drawing of a petal, duplicated on various colours in a photocopier, then collaged onto red recycled paper. Shaded in watercolour.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 33


Week 33: Father.

One of the first frogs I ever caught, as a kid, had an extra frog attached firmly to the larger frog. A few minutes later: frog spawn! And lo, I learned about froggy fatherhood. Design created on black "scratch paper", which comes in a pack of five sheets (plus tool) for $4.00 from a toy shop. Based on an image found in a Google search.

Update:


Week 33: Father II.

"Dreadlock Daddy". Freecut silhouette collage with various coloured cards and crushed papers, blue pencil and white Puffy paint. Based on a photograph of my nephew and his baby son acting out "The Lion King" at the beach.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 32


Week 32: Hairy.

"Orangutan at Perth Zoo." Freehand watercolour on textured paper, with white Signo highlights. Based on my own photograph.

Update:


Week 32: Hairy II.

"Cousin Itt and the Shaggy Dog". Charcoal sketch with black finepoint and white opaque Signo detail. Inspired by a publicity pic for TV's The Addams Family.

Wednesday, August 03, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 31


Week 31: Realism.

"Portrait of Ian and Jack" (from a personal photo) in HB graphite and yellow, red and blue pencils on a black Sharpie easel. I hope this fits with the theme. I was inspired by some art examples in online articles on realism. My original intention was to draw an artist and two sitters, perhaps as less-than-real cartoons, with only the "painted" canvas featuring the realism. But I came to prefer the white space.

Update:


Week 31: Realism II.

"Elephants at Perth Zoo." Freehand watercolour on textured paper, based on my own photograph.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 30


Week 30: Vintage.

Sketch in black Sharpie and Biro on coffee-washed paper, with shading and highlights in 2B graphite and yellow, red and blue pencils. Counter arrangement based on a vintage haberdashery store.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 29


Week 29: Collage.

Freehand torn paper collage of a Jack Russell terrier, with acrylic paint, felt and finepoint Sharpie details, mounted onto corrugated art board. Based on a personal photo (flipped) and inspired by the same image when adjusted in the Prisma iPhone app.

Update:


Week 29: Collage II.

Cartridge paper in rainbow colours, black card, torn brown paper bag, organza fabric pieces and Kindy Glitz glitter glue collaged onto blue card.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 28


Week 28: Knitting.

Freehand sketch in finepoint black Sharpie, with watercolour pencils and shading in graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Thursday, July 07, 2016

Go Beyond!

Question: Will I like "Star Trek Beyond"?

I guess the answer is yes. If you liked those opening scenes of both the 2009 "Star Trek" movie, and its sequel, "Star Trek Into Darkness" - both of which had a "strange new worlds, strange new life forms..." original-series' flavour - then I'm sure you will find plenty of that entertainment in the new movie. I was fortunate to see "Star Trek Beyond" at the first public world preview screening, right here in Sydney, this afternoon!

Star Trek Beyond

The preview was followed by an amazing Q&A session with the director and cast members. While we had to sign review embargoes (scroll down), we are able to give general impressions. There was lots of footage that had not been leaked, or even hinted at, yet. My Trek pals and I were delighted by some amazing visuals and humorous quips, many of which reminded me of TOS (and also "The Next Generation's first episode, "Encounter at Farpoint").

Ian and friends at Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond Q and A
The "Star Trek Beyond" Q&A session, hosted by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, with Justin Lin, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and John Cho at Telstra Experience Centre, Sydney, Australia.

Keep in mind that my favourite Treks are "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and the 2009 movie (almost equally), and I was a big supporter of TNG from the beginning. I didn't mind STiD at all, and my only niggle with it was that we were told, several times, that Benedict Cumberbatch was definitely not playing Khan. I probably would have loved the proposed "Phase II" series that begat TMP, too.

Muppet Therin at Star Trek Beyond

Also keep in mind that "Beyond" is a feature film, not a TV series, so it's only going to be as TOS as perhaps the "smaller" movies. "ST III: The Search for Spock"? Of course, fans who detested JJ's films from every angle will probably not have the patience for this one, but we don't recall seeing even one lens flare at the preview (not that they ever worried me).

Embargo

Andorian Sock Monkey at Star Trek Beyond

Highly recommended!

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 27


Week 27: Canberra.

Finepoint black Sharpie on white cartridge paper, with highlights in watercolour pencils and opaque white Signo ink. Inspired by the current Australian $5 note and a holiday photo of my dog, Jack, on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin.

Update:

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 26


Week 26: Shoes.

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe; She had so many children she... decided to renovate and add a summertime verandah." Cartoon in black finepoint Sharpie and watercolour.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 25


Week 25: Invention.

"Professor Pat Pending builds the better mousetrap." Black finepoint Sharpie with watercolour, based on several cels of the character from TV's "Wacky Races".

Update:


Week 25: Invention II.

"Invention in the arts." Freecut symmetrical silhouette in black card, plus ribbon scraps, collaged onto a mounted print-out from Wikipedia.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 24


Week 24: Birthday.

"Jack at 14." White Signo pigment ink sketch on red Quill Metallique card, with black finepoint shading and coloured oil pastel highlights. Based upon two photos from my collection.

Update:


Week 24: Birthday II.

"Happy birthday, Bert!" Oil pastels and gold glitter on black card, based on a photograph found in Google Images.

Wednesday, June 08, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 23


Week 23: Zoo.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a translucent blue plastic stationery folder. Based on elements from several photos taken by me at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo.

My blue cardboard had a bend in it, and I had to improvise. I had only found the folder on a forgotten pile last weekend. For me the exciting thing is how it photographed! Way more interesting and realistic than blue card, and the sea lions can be repositioned inside the plastic sleeve!

Update:


Week 23: Zoo II.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and a sketch in black finepoint marker on white paper with coloured pencil and watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted mesh baking sheet. Based on elements from a recent photo taken by me, plus a 1960s stock photo of Taronga Park Zoo's late feature attraction, King Kong.

It's as difficult to see the gorilla as it was at the Zoo in the 1960s. Infamously, Taronga's King Kong (and his partner, Mary Kong, in a separate enclosure) delighted in tossing sawdust and excrement onto the screaming human observers. Eventually, an additional perspex barrier had to be added. I thought people might like to see what it looks like inside the depressing 1960s enclosure, so here he is (below).


Week 23: Zoo IIa.


Week 23: Zoo III.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted translucent green plastic stationery folder. Based on a memory of the original otter enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo and stock otter photos found via a Google Image search.

This was one of my favourite Taronga exhibits as a kid (and featured in a favourite episode of TV's Catch Kandy), but in the late 70s, it disappeared off the official Zoo maps and I had to use an older map (in the Jacaranda School World Atlas) to find it each time I visited. It was like my secret rendezvous with the otters. The new maps and Zoo signage showed only a newer exhibit, around the corner.

Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 22


Week 22: Science.

Ida Lupino as the evil alchemist, Dr Cassandra Spellcraft, in the "Batman" TV series of the 1960s. Oil pastels on A3 paper, with watercolour wash.

Update:


Week 22: Science II.

"Periodic Table of the Elephants." White pigment Signo ink and collaged black finepoint sketch on black card.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Read: Myriad Possibilities 2016

Duelling Mr Chickens

Thank you everyone for a thoroughly enjoyable conference last weekend (Menzies Hotel, Sydney). Gail Erskine, Felicity Jagavkar-Baker, Margaret Hamilton, and all the volunteers, did a spectacular job. As a veteran of many science fiction media conventions (as an attendee or committee member), and a number of TL-focused PD seminar/conferences (sometimes as presenter, or attendee/volunteer/committee member) over the decades, “Read: Myriad Possibilities 2016” compared very well.

This was my first CBCA Conference. The two full days had wonderful variety and no dead spots at all (that I noticed), and it appeared to be very seamless. I loved that the early release of the "Notables" enabled publishers to have every shortlisted title available for sale on the day of the Shortlist announcement on the Friday. (I know there was some trepidation about this when first announced.) I ordered my school’s books from Paul Macdonald (Children's Bookshop, Beecroft) on the Friday, and they arrived at school today, a day earlier than promised.

The authors and illustrators at the conference made themselves very available to all, and autograph sessions were well timed and well promoted.The Committee appeared unflustered most of the time, and glitches were quickly addressed. (And in the timeslots where I volunteered, everything seemed to be set up for success. Much appreciated!)

I also attended the Leigh Hobbs’ Masterclass (see pic above) arranged by the Australian Society of Authors in Ultimo, on the Sunday after the conference! It, too, was excellent. Worth every cent.

And then, on the Monday, it was back to Week 2 of my school's Book Fair. Stop the world, I wanna get off! #CBCA2016

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 21


Week 21: Ink.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Update:


Week 21: Ink II.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.


Week 21: Ink III.

Inkblot male seahorse and his brood, enhanced with blue ballpoint ink and a hint of coloured pencil, white Signo pigment ink and watercolour.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 20


Week 20: Still life.

It's all I had in the fruit bowl. Bananas with lime and garlic. Oil pastels on black card.

Update:


Week 20: Still life II.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 19


Week 19: Adventure.

"Abseiling meerkat adventurer." Slightly 3D assemblage art, decorated with watercolours and sash cord on freecut corrugated cardboard. Collaged with natural shadows.

Update:


Week 19: Adventure II.

Sponged paper, newsprint and card collage, with a cartoon sketch of an alien adventurer. Stars in Kindy Glitz, moon is a prismatic sticker.

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 18


Week 18: Grandmother.

"Nanny vs the Komodo Dragon." Charcoal pencil sketch with green watercolour pencil shading. Based on a vivid childhood memory, a family anecdote often recalled. My photo albums are in storage and the only reference photo I had of Nanny was tiny. I was almost tempted to do the scene from the other side of the glass. But I needed the two main characters to lock eyes. That's me to the left, barely able to see above the window ledge.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 17


Week 17: Collector.

Matryoshka Batman. Freehand sketches of "Batman" characters (based on photos of my action figure collection) in brown Slick Writer permanent marker, coffee wash, gold Kindy Glitz and watercolour pencils on watercolour paper Matryoshka shapes, collaged onto a separate sheet of watercolour card.‬

Update:


Week 17: Collector II.

"Reverse Santa." Climbs out of the chimney with your treasured collections. Sketch in black Sharpie and watercolours on watercolour card.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 16


Week 16: Mirror.

Freecut silhouette symmetrical collage using yellow and metallic purple cards. ‪Based on several photos viewed in Google Images.‬

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 15


Week 15: Ocean.

Sketches in black, blue and red Sharpie, white Puffy Paint, white opaque Signo, and gold Kindy Glitz on remnants of salted watercolour wash, mounted on black card. Inspiration from many pics in a Google Image search.

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 14


Week 14: Camping.

Freehand watercolour on watercolour card, with coffee-stained, collaged newspaper.

Update:


Week 14: Camping II.

"One little spark..." Freehand collage using gold and red Quill "Metallique" paper and "Marbletone" cream card.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 13


Week 13: Movement.

Collage of the DC Comics superhero, Kid Flash, using gold and red Quill Metallique card and scraps of pink and orange paper. Freehand cut from life, using a posed 7" action figure from my own collection. Speed streaks in watercolours on watercolour paper.

Update:


Week 13: Movement II.

Watercolours on watercolour card, with silver acrylic and white opaque Signo highlights.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Ian's Batman action figures

Here is a PhotoPeach slideshow of my 8" Batman '66 TV series action figures from Figures Toy Co. (and a few customised characters by me).


Ian's Batman action figures

Requires Flash, so it won't work on iPads or iPhones.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 12


Week 12: Non-dominant hand.

"Komodo dragon." White opaque Signo ink on brown paper, with black ballpoint detail, drawn with my left hand. Based on my own photo of a garden ornament.

Update:


Week 12: Non-dominant hand II

"Easter Bunny". Watercolours on watercolour card. Based on my own photo of my grandmother's rabbit ornament. I am a leftie; his was also with my weak right hand.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 11


Week 11: Mother

Freecut collage using paper scraps and negative spaces. Based on a photo of my Mum.

Update:


Week 11: Mother II

Freecut mice collage with watercolour and cartridge papers, plus miniature tissue paper streamers, mounted on black card. Shading in watercolour and black ballpoint, white Signo whiskers.

Wednesday, March 09, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 10


Week 10: Animal

"Koala". Freehand cut collage using a remnant of watercolour canvas, a scrap of Quill "marbletone" cream paper, and watercolour on grey card. Based on my own photo. I guess it's a reverse silhouette. The koala only exists as a negative space. The grey card is simply the back of a depleted watercolour paper pad and reminded me of the colour and texture of a koala's fur, so I searched my own albums looking for a suitable pic (actually Perth Zoo during the exhibition last year).

Update:


Week 10: Animal II

"Orange harmony". Sketch in black finepoint Sharpie on watercolour card, coloured with watercolours. Based on my own 1977 b/w photograph of pets Mac and Meggsie "frying their eyeballs" in front of a bar radiator.

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 9


Week 9: Watercolour

"Hey diddle diddle, don't stop in the middle..." Freehand watercolour on white recycled paper. Masking fluid stars, with highlights and outlines added in black ballpoint and white Puffy paint. Mounted on black card.

Update:


Week 9: Watercolour II

"Goldfish". Freehand watercolours and finepoint Sharpie, over watercolour wash, on watercolour paper. Mounted on black card. Fish based on numerous photos found in a Google Image search.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Holy sleight of hand, Batman! Customising Dr Cassandra and Cabala

One of my favourite episodes of the 60s "Batman" TV show was its penultimate adventure: "The Entrancing Dr Cassandra", featuring Ida Lupino and her husband, Howard Duff. A guilty childhood pleasure, and for a long time seemingly elusive in repeat, in the days of no episode guides or IMBd.

Custom Cassandra and Cabala

Cabala & Cassandra

Alvino raygun victims

The Terrific Trio go 2D. "Flat as flounders."

Dr Cassandra Spellcraft came from a line line of failed alchemists, but she did have some trippy, if shortlived, successes: camouflage pills that enabled invisibility, stealing the Mope diamond, and inventing an Alvino raygun that could rob people of their third dimension. She also succeeded in masterminding a jail break of all six of Gotham City's arch criminals: Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler, Egghead and King Tut. (The stunt doubles playing the arch villains in this episode were supposedly the regular ones matched to the actors from the series: Fred Carson as Joker, Eddie Hice as Riddler, Guy Way as King Tut, Al Cavens as Penguin, *unknown* as Egghead (not listed on callsheets, but Al Wyatt Sr. had double for Vincent Price in earlier episodes), and Marilyn Watson - who used to double for Julie Newmar before Eartha Kitt took over the role - returning as Catwoman. This penultimate episode was probably seen as a farewell opportunity to these performers from the producers. A reunion, as such.)

Arch villains

With all the great "Batman '66" tie-ins in recent years, and action figures in both a 5" and 8" format, I became resolved to create customs of Dr Cassandra and Cabala. Cassandra uses a 7" Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) figure from "Lost" as the base. (I anticipated that "Big Bang Theory" Penny would arrive last night, as she did, and she was forfeiting her pink dress and boots. I tried to dye some spare Supergirl tights orange, but the nylon wouldn't hold the colour, so Aquaman lent her his shirt sleeves instead.) Cassandra's bowler hat and cane fish purse are made of orange Fimo. Meanwhile, Cabala had started life as an 8" bald "Anchorman" Battle-ready Champ (David Koechner) figure. I gave him quick-set putty hair, thicker eyebrows, an earring, an Andorian's boots and a "Wizard of Oz" figure's pants and vest, with the vest material covered in pieces of red discarded underpants (from my own drawer).

Lost Anchorman

Source materials: Juliet from "Lost" and Champ from "Anchorman".

Cassandra and Cabala

Cassandra dress on JosieWhite spaceCassandra dress on the fashion racksWhite spaceCassandra dress on Octavia

Cassandra's dress was seen before: on Josie (Joker episode), in a Catwoman episode, and on Octavia (Minstrel episode).

Cassandra in progress

Fish purseWhite spaceUndine and fish purse

Note Cassandra's recycled fish handbag, originally owned by Undine in "Surf's Up, Joker's Under".

TV Batman villains

Above: My customised Dr Cassandra Spellcraft and partner Cabala action figures, from the 60s "Batman" episode, "The Entrancing Dr Cassandra". They stand with the commercially available Egghead and King Tut 8" figures. In the 70s, I attempted crude customs of Egghead and King Tut, now both long gone, but definitely a project that has stuck with me over the decades.

UPDATE:

Okay, so I knew that Joker's moll, Josie, was wearing the pink and orange mini dress eventually used by Dr Cassandra, but recently I noticed that, in Part 2, Josie turns up in a new orange number (below) - but the orange tights and dangly plastic earrings worn with that outfit end up being teamed with the dress from Part 1 to complete Dr Cassandra's ensemble!

Josie Part 2

United Underworld

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 8


Week 8: Horizon

"The art of planking". Freehand sketch in black Sharpie on a folded horizon on grey Ingres paper. Highlights in watercolour and white Signo. Inspired by several photos found in a Google Image search. The radiating effect is a lucky accident of the scanning process.

Update:


Week 8: Horizon II

Cartridge paper collage. There seems to be a slight shadow in the centre. That would be me. The iPhone pic works better than the scan, I think.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 7


Week 7: Kindergarten

"Kinder kid and glove puppet". Watercolour pencils on cream Ingres paper, based on a photograph from my own collection.

Update:


Week 7: Kindergarten II

Oil pastels and watercolour collage on black card.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 6


Week 6: Printing

Collage of newsprint cuttings and assorted cards, plus actual fingerprints. Image adjusted with the "Noir" filter in Photo.

Update:


Week 6: Printing II

Quick thumbprint cartoons with stamp pad ink onto Ingres paper. The bee was pressed over strands of rubbery string. Details in various markers.

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 5


Week 5: 1920s

"Dolores del Río and Friend". Charcoal portrait sketch on cream Ingres paper, with a touch of orange watercolour pencil. Based on a Hollywood publicity photograph found in a Google Image search.

Update:


Week 5: 1920s II

"Archibald Fountain, after dark." Theseus and the Minotaur are off-duty on the night of a full moon. Sketched in black finepoint Sharpie and white opaque Signo on grey Ingres, with watercolour collaged elements in white Ingres paper. (I wanted to try drawing this iconic Sydney fountain this week, even though it didn't fit the theme and, while researching pics and Wikipedia, I realised the statues were designed in France... in the 1920s!) Theseus and the Minotaur are off-duty on the night of a full moon. Sketched in black finepoint Sharpie and white opaque Signo on grey Ingres, with watercolour collaged elements in white Ingres paper. (I wanted to try drawing this iconic Sydney fountain this week, even though it didn't fit the theme and, while researching pics and Wikipedia, I realised the statues were designed in France... in the 1920s!)

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 4


Week 4: Swimming

Collaged watercolour and cartridge papers, with Puffy Paint and watercolour highlights and shadows on a background of scrapbooking glitter paper. Based on several images found in a Google Image search.

Update:


Week 4: Swimming II

Black Sharpie cartoons on pearlescent sculptured paper, with salted watercolour highlights, collaged onto cartridge card.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 3


Week 3: Theme Park

"The Rotor, Luna Park Sydney." Red and gold Quill Metallique and black card, cut freehand, and collaged onto Ingres paper. Human characters detailed in black and white Sharpie and watercolours.

Update:


Week 3: Theme Park II

In memory of the late S John Ross, silhouette artist at Luna Park and theme parks and agricultural shows all over Australia. Collage and silhouettes using natural shadows.


Week 3: Theme Park III

"Mr Minotaur's A-mazing Theme Park". Black Sharpies, white opaque Signo and watercolour on Quill "marbletone" cream paper. Details in watercolour pencils and some yellow Puffy paint.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 2


Week 2: Outdoors

Collage and silhouette using Ingres papers, flocked cardboard, oil pastels and nylon cord on grey Ingres background.

Update:


Week 2: Outdoors II

"N-n-n-n-next!" Cartoon in finepoint black Sharpie, oil pastels and watercolour wash, collaged onto Ingres paper.


Week 2: Outdoors III

"Corellas' annual visit." Watercolour miniature. Masking fluid and black and white Sharpie highlights on watercolour paper. Based on my own photograph. This piece utilised an old offcut; it's only 85mm x 95mm.


Week 2: Outdoors IV

"Vasquez Rocks, Los Angeles." Watercolours with black and white Sharpie highlights on remnants of watercolour paper, mounted onto Ingres paper. Based on a photograph from my 2013 vacation album.

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 1


Week 1: Fancy Dress

"Before and after." Watercolour clown sketch over black finepoint Sharpie and masking fluid on watercolour paper, with a collaged silhouette.

Update:


Week 1: Fancy Dress II

"Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador." This is the most expensive Hollywood costume ever worn in a movie by a screen extra - valued at $US10,000 in 1979 - but is barely glimpsed in the movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The bolt of fabric used in the garment dates back to Cecil B. DeMille and contains real gold and silver thread. Very fancy dress! Oil pastels and Kindy Glitter Glitz on Quill "marbletone" cream paper, and based on a publicity still.