Hello, how are you?

Valentines...

2012-02-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I'm hoping all you boyfriends/husbands/secret admirers are busy planning something special for your special someone(s). Being a singleton, I luckily don't have to go through all of that, but just for the occasion, here's something on the romantic side.
My cousin, Moi, got finally married her beau, Matt, at the end of last year and I made this little book espcially for them. Congratulations, lovebirds!!

Here are the pages...

Happy valentines, everyone! x

It's good to share...

2011-11-24T20:39:00.000-08:00

Comica Comiket

2011-11-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hello. I'll be at the Comica Comiket this saturday (12th November) at the Bishopsgate Institute in London, sharing a table with the amazing Zarina Lie w showcasing our latest books and prints. This will be our last expo of the year, so pop down, say hello, maybe get some early xmas shopping done. Details below or go to www.comicafestival.com

Plus, after the show, the legend that is Warren Ellis will be making a rare personal appearence for the screening of the film, Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts. Details below

Knackered. And a little dizzy...

2011-10-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Back from another awesome MCM and I am completely exhausted! Thanks to all the lovely people who came to say hello, I'm honoured to have y'all stop by. Roll on May!

New print and book

2011-10-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

It's MCM time this weekend and I have a new print and mini book out for the occassion. Below is some cover art for new book Dreambearer

and new character poster, Ami (from my book Ami+Kobi), to go with Kobi print which was created earlier this year.

See you at Expo!

Stormy...

2011-08-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Dancing king

2011-07-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Check out those moves!

LFCC memories

2011-07-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from last weekend's Comicon event. It was loads of fun and will definitely attend the next event. A big thank you all that came by the stall - see you at next expo/con! xxx

The Star Trek talk on Sunday morning with Morgan Sheppard, left, and Walter Koenig (Chekov), right. Two thoroughly charming and funny fellas.

Captain Picard lookalike

Scary man. (He walked through Brixton that get-up)

Marty McFly and Marty McFly

Back to the Future panel. Left to right: Jeffery Weissman, Lea Thompson, ? and Christopher Lloyd, who kept on forgetting his past roles.

Below, R2D2 gets angry

Mad Hatter!

London Film and Comic Con

2011-07-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hello. Just a quick post to say that I will be at LFCC this weekend where I will be sharing a table with the very talented nimator/illustrator Kaori Onishi. See you down there!

Card designs

2011-06-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of card designs I submitted to the two recent Tigerprint competions.

The brief for the 'Hand-Drawn' compeition was to create a hand-drawn design. I wasn't the above isn't the actual entry as I was not entirly happy with it. I chose to create valentines greeting card, drawing and cutting out all letters/elements, cutting them out and assmebling them on a separate piece of paper so that you get some nice shadows when the whole piece is scanned (a method I used on my 'This is for You' and 'Dear Princess' books). Considering the target audience (the M&S shopper) I decided to add some colour but the digital manipulation caused most of the shadows to be lost and, on reflection, I'm not happy with the colours I chose. I much prefer the design in black with with the shadows evoking memroies of old black and white romantic movies, echoing the sentiment.

For the 'Word-up' competion, the brief was to come up with a caption for a special occaision, eg. birthday, wedding, new baby, (I forget the rest). I chose anniversery - perhaps the caption is a little tepid...

Win a copy of New Birtish Comics 3!

2011-06-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

That's right kids, you can win a very special copy of NBC#3 (featuring a short story by yours truly) by going to the New Birtish Comics blog and entering the following competition. 'Special, how?' you ask? Well this particular copy has a rather awesome sketch by the wonderfully talented WJC, who contributed to issues 2 and 3 of NBC.

MCM London

2011-05-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Five days to go for MCM!! Once again I'll be in the Comic Village sharing a table with old friend and award winning illustrator Zarina Liew of Colbalt Cafe who will have her new book – a collaboration with all round creative maestro Richy K Chandler (otherwise known as Tempo Lush) – Rosie and Jacinda out for sale. I've read it, I loved and have concluded that everyone needs it!! For more information about this beautiful comic, click here to go to the website.

I myself will have some new badges (including a new mystery badge), new prints (including a tie-in poster for Ami+Kobi) and the frustratingly delayed Little Red for sale. So come and say 'Hello' if your attending – we'll be waiting with sweets : )

If the price of the ticket or the idea people with people with placards threatening 'free hugs' is putting you off MCM, or if you prefer your comics to be a little more left field, head down to Conway Hall, Islington for the first International Alternative Press Festival which also takes place this weekend. Fellow Capes and Drapers Tilly Aviram and Saban Kazim will be representing there with their fabulous comics and I'm pretty sure they'll have sweets too!

Wherever you decide to spend your weekend (you could go to both events - they're both on 27-30th May), have an awesome one!

xxox

New prints

2011-05-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hello. Here are two brand new prints which I will be launching at MCM Expo at the end of May. Hope to see you there : )

Art Blossom Japan

2011-05-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to tell you about a cool charity helping out the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Art Blossom Japan collects and sells donated artwork from manga artists to raise money for the victims – most of the artwork are limited edition prints or original artwork. All proceeds go to charity. To find out more, buy or donate, please visit the website www.artblossomjapan.com

Here's my donation below (A3 print, signed, limited edition of 5)

Go on, treat yourself - it is for a good cause, after all...

Why do I draw?

2011-05-06T17:30:00.000-07:00

At laaaast!!

2011-04-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

Finally!! After many days of head scratching, hair pulling, book slamming and cursing, I can finally reveal my brand new website: www.vannim.me.uk! Woo!
Hope y'all like!
x

New British Comics#3 featuring work by... ME!

2011-03-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to be part of the latest installment of the New British Comics series, sharing book space with comic greats such as the fantastic WJC, Laurence Elwick (who created the lovely cover, above) and Paul O'Connell. As well as being able to include a short story, I also got to design the biography pages! Go here to get yourself a copy or visit the New British Comics blog.
Here's a teaser panel from my featured short, (crack)

Mission: Fail

2011-03-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

Gah! Wouldn't you know it. Like a good girl, I planned things ahead for the Small Press Expo this Saturday. I got my batch of paper ready, found the paper that was just the right hue for the cover, had loads of spare ink cartridges on standby, but just as I was ready to print, THE DAMN PRINTER DIED ON ME!!! ARRRGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Alas, I guess it was the the printer's time. It served me faithfully for six years and yet I can't help thinking of all the late nights wasted on getting my new book done on time. Sigh... Too late to get a rush order on a new one I guess the new project will have to wait 'til May's MCM for its debut. Here's a sneak peak of what it looks like

I also planned to have a new print ready for Saturday but that isn't going to happen either now.
Hope to see you at the SP Expo anyway http://www.thefallenangel.co.uk/spexpo/london.htm.
It's at Goldsmiths Uni in New Cross and if you hang around later, Dave Mckean will be giving an exclusive talk - I think there is a small fee to attend.

That's all for now. Come and see me and maybe I give you a free sketch (if you ask nicely)

x

Very belated congratulations

2010-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

2010 was a great year. It was one of the recent few that I did NOT get depressed about getting a year older, it was the first time in a loooooong time that I was able to go on holiday and, most importantly, 3 of my cousins got married. Very belated congratulations to

Lan and Mark (January)

Myling and Chon (August)
Jennifer and Stuart (August)

Thank you for inviting us to the greatest weddings ever (apart from Lan and Mark who cheated and eloped to New York, but thanks the cake). I wish you all every happiness and the very best in the years to come. While I have no pictures of any of any of these amazing events (I'm notoriously bad at remembering to bring a camera) I have recreated a memory of one of the more magical moments: my youngest sister catching the bouquet at Chon and Myling's wedding. The family have never been more proud (click image for larger view).(Photographic evidence revealed that she had a running start)

Congratulations also to my colleagues, Jasmeet and Emma, got engaged to their respective partners this year. Best wishes to you both.

Happy new year!! x

p.s. Who's next?

Xmas cards!

2010-11-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hello. I've design a new set of limited edition Christmas cards which will be made available exclusively at the Alternative Press Fair, this Sunday (28th). Each card in the series, called Xmas Ninjas, is 7cm x 7cm and will come with their own handmade envelopes.

MCM memories...

2010-11-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here're some pics from MCM, sorry they're late... it was a fantastic 3 days with the cos players, 'free hug-ers' and general comic media fans out in force - over 41,000 of them, in fact, making it another record breaker.Here and a few pics from the event...

We were fortunate enough to be put in front of the stage this time, being entertained by the panel talks whenever things got a little slow. Above are the voice actor panel with Roger Craig Smith (the voice of Ezio in Assasins Creed 3) on the left, Stephanie Sheh (Bleach, Vampire Knights) in the middle and Michael Sinterniklaas (Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bleach).

It's not every day that I get to meet one of my heroes and I was especially giddy when I met these guys. The Etherington Brothers are the illustrious creators of Malcom Magic and more recently Monkey Nuts (part of the DFC library). I've been in love with their work ever since the day I saw the first volume of Malcom grace the shelves of my local comic book several years ago. Their comics are full of beautiful, intricate art and bouncy scripts. While I don't think they need the publicity, here's a link to their amusing blog for updates of works in progress.

More Stormtroopers...

The awesome Zarina Liew (left) with fellow Bleach fan.

More amazing costumes. Check out the handiwork on that hat!

Customised Tototro jumper. I want!...

The Candyman!

And my personal favourite, Hard Gay! Fooooooooooooooooooooo!

I was also at the Comica Comiket a couple of weeks ago with fellow Capes and Drapes-er, Tilly. Unfortunately, I neglected to take a camera but I'm sure everyone who was there will agree that it was a mighty fine event with plenty of awesome comics and wonderful people.

Thank you all who came to see us at these events! See you at the next one (*HUG*)

MCM halloween!!

2010-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hello

Just a quick note to say that I'll be representing at MCM London this weekend. Once again, I'll be sharing a table with the MIGHTY Zarina Liew of Cobalt Cafe and on saturday, we'll be joined by the verrrry talented Richy K Chandler (Tempo Lush).

This weekend will be the biggest MCM weekend ever with an extra date added (friday) and the introduction for the MCM Fringe. Come down and say hello – we'll have sweets and stickers! It'll also give you the excuse of wearing your halloween costume all weekend. See you tomorrow!

Postcards!

2010-10-04T08:38:00.001-07:00

Here're some postcard designs which will make their debut at this month's MCM expo (provided that they are delivered on time). Fingers crossed! hope you like : )

Sketching 2...

2010-08-11T07:01:00.001-07:00

dilapidated house

Sketching...

2010-08-05T08:44:00.001-07:00

hey hey hey

2010-07-09T09:01:00.001-07:00

Hello. It's been quite a while since my last post so just to prove I'm still alive – and drawing – here's some pretty pictures. Enjoy

And relax...

2010-06-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Last week saw the the return of London's MCM event – two days of cosplay, comics, games and movie trailers. It's an exhausting event, especially if you've had to stay up til 2.45am to bind, print and pack your stuff, exhibit for 9 hours and repeat the next day. Having said that, I must add that it is a fantastic way to spend a weekend even tho it does start to feel like an endurance test by the second day.
There was a massive amount of people in attendence and to all those who did make their way to our table, I'd just like to say: Thanks : ) It's awesome to have your support! The highlight of these events is meeting all the wonderful people, fellow exhibitors and visitors alike. In fact, it is one of the very few places where you can see Predator having a friendly chat with Alien (I saw it, it was wrong).

I'll definately be there at the next MCM (end of October) and hopefully some of the other Capes & Drapers will be too. See you there!
x(that's my sister/assitant in these photos)

Sew, glue, trim, repeat...

2010-05-28T06:26:00.000-07:00

Alas! MCM is almost upon us and after many hours of yelling at my printer ('what are you doing? Don't do that!!! OBEY ME!!!!!!!' – yeh, we're not talking anymore), stabbing myself with a needle (accidently, mind) and spilling glue on myself I'm still trying desperately to finish binding everything!

Still I did manage to finish one of the new books, Ami+Kobi, last night and here's a sneak peak taken with my crappy camera phone (sorry).

See you at Expo!

Sneak peek!

2010-05-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Here's some concept art for my new book, Ami+Kobi, which will be launching at may's MCM Expo. I'm still in the midst of colouring the pages and, with a week to go, I'm getting just a little bit panicky...

Also, the awesome Dino-Saw-Us sticker collector game will be back for MCM. With all the stickers, comics and costumes, it all just sounds like too much fun. See you guys there!!!

(p.s. Make sure you book your tickets in advance or you could be facing a two hour wait at the gate!)

Have a nice weekend!!

2 weeks 'til MCM!! (Gulp!)

2010-05-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hello. Just a quick note to say that I will be representing the Capes and Drapes fraternity at the next MCM expo (29th-30th May). I'll be launching my secret new book at this event and hopefully a new print. Once again, I'll be sharing a stall with the inimitable Zarina Liew (Cobalt Cafe) in the Comic Village, where the small pressers get to sit with the big professionals, so come see us – we'll have sweets : )

Here's a few photos from the last event in October of some of the amazing visitors and their fabulous costumes. Plenty of heroes...

And plenty of villains...

Thing 2010 was how long ago?...

2010-04-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

Sorry, this is a little bit late... Thanks to all the lovely people who came to Thing 2010, said 'hello' and bought our stuff. Big hugs to all of you! Special thanks go to the Dino-Saw-Us guys, who came up with the awesome sticker passport game and made the day that much more exciting. All in all, it was a great day – there was some truly wonderful work there.

For those of you who didn't make it down (shame on you) or get the anthology, here's my peice in it's entirety.

And below is and A4 print created specially for the day which, rather suprisingly, sold out. My printer went crazy with one of them and and turned it out in green and yellow shades. Whoever has it, congratulations! There will never be another one like it! : )

Thing, passports and dinosaurs, oh my...

2010-03-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hello!!! Only 2-and-a-half weeks to go before the Web and Mini Comix Thing 2010 and, boy, it's going to be a good one! This year sees the launch of the Dino-Saw-Us sticker collector game where visitors can pick up a free passport booklet and go around to participating stalls (including our Capes and Drapes table) to collect free stickers. Go here for more details.

You will also be able to purchase the Thing Anthology, which is based on dinosaurs this year. Here's a sneaky peek at my entry...

Oooh, what's gonna happen?...

Thing 2010!!

2010-02-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

Our next outing as Capes and Drapes will be at the UK Web and Mini Comics Thing 2010 on 27th March at Queen Mary Uni, Mile End. Not as many zinesters as you would find at , say, the Alternative Press Fair, but you still get may of the circuit regulars. Entry is £4 on the door and £3 advance @ http://ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/.

Unfortunately, there won't be any new books from me but I will have the back catalogue on display along with some new badge designs (a mystery badge - Oooh! - and a new addition to the robot series) plus a new print. Watch this space for more news : )

Happy birthday Alternative Press Fair!!

2010-02-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

The Alternative press Fair is one year old this feburary and celebrates with another outing on Saturday 13th Feb @ St Aloysius Social Club in Euston. Go down and spoil yourself with edgy zines, fantastic small press comics and beautiful artwork. Fellow Capes and Daper, Saban Kazim, will be exhibiting his own unique work among artists such as Tempo lush and the supremely talented Zarina Liew (Cobalt Cafe). Entry is FREE so you have no excuse!

http://cobaltcafe.wordpress.com/
http://www.shabs.net/
http://www.tempolush.com/
http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/