A work type post for a change....Extracts from the Open Museum's response to homelessness in Glasgow featuring the Can You See Me? portrait project and the Glasgow Refugee Project art installation I completed over the last few years.

Readers with long memories (or short hair) may remember a post from a while back regarding the Can You See Me? project I did alongside Glasgow Open Museum and guests of Glasgow City Mission creating 'portraits' focusing on their interests rather than in a traditional style.  You can read about it here .  Well it seems that t he Alasdair Gray archive really liked it so last week I got to spend the day there chatting about art, archives, graphic novels (with a hint of Dudley's own James Whale thrown in) and the idea of taking the project further. Exciting times with more to follow methinks.

Posted this as a thread on 'the Twitter' earlier but thought I'd share it here too. You're welcome. This week Tim Burgess' fantastic online listening party featured Soft Cell's new album Happiness Not Included....As folk who know me can attest, Soft Cell are my favourite band - and Marc Almond is my hero...   Being the awkward autistic artsy teen constantly picked on in school, obsessed with horror films, sci-fi and Warhol, Marc was a lifeline and Soft Cell's dark electropop perfectly encapsulated everything I felt...and everything that terrified me too.... They also seemed to like the same things too (a song about George A Romero? result!) - it was Marc and Dave introduced me to Capote, Scott Walker, neon lighting and electronica among other things and in one way or another have soundtracked the best part of my life   My art school days (and nights) were scored by Mother Fist and Vermine in Ermine....I journeyed out into the big bad world to The Stars We Ar...

 A short aside now that might - or might not, it's your choice, I'm not your mum - be of interest to those wanting a wee peek into the fabled 'Autistic Mindset'. Or more likely just interested in my work. Either way, knock yersel' oot as they cry up here.   Top music-type fella - and all round nice bloke - Paul Laird has just written a new book - The Birth and Impact of Britpop -that's currently available to pre-order and released good 'n' proper on 30th June. And why the blatant plugging I hear you ask. Well type but you get the picture. It's because I did the illustrations for it and it's kinda interesting as to why I got so excited when Paul approached me. You see when I get approached to do a project the one thing I need to find (in order to actually do it) is a personal 'hook' - no matter what the subject matter or style it has to be something that gets me excited. Simply put if I don't feel I 'get' the subject (even in a...

 Autitude Issue 16 - out now!   Illustrated & curated by me and filled with wonderful poetry, reflections and artwork.   Read it here .