The Mysterious Traveller

Shhhhh... ...I am going to begin with something positively inspirational and end on a negative truth. I sit here in hope that the latter shall not quash your want of reading, but it's how I roll these days; an optimistic pessimist (ha!).  POSITIVELY INSPIRATIONAL works of art can be found scattered across the city of Manchester. Even Stockport, where I have set up abode, has a great creative influx. Whether you stand before a grand mural towering up the side of a building, or spy a mysterious little character painted in the nook of an alleyway, you are in for a treat. I have seen many delightful pieces in passing, but have yet to tick them all off (some only last a few weeks; Bowie [above] is sadly no longer with us). However, as I was surfing my second favourite web browser, I stumbled upon a guide that portrays many of these incredible pieces from the streets of Manchester. I strongly recommend a peruse: https://www.blocal-travel.com/street-art/manches...

Well then! Look who's come crawling back after nineteen months of web page silence (me, I'm crawling back). And with a jolly good reason folks; I simply miss being creative with my writing. I miss summarising my recent ventures with photographs and silly videos. I miss rambling, and getting away with using words like pandemonium and phooey [ exclamation  used to express disdain or disbelief.  "so   phooey to   sophistication"]. In reality, I am temporarily working from home, so time is on my side. And why not delve back into the thriving medium of blogging? Why not indeed. Full of top quality content, mixed with the grief and regret of a hangover; a winning combination. I must admit that I am perhaps a little rusty with my wording (at one point I considered Grammarly), however if you bare with me I'm sure we'll all come out of this with something.  So what the bally-hey-ho has happened over the last year?!! In the last twelve months I have been given a ...

   This is a very belated Star Wars related (accidentally rhyming with excellent timing) piece of writing. I'm not going to delve into my own review, because I'm not a film critic and I'm certainly not capable of writing anything mildy serious. Instead, I'm going to write a few words as a Star Wars fan, a cinema goer and a twenty nine year old child. I ******* loved it. I loved the film. I love Star Wars. I bloody love you. I went to the midnight viewing, opening night, with my good friend Daniel James after an evening of blue milk (courtesy of Aunt Beru), the Christmas Special (courtesy of bad taste) and watching the loveable BB-8 patrol the room (simply a courtesy). I was very nervous; I could feel my heart pounding the closer I got to screen 7. I honestly don't think I have ever felt so excited, scared and emotionally drained in such a hypnotic way.  I have since watched it two more times, bringing the total to thrice. And if the Odeon cinema p...

Sometimes the call of duty may surpass your average daily routine, where enjoying those strange, random, albeit hilarious, YouTube videos is simply not enough. Sometimes you need to become the fool and create a rather special video with a good ol' chum of yours. Welcome to TommyRob Shimuu . We're not quite sure of the whys or hows of the situation; more so the why nots and how the bloody hell shall we film that eh? What I'm trying to say is; I am a fool. And so is Rob Millard. So please watch how we've used this to our advantage... But tomfoolery aside, I have actually been doing some productive and creative work to advocate my place in the art world; in the fine medium of sculpting. Now, unfinished they may be, once painted these models will hopefully play a role in the bigger project of which I shall one day pursue. Stoppit and Tidyup was a children's animated television show from the late eighties, and something that I was always enthralled with when I ...

Sod off, I've been on holiday. And now, as I very gradually slouch a little lower in my lazy stupor, I have almost succumbed to day time television; and I'll tell you why. I have just returned from a beautiful and glorious jaunt around parts of Europe, but now realise that I need to jump start my creative mojo. I mean, do you know how long it takes for me to write these bloody things or paint a picture? A day! (this is, however, calculated by adding up all the twenty minute sessions from the past three months). Either way, it's just bananas. Although, today I did find an inspiring saviour and I'm baffled to why I hadn't listened to it before: the Skwigly Podcast (above). Why am I only discovering it now? Tell me that! I've got 29 episodes to catch up on now, so Come Dine With Me can go f**k itself (no wait! I'll still have it on in the background). The Skwigly website  is something that I was aware of but hadn't fully explored, mainly due to ...

So I've just been working on a Coca Cola advert that I probably shouldn't talk about. I know somebody involved with Star Wars Episode VII of which they really shouldn't talk about. I'm picking my nose but... you know I wouldn't hesitate in keeping that from you. So sit back and relax; this blog post is completely under control.  The animation club have finished their first draft of the upcoming Untitled Princethorpe College Animated Movie. The story itself is magnificent, albeit a little insane, as far as a narrative is concerned and I was rather impressed. I did, however, have to ask permission from certain teachers due to their controversial interpretation by the students. For any teachers who may read this, I apologise in advance. The only teaser I can give you, however, is this... robot creates monster chases teachers attacked by mutated rabbits with a dinosaur and an epic car chase. You can tell my class lacks the feminine touch.  A selection of ...

Many thanks to Barry Purves who prompted me to send my CV and contact Factory Transmedia, a studio on the outskirts of Manchester, where the animated series of both Strange Hill High and Toby's Travelling Circus are created (Barry is the director of the latter). I was soon called by the Strange Hill team and was asked whether I fancied a week in the art department. At the time I was trying to pack up a tent whilst flailing in the rain like a confused eel, so I can only hope that I didn't sound too disgruntled when I answered the unknown number.  ' Yes, of course I can come up '... I replied in a bizarre squeaky voice. I was overwhelmed by the opportunity, but determined to end the conversation with a relatively convincing tone of masculinity. So after sounding like Brad Garrett it was confirmed that I would head up to Manchester.  'Strange Hill High  is a children's series for the CBBC   created using animation technique combining puppets, Japa...