I love the work of Carl Giles, simply known as “Giles”. He added topical visual fun to the Daily and Sunday Express from 1943 to ‘89-‘91. His annual collections were a regular Christmas present for my father. Though left leaning in politics he said he earned a good income from the right wing Express. As well as the contents of my weekly comic 2000ad, I also drew the scenes and characters in his strips.
– strolling along a rain drizzled Albert Cuypers Market I spied these ‘zines pinned up at a stall selling old publications. Michel Vallant stood out as something to post on the blog (sorry it’s taken so long!). The stories protagonist is a French racing car driver – however he looks to enjoy the adrenaline rush of two wheels too! It is still published (since 1950’s) and a distinguishing character trait of his is “dashing”.
This years biker gathering in the old meat packing district saw upper 80’s temperatures but a good crowd of folk out to listen to some rockabilly, look at some cool motorcycles and cars, drink some locally brewed ale, and chow of burgers. A good way to spend a summer Saturday afternoon in Chicago.
Whenever overly complicated and seemingly unnecessarily contrived machines are required then there in no one better call than from the drawing desk of cartoonist William Heath Robinson. His whimsical inventions were improbable, rickety machine barely kept going by incessant tinkering.
Listening to Richard Thompson’s most well known piece this image came to mind so I had to scribble it down.
A direct ripoff of the Six Million Dollar Man was introduced in 2000AD. A secret agent with computer brain implants strengthened by acupuncture. Wizard boffins in MI6! Here he chases a terrorist riding a Triumph Trident. Hmm, the belligerent is firing the Uzi with his throttle hand.
Steam Driven Car – aka Das Kleine Wunder — “the little marvel”. Not my work but of an I’ll that I a drawn to (excuse the pun!)
Glorious drawing by artist Colin Murdoch of this classic cafe racer borne from a Triumph pre-unit engine married to a Norton featherbed frame.
Street artist from the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago had a show on at the Elmhurst Art Museum. His street graffiti style depicts a youth with bird mask, a person who is able to find or escape to their freedom by placing them in a different reality. Here’s a canvas of him cruising on a low rider.
Most published illustrations are based on staged photographs. Norman Rockwell’s covers for The Saturday Evening Post we’re such examples. Here is a piece of work by one of his contemporaries Gil Elvgren, who was known for his pin-up girls as well as advertising illustrations for companies such as Brown & Bigelow. Many of his ladies ended up as nose art on WW2 bombers.
Between 1985 and 1995 cartoonist Bill Watterson created the wonderful duo of a mischievous six year boy and his imaginary feline companion. The newspaper strip was awaited for each day – especially when he was looking forward to his beanie hat. Here is someone’s reiteration of the pair haring down a hillside upon a motorcycle.
Beautiful drawing of a classic Triumph engine. Quite special.
– Nice artwork with an urban view of a ‘cyclist kicking his bike into life. Terraced housing descends into the distance.
Origami motorcycle – it reminds me of the paper folding instructions in the Rupert the Bear annuals I used to get every Christmas as a kid.
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