Kevin McSherry hand painted and digital creative Illustration, Art and Storyboards

Have a lovely and peaceful Christmas,
from all at McSherry Towers.
We hope to see you in the new year...

*Stop Press. Thanks to Peter Kirwan from Denobi Web Design, who phoned me to ask me if this was my brainchild. Such wit merits a link.*

Apologies for mentioning ancient history but an event occurred in the run-up to the unmentionable 'festive season' that is indeed worth mentioning.
The IGI Christmas party took place in Doyles pub on College Green and was organised by IGI stalwarts, Una Gildea and Pádhraig Nolan. Members were urged to contrive an imaginative hat, worthy of their august profession as arists and which would be judged by none other than writer and grizzled comedy elder, Kevin Gildea. Kevin, who appeared very surprised by the honour suddenly thrust upon him by his sister, the aforementioned Una, turned in a wonderful ad-hoc performance, which not only affirmed to all of us his wit, flair and fluency but also impressed me, with his keen judgement, since I came joint- first along with Joven Kerekes in his jive-ass afro-contraption head-set thing. Unfortunately, I don&…

Well actually, here's something that'll interest you. Every month, Scamp.ie, the excellent blog all about Irish illustration, have an open submission event based around a topical theme. This month's is the aptly themed 'A Thrifty Christmas'. Click on the link below and take a look at how various Irish illustrators including me, interpreted the brief into sketches...read more here.

It's unlikely that I'll post anything new today. The children are all off school, with the resultant increase in noise levels. There's still plenty of preparation to do for tomorrow, so it just remains to wish all my readers a happy and peaceful Christmas. Joyeux Noël, Kevin

First, I'd just like to wish a very happy and peaceful Christmas to both my readers!

Apparently, 'tis the season to send badly designed Christmas cards to people that you don't know very well, in the hope of generating a bit of oul' business. For, as it was once told to me by a wizened old marketing professional -you can send all the flyers you want during the course of a year but people will only remember the Christmas card.

I agree -but only if the card is worth looking at. I just received one from the garage that sold me my second-hand car seven years ago [as I have done every year since]. Although it doesn't take the gong for worst card design, it comes eye-wateringly close. There is no excuse for sending abysmal cards unless you're a graphic designer in a corduroy jacket who could say with a knowing smile, 'This card is an ironic statement'.

Seems to me that all such cards generate is indifference, or worse; enmity. If the person to whom a card is sen…