illustration friday: New (year)

This week's theme is "new", so I have gone with the predictable "Happy New Year" illustration. Here is a little cartoon about the conversations we have on Hogmanay and the days that follow. It is also a warning. If someone asks you what your highlight of the year was STOP, THINK and answer CAREFULLY!

 

 

p.s. I think my highlight of the year might be a gig. Either Admiral Fallow or Mumford and Sons...or maybe it was was Hogmanay itself! Or maybe it was halloween or my birthday or visiting Rome or seeing Avenue Q or watching Kevin Bridges.......2012 was a good year when I think about it. Here's to 2013!!

p.s.p.s see more "new" illustrations at www.illustratonfriday.com

Illustration Friday : Glow

It has been far too long since I have joined in the Illustration Friday fun so I thought I would post something for the last one of 2012! This week the theme for illustration Friday is "Glow"! Here is an image from a children's book I've been working on recently. I hope you like it! To see more images on this theme go to www.illustrationfriday.com.

 

 

 

five stages of MAN flu

 

 

After sharing my last illutration of the five phases of flu...I was told by a male friend that for man flu there is only one phase - DEFEAT. So...that called for another karentoon. Enjoy.

 

ps it's not sexist if a man says it first! (or if it is factually correct)

 

Five Phases of Flu

It is the most wonderful time of the year.....festive parties, thoughtful gifts and ruddy flu. I love Christmas, but every year without fail I catch the dreaded flu bug. This year is no different.

Flu comes in five phases. I'm currently in phase five, I wish I had spent more time trying to master phase 1....maybe next year.

Vintage Karentoons - Great Ormond Street Hospital

I have just discovered, thanks to mumtoons, that a tile I designed in Primary School is still on display in Great Ormond Street Hospital in the hydrotherapy unit. 

The competition was to design a tile for to decorate the hospital with the theme "kids in space".
I was judged a winner by my childhood hero Neil Buchanan. At the time he was of course famous for his children's TV show "Art Attack" which I adored so you can imagine how exciting this was. Back then I wanted to be him when I grew up. I suppose in some respects I am - but without my own successful TV show.

It really has made my day knowing that is still on display in the children's hospital after all these years. I hope it still makes some little faces smile.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN / Illustration Friday : Haunt

Halloween is my favourite time of year and to mark the occasion I have produced a new illustration. For Halloween I like to go all out with my costume. This year I dressed up as Spaceman from KISS and it was awesome. Not everyone likes to dress up, some people just like to do the BEAR minimum. Here is a simple dress up idea for grizzly and panda bears using only underwear and socks! Top last minute costume idea.....if you are a bear that is...not sure if it will be as effective for humans....

Illustration Friday : Imagination

This week's Illustration Friday theme is "imagination". When it comes to imagination you can't beat the imagination of a little girl (or her cat) when something goes bump in the night....

"What was that noise?!"

Check out www.illustrationfriday.com for more artwork depicting this theme.

Illustration Friday : Identical

It has been FAR too long since I have submitted an illustration for Illustration Friday. I've been busy prancing about Rome, watching the Olympics and complaining about the lack of sunshine in Glasgow! The theme this week was identical. I toyed with the idea of doing Jedward (no, I really did), but then thought two of them is enough in this world. It would be unfair to unleash a second set on the world so I went for this....self explanatory I hope.

#artideas - How to Make a 3D Spider Web

My friends at Articulate Gallery recently asked me some #artideas for their new blog showing folk the endless possibilities that can be displayed in their 3D frames. This is a really fun idea for those aged 5-9...or 26 in my case.

As I grew up watching BBC Blue Peter, this was a dream come true. I created a 3D spider web complete with dangling spider.

Here are the steps you need to make draw the spider:

What you will need: a marker pen (Sharpie is my preference, but any good waterproof marker will do) and some card (I've used the inside of a cornflakes box)

Use your black marker to draw this onto the card. First draw 2 circles for eyes and 2 dots inside the eyes. These dots show where the spider is looking which should be up at his dinner.

Next draw an oval for the body. Make sure the eyes in the upper half of the oval so you have room to put the mouth in.






Now, draw the 8 legs. 4 on each side. Start in the middle and work your way up and round.

Finally give your spider a mouth. I made my spider happy because he has lots of bugs to eat for his dinner. This is simply a stretched out U shape, with another U shape underneath. As for the tounge its an upside down U shape.


To find out how to make the rest click HERE to go the Articulate Gallery blog.

Tip Tap Flat : A View of Glasgow - Book OUT NOW

The rumours are true - I have been published in a book and I am chuffed to bits!

The book is called Tip Tap Flat: A View of Glasgow and has been published by Freight.

Last year, when I was studying comic illustration at Glasgow School of Art, Louise Welsh asked for submissions for a book about the city of Glasgow. She was looking for poems, short stories and illustrations. As a lover of Glasgow AND an illustrator - I jumped at the chance. My contribution to the book is a 3 page comic about the Duke of Wellington. This statue has become the most recognised landmark in Glasgow since it was "coned". Everytime I walk past the statue sporting a traffic cone for a hat it makes me laugh. I can't help but wonder how did someone get that all the way up there?!

Here is what the book looks like....


And here is what my 3 page comic looks like...

I'm really proud to be a part of this unique depiction of Glasgow. The book really is worth picking up if you have lived in, worked in or visited Glasgow. If you want to buy the book it is availabe from Amazon, Waterstones and various other outlets. (I'm on page 82 if you do)

For more of my work please go to www.karentoons.co.uk