Ginger Nut Designs: May 2016

24 May 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY: FULL MOON

Is it my imagination, but are the full moons getting more and more orange each month? This photo was taken from my kitchen window in the early hours of this morning. I am really surprised that some of the moon craters are clearly visible.

18 May 2016

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE SHEPHERD'S BUSH SHOPLIFTERS

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Shepherd's Bush Shoplifters, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush.

TINTIN AND THE SHEPHERD'S BUSH SHOPLIFTERS © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE AWKWARD BUTLER

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Awkward Butler, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of a butler mounted on an elephant (this was taken during during the Elephant Parade London 2010) .

TINTIN AND THE AWKWARD BUTLER © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE BATTERSEA BIO-WARFARE PLOT

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Battersea Bio-Warfare Plot, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of Battersea Power Station.

TINTIN AND THE BATTERSEA BIO-WARFARE PLOT © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

17 May 2016

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE LADBROKE GROVE CRACK DEN

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Ladbroke Grove Crack Den, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of a group of policement taken at the Notting Hill Carnival.

TINTIN AND THE LADBROKE GROVE CRACK DEN © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE LOFTUS ROAD ESCAPE ACT

Mock Tintin book cover, with the Loftus Road Escape Act, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of a football match at Loftus Road (stadium of Queens Park Rangers). This was done some time in early 2012, when QPR were battling against relegation from the Premier League (and somehow managed to survive).

TINTIN AND THE LOFTUS ROAD ESCAPE ACT © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE MENACING YOUTH OF TODAY

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Menacing Youth of Today, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo featuring graffiti (with Photoshop filters added).

TINTIN AND THE MENACING YOUTH OF TODAY © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

16 May 2016

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE PREDATORY ALCOHOLIC PAEDOPHILE

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Predatory Alcoholic Paedophile, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo with a very sinister looking Captain Haddock lurking in the background.

TINTIN AND THE PREDATORY ALCOHOLIC PAEDOPHILE © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE SECRET SEAGULL SECT

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Secret Seagull Sect, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo of a seagull (with Photoshop filters applied). Everyone knows seagulls are evil, right?

TINTIN AND THE SECRET SEAGULL SECT © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

GRAPHIC DESIGN: TINTIN AND THE TILT-SHIFT CONSPIRACY

Mock Tintin book cover, with the title Tintin and the Tilt-Shift Conspiracy, created using Photoshop. The Tintin and Snowy figures were drawn using Illustrator and then superimposed onto a photo that has been tilt-shifted to death.

TINTIN AND THE TILT-SHIFT CONSPIRACY © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

SCREEN PRINTING: LES COUILLES DU CHIEN

Single layer screen print titled Les Couilles du Chien. This piece is based on the painting Nord Sud by Catalan artist Joan Miró. The hand-drawn stencil was printed using purple ink on cream-coloured A4 card. Other colour versions are available on Flickr.

LES COUILLES DU CHIEN © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

10 May 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY: END OF...

The football league season is finally over for Queens Park Rangers. Following relegation from the Premier League last season, not very much was expected from the team this year (which was just as well as they were abysmal for most of the campaign). Replacing the manager (for the umpteenth time in the past few years) and losing star striker Charlie Austin midway through the season didn't help matters much either, but they somehow managed to finish in 12th position.

This weekend, however, was a goodbye on a number of levels. A goodbye to a disappointing season, a goodbye to the current club crest (a cause for celebration if ever there were one), and, moreover, a goodbye to two of the most popular players at the club; Clint Hill and Alejandro Faurlín. Change is inevitable, but in the case of Faurlín it is especially sad as he has suffered three horrific and career-threatening injuries during his time at QPR. I would like to wish them both well for the future.

NEW QPR CREST UNVEILED.

A FOND FAREWELL TO FANS´ FAVOURITE, CLINT HILL

¡HASTA SIEMPRE, ALE! GRACIAS POR TODO

09 May 2016

MIXED MEDIA: BEANNACHTAÍ NA FÉILE PÁDRAIG

Single layer mixed media screen print titled "Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig" (Happy St Patrick's Day). The hand-drawn St Patrick's Day themed stencil was printed using white ink on light green green card, with additional colour added using promarkers. Other colour versions available on Flickr.

MIXED MEDIA SCREEN PRINT TITLED "BEANNACHTAÍ NA FÉILE PÁDRAIG" ©GINGER NUT DESIGNS

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

07 May 2016

MIXED MEDIA: RIDDARHOLMEN

Mixed media screen print depicting the architecture of Riddarholmen island in Stockholm. The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on white paper and colour added using watercolour pens. Extra detail and line work was done with fine nib black posca paint marker. Other versions available on Flickr.

MIXED MEDIA SCREEN PRINT OF RIDDARHOLMEN - ©GINGER NUT DESIGNS

VIEW OTHER VERSIONS

You can view other versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

06 May 2016

SCREEN PRINTING: BIRDS AND FLOWERS

Single layer screen print of a bird and flower pattern. Hand-drawn stencil printed using white ink on black A4 card. Other versions are available on Flickr.

BIRDS AND FLOWERS SCREEN PRINT: WHITE INK ON BLACK CARD

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

04 May 2016

SCREEN PRINTING: RIDDARFJÄRDEN

Single layer screen prints of the Riddarfjärden area of Stockholm. The hand-drawn stencil was printed using brown ink on different coloured card, with extra detail using white paint marker.

SCREEN PRINT TITLED RIDDARFJÄRDEN: DARK BROWN INK ON BROWN CARD, WITH EXTRA DETAIL USING WHITE PAINT MARKER.

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

SCREEN PRINTING: STUREPLAN

Single layer screen prints of Stureplan (Stockholm). The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on different coloured card, with extra detail using white, black and red posca paint markers.

SCREEN PRINT TITLED STUREPLAN: BEIGE INK ON BLACK CARD

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

SCREEN PRINTING: HESSENSTEIN PALACE

Single layer screen print of Hessenstein Palace on Riddarholmen island (Stockholm). The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on black card.

SCREEN PRINT TITLED HESSENSTEIN PALACE: BEIGE INK ON BLACK PAPER

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

SCREEN PRINTING: SÖDERMALM

Single layer screen prints of the houses in the Marieberget area of Södermalm (Stockholm). The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on light brown card, with additional detail included using black. Other colour versions available on Flickr.

SCREEN PRINT TITLED SÖDERMALM: BEIGE INK ON LIGHT BROWN PAPER, WITH MORE DETAIL ADDED USING BLACK PAINT MARKER

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

03 May 2016

SCREEN PRINTING: GAMLA STAN

Single layer screen prints of Prästgatan in Gamla Stan (Stockholm). The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on light brown, with additional detail included using black posca paint markers. Other colour versions available on Flickr.

GAMLA STAN SCREEN PRINT: BEIGE INK ON LIGHT BROWN CARD, WITH MORE DETAIL ADDED USING BLACK PAINT PEN

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

Brown and white ink on blue card
Brown ink on white card
Beige and white ink on dark brown card
Beige and white ink on dark brown card
Brown and white ink on red card
Beige ink on dark blue card

SCREEN PRINTING: RIDDARHOLMEN

Single layer screen prints depicting buildings on Riddarholmen island in Stockholm. The hand-drawn stencil was printed using beige ink on white card, with extra detail added using black posca paint markers. Other colour versions available on Flickr.

RIDDARHOLMEN SCREEN PRINT: BEIGE INK ON WHITE PAPER, WITH ADDITIONAL DETAIL ADDED USING BLACK PAINT PEN

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

SCREEN PRINTING: GANESHA

Single layer screen prints of the Hindu god Ganesha with Sanskrit and Devanagari script inscriptions. The hand-drawn stencil was printed using a blue, red and purple colour ink blend on white card. Other colour versions available on Flickr.

GANESHA SCREEN PRINT: BLUE, PURPLE AND RED INK COLOUR BLEND ON WHITE PAPER

SEE IN OTHER COLOURS

You can view other colour versions of this screen print on Flickr. See links below.

Pink ink on white card
White ink on black card
Pink ink on black card
White ink on brown card
White ink on brown textured pastel paper
Pink ink on brown textured pastel paper

02 May 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROMAN FORUM

The Roman Forum is pretty impressive, considering how old some of the structures are (The Temple of Saturn dates back to 497 BC, for example). Definitely one of the highlights of any visit to Rome.

TEMPLE OF VESPASIAN AND TITUS, ARCH OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, CURIA JULIA, TEMPLE OF SATURN

TEMPLE OF SATURN, COLUMN OF PHOCAS AND VIEW OF ROMAN FORUM UP TO THE PALATINE HILL

PHOTOGRAPHY: COLOSSEUM

The Colosseum is possibly the most famous and most iconic monument in Rome; and my favourite. For a building that is nearly 2,000 years old, it is in remarkably good condition. I have visited other Roman amphitheatres, such as the one in Mérida (Extremadura, Spain), but the size of the one in Rome is astounding.

COLOSSEUM

ARENA AND HYPOGEUM

INTERIOR SEATING

PHOTOGRAPHY: VATICAN CITY

No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican City... Even if it is only to take a walk around St Peter's Square. I am an atheist, so the place may as well be called Mumbojumboland as far as I am concerned. St Peter's Square is pretty, but I really do not like what it represents. Why any religion should consider itself so important that it needs to have a city of its own is quite literally beyond me.

To make things worse, imagine my horror when the pope appeared out of one of the windows and started to preach to the crowd. I didn't hang around for very long. That said, I did pop into Mondo Cattolico (the catholic version of Poundland) and bought a very amusing Popemobile / flashing glitter ball. As tacky and tasteless as the Catholic Church itself.

VIEW OF THE TIBER AND BASILICA DI SAN PIETRO SEEN FROM PONTE SANT'ANGELO

DOME OF THE BASILICA DI SAN PIETRO, VATICAN CITY

PIAZZA DI SAN PIETRO, VATICAN CITY

`POPE FRANCIS PREACHING

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROMAN SUNSET

I went to Rome for a few days in December last year...It's a beautiful, yet crazy, city that I will talk about more in future posts. But for now here are a couple of photos of the Roman sunset as seen from Trinità dei Monti. In the distance you can see the dome of the Basilica di San Pietro in the Vatican City.

SUNSET SEEN FROM TRINITÀ DEI MONTI, ROME. BASILICA DI SAN PIETRO IN THE DISTANCE

PHOTOGRAPHY: EASTBOURNE

While in Brighton the week before last, I decided to take a short detour to Eastbourne. I had not been there for many years and could not remember much about it. The town itself is a bit reminiscent of 80s communist Bucharest (maybe I am being a bit harsh there), but the seafront is another matter. The weather was also much better than in Brighton (the sun was actually shining), so I decided to walk along the coastal path to Beachy Head.

VIEW OF BEACHY HEAD TAKEN FROM THE COASTAL PATH

APPROACHING BEACHY HEAD ALONG THE COASTAL PATH. THE TIDE BREAKERS ARE A BIT EERIE

VIEW OF EASTBOURNE BEACH AND SEAFRONT FROM EASTBOURNE PIER

COASTAL PATH TOWARDS BEACHY HEAD. COULD EASILY BE SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

EASTBOURNE PIER. THE ENGLISH CHANNEL LOOKS ALMOST INVITING TO SWIM IN