tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13929965582371759622024-02-21T05:27:59.764+11:00Richard Morden illustrationA freelance illustrator based in Melbourne, AustraliaRichard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-31314446869108086692022-01-01T19:48:00.140+11:002022-11-28T13:30:21.549+11:00A prehistoric megafauna map of Australia<div style="text-align: left;"><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><img alt="map of the prehistoric megafauna Australia Sahul" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hY1YPU7qZivWZGF7OmFBHdzW20wI364GWm5Sobmn_I5RgCGhjp5J9hCzmgQx97yXx_WCifIam150XyJ1GQFrOZYGe59TkLgqUgew7DF42ucWFBxMqjui8vJt_a6hrXyOkVjkC-8nFR50RCHucPETCALQQWLdNNZxwDtYdZRyzfU0XdZb1sXm-Uh1/s16000/Prehistoric-megafauna-map-of-Australia-760.jpg" title="Prehistoric megafauna map of Australia" /><br /> </div><div><i>The prehistoric continent of Sahul: </i><i style="text-align: center;"><span>Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea </span></i></div><i><span><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span>joined by low sea levels </span></i><i><span>sixty five thousand years ago</span></i></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><i>and the vanished megafauna of the late Pleistocene </i></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"When people lived alongside creatures unique</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Giants of fur and pouch, tooth scale and beak" <br /></i></div><p> </p><p>A playful prehistoric megafauna map of Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea which explores in reliable detail a specific slice of deep time. </p><p>By drawing on the available science to depict ice age coastlines, rivers, lakes, ocean currents, climate, fauna and the presence of humans, the artwork visualises the past in a fun educational way and challenges a static Australian identity.</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/shop">Visit my Redbubble shop for posters and t shirts <br />of the Prehistoric megafauna map of Australia <br />and of the vanished Australian megafauna</a> </h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div><img alt="poster of prehistoric megafauna map of Australia Sahul" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTm5Cy6HgAil7ZwiX-5Bu3mYXYjj_raHsKvTgZhCq_-4u5gE7Fk-rOmqiiibkug-h7Sx6-DH0CPVMEyoMP83zhvwOYzBBLk8KWI5sxrUVL2JNR1QjwbuG695Wzk6YzPqTxQDjMqyc83Q0J7xQ3F_H8C1dLodTqTQEmWXHjY4DuQFKA5ZH-gyV-neB/w200-h200/poster-prehistoric-megafauna-map-of-australia-200.jpg" title="Poster of the prehistoric megafauna map of Australia" width="200" />
<img alt="t-shirt of Diprotodon" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgIISYnfws_5rNPdl0Q3ZOZ08ZkBdhS_1gnPuuFALSkat-dHIqN2AOSvSZV1XKNxcPYkuFZjiIOQ-trVSjoAvYm7PCvoakT8RoieqSo6Gw_UgKXremaSNtZvrU5T_Ru2bSLMwCUqv2XW5MdaDjGQue5yJ2ogy_2Yqxe3YlEqVomJAfjTlZAr2guXe/s16000/tshirt-diprotodon-200.jpg" title="Diprotodon t-shirt" width="200" />
<img alt="t-shirt of prehistoric megafauna map of Australia" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmm6rkbpYwn8mLX6gX-w8kNG0MdI1nn42a7P733ELT7IqCWcXyBtPmvuQvMahYleOyl9ZZ0leE0681sMcW15rbyuc1lkQXY-3PwYIZNH83-yPa2qYCqyGxqCdAdVczluDhSxFT66ESlNffF4vHF4DMT9AnLj5RLQupMFC2RDtBnjT_nzJUXA5YU10H/w200-h200/tshirt-prehistoric-megafauna-map-of-australia-200.jpg" title="t-shirt of the prehistoric megafauna map of Australia" width="200" /><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Why make this map of prehistoric Australia?</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">Ten years ago I created a <a href="https://www.richardmordenillustration.com.au/2011/12/map-of-supercontinent-pangaea.html">map of the supercontinent Pangaea</a> populated with
various creatures that lived in the Triassic. Similar in style to an old sea-faring map with monsters, only the monsters of this time were real. It proved to be popular poster art. </p><p style="text-align: left;">As
a professional illustrator with years of experience in educational science
illustration I was driven to follow up the map of Pangaea by assembling a map of prehistoric Australia. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The intention was to create an intuitive, engaging way to imagine features of Australia’s past such as land bridges, ancient lakes and ecosystems of vanished enigmatic animals, and to consider the connection of life to climate and a changing terrain. These things have never before been visualised together in one document.</p><p>The prehistoric megafauna map of Australia is a serious exploration of the
knowledge gathered by expert minds, presented as fun, engaging and
educational children’s art. </p><p> </p>
<p></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='360' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyazPEQxM9wX1cfrPDD7n2vaVg2NA87MOs8ejUnLtwuVCb0__P6lza77TpVpNLyeGyXXLPRePwcGJseJpt7Ng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
</div>
A video flyover of the Prehistoric megafauna map of Australia<br /><div>
<p></p><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">How was this map made?
</h2><p style="text-align: left;">There was no existing single visual reference for this map! <br />To coalesce many fields of science into one image required extensive reading of available knowledge.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p>I created my own reference guided by scientific literature, topological data and mapping software. Using a referenced estimate of sea levels 65,000 years ago (apparently about 85 metres below present) it was possible to use sea floor data GEBCO 2020 Grid and QGIS mapping software to render a reference map showing the coastlines of a lower sea level. To do this I had to learn to use actual mapping software! </p><p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="mapping Australia's pleistocene coastline" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I_0Zu-fkRj2vKK5MEaqaaTGSOAsg4co0cIVMMpeOIZ09yuRgdcAw3eVO2UOCOnDiRauDNiydg_J6E4VZ9PJhbd6aIhiFOKXQaevAglf1-oeUkIpp7UFLxEOeXIz5lqel1Tep8GcgmyeMcLnnZOB8mCOUS-tTM2W0UU_zRqEo-FOVKnjMCxaspygP/s16000/gqis-pleistocene-continent-sahul-420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="using sea floor data GEBCO 2020 Grid and QGIS to map prehistoric coastlines" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using sea floor data GEBCO 2020 Grid and QGIS <br />mapping software to reveal Australia's ice age coastline</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The depicted geographical features such as rivers, lakes, mountains, snow lines, areas of vegetation and climate were derived from information gathered from topographical data sets and relevant research papers.</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The animals featured were chosen for research suggesting they were still living at the time this map explores. Extinction dates of these animals are uncertain but are likely to have happened after this time period. Except for the Meiolania tortoise. No one knows when this went extinct!</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>To keep the map clear and un-confusing only large extinct species are featured.</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Where possible the animals were based on skeletal reconstructions or diagrammatic reconstructions sourced from relevant research papers, and the latest science describing the animal’s life appearance, posture, etc. Sometimes there were only brief written descriptions or suppositions to go by. Some details are simply made up (ie fur colour) because no one actually knows.</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The animals have mostly been placed where they might have lived, though for balance and aesthetics I used some license.</p><p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="map detail of ice age lake carpentaria" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqtWMVWh6PTgjuD2camYhtNsJBy0nZ-8-diAqsJNud3qoRxzvPr7lZdgxLkjJSrLW8u3dSkMScYQIv3sRmXf4-LKuu37Hqtjoy2SMkF5eR8_hGa3d-NJXDNBR2zZWNG-uyuiDY0f5H1Xrd4LZDeJjcmyPDY2JK89rnhqpMnL-2RXcggPupCS2J-4K/s16000/map-detail-lake-carpentaria.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="map detail of ice-age Lake Carpentaria" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the last 2.4 million years with fluctuating sea levels <br />more often than not the Gulf of Carpentaria <br />has been a lake </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="map detail of ice-age lake bass and tasmanian land bridge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgR0PoDza3mIQXkvPN7HUQ5jZB8dy4Fr1zmipX9cQXG-vcdSqboZ6tu850qNiu5wNnjjJWCQFqvxPkaoBl0EWjiqv656pkt_i35sfsrg00AIB9wdhaqvumoWeYQgbBoRTHVkV3azMuj0ubWo-WeI3XwgtFzgcVoqegRzDnwuxW5Ky4jcAqmqcgcqP/s16000/map-detail-lake-bass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="map detail of ice-age Lake Bass and Tasmanian land bridge" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During Glacial Maximums (ice ages) when sea levels are low <br />Australia and Tasmania are connected by a 'land bridge' <br />and Bass Strait becomes a lake</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p> </p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Meet the vanished megafauna </h2>
<p>These creatures lived side by side with the Australian animals we see around us today. With a few notable exceptions most of the megafauna on this map are thought to have gone extinct around 40, 000 years ago.</p><p>It was once a land of far greater biological diversity. Sadly we can no longer see these enigmatic giants in real life, though in a few cases this may be for the best. Some of them were terrifying! </p>
<p>So, in order of their appearance on the map...</p><p><br /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Meiolania<br /></h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="prehistoric tortoise Meiolania" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBWIaNVSqUOu2iR1KSc0QXEz3wq0pKYUfELDx4_n4MvUALCvIN2wysaWZIb5rDkOobMhr8jJBUmdSRVLHCKGWjD0pzBZSODMqN-QI04DwTxuXy6C4laWgHrI-Ccm9qu7SLPnXMl5w_dqn8KntYSuCUTkPxTFLcoBFMWZi4IPc7fYNmU664YabtA06/s16000/meiolania.png" title="Meiolania" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant horned tortoise </li><li>Had a spiked tail reinforced with rings of bone </li><li>Had a pair of pointy horns and many knobbly spikes on its head </li><li>Shell length from 0.75 to 2 metres depending on species </li><li>An amazing example of convergent evolution with ankylosaurs (armoured dinosaurs) </li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Hulitherium tomasetti<br /></h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="Hulitherium tomasetti" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfjoypRND79Fbx5RVKj1iN141_D9G0QY0F0goJFBijM6yyDH0rXKwnzJoiyjr_SrqTaWlnEjQrHYTp6oOCxew_BqGoKWrqjmooKFe2tbkTHPwfN3smD_NS6tWjSpxXTh1va4flBQKOcpggfl-5IaNGommvT4_lBwbDnOaxlqxo47-J_Joqib91W41/s16000/hulitherium.png" title="Hulitherium tomasetti" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant marsupial living in the mountain rain-forests of what is now the island of New Guinea </li><li>Could probably stand on its hind legs and reach up for juicy leaves </li><li>A browser, preferring soft foliage </li><li>Weighed from 75 kg to 200 kg </li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thylacine <span>cynocephalus</span></h3><br /><img alt="Thylacine cynocephalus Tasmanian tiger" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxcfIYDF0omHpsu3yLQCeEchkIXzLBy4cV3ZVIzEgpZocckAQ05SDBkaRUrT0RpgnJ2vOM0JWOJw2m8L8ajZLoBw4XBDY4eQDO7usBW7LN-7vqUlVUD8GjOeceUTx19coFAIRjraII2AbUEO1tiMmOFv8ORPcSBesfztMVEicVnT1IZ5Zs_BPa1IT/s16000/thylacine.png" title="Thylacine cynocephalus" /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Known as the Tasmanian tiger, yet until a few thousand years ago it lived throughout the entire continent </li><li>Roamed Australia and New Guinea during the Pleistocene only going extinct in the 20th century </li><li>A carnivorous marsupial, carrying its young in a pouch </li><li>An example of convergent evolution, many of its features were strikingly like that of a dog </li><li>Could open its mouth very wide, to around 80 degrees </li><li>Sightings still occur but remain unproven</li><li>Officially declared extinct in the 1980s</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Genyornis newtoni</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant bird Genyornis newtoni" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94NyOy_oiEnl9BjCJyFvPBDn607FLMxfANCavIvDADlPlA2VjPm2IvXGBuQ8uHASAYmJmwM2eRyzbkD6XWJrbtgNbJLy1e2KtugMKj6lvFobPr9rFHGlZuLNJb-uzINt1QmP2fO21aguypntxGVjkbSCZO1nHpa5AAH7xeW9h942KLgvT5G7zedSg/s16000/genyornis.png" title="Genyornis newtoni" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant flightless bird </li><li>Tiny wings and massive, strong legs </li><li>The heavily built beak could be used to apply great force </li><li>Grew to over 2 metres tall and 250 kg </li><li>Related to ducks and geese, but a whole lot bigger </li><li>The last of the mihrungs, a family of giant flightless birds </li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Phascolonus gigas</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="Phascolonus gigas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk89sHZ4445NmyMTe2tGtPFmklfaytccLCnwW2uoDi0qRxNmHyJwjrcarAMb9sML1PlmniQCwaUno67DXCGBP-EVohC6nqfFWEX3c0NgWiNf-o74eoyRqbI8H9n6T9l-TjDVHlMtpOQDmBN0jQLMVb_woBZYq8cHwKRIWNdWOaLe51CdixKq99cOd/s16000/phascolonus.png" title="Phascolonus gigas" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The biggest species of wombat ever </li><li>Had big square front teeth that grew non stop </li><li>Grew to around 200 kg </li><li>Did it do cube shaped poo like modern wombats? </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Palorchestes azael</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="Palorchestes azael" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2BdyFdisQ_yq7or1vMDUi75wXZOpHog15sGWS9T3yaXNQZmn246uy6gaCRACfT2EyGnMkPymR8ZFR6XgwZKOLhEs5AL37cpzKsBXe_GXYYrjw0qxFMGTAVL0EgdYhDqHkeFryp5efp7K5YiaPyGTeEJRyaZbwhKf6SzBi_VXM1bAbfALMdk46oE4/s16000/palorchestes.png" title="Palorchestes azael" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>An enigmatic giant marsupial </li><li>1.5 metres at the shoulder and massed 1000 kg </li><li>A slow powerful animal with a strange head and unusual gait </li><li>Strong forelimbs, elbows that could not straighten and chunky claws </li><li>Well developed prehensile lips and a long tongue </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sthenurus stirlingi</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant kangaroo Sthenurus stirlingi" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqckqf9IovXZE3bIvglc6imuPYlJzpkTr_3VybyC6mIdu6ZowSfqJxw3t1IWxTrIMTgyO1BrBlQe7t1jzllulWdd-3VkudukisjJg8ujVNlmtq6Yr3xhcJZpoGt6QBcYmZKdLqtXIR9M2tAUSDs_Dlie4noEI76IUFwY8zMZzDYqWtParUQd4x-u5/s16000/Sthenurus.png" title="Sthenurus stirlingi" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant short-faced kangaroo </li><li>Strong heavy build with robust bones </li><li>Grew to between 150 and 200 kg </li><li>Short flat face with forward facing eyes </li><li>Could reach its arms well above its head to pull down tasty leaves </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Quinkana</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="Pleistocene crocodile Quinkana" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULHdcKee6gPBwkcAzkkN4KX5HoOCOn2bU1Uh0iA85naKVoOzC93bmQENyCGEaIVnRRtP90OS1i7KJsWih3iUNjmIya8c8g5LT9tNhhR1wdTbEtplsNSIeFKAJIG0_grvQ4LOnllS5xHVp30LQ993MLceXOmUhF4ZucrV0PaSsC02OOO3ptpNNCsIo/s16000/quinkana.png" title="Quinkana" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A land dwelling crocodile </li><li>Broad snout and curved, serrated teeth for slicing through flesh </li><li>A fast runner with long upright legs </li><li>Growing from 2 to 5 metres long </li><li>One of the mekosuchines, a now-extinct lineage of crocodiles </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Wonambi</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="prehistoric snake Wonambi" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZcrxXyR5CeRxmNrAqGLBdlVVcy4epCM6R_Sz7_BoyuEEx-LF-n1IkxWKJ9MTAV6VPVc6eMczOwy6Ux0sRib7b4-CZVWmNaiUs3KIB3GuMpZjQsL79FHFqW3kLaXdn8kAGBwEaUasOjC-oeaJ7aiKApw1vzkoP2zEaiwX0O8f-xtQBZg7YBKSh9tR/s16000/Wonambi.png" title="Wonambi" /><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Last of an ancient lineage of snakes known as the Madtsoiids </li><li>Killed prey by constriction yet was not a python or a boa </li><li>Grew to 5 or 6 metres long and weighed about 50 kg </li><li>Ate smallish prey as its jaw was not flexible like a modern snake </li><li>Named after the Dreamtime Rainbow Serpent </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Procoptodon goliah </h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant short faced kangaroo Procoptodon goliah" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLeGowaqt3N_iVYbsuy-lAeDW5JIUmri2oToUd9B3L8B49Eb6oQBx-WRMnH0h4-Eh6deQ2fgujjH1y_bvmNK5oqlbv0N0gc1ebZ9OuE0r34eTLLasgjQUiK0YL1jC8VhQ2AUp4E69ocj3ztOVqYB30dLS-i27wlrFZuPEn3v0IrHMt2y0SH-ebBeF/s16000/procoptodon.png" title="Procoptodon goliah" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant short-faced kangaroo </li><li>Big single toe claws like hoofs </li><li>Their anatomy suggests they did not hop. Instead they walked! </li><li>Heavy build, weighing around 200 to 240 kg </li><li>About two metres in height when sitting up </li><li>Short flat face </li><li>Ate tough leaves and stems </li><li>Long arms with two long claws on each hand for reaching leaves </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Diprotodon optatum</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant marsupial Diprotodon optatum" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YerOQalBFA_FJrEOLfOU5DhlcbE-ZgqSs8EvgBix3V5EWuEYpy1iBZlT4ADJbGjuFl9YuB-b1ghBzgPe59F4z9SeuYK9jf_SUvaL_9PzXyI38SMEbbXLJvBGLQivpYICJhUDvtAF3xQ0j_GZ3oYb82H9W6zIAnf2PJytiHjFtTCc9tI7UJ6s22J6/s16000/diprotodon.png" title="Diprotodon optatum" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The biggest marsupial ever! <br /></li><li>Huge skull filled with air cavities to keep it lighter </li><li>Up to 3 metres long, 2 metres at the shoulder and massing 3000 kg </li><li>Lived in groups and may have been migratory </li><li>Back feet had funny inward turned toes </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Zygomaturus trilobus</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="Zygomaturus trilobus" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa-ge90zIPs2MhAEuX0x0-c14-Pm2alKNjH6JID7_UzUGJ37YO9tsXSRtehCcmqYQ_OcBAg3i2cMf6ZkA-qzl5imbyZTYmWVZPQx_fds1HoJZlBOOxqeIJLgVgFPsyAln0vyKxE_OeaKYT0dliWZj1OlF_6skOJNdR7m6luqlsAe7M0PsOyCpf7_6/s16000/zygomaturus.png" title="Zygomaturus trilobus" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A giant diprotodontid living to about 33,000 years ago in Australia </li><li>May have lived in coastal regions near swamps, lakes and rivers </li><li>One of the largest marsupials to have ever lived </li><li>About 1.5 metres at the shoulder and up to 500 kg </li><li>huge cheek bones and a big rubbery nose </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Megalania (Varanus Priscus)</h3><img alt="gian lizard Megalania Varanus Priscus" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Znu6JTRn1_jGDfMZ4RrKwqUseoI9jjzhIxJdbd_2FOvzZMuIoRmef6O3DF8DB-RtHtNiYqpeLe-3NVB7fLZIhBw5T_5d1wm3FRkAyDa-CizwNcuJ7KTkI9JV3DyNKwprYnhnRa416dOI5EmNteAGb0tvIcAeGOf5Zbjb1J5hxinJHoTKyHu1HNXu/s16000/megalania.png" title="Megalania (Varanus Priscus)" /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The giant monitor lizard </li><li>By far the biggest terrestrial lizard to have ever lived </li><li>Estimated lengths approaching 5 to 7 metres and massing up to 2200 kg </li><li>Mouth full of large teeth like serrated blades </li><li>Had venom and toxic bacteria in its saliva </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Murrayglossus hacketti</h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant echidna Murrayglossus hacketti" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCVeC1GmJKuu3mzwHjR-jZD5sDXqpHhvAfZ8DlX01gmk9RNLH65Gn7JQOrOkxm4PNCebd4bbUTYclIKaZcl9twBK-GI483vtAhxmsTrtK4p5yiBphlqMyWjIQDQSx42BSrgtQmljfTCuUEOJicBWi4v7YEXjzwbTIBkx95K53nqMZwwcjJgX4lknq/s16000/murrayglossus.png" title="Murrayglossus hacketti" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The giant echidna </li><li>Biggest egg laying mammal ever </li><li>Longer straighter legs than other echidnas </li><li>About 30 kg and 1 m long </li><li>Very long beak </li><li>Tongue around half a metre long </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Progura gallinacea<br /></h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><img alt="giant malleefowl Progura gallinacea" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNdVaXOKoQ7-TBW_1ykrS9ZmPCvlg8Uwa_JFAbdeSvEIg38LTEBWBy5U3qXEljwSZvl2j_SD0HGpAVD_P5NFCUKCmAbcwmt4dbCUG9bCG-FVNzQWiBjqMNPQ1mTgUuj1k8UskDmy1fl6XKIgw1ktZGZrg5WR-LNCT4zzMx_2SKm4jeZ8hW0RlPb7C/s16000/progura.png" title="Progura gallinacea" /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The giant megapode </li><li>Buried their eggs in warm sand dunes, leaving their young to fend for themselves </li><li>As tall as a grey kangaroo </li><li>Despite its size it could fly... a bit </li><li>The giant cousin of bush turkeys and malleefowl </li><li>Is it responsible for the remains of egg shell previously attributed to the giant bird Genyornis?</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Thylacoleo carnifex</h3><img alt="marsupial lion Thylacoleo carnifex" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE5vjQ4SCBpOewG1dNhy49oAMjzKnJ0Nfy4c1t7c1wn0BgaVWqxAj6CiHatGFp2_X4GQRAnZ1uIMQKzaICXK5tI2QScZiYiSpOhnECKZORK1H4MGohmCM4RlZD_r8hF6fWhBUnTiOhBMw6pciyr6QCIBRW52CekAimu6lZ0l6Cp--BP5OXWuTIKUR/s16000/thylacoleo.png" title="Thylacoleo carnifex" /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A huge marsupial carnivore</li><li>Around 130 kg and 1.5 m long </li><li>For its weight the most powerful bite of any mammal ever </li><li>Teeth like enormous cutting shears </li><li>Enormous hooked thumb claws for securing prey </li><li>A strong tail for balance when leaping or rearing up </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Protemnodon anak</h3><img alt="giant kangaroo Protemnodon anak" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVJTFe-X3teAnqP8rM7FqrAU8ykqr-jkCaHjxvB-Dc4yvKWm3Xrld-cIN1qiaNdCwoa5VFrZvekyN_InJnQytJngpKd4HSjYGufp96bQll0cJMePdTwO8luJ8-SfN8d5hkiTcO9eYjlE71vc78q4WNByGqDZdhvo5xOClKbXWg9-Jyr4hPSJQydTC/s16000/protemnodon.png" title="Protemnodon anak" /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A slender giant of a kangaroo with a very long neck</li><li>Quadrupedal, tending to walk on all fours </li><li>A browser, eating mostly leaves and stems </li><li>Grew to about 2 metres tall and 150 kg </li></ul></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Want to know more about the giants of Australia’s Pleistocene?</h2><p style="text-align: left;">There are many excellent museums and locations around Australia which deliver amazing insights into Australia’s ice age landscapes and life. My personal favourites are</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Naracoorte cave tours and Wonambi Fossil Centre in Naracoorte, South Australia</li><li>Mungo track, tours and visitors center at Mungo National Park, New South Wales</li><li>Melbourne Museums exhibit 600 Million Years, the origin and evolution of life in Victoria</li></ul><p style="text-align: left;">A book about Australian megafauna suitable for all ages with beautiful illustrations:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Prehistoric Giants : The Megafauna of Australia <br />written by Danielle Clode published by Museum Victoria 2009</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">Or if you want to take a deep dive into Australia's Pleistocene climate and ecology a great starting point is searching for topics on Google Scholar</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Map sources</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>To make the Prehistoric megafauna map of Australia required extensive reading of available knowledge. References as follows:</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Map projection</b><br />Lambert conformal conic projection</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Coastal contours</b><br />Based on bathymetric data GEBCO 2020 Grid.<br />Rendered with QGIS for reference</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sea level at 85 meters below present</b><br />De Deckker, P., Arnold, L.J., van der Kaars, S., Bayon, G., Stuut, J.B.W., Perner, K., dos Santos, R.L., Uemura, R. and Demuro, M., 2019. Marine Isotope Stage 4 in Australasia: A full glacial culminating 65,000 years ago–Global connections and implications for human dispersal. Quaternary Science Reviews, 204, pp.187-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.11.017</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mountains</b><br />Based on land data GEBCO 2020 Grid</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Existing rivers and salt lakes</b><br />Australia Report Map Geoscience Australia 2007</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Coastal paleo rivers</b><br />Harris, P., Heap, A., Passlow, V., Sbaffi, L., Fellows, M., Porter-Smith, R., Buchanan, C. and Daniell, J., 2003. Geomorphic features of the continental margin of Australia. Geoscience Australia, Canberra.<br />Voris, H.K., 2000. Maps of Pleistocene sea levels in Southeast Asia: shorelines, river systems and time durations. Journal of biogeography, 27(5), pp.1153-1167.<br />Hill, P.J., De Deckker, P., Von der Borch, C. and Murray-Wallace, C.V., 2009. Ancestral Murray River on the Lacepede Shelf, southern Australia: Late Quaternary migrations of a major river outlet and strandline development. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 56(2), pp.135-157.<br />Murray-Wallace, C.V., 2014. The continental shelves of SE Australia. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 41(1), pp.273-291.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Paleo lakes</b><br />Harris, P.T., Heap, A.D., Marshall, J.F. and McCulloch, M., 2008. A new coral reef province in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia: colonisation, growth and submergence during the early Holocene. Marine Geology, 251(1-2), pp.85-97.<br />Baird, M., 2018. Bass Strait Glider Reveals the Ancient Bassian Lake. Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Ocean Current News</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sand dunes</b><br />Hesse, P.P., 2010. The Australian desert dunefields: formation and evolution in an old, flat, dry continent. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 346(1), pp.141-164.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Climate and vegetation</b> <br />De Deckker, P., Arnold, L.J., van der Kaars, S., Bayon, G., Stuut, J.B.W., Perner, K., dos Santos, R.L., Uemura, R. and Demuro, M., 2019. Marine Isotope Stage 4 in Australasia: A full glacial culminating 65,000 years ago–Global connections and implications for human dispersal. Quaternary Science Reviews, 204, pp.187-207.<br />De Deckker, P., Moros, M., Perner, K., Blanz, T., Wacker, L., Schneider, R., Barrows, T.T., O’Loingsigh, T. and Jansen, E., 2020. Climatic evolution in the Australian region over the last 94 ka-spanning human occupancy-, and unveiling the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary Science Reviews, 249, p.106593.<br />Hope, G., Kershaw, A.P., van der Kaars, S., Xiangjun, S., Liew, P.M., Heusser, L.E., Takahara, H., McGlone, M., Miyoshi, N. and Moss, P.T., 2004. History of vegetation and habitat change in the Austral-Asian region. Quaternary International, 118, pp.103-126.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sea currents</b><br />Petrick, B., Martínez-García, A., Auer, G., Reuning, L., Auderset, A., Deik, H., Takayanagi, H., De Vleeschouwer, D., Iryu, Y. and Haug, G.H., 2019. Glacial indonesian throughflow weakening across the mid-pleistocene climatic transition. Scientific reports, 9(1), pp.1-13.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Megafauna living 65,000 years ago</b><br />Bradshaw, C.J., Johnson, C.N., Llewelyn, J., Weisbecker, V., Strona, G. and Saltré, F., 2021. Relative demographic susceptibility does not explain the extinction chronology of Sahul’s megafauna. Elife, 10, p.e63870.<br />Hocknull, S.A., Lewis, R., Arnold, L.J., Pietsch, T., Joannes-Boyau, R., Price, G.J., Moss, P., Wood, R., Dosseto, A., Louys, J. and Olley, J., 2020. Extinction of eastern Sahul megafauna coincides with sustained environmental deterioration. Nature communications, 11(1), pp.1-14.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Presence of modern humans</b><br />Clarkson, C., Jacobs, Z., Marwick, B., Fullagar, R., Wallis, L., Smith, M., Roberts, R.G., Hayes, E., Lowe, K., Carah, X. and Florin, S.A., 2017. Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago. Nature, 547(7663), pp.306-310.</span><br /></p></div></div>Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-50773033989007606492017-07-16T14:32:00.005+10:002022-11-19T19:19:42.486+11:00A poster illustration of the Westgarth Cinema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMiiHcYUXljR9tH92TtwXp3EdqnOmhjLpg_ILs1EQegn2c-anq36szEwZJsOP5dS-i3GAyT8Q08M0GLUDUScmQqR0Z1z77nj_dEi9Lyc_6-KCLwhAVU-wVrE_gAdvXTv68ZH_bYVDGwg/s1600/meeting-at-the-cinema-580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="drawing of the westgarth cinema" border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="580" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMiiHcYUXljR9tH92TtwXp3EdqnOmhjLpg_ILs1EQegn2c-anq36szEwZJsOP5dS-i3GAyT8Q08M0GLUDUScmQqR0Z1z77nj_dEi9Lyc_6-KCLwhAVU-wVrE_gAdvXTv68ZH_bYVDGwg/s640/meeting-at-the-cinema-580.jpg" title="meeting at the cinema" width="467" /></a></div>
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I saw two people outside a cinema lean over a motor scooter to kiss and I knew had to make an artwork of it.<br />
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In this drawing, behind the kissing couple, is a building based on the Westgarth Cinema in Northcote, Melbourne. It used to be called the Valhalla, a fondly remembered arthouse cinema. I have watched hundreds of films in this place, but haven’t kissed anyone here while on a movie date… yet.
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<tr><td><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/26627062">Visit my shop on Redbubble<br />to buy <b>Meeting at the Cinema</b><br />on posters, art prints and other gift items</a>
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The artwork was hand drawn in pen and ink and coloured digitally. If you are familiar with the Westgarth Cinema you will probably notice I changed a few details. For instance you can't really park a motor scooter on that corner, and I removed a power pole because it looked visually odd and distracting imbedded in the awning as it actually is in real life.<br />
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I created the artwork as an entry to <a href="http://www.illustratorsaustralia.com/portfolios/richard-morden/">Illustrators Australia's</a> art exhibition Paper to Pixel. So if you went to the exhibition this artwork will probably (hopefully) be familiar to you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2QF9Afuwo1EEKV1o1ss8jyNwqGKdeouPZMe8avjSrjKaqP1NRT11rI3OBgU_qh3kMx0edPW_tLpTFYFrKPcU7g6mJWWe087RT6ivlyJpW7cBHNNhJPx2clmBfIu45RF5FJuh9le3rZA/s1600/meeting-at-the-cinema-wip-860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="Pen and ink drawing of the Westgarth Cinema" border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="864" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2QF9Afuwo1EEKV1o1ss8jyNwqGKdeouPZMe8avjSrjKaqP1NRT11rI3OBgU_qh3kMx0edPW_tLpTFYFrKPcU7g6mJWWe087RT6ivlyJpW7cBHNNhJPx2clmBfIu45RF5FJuh9le3rZA/s400/meeting-at-the-cinema-wip-860.jpg" title="Pen and ink drawing of the Westgarth Cinema" width="400" /></a></div>
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Look at that big menacing ink blob right under the couple. Gaaagh! </div>
Good thing there is digital editing.<br />
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To show some of the process here's the pencil rough and the ink drawing before I coloured it.</div>
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-5749617203909098662017-07-07T13:42:00.002+10:002022-11-19T14:27:22.637+11:00illustrating a map of historical railway lines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>How many stations will need to be placed and labelled? <div>255 stations on 27 lines. </div><div>Hmmm, that's quite a few. Okay then, lets see how we go fitting all that information in...<br />
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Earlier this year I was commissioned to illustrate a historical map of Sydney's rail lines and stations. I was supplied with a rough layout and information of when the lines and stations opened, moved, extended, renamed or closed. A complex document to layout! I would like to think the result remains visually simple and easy to follow.<br />
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Truth is I enjoy putting together a historically based info-graphic like this and it makes me happy thinking of the historical train enthusiasts eagerly pouring over the carefully presented information.<br />
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If historical rail maps of Australia are your thing you can find this map and others available for purchase on Steve Watson's website <a href="http://www.trainsandtrams.com/sydney-train-map">www.trainsandtrams.com/sydney-train-map</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41y9EkwG3QnBhnzK93pYEAfEMoS6z_zqQz2t_YtOEMxF6glcWooznCiOEl_sMpj2q3JHbQh-FTwQuGviM3dYN5ML8o6ymwqZEzXssxUXQ1r219QxzelXilGcY0pcpcNSOb_Is-DgyrUI/s1600/sydney-rail-map-title.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41y9EkwG3QnBhnzK93pYEAfEMoS6z_zqQz2t_YtOEMxF6glcWooznCiOEl_sMpj2q3JHbQh-FTwQuGviM3dYN5ML8o6ymwqZEzXssxUXQ1r219QxzelXilGcY0pcpcNSOb_Is-DgyrUI/s200/sydney-rail-map-title.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-10281071208330817252016-10-22T20:10:00.002+11:002022-11-19T14:28:10.585+11:00Book illustration - Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUildxWSHKIZTcCsjnWEAD1YBBFg-fObkID0omIUoeCBB8iFQS3EWXyUUcvpMPf79sdW5WzpPK7Tnef-yk_sOgkA2-5pDdN3Ihn0mgy0VvM0CEt3dtlHeOlfjK2LgaSQ-iHDTIbGf-AqQ/w640-h640/AGV-cover-and-hand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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</span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Strange and Possibly True Australian Stories
</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Written by Stella Tarakson illustrated by Richard Morden
</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Penguin Random House Australia</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In store November 2016!!</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A year ago I was approached to illustrate </span><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings</i></span></span><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> a book examining th</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e </span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">m</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ost bizarre stories from Australia’s culture and history. It is a joyride of Australian gothic weirdness written for 10 to 15 year olds, however I enjoyed reading it and I’m quite a bit older than that. </span></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did a UFO drag a family’s car off the road in the middle of the outback? How did rocks rain from the sky in WA? And what became of the prime minister who went into the surf and was never seen again?</span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;">Explore the strangest tales, most incredible encounters and creepiest urban legends in Australia’s history. Read about the investigations and weigh up the facts – do you believe the official explanations for these weird and wonderful events?</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a few examples of the strange tales it examines...</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hawkesbury River Monster" border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ_pt-WV8jw/WAsgmJeuhII/AAAAAAAACNI/ZBBmj_WHijYcRbHrxXVDE1AgnZnPt17aQCPcB/s640/AVG-hawkesbury-monster-full.jpg" title="Hawkesbury River Monster" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-7e2c765d-eb7c-aaf8-35d5-4a2d17cd0335"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Mythical creatures!</b> This particular beastie is the Hawkesbury River monster, illustrated with the appearance of a plesiosaur. Next time you’re dabbling your toes in a river look carefully to be sure there is not one of these lurking in the deep. Chomp chomp!</span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Haunted places!</b> Some ghost hunters believe haunting spirits can be located with an electromagnetic field detector. Well I'm not so sure about that, but you can decide for yourself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWtJGfAo8pwKMFDU6MMlVl8s1PHDnyERWQPLuWwdHd2E6MD81xU4EdC9WCsOC3XJIP2mL6q100-8Qsf_u-f2i_nbOjlCsPjzxoO6xQ9r9D5ENSMbctQmALHIVBMhxHJV2rfoXb1hA3GE/s1600/AGV-manyup-girl-Audrey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The falling rocks of Manyup" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWtJGfAo8pwKMFDU6MMlVl8s1PHDnyERWQPLuWwdHd2E6MD81xU4EdC9WCsOC3XJIP2mL6q100-8Qsf_u-f2i_nbOjlCsPjzxoO6xQ9r9D5ENSMbctQmALHIVBMhxHJV2rfoXb1hA3GE/s400/AGV-manyup-girl-Audrey.jpg" title="The falling rocks of Manyup" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mysterious locations! </b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Have you heard of the falling stones of Mayanup, Western Australia? This is Audrey of Mayanup in the 1950s, around whom things would move strangely and rocks would appear, slowly falling to the ground. I'm not sure if she could actually levitate, but it felt appropriately tel</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ekinetic and spooky, so thats how I illustrated her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>UFO Sightings!</b> In 1966 in the Melbourne suburb of Westall more than 200 students and teachers from two schools saw a mysterious </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">object land in a nearby grassy field. I was delighted when I learned I was to be illustrating a scene form the Westal UFO sighting. I had heard some of the witnesses speak at a convention</span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and personally asked them to describe what they remember seeing and feeling when they approached the object. Best illustration reference ever.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Bizarre disappearances! </b>What was behind the disappearance of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt? The conspiracy theories speak of a shark attack, CIA intervention, eloping with a love interest, UFO abduction, and even a Chinese submarine waiting to take him away! </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">This was the first illustration completed for Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings, setting the style for the rest of the images. The plan was to create dark, mysterious illustrations with simple line work and lots of texture. I was also keen not to patronise the teenage readers with twee illustrations, instead aiming high and assuming an audience of sophistication.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Gosford Glyphs" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNTSV0JQQP7_h3Mxd5wRiMPiEGoWtRtbVj1IMNajvO3Qxuq38IKzoVokW9JDYZW2W1eifV57FVWY1vcU-oFn9CGlsUPw8UD8uK-3qikuhQoN-e2dvz68qNjrLvaSZGgUkAcURqe3clS8/s400/AGV-gosford-glyphs.jpg" title="The Gosford Glyphs" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Strange happenings!</b> Does the existence of the Gosford Glyphs prove ancient Egyptians travelled to Australia, or are the markings simply a prank by some cheeky school children? Hmmm, what would be more likely... let me think. Ancient Egyptians, obviously!</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">So many wonderfully strange tales. A book I thoroughly enjoyed illustrating. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Aliens Ghosts and Vanishings</i> is a</span>vailable in stores and on-line November 2016.</span></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-88437525065218658342015-11-30T23:11:00.001+11:002015-12-01T08:28:15.240+11:00Christmas Whale Christmas card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqy_yXIqsw6-43cUQVypToll3W7hClJzlnIxwmfk8vj08lQ2BIBT0ghfajOVOFsstci-QU02ZJZO0LMLOSDSBn-8WR0GaIZm65bSpJ0IXy56xE71NpFomqhShc0QJndl_DLZQ2fj2zMhc/s1600/christmas-whale-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Whale" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqy_yXIqsw6-43cUQVypToll3W7hClJzlnIxwmfk8vj08lQ2BIBT0ghfajOVOFsstci-QU02ZJZO0LMLOSDSBn-8WR0GaIZm65bSpJ0IXy56xE71NpFomqhShc0QJndl_DLZQ2fj2zMhc/s400/christmas-whale-600x600.jpg" title="Christmas Whale © Richard Morden" width="400" /></a></div>
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Will the Christmas whale be climbing down your chimney this year?<br />
One can only hope!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">to shop for <b>Christmas Whale </b>on Christmas cards, <br />t-shirts and other fun decorated gift items</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJteODVgE5G8AOitoGRp5SzShUMAMjUp6MHKzmZvR3W1T3N9T9Zi66QWmwSyanIYXYXXP0oTWSxFYibICXpErRBFjQwHb1yIC58i86bm0lYnZhwVU9D_sxMuwI673RJw2z6gNnyH0P6ur/s1600/christmas+whale+christmas+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Whale Christmas card" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJteODVgE5G8AOitoGRp5SzShUMAMjUp6MHKzmZvR3W1T3N9T9Zi66QWmwSyanIYXYXXP0oTWSxFYibICXpErRBFjQwHb1yIC58i86bm0lYnZhwVU9D_sxMuwI673RJw2z6gNnyH0P6ur/s200/christmas+whale+christmas+card.jpg" title="Christmas Whale Christmas card" width="133" /></a></div>
The Christmas whale is here with its friends the Christmas dolphins. Echo locating by Christmas carol they bring their cetacean joy to all the boys and girls of the ocean.<br />
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The Christmas Whale is part of an ongoing personal challenge to create the most absurd yet fun Christmas card I can. There is so much of the Christmas festival I find utterly bewildering yet enjoyable, so I feel a little nonsense actually makes a Christmas card design more relevant not less!<br />
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Combining ocean going creatures and Christmas festivities has been a bit of a theme for me this year. Nothing says absurd as much as a whale wearing a hat and fake beard, so I am pretty happy with this card. Hopefully it hits the right balance of mad, festive and cute for you too.<br />
<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-35585839556694637472015-11-30T22:47:00.002+11:002015-12-01T08:25:38.649+11:00Roller Skating Robot Santa Christmas card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-57n4cHxkucrgVmQEV7wJqTl3MaHTcq3TK9dkn3oL94KqDBFhQ329PrV6Lnv0b2nkggC2MQwiCup5g_VbOV8F98XxoxF6k43zyxdZOcDfnF_I-TlK1r1KkffQQJVEHDTqKjCgj0DLum5/s1600/rolling-robo-santa-600-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roller Skating Robot Santa Stencil art" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-57n4cHxkucrgVmQEV7wJqTl3MaHTcq3TK9dkn3oL94KqDBFhQ329PrV6Lnv0b2nkggC2MQwiCup5g_VbOV8F98XxoxF6k43zyxdZOcDfnF_I-TlK1r1KkffQQJVEHDTqKjCgj0DLum5/s400/rolling-robo-santa-600-600.jpg" title="Roller Skating Robot Santa © Richard Morden" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNEHElQhmxmmqU9G77w3pA7BqhfFIvkr5mgBxh2VUODFdKRg-SaATjVORRgwb6fiGZlQ1_fWKGqlEx00sjCXF-qgKw5Nrr1ydKbhSqmVEbd96IIoN7R3hqT0bnqQIwR-HXPEZgallPosk/s1600/roller+skating+robot+santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNEHElQhmxmmqU9G77w3pA7BqhfFIvkr5mgBxh2VUODFdKRg-SaATjVORRgwb6fiGZlQ1_fWKGqlEx00sjCXF-qgKw5Nrr1ydKbhSqmVEbd96IIoN7R3hqT0bnqQIwR-HXPEZgallPosk/s200/roller+skating+robot+santa.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="Roller Skating Robot Santa is available as Christmas cards" width="133" /></a></div>
Roller Skating Robot Santa.<br />
Scanned stencil art.<br />
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There is no reason for Robot Santa to be on skates. No underlying metaphor, or commentary on the Christmas season. It's just how he rolls.<br />
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<table cellspacing="8" style="background-color: #d2ebed;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for<br /><b>Roller Skating Robot Santa </b>as Christmas cards, <br />t-shirts. mugs, tote bags and other decorated gift items</a></td></tr>
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-84746542813469048912015-11-24T19:28:00.001+11:002015-11-24T19:44:16.281+11:00Christmas Beetle Christmas cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMAz9eqg_hQTaLYH_Vl5dE3VBw7wSZMBNNFZdcc0aKNwEpo8ESGIfqSnMIGKz9JxLjikxh_VE5v2XYFqN0efuK63q68Syh0g2IuvhrBtI83MEkZ-x67gV_D9IM_h26bJOKpPfh8_w93nn/s1600/flying+christmas+beetle+christmas+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stencil art Christmas beetle" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMAz9eqg_hQTaLYH_Vl5dE3VBw7wSZMBNNFZdcc0aKNwEpo8ESGIfqSnMIGKz9JxLjikxh_VE5v2XYFqN0efuK63q68Syh0g2IuvhrBtI83MEkZ-x67gV_D9IM_h26bJOKpPfh8_w93nn/s1600/flying+christmas+beetle+christmas+card.jpg" title="Christmas beetle Christmas card by Richard Morden" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgblNVDGQprm22_Wb80dPe4Z5aVV3dPfwTDDb_FkCd4tbZH4owmbRthyphenhyphenjrT9iQOw4fqmkm0toIw49AcCDCnHESe5S0MXN19cyOv6Ah906Hm5RNeZNW0vmKUqZSkWYkIRa5phcLwCf237a8/s1600/Christmas+beetle+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas beetle flying stencil art" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgblNVDGQprm22_Wb80dPe4Z5aVV3dPfwTDDb_FkCd4tbZH4owmbRthyphenhyphenjrT9iQOw4fqmkm0toIw49AcCDCnHESe5S0MXN19cyOv6Ah906Hm5RNeZNW0vmKUqZSkWYkIRa5phcLwCf237a8/s1600/Christmas+beetle+card.jpg" title="Christmas beetle flying Christmas card by Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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<b>Christmas beetle flying</b> and <b>Christmas beetle</b>.<br />
Originally designed as stencil art styled Christmas cards, now available on a whole lot of gift items.<br />
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<table cellspacing="8" style="background-color: #d2ebed;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for <b>Christmas Beetle</b><br />gift cards, t-shirts and other decorated gift items</a></td></tr>
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<i>Christmas beetles Anoplognathus pallidicollis can appear in large numbers approaching the Christmas holiday season in Australia. They are large beetles, often appearing shiny gold or metallic green.</i><br />
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The original versions of these Christmas beetles were <a href="http://richardmordenillustration.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/tutorial-how-to-stencil-print-gift.html">hand printed by sponging paint through stencils</a>. The prints looked lovely but didn't scan very well thanks to a very thick bumpy paint application. I needed clean well defined digital files to sell the artworks online, so I actually scanned the hand cut stencil forms and coloured the resulting shapes digitally. So these beetles are a bit digital and a bit hand made. I do a lot of combining digital and hand made art. Hopefully I am good enough at this that it is hard to tell where the digital ends and the hand made starts.Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-88738017549773779502015-11-24T19:13:00.001+11:002015-11-24T19:40:53.443+11:00Celebration Sunfish, probably a Christmas card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FynrOBOk44-0ml7j8GNw2R2ZFM9OTnINnyeXb2Bv-1Ud42pWMCl_x874bN-eGO1eSEOqfeXF9YZSx17W5LGgSxzmkbRmSmghPf1iIf32dlFJZoseM-zo6tulSAowOQlZK1BFP2dVAHz9/s1600/celebration-sunfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Celebration Sunfish" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FynrOBOk44-0ml7j8GNw2R2ZFM9OTnINnyeXb2Bv-1Ud42pWMCl_x874bN-eGO1eSEOqfeXF9YZSx17W5LGgSxzmkbRmSmghPf1iIf32dlFJZoseM-zo6tulSAowOQlZK1BFP2dVAHz9/s1600/celebration-sunfish.jpg" title="Celebration Sunfish card by Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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<b>Celebration Sunfish</b><br />
The Ocean Sunfish, also known as a Mola Mola, loves a reason to celebrate. Christmas, holidays, birthdays, whatever the occasion it will be there dressed as a present with a big bow on its head.<br />
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<table cellspacing="8" style="background-color: #d2ebed;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for <b>Celebration Sunfish</b><br />on gift cards and lots of other stuff like t-shirts and mugs</a></td></tr>
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Not quite sure why those jellyfish look so happy. Sunfish <i>eat</i> jellyfish.<br />
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When I drew this I had it in mind that it was to be for Christmas card. Now that I look at it I can see it would work equally well as a card for birthdays or in fact any celebration. A versatile sunfish!Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-84959353346276900802015-11-17T00:21:00.003+11:002022-11-19T14:31:13.236+11:00painting a Troodon for Dinosaur Hamlet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zB2hqhO50T4Kyd77DOXRLvNq4pTYDBJOI1VbLVenKDid49ngcFMcoMjD-RleqK1E5tIwBKOMGOZtxq5SjqfL2RmIf7iv4OjXwzUUfEwnZsJ6pCWyt2a4C098bk-KR0acfqjmeP2SW2Rz/s1600/dinosaur+hamlet+on+cutting+board.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="troodon Dinosaur Hamlet painting" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zB2hqhO50T4Kyd77DOXRLvNq4pTYDBJOI1VbLVenKDid49ngcFMcoMjD-RleqK1E5tIwBKOMGOZtxq5SjqfL2RmIf7iv4OjXwzUUfEwnZsJ6pCWyt2a4C098bk-KR0acfqjmeP2SW2Rz/w400-h400/dinosaur+hamlet+on+cutting+board.jpg" title="troodon Dinosaur Hamlet © Richard Morden" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Dinosaur Hamlet</b> is my entry to the 2015 Illustrators Australia 9x5 art show. </div>
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It took much longer to paint than anticipated, and being no expert with acrylic paints I battled with the medium throughout the entire process. Oh well, the battle is over, the painting is completed and has been delivered to the gallery in time to be part of the show.</div>
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The theme this year is 'Playtime', so I painted a Troodon, which is small relatively intelligent bird-like dinosaur from the Cretaceous period. It poses with a dinosaur skull as if performing the famous 'Alas poor Yorick' monologue from Shakespear's Hamlet. An obvious response to the theme, don't you think? </div>
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This <a href="http://www.illustratorsaustralia.com/events/illustrators-australia-presents-the-19th-9x5-exhibition-playtime/">Illustrators Australia 9x5 art show</a> will be up until 5 Dec 2015. More than 60 illustrators have each done an artwork in response to the theme 'playtime' on a 9x5 inch ply board. So if you are in Melbourne get along to the Abbotsford Convent and have a look. You will be glad you did! </div>
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Oh, and I illustrated and designed this year's invite featuring a playtime kitten. Inspired by Miso the wonder cat attacking my toes in the middle of the night. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YKEjEDBHWpMhGhY10nvXPR7FV3dzrwuS-gUv9Meh52gHhLzr-1t_eKBz1RybNu3HJW4GEjhMHRGYR-wpOS_96W0azMKLRVbTw1aL_WMnYMdcfAHSKIDsJRuFm5XRiVj3z4-YBok9cYXy/s1600/IA+2015+9x5+invite.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="'Playtime' the Illustrators Australia 2015 9x5 exhibition" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YKEjEDBHWpMhGhY10nvXPR7FV3dzrwuS-gUv9Meh52gHhLzr-1t_eKBz1RybNu3HJW4GEjhMHRGYR-wpOS_96W0azMKLRVbTw1aL_WMnYMdcfAHSKIDsJRuFm5XRiVj3z4-YBok9cYXy/s400/IA+2015+9x5+invite.jpg" title="'Playtime' the Illustrators Australia 2015 9x5 exhibition" width="299" /></a></div>
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And finally, here is an animated gif of the Dinosaur Hamlet in progress, so you can see how I went about painting it. It took a lot longer than this gif does!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgry9rdq2_h5S_6WscuMPQGycuU8JK2cfGoDpbmaHdKMO9XuyragjP1HxzHERhxf9Ac37oxdPLxCsxNqWPL7Cd7EvZ2udrUE4ihIfK9AffgQN20d2Phq1-PtdO03syc6cBgL20Zzno6zP/s1600/dinosaur+hamlet+animated+wip.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgry9rdq2_h5S_6WscuMPQGycuU8JK2cfGoDpbmaHdKMO9XuyragjP1HxzHERhxf9Ac37oxdPLxCsxNqWPL7Cd7EvZ2udrUE4ihIfK9AffgQN20d2Phq1-PtdO03syc6cBgL20Zzno6zP/s400/dinosaur+hamlet+animated+wip.gif" width="233" /></a></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-53495419912869669702015-10-15T16:47:00.002+11:002017-07-16T14:35:51.911+10:00lace monitor makes lace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oANda0qzPzlYPQ6XUQQOsCoqEY87MbMzsQ0fS6dHMaHA6_l0l-XmponXu0JRrVWghYINolDlugi0MF_jXGX3hrDhlFroa6J3jcYPi_LPzSOksxPtGxdNu1VyAS7bpvCLWTCaNnT4t-g/s1600/lace-monitor-coloured-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lace monitor makes crochet lace knickers" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oANda0qzPzlYPQ6XUQQOsCoqEY87MbMzsQ0fS6dHMaHA6_l0l-XmponXu0JRrVWghYINolDlugi0MF_jXGX3hrDhlFroa6J3jcYPi_LPzSOksxPtGxdNu1VyAS7bpvCLWTCaNnT4t-g/s400/lace-monitor-coloured-640.jpg" title="lace monitor makes lace © Richard Morden" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lace Monitor crochets lace underwear. <br />
Her name is Anna. Go Anna!<br />
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This lace monitor was originally one half of a spot-the-difference puzzle in a book of <a href="http://richardmordenillustration.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Aussie%20Puzzle%20Adventures">Aussie Puzzle Adventures</a>. I think she is sweet enough to be crocheting out in the big wide world on her own merit. So now she is on Redbubble and Society 6 as prints, gift cards, t shirts and the like. Long may she craft!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhNn1oK0CL1IAUg88xiIc7Hwkm0nYiUuvFf_U7axNDn3LIMb3D_7m6xeF9UwCsSR6Q50SSQPE43KQJ6uVgO8aC6oyHcsBKoJ6amZKEs16gG9UKHmMSLxwOpsaEBPG6l4a_Lip0Y2OItE/s1600/lace-monitor-merchandise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhNn1oK0CL1IAUg88xiIc7Hwkm0nYiUuvFf_U7axNDn3LIMb3D_7m6xeF9UwCsSR6Q50SSQPE43KQJ6uVgO8aC6oyHcsBKoJ6amZKEs16gG9UKHmMSLxwOpsaEBPG6l4a_Lip0Y2OItE/s320/lace-monitor-merchandise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellspacing="8" style="background-color: #d2ebed;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for <b>Lace Monitor makes lace</b><br />on gift cards, carry bags, t-shirts and stuff</a></td></tr>
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-86663161856872028712015-09-30T21:08:00.002+10:002022-11-19T14:33:38.078+11:00Puzzle illustration - Collect Ten Flowers for a Pavlova Picnic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOOFrFG7Aaw/Vf-WGx4OF_I/AAAAAAAABmw/8bkDmAgFPjM/s1600/yowie-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Handsome Yowie has a Flower" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOOFrFG7Aaw/Vf-WGx4OF_I/AAAAAAAABmw/8bkDmAgFPjM/s200/yowie-640x640.jpg" title="Handsome Yowie has a Flower © Richard Morden" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk53YZ-JPLs/Vf-WIBlCHdI/AAAAAAAABm4/38dDD6jU390/s1600/bunyip-640x640.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Beautiful Bunyip has a Pavlova" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk53YZ-JPLs/Vf-WIBlCHdI/AAAAAAAABm4/38dDD6jU390/s200/bunyip-640x640.jpg" title="Beautiful Bunyip has a Pavlova © Richard Morden" width="200" /></a><br />
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Handsome Yowie has a Flower. Beautiful Bunyip has a Pavlova.<br />
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Collect Ten Flowers for a Pavlova Picnic!<br />
Help the handsome Yowie find his way through the maze to a picnic with the beautiful Bunyip. If he collects 10 flowers along the way she will give him a great big slice of pavlova. Yum. <a href="http://richardmordenillustration.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Aussie%20Puzzle%20Adventures">This is another of my Aussie Puzzle Adventures</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDl-9c17trFNwtbTHzDN6FAIoKIe-0iC5uLoeDfG_47wWleFtYDS9yPgEvAP8MjuNCP7-GiJBocvPkhwls6LnaRUezMR-J3TiKgbnjRmoS98eTw4U5n3GrY77KE3_hEEjQyInEX5UvBA/s1600/pavlova-picnic-640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="illustration of a maze with a yowie and a bunyip" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDl-9c17trFNwtbTHzDN6FAIoKIe-0iC5uLoeDfG_47wWleFtYDS9yPgEvAP8MjuNCP7-GiJBocvPkhwls6LnaRUezMR-J3TiKgbnjRmoS98eTw4U5n3GrY77KE3_hEEjQyInEX5UvBA/s1600/pavlova-picnic-640.jpg" title="Collect Ten Flowers for a Pavlova Picnic © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3Hy-coj-yWJCRKrCHF8m3xpP_ar3WEMojSyMfIO35GG_Ohyphenhyphen5QWHrGqvGvr329EhYanIKXO-7yrgSLCG9_pIXtDWOTLSz8Kenf2en2sThFokQLbSyVk_O32KCe5e94xEYpYFWLXisaS8/s1600/posters-and-tshirts-and-cushions-oh-my.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3Hy-coj-yWJCRKrCHF8m3xpP_ar3WEMojSyMfIO35GG_Ohyphenhyphen5QWHrGqvGvr329EhYanIKXO-7yrgSLCG9_pIXtDWOTLSz8Kenf2en2sThFokQLbSyVk_O32KCe5e94xEYpYFWLXisaS8/s200/posters-and-tshirts-and-cushions-oh-my.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit <b>Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for<br /><b>Collect Ten Flowers for a Pavlova Picnic</b>,<br /><b>Handsome Yowie</b> and <b>Beautiful Bunyip</b><br />on gift cards, posters, t-shirts and stuff</a></td></tr>
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What are these strange beasties?</h4>
Yowies and Bunyips are Australian mythical animals or cryptids.<br />
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Yowies live in the darkest unexplored reaches of the Australian bush. They are big hairy ape-like beings similar to a Sasquatch or Yeti. Bunyips are dangerous magical creatures that inhabit isolated rivers and billabongs.<br />
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Both are to be feared and treated with the utmost caution, unless you are have brought flowers or pavlova.</div>
Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-64069100155720008702015-09-21T21:21:00.003+10:002022-11-19T14:34:35.997+11:00Puzzle illustration - Who threw which boomerang?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxuWF0urwM1oKOrOo5vbVZpaSgFkJUZJ6FHnwtLwmLo6N5YRAq0PnzpWyzccn2_27TexfINo9KRFMrYw7ae9kAI8dXPGLV9UiNYPZsTlphREBqAtD-kJD8nh-66TwQmlC4A-r7e0POP4/s1600/boomerang-testing-640-%25C2%25A9-Richard-Morden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="an Australian puzzle with boomerangs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxuWF0urwM1oKOrOo5vbVZpaSgFkJUZJ6FHnwtLwmLo6N5YRAq0PnzpWyzccn2_27TexfINo9KRFMrYw7ae9kAI8dXPGLV9UiNYPZsTlphREBqAtD-kJD8nh-66TwQmlC4A-r7e0POP4/s1600/boomerang-testing-640-%25C2%25A9-Richard-Morden.jpg" title="Who threw which boomerang? © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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Today the boomerang testing range is a whirl of confusion.<br />
Can you tell who has thrown which boomerang?<br />
Here’s a hint, the patterns on their helmets are coded to the boomerangs.<br />
<a href="http://richardmordenillustration.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Aussie%20Puzzle%20Adventures">Who threw which Boomerang is another Aussie Puzzle Adventure</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL7bjW-nA3lHeKE8VmNvIYpbGnB0W9NImWFL2NMc9WxfiUHKqqev_xrlo1gmmx1eyKu0wh1Vgzcr2eVMf0Viwv31ddb7iTd8C1PNAriwAdQU5U0Fuo65_mYjA1HpBcjyqbr-Eaa_YgB0/s1600/thorny-devil-640-wihte-bg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL7bjW-nA3lHeKE8VmNvIYpbGnB0W9NImWFL2NMc9WxfiUHKqqev_xrlo1gmmx1eyKu0wh1Vgzcr2eVMf0Viwv31ddb7iTd8C1PNAriwAdQU5U0Fuo65_mYjA1HpBcjyqbr-Eaa_YgB0/s200/thorny-devil-640-wihte-bg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Thorny Devil</h4>
The Thorny Devil is available on its very own range of gifty items.<br />
Also known as the Moloch or Thorny Dragon, these little lizards live in the Australian desert.<br />
They are covered with spikes.<br />
They are super cute.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BfTrpkB2EEM1tCwVEpVJzxoilZEvEZ3VtnsEoLv5ml1kUWZYyO-SOllhrQdyq-TTceKUxF7EPo_WpziWcEZre6dTafxw4OEpS46oxi0u_CryZLBL9xVJfmnosDnG7vhV1Gz7bs-X-fw/s1600/boomerang-posters-cards-and-attire.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BfTrpkB2EEM1tCwVEpVJzxoilZEvEZ3VtnsEoLv5ml1kUWZYyO-SOllhrQdyq-TTceKUxF7EPo_WpziWcEZre6dTafxw4OEpS46oxi0u_CryZLBL9xVJfmnosDnG7vhV1Gz7bs-X-fw/s320/boomerang-posters-cards-and-attire.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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<td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">Visit<b> Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b>to shop for <br /><b>Who Threw Which Boomerang</b> <br />and for the <b>Thorny Devil</b><br />on great things like tshirts, cushions, posters, <br />gift cards, and lots of other stuff.</a></td>
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It's a stick. <br />And when you throw it... it comes back!</h4>
Despite the old stereotypes most Australians live in cities not in the outback, we almost never ride to work on kangaroos and most of us are not expert boomerang throwers. Though as it happens I actually do have a collection of returning boomerangs, some of which seem to be missing. I must have thrown them away. I wonder if they will come back?<br />
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R :)Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-9874551969822694132015-09-09T21:45:00.002+10:002022-11-19T14:36:11.264+11:00Puzzle illustration - Spot the Tawny Frogmouths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSWhraGLmbD_5OGpj9YHQtuZm1r8T9gIYizRJtlLv1sbK12k4K8JBc3GeIyMlMu4wUbAtDN0JJc62txVQGXTaVIpYMshmYXWyjOIyUGKHxOkjvGpwqNNdor9tlvkWdGCStRw6dB66PnI/s1600/spot-all-five-tawny-frogmouths-640.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="puzzle illustration of tawny frogmouths" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSWhraGLmbD_5OGpj9YHQtuZm1r8T9gIYizRJtlLv1sbK12k4K8JBc3GeIyMlMu4wUbAtDN0JJc62txVQGXTaVIpYMshmYXWyjOIyUGKHxOkjvGpwqNNdor9tlvkWdGCStRw6dB66PnI/w640-h426/spot-all-five-tawny-frogmouths-640.jpg" title="Can you find all five Tawny Frogmouths in this tree?" width="640" /></a><br />
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Can you find all five Tawny Frogmouths?<br />
Of course you can, but you have to admit they are pretty good at hiding.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7Bk6yKkSCk/VfI7oXYGqmI/AAAAAAAABlk/qIqFvj7y9WI/s1600/frogmouths-close-up-640.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7Bk6yKkSCk/VfI7oXYGqmI/AAAAAAAABlk/qIqFvj7y9WI/s320/frogmouths-close-up-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/tawny-frogmouth">Tawny Frogmouths</a> are birds found (or not found) hiding in trees throughout Australia. They look like owls, but are actually more closely related to nightjars. Experts at camouflage they can look just like a tree stump, even up close! That is, until they open their big yellow eyes.<br />
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Spot the Tawny Frogmouths is one of my series of <a href="http://richardmordenillustration.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Aussie%20Puzzle%20Adventures">Aussie Puzzle Adventures</a>.<br />
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It was originally in of a puzzle book of mine called Puzzles Down Under, published by Black Dog Books in 2009. The publisher has since reverted the rights, allowing me to make the puzzles available as beautifully printed posters gift cards, art prints and t-shirts. So you can expect a lot more of these puzzles very soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xFRV6aqKrTkKDKXJplsKg5B4olii6b8VcD2B0E0HnwldPtmsRvPpJMipvZn290JadaxYZKNLPlVPeGrpT43Ge0OAPe2aqH8OsgsJt9YAQ7_Fj2vOQGQyNpAzt64KmEbrItqMvvkEiVI/s1600/tawny-frogmouth-decor-gift-items.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xFRV6aqKrTkKDKXJplsKg5B4olii6b8VcD2B0E0HnwldPtmsRvPpJMipvZn290JadaxYZKNLPlVPeGrpT43Ge0OAPe2aqH8OsgsJt9YAQ7_Fj2vOQGQyNpAzt64KmEbrItqMvvkEiVI/s320/tawny-frogmouth-decor-gift-items.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard"><b>Visit Pixbyrichard on Redbubble</b> <br />to shop for Spot the Tawny Frogmouths <br />on gift cards, posters, cushions and stuff</a></td></tr>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-56097298088691966282015-09-03T21:51:00.007+10:002022-11-19T14:37:25.206+11:00Stencil print - Rufous Songlark Sings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LI7dg2KHt2w/VegVqLBB76I/AAAAAAAABe0/rfMHgxa5j2Q/s1600/rufous-songlark-for-blog-600.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stencil art of a Rufous Songlark" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LI7dg2KHt2w/VegVqLBB76I/AAAAAAAABe0/rfMHgxa5j2Q/s1600/rufous-songlark-for-blog-600.jpg" title="Rufous Songlark Sings © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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<i>Rufous Songlark is singing about the good things of Summer.</i><br />
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The Rufous Songlark is a small bird native to grasslands of Eastern Australia. Each Summer the male bird sings almost constantly.<br />
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This 2 colour stencil design was originally cut and hand printed to be part of the <a href="http://bimbleboxartproject.com/bimblebox-birds-printmaking-project">Bimblebox 153 Birds Project</a>. 153 printmakers have each represented one of the 153 birds known to use the Bimblebox nature refuge. This nature refuge in central Western Queensland, Australia, is to be destroyed as it is in the path of a mega coal mine.<br />
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The prints contributed to the 153 Birds Project now form a touring exhibition raising awareness about the plight of the nature refuge and the potential threat these vast coal mines represent to the biodiversity of the region.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard"><b>Visit Pixbyrichard on Redbubble </b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixbyrichard">to shop for Rufous Songlark Sings on gift cards, giclee art prints and home decor</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLIBgkAJJ0E/Vegw_1uxsxI/AAAAAAAABgg/mRg3HOwXlTs/s1600/roufous-songlark-merchandise.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLIBgkAJJ0E/Vegw_1uxsxI/AAAAAAAABgg/mRg3HOwXlTs/s320/roufous-songlark-merchandise.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLIBgkAJJ0E/Vegw_1uxsxI/AAAAAAAABgg/mRg3HOwXlTs/s1600/roufous-songlark-merchandise.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMmjd52HgU86slC6lwRGgtsNfMAuEl6fVWLaS4Ol5t_MCDEPAn3IYRLH1cClWsfdklVGQTMUFE7_0E-h-rh7uJMS3qhfrUISd7HMsqxsX_ncJxon-hWuwVb6rIDXxHnU36zFKrR3Hr_I/s1600/rufous-songlark-many-prints-02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMmjd52HgU86slC6lwRGgtsNfMAuEl6fVWLaS4Ol5t_MCDEPAn3IYRLH1cClWsfdklVGQTMUFE7_0E-h-rh7uJMS3qhfrUISd7HMsqxsX_ncJxon-hWuwVb6rIDXxHnU36zFKrR3Hr_I/s320/rufous-songlark-many-prints-02.jpg" title="prints of Rufous Songlark Sings" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMmjd52HgU86slC6lwRGgtsNfMAuEl6fVWLaS4Ol5t_MCDEPAn3IYRLH1cClWsfdklVGQTMUFE7_0E-h-rh7uJMS3qhfrUISd7HMsqxsX_ncJxon-hWuwVb6rIDXxHnU36zFKrR3Hr_I/s1600/rufous-songlark-many-prints-02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIf5S2hjTP8/VegX9v8fplI/AAAAAAAABfw/a894I70loxg/s1600/rufous-songlark-stencils-cutout-02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIf5S2hjTP8/VegX9v8fplI/AAAAAAAABfw/a894I70loxg/s320/rufous-songlark-stencils-cutout-02.jpg" title="The stencils I cut out to print Rufous Songlark Sings" width="219" /></a></div>
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-42298183709010707512015-08-19T19:18:00.002+10:002015-08-25T20:36:21.895+10:00spruced up the website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsf1HlQS_rk/VdRFTrA_bSI/AAAAAAAABWg/w1JYHqKXkzY/s1600/IMG_3611-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="octopus illustration" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsf1HlQS_rk/VdRFTrA_bSI/AAAAAAAABWg/w1JYHqKXkzY/s1600/IMG_3611-600.jpg" title="inky octopus wants to draw © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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Too often have I thought 'Must update my portfolio website' and gone on to do exactly nothing about it. Well a few days ago I broke with this long standing tradition. I reviewed and changed my portfolio images and updated the layout of my website and blog. I also gave the site a shiny new domain name <a href="http://www.richardmordenillustration.com.au/">www.richardmordenillustration.com.au</a><br />
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My aim was to make a site visually clean and simple to navigate. All the information a potential customer needs is on one page. No need for a separate landing page, folio page, contact page or about page. The website is built with blogger so folio images are easy to update and the responsive blogger layout means all should look fine on a mobile device.<br />
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You will notice inky octopuses in the side bar. These tentacled critters were painted as decorative devices to visually break up the text and give the site some added personality. I took photos of the octopuses on the drawing board. Here they are...<br />
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-85287212502460925032015-08-15T13:08:00.002+10:002015-08-21T14:39:26.497+10:00a bench for my studio space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2DqqEG7SocE/VchTa8LZpZI/AAAAAAAABR4/kAIPqj2ZlmU/s1600/bench-set-up-for-work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cheap standing height bench for my art studio" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2DqqEG7SocE/VchTa8LZpZI/AAAAAAAABR4/kAIPqj2ZlmU/s1600/bench-set-up-for-work.JPG" title="cheap standing height bench for my art studio" /></a></div>
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I made a bench for my studio space. The working surface is a lot higher than is typical for a work bench allowing me to comfortably draw at it when standing up.</div>
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I have to admit most of the work was done by the local hardware store. I asked them what I should do to make a cheap standing height bench to be used for light work, mostly drawing. They suggested the basic construction you see here and sold me a light hollow door, 3 metres of 70x35mm pine which they cut to the required lengths, some screws and drill bits. All that remained for me to do was drill pilot holes and screw the lot together. Even I could manage this.<br />
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And because I am much better at illustrating diagrams than I am at timber constructions here's a very basic isometric projection of how the bench went together.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ftu0Re2oo8M/VdaFjPFhJoI/AAAAAAAABW8/Qzrat68KZRw/s1600/standing-height-work-bench-isometric-diagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="isometric projection of my standing height work bench" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ftu0Re2oo8M/VdaFjPFhJoI/AAAAAAAABW8/Qzrat68KZRw/s1600/standing-height-work-bench-isometric-diagram.png" title="diagram of my standing height work bench © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUR5jKDONlHvrMrsFL2463it4XfUeKJwcFOnz3JzAagmW_pDJMjCKorCpG8svW-DOQ8dEzFmJ47mQdWqxiT8vQjwcI7IXV5P17aKQCvPMEVp0aOiXURwivO30I9xPGQO2wxdcqs-nTAU/s1600/bench-the-marterials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUR5jKDONlHvrMrsFL2463it4XfUeKJwcFOnz3JzAagmW_pDJMjCKorCpG8svW-DOQ8dEzFmJ47mQdWqxiT8vQjwcI7IXV5P17aKQCvPMEVp0aOiXURwivO30I9xPGQO2wxdcqs-nTAU/s320/bench-the-marterials.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3LLDeBMwtxLQWjsLfCVm9arKWplsifVstzAhzrgO__QshPxOyK5Dw4FzfADdOv2RFPUGVoClaCDETkLEyIQsVZoLZLinFEHOxu06OjJ51MjRiDAKmUGnczPbpDLoUIQjjVUqKEseZD4/s1600/bench-screws-and-bits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3LLDeBMwtxLQWjsLfCVm9arKWplsifVstzAhzrgO__QshPxOyK5Dw4FzfADdOv2RFPUGVoClaCDETkLEyIQsVZoLZLinFEHOxu06OjJ51MjRiDAKmUGnczPbpDLoUIQjjVUqKEseZD4/s320/bench-screws-and-bits.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166226595275162166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-41319695787599958892014-07-17T18:37:00.003+10:002022-11-19T14:39:05.880+11:00illustration of a decorated cat skull<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhmru4acvbssImGp0c7LDQsOWtIY0IFEodSXEuaSZuQGGUjVuIVD0ftPXj0cLPnz914f1cMovszW0BAaNVy4kxROFXdRKeYg-njUhreHJ_znpbFWMs_kTOC9UVXBo17bWaq6051IFGJc/s1600/richard-morden-illustration-cat-skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="illustration of a decorated cat skull" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhmru4acvbssImGp0c7LDQsOWtIY0IFEodSXEuaSZuQGGUjVuIVD0ftPXj0cLPnz914f1cMovszW0BAaNVy4kxROFXdRKeYg-njUhreHJ_znpbFWMs_kTOC9UVXBo17bWaq6051IFGJc/s400/richard-morden-illustration-cat-skull.jpg" title="cat skull decorated with wasabi flowers and leaves © Richard Morden" width="377" /></a></div>
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<b>Illustrators Australia</b> and <b>Redbubble</b> <br />have collaborated with a gallery show of t-shirt art called <b>Wear Art Thou</b>.<br />
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As a member of Illustrators Australia I was invited to join in on the fun. The invitation came in May, but being distracted by work I only remembered the show when there was just 10 days left to think up a design, create the artwork and enter. Ahhh, pressure!<br />
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In a lunch break at work I scribbled a quick list of ideas then discarded most for being unsuitable for a t-shirt, or simply being too tacky. The idea remaining was to illustrate a skull.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaXSN2LQ-FlmZHC6RERECR10r3lHjXdcLuzZkrgGqQdBRTuVulZh-NfyL_O_g1670mD5Fv6LMTqRydk0zOlr3pRSAAovs2pDwXR19YFHZTFrRA2piM-GdGFsXR3s0bMKqNoKkLNSxBp8/s1600/wasabi-cat-skull-animation%25281%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaXSN2LQ-FlmZHC6RERECR10r3lHjXdcLuzZkrgGqQdBRTuVulZh-NfyL_O_g1670mD5Fv6LMTqRydk0zOlr3pRSAAovs2pDwXR19YFHZTFrRA2piM-GdGFsXR3s0bMKqNoKkLNSxBp8/s200/wasabi-cat-skull-animation%25281%2529.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
The thought process went - Skulls are always popular on clothing, but skulls on t-shirts have been done to death (pun!) so it would need a point of difference. How about a cat skull? Cats are always popular on the inter-web, and I am super fond of them too. Might turn out a bit nasty looking, better soften it up with some sort of whimsy. Flowers would be ideal. Our last cat was called Wasabi, I could use flowers and leaves from a wasabi plant, making the image into a tribute for her. Awww, how sweet. So now the skull won't be scary, it will be poignant. Yep, lots of boxes ticked.<br />
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In a way it is actually two paintings: the first an airbrush style illustration of a cat skull, the second a naive painting of leaves and flowers appearing to wrap around the skull. The texture in the background is a photograph of the cement floor in my studio space.<br />
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This artwork was created to sell on line on a variety of products, so here comes the sales pitch...<br />
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/12250815-cat-skull-painted-with-wasabi-flowers"><b>Cat skull decorated with wasabi flowers</b> is available to purchase on line via Redbubble </a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/12250815-cat-skull-painted-with-wasabi-flowers">on t-shirts, throw cushions, tote bags, posters, prints, stickers and gift cards.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/12250815-cat-skull-painted-with-wasabi-flowers">Easy to order and delivered to your door</a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f7dpNJ02--c/VcL3X7djmKI/AAAAAAAAAzM/VCiuvsJfyeE/s1600/cat%2Bskull%2Bposter%2Bexample-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f7dpNJ02--c/VcL3X7djmKI/AAAAAAAAAzM/VCiuvsJfyeE/s200/cat%2Bskull%2Bposter%2Bexample-edited.jpg" width="139" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71f-zjIXQSI/VcL3Y1qEhSI/AAAAAAAAAzs/rjD6UvPetFg/s1600/cat%2Bskull%2Bthrow%2Bpillow%2Bexample-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71f-zjIXQSI/VcL3Y1qEhSI/AAAAAAAAAzs/rjD6UvPetFg/s200/cat%2Bskull%2Bthrow%2Bpillow%2Bexample-edited.jpg" width="152" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29gdq8vCMa1KziisE1_QrLT_XRGTdgLuzfqpAJNnyX_Kgv8ezeszbKEmpy6LbV91eyXulLJlorrdYEiRXkdYwpuK3Io8aq3Y-LOfMJsncV9GslsV-5mBKdG-5_JJoDW0o1yCYKzR5QME/s1600/cat+skull+tote+bag+example-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29gdq8vCMa1KziisE1_QrLT_XRGTdgLuzfqpAJNnyX_Kgv8ezeszbKEmpy6LbV91eyXulLJlorrdYEiRXkdYwpuK3Io8aq3Y-LOfMJsncV9GslsV-5mBKdG-5_JJoDW0o1yCYKzR5QME/s200/cat+skull+tote+bag+example-edited.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8Wo08TrkJo/VcL3XV6jjfI/AAAAAAAABBI/Usz9KkDhf-I/s1600/cat%2Bskull%2Bgift%2Bcard%2Bexample-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8Wo08TrkJo/VcL3XV6jjfI/AAAAAAAABBI/Usz9KkDhf-I/s200/cat%2Bskull%2Bgift%2Bcard%2Bexample-edited.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FXGN9D5rGyTFOcR1-fhGF8M0B_cKI6XWKe0CFMncMduDTngBfVfVsEu8WWN3I6bnxIsMuufS4IrlAzj_zdWyVBmbAnwiqOpw6qHZGVlcoUlq710UjKceJtMfyIXUViTWbV4pCp0phR8/s1600/cat+skull+sticker+example-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FXGN9D5rGyTFOcR1-fhGF8M0B_cKI6XWKe0CFMncMduDTngBfVfVsEu8WWN3I6bnxIsMuufS4IrlAzj_zdWyVBmbAnwiqOpw6qHZGVlcoUlq710UjKceJtMfyIXUViTWbV4pCp0phR8/s200/cat+skull+sticker+example-edited.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-56272944113867192922014-02-26T18:23:00.001+11:002015-08-06T18:59:34.601+10:00aardvarks and flying saucers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJM3b0pWbxfQHPOGO12kgkFpUvDKBMTG-KI0rm6dlaJaJ2_aXKMZ9AKIYUUZg1w23nb3or30mb01S0GL73wn_eH_gLn0e2vfvp6xO07PayPLnNrmBbf5GlbvaMZ4HiG4CtCMMO1hmSSw/s1600/forward-aardvarkia-morden-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="illustration of aardvark and UFOs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJM3b0pWbxfQHPOGO12kgkFpUvDKBMTG-KI0rm6dlaJaJ2_aXKMZ9AKIYUUZg1w23nb3or30mb01S0GL73wn_eH_gLn0e2vfvp6xO07PayPLnNrmBbf5GlbvaMZ4HiG4CtCMMO1hmSSw/s1600/forward-aardvarkia-morden-edited.jpg" title="Forward Aardvarkia © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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We have here yet another cover illustration for <a href="http://msfc.sf.org.au/ethel-the-aardvark">Ethel the Aardvark</a><br />
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<b>Forward Aardvarkia</b> is loosely based on an example of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/4017585508">British wartime propaganda</a>, but features a mysterious, suit wearing aardvark and a fleet of flying saucers.<br />
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It looks like an acrylic painting but is actually rendered with the mixer brush tool in Photoshop.<br />
Just in case you are interested, this is the rough sketch. I scanned it and 'painted' over the top.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_10zO3s4j8I/VcL3oc8QVKI/AAAAAAAAA3A/oowm4HwGeC0/s1600/forward-aardvarkia-sketch-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_10zO3s4j8I/VcL3oc8QVKI/AAAAAAAAA3A/oowm4HwGeC0/s200/forward-aardvarkia-sketch-edited.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC99Vhk3xrlYqfgzvPTxRX2ne21MBDefXy_mAslbNGQ-dyzxXWJalLppqe7fxR8NpbZgKClVeeJ9EJhcUcv2ziJtbVmfjzn9PLS2EMf5yyS8ZLw6D5yEz9kQDFbYoQ5XoQlOjtmvyZV3E/s1600/forward-aardvarkia-detail-edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC99Vhk3xrlYqfgzvPTxRX2ne21MBDefXy_mAslbNGQ-dyzxXWJalLppqe7fxR8NpbZgKClVeeJ9EJhcUcv2ziJtbVmfjzn9PLS2EMf5yyS8ZLw6D5yEz9kQDFbYoQ5XoQlOjtmvyZV3E/s200/forward-aardvarkia-detail-edited.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I like the juicy brush stroke detail the mixer brush tool can make, however it is not as intuitive or as fun as using a real paintbrush</div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-25783398489299333742013-12-21T18:29:00.000+11:002015-08-06T18:51:58.567+10:00Christmas aardvark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTEcI0B3bHok7elWYIoWC61nIVj9GAX_8cdMnXthRTPkoJpWpEY8fFiQx_RJ3Q_tWdOVCEWAJhqC14TzWalMX95vGtZ65JFHLCFFQPyd4A1EV2vy4irmq4fo_iPj50tDz79t4K_MvWhk/s1600/aardvark-christmas-lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Aardvark" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTEcI0B3bHok7elWYIoWC61nIVj9GAX_8cdMnXthRTPkoJpWpEY8fFiQx_RJ3Q_tWdOVCEWAJhqC14TzWalMX95vGtZ65JFHLCFFQPyd4A1EV2vy4irmq4fo_iPj50tDz79t4K_MvWhk/s640/aardvark-christmas-lowres.jpg" title="Christmas Aardvark © Richard Morden" width="456" /></a></div>
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Cover art for another Ethel zine. This one features an aardvark in a Santa hat, packing a box of books.</div>
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Ethel the Aardvark is the bi monthly fan-zine which goes out to members of the Melbourne Science Fiction Club. I am one of the two editors.<br />
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It is by far the nerdiest publication I have ever had anything to do with, which I have to say is something I enjoy.Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-5963434200563963782013-10-21T17:32:00.001+11:002022-11-19T14:40:44.614+11:00Bah Humbug Christmas card art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMlVbgB01qgh5ueZ22AuDKZccaQmGbiQN416Ob7eJ0CErgfh5gwsvJGj4aTH-XfFEPZt40hFb9l4mWYuo7WHhAJdlOHlQ4MCcR6pPV-k27_NYqmGhqSGO0Jxr2nI2QseTgT4JCgsaJCM/s1600/bah-humbug-art-for-blog-edited%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bah Humbug Christmas card art" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMlVbgB01qgh5ueZ22AuDKZccaQmGbiQN416Ob7eJ0CErgfh5gwsvJGj4aTH-XfFEPZt40hFb9l4mWYuo7WHhAJdlOHlQ4MCcR6pPV-k27_NYqmGhqSGO0Jxr2nI2QseTgT4JCgsaJCM/s400/bah-humbug-art-for-blog-edited%25282%2529.jpg" title="Bah Humbug © Richard Morden" width="266" /></a></div>
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A hand painted visual pun combining the boiled sweet known as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbug_(sweet)">humbug</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebenezer_Scrooge">Ebenezer Scrooge’s</a> famous catchphrase 'bah humbug'.</div>
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I realised after posting it online for people to <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10869974-bah-humbug">buy as printed Christmas cards or t-shirts</a> that not everyone was going to get the gag. It depends on whether or not you know of two things: boiled sweets called humbugs and at least passing knowledge of Charles Dickens' story <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm">A Christmas Carol</a>. So if you get the joke, pat yourself on the back and feel smug.<br />
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If you didn't get it, thats's okay. You are not alone! Upon finishing the quick painting it was shown to a room full of friends who all looked at me in confusion. Oh well.<br />
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The Bah Humbug card art is not at all intended as anti Christmas sentiment, rather it is a wry acknowledgement of how stressful the lead up to Christmas can be, especially for those of us not organised enough to shop for presents in October. I always end up buying gifts at the last moment. Bah!<br />
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Following are the initial concept sketch and the acrylic on craft paper painting. You can see the painted image was digitally edited before posting it on-line as final art. This was because the craft paper, while nicely textural wasn't very Christmassy. So I gave the background a lustrous green hue. Seems to suit it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UCiPPdyNXjtW8CBPO4paLaCUzhrNLhoN2N6X_3Cox3X5Me2QqdqVc26n9dpUovkb4v_3atoOBbHIETEoVmPCM9C6w6q-TVazIWqoPE_iwpEfyRByg4Wawqx3a0FcvZ3qNFn_kKfsICc/s1600/bah-humbug-concept-sketch-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bah Humbug concept sketch" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UCiPPdyNXjtW8CBPO4paLaCUzhrNLhoN2N6X_3Cox3X5Me2QqdqVc26n9dpUovkb4v_3atoOBbHIETEoVmPCM9C6w6q-TVazIWqoPE_iwpEfyRByg4Wawqx3a0FcvZ3qNFn_kKfsICc/s200/bah-humbug-concept-sketch-edited.jpg" title="Bah Humbug concept sketch" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd943Zu3Tje29xvLK10IQ-f4YK14ZGgizSHa1-73FgFBB2NQFUByHw_znNm1EcSE-0cxUTrD6IgDPYvCMrI7ZnW-1iBvlCOmpdv9kDi9EBGvJ3GeBK0R_BjPvbDNgFIDZNdzSo1MHmbo/s1600/bah-humbug-promo-sml-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bah Humbug in progress" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd943Zu3Tje29xvLK10IQ-f4YK14ZGgizSHa1-73FgFBB2NQFUByHw_znNm1EcSE-0cxUTrD6IgDPYvCMrI7ZnW-1iBvlCOmpdv9kDi9EBGvJ3GeBK0R_BjPvbDNgFIDZNdzSo1MHmbo/s200/bah-humbug-promo-sml-edited.jpg" title="Bah Humbug in progress" width="133" /></a></div>
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This design is available on Erdbubble as beautifully printed<br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10869974-bah-humbug?p=greeting-card">Bah Humbug Christmas cards</a> or a <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10869974-bah-humbug?p=t-shirt">Bah Humbug Christmas t-shirt</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLI1sXGVKgQ/VcL3TvknHdI/AAAAAAAAAxY/870DY5WXhvc/s1600/bah-humbug-card-preview-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLI1sXGVKgQ/VcL3TvknHdI/AAAAAAAAAxY/870DY5WXhvc/s1600/bah-humbug-card-preview-edited.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTnG3kNIkSM/VcL3Vm9WskI/AAAAAAAAAyI/AnM3n6Cz2Z8/s1600/bah-humbug-tshirt-preview-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTnG3kNIkSM/VcL3Vm9WskI/AAAAAAAAAyI/AnM3n6Cz2Z8/s1600/bah-humbug-tshirt-preview-edited.jpg" /></a></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-81310578617574490852013-10-17T17:53:00.000+11:002015-08-07T17:17:17.700+10:00wee wish you a merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuRocFItzq3b52z1Lwsm7KwvXQ9pEn18UrBoaamxfatAtXRPjdT1zf8zgezzj5cRVp4_QIlANscFaB7dqq_COrpNG0sU-sTgGTpEfMs4oVVxTR05JWMTrNKd5o799wnFCgtrDXbYXqr0/s1600/wee-wish-you-a-merry-Christmas-card-art-edited%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wee wish you a merry Christmas card art" border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuRocFItzq3b52z1Lwsm7KwvXQ9pEn18UrBoaamxfatAtXRPjdT1zf8zgezzj5cRVp4_QIlANscFaB7dqq_COrpNG0sU-sTgGTpEfMs4oVVxTR05JWMTrNKd5o799wnFCgtrDXbYXqr0/s640/wee-wish-you-a-merry-Christmas-card-art-edited%25282%2529.jpg" title="wee wish you a merry Christmas © Richard Morden" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10944538-wee-wish-you-a-merry-christmas">Wee wish you a merry Christmas</a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10944538-wee-wish-you-a-merry-christmas">available as printed Christmas cards</a><br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I have an artwork in... </span></i>the Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition </h3>
<b>The exhibition is at St Helliers Gallery, Abbotsford Convent</b><br />
From October the 19th to November the 3rd<br />
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The theme is 'FLOURISH'<br />
Each artwork has been done on a 9x5 inch piece of plywood<br />
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If you happen to be in the vicinity of the Abbotsford Convent over the next couple of weeks this exhibition is worth popping in to have a look at. I promise most of the works are more tasteful than mine.<br />
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For further details and to see previews of the artworks<br />
<a href="http://www.illustratorsaustralia.com/events/upcoming/ias_18th_annual_9x5_exhibition_flourish">see the Illustrators Australia page about the exhibition</a><br />
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Responding to the theme 'Flourish'</h3>
<b>Illustrators Australia</b> like to give us a tough theme each year for this group show. Flourish was no exception to this rule. I struggled for weeks with what to do.<br />
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I decided if I was to spend hours doing an artwork it may as well have some sort of practical application. A Christmas design I can sell as cards fits the bill pretty well. Great idea but I still didn't know exactly what I should be painting.<br />
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Three days before the deadline, exasperated, I commented flippantly to my partner "Why don't I just paint some kid peeing a flourishing Christmas message into the snow".<br />
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A concept of questionable taste.<br />
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Painting process</h3>
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I tried a painting technique I have seen others use to great effect - starting with a dark background and painting light shapes over this to create form, leaving gaps to make outlines. Sounds easy, but nothing is ever easy. Especially painting.<br />
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And snow, what made me think painting snow would be a good idea? Snow is a bugger to paint, especially in acrylics which dry substantially darker then when you apply them. I now hate snow.<br />
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I wasn't totally unhappy with the end result, but it was an exasperating journey with brushes not acting as expected and colours not looking as intended. I don't do much painting. Maybe these vexations are just part of the deal.<br />
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Any painters out there, what say you? Painting always tricky, or does it get easier with practice?Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-69820156566897849912013-08-19T12:49:00.001+10:002015-08-06T18:34:50.632+10:00fan-zine artwork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOO6P796MYGJAZYSc8HtT5K7SlEOxom0WKvK02EPNSH5IoB6LOHOfCKwPL-0lL51hsKJnCj7Uvpj6leo2hnD3WSQhKdIIwBL9zCjepTCaOkkxIlFTt58QhkkNTNHJ4r-RAzzGeIppjfA/s1600/space-opera-ethel-cover-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="science fiction cover illustration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOO6P796MYGJAZYSc8HtT5K7SlEOxom0WKvK02EPNSH5IoB6LOHOfCKwPL-0lL51hsKJnCj7Uvpj6leo2hnD3WSQhKdIIwBL9zCjepTCaOkkxIlFTt58QhkkNTNHJ4r-RAzzGeIppjfA/s1600/space-opera-ethel-cover-for-blog.jpg" title="cover illustration © Richard Morden" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTG3e_VKpRZv-vaGNX7gHqA_q8NtC5pNZuLTacGhhU7MMlgz1qMrR2Iiph3K8ppGEL-TKb0v-vdgjqR3S8s63dbiyU5hpewdmjx8YhLGx8R24j-wVhzieaSKPjZGCN-wHZDt2n8zVf2c/s1600/MSFC-Ethel-167-cover-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="science fiction cover illustration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTG3e_VKpRZv-vaGNX7gHqA_q8NtC5pNZuLTacGhhU7MMlgz1qMrR2Iiph3K8ppGEL-TKb0v-vdgjqR3S8s63dbiyU5hpewdmjx8YhLGx8R24j-wVhzieaSKPjZGCN-wHZDt2n8zVf2c/s1600/MSFC-Ethel-167-cover-for-blog.jpg" title="cover illustration by Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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Well that's the fanzine for my sci-fi club sorted for a couple of months.<br />
Phew! *wipes sweat from brow*<br />
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This issue featured many wonderful contributions of images and articles by talented <a href="http://msfc.sf.org.au/ethel-the-aardvark/">Melbourne Science Fiction Club</a> members. Good content certainly makes for a good zine. Alas the contributors' artworks are not mine to show you here, however I can show you the few pieces I did for the issue - the cover illustration and a couple of author portraits.<br />
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As the current graphic editor/designer of Ethel the Aardvark, the bi monthly fan-zine of the MSFC, I regularly need to quickly create visual content to accompany articles. So I have been using the zine as a bit of an experimental playground to tinker with illustration styles and techniques.<br />
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The cover for this issue has a faux aged paper texture with corner creases incorporated into the artwork. The aged texture is a scan of an old book's plain back cover and the illustrated elements are derived from old artworks of mine. The theme of this issue was Space Opera. I wanted the cover illustration to evoke the look of a well used, dog-eared novel of space faring sci-fi drama.<br />
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The portraits are of two well revered science fiction authors who recently passed away, Jack Vance and Iain M Banks, both of whom are the subject of tribute articles in this issue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaNY9s0XsVj7D5DuU5yi0YylIs69lRHAMDWjD31uoQrmdUDIaOVhHfd1TwqslqsCaOcu1OVK2ygSxuhV5olELLatTlYv2RHAFkmsdej-G-7leHSb0BAE_m3CGe8E5VyYpqVlcKc7AwiE/s1600/jack-vance-portrait-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="illustrated portrait of Jack Vance" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaNY9s0XsVj7D5DuU5yi0YylIs69lRHAMDWjD31uoQrmdUDIaOVhHfd1TwqslqsCaOcu1OVK2ygSxuhV5olELLatTlYv2RHAFkmsdej-G-7leHSb0BAE_m3CGe8E5VyYpqVlcKc7AwiE/s1600/jack-vance-portrait-for-blog.jpg" title="portrait of Jack Vance © Richard Morden" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GLTNTgM4Fd9N4AhApp4fB0hBcTSsFC_VCCcSfFbpO1nv_v6pRGtEp6rmo2XPvRbw1NZM2Tnuw0Tu_Y4xWERFo9e-DwH9rfZoDvsWfuMckmIHVbcUFsYwS_7hGMMDBRe1xr6mIEY0Zbs/s1600/iain-banks-portrait-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="illustrated portrait of Iain M Banks" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GLTNTgM4Fd9N4AhApp4fB0hBcTSsFC_VCCcSfFbpO1nv_v6pRGtEp6rmo2XPvRbw1NZM2Tnuw0Tu_Y4xWERFo9e-DwH9rfZoDvsWfuMckmIHVbcUFsYwS_7hGMMDBRe1xr6mIEY0Zbs/s1600/iain-banks-portrait-for-blog.jpg" title="portrait of Iain M Banks © Richard Morden" /></a></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-49958363725974394912013-06-27T20:01:00.000+10:002015-08-07T17:22:42.289+10:00zoomorph animal cards and t-shirts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First there was a <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/7784046-deer-cat?p=greeting-card">deer-cat</a>, now it has friends.<br />
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden">These hybrid animals feature on cards and t-shirts. Click through an item to choose options and order. T-shirts in your choice of style and colour, children's or adult's sizes.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/7784046-deer-cat">Deer cat</a></h3>
A cat with deer antlers<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPE38bp__5o/VcL3k3tx3NI/AAAAAAAAA1g/z0l-Vwh_MWI/s1600/deer-cat%2Bcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="deer cat stencil" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPE38bp__5o/VcL3k3tx3NI/AAAAAAAAA1g/z0l-Vwh_MWI/s200/deer-cat%2Bcard.jpg" title="deer cat © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf2bk43hzI82Pe62B0VVlaJAKaEdbA2e7t4a9PUNAiwAbFvrKN0l16OxaSCidbIsm0AD9IDMWefYhyphenhyphenu9qyHBoyME2PjQhnhaHDlhUcFSCtqMLKIWU1tWTC6OKWiHGw8i3xc2JSng_Q2g/s1600/t-shirt-deer-cat%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="deer cat" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf2bk43hzI82Pe62B0VVlaJAKaEdbA2e7t4a9PUNAiwAbFvrKN0l16OxaSCidbIsm0AD9IDMWefYhyphenhyphenu9qyHBoyME2PjQhnhaHDlhUcFSCtqMLKIWU1tWTC6OKWiHGw8i3xc2JSng_Q2g/s200/t-shirt-deer-cat%25283%2529.jpg" title="deer cat © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10322110-horned-dachshund">Horned dachshund</a></h3>
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Dachshund with the horns of an oryx.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78ihcGp7uu3l9dZik05lgrTQivdfymXA0w1WWKMLYNmoAH9Ec4-zXfkXVWAQPCzd1rvW0x7cEd0bXugNM7pfk8-Eatsfw3IzBUot_9jY3zgv8uZxMLKnZnY_eE7FswH7VWZbf8rIZfJg/s1600/horned+dachshund+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="horned dachshund" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78ihcGp7uu3l9dZik05lgrTQivdfymXA0w1WWKMLYNmoAH9Ec4-zXfkXVWAQPCzd1rvW0x7cEd0bXugNM7pfk8-Eatsfw3IzBUot_9jY3zgv8uZxMLKnZnY_eE7FswH7VWZbf8rIZfJg/s200/horned+dachshund+card.jpg" title="horned dachshund © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1IvRG1yLzM7EvUv2Opx5OsT7ZbGqKFcnIjTAzO4rPbax9IfDs-h2m49PfTZoEEhMShbkyPwuHwGQD8GjjvwtcI3bbQ2gUFZ_zT0OmOCIiPBkuDNlSK2R2TQId9YcT23zkaNx1VyuvUY/s1600/t-shirt-horned-dachshund.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="horned dachshund" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1IvRG1yLzM7EvUv2Opx5OsT7ZbGqKFcnIjTAzO4rPbax9IfDs-h2m49PfTZoEEhMShbkyPwuHwGQD8GjjvwtcI3bbQ2gUFZ_zT0OmOCIiPBkuDNlSK2R2TQId9YcT23zkaNx1VyuvUY/s200/t-shirt-horned-dachshund.jpg" title="horned dachshund © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10507466-moose-mouse">Moose mouse</a></h3>
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A mouse with moose antlers<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvnLuhbJptN4bFfl31hLWNSMXemgAClECwQ2mFDKaGuq6vMcefyLlU1DzNvgVGs2U6cPZe_kjAZbMsCzditLRXScm8XuZ115vnMODqYIYStsVEaMeP0sxaRRmP6RfZWYeQdsOVT_r4Hk/s1600/moose+mouse+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="moose mouse" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvnLuhbJptN4bFfl31hLWNSMXemgAClECwQ2mFDKaGuq6vMcefyLlU1DzNvgVGs2U6cPZe_kjAZbMsCzditLRXScm8XuZ115vnMODqYIYStsVEaMeP0sxaRRmP6RfZWYeQdsOVT_r4Hk/s200/moose+mouse+card.jpg" title="Moose Mouse © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3YUJtwxkcU/VcL4WgqgBSI/AAAAAAAABGs/8QTwB07XHW0/s1600/t-shirt-mouse-mouse%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moose Mouse" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3YUJtwxkcU/VcL4WgqgBSI/AAAAAAAABGs/8QTwB07XHW0/s200/t-shirt-mouse-mouse%25281%2529.jpg" title="Moose Mouse © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10322124-winged-rabbit">Winged rabbit</a></h3>
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A rabbit with bird wings<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakPZALju4jCCbSJg8fC-7T4GB4EzOZpuWZg8wI5Sg74_g5SExGynL3KMJM4CBSNkwrndHaYOdHf4QpMSaBaiToF9YekejWF60dcyZQ5bhezSD2rT4ZmQHZ1RX5iaKFtPApTt06VYK7wE/s1600/t-shirt-winged-rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="winged rabbit stencil" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakPZALju4jCCbSJg8fC-7T4GB4EzOZpuWZg8wI5Sg74_g5SExGynL3KMJM4CBSNkwrndHaYOdHf4QpMSaBaiToF9YekejWF60dcyZQ5bhezSD2rT4ZmQHZ1RX5iaKFtPApTt06VYK7wE/s200/t-shirt-winged-rabbit.jpg" title="winged rabbit © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/morden/works/10322094-octopug">Octopug</a></h3>
A pug with the body and tentacles of an octopus<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEjQQvH07lY/VcL30xyzm8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/BLO69UN-LfE/s1600/octopus%2Bpug%2Bt-shirt%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="octopug stencil" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEjQQvH07lY/VcL30xyzm8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/BLO69UN-LfE/s1600/octopus%2Bpug%2Bt-shirt%25281%2529.jpg" title="octopug © Richard Morden" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7EHjsFhGII4/VcL4XjTjUhI/AAAAAAAABHE/zyiOzH4TEQg/s1600/t-shirt-octopug%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="octopug stencil" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7EHjsFhGII4/VcL4XjTjUhI/AAAAAAAABHE/zyiOzH4TEQg/s200/t-shirt-octopug%25283%2529.jpg" title="octopug © Richard Morden" width="133" /></a></div>
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Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-55746857822016530442013-05-13T18:53:00.001+10:002015-08-06T18:03:40.826+10:00vigilant panda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP694gDbuoD7RtWZQyCuxL0thfy5nz82RCdHgIVwmoavd7RZD1mJYGKTQD8o4FMu1pwniauvSmlcZ8Z8Vnjk1JgdCiMT5MoCnMuktklnKcIzo_0Hf3HtpXrnJ_UyZGMUA-qMUdh9tG4Bo/s1600/vigilant+panda+for+blog%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vigilant panda illustration" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP694gDbuoD7RtWZQyCuxL0thfy5nz82RCdHgIVwmoavd7RZD1mJYGKTQD8o4FMu1pwniauvSmlcZ8Z8Vnjk1JgdCiMT5MoCnMuktklnKcIzo_0Hf3HtpXrnJ_UyZGMUA-qMUdh9tG4Bo/s640/vigilant+panda+for+blog%25281%2529.jpg" title="vigilant panda © Richard Morden" width="448" /></a></div>
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Vigilant panda possesses incredible powers of vision and insight. It is ever alert and prepared for adventures and mighty deeds. An unusual commission from a few months ago.<br />
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He wears an Inverness cape, in homage to the super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. Prior to this commission I would not have known what an Inverness cape was. Oh the things you learn as an illustrator.<br />
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392996558237175962.post-52703473226236527292013-04-18T14:09:00.001+10:002015-08-06T17:58:51.119+10:00Space NeuronProbably should be pronounced as<br />
Spaaaaaaaace Neurrrrrrron<br />
with an echoing dramatic kind of voice<br />
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It has been far too long since I've posted here. So here's a quick artwork to get back into the swing of things.<br />
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Space Neuron was intended as a quick editorial illustration to accompany an article written in memory of a sci-fi fan. I wanted it to have a bit of an enigmatic spacey vibe. Note the gratuitous lens flare - so cheesy, but I couldn't help it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTTQi7Sath8sHNc4c02T0PyJ5KzY_HhQ9RketeWJXYXPAnVvyuHG5J394KzPViyxJWsbQYOE201zPin8SWITuKXfew9DaGc4qydG2FAKcp7dw0o-e6W0FoFtk05oSdAaOqBJwTbJ70N8/s1600/art-space-neuron-morden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="space neuron" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTTQi7Sath8sHNc4c02T0PyJ5KzY_HhQ9RketeWJXYXPAnVvyuHG5J394KzPViyxJWsbQYOE201zPin8SWITuKXfew9DaGc4qydG2FAKcp7dw0o-e6W0FoFtk05oSdAaOqBJwTbJ70N8/s320/art-space-neuron-morden.jpg" title="space neuron © Richard Morden" width="231" /></a></div>
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<br />Richard Morden illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04884978318052582669noreply@blogger.com