Tuesday 22 April 2014

The Manchester and London Marathon

If I'm an illustrator first, then I'm a runner second. Specifically I'm a member of "Chorlton Runners," though no membership is required. http://www.runningmanchester.com/

Recently a whole bunch of us ran marathons. Chorlton being in South Manchester, meant that many from the club ran the Manchester Marathon, though myself and several others ran London the very next weekend instead. ...Or the "Virgin Money London Marathon" to give it its full contractual title.

I ran London because I was lucky enough to win a place through Chorlton Runners (yay!). ...A wonderful, painful, exhilarating day was had... though this is slightly beside the point because this post is really about who I trained with and moreover who coached me and my fellow marathon runners to overwhelming success. ...(Success as in a) attempting the bloody thing and all the training, (or is that insanity?) or b) just getting through the bloody thing.)

To cut a long story short, by way of thanks from me and the club I dedicated a framed picture to our coach Gavin Cameron. Giver of many, many man-hours; though a self titled "Dark Lord" of blood sweat and tears, he devised our training plan and was on hand pretty much every step of the way. A good man. This picture was presented to him during the post-Manchester marathon party...
Me and Gavin: Incidentally, I was a marshal at the 
Manchester Marathon so felt entitled to join 
in with a celebratory a pint (last one before 
London, the week after - hey, I never said I 
was Mo Farah).

The caricature in all it's glorious fun-poking detail. 
Yes, he does indeed say all those things.

Me, just after finishing the London Marathon. 
Mmmm, tastes like running-bling.



Thursday 17 April 2014

Softball Girls

Pull your socks up, let's play ball...

Dee Foster is the marvel behind obeyyourobsession.com, and she commissioned yours truly to draw a ton of female softball players. She knows how to add colour digitally, so I just got down and dirty with the old brush and ink.


Now, why is there not a comic about a vengeance-
hungry team of female softball players?

Also, this guy.

What was that Simpsons song? ..Oh yeh (I haven't copied and pasted this in a pathetic attempt to get more hits, honest).

Well Mr. Burns had done it,
The power plant had won it,
With Roger Clemens clucking all the while,
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile,
While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile...

We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.

We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.