Smiles all round as the project kicks off

Yesterday saw the beginning of a HUGE art project with Wildground Infant School on the edge of the New Forest. Their headteacher, Mrs Mullett, asked about me painting a mural on one of the hall’s walls, but after some discussion it became apparent that we could do something a little more …challenging. We identified an area that ran horizontally across the hall about a metre down from the ceiling that made an impressive space to set the artwork. However, it was too high to paint, and possibly too large as well, so I suggested we created something separately and look into getting it fitted onto the wall once completed.

This meant we didn’t have to do a conventional mural. We could get the children involved to contribute elements of the picture and I could build the artwork in Photoshop. The aim of the finished piece is that it will represent the area in which the children live, following the course of Southampton Water, and feature every single one of them amongst the landmarks.

So my visit yesterday was to ask the children to contribute their part to the artwork. They were all asked to produce a self portrait each, and then each class was given a specific task to draw aspects of different sections, such as boats for the water, local shops and New Forest animals.

There’s an enormous amount of work to do, so I plan to post updates now and then so the children can follow its progress. Better get started then…

Me and some of my CCGB chums

I’m a member of the Cartoonist’s Club of Great Britain, and the club’s main aim is to be social with other cartoonists. I thought I’d do my bit by inviting them down my way and sharing some of the techniques I use when using Photoshop with my cartoons. I hired the community room of our local secondary school, Applemore Technology College, set up my iMac and Wacom, and went off to meet the attendees for lunch at the rather splendid Pilgrim on the edge of the New Forest.

Once we were fed and watered we settled down to look at, amongst other things, scanning to Bitmap, airbrushing colour, creating masks, drawing direct to the screen, using layers effectively, when to use RGB, and much more besides. It was certainly a two-way street with a few tips and shortcuts being thrown my way too. A good event, and considering our nationwide dispersal and it being a Monday, not a bad turn out either. Thanks to everyone who made the effort, and to Applemore for looking after us.