Happy Year of the Water Rabbit!
After meeting Hoover, the big male hippo at Whipsnade Zoo, personally last year, I decided I needed to branch out from drawing and painting hippos, and get on with making them in 3D, preferably with moving parts. The (very short) movie can be found on YouTube.
At last I’ve discovered the true purpose of Lego!
Tech note: I’m using a gazillion “dark bluish grey” bricks, and the Spots-not-on-top (SNOT! I kid you not) technique. The upper jaw is much too heavy to lift alone, so the lower jaw is weighted and acts as a counterbalance (they are operated via 2 meshed 16-tooth gears, one with a lift-arm for each jaw.) Even then, and geared down, the old 1980s Lego electric motor is having a difficult time. Note also the muck-spreader on the back!
Finally I can reveal the (main) reason for lack of recent posts… my new book is out!
Containing 108 hippos (and a hippo robot) in 36 pages, with 11 full colour illustrations and other surprises. Suitable for human beings.
£7 a copy plus p&p. Email me to order (see the “about” page for email address.)
Current rates for p&p for a single book (these may change):
UK — £4.20 (first class) £3.80 (second class)
US/Canada — £9.70 (5-7 days from posting date)
EU — £8.65 (3-4 days from posting date)
Winter greetings to all my readers, and non-readers too. Wishing you all a happy and healthy year ahead!
Happy Birthday mum for the 14th!
The weekend of 24-25 January 2015 is the date for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, so you’ll need to get ready to count!
RSPB were interested enough to publish today’s comic on their blog… so if you arrived here from there WELCOME. Please consider leaving a comment to say you’ve been here. Thinking about it, quite a few of comics from the past have been about birds, RSPB or wildlife in general.
Here’s a little doodle I made for a trumpet-playing-friend’s birthday card.
Again, I am deeply indebted to my adorable wife, Karen, for the idea of this comic. And I’m sure you will join me wishing her a very happy birthday today.
It was amazing, and somehow sad all at once.
I though about having the caption: “Hello Neighbour — nice comet you have here. Do you need a jump start?” Please suggest any other captions in the comments.
I’m posting this before I go to the party, because there’s a good chance I will either be made to walk the plank or else expire from overdose of delicious food.