Online exhibition of original crow drawings
The origin story
For decades, I've photographed my local wild corvids and turned those images into detailed charcoal drawings, beautiful fine art prints and more. They've helped pay my rent and put food on my table for literally peanuts. Now it's time to give back.
This summer, I want to turn the best out-takes from those series and do a new collection featuring all those 'so close' moments, where I was a fraction of a second from getting the perfect, iconic picture. I estimate 20% of all the photos I take end up being a crow's tail end only and I've been threatening to do something with them for years.
I love the idea of doing a very serious job of a very silly subject and this collection will be done with every ounce of care and attention to detail as all my previous work. Furthermore, I intend to inflict this on as many people as possible by doing not just one city centre show with it, but a mini tour complete with demonstrations to raise awareness and funds for a local wildlife charity. Please join me in my quest to bring a bit of joy to us, the birds and those who care for them. I think we all need it.
The project so far
In January, I ran a successful Kickstarter campaign which crowdfunded drawings and the first run of the book. That campaign is still open to pledges by the way so if you use that platform already, you are welcome to pop over to The Big Book of Butts page there :) I have already completed some originals - I think the big one below is destined to be our cover butt, I loved the original photo because it really captures the spirit of the thing and the drawing itself turned out to be a cracker.
Next steps
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I am now talking to venues in and around Newcastle, from visitor centres to bookshops, so I can get the tour schedule locked in - currently looking at July as being our main month.
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I will be drawing butts until August when the book goes to press.
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I'll be working with Blyth Wildlife Rescue (who have said yes to all this) to make sure I've got all the information from them that I need, for the book, publicity materials and of course donations.
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Grej Ink will be doing the final design of the book and McRay Press are printing it - both independents I trust and have worked with before.
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Then, when everything is made I am auctioning off originals and prints donated by myself and sponsors with all profits going straight to the charity.
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Finally, the exhibition becomes a permanent virtual show here on my site.
How can you help?
Sponsor a butt! It's dead simple, just purchase a print, original or paperback edition of the book and you can choose to have it either shipped to you or donated to the auction. Either way you're helping - the more butts I draw, the bigger the book is, the bigger the shows are and the more noise we make! Sponsors get credited everywhere their butt appears.
Why this charity?
Blythe Wildlife Rescue took in a very poorly crow from me the year I moved to Newcastle and I've been wanting to do something for them ever since. I used to work at a sanctuary myself and know just how much hard work and dedication it takes from staff and volunteers.
The reason I'm running this project in stages, with the dedicated fundraising via auction at the end is so it's super clear to everyone exactly where the money is going at all times. I will be posting updates of course, if you want to know when the auctions go live you can sign up to my newsletter at the bottom of this page, or follow me on socials.
If you would like to donate money now to BWR or get them something from their wish lists, you can do so on their own website here.