Revised version of Kiss Me Deadly

I was given some advice on Kiss Me Deadly, and have produced this revision. Not dramatically different but there are more contrasted tones in the forgreound and the vampire is raised higher so that their heads are not on the same level.There is also a very faint blue multiply layer added.

The Bustini (TM) and a bookshelf

I've invented a cocktail, I call it the Bustini, because it's orange coloured like my dog (Buster). It's basically Martini and Lucozade: an effective pick me up after a hard day revising CSS and general web design stuff.

I'm in the middle of a Dreamweaver revisathon, ahead of commencing the next part of the home learning course: Adobe Flash. The day was punctuated earlier on when my dad came over to help build a book case. So at least I'm not quie so surrounded by unmanagable stacks of books anymore. Actually he made the shelves himself and it's a rather nifty bit of handiwork, worthy of a photo.

Kiss Me Deadly

Yesterday and the day before I was working on this piece for a comic cover, which the client has graciosly allowed me to share ahead of publication. It depicts a feisty red-head called Dawn Keenan who hunts vampires in Dublin. Dublin (where I had a break in 2008) has some good alleys for hunting vampires in (not that I encountered any vampires, so Dawn must be doing a good job), and some quite nice gothic architecture too. The backdrop is loosely based on the Synod Hall Bridge, a nineteenth century gothic revival feature attached to the medieval Christ Church Cathedral in the city.

New look website

I have been giving my art website dashinvaine.co.uk an overhaul. It now has its new look, check it out!

Tattoos based on my pictures.

I was sent a photo today (by 'Jabbajay on Deviantart) who had my Cernunnos design tattooed on the back of her neck. This was done by Warren at Avinit Tattoo in Orpington, UK.



My original:


Cernunnos by ~dashinvaine on deviantART


This is the second time someone just went and got an image of mine tattooed, and then let me know, and obviously I have no problem with it. It's flattering, actually. The other one was a Knight Templar based on a drawing of mine.


templar by ~bigalalal on deviantART


I've also had a couple of people commission tattoo designs from me, including an epic Crusader battle back piece, but I don't know if they went through with it. This is a mock up:


Crusader battle tattoo by ~dashinvaine on deviantART

Feel free to get in touch if you would like me to produce a personal tattoo design, and also if you have already had one of my pictures done as a tattoo. It's always interesting to see the photos.

Still Alive

Hi All. Sorry it's been a while since I posted here but I am still alive. Chriatmas was good apart from several of the family getting the flu over the holidays. One of the rabbits had to go to the vets yesterday, too, as he's dragging his back leg around. (It bit the end off a syringe, earlier, which is a bit worrying). Seems to be a bit better now, though, having moved back indoors into what was my painting studio in the back kitchen... The bunnies survived all the snow but the damp that has set in now is no good for them. My painting area had sort of shifted back into the living room anyway, so it's no great bother. (I prefer painting within sight of the computer as it's easier to google reference images than to trawl through all my books and cuttings). I've been doing more digital stuff than traditional of late, that said. Commissioned work has included more maps and ships for a pirate game project, and a wedding invitation decoration in the style of an illuminated manuscript. These and a couple of newly coloured old drawings can be seen on my deviantart site.