MICK MINOGUE MADE THIS.

A day with Designgoat by Marko Keogh

2012-01-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was one of the most enjoyable I have had In a very long time. Bumping into old mates, painting, Reggie Watts and bitter walks home. My little brother from another mother came up for a visit, armed with his camera and taste for cheese toasties. We spent a lovely Saturday with good mates Designgoat down In a warehouse in the docklands which they are transforming into a new internet company hub. Mark captured the day perfectly and made a super little edit. This Is Marko's first edit and If this is what he can do on his first outing well ye other fuckers with cameras best watch this space. He Is jam packed with ideas and energy and looking for more good folk to turn his camera towards so If you are one of those creative folk and you would like Marko Keogh to make something look better than reality it self for you just email him at markokeogh@gmail.com. His Vimeo page Is HERE so best bookmark that as there will be plenty popping up In the coming weeks.

DesignGoat - Docklands Warehouse - Jan 21st from Marko Keogh on Vimeo.

The Real Human Being Plush Buddy

2012-01-24T00:57:00.000-08:00

Word of advise to anyone planning on making Drive inspired artwork If they are In a relationship. Don't. Don't even think it. There should be a help line set up for artists who have suffered rejection due to their Drive Inspired creations. After making the Real Human Being Operation Game for the FTLO Progress show In Dublin and actually getting past my girlfriend and out of the studio with my arms and the piece intact I believed I would never EVER create any Ryan Gosling themed artwork EVER again. That man brings nothing but pain and suffering to relationships, what a P*%$?!!! Then from out of nowhere that greed ridden holiday came rolling In like an obligated kick In the face and I was quickly running out of make a do time and more importantly get that person you share a life with present getting time! I seriously could not think of one thing to get or make Anne. I thought day In a day out for like a whole day, 'what does Anne really love right now In life'? It was then that my own brain made me feel like I had walked In on an "affairly" large amount of adultery. My idea felt so wrong but yet so right. I knew that at least 96.2% of the entire female population of the world were hoping for one thing that Christmas and I was going to give that very thing to my own female - not the real human being version of course but the one made of fabric thats stuffed with the contents of one of my Ma's pillows. Yes, I did it. Am I ashamed? No. Am I filled with regret and self loathing. Yes. Why? I'll tell you why, because that P$!(% now lives with us, yet again not the real one but the smaller more cuddly plush one. He watches me from the couch foolishly dropping a whole loo roll into the toilet with his tiny close together eyes. He Is there when I burn toast In the morning making me feel like a very unaccomplished man. He Is there when I clumsily kick a football back to a group of very experienced football kicking children. He Is there when I am trying to balance on one leg with a towel around me undignifingly trying to get some shit looking underpants on or off depending on the beach like situation. He Is always there reminding me that I make art for a living and I am not a dark mysterious man with a great taste In jackets who kicks men to death In elevators and for that reason I made him with no dick. The END!

Painting for Designgoat

2012-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

I spent a lovely Saturday In an awesome warehouse off the docks with some fine artists listening to some fine tunes and having a fine paint. Invited by the the design worlds most celebrated mustache wearing duo Designgoat to come down and paint a board with fellow artists Fatti Burke, Shane Kenna, James Kirwan & Peter O'Gara. Designgoat who are made up of half man and half goat transformed a once Batman gangster type warehouse Into an fresh new working space for internet companies. I was hugely impressed by the work In progress, Its clear that ideas are recipes to this creative and immaginative team of two. They use solid materials like wood, steel and even more wood like baker dough and turn empty spaces into delish lookin cakes! Just to clarify they are not bakers and don't do cakes but they do create and I cant wait until they get their hands on the rest of Dublin.
For more on what these two modern gentlemen can do with their time and yours click HERE and say goat 5 times in the mirror to receive a free commission.

Where The Wild Things Are Mural

2012-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

I was asked by friends of mine If I would paint a welcome sign of sorts for the arrival of their new baby to the world. There was no time to spare as Sarah Is about to pop with only a week and a bit to go I think! Very exciting!
Knowing Johnny, Sarah and her reallllllly strange brother Andy I can only imagine how cool the little dude will be and he will surely be the king of the castle so what better way to pay tribute than a Where The Wild Things Are on his bedroom wall. All the characters are lined up to say hello and little Max Is being lowered Into his cot passing the crown over to the new king! Here are some pics of the mess I made shot on a very old dodgy camera, you know your living In the future when your phone is better than the camera you own! Gulp!

Hawpy New Year!!!

2012-01-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Wow can't believe It's the last year of the existence of Earth already. It's gonna be a pretty bad ass year. I think John Cusack should run for president this year since he saves the day when It all goes to shit In December right?

Today Is my first day back In the studio after a lovely break over the Christmas. With an already jam packed list of things to make a do there will be loads of things to see, all a big waste of time since were all doomed in 11 and a bit months anyway. But over the next few months there will be a new website up, cool new big jobs and shows happening and loads of brand new work up. So keep posted!

For now I give you two sketches of my good friend Dan now living In Canada and painting badassness like no other. So start your year a fresh and check out his work HERE.

End to a Good Day!

2011-12-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Dublin Flea Market, see ya next year.

Dublin Flea Market Tomorrow

2011-12-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

Prints, old art pieces, trinkets, books, DVDS and all things nice all for you. Dublin Flea Market in New Market Sq - Morning till Evening~ See you there ?

Prints now for sale.

2011-12-13T05:19:00.000-08:00

Lonely Plantet

The Rubber Bandits and the Tail of the Cider Horse

Daft Punk Do Christmas

A Daft Punk Getaway

All Prints

A2 & A3 Print

On White, Gold, Silver and Guinness Paper.

Limited Edition to 5 of each.

€25 A3

€30 A2

2 A3 for €40

2 A2 for €50

Please send all orders, name and details to 3buttons@gmail.com Will post but have missed international post for Christmas.

Daft Punk Prints for Sale

2011-12-08T06:21:00.001-08:00

Have two limited edition prints for sale this Christmas.
The Daft Punk Getaway & Daft Punk do Christmas.

Will be selling the first small batch of the limited prints this weekend at the Dublin Flea Market & Block T Christmas Cracker. The gigantic market will be on this Saturday & Sunday down In Smithfield In Dublin. The gentleman Illustrator Mr Steve McCarthy and myself are allowed to have our very own stall where we will be selling two studios worth of work. A huge clear out of artwork, bits n bobs, trinkets and damn cool stuff.
For more click HERE. Hope to see you there, oh big party after In the Generator In Smithfield on the Saturday night.

Edward Crane's The Havishams - The Hive of Nightmares IN SHOPS NOW

2011-12-08T02:21:00.001-08:00

If your looking for a book this Christmas look no further than Edward Crane's The Havisham's -The Hive of Nightmares. This is the debut novel & first installment of a trilogy from author Edward Crane. But who is Edward Crane? For ages I thought Edward Crane was my mate Murt but I was talking to Murt last week and I asked him but he said he unless the main character In the book was Jason Statham that he couldn't possibly have written it. So the mystery deepens. When reading The Havisham's for the first time It's instantly evident that this Is going to be a very important book. I couldn't help but think on every turn of the page that I couldn't wait to see this on the big screen. This breeds a new genre of writing that out spells any wizard and the intense character developments will bite back any vampire. The story alone Is set In an almost steam punk reality and has all the trimmings for a modern novel. The mix of hauntingly old and new Is done delicately well and the characters like the main character Robbie are engaging and keep the reader guessing till the very end. Thank flip It's a trilogy because Its the kind of novel that you just want more of. It holds the darkness of the classic Batman animated series, with that styled crisp edge and then also has the humour and action of The Real Ghostbusters which have to be inspirations of the author. Mix this with the creepy lamp lit eeriness of a Dixens novel and your on your way to what will surely be one of the most talked about books of 2012.
This is exactly what you need at the fire this Christmas for sure. If you wanna grab a copy online you can find It on Amazon right HERE. The Havisham's - The Hive Of Nightmares Is also available from the folowing bookstores In both Dublin and Kilkenny -

Alan Hannah's Rathmines, Dublin.
The Winding Stair, Ormond Quay, Dublin.
Dubray Books, Rathmines, Dublin.
The Book Centre, Waterford.
Dubray Books, Market Cross, Klkenny.
Easons, Mcdonagh Junction, Kilkenny.
The Book Centre, Kilkenny.
Stone House Books, Kieran Street, Kilkenny.
Khans Book Shop, Kilkenny.

Thanks Ebow

2011-12-08T02:05:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the good folk at Ebow for the kinds words In a really nice article they wrote about the work I have In the FTLO show at the moment. You can read the article HERE.
I have been popping In and out of the gallery slowly painting a huge sperm whale over the past few weeks. The installation Is all apart of the For The Love Of Show based on the theme of progress.
The final stage of the whale will be done next week and I have asked some of my creative mates In to add a few nautical tattoos to this old celling beast. So be sure to pop In during next week If your about.

The Real Human Being Operation Game Is ALIVE!!!

2011-11-29T09:14:00.001-08:00

Thanks to my super mate Albert Hooi for putting this vid together. The tension Is fierce! Also a huge thank you to Mr Cian Corcoran who helped me make this game work. He Is a soldering ninja and a true gent, that man knows LEDs like they are his own eyes! Thanks guys!

Also thanks to all who have liked this and have been sharing around the Splinternet I really appreciate that. The piece Is still on show In Gallery Number 1 on Castle St In Dublin as part of the For The Love Of Show, so pop on down and give your support to the guys who have put on a lovely show. AHOY!

Mick Minogue - The Real Human Being Operation Game from Albert Hooi on Vimeo.

HE DRIVES,part time.

The Real Human Being Operation Game

2011-11-26T11:14:00.001-08:00

Here's my new piece I made for the For The Love Of Progress show. All the artists involved were given a brief having to make a piece based on the theme of Progress. After seeing the movie DRIVE It reminded me of the time when I saw the Turtles movie for the first time. As a way too easily influenced kid I walked out of that cinema thinking I was Donatello and started kicking air and punching invisible Foot Soldiers. I have been the same ever since. So when I came out of the cinema after seeing Drive, and this feeling Is mutual with many of my male friends who own a car and went to see this movie, well I held no regard for the law. For that short drive home with my girlfriend I played pretend Drive In my head, like I did with the Turtles as a child, and I broke the law by doing so driving like a maniac and been a total nerd whilst doing so. All I was missing was a tooth pick for my girlfriend to get out of the car and say "I'm walking, your way too embarrassing". But at the time It felt right, It felt good and to this day I don't regret what I did. So much so I decided to make some Drive art.

What reflects the theme of Progress more than a Revenge movie and the game Operation? All within a 5 minute window. Now thats progress...I think?

The rules are a little different In The Real Human Being Operation Game. You have a 5 minute window - Turning the watch on the steering to 5 min, It then ticks and counts down. In that time you have to carefully remove all the relics of the Drivers past from his body. Each symbol represents a scene In the film and each has a difficulty rating. If you touch the sides whilst trying to remove the piece the scorpions tail lights up and instead of a buzzer a car engine rev sounds.

You have to remove the iconic hammer, his car key, a shot gun shell from the motel, the bullet given as a threat, face fragments from his boot, the money In the bag, his male merit badge tooth pick, the faithful knife from his stomach and his all important heart.

These photos were kindly taking by my good mate and the super talented Albert Hooi the gentleman film maker and If you hang about this blog you will see a little advert we are making for the game so you can see it in action. Should be up In a few short days!

Thanks to Slashfilm.com for adding It to their page today! Ye are real human beings and real heros.

GOT WORMS?

2011-11-23T17:08:00.001-08:00

When Gearoid and Andrew the two human ingredients that make up the architectural design super group abgc asked me to collaborate with them on a piece for the For The Love Of Progress show I thought of a few things In bullet point formation.

I was experiencing the same feeling that nerdy guy felt when he was told he was gonna be running around with Bruce Willis In Die Hard 4.
They were taken by my post pubescent beard and agreed that It was about a level D. A little above cabinet maker and just below Lumberjack. A safe bet to work with using spinning saw blades.
They were drunk?
They had seen my recent work and realised that being a bit shit was "The Shit".
Hunger. They asked just right before lunch.
Annoyance. They called just as the sandwich was about to enter my mouth.
Relieved. That they hadn't called the wrong number.
Yes.

Gearoid or as he is known In the art world 'gc' which stands for Gusto Caterer had a pre meditated idea which he wanted to lay on the table. A wormery. I looked at Andrew or as he Is known In the alphabetical clubs around Europe 'ab' which stands for Abandoned Brassiere. I looked at him looking for that look that your mother gives you at the gate on your first day at school, " It's alright love, go on ill be here when you get out." I was about to step into the mind of a guy who just called me fella. This man just gave me coffee and had the idea flat packed and ready to go, I was In the company of a human IKEA.
A wormery. Something that both gentlemen were keen supporters of and were keen to investigate the design and functionality of. I was too, It wasn't like I was In it just too see loads of worms and draw all over something skillfully made by two well respected architects.......I swear...honestly.

The process was broken up over 3 weeks and what craic was had over these days. Being allowed work In a big workshop without being accompanied by an adult was one of my highlights as well as being shown boobs on the 3rd page of a newspaper whilst eating a sandwich. Good times.

Each day was experimental and all about finding solutions to our little design problems. Taking a working design that has no flaws, breaking it and putting it back together in the shape of a mahogany cat beaver.

Looking at the finished piece you can see abgc's ultra fine craftsmanship. The neat dove tailing of joints and the flush fit of each stack. Don't be unhinged by the head resting on the shoulders of this skilled work, they did not head to Fallons for a few then return to the job, for this ridiculously intricate tree house style artistry Is the work of yours truly. The worms would have felt like they were In the Ritz as they worked their way up and then all of a sudden someone evicted them and threw them into Jurys Hotel, the abondoned one In Waterford.

Our intention was to produce a wormey as this was all about Progress and fitted with the theme of the show. We intended on making 3 but time was being a selfish bastard keeping all the hours to itself so we made just the one but the others are on the way. The Cat Beaver Wormery which Is on show here was made for children. To put a bit of fun into recycling. It could be In a school, creche, small back yard In Dublin 7 or an art gallery. Customized and made to fit. If you or anyone you know Is interested In seeing The Cat Beaver just visit Gallery Number 1 across from Christ Church In Dublin. It will be there till Christmas. If you or anyone you know would be interested In having a custom built wormery don't hesitate to contact the abgc lads or myself. Think of all that waste after Christmas dinner, thats a Cat Beavers favourite meal. Don't let the Cat Beavers go hungry this Christmas.

A little Nosveratu detail

2011-11-18T17:40:00.001-08:00

Sneak Peek At The Real Human Being Operation Game

2011-11-17T08:45:00.001-08:00

Just a sneaky peek at a few parts of my piece for the For The Love Of Progress show tonight. Any guesses to what It may be??? Please don't say shit! Will be posting up pics after the show.

Champaign for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends!

2011-11-17T01:51:00.001-08:00

Good Luck to Chris Judge and Mr Steve McCarthy who are both up for the best Childrens Book Award at The Irish Book Awards tonight. Two fine Illustrators battle to the death In a Mortal Kombat styled evening whilst wearing tuxes and sippin on champaign. We wish you both the very best. I can't wait for the part when they combine like limbs of a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger robot and take down Oliver Jeffers even before he gets to the RDS. An artistic ambush on the M1. BooYAH!!!!

Versus Steve McCarthy In the RHA for LeCool

2011-11-17T01:40:00.001-08:00

Found this In my phone last night! Good times! A fun VERUS collaboration with Mr Steve McCarthy at LeCool's party In the RHA a few weeks back.Thanks Layni for sending on the other pic, If anyone else out there has anymore from the night of the mural could you please send them onto me @ 3buttons@gmail.com! Thanky!

All work and LOADS of play!

2011-11-16T12:26:00.001-08:00

So after 3 weeks of late nights In the studio and working into the late hours with the abgc boys the time has come to reward ourselves with some fun times. So If your about tomorrow night ( yes Thursday not Wednesday as I mixed up terribly yesterday - sorry aisling -) come and party with us and see what we got up to with our intense make & do time. The collaborated piece I did with abgc and my own piece will be on display for the opening of the For The Love Of Progress show TOMORROW night at Gallery Number 1. Its located across from Christchurch just around the corner from the top of Dame St.
Opens at 7 and there will be tunes from the excellent Bantum and loads of craic to be had. So come along and we'll grab a pint after and sit by the fire n wind down.

FOR THE LOVE OF 'PROGRESS' Opens Tomorrow Night

2011-11-15T05:42:00.001-08:00

For The Love Of Is back In the gallery setting once again and this time around the theme Is Progress. A huge number of artists submitted to the show and choosing the work for such an intimate space would be one heck of a job but I can't wait to see what the FTLO gentlemen will do with it.

I am delighted to be apart of the show and I have been busy working on new pieces over the past month or so. I was asked by the duo idea machine that Is abgc to collaborate with them on a piece for the show which was a massive amount of craic and really motivating. Just working with the lads, sippin on a cuppa cha and working out different solutions to a design problem was exactly what I needed, the lat nights in the workshop covered In confusion were worth it. My new favourite saw of the week Is a table saw, sorry scroll saw you've been demoted, back to Lidl with ya.
So the abgc & me collaboration will be on display as part of the FTLO Progress show from tomorrow night.

I also have a solo piece In the show which I am flippin excited to put on display. I have been working on it so long now I have grown a serious attachment to it but I think It's time I let It go. It's an interactive piece and the last details are being added today so It will be wrapped tonight and ready to be delivered In the morning. WOOOO!!!!
So If your going to see the Antlers tomorrow night maybe pop In beforehand or If your goin to a childrens book awards get drunk and eat chips looking In the window after it. Either way If your In Dublin make your way to Gallery Num. 1 - across from Christchurch right on the corner beside Burdocks Chipper....awww art and chips! Yeah ya would!
The show opens tomorrow night at 7pm and there will be beverages for the early birds. Hope to see you all there.

My closest attempt at making It with Disney.

2011-11-11T12:29:00.001-08:00

This just popped out one late night sitting at my desk. I don't know how or why but now It's Its out In the open I feel much better about myself.

Halloweening!

2011-11-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

A Happy Halloween had by all!

Boo the victimised rocker!

Alfies costume & him inside puppeteering It.

Meet the AMAZING Toni Martin

2011-10-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

About a month or so ago I came across this amazing pixel artist as I was procrastinating online. His name Is Toni Martin. I never met Toni or had any idea who he was and It wasn't until I was emailing him I realised he lives and works In Barcelona. I was In awe of his work as I love pixel art and anything that resembles 8 bit graphics from back In the day. It just holds such and incredible amount of personality. So I mailed Toni and asked would he be interested In taking on a commission. To make something, anything really, for my girlfriends birthday. He was so into it and just a down right legend of a guy. Happy to take it on I sent him some pics of Anne and told him she absolutely loves Fantastic Mr Fox. Toni hadn't even seen the movie so he watched and created the most amazing little Gif which you can see above. ( click on it to watch them dance) He captured one of Annes favourite scenes In the movie so well. Not only did Toni send this he also included a Happy Birthday version and this brilliant static image which he Included me In which Is now framed and on our wall. WHAT A LEGEND!!!

I will be posting up more of Toni's work In the future and over the past few weeks we have been working on some up and coming projects so stay tuned. I have no idea what the Toni looks like but since I have gotten to know him I am starting to think that he may actually be made out of pixels. This is his passport photo. Click him to see more of his work.

Kev and Red do Toronto

2011-10-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

When Kev and Red left for Canada I gave them an old Instamatic camera which I pimped up with a new case including, within a hidden pocket, two little finger puppets of the absent couple. Since I can't understand reality with the use of finger puppets, Kev sends back photos of their time together discovering new places and seeing new sights. Aw shucks! Thanks Kev & Red!

The Handsome Little Fox Picnic Night

2011-10-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

For all those who didn't make The Handsome Little Fox Picnic Night In South Studios here are a few snapshots of what was a really amazing night. There was a great turnout and a load of cash money raised for the Bee for Battens charity. The Handsome Little Fox Is a fantastic little creation from the cosy mind of my girlfriend Anne and she has loads more amazingly special little events lined up for the near future so keep posted here or HERE. Its all about the homemade and handmade so be sure to follow the blog so you don't miss out.

Absolut You - and us and everybody else In Cork and Limerick

2011-09-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

We are away on a little tour this weekend. Starting down In Cork, I will be joining Mr Steve McCarthy, Chris Judge and Mark Wickham for a series of Absolut You events. We teaming up with the gentlemen of Synth Eastwood and making everyone feel very special indeed, well the Synth Eastwood lads will be more we will just draw a really unflattering portrait of you. Over the next 3 nights we will most likely have drawn 10,000 portraits whilst under the control of a vodka type substance.

Absolut Creative Edge - Sweeneys Vid by Albert of the Hooi's

2011-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

CLICK THIS HERE - LINK- TO SEE ALL THE ACTION THE NIGHT WE WENT DRAWING IN SWEENEYS AS PART OF THE ABSOLUT CREATIVE EDGE! THANKS TO THE VERY KNACKERED VIDEO MAKING MACHINE MR ALBERT HOOI FOR FILMING EVERY NIGHT AND PUTTING OUT A VID THE NEXT DAY.

MY OIL & GAS - Ireland and Norway

2011-09-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Absolut Creative Edge

2011-09-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Over the past 10 days there has been loads going on with Absolut and artists all around Dublin. The Small Print rounded up a pose of illustrators and creatives from all over the place and put them into groups of 3. Each group would hit a Dublin bar or club over 10 nights and have a draw whilst sipping on some vodka. The Siamese minds of abgc came on board to create the amazing crazy cadaver structures that the artists were gonna operate on each night. It was great fun and I'm hugely grateful to have been involved thanks to Rich and Bren and all Involved. Unfortunately I could only commit to doing One Creative Edge night as I am also involved with Chris Judge, Mark Wickham and Mr Steve Mccarthy In another Absolut project that will be running from now over the next few months so If you see really brilliant bad portraits of people In a bar or club that Absolut are running a night In we will most likely be In the corner making beautiful people look terrible.
Here are a few pics from the night I was drawing In Sweeney's with James Kirwan and Ale Mercado. Really great night and hope to have more again! The link to more pic Is THIS HERE LINK! Albert Hooi has a vid of the night on the way which I will post up as soon as.

Mr Fox String Pull Toy.

2011-09-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

This here I an old fashioned String Pull Toy Fantastic Mr Fox which I made for my girlfriends birthday. The biggest surprise for her though was that I was manly enough to use grown up tools like a scroll saw, jigsaw and most of the electric saw family all by my self.

What I have been ATAT lately.

2011-09-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Empire Strikes Back ATAT - Made from MDF, Canvas Stretchers, the legs of my mothers laundry basket and found nails, screws and hinges and a whole load of nerdiness.

Happy Birthday to my Brother Dave.

Donal Dineen to close the summer doors.

2011-09-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

The summer lights will be officially turned off this Saturday night by softly spoken music megaphone Mr Donal Dineen. He will be taking up residence In the antique setting of the old 1582 tavern The Hole In the Wall. This intimate venue will have a limited number a foot holes and perches so make sure to get down early to claim decent spot. Donal will be doing what he does best mixing a paramount DJ set with live visuals throughout the night In what should be an amazing setting.
For more Info on this gig click right HERE and try not to miss it.

ABSOLUT CREATIVE EDGE

2011-09-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACTUAL PHONE CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE THIS MORNING:

Who's up for drinking Vodka and watching artists playing drawing games with each other?
What?
Why not?
Your busy?
Really?
Your on the dole.
So?
So you stay In all day and make shit and drink by night this Is perfect for you.
Your broke?
But you collected your dole today, its collect your dole day.
You only have half left? Already?
Oh you borrowed someone else's dole n owe them some second hand dole.
So you coming to this?, Its pretty cool, your all about pretty and cool right?
WHAT? You can't make it?
You have to wash your hair......seriously....you actually used that excuse with a sincere voice of reason.
It's on for like 10 nights...I'm sure you could make a few If not one at least?
You have a lot of hair!
Whats It all about?
3 artists on the night make exquisite corpses on big Toblerone bars In front of people having a laugh and enjoying delish drinks.
Yeah Exquisite Corpse. Remember we played It In school, you fold a sheet of paper in 3 and someone draws the head, someone else then draws the torso n legs and you open it all out to reveal how mad looking it is and how your mate is clearly better at art than you....remember?
Is there free Toblerones?
No! Why?
No the wooden structures the artists are drawing on kinda look like Toblerones.
What the fuck I said there are no Toblerones.
So now your definitely NOT going?
Really?
What's the name of the event?
Absolut Creative Edge.
Yeah as In the Vodka.
See ya there so?
Yeah It's on tonight, tomorrow nigh......hello...hello....???
BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep........

For anyone else interested In coming along to see myself and a whole bunch of sound sexy legend artists make some fun artwork live on the spot whilst holding a cold vodka click HERE for more info.

If you would like a visual aid to help convince your wayward mind of what a good night is all about click on this HERE LINK!

The Handsome Little Fox Picnic Night

2011-09-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

Imagine this. Its a Saturday night and your still on the buzz from an amazing Electric Picnic, so is your pocket and well your kind of suppose to be saving and In a back to school mantra. What to do? What would be amazing would be If you could have a picnic with all your mates somewhere. But weather In Dublin Is a kick In the hoots and well picnics are for bears anyways. I think a late night picnic up In the big laundry room of South Studios with loads of people chilling out and sharing some homemade treats now that would be amazing.

So lets say on Saturday the 24th of September, yep this month, that you pack up a picnic basket with your friends. Get some wine of some cold ones from the fridge. Don't forget your bottle opener. Bring a big picnic rug or mat. Get dressed In your most handsome fox attire and stroll down to South Studios where you will hand In some cash for a ticket which will go to the Bee for Battens charity and help children with wild and rare diseases. You can spend the night sharing homemade treats, meeting lovely folk and enjoying a selection of amazing live music from loads of very special performers In a beautiful transformed setting that will blow your mind away.. Imagine that! I think that sounds fuckin deadly!

Now Is the time to pick up a sweet as picnic basket. Loads to choose from right HERE.

For more info click right HERE. If your sold already and want to be the first to pick up a ticket then click HERE to get one online cheaper than on the door. To see where your money Is going and for what cause click HERE. To follow more on this event and see what new bits n bobs are added keep a close eye HERE on the Handsom Little Fox Blog.

A very Crafty Electric Picnic!

2011-09-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

Mr Steve Mccarthy & myself were Invited by the National Craft Gallery to come and perform some tunes and display some work at the Craftitecture Pavilion at this years Electric Picnic. We decided to combine both so we constructed big paper mache costumes and became DJ's for 3 nights of the festival. You haven't lived until you have seen pretend DJ's dressed as a creepy Deep Sea Diver and a mutated Lobster armed fisher man.

We had a 'whale' of a time and are pretty sure gave people the bends with our set of tunes. The setting was beautiful and yet again a really amazing and brave decision by the National Craft Gallery to involve artists like ourselves and give us the freedom of expression, we are so grateful for that. To those of you who stopped by and had a dance with us, thank you and to those of you who didn't make it, lousy, you missed a 3 year old girl beat down her Da with a giant lobster claw to the soundtrack of Caspa & Rusko's Mr Chips! Intense and fanbloodytastic! It was an amazing weekend, one of the best Picnics so far I think. To those who were at Pulp you know exactly what i mean. Hopefully we will be back again next year with more elaborate costumes and bring more fun times.Here are a selection of pics from the mad hectic week before and during the festival and remember lie cheat and steal to make art and always Stay crafty!

Alberts ArtKlash!

2011-08-24T07:34:00.001-07:00

This here is a really great video filmed and put together by the talent that is Mr Albert Hooi. He captured the essence of the night and didn't miss a beat.

You can check out his Video right HERE

Margie plays the strings of the Kilkenny Arts Festival - ( should just rename it Margie Fest 2011)

2011-08-02T02:25:00.000-07:00

FOR ALL YOUR DETAILS NEEDS DON'T BE SHY AND CLICK HERE or HERE or HERE.

Absolute Artclash

2011-07-25T03:24:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Absolute presented Artclash In the Roisin Dubh. It was a fine Secret Wars type battle, we were up against the gentlemen from Glasgow and all In all It was one hell of a night. Ya know your having a good night when De La Soul tell your mate they loved the drawing. Awwwwwmazing craic was had! Here is a nice little vid put together by to lads we met who have set up a new site, Galway.com. Really nice guys and they seem to have It down with the content for there site finding all the happenings about Galway.

Last Minutes with Oden by Eliot Rausch

2011-07-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Still consoling an emotional hangover from the past few days, I was given this last night to watch. If I was a ship being battered by a storm fed sea this was the tidal wave that took me and my crew to the bottom of the ocean. I went home after and slept on my dogs sleeping belly thinking about then, now and what's to come next.

Peggle Artwork looking for your bid!

2011-07-12T04:16:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for this Peggle Bjorn archive from Dublin-based artist Mick Minogue, came from the unhealthy amount of mystery and conspiracy documentaries he has been watching recently while working late in his studio. Peggle reminds him of the Las Vegas of games that you can easily get addicted to and loose hours of your life to without you knowing it or remembering what happened kind of like an Alien abduction. With that in mind, he showed the side of Peggle when all the lights are gone out. He imagined PopCap as being a government of games and that they have all their characters locked away in secret Archives. This Is Bjorn, centuries old and holding the last orange peg in his mouth. He made it in the illustrative style he works in a lot, layering his illustration giving it dept in a childish popup book way. Dimensions – 9" H x 5" W x 3.5" D.

Dublin-based artist Mick Minogue likes making art. When Mick was a child he liked art so much he drew all over the walls of his house and when he was grounded for doing so he drew all over his bedroom wall as a way of saying sorry to his mum. This behaviour continued throughout his life, in school he would answer exam questions with drawings which proved very unpopular with his grades. The same would happen in college but thankfully Mick went to Art College where he studied to become an art teacher. The vicious circle started all over again so today Mick has a successful and happy life living and working as a freelance artist.

To see the online bidding and to make your bid on this one of a kind Pop Cap artwork please click HERE!!!

Irish Good Times!

2011-07-12T04:06:00.000-07:00

Really nice to see my Pop Cap - Plants Vs.Zombies work In the Irish Times at the weekend. Thanks to Joe Griffin for such a nice write up. My Ma only pointed out that I have a cousin called Joe Griffin, which Is true, I do. I love those little glitches In the Matrix.

Yesterday I was 27 for the last time.

2011-06-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

Yippee ki yay!!!!!

2011-06-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

This week I'll be mostly making ......

The GREATEST VIDEO EVER MADE- FOREVER EVER.

2011-06-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

I thought that was, emotional, heartbreaking, intense, thrilling, tacky, disgusting and down and out shameful but what else do you expect from me?

'IT'S A TRAP' - Says the old Admiral.

2011-06-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

I remember It well, been a pale ill little child thing sitting In front of a big old tele by the fire and watching Return Of the Jedi for the first time on VHS. My brother recalling how awesome It was on a cinema screen and because I was so wee that tele was pretty close so I hadn't a care In the world, apart from fearing that Lando Calrissian was a shit pilot and was gonna drive the Millennium Falcon into the side of the Death Star....my dinner would go cold on it;s plate, sitting there I was glued with anticipation to the screen. Fuck Luke and his Daddy issues I was freaking over that mother fuckin dog fight In space. That shit was insane, the pace alone gave me a freakin asthma attack. The shit really hit the shit storm when that Fish Head guy turned In his chair n mumbled 'It's A Trap!'. Aw what the fuck? No way. Game Over! I was done. At this stage I had found refuge behind, under and over the couch and I am pretty damn sure I uttered my first 'cus' word right about then. Awww I would love to get that feeling again from watching anything and the buzz of cussin for the first time. Man I would wait all week for my Ma to head to town with the promise she would bring a video home, a video. The nail biting wait of having to rewind the thing back. Aw nothing like it! So In a sense this little doll here Is all about that one little evening lost In the forgetfulness of time and space. With every stitch I was able to think back and conjure up old memories. Peaceful and sad all at the same time that there will never be a time like that again and I may never have a step haircut either.

As I said In an old post, this was a bit of a practice doll. Trying new stitches and techniques and working on styles and all that boring nonsense. I like him though, he looks sound, like we could go for a pint down in the local. His big teary eyes, overwhelmed by the victory of defeating the Empire. His funky apron type uniform which for some reason was a bit of a bitch to get right. His utility belt which I'm all about and hsi little Storm Trooper and Empire Officer figures In his hands, my old micro machine toys, and well just the whole silly childish toyness of him. Admiral Ackbar was always that background character I just digged, I dunno why and I felt compelled to make my own.

If anyone has any suggestions as to who I should make next please leave a comment below or send me a mail, the more nostalgic the better. I really REALLY wanna get started on a John Mclane one so encouragement Is well needed to get my ass In gear.

GET YOUR BID ON!!

2011-06-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

IF you would like to own some original Plants Vs, Zombies artwork made by some guy named Mick Minogue (what a fake name) well now Is your chance to do so and not give him a penny. Instead all your cash will go to charity and not some corporate bulllshit charity where the children never see a penny of it, and are given shit third hand clothes from some skip of pretend sympathy but a real working charity. You can Click HERE and bid on the live Ebay Auction for the ' Final Wave'. My artist reaction to beating my addiction to the game, my studio became my rehab and my pens and card became my pills. After you bid and want to see If your gonna get your moneys worth you can see the art work in the flesh In the Temple Bar Film Base In Dublin City. This is for a good cause and I wouldn't ask YOU yes YOU the reader but before you head off back to work or stop procrastinating, could you copy and past this page and throw It up on your Facebook or Blog or somewhere for folk to see and hopefully do the same. Thank you so much If you do, that Is awesome. Will be more popping up about the Auction over the next few days so stay tuned.....

POP CAP AUCTION

2011-06-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

A word of advice to any games companies who hire freelance artists to do work for them. DO NOT GIVE THE ARTISTS YOUR GAMES AS A FORM OF INSPIRATION. When Pop Cap Games came to me and asked If I would get Involved In making two art pieces I was only delighted. Even more so when I visited their office to find that It was like a childhood dream, they actually work In what can only be described as Tom Hanks Bed room In the film 'Big' when he moves to the big city. The only thing they were missing was some awesome bunk beds bed It was pretty damn close. Respect to the whole team at Pop Cap for getting anything done at all, they gave me two of their games, the two I would end up making two art pieces based around. Peggle and Plants Vs. Zombies. What s silly thing to do, I mean I had never played either game before. I am not too into new games, I haven't moved past my Sega Megadrive to be honest and I am damn happy with that so this was like injecting graphics crack into my eye holes! Flip they are some good games and wildly addictive.

I was working up till the deadline just because I couldn't stop playing the game and convincing myself that It was all very important research for the creation of both art pieces. My hole!!! Feckin loved killing zombies till all hours of the morning whilst listening to some Jarvis Cocker on the Sunday Service.

So after my weeks of chronic procrastination I eventually finished two art pieces for Pop Cap. I made a large 3D illustration box based on the game Plants Vs. Zombies and I made a smaller layered illustration In a box based on the funky game Peggle. One thing I noticed about both games Is they both have the coolest sound effects that stay in your head for months and prevent sleep.

I wasn't told too much when I was making the work but now I know! So they are all going up on this epic Online Ebay Auction. There are artists from all over the shop but I think I am the only Irish artist to have work In the Auction. Hurrah! There Is alot to the auction but yopu can read more about it here in this press release - HERE. There Is also another one HERE with a bit of a dodgey photo.

So the auction goes global today and all the proceeds go to charity, and I mean ALL of it! How great Is that. They said it themselves

"As a truly global company, PopCap will donate 100 per cent of all proceeds from the auctions to SpecialEffect in the United Kingdom and the Starlight Children’s Foundation in the United States, two nonprofits dedicated to helping seriously ill and disabled children and young people."

So check out the Ebay page and bid for what work ya might fancy. There are original art pieces like the ones I made and then some original character design sketches and memorabilia that normally you can't buy anywhere. So worth a look see and do bid as It is for a great cause. These pieces - and other original pieces from PopCap’s Seattle Studio – will go on display at the Filmbase Centre in Temple Bar, Dublin from today along with the two pieces I made so pop In and have a look. .

Ackbar on the way!

2011-06-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Just a wee preview of the Admiral Ackbar plush doll I am In the middle of making. He Is more of a practice doll If anything just to try out new stitches and techniques.
Around this time I am listening to THIS song.
Keep posted to see the new fishy looking doll thing!!!

ITS A TRAP!!!

2011-06-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and jumped Into pants and a t-shirt like a Rebel suiting up to get his ass Into his X-Wing fighter to take on some Empire freaks. I was only busting down to the door because the skip guy was delivering a skip to the house but there was still a massive whack of rebelliousness off me. I am sure the skip delivery man thought I was some homeless guy squatting In that nice house. After quiet an exciting morning, you should have seen me make toast, fuckin hell that was hyper, but I was dying to get Into the studio and start making. I starting a piece yesterday but It failed me and I put It to rest by throwing It on the floor In a 'child in a toy shop' tantrum type way. So sitting In front of my BAD ASS sewing machine and listening to Tom Veks new album I had a little thinky on what I would make. Staring at The Beast (my sewing machine) It hit me. I am going to make me an Admiral Ackbar. He Is always there on my sewing machine trying to warn me of my mistakes so I shall honour him today. One of my all time favourite characters In Return of The Jedi. When I was young, I watched It so much I ended up with the complex that he may be my Uncle. Man he Is so cool. Looking after everyone, and that scene was so intense. That was my morning, I was in that scene only with pants and a Skip delivery man. So I am gonna make an Admiral Ackbar today, the Morgan Freeman of the Rebel Alliance.

Petit Poubelle chillin In his new Gaff! Nice.

2011-06-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

I always wonder where my work ends up after Its wrapped up and sent off. Where does It sit, who see's It everyday, Is It still loved or gone to the local charity shop. I would love to find some of my work In a charity shop how fuckin bad ass would that be? Well the gentleman 'Hoots sent me these pics of Petit Poubelle kicking back In his new home. He looks pretty happy and lapping up the love. I noticed In one of the pics too someone printed out my blog post, awwwww how cool Is that. Really nice pictures too, thanks Mark. Delighted to hear Jenny was happy with her surprise and soon enough Petit Poubelle will have a new little best pal to hang out with. Best of luck guys x.

KEV DOLL ( AKA - ' THE CEECH')

2011-06-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

A few months back before I stepped back on the ol' sewing train I made my mate Red a birthday present. What more does Red love than her boyfriend Kev who Is also my best pal. So I made Red a Kev! Here he Is In all his macho pubey glory.
Kev or as he Is known to me ' Le Ceech', will be packing his bags soon with Red and heading far far away which will be a hugemungous loss cause the world will swallow them up In a big warm hug and may never send them back. I may have to make another life size Kev doll to hang out with when they are gone. If your reading this and thinking 'hey I would LOVE a Kev doll' or even a doll of my best pal, a friend, enemy with pins included or lover, even ex-lover, just send me the word and I shall make for thee. Commissions make the world go round and make me not starve and die. I will also need to fill my time In the absence of my hero friends so don't let me sit here getting all nostalgic n shit.

Ross Kept Sketch for me.

2011-06-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

On the opening night of my residency show, 'Keep Sketch', an old friend and true gentleman came by with his gigantic camera and took some lovely photos. This man was Ross' Lightening Sabre' Costigan. I asked Ross to stop being so damn busy and come shoot my show and get some nice pics of it so I would have a really sharp nice record of it as It was gonna be taken down so soon. After an 18 hour arm wrestle, a pirate fancy dress party and a hug he finally agreed to tell all his other clients he was dead and couldn't make It to their shoots. Fair sound!
Ross Is a great old mate and has set up his new studio In Kilkenny which was only a matter of time and just the beginning for this man. I know a lot of photographers and each of them work their asses off, they never seem to chill n have a freeze pop but Ross Is like Bruce Willis with a camera running on glass, working all the time and killing German terrorists along the way.. One thing I have noticed over the years as Ross has done more and more Is he Is the most honest If sometimes too honest about his work. In dept down to the screws that were In the camera he will show tell all about how he got a certain shot or how a shoot Is working out. To me I saw a crazy person giving a way too much and telling us too much but then I ain't In the same game. To a young up and coming photographer Ross Is the instruction that they want to hear, If only my peers were as open. It's ballsy to let so much out, It's madness I tells ya but It's straight up honest and Is only a testament to Ross's explorative, warm and welcoming character. Chin Chin ya sexy ledge box. Hurrah!
The following link Is to a collection of photopicturegraphs thats Ross 2 Cos took at Keep Sketch. Really happy with how they turned out and thanks for the DVD that came In the post this morning. Now that's man who knows how to charm an artist. You would be silly not to hire this man. THIS IS THE LINK. Check out the work of Ross Costigan Photography HERE get In touch to work with him as soon as.

One of the most interesting talks I have listened to In a very long time!!!!

2011-06-09T08:20:00.001-07:00

"If you lose the ability to make something, you lose the ability to have something made for you. "

This was something Leonardo Bonanni said that really stood out to me. There was A LOT in his talk which to be honest might be a little difficult to get across In the way he did and I am not wearing a dashing suit like his so I won't do It justice.

What I did get though was a serious connection. That 'yeahhhhh thats what I was thinking of the other day but stopped almost instantly as I thought It too heavy'. Where does everything come from? It comes from everywhere, thats where and what Leonardo Bonanni has done Is he has made a place online where you can track it and see, not only by name but because of our ever advancing technology you can zoom right down on the roof of the factory In China where the tips of your shoelaces were manufactured. It Is quiet incredible. What grabbed my attention was that quote I started with. This came about when he was talking about a trip he took to India and the one thing that grabbed his attention was the clothes of the people. You never think It but no one wears clothes like they do In India anywhere else. You can go to a seriously impoverished Third World country and you can be sure someone will be wearing a Bart Simpson T-Shirt your Ma gave to a charity back In the 90s. But In India everyone makes everything from scratch. The Fabrics are made there, the colours, the cotton, the lace, everything. They are living, breathing crafts. It's truely amazing and they depend on no one else and look good too. I know there Is argument In what I say but don't shoot the messenger, In fact get off your high horse and just see the principal and innovation behind It and think how better we would be If instead of throwing out what we are bored of or whats not In style and we made our own. What a better place. Our carbon footprint Is galactic and we wonder why aliens haven't visited us yet, there are like ahhh when ya clean the place up and we can enjoy the view we will. My girlfriend and I have this old Ikeabed frame at home, It's a burden. In our back yard and all we want to do Is get rid of it. Sneaking around at night looking for a skip to toss It In. But one day Anne surprised me with this amazing evening picnic on our roof over our kitchen. It was so nice and I was thinking we need to use this roof more. I looked at this back wall beside the window on the roof and thought awwww wouldn't a bench right there be great. Straight away I thought, hey I know I'll cut up the bed frame and I can make my own bench which I will treasure forever because I never made a bench before. I think thats what we need to do, we need to all become my uncle Christy. He can make anything from anything. He once made two of the greatest dog houses I have ever seen out of two pallet crates. His carbon foot print Is the size of my puppys paw. I want to get on that. I am a maker so why can't I make more of my life about making. This Is what I got from Leonardo Bonanni, I also got that I want to go MIT and create the best new thing from the oldest thing and make it for everyone. For anyone interested In seeing where every single part of the phone in your pocket comes from and the journey It takes before It gets to you and what carbon foot print It leads click HERE. I hope that It will make you keep those old shoes and become that shoe maker you were always meant to be and hack that computer to do what you want, It aint broken you don't need a new one you just need to stop and think about a solution of how to make It better. I am all fired up with ideas and that will feed my craft and make a tiny better world within my world so I hope the same happens with you.

Making my own Blog Jealous!!!

2011-06-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am gonna have a Blog affair all day today, wait Is it today? Yeah It's after 12 so It's Thursday...right? Flippin better be cause I'm goin to Dublin Castle to do some live blogging for the lovely folk at the Year of Crafts 2011 Public Conference If they like it or not! I will be blogging all about the days goings on but not from this here blog but I'll stop In for an auld chat let ya know about so n so and what he said about your Ma! So If your feeling a wee bit crafty stop on by, take me out to lunch, buy me gifts, tell me sweet nothings or bake me something. I don't mean to be so demanding but Ill be In a Castle and thats what you ask for when your In a castle ..right? Damn straight of it you do.

The Day Dave and Der stopped by!

2011-06-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

Dave Minogue who may be related to me but Isn't my brother Dave, thats not this Dave, this Dave Is this Dave who has this Blog. Whilst Dave was at the Keep Sketch Show he took some nice photopictures and sent them on to me, I am guessing as a way of apologising for all those years of never truly being there, I guess he was just jealous I already had a brother named Dave.

Petit Poubelle - New Plush Creation for Jenny

2011-06-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

After having an awesome time with The National Craft Gallery I was only delighted to get a plush commission instantly after my show. My mate Mark or as his mother calls him 'Hoots' asked me would I be able to make a plush sculpture or doll for his lovely girlfriend Jenny. The couple are beyond awesome and are about to have a little bambino together so I was delighted to make something for Mark to surprise Jen. I had 2 days and nights to get It done to meet the deadline of the B-Day so I got watching some badass documentaries as I worked through the night. Do you know that Miami has this Super Alpha Mega Prision and its crazy corrupt. Anyway It was a pleasure making such a personal gift for Jenny and Mark and today Is her B-Day so HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNY! I can't help but sound like Forest Gump when I say that.

I asked Mark to compile a list of all the things that only he would know of what Jenny likes and I would somehow incorporate that Into the design of the character. From the epic list I got, Hoots reallys knows and loves his girlfriend I tells ya, I chose the things that stood out In my mind and that instantly sparked an image or idea In my head.

After long nights of drawing and stitching Petit Poubelle was born. He Is made entirely of all the things Jenny likes, well that Hoots knows of anyway. Here are some pics of the creation and bits of info on him. Enjoy.

Unsure how to make a pigs heads I sketched out a tiny one in fabric to test It, then I started making the big template.
I decided to make a pig because Jenny loves pigs and wants too have them as pets one day. She insists to call them Notorious P.I.G and Poubelle which means dustbin In French. Awesome!

I failed On my big on first go but figured It out and moved on. I didn't make that orange or those flowers.

Looking quiet piggy with his ears. Started adding plaster type strips to his face, reminded me of Edward Scissorhands In some way. I just liked the rag doll look of it.

Sexy body on that! Yeah ya would.

Deep Into the night his first arm was created and sewn on.

After a day and night and a few good documentaries I at last had company In the studio. He just said the funniest thing when I took this, you had to be there. It was about Dan and how he...nevermind ya had to be there.

The Cape. Poubelle would have his very own hand crafted owl cape. The reason for this Is Mark, Jennys boyfriend who commissioned this, his nickname Is 'Hoots'.

Jenny loves Antlers so I gave Poubelle two little one on his head made from carpet inlay cause its tough and doesn't bend. He has become a Deer Pig which Is totally normal. Check out his bad ass threads!

He insisted he make a paper hat which I wasn't so keen on but he done a good job. He thought me how to make them, pretty easy, I'm more of a paper plane man myself.

Another thing Mark told me Jenny loves Is old medical drawings. So i made a photocopy of an old heart diagram and stuck it to his chest. I sealed it In glue to give it this magnified look. And yes those are his nipples beside it, he has six, he is a pig after all, maybe half lady pig...sorry Deer Pig.

The Owlish Hoots Mask made from card, felt and plenty of tantrums and freak outs with a pinch of no patience.

His utility belt. I love utility belts and they will be reoccurring a lot In my work. Everyone needs one. Here we have a tooth pocket for Jenny and Marks new babies first tooth. 3 pegs to symbolise them as a family holding each other up. Pencil - the one I use to draw the design sketches of Poubelle and right above the belt his all important belly button. Outtie of course, not one of those ugly belly holes everyone else has.

All made and chilling In the Dublin sun. Little features were added, a cherries tattoo on his arm as Jenny loves cherries.

Mask Off.

Jenny was really close to her Gran who passed away last year so had to add her to his heart.

Hoots mask and cape. Poubelle Is a pretty shy little Deer Pig so he dresses up as an Owl so everyone thinks he Is way stronger and smarter. Poor little Poubelle doesn't know that instead he Is scaring everyone away from him. Oh Poubelle will you ever learn?

Confident and all alone.

Not really all alone as he has his pet Seahorse; ' Padro'. The last thing you wanna do Is to get into a pub brawl with this dude he will fuck you up for real. Look at those eyes, serious alcoholic.

Other little features that I didn't photograph are things like his Crumpet Pocket on his utility belt. He has a smiling budda souvenir from his travels on his belt too. He had ribbons on his arm each are favourite colours of Jenny. He has a plaster on his knee from acting the maggot and a criminal conviction which I am not at liberty to go into right now.

Thats me name!

If anyone Is interested In having a plush doll made for themselves or someone do get In touch and let me know. You can reach me here at 3buttons@gmail.com

Daft Punk escape Doomsday.

2011-06-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

This was my entry for the Totally Dublin Forbidden Fruit competition. What better way of depicting the apocalypse than seeing Daft Punk fleeing the party. That I s a terrifying thought, and seeing them take pictures of us before we are all destroyed. Oh my Gosh! Utterly tragic. Not as tragic as been a non winner, I wish I could re enter the competition I would send a doodle of my sad face.

Microsoft and Me!

2011-05-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Just got some fine news indeed. Microsoft have purchased one of my pieces for their private collection. Hurrah! If only I knew sooner and could have made a sweet barter for a new laptop! Flip! Happy all over though!
This here be it the piece.

Thanks for Keeping Sketch

2011-05-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

After keeping Sketch all week I am now going to retire my fragile man shell to a couch In front of a fire and a movie that may or may not have Bruce Willis In it. My week of make and do has gotten the better of me and slipped some sort of exhaustion pill into my drink. I blame the National Craft Gallery. They had the wild idea of inviting me down and allowing me to do with their space what i liked. Well I like to make and do so thats what I did from Monday to Friday. Spending cabin feverish hours In the gallery tucked behind the Design Center, drawing on the walls as if they were sundials. Watching the sun slowly leave the space and the night would creep in bring In the dark and the pressure on me to stop watching documentaries and get making. It was an invigorating experience nesting In behind the walls of the gallery working Into the deep hours of the night as everyone else were doing the wise thing and sleeping. I had little revelations as I worked that I may have to revise next week when I am less sleep deprived but I can confidently say that that body of work as quick as It was made and displayed In such an unconventional way was my favourite show I have done to date. It felt honest and right In every way and It came together the way It did because the whole motive of the show was to explore the process of making through drawing and that is exactly what happened I explored for the first time and found out exactly the way I work. It's strange as an artist and I am sure the same can apply to anyone In a creative field genre from the arts. You think you are constantly on some subtle and subconscious exploration of self discovery In some way, not the Jim Morrison journey but a way of practice to get better and find your own personal style that will be unique to you. That Is so hard to do today with constant influences being thrown at you without you even realising it. A video someone uploads, a profile picture that gets your attention, a great book you read or finding something that you thought was lost, It never ends and all of it well I think anyway affects your work In some regards. So I have had this inner fight going on for a long time and I thought I had It In the bag late last year until that thought was beat out of me literally on December 3rd. After dedicating so much of my time and work to building up a career and being stupid enough to work so closely with someone so unstable left me crippled and my work took the blunt of it, or the process to making my work did and If that process Is taken from me well then I am taken from me and I lost that for a long time. This Is why this show had huge meaning for me. It was my therapy. I had the walls as my sketchbook, this was great for the viewer so they could see where the work was generated from but also for me because unlike a sketch book, you can't turn the page over a not look back on what was done. It was all open and there for me to see every thought I had up until the very end long after they show was up and all the work was finished. For the first time In a long time I felt close to my work and felt I understood It more. I stepped back Into craft and thats where I belong, I like to make and thats what intend to do from now on. I will draw till my dying but I will come back as a bad ass zombie and still be making shit outta whatever remains I can find.

The show which was a big success has to come down tomorrow. Everyone expressed there sorrows It had to come down so early but there Is something I like about It being a 'Pop Up' show. It's very instant and direct and you have to catch It quick so to those who missed out down't worry there will be plenty more and to all who came and spent time In the space; thank you, I hope I was able to give ye some good feeling.

None of it would have happened If It wasn't for all at the National Crafts Gallery who were so reckless and invited me to do the residency. Crazy Mo Fo's! Leslie and Ann thank you, your kind words at the opening are still resonating with me and have only encouraged me to keep making.

There was a lot of work made In a week and It was only on display for a shorter amount of time so I will use the blog here to show you what I can from it. For now It's to the couch to watch some mindless shoot outs and classy shit acting, switch off and sleep and do it all again tomorrow.

The Making of 'Keep Sketch'.

2011-05-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

A few shots from the week long residency in the National Craft Gallery.

Ideas coming together.

The Bear King taking shape.

The Bear Kings stare

The Bear King becomes real. More pics of him later.

The Lost Watches which will be explained In later posts.

KEEP SKETCH OPENS TONIGHT.

2011-05-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Keep Sketch Is a little week long residency I did In the National Crafts Council of Ireland. I was invited to spend a week In the beautiful surrounding for the Cratf Gallery and explore the relationship between drawing and making. Using the gallery walls as my gigantic sketch book I sketched my thoughts, ideas and feelings throughout the week with the intention of finding an idea for a large textile sculpture and developing it as I went along. This week has been an incredible experience and my re-inition into the world of textiles. So If you are reading this and you feel like you want to feed the mind with a visual treat come don to the Craft Gallery across from the Castle In Kilkenny tonight. The doors open at 6 and the show kicks off at 7 with a fine chuck of tunes by the sound creator The Kilo. A late night party fest that you must come and enjoy with us. It's only open fr one night and tomorrow for National Drawing Day and after that It's all gone and painted over so PARRRRRTTTTTYYYYYY with us!!!

KEEP SKETCH RESIDENCY SHOW OPENS TOMORROW ONE NIGHT ONLY!!

2011-05-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Come To see what mess I hav made In a once respectable gallery space. Opening tomorrow night at 6 and kicks off at 7 with talks and then PARTY with the legend that Is the Kilo on the decks!!! Gonna be BEST!

2011-05-22T16:28:00.001-07:00

Keep Sketch It's Monday!

2011-05-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

Have all the stuff moved In so now It's 5 days of drawing and making. Let the Craft Council Residency begin...well In a few hours, I have to get a quick kip first n feed me dog. Much Thanks to Alan Raggett for the pic. Find more on Keep Sketch HERE.

Keep Sketch for me this week.

2011-05-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

The Day Man Died

2011-05-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

Anyway as I was saying, I dunno how to feel. So much Is happening and time has seemingly lost all it's purpose. My watch has just become some stupid terrorist hipster ornament and not that helpful instrument to tell me when its too late or a little too early. Its Saturday and It won't stop raining. Whats with that. Thanks a fuckin bunch sky you dirty cloudy prick, last time I ever admire you or throw you a compliment, your a real sly fucker sometimes, lashing out endless sunny promises and then ya pair up with that dodge climate mate of yours and stab all of us In the back. Nice one.Sound. I put on Lynx Africa outside and sprayed Fabreeze on the grass just In spite of you.

So what was I saying? Yeah, I dunno how to feel about It, pissed off i guess. I mean what the fuck? You think you know someone, trust someone and then just like a 1960's Batman fight scene it hits you and clarity becomes a bitch slap with a heavy hand and your minds eye gets a fatty black n blue shiner that lasts for fuck knows how long. Anyway what can be done about It now? The damage has been done and the wounds are as plain as day but blind to the stupid few. I know It's been a while since It happened but I can't get over it, my watch must be as wet as this shitty Saturday cause the time won't push on and I am stuck In this thought of vengeful determination. I just can't believe he did It to us and It's just meant to be all normal now? Really, how the fuck can that be right? Is everyone that blind? I guess there Is no coming back from what happened. We move on and know that he was once a huge part of our lives and now we are left with a macho void. The glasses are off and the headband has been taken off. No more deep and raspy Oh Yeah's, no more extravagant entrances In our boring lives no more macho in our lives. Today a little bit of macho has died In every man. May we start here now and try rebuild what has been tragically destroyed, for we can become men again and beat the shit out of the shitty piss rain and sky just like Macho Man Randy Savage Is doing right now. Look to the sky and hear It OHHHHH YEAHHHHH!!!!!

KEEP SKETCH INFO

2011-05-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here Is a LINK for more Info on the residency and show I will be doing In the National Crafts Council gallery In Kilkenny next week.

A big thanks to Mr Albert Hooi who was kind enough to take pictures all day yesterday for me. Albert will be joining me as part of the Curfew Collective next week. A late night artistic collaboration between myself and Al which we set up a few weeks back when making THIS viral video for Bee For Battens Charity Al will be filming the process and messing during the week residency and we will have It on screen on the opening night. We will have some visuals on the night of the opening so make sure not to miss it.

"Keep Sketch" - I'm doing a residency!!!!

2011-05-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

I have the pleasure of announcing that the Crafts Council In Kilkenny have invited me to do a week long residency with them. They have offered me a very flipping awesome gallery space and allowed me to do with It what I like. I will have the pleasure of working beside world renowned artist and jeweler Bruce Metcalf who will be installing his own show In the gallery space beside me so I imagine some good craic will be had.
I have decided to put a name to my week long residency and the title I have given it is 'Keep Sketch'. I decided on this as the week I am there leads up to national drawing week. Thats one reason. The other Is that the work that both Bruce and myself will be producing will be In a very similar fashion all based on the idea of sketching, drawing and planning before design. Designers and artists have different systems of working and the most common seems to be, brainstorm, sketch, doodle, sketch some more, work from sketches and build and finally make the final piece all based on the previous drawings. So I want to mix this up and do It on a large scale for all to see. The last reason the show Is called Keep Sketch Is because I feel somewhat out of place In the Crafts Councils territory and feel like I'm a little impostor chancing my hand at craft when It's art that I think might be more me. So I will be skecthin but been pretty sketchy while I'm there, or so I think.
The big thing for me about this whole experience that Is about to happen Is It marks a change In my work that I have been waiting for. Craft Is a bigger part of my artistic life than anything really and I have neglected It for the past few years but now I am letting It control my thought process for a week and I am aiming at something big as a way of apologizing to it for been a heartless prick. The best thing about this residency Is that It all leads up to a big opening night In the gallery which they don't normally do so It will be a late my and I will take all responsibility I hope to show the newest of work and have a big textile surprise on the opening night. I will be doing workshops and having groups visit me throughout the week who will have a look at how lonely and stink artists really are In their own space. This Is going to be great. More details In the coming days! .

DAFT PUNKS DOOMS DAY ESCAPE

2011-05-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

I decided late last night, or this morning depending on how you judge time. I work off Owl hours and sit up drawing or making into the early hours annoyed that I couldn't have applied my skills of staying up all night un -phased by tiredness to a profession like a Doctor or a Sniper. I was sent THIS here competition info and decided to give It a shot. The brief was simple, draw a picture using pens, pencils markers or whatever and draw an apocalyptic picture on an A4 page and send it to the address that was attached. So here's Is what the dead of night conjured up and told me to do. Daft Punk on an old fashioned motor bike with a side-car. They are getting out of dodge city since the apocalypse was getting pretty shit crazy so they got this bad ass vintage bike from this war vets garage who had become a zombie since the nuclear attack and they pimped it out with fresh new Tron wheels. Lucky for them their helmets kept out all the Nuclear gas from the massive triple A-bomb that was dropped and they don't have to wear lame bike helmets. As they get as far outside the city as they can they turn to take some pics of the devastation, girls reenacting that scene from Terminator 2 when Sarah Conner has that fucked up dream and she Is holding onto the wire fence and all the skin blows off.... girls were doing that and Daft Punk were taking sweet pics of It to put on their Blog. Shit I don't think I'm gonna win this competition. I believe this for a number of reasons that I am willing for your benefit to bullet point.

I didn't colour it. I know this Is not hugely important but everyone loves colour, except Panda's and Zebras and Nosveratu.
I have to post the picture. I don't know If I have a stamp. The woman In the local Post Office hates me.
I think I missed the point.
I am celebrating National Procrastination Week for the past 16 years.
I haven't won an art competition since I was In school and I think I had better ideas and skills back then.
The whole idea of doing a piece for an art competition Is In itself a way of me not focusing on the work I am meant to be doing therefore been a total spa and that creates bad karma which will come back and bite me In the face when I find out I lost and made a ham sandwich of my residency next week.

Bye

DANLEO - TONIGHT! DRINK THE BEEER!!!!!!!

2011-05-12T03:29:00.000-07:00

Been waiting for this night for a long time. Since I first met Dan a few years ago he was putting this show together and now finally It has all come together and been put on the walls of KT Contemporary. I was In yesterday and had a sneaky look about as Dan and his team of fine feathered friends were installing the show and I was instantly blown away by the quality of the work. Dans style has gone up a few levels and entered the WHAT THE FUCK stage.

This Is one of those shows that needs to be a sell out and should be In every gallery that there Is. The work Is dynamic compositions and vibrant colour housed In bold brick house lines drag you In questioning constantly if the work was printed or done by hand. If Dan seeks to create work that is as close as he can get to Vector sharp well he has done that and out done it In ways. I wouldn't be a fan of sharp vector style work and I am always curious why anyone would want to get to that level In their work, just skip to the end and use the computer, why mimic it? But Dan has made work that Is more about displaying a flawless skill more than mimicking a computer graphic. His line work, mostly painted with a brush using spray paint, Is crisp and clean throughout. There Is no part of the work on display that shows a lazy side to Dan or that piece he didn't try to hard on. It's clear from what I saw In a passing glance that this show and this work Is very special, It's important. I say this because I feel that Dan Is top of the game, there are a lot of artists out there doing similar work, call It street art, call It graffiti but Dan I think just tags It as art he just happens to use material like spray paint. A unique character, a good mate and one of the hardest working artists that I have ever met. Do yourself the favour and break out of the weekly routine and let loose tonight. Call down to KT Contemporary at 7 for what will be one of the best art shows you will see In a long time. Heineken will be refreshing everyone all night and the Kilo will be breaking out non gallery friendly tunes which will be pure sex as always from the DJ Legend that he is, DJ stands for Dangerously Juicy!

DANLEO - KT CONTEMPORARY - TONIGHT 7PM Free drink by Heineken Music by the Kilo.

Disclaimer: If you are a fan of pastel colours and water colour paintings the artist cannot accept responsibility for what may happen to your eyes and face.

TO DO LIST OF THINGS THAT SHALL BE SOON DID!

2011-05-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Update Blog with accounts of recent adventures and exploits.
Prepare one self for the opening of DANLEO's big exhibition this week in KT Contemporary .
Locate a gigantic amount of felt material and stuffing and perspex..
Meet deadlines before I die.
Find out exactly what Dan will be wearing at the opening of his show and turn up wearing the exact same.
Make pretend blue prints for my residency with the National Crafts Council to make my work seem more grown up.
Make a Flickr account and this time don't forget the password
Grow my beard to look more like my hair so that when I am upside down it fucks with your mind.
Start calling Facebook Uncle Facebook and make that step towards excepting him as a big part of my life even though it abuses me everyday.
Upload a random picture to ad colour to this poor excuse of a blog post.
Be more pro active about doing blog posts.
Use the word plethora way more cause its awesome.

A simple ad to save a life. For Saoirse and Liam. x

2011-04-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

A little while ago I was Introduced to a man named Tony Heffernan. All I knew about Tony was he was a man who wanted to talk to me about doing some art work for his charity Battens or whatever I thought It was called at the time. That's how little I knew before I met this man, I thought Battens was just a charity name like Barnardos or Mrs Quinns Charity Shop! I didn't even read the book by the cover, I took a glance at it as If I was sitting In a doctors waiting room with an injury to both me eyes! To be terribly honest when I heard the name Battens I just thought In that little ignorant part of my head " Oh okay another charity amongst loads other charities". It's not like we go looking for new charities to support, we all dodge the "Hi, How are you? Can I stop you for just a minute" folk In the street with their commission hungry smiles and clicky pens. We are almost irritated to death by tacky radio adverts and annoying voice overs so much that they put you off the charity they are asking you to donate to. We are the split second sympathy generation with the ever so powerful Sky-Plus remote's In our hands that can quickly make the fly covered children in a Trocaire advert seem like ghosts on our screens that we forget we just saw. We have to ability to record and rewind live TV now but we never want to go back and watch our shitty conscience after we just watched it be a total prick from the comfort of our own couches.
I couldn't fast forward Tony, or bolt past him on a busy shop street saying " sorry gotta fly, can't stop, late as It is" I had to sit down and have a one on one meet about a charity I knew feck all about as did anyone I asked about it.
I didn't know what to expect or what I could even offer. I lacked confidence thinking my artwork was In anyway life saving or encouraging enough to ask people for their money or support.. All my worry for feck all once I met Tony. A true gent and a man that wears his heart on his sleeve and then asks you to wear his jumper. I was instantly taken with how much passion this man had and how his life has been turned inside out a thousand times over. I sat and listened as he told me what Battens Disease Is and what It does to a child and a family. I had read about It but when you hear a first hand account It tackles you to the ground and kicks you in the face. I was sitting beside a man who was asking me to help him with creating awareness for a charity he had no choice but to create with his wife Mary.

Tony and Mary had laid their daughter Saoirse to rest only 6 weeks previous to me meeting Tony. I couldn't comprehend the strength this man had, each word he spoke was held up with a crutch. I was In sheer awe of him and I began to get very confident In what i could do to help him. It's that thing with always backing the underdog and thats what Tony's charity was, the underdog. A charity that was set up to help children and family's who have Battens Disease, less than 1000 in the world. Out of the 6 billion of us there are 1000 suffers of this. Fuck that, sign me up and send me out on the front line.
Here Is a quick run down of how terrible this disease is. You have a beautiful healthy child who you adore and want to grow old with. The child grows each year as any other child, playing, laughing, being bold crying just been a child. Then one day a little spark goes off In their head and they their brain starts to slowly shut down unable to fix itself. The child's eye sight will go after It seeing the world for years before and their parents will have to explain and comfort them throughout. Their hearing and speech will eventually go along with all of their motor skills. Everything they once knew and had as a happy healthy child will fail them and there is a single tablet or medication In the world that can prevent it or slow it down. It is fatal and unforgiving. Tony and Mary had Saoirse for 5 beautiful years and held her as she slipped away on the 18th of January of this year. Having to let go of one child they refuse to do the same again with their little boy Liam who has the same condition as his sister. Liam who Is 2 will travel to New York next month for the treatment that may save his life. A long difficult surgery where 6 holes are made In Liam's brain and the chemical that his brain refuses to make will be artificially transmitted through his brain which will pass through his body helping to slow down and hopefully halt the conditions of the disease.
If you are reading this and think' feck this Is a bit heavy isn't it' well then imagine living with it. Imagine your child having it and ask yourself what would you do to save them. Imagine having a son or daughter with a disease no one really knows about so much so there are no special units In hospitals for it, no big charities raising the awareness for it and not one penny from the Government to support it.What a tough fight that would be and as I said earlier Isn't easy to turn the channel on an unknown cause than the one that we see and hear of all the time. So PLEASE help the Heffernan's by just simply spreading awareness. This Is not a cash donation thing, keep the hand In the pocket just take it out to copy and paste THIS website on your Facebook or blog. If you know a journalist tell them about it and spread it around. TELL PEOPLE. That Is all that Is asked of you. Don't turn the channel on Liam or his family that Is trying to save him.

Tony asked me to make an ad for him to create awareness. I was only happy to make it for him but I could not have done it without the help and talents of Albert Hooi. A true gent and a man with serious talent. This was the first time Al and I worked together and we had a tight time frame to get this done so It was the best we could do In 2 long days and nights. It was my first shot at an animated piece too which was a bit daunting but after a few million cups of tea and many a laugh It was awwwwright! We were delighted that the amazing Lisa Hannigan came a board and gave us the rights to use her beautiful song 'Lille' for the advert which suits It so well not only with the stunning music but the shivering lyrics also. So thank you for that Lisa.
Please watch the ad and post it on your Facebook page for us. We are aiming to get a million hits on Youtube before Liam's operation as our way of showing our support so PLEASE don't just read this and don't do it - DO IT! Sorry for being pushy I'm just pretty adamant about this.
For more info on the Charity and to see what you can do to help please click here at beeforbattens.org

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AD Please post the link on your blog or Facebook pages. Thank you.

Bee Is for Battens and A is for Advert!

2011-03-30T03:27:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks the awesomely talented Albert Hooi and myself have been working together on the new ad to create awareness for charity Bee for Battens . The animated ad has been marinated and popped In the oven so now we are just waiting for it to cook before serving it up. We are really happy with it and most importantly Tony Heffernan and his family are happy with it because It was for them that we made it. We hope that the ad will bring awareness for the charity and Battens disease and encourage people to donate and get involved with events to bring even more awareness. The ad will go viral mid April and will be on our tele screens so keep an eye out for it. Keep an eye on this here blog for more!

The Judgement!!!!

2011-03-30T02:55:00.000-07:00

My work getting a serious crit from little Lila Bouissoux from Switzerland.

My works pops up In Switzerland.

2011-03-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Such a lovely morning to wake up to an email from the Bouissoux Family In Switzerland and see my work sitting on their table.
A long time coming, Julien & Jasmin became my landlords when I lived In Paris back In 2008, yes 2008 remember that year? Seems like an eternity ago but I always think when you meet someone who you know instantly that you may know for the rest of your life they become an anchor to that time I can still see myself In our little bathroom making their wrap around mural for them. . I met them at a great time of my life and three years on still knowing them they always remind me of that time and brings a silly old smile to my face.
When I met the lovely couple, Jasmin was pregnant and they had moved to Switzerland where they still reside. Soon after they brought Lila into the world and the Gordon-Bouissoux family was one. They asked me a year or so ago to draw them a family portrait which I said 'yeah no prob, I'll get on it right away'. A year passes and I still hadn't completed the drawing and anytime I sat down to do it I transformed into a portrait artist sitting under a tree on a pavement In Montmartre. Ugly stiff portraits, I just couldn't get It right and It killed me especially since Julien and Jasmin were so kind to send me a cash filled card to feed and motivate me. So after them enduring a long wait I eventually sat down and made time to think about them and made them an Illustration In a box that shows them as a fun loving family and not a still portrait.
Julien sent me these pics this morning after getting the post through the door.Never meeting Lila but knowing her creative parents I imagine she has a huge imagination so here she Is shutting up her noisy imaginary friend before he gives the game away and draws too much attention on their secret paper hat tea party.

Painting the wall on the house of paint!!!

2011-03-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

One the first day of the big paint job. I woke up In Cork this morning and found myself painting a mural for Dulux on an exterior wall of their mothership base. I have two days to get creatively messy on a huge wall. With my trusty scissors lift companion, a high vis vest, charcoal on a stick and a hella lot a paint I will conquer this beast . Working closely with the creative agency Boys & Girls on this job and loving playing a scissors lifts. Stick around and follow the development of one of the toughest mural I have done to date!

Little Ghost Flea Market THIS WEEKEND!!!!

2011-03-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

Little Ghost Flea Market

Saturday and Sunday

26th & 27th March

Open 11am - 5pm

We have lots of things!

So Long Mural!

2011-03-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Just a hour or so ago I got that phone call I really wasn't hoping to get. The mural on the Surf n Turf In Bundoran will be executed TODAY! Killian rang me to tell me that they tried everything and went all out but nothing could be done and If they refused only higher fines and solicitor fees would be laid on them as If they were some common scum. A sad day indeed. As some weird strange coincidence I got this phone call just as I was about to start a mural In the Dulux factory In Co.Cork. I have to paint a mural for their 'Lets Colour' Campaign and can only use their Dulux range so no spray paint. Its a monster wall about the same height as the Turf N Surf Dan and I painted. I am In the middle of the job so can't be delaying but thought I would let all those who supported us In the fight to save the mural know what the Donegal Council think of their opinion, they don't. My aim now Is to one day paint their building with another type of sea creature, both Dan and myself will gladly take suggestions. I will update you with more later tonight.

Little Ghost Flea Market Today and Tomorrow!

2011-03-19T03:22:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day for a flea market and a Little Ghost gallery Flea Market at that. We have lots of new lovely things for you to browse through and pick up. A rummager's dream, call into us today. We are just up past Joes Take Away on Dean Street in Kilkenny.

This Is our 3rd Little Flea Market I think and they have been a huge success. We have had so many lovely folk pop In to us and It always seems to become a place where everyone gathers with their cups of tea and chills out for the day, so stop in and join In the banter. We are open today at 11 so I best get dressed and get my sale face on! We will be open until 5 this evening and then we do It all again tomorrow. So tell your friends and families If your out having a stroll about you know where to go, the Castle Park...and then call into us we are wayyyy better than the Castle Park.

New Work on show in KT Contemporary

2011-03-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

A new show opened In KT Contemporary last Friday night and will be running for a while so do pop In and have a look. Very new & personal pieces which I have been working on In the studio over the past few weeks It feels good to have them on the wall and not on my shelf as I tend to do. If you are interested In any of the works you see feel free to contact me directly or get in touch with Katie from KT Contemporary whose contact details can be found HERE.

The work pictured here Is one of 6 new pieces In the show. It is called ' It came as some surprise'. It is a mixed media Illustration box. It houses old feelings brought back up by current events and as you do, lock them neatly away In a box and try forget about them..again.

New Work In KT Contemporary

2011-03-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

Woohoo It's Friday! Well just about but WOOHOO to It nearly being Friday. After a hard day at the office I know I like nothing more than having a catch up with friends over a nice pint, lets say in Kielys In In Donnybrook. Sure the best thing to do with your mates after that Is head across the road to KT Contemporary and have mingle amongst some art and fine people who like wine and art. What a better way to start off the weekend, friends, pints, wine, art and most best of all buying art. Don't you know that this weekend Is Buy Some Art In KT Contemporary Weekend. Yep!
I will have new artwork on the walls for all to play with. One of the pieces I have In the show Is this piece pictured. Each piece is contained within a box like a square Kinder Surprise waiting for you to open and be dazzled by it's nostalgic silliness. If you are a fan of Ferris Buellers Day Off well I think you will very much want to open this and see whats Inside. These are once off's so please call in tomorrow night as I am sure It will be a great show. The show kicks off at 6 and runs till 8 so get down early. Check out the work of Neil Raitt who I met today In the gallery who Is over from London. His work Is fantastic and I hear he has a huge piece which had to be sent over on a boat, so you have to go see it. Check out Neil's work HERE.
For more info on the show click HERE.

New Limited Edition Rubber Bandits Prints For Sale on Society6 by Me!

2011-03-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

Here Is the very first Rubber Bandits print available on-line. I have been creating a selection box filled with Rubber Bandit artwork over the past two months and now for the first time the very first print is available to buy online. The first print off the production line is the 'Rubber Bandits & the Search for the Wild Cider Horse'. Hand drawn with pencils, water colours, tea, grey hound hair and Euro Spar apple juice this would make for good post through any door. If you would like to purchase a print you can click HERE and choose what size you would like from Society6.com . It seems more expensive In dollars but its fair cheap in the Euro lad! Convert that mother*ucker!
There are more prints on the way In the coming weeks so please spread the word and follow the blog to receive updates.
If you know anyone who would be well loving this post it on their page and then almost instantly post it on some random persons Facebook page just to mess with their minds. Feel free to comment below with questions If you need more info.
Limited Edition Rubber Bandits print for sale NOW on Society6.

Support Bee for Battens

2011-03-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

Please Click HERE and read more about this Disease that is so unknown. I met the founder Tony Heffernan the other night and offered him my help In anyway I can to spread awareness for the charity. Tony lost his daughter Saoirse only 5 weeks ago to the disease. He has a son Liam who Is 2 who sadly has the same condition. This man has given his life and work to find a cure for this and to make what Is such a little unknown Disease known by everyone. So please click on the link read more, watch the videos, see the kids and spread the word. Add the link to your Facebook or Blog is all we are asking that alone makes such a huge donation. Please don't ignore this In passing If it was your child you wouldn't so please act on it It takes no time to copy and paste. Thank you

VOTE FOR RENT A FRIEND

2011-03-04T04:19:00.000-08:00

Storyland is a competition that asks you the viewer to vote for the best webisode on their site. Each webisode is in a grouping and the one that gets the most votes gets another episode made for you to see and believe me a lot goes into making an episode, actually don't believe me I don't even know where RTE is, I think It's somewhere on top of Croagh Patrick shooting entertainment lightening bolts at our lifeless eyes like Zeus in a Jester hat. The webisode that gets the least votes Is brought up the back of the field and put down. So If you are a vegetarian and love animals you need to vote, don't go against your principals. I'm not sure what happens to the winning show but rumour has it that It becomes the next big thing and Is listed on Aertel, so when you type 172 into your remote BOOM! there you will see RENT A FRIEND sandwiched between some awesome tele shows.

There is only 3 days left for votes and it only takes a click to do, I timed it and it's quicker than most things. I voted quicker than getting a tea bag into a cup, stretching my finger to point at an apple, scratching my head to name but a few. So PLEASE vote!

Dave Minogue (cousin, husband, brother, you choose!), Der Tobin and Dave Thompson have been friends of mine for way too many years. Their friendships lease expired years ago but neither of us have ever brought it up. We are illegal squatters of friendship! It's hard to describe this creative trio. Well I can describe Dave Minogue.He is like a free mint on your pillow In a 5 star hotel. Very complimentary and sweet but a prick when you forget him and he ends up stuck to the side of your head.

Daves Ma told me that he wrote and directed Rent A Friend but thats just so typical of her always assuming, I put her In her place with a verbal Apocalypse Now and said " Ahhhhhh Der wrote it to you liar, you lie, your a liar, lies, get out!!!" How dare she forget Der, Der Tobin the Tobinsaur, Derinator, Tobe Time!!! Der plays Der Tobin in Rent a Friend, his performance Is mind blowing, I have never seen someone play Der Tobin so well, scary. Heath Ledger Is turning In his grave. Don't bother voting for Rent a whatever just vote for Der, the man Is a comic genius. Yeah you heard me Dave's Ma.

Then there Is David Thompson with a silent P. The son of a snare drum and a guitar, Dave was conceived In an old theatre and born In a cinema seat. Since a young age Dave has been playing drums In his band the River Valley Band. Dave is currently writing a book on acting called "Scrap what you already know, I'll take it from here". There isn't much Dave can't do and when it comes to acting it's a shame that such talent hasn't been propelled into the lime light. If you want to watch the dynamics of Dave's character performance have a look at Vultures PI. One of the most natural performances David Whiplash Thompson has done to date was this little gem from the creators of Rent A Friend. 'Keep It Easy'. This man can wear sandals and make Jesus look like a tit.

Find out more bout the lads HERE.

Imagine this creative trio as the Centurions. All individually awesome at different things and when brought together loads of shit attaches to them and they kick the shit out of Doc Terror. So voting for them gets them closer to RTE where they can can take over and defeat the evil tele we have to pay to watch. Dave has made a promise that If they were ever to get on the Late Late Show he would do something to Ryan Tubirdy that would instantly get 1000000000 hits on Youtube. I'm voting for that alone! Check out the RENT A FRIEND website which is really nice and find them on FACEBOOK.

Here is the quick synopsis of Rent a Friend.

RENT A FRIEND is a comedy drama set in Kilkenny. Dave and Der are in their early 20's, out of college and out of work, forced to live at home. With few opportunities they decide to sell the only asset they have - their friendship. Unfortunately as far as friendship goes these two are offering the worst deal on the market.

So all ya gotta do Is follow these 3 steps -

Click HERE and vote for RENT A FRIEND
Post the link on your FACEBOOK or BLOG.
Egg a house and blame it on your girlfriend or boyfriend.

PLEASE VOTE FOR MR STEVES T-SHIRT

2011-03-04T01:57:00.000-08:00

Please click on he link below and vote for Mr Steve McCarthys T-Shirt Design on Threadless. We all win If it gets printed, we look cool, T-shirts coax the sun out from behind the clouds, we promote safety for monsters on bicycles, people slap high 5 with you In the street and say things like "nice fuckin T-shirt man"! So please get your clicky fingers voting but the MOST important thing is to spread the word, so If you can copy the link and paste it on your blog, Facebook or cover your car or bike in Vote for this T-Shirt stickers. Thanks for been awesome!!!

A matter of time for the Mural.

2011-03-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Ahoy! Just a quick update on where things are going with the mural on the Turf n Surf Hostel.

Over the past 2 weeks the mural has been subjected to critical examinations from both the human population and his brotherhood of buildings both in his area and around the world. We imagine it must be tough on the poor mural who is currently on death row. His close friend The Leaning Tower of Pisa issued as public statement this morning in hearing the sad news;

" Oh my poor poor Amico, Its such a huge problema for us as buildings as we find it so difficult to visit one another you know. I am sympathy for he is so sad so so sad. When I did began to tilt a little in 1178 everyone complained about me, well no just one person and so the council In Pisa demanded I be destroyed. It was a dark place for me, but I overcome all problema, it took years to defeat my fear of highs and so so many nightmares where I fall to my death oh woe is my poor poor friend so sad so so sad."

Reports suggest that the ensuing pressure of the March 1st deadline for execution drove the mural over the edge. It was found by a passer by holding a roller dipped in a conservative pale yellow paint against its face. The mural has since been put on 24 hour suicide watch.

The faith of the Turf n Surf mural is now resting In the hands of time and the Irish weather. At this point the council have not changed their direction in the plans to remove the mural even with respect to the massive amount of support It has gotten. The owners of the hostel Mary and Killian have agreed with the council that they will repaint it but only when the weather improves and suitable to do so. I am hoping the skies weren't blue in Bundoran this morning.
Some ideas have come to us about how to keep the mural and keep everyone happy. One was to cover the entire front of the hostel with all the left over Election posters. Everyone seems to like them, no complaints there, always popular with the kids and it's not like they aren't everywhere and In your face or anything. Another idea was to train a flock of pigeons to shit a peace symbol all over the front of the hostel that was quickly dropped as we are sure the council and planning authority would have to be notified by the pigeons before doing so and apply with the correct documentation. We also didn't want the pigeons to have to go to court or be fined.

One last idea that stuck out was that we paint the hostel the colour of the road, sea and sky so it fits in perfectly with the surrounding environment. This could be painted so well that no one would be even able to tell that the building was there and It would be completely forgotten.

Both Danleo and myself have come to terms with the mural being painted over and we are not so concerned with our artwork being destroyed but by the manner in which it was dealt with. Small local authorities that demand respect but can't seem to be In the slightest bit open minded towards possible change. We know it's not everyones cup of tea, there are locals and surfers who think the place looks shit but to those who do when you want change in something that you have interest in maybe you will see where we are coming from. The main thing about this whole thing Is the hostel owners tried something new and different and offered it to the public and had no problems with it ever being removed but now they have been court summonsed and fined. That Is the main issue, It is not about our artwork being in anyway special or sacred It is how business people who generate interest and money for an area can be treated like crooks by the people who should be encouraging and supporting them.

I encourage anyone who is inspired or angered by this both for or against to voice your opinion and send It in the right direction. We are all great at giving out, our problem Is we just never give out to the right people. If you have sent a letter or email to the council please continue to do so and voice your feelings.

As a last stand I ask anyone who has sent an email to forward it to this man, Joe McHugh. I was in touch with Joe and will be back In touch with him this week. He is a newly elected Fine Gael TD in Donegal north east and he asked me to contact him so I am hoping to do so with a few hundred people behind me.

His email address is Joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie

Please get In touch with him, he is our Obi Wan Kenobi to our Princess Leia at this stage!

Thanks to everyone for the support and to those who don't support any of this, Its always good to hear both sides, we don't take it personally It's all part of the debate.

Little Ghost Flea Market the Sequel !!!!!

2011-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

The second installment of the Little Ghost Flea market will be premiered this coming weekend the 26th and 27th of February. The intimate space of the Little Ghost Gallery will house a jumble of little treasures for sale. Rummage around a great selection of vintage toys, comics and art books. There will be original art work for sale along with some unique bits and pieces for you to browse through.

Comb through the rails of clothes for both ladies and gents. Flick through the huge selection of CD's, Vinyl & DVDs and feel free to have a listen if your curious of the unheard.

We are open from 11-5 both Saturday and Sunday and remember the first ones there get the best stuff as happened with the first market the week before last.

" A beautiful way to spend your Saturday in amongst other peoples stuff "

FLEA UNCUT ****

"The Littlest Flea Market with the biggest heart",

Mick's Ma *****

"Some Buzz",

Eddie B - Man of simple pleasures ****