an introduction to the household

1st January 1992

how it all began...

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Aside from the history to the right, Gowland is an adorable little chap. Polite and fun-loving yet laughably gulable. He's was originally inspired by a wonderfully entertaining economist at York University.

<p>Gowland originally (actually, Gowland's 1-3) were all totally drawn with my right hand. Now this may sound just like I'm an shite artist but I'm actually left handed, so it kind of makes sense. The idea was that Gowland had to look untidy and disorganised. What better way to acheive that then to draw with your crap hand. The hand which isn't quite as good at wanking as the other. The hand which can't quite cope with corkscrews...

<p>Anyway by Gowland 4/5 I was getting into all this cartoon lark and getting out of the crapness of using my bad hand. So I switched most of the cartoon drawing to my left. This allowed me to start introducing a few better backgrounds, different characters and a bit more consistency (Gowland looked a little too variable and pissed in the first few). Gowland, Sainbury and Beantin were the last things to be drawn with my right hand. Now The only part which is still penned by my right hand is the text (usually) at the bottom of the frame. This is to acheive a 'Gowland font' more than anything else, a style of writing which would suit the little fella.

<p>Another important point is speach. No-one talks. Never have. Everything is descriptive. None of them need to speak, actions are louder than words and all that. Plus it's not in their characters to break their long standing vows of silence.