Happy 40th Birthday Gemma

It's my lovely sister's 40th birthday today. She won't be happy I've told everyone how old she is. Happy Birthday Gemma.

Stray Kid

Caffeine

It's comic strip appreciation week here 'cos another great strip I read every day is Between Friends by Sandra Bell-Lundy. I can really relate to her current series about being a caffeinaholic.
I gave up caffeine a couple of years ago but still sometimes go to coffee shops to write my comic strip. I sit there drinking disgusting watery decaffeinated coffee. So weak are some of these coffees that I was even falling asleep at the tables using my blank notebook as a pillow. Last week I accidentally ordered a proper coffee and WOW, not only did I stay awake but the ideas came thick and fast.
So Thursday, my writing day, is now my caffeine day too or do you think I'm kidding myself and am about to completely fall off the wagon?

Fishy

The first strip I read every day is Pooch Cafe by Paul Gilligan. I love it although it always reminds me of the faux pas I made when meeting the great King Features Sales Team for the first time. I was asked which my favorite comic strips were and I instantly replied Pooch Cafe before my brain engaged and yelled at me that I should be naming King Features comics first. Of course I then listed some of the Kings greats but by then the damage was done.
Anyway Pooch Cafe has a fish called Fish. Ollie and Quentin have a fish called Fishy who even sits on a similar table in an identical round fish bowl. My Fishy existed long before I'd ever seen Pooch Cafe, honest.
The character came about because my son has two fish that refuse to die. He's had them about 9 years! All the others died about 8 years ago but for some reason these two just live on. We struggled to give them names but finally decided on Beany (because one looked like my old school friend Christopher Bean) and B*stard because he's... well, a right little b*stard and probably the reason all the others died. I'd like to call Ollie and Quentin's Fishy 'Beany' but Quentin looks so much like a Jelly Bean himself that it might be misleading. 'Sushi' seemed a bit obvious so until I hear from Paul Gilligan's lawyers it's going to have to remain 'Fishy'.

Paul Thompson

I love Richard Thompson's brilliant Cul de Sac cartoon strip and have promised to name a lugworm after him if ever I get the chance. The above strip was the perfect opportunity and my rough did indeed use Richard for the Worm Twister Champion's name but when I came to do the artwork it just wouldn't fit!
Next time.

Happy Dad's Day Dads

South Downs Marathon Relay

Regular readers of this blog will know I love my running. On sunday 4 teams from my running club entered the South Downs Marathon Relay where each member of the team runs approximately a quarter of a marathon each over the beautiful but hilly English South Downs. This is a very rare shot of me actually smiling during a race. The photographer made me laugh by scrambling frantically out of our way as we ran past.
I wish I could say I think of lots of cartoon strip ideas while I'm running but so far I think I can only say I've thought of one and a half.

Website Samples Update

It's been a while since I updated the samples on the Ollie and Quentin website. Click here to see a few new ones.

Ollie and Quentin visit Arctic Circle

Look at this! An Ollie and Quentin lunchbox in Alex Hallatt's wonderful Arctic Circle comic strip. This made my hair stand on end when I saw it whilst reading my comics over on DailyInk. Arctic Circle, by fellow Brit Alex, was launched just ahead of Ollie and Quentin and has quickly found it's voice. I love Alex's bold drawing style which really stands out on the page. Go look at her website www.moontoon.com or read her new blog here.
Thanks Alex, one day I hope to repay the favor.