Caricatures Ireland

This is a 10 minute sketch from my notebook of Russell Brand. I drew him because there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE GOING ON IN THE WORLD anywhere at all at all.
I think the real controversy here is that such a banal story as this has been given such long, drainpipe-wearing legs. It’s still floating around the BBC website today, and even made mention in the Houses of Parliament.
Now what was that about global economic something or other? And wasn’t there some mention of an altercation around the Middle East? I seem to have been distracted by eyeliner and big/floppy hair, and a few thousand parchment-thin hides sitting by the phone, just waiting for something to complain about, and ripping in half when it comes.

Tags: Andrew Sachs, Georgina Baillie, Jonathan Ross, Russell Brand, caricatures, news by Allan
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I don’t think I’ll actually breathe that sigh of relief until the murderous scumbag currently in the White House is gone but I’m delighted Barack Obama has won. He’s not Jesus folks, but he’s one of the best orators in recent times, and seems to be inspiring a new start for Americans, their self-perception, and their relationship to the rest of the human beings in the world. The McCain campaign was one of the most bizarre political spectacles ever, but recently weirdness and stupidity were the celebrated modus operandi of the elected in America, which is why I’m relieved that America woke up and mobilised. Well done and congratulations America.
Just keep Cheney away from the gun cabinet.
The Obama caricature above is from my sketchbook. So is the sketch of Palin below. She could have been President. In some quantum subdivision of reality, she is.
Expect interdimensional refugees any day now.

Tags: Barack Obama, caricatures, john mccain, news, sarah palin, us elections by Allan
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The Forbidden Planet Blog reports that Gerald Scarfe has been awarded a CBE. Scarfe is probably one of my biggest influences, even if my style is nothing like his. I remember seeing one of his cartoons of Nixon wiping his arse with the Stars and Stripes when I was about 15 and being absolutely stunned by how perfectly he’d distilled his disgust into cartoon that surely harmed Nixon’s image in the public eye. Scarfe remains one of the greatest caricaturists in the world.

pic: St. Paul’s Gallery

Tags: caricatures, news by Allan
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Dean Kelly’s first solo show, modus operandi?, opens this Friday in Kenny’s Gallery, Galway. I’ve known Dean since college in ’94, and I’ve watched his work develop. I think he’s on the cusp of becoming an important painter and I also think he’s going to be a big seller (his graduation show sold out in 1997).

Tags: Galway, art, events, news by Allan
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Galway based artist collective ARTISIT? are hosting the following events this week:

Thursday 2nd | 7pm | G126 / Unit 11, Ballybane Ind Est, Tuam Rd, Galway, Ireland
Kevin Gaffney

Friday 3rd | 7pm | 8 Bowling Green
Dee Mc Donnell / Zulaikha Engelbrecht

Friday 3rd | 9pm | 2 Henry Street
Will Robinson / Oliver Rafferty / Curver Thoroddsen / Sabina Mac Mahon

Saturday 4th | 8pm | Mc Donagh Building / 1-5 Merchants Road, Galway, Ireland
Peter Caul / Ditte Knus / Silja Leifsdottir / Sarah Ingersoll / Michael Levitt
Geir Helgi Birgisson / Soo Jung Choi / Wenjei Cheng / Kyusung Jo
James Stevens / Eoin Williams / Junpei Murao

Get along if you can!

Tags: Galway, art, events, news by Allan
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