Skulls

I hid a few of my skulls about Cornwall this Halloween.

Since about 2009 skull images have appeared regularly in my work. When I am drawing larger or more complicated images or doodles I tend to draw before I think (or think unconsciously instead of consciously) of what images I draw. Because of this, there is always an underlying reason for images which re-occur in my work.

With this skull motif it is no mystery to me. I have always liked the sugar skull images from Mexico's macabre but positive Day Of The Dead festival, when Mexican people celebrate the lives of their ancestors on November 1st and 2nd the day after our Halloween (not a coincidence!).
The sugar skulls and Catrinas also serve the living as a reminder of their mortality.

So, when I only have a moment and have to paint something that reflects me, I often do a skull. Over the last few years these have evolve into a sort of elephant's-foot-shaped pot!

Just like the sugar skulls, my skulls have always had a positivity about them but at the same time reflect an underlying message that nothing will last forever and that, underneath it all, every man is equal.

So, our Halloween season seems like a great time for me to get some of my skulls out there.

Biggest window this year.

A week after gate-crashing part 3 of their staff party day (a private screening of Tom and Jerry and The Goonies!!) came the date the Qbar had booked me in to complete my biggest window art project of 2010.

The Qbar is arguably Falmouth's unofficial bohemian headquarters. Perched amongst banks, the towns main post office and estate agents in the cosmopolitan Moor area, the bar shows how Falmouth has a very prominent 'underground' culture.

This year I designed the recent re-fit and new funiture, (and then attacked the place with a few hundred cans of spraypaint) but that's not the only reason why I like the bar!

Find it: On the Moor (paved area by the banks) in Falmouth, Cornwall.

Finn Mc'Cool's

Finn McCouls Irish pub in Falmouth is one of the only decent and wholesome dens of debauchery left in Cornwall.
Their live music nights really go off, and include all the local great live acts (Ryan Jones, Winter Mountain Band, Al Jones...) touring bands and a weekly jam night with one of the UK's greatest drummer/compares Gerry Gillard.

Gerry buys you drink if you get up and sing, and two if you play an instrument.

Helen, of 'Finns" is a great landlady and, despite almost losing her Irish accent over the years, always has the open fire going and a warm Irish welcome for all.

Plus, they've had a bit of art too.


Find it: You can't miss it.

The Truro walk of fame

The Office nightclub and Zafiros in Uptown Truro this year...

The Office nightclub has cartoons of all the staff as characters from the movies (which are now their facebook profile pics), and their sister bar, Zafiros, has the christmas characters, Santa, Rudolf and all the elfs dressed up as their favourite Hollywood stars ...oh year, and C3PO and R2D2 iceskating.

Find: The Matrix Snowman!

The Office nightclub and Zafiros are a great couple of family-run bars in Truro and are well 'geared-up' for this season.

Mariocart away your xmas shopping blues

Loading retro games cafe in Falmouth is a great place. Check it out: They have retro games consoles always on that are free to use and an arcade table, with loads of space invaders type games and even double dragon. Hot drinks to sit and play or takeaway (James, you can use that line if you like!), snacks (great paninis) and a licensed bar!

Oh, and a bit of xmas art work on the window! ;)

Find it: ...Turn left by the bookshop before you get to Trago's.

Web:... Loading Website

Coming soon... pictures of this year's Xmas window artwork!

Lots of windows already completed this year. Pics coming soon!

Halloweendow

Today I popped down to Falmouth and drew on a window.



The Q Bar is an ex-juice bar (called Quench before it got an alcohol license) these days it serves Falmouth's more discerning bohemian and hedonistic customers.



Every halloween they really go to town with fancy dress and even dress the bar from top to bottom along with theme. This year (tomorrow night) it's a "Rock n' Roll Macabreret" with a twisted circus theme complete with punk acrobats, jugglers and magicians.

Earlier this year the "old bar" that the loyal customers loved but was showing signs of age so they asked me to design and commission some furniture, develop a modest colour scheme and paint all over the walls (see earlier posts tagged: qbar).

The walls are a continued project and a huge source of interest and discussion for the staff and diverse range of customers. I am due down there very soon to add more!

The bar is located on the moor in Falmouth (opposite the post office) and the window painting will be on until this Sunday (1st Nov).

Qbar Falmouth

Heading down to the Qbar in Falmouth's headonistic 'Moor' area to start on the re-furbishment. Has to be finished this Friday! I'll post a few pics on here of the finished result.

This picture is 'before':

xmas "legal graffiti"

good morning, happy new year and happy new second decade of the millenium folks!

i realised i hadnt posted anything about the xmas season. if you were in cornwall over the christmas period you may have noticed lots of artwork popping up on windows..? no? where ya been looking? anyway, nearly all of that window art is my work. i always sign them and leave some clues and other hidden references.

this year just gone, i didn't just decorate cornwall but made it up-country as far as bath! here are some pics:

all the best for 2010!

cosmic

"could ya chuck a wave on me window?"

New window graphics for Chops at Aggie Surf Shop, St Agnes, Cornwall.

the beady eyes

(not my image)

i popped into here and now gallery, which is by far the coolest gallery in falmouth, for a chat last week and view the new lucy apple exhibition.. the shop next door rang me up soon afterwards asking if i would draw on her window. i was still in the area, so.. click here and now