BIG TIME - The Amazing Spiderman

I dropped into my local comic book store the last day as I was having a hankering for a comic and wanted to play my small part in supporting the local comic book industry. You see I usually wait for the TPB or hard cover collections to come out, I rarely  buy monthly editions anymore but this was 3 issues in one and features amazing pencils by Humberto Ramos so it was a perfect choice.  The comic introduces a whole host of Marvel characters so if you are new to comics and want to start somewhere easy this is the issue for you! If you are passing through Galway Ireland and looking for a comic be sure to head to Sub City, (Bottom floor - Corbett's Court/Eyre Square Shopping Centre)

'Ish' by Peter H. Reynolds

I don't buy loads of children's picture books...generally when browsing a book store I only take home the ones that really stand out...If I have to think twice about whether or not I 'need' it, the book generally goes back on the shelf.

'Ish' is one of those books that the minute I read the first couple of lines my mind was made up...It's a truly fantastic book by author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. I can't recommend it enough -  especially if either yourselves or a small member of your family is an artist.

I'm not going to divulge anything about the story itself - I'd prefer you to experience the wonder that is 'Ish' on your own.... My fellow artists of all ages I implore you, go out and buy this book now! I'ts truly magical!

Paintin' Today

Unexpected day off today, so I'm catching up on my personal work...Going to watercolour a few sketches I've been hoping to do for a while...

Listening to...

'All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone' - Explosions in the Sky

'Day Dreaming The Very Best of Doris Day' - Doris Day

'The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place' - Explosions in the Sky

Lisa Hannigan - New Song - A Sail

How I See Galway

One of our local newspapers, the Galway Independent is holding an amateur photo competition at the moment. First prize is a Nikon DSLR...I'm planning on entering soley because I would absolutely love to win that camera. You see, my current camera is years old, kinda falling apart and most definitely on it's last legs. It keeps bugging out on me and the light sensor is all over the place...shots look accurate one second and completely bleached out the next. Don't get me wrong I love my camera...it's been a faithful ally for many a year, and although it looks the part it's unfortunately not capable of capturing photos anywhere near the quality of  the more expensive DSLR's. The truth is I've asked far more of my camera than it was ever designed to do....

Realistically I don't really stand any chance of winning...my photo's are a bit too 'arty farty' I fear...and admittedly probably not the best. The shots, angles and themes that interest me are not to everyone's tastes.

Of course none of this is going to put me off. I'll give it a go just for the fun of it, keep my fingers crossed! : ) - Now I just need to figure out which three shots to enter..

Fridays Galway United match was a passionate affair. The crowds were riled up, as were the players, managers - stewards -  everyone. It's a hard time to be a Galway United fan - and even more difficult to be a player on a losing squad. Fair play to them for kiting out every week and doing their best - that's really all anyone can ask for. We all just want to see our club survive and the team return to winning ways. We lost the match but the atmosphere was pretty special. In particular I must commend our young keeper Conor Winn. He was very unwell leading up to and during the match. It showed great dedication and strength of character that he played the full 90...

As usual I was taking photos for the club programme ...(That's another reason I could really do with a 'proper' camera. My Galway United duties would be made all the easier with a professional camera) The shot below is of a young fan picking out a winning ticket for the half time draw...

Dig deep...

This next shot is of Tuna, my sister in law. She made a Galway United scrapbook and waited after the match to get autographs during warm-down.

Even in defeat...

I took the following shots in town today. The competition theme is "How I see Galway". I really liked the idea of how a dog might view the hustle bustle of shop street. As my wife patiently stood by I squatted down in the middle of the pedestrianized walkway and took a couple of hundred dogs-eye-view shots of passers by. It proved a really interesting set. It kinda reminded me of what it's like to be a kid. If I had been standing taking those shots everyone would have ducked out of them. But because I was only a few feet off the ground nobody really payed me any attention and just walked by as normal...It seemed a pretty accurate and hugely interesting snapshot of an average Galway day... (click photos for full-view)

Generations...

Everyone's City

Dogs eye view of the city - 'Hello'

Dogs eye view of the city - 'Goodbye'

Deadman's Beach, Renmore

Hedge Hog

So yesterday my wife gets a call from her family sayin' they found a hedgehog and were advised by the vet to feed him, keep him over night and release him the following day somewhere safe. Well they live near a lot of traffic so thought releasing him at our house would be a safer option. Last night they brought the little guy up...we said our hellos and goodbyes and let 'em go. 

Well today my wife sent me one of the strangest messages I've ever received. The hedgehog was back. She found him in the garden...sitting down....eating a barbecued sausage. 

That's not all...Cowling over him was our three legged cat Hope. She was sitting behind him with one paw tentatively wrapped around his prickly side. Unable to catch him, but equally unwilling to let 'em go. 

You see Hope hasn't been much of a hunter since she lost her leg...she was obviously surprised, excited and bemused by this giant friendly prickly "mouse" whom she had managed to "catch"

At the moment, the hedgehog is in a box in our sitting room. He's well fed and as I type is  making a bed for himself out of grass and shredded paper.

To be honest we don't really know what to do with him. Neen called the vet to ask for advice. Based on our description of his behavior the vet thinks he may already be partially if not completely domesticated. His food preferences suggest he is already accustomed to domestic food.

She said we have two choices...keep him as a pet or bring him far into the country and release him...what do you think? 

Cinematic Classics

Neen and I re-watched 'My Fair Lady' the last day and it was as good if not better than ever. Audrey Hepburn at her cinematic best...It got me thinking...I know it's cliched to say - but they really don't make 'em like that anymore. I mean the vast majority of graphic-laden blockbustin' monsters released these days will look dated and quite unimpressive in a few short years...These old musicals are absolute classics and I trust will grace our screens for decades to come...

I've gotta admit I have a serious penchant old school effects and traditional animation. In my opinion one of the greatest examples of visual effects in a film is 'Mary Poppins' which the missus and I also watched this week. This film was a huge influence during my younger years. I must have watched it 100 times by the time I was 10. It's an absolute classic and still looks as visualy impressive as ever. The merging of traditional animation and live action is flawless - and in my opinion a far better example of this style than even 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' it's fellow Disney sibling.

An interesting link between the two aforementioned films is this: Julie Andrews played the lead role of Eliza Doolittle, in the original Broadway stage version of 'My Fair Lady'. When Warner Brothers acquired the film rights and announced a movie would be made - Andrews was quite vocal in her interest to play the screen version of the stage role she had made so famous. Alas due to her relatively unknown status and her non-existent screen experience the more well-known Hepburn was offered the role instead. I can imagine  that was  quite an upset to Andrews at the time. Luckily for all involved Walt Disney offered Andrews the role of Mary Poppins shortly after. Both films were released in 1964, and looking at what could have been both were cast perfectly...

New Books

It seems in the time it takes me to figure out want I want for lunch, Emily Gravett has managed to con-caught, write, illustrate, design, deliver, publish and publicize a new book! It seems every time I visit a bookstore, there's a new new Emily Gravett gem to break open and explore... If their's a harder working children's illustrator out there I'd like to meet them. These are three new books my wife bought me the last day as a surprise. I love 'em. I already have a lot of Emily Gravett books, so how she managed to find and pick the three I didnt' have is beyond impressive. Thanks hun - I love 'em!  emilygravett.com