Oh, it seems the festive season is almost here, where did that come from? I’ve never known it to sneak up quite like it has this year, perhaps that’s an age thing, with me hitting 28 this year! Or maybe it’s to do with the whole credit crunch ‘thing’ that has dominated the headlines this year (Meaning just the mention of Christmas/Presents before the end of November was enough to convince passers by that you did indeed want your eyes tearing out with slicy fingernails of mysterious eyelid disintegration) but now, the first Christmas card has arrived with me, the tree is calling out to be released from its dusty box…

I do look forward to the festivities, what I don’t look forward to is the inevitable crap TV, and having Cliff Richard forced into my eyes and ears like some kind of whinging wailing wrinkled idiot (I especially love his calendar this year, with Cliff in various amusing/embarrassing poses, Photoshopped into different locations around the world, especially enjoying how the front of the calendar features the same Cliff picture as a certain month, only Photoshopped into a different location, as if just to say ‘That’s right, he wasn’t really there, we feel bad misleading you, being quite old and all, there there, go and have a nice cup of cocoa and a digestive biscuit, be careful not to trip over the corner of that rug’ But to be fair to them, they have succeeded in providing a very memorable calendar,which I’ve even considered buying myself, though probably for the wrong reasons.

Enough!

I’ve just finished off a nice new canvas for Ammo magazine, along with releasing the mini canvas ‘Transporting the Last tree’ onto the store page, both are available now here: Squink! Store

It’s probably getting on a bit now for Christmas delivery if you’re not in the UK, but you might just get in there in time if you’re quick, i’ll be sure to be super fast with shipping (But as much as I’d like to, I can’t guarantee Christmas delivery unless you pay for super speedy delivery) There are also Weeping coffee bear tees left, which would also make a nice gift for the coffee lover, or perhaps someone big on animal cruelty, who loves seeing cute animals in distress.

Until next time, stay jolly! (pictures below)

Well today I’ve been bombarded with links to discounts here there and everywhere, so I thought i’d join in the fun! Enter code BLACKFRIDAY at the Squink! store for 15% off your order! This will be valid until tomorrow morning in the UK (Saturday)

Get your Weeping coffee bear tees with this special discount! For yourself, or maybe even a Christmas gift

SQUINK STORE

The tees have arrived and are now available at the Squink! store! £19.99 including free UK shipping (reasonable shipping elsewhere, with individually numbered tag, once they’re gone, they’re gone so grab one while they’re around! Available in mens, and girly fit tees. Get yours here: http://squink.bigcartel.com/

As I spill coffee on my legs, violently, I’m here to let you know that I’ve just put together the numbers for the Weeping Coffee Bear t-shirts, and ordered the swing tags. This time I’ll be doing them in a nice girly skinny fit along with the fitted mens tees (Hey you asked for em!) I expect them to be with me in a couple of weeks, If you’d like updates, follow me on Twitter @squink or just keep an eye on the blog here! They are being screen printed in Nottingham, and will be £20 each, with a hand numbered tag. Run number is undetermined, but they are most definitely not being mass produced! So you know you’re getting something not only coffee based, but also limited

Check back for more soon..

So it seems Summer is well and truly over, having to close the curtains and switch on the glow bulb at 6:30 tonight really makes you realise it’s actually nearly Christmas, again. Not that the abundance of special biscuit selection boxes that have now appeared in various supermarkets hadn’t already signalled the end of the days of sunshine and t-shirts. Now approaching are the days of internal shivers, and external jumpers and joy!… Christmas is always a time I look forward to, the festivities, the crisp winter mornings, being able to see your breath as it leaves your lungs in a smokey trail, the smell of freshly cooked mince pies, brandy…. I am a complete child when it comes to Christmas. It’s a little strange how when you get older you require less to keep you happy, as a kid if I hadn’t got that Castle Grayskull or Ecto-1 I needed so badly, I expect there would have been some kind of Jr. Bloodbath. But now, it seems the desire for new things has left me, and I can honestly say now that I enjoy the giving more than the receiving of gifts. ANYWAY, I apologise for going on about Christmas far too early, it’s not even Halloween yet, and for all I know Santa will be murdered by axe wielding pumpkin heads before Christmas even arrives.

I’m in the process of gathering artworks for a new charity art sale for November/December time, which will hopefully give you lot a chance to pick up some original drawings by some great artists/designers, with all proceeds going straight to charity (the charity this time being Sense) artists will be revealed as soon as the list is final, but I’m really happy with the generosity of the talented people who’ve agreed so far! Keep an eye on the blog for more info in the coming weeks! (teaser below)

If anyone has any useful tips on removing pigeon splat dust from glass, please let me know asap, I fear it’s slowly dissolving my window.

Hello!! Today I created a mocha, using instant coffee, and instant hot chocolate. Well, I say it was a mocha, it actually tasted like a combination of the burps you get after eating too many chocolate muffins (or chocolate cake, either is good) and instant coffee, which is already pretty nasty.  ANYHOW, if you want to experience the taste-bud suffering that it caused, please feel free, and post your thoughts here. But just don’t blame me for suggesting it! Costa do a good Mocha, and if you get a large one, you get it in a mug so big, it’s impossible to lift with one hand. It’s like combining a bar of chocolate and a coffee, and costs about the same as a coffee, you can’t lose!

After I got over the taste of the FakeMocha, or Focha as it may now be called, I got on with this little fella (see below) , who will be up on the store page at midnight tonight – http://squink.bigcartel.com/. Went for something a little more simple, production like, so I could concentrate on the clean lines and try out some text. I hope you like it! The canvas paintings I’ve been working on are also now up on the customs/artwork section, so check those out if you fancy it! There’s also a Munny and the last of the cheesecake tees up on the store page, making room for the new t-shirts which will be out in the next few weeks!

Until then. Peace. Out!

Huge apologies for the lack of recent updates, I have been working hard on a number of new commissions, along with new canvas paintings and also working in a new tshirt design! Hoping to have those printed up in the next few weeks! Until then, just working on the tags, and bags, trying to keep these as friendly as possible by packing them in stamped paper bags if possible! Along with the tags being printed on recycled card and the mailing bags being recycled plastic also!

I will get pics of the new canvas paintings up here soon! Really enjoying working on canvas at the moment, so I really hope you like them!

Wow, has it really been so long since my last update? How time flies!! I’ve been painting lots and lots lately, along with trying to get some new promo materials sorted out, new cards, and stickers coming soon! Today was spent working on a flyer design, a small logo job, and making some uber unhealthy chocolate and coffee desserts..They are truly amazing though, even if I can’t really take credit for the recipe, and they’re near impossible to mess up unless you leave them in the oven too long! Had a great couple of days in Liverpool Tuesday and Wednesday, went over for the opening of the Contrast exhibition at Novas on Greenland Street. really smart gallery and some great photography work, read more here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107868131823

Then went on for tea/dinner at Mei Mei’s, again, gorgeous Chinese food, went all out and tried lobster for the first time, probably the messiest I’ve EVER been when eating since I was 4, really nice though! Then on to The Magnet, which was dead when we went in at around 11pm, but picked up after midnight, across the road to Bumper, They have some awesome wall art (Pic below), and some nice comfy seating! Had a great night, and dragged ourselves back to the hotel at just after 2am.

We decided to go for Japanese at Etsu on the Wednesday lunchtime (Pic below), their bento box set meals are truly amazing and highly recommended!  Drinks on the docks, just a really nice place  It was my first time in Liverpool, great city and friendly people, so definitely somewhere I’ll be going back to There are a number of pictures now up on my Flickr page here: Flickr

There are also a number of new customs on my store, along with a canvas I finished off the other day you’ll find those at a reduced price this weekend, here: Store stuff! (pics below)

Hope you’re all having a fantastic weekend!

Hello!  Saturday again already, the week really has flown! The weather was a bit iffy today, got a bit of painting done but my good old reliable brush went and split, so that was that! However, it got me working on a new skull based design for a new rubber stamp, and I’ve made it into a wallpaper for you (if you have an ipod touch/iphone)

I’ll be ordering a stamp of this design on Monday, so I’ll get pics up here when it arrives, I really love rubber stamping, so expect to see this around Sheffield on the faces of innocent pensioners. I’ve also just uploaded new customs to the customs/artwork page here.  Check em out if you like!

Today, I found myself picking through a bag of Sainsburys ‘Salted nut selection’ They all taste like salt, however, my head began to rate the various nuts, it went something like this; Jumbo peanuts – Boring, just peanuts. Cashews – Amazing, soft textured, creamy and amazing (Next time I’ll just buy a bag of cashews as I found myself picking these out only to be left with a bag of inferior nuts) Almonds – Bland. Bitter. Hard. Rubbish. Hazelnuts – I don’t know, these were just round and tasted like salt. I’d imagine they are actually something like the cheap cardboard variety of peanuts. So, lesson learned, next time, buy cashews.

Yesterday I went out on my bike, after half an hour, and after getting off. I could hardly walk. Another lesson learned, pedal too hard, be prepared to crawl home like a crippled tortoise.

Anyway, today I got some more painting done, Sundays are a little dull, repeats on TV, stereo speakers that refuse to make a sound unless you pump either Cliff Richard, or Bros through them. I swear if you don’t go to church suddenly your day is doomed to fail. I’m sat waiting right now for todays custom to catch fire mysteriously, fingers crossed that doesn’t happen… You can catch a preview of it over on my Flickr now, along with the 8″ Dunny I’ve been working on.

Now I’m off to buy some water, in case of fire.