I have a good feeling about this

How on Earth has it been 5 months since my last blog?? Well, they say time flies when you're having fun and I have been having a lot of fun, that's for sure.

The previous blog detailed how I'd been invited to draw my first set of officially licensed Star Wars sketch cards for trading card company Topps, something I've wanted to do for years. I've now completed three sets: Masterwork 2017 (released Nov '17), The Last Jedi Series 1 (released Dec '17) and A New Hope: Black & White (arriving Feb '18).

Each set had it's challenges and I've learned so much in a short space of time. I'm not gonna lie, it's been a very hectic, non-stop few months - I was sketching in my lunch breaks at work, sketching most evenings and weekends, and would even think about the characters I wanted to draw next as my eyes were closing for much-needed rest!

But it very nearly didn't happen.

Masterwork followed on directly from Terminator 2, my first licensed set with Unstoppable Cards. The T2 set was an excellent first experience of sketch cards with a deadline of a couple of months and free choice of characters to draw but literally the day after I completed the T2 cards and posted them off, I became ill and had to spend some time in hospital.

As rough as I felt, all I could think about was getting home and drawing Star Wars before the dream that had finally become reality slipped out of my grasp. Thankfully I was only out of action for a couple of weeks and as soon as I was able, I was able to get stuck in.

If you follow me on social media, you'll know that I'm not used to holding work back. I'm always posting work in progress (WIP) photos and finished pieces so not being allowed to share work as I was completing each card was very odd. As a result, the buzz I felt on release day was incredible and unlike anything I've ever experienced. I was finally allowed to share my 30 cards with the world!

The same happened with The Last Jedi set in December and I'm looking forward to sharing my cards for A New Hope: Black & White next month. Sticking with the monochromatic theme, all my cards for the set are greyscale and I genuinely believe they include some of my finest sketch card work to date. Being my third set, I didn't have the nerves I'd experienced previously. I went in with a new found confidence and I hope to put this to good use on future invites. But for now, I shall be having all the sleep.

Be sure to add me on Twitter & Instagram for the most up to date news (clearly this blog is not the place for that!), the latest work and those first sneak peeks at the latest set when release day comes round. I've also added galleries for each of the sets right here on my site. Thanks for stopping by and let me know which cards are your favourites!