NEW PROJECT

An adults illustrated book based on the David Bowie song, Heroes. The epic tale of two owl lovers who fly away to London for the night, and spend the night meet other nocturnal creatures. E.g gangsta alley-cats, punk-hedgehogs etc etc.
The inspiration for this project came from the Bowie owls I did at the beginning of the summer.
Here's a couple...

Final... Title Page

Cashpoint

Knives and dogs

This is my first attempt, I thought the cowering woman looked a bit too cartoony and the figures in the background made it a bit too crowded...

So here's my second attempt...

I think I like this one better...

... although the woman's face is a bit deranged...

Yet another new direction

No background

I'm aiming to get two perspectives. One of your run-of-the-mill member of public, and one of the wronged working girl. Here's a couple of experiments using the pictures to say what I mean, it's heard to explain!
Obviously, the fonts need to be worked on.

However, I find the outcomes of all of these pictures a bit bland, so I've decided to focus on the objects being the background, and fitting in the different circumstances around it, while still keeping with the different perspectives.
Here's background number 1...

Shoes and chocolate

I am aware that all the pieces I've been posting recently are a bit blah. They will be relevant in a little time!
However, here's a pair of shoes and an Easter egg. Wait and see....

The country

A girl was driven to the middle of the countryside by a punter, who then brutally assaulted her.

I think I prefer the second piece.

Galleries

I recently went to the Haunch of Venison and Saatchi. These are some of my favourite pieces
Names to come soon!!

Haunch of Venison

Saatchi

Dogs

I can't decide which dog to use...

Objects

I've decided to look at my project in a different way. I've read a lot of horrible acts commited against these girls in the hands of their punters, things that most people couldn't even imagine.
I come up with the idea of crossing the mundane with these stories, to show an ordinary object and relate it to the pain it can be associated with. Maybe almost drawn like a children's book.
I still need to play around with them, edit them etc.
Here's one of the 'objects'...

Elemenopee

This morning I got a parcel filled with arty nice things from graphic designer Joe Coleman in return for one of my illustrations.
Check him out at http://jc-elemenopee.blogspot.com/ . He's rather good!

NEW IDEA...

...and with only a few weeks left before the deadline which is really clever of me... but I've found an area I feel really passionate about.
The protection of working girls
Prostitution is legal. Paying for sex and kerb-crawing isn't. In most cases, when a punter is arrested he is taken away by the police, whereas the girl is left alone and vulnerable on the streets
A lot of police initiatives boast about lowering prostitution in their area, by convicting prostitutes or moving them on.
A few mention rehabilitation centers for the prostitutes
But none I looked at spoke of initiatives especially designed to help the girls themselves. Somewhere they can turn to, to report mistreatment or abuse. Somewhere they won't be judged, only given the untmost protection. A lot of girls are scared to report crimes against them for fear of getting into trouble by the police, or getting into even worse trouble by the pimps/punters they reported. They need to trust that they will be given the respect and protection they need. A safe place to go, and the knowledge that the abusers are being dealt with accordingly.
There are already an unknown number of rehabilitation centres and safe-houses around Britain, and people who want to help. But these places have to remain top secret for fear of violence if the word gets out. Another reason why proper protection is so needed. They need to ensure that the girls can get in contact with these places safetly without the fear of getting hurt, or worse...
The more protection that's given to prostitutes, the more who will feel safe coming forward to the police and the more violent crime within prostitution can be stamped out. And with safer pathways to the rehabilitation centres and medical help, the better the chances of them getting out of prostitution and their lives on track.


Phewww...rant over
Here's a (fuzzy) photo of my (messy) London deskspace. New house, wooo!

Wipe out

More on the 'wiping out' idea. Or 'rub out'? Hmmmmm....

Apologies for the dodgy hand!