John Welding
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johnwelding.bsky.social
John Welding
@johnwelding.bsky.social
110 followers 86 following 41 posts
Pen and ink drawing, comic strips and sketchbooks. Currently drawing the adventures of reanimated war robot Chuffin' Billy.

https://johnweldingdraws.blogspot.com/
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johnwelding.bsky.social
John Welding @johnwelding.bsky.social · 21h
FREE PDF Of my Mundane Diary (Jan-Jun 2024) in the link below.

It's a comic strip diary about walking the mundane outskirts of Wakefield, UK.

Download it now: (61mb)

drive.google.com/file/d/173xN...

#DiaryComic #FreePDF #MundaneDiary #ComicStrip #IndieComics #Wakefield
Photo shows the PDF montage cover to John Welding's Mundane Diary PDF superimposed over his work desk which contains a black and white drawing in his A5 sketchbook and the tools he used to create it which is a pencil, traditional dip pen and black Indian ink. Photo contains orange wording 'FREE PDF in the link below...'
johnwelding.bsky.social
FREE PDF Of my Mundane Diary (Jan-Jun 2024) in the link below.

It's a comic strip diary about walking the mundane outskirts of Wakefield, UK.

Download it now: (61mb)

drive.google.com/file/d/173xN...

#DiaryComic #FreePDF #MundaneDiary #ComicStrip #IndieComics #Wakefield
Photo shows the PDF montage cover to John Welding's Mundane Diary PDF superimposed over his work desk which contains a black and white drawing in his A5 sketchbook and the tools he used to create it which is a pencil, traditional dip pen and black Indian ink. Photo contains orange wording 'FREE PDF in the link below...'
December 14, 2025 at 10:29 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Designing a little character in the latest Chuffin' Billy comic strip.

The angry little left overs that are Chuffin' Willy.
December 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
'Jones goes for a walk'. Drawing from February 2015.

I thought this was lost long ago. Found it tucked away while looking for something else in the sketchbook graveyard.
December 1, 2025 at 9:02 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
WIP Back working in the real world with brush pen on A3 paper.
November 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Watching the excellent Catweazle season 1 on YouTube. Kids and magic TV series from 1970.
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Chancellor Reeves November pre budget speech.

Why does it all sound so familiar?
Cartoon by John Welding from 2017 based on the film Frankenstein (1931) showing the then Prime Minister May standing over the living corpse of Great Britain declaring, "It's alive... and strong... and stable!" mocking the Tory slogan of the day.
November 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Did a little impromptu paper and ink performance for someone's special day this morning.

(I've replaced the original birthday wishes with some inane babbling from the internet!)
November 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Watched 'Protein' the other night and really enjoyed it (my only real complaint is the lead character is too stoic!).

The 'Ken Loach' meets vigilante serial killer angle worked for me as did the similarity to 1999's (eat to live) Ravenous.
Black and white brush pen drawing and notes with a grey scale textured overlay (from the artist's own photo library). He watched the film 'Protein' the other night and quite enjoyed it. Enough to draw characters from memory at least.
October 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
It's been a weird year for my drawing.

It kind of peaked using a computer and I wasn't able to sustain or replicate the results I was getting.

With all the Ai shenanigans going on at the minute, my response is to go back to basics and draw freehand with a brush pen.

Drawing direct.
Photo shows an A4 page of drawing and notes of vegetation and a robot using a black Pental Colour Brush Pen. I am trying to get back to basics. It's been a weird year for my drawing. It kind of peaked using a computer and I wasn't able to sustain or replicate the results I was getting. With all the Ai shenanigans going on at the minute, my response is to go back to basics and draw freehand with a brush pen. Drawing direct. Using as little guidance from artificial means like a light box or computer software to edit the image. Close up of the previous Photo showing an A4 page of drawing and notes of vegetation, trees and a robot using a black Pental Colour Brush Pen. I am trying to get back to basics. It's been a weird year for my drawing. It kind of peaked using a computer and I wasn't able to sustain or replicate the results I was getting. With all the Ai shenanigans going on at the minute, my response is to go back to basics and draw freehand with a brush pen. Drawing direct. Using as little guidance from artificial means like a light box or computer software to edit the image. Close up of the previous Photo showing an A4 page of drawing and notes of vegetation, trees and a robot using a black Pental Colour Brush Pen. I am trying to get back to basics. It's been a weird year for my drawing. It kind of peaked using a computer and I wasn't able to sustain or replicate the results I was getting. With all the Ai shenanigans going on at the minute, my response is to go back to basics and draw with a brush pen. Drawing direct. Using as little guidance from artificial means, like a light box or computer software, to edit the image.
October 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
I work part time in recruitment (admin, min wage) so know the amount of checks already in place.

Digital ID has nothing to do with controlling migration and everything to do with pandering to the elusive far right vote.

#LaboursLibDemMoment Vote Green in future.
Black and white sketch of a futuristic fascist Mega City Judge threatening consequences for the crime...of not having ID.
September 26, 2025 at 10:57 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Been awhile.

Mark making outside.
September 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Notes on refilling a Pental Colour Brush Pen - refilling never really worked for me, it loses the hairline/bold mark making quality I love it for.

However I recently discovered, dipping the brush in water and gently squeezing dilutes the ink enough to restore it's gorgeous inky qualities.
August 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Chuffin' Billy Book 2 is here.

Billy discovers something alien in the Gas Street Basin canals and the South have secrets of their own!

Written by @noelkh.bsky.social and drawn by @johnwelding.bsky.social with Gary O'Donnell and Bhuna.

Available on amazon uk amzn.eu/d/1DHh8bH
August 10, 2025 at 11:28 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Now available on Amazon...
amzn.eu/d/eCqqQGV

The long awaited Chuffin' Billy Book 2.

Contains two Chuffin' Billy stories written by Noel Hannan and drawn by me. 'The Goliath of Gas Street Basin' and 'The Embuggerance Engine Part 1'.

Plus 'The Siege of Dublin' by Noel and drawn by Gary O'Donnell.
Chuffin Billy: T' Yorkshire War Robot Book 2: Amazon.co.uk: Hannan, Noel K, Welding, John Paul: 9798293553204: Books
Buy Chuffin Billy: T' Yorkshire War Robot Book 2 by Hannan, Noel K, Welding, John Paul (ISBN: 9798293553204) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
amzn.eu
August 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Sketchbookery...

#ParallelPens #WaterColour
Close up of sketchbook pages drawn in black ink with pilot parallel pens and coloured with water colour transparent paint. Amongst the visual rambling is the robot in a parka, Chuffin' Billy.
June 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
WIP. Chuffin' Billy half page panel.

Inked in #AffinityPhoto
June 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
I was posting old work on Cara and found these four strips for The DFC and The Phoenix comics 2008-2012. Written by master storyteller Ben Haggarty.

If you're human, see alt text for more context.
Page one of a five page comic strip titled 'One Man Short'. Introduced by the tale talking Will Skoggin's Skull. Timothee Lee gets enlisted by three tall, dark strangers in carrying a coffin. Drawn by John Welding, Written by Ben Haggarty and published in The DFC comic 2008. Page one of a four page comic strip 'An Eye For A Profit'. Will Skoggin's Skull tells the story of a young man seeking his fortune by searching for a one eyed Cyclops monster! Drawn by John Welding and Written by Ben Haggarty, published in The DFC comic 2009. Page one of a five page comic strip,'The Apprentice'. A young apprentice dabbles with his master's book of magic with demonic results! Drawn by John Welding and Written by Ben Haggarty and published in The Phoenix comic preview issue 2011. Page one of a four page comic strip 'Mrs Ma and the Dumplings'. Mrs Ma must outsmart the hungry Forest Gobbler by trading with local tradesmen using her delicious dumplings. Drawn by John Welding and Written by Ben Haggarty published in The Phoenix comic 2012.
May 2, 2025 at 9:50 AM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Trench Cats were a real thing back in WW1.

Process post over on my blog...
johnweldingdraws.blogspot.com/2025/04/tren...
April 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Real shame about 'WH Smiths'. I hung out regularly at the Bletchley branch after school as a youth, reading the comics and magazines.

Here's a diary page I did back in 2013 for The Ridings shopping centre, some things never change...
A series of pen and ink and watercoloured panels arranged A4 Landscape. The handwritten text reads: "Having lived in Wakefield for a number of years, walking through The Ridings has become part of my regular route through the City Centre. Sometimes it's a shortcut. Sometimes like today, it's because I am on a mission to buy a birthday present." "There is one place I go when faced with the challenge of shopping or entering shopping malls in general. It's a place that orientates me to the City Centre environment." WH Smith. "I don't even have to read a magazine anymore, a glance at the reassuring shelves of magazines and stationery is enough. Part of a shopping ritual for me..." "I have been doing this in various towns throughout the land for 33 years." "WH Smith founded 1848 by William Henry Smith and Son." © John Welding 2013
March 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Darwin talking to a lawyer about Babbage's work. I like how this one came out.

Page written by @noelkh.bsky.social still needs lettering.
March 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Over on my blog, trying to make sense of why I ditched Meta...
johnweldingdraws.blogspot.com/2025/02/dele...
February 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Early Chuffin' Billy concept sketch (2018?) before I had seen any scripts.
Pen and ink, muted watercolour sketch of a World War 1 steam powered robot. Spindly scaffolding for arms and legs protrude form his armoured, battered torso as he marches through a bomb blasted, smokey landscape.
January 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
johnwelding.bsky.social
Been drawing traditionally for 46 years, have had a few goes drawing digitally in the past but now seems a good time to go all in.
January 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM