ANNECY International Animated Film Festival

I'm going to Annecy this year! An entire week of toons, sunshine and opening with a screening of Monsters University. 

Oh sweet jesus. June is gonna be a good'n!

Mila Falls Party in the Stars Music Video

PARTY IN THE STARTS Mila Falls

Art Director, Set & Model maker.
Built and designed all sets, props and models seen in the video; both miniature and life size. I was commissioned to create a 'Button Moon' inspired, low-fi world for Mila's Sci-Fi mishap...

With very special thanks to my right-hand woman Iriini and Uncle Eggy for his emergency studio space.

For further 'behind the scenes/making of' of the video and its sets have a look here: 
http://jesslinares.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2012-10-30T09:49:00Z&max-results=7

Illustrated map of UK

Lovely little job for TiYK who commissioned a huge hand-drawn map to make up part of an exhibit at Somerset House later this month... 

The Hapless Tragedy of Matador Kingsley

(A nonsensical silly thing written one rainy afternoon.)

Matador Kingsley was a magnificent man.

He once toured the bull rings from Spain to Japan.

He looked more Brazilian but was born in Bombay,

He was the world's best matador. (And very handsomely paid.)

The crowds knew they'd see a spectacular fight,

When they'd watch him emerge in his suit of fine lights.

He would dance round the bull ring with the grace of a swan,

twirling his red cape, in breeches that shone.

But one fateful day in a bull ring in Fife,

a tragic accident would change Kingsley's life.

See, the bull boy who selected the bulls for the fights,

had been on the razzle the previous night,

and only this morning as Kingsley took his bow,

did he realise….

the bull he'd picked was in fact a large cow!

And as the gates rose up and Kingsley took his stance,

the bull boy threw the toreador a guilt-ridden glance.

As the terrified cow ran out of her pen, 

she tripped up on her udder with such momentum 

the force was spectacular (and the cow wasn't little)

She sped t'ward the matador like a bowling ball to a skittle.

The crowd gasped in horror and silently stared,

as Matador Kingsley was tossed high in the air.

Later...

There were no red roses being thrown from the stands,

just a defibrillator and a stretcher and an ambulance man.

Three panicked doctors and a cape ripped to shreds

The women shrieked and fainted: Could Kingsley be dead?

He woke up weeks later in a hospital bed,

with 200 stitches and a bump on the head,

two missing front teeth and in such bad condition,

it's a miracle he lived concurred the physicians.

Kingsley survived and now lives with his wife,

(an antiques dealer, whom he quite likes.)

He retired from the bull-ring and now helps her with the books,

He came to terms with the tragedy and the loss of his looks,

But whenever he hosts dinner parties and guests come round,

He will not tolerate any mention of cows. 

* * *

Chinese Year of the Snake

 恭禧发财!!

Despite my appearance, I'm not Chinese. 
That being said, at this time of year when our Chinese friends all over the world celebrate with sizzling grub, firecrackers and scarlet lanterns I must admit, I want in. 

2013 is the year of the snake, an animal which in Eastern cultures is believed to be a symbol of wisdom, elegance and quiet restraint. Much like the colour red, in the East snakes are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity. Unlike our less flattering perceptions of snakes in the West. Which I guess is why Wu Guanying's official stamp design works so beautifully; capturing the snake in a celebratory red curl, bejewelled with lotus flowers and carrying a pearl in its mouth. 

I spent this afternoon with a cup of green tea, making my own relief model of Wu's snake out of paper. 

A LIAR'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY IS UNLEASHED TODAY! 
Photos of behind the scenes making of will be up shortly...

A post about post

Here is a little paper model I rustled up this afternoon as a starting point for a future model for TiYK. Created with card, paper and various pens and pencils.