Special Brew

I discovered that Carlsberg Special Brew, the drink commonly seen being purchased by absolute lunatics, was originally created to commemorate Winston Churchill visiting Denmark in 1950. Astounded by this absolute treat of a fact I decided to make this picture. Attempting to use the hue of the delightful gold and maroon used on the can of that fine quality lager itself. enjoy

Today I'm slating religion.

more britishness stuff. Found out that the archbishop is given the term "primate of all england" coming from the latin primus- meaning first. I personally just think your a fucking monkey if you listen to him. Now heres a good religion. Jedi. This is from everyone putting jedi on the census form in 2001. wise words yoda. wise words.

I have a new website!

visit my crude attempt at creating a website www.ashleyjohn.com it has various bits and bobs upon it and I will be adding more to it soon!

sketchbook work

I like nothing more than working in my sketchpad. Here are some recent creations. One is called "struggling artist cliche number one. draw swallows, drink coffee, smoke rollie" and the other is my attempt at illustrating a beautiful quote i did find about reading.......enjoy

More British creations

Two more images for my current British project, currently focusing upon the pastimes i often see people engaged in.......

Love Your Bike-Portsmouth

Here is my spoke card/poster design I have entered into the "Love Your Bike" competition. It is a local event in Portsmouth, held in a few weeks time at Southsea Skate Park. It is all about recycling-regenerating-customizing etc etc on your beloved two wheels! get down there and get involved.

for more information visit http://www.loveyourbikeportsmouth.co.uk/

anyways here is my lil old picture....

Listening to Clowns

For my continuing Britishness project I have illustrated the four political parties that are featured most heavily within the media. I have drawn Thatcher whispering to Cameron, the Tories portraying that they have new policies but clearly not. I have drawn Blair whispering to Brown, or looming over his shoulder, which has been the ball and chain of Browns career. I have drawn Nick Clegg listening to a clown. Finally I have drawn Nick Griffin being whispered to by Hitler, the ultimate clown. Also Nick Griffin has a snout because he is a fucking pig.
Listening to Clowns. Politics. Brilliant.
Hope you like them......

They don't make them like they used to.....

These are two of my personal favourite national treasures. Tommy Cooper and Fred Dibnah. They certainly don't make them like that anymore. Enough said......

Ziggy played guitar and Tony made Morph

Today I have attempted to draw David Bowie and the absolute leg-end that is Tony Hart. Messed up his face a bit mind......

Were all sorted out for E's and Whizz

British Hero. Cocker. My pen started to run out on this one, but will be on a few more tomorrow......

Our angriest young man. Weller

More from the British Hero series. Today its Weller. More coming soon.....

British Hero....... today its Fry and Floyd

Getting on with the final part of my project, am attempting to pinpoint what I feel best describes Britain as it is today. I'm creating different areas, some comical and others more serious, that ultimately give a brief guide to how I see our country. This week I'm creating British Hero's and have started off with Keith Floyd and Stephen Fry. There's more to come tomorrow, plus the section I've created on Biscuits........

redesigned Dazed cover.....

Entered this into a competition on dazed and confused website. You had to redesign one of ten covers from the past decade. Here's the original cover and my redesign, wish me luck.....

Final Educated Poster

This was another design, that has been selected by Little Johnny Russells to promote their indie night every thursday. (Educated Does, 8pm til 1am) it's up in the pub which is pretty sweet. Another mixed media and collage piece, check it out for real down Albert road. Hope you like.....

Poster Designs for "Educated Does"

Here are some poster designs I created for a local pub in Southsea, they hold an indie night called "Educated Does.....Indie" These three were initial ideas. Various mixed media and ephemera were used....

"Panic on the Streets..." and Sketchbook extract..

Here we go again, some of the pieces I have produced today. One is continuation from the previous, another is a quick sketchbook extract featuring a quote about my hometown which is class! It seems things haven't changed in about 200 years, I believe it's featured in the "Rolling with the 6.57 Crew" book. Anyways check em......

"Carbon footprint in Victoryland" and "Grandfathers ways are gone at last"

Here are another two images from my current project, still using the music sheets at the minute but I'm off to the antique shop again tomorrow. So hopefully I will have some larger scale work coming up shortly. Trying to get some commentary in with a bit of humour on the side. Anyways check it and hope you like....

"The Great Big World" and "From the shack where the Black-eyed Susans grow"

Two of todays pieces, tried to keep some form of uniformity between the previous one. Took two images of the kids before I began reading the song lyrics. I discovered that Black eyed Susan is referring to a specific family of flowers on a specific part of the lyrics.
There's more coming soon........

Merry New Year

Well the dissertation is finally complete, and the festivities are out of the way for another year! Anyway now my writing career is finished I will get back to painting again! I have a stack of collage work to put up over the next few days, so it will be a bit busier on here in the coming weeks, anyways here are a few I had ready......

cheers gastronauts!

another image from my sketchbook. little tribute to the legend that is keith floyd, glass of red anyone?

*please not for the dickhead who commented upon one of my other images, these are drawn by hand, so therefore are my own work. But funnily enough i may draw from a image used in other media. Therfore an image i use, is a as a reference point and is not claimed to be my own. The drawing i create from the referenced image is. round of applause for the anonymous man.