lemon burst

I really feel like this blog, and I, needed some colour in our lives. What could be better than burst of lemon? I bought these organic lemons because they were not the usual perfect-shaped type that you get at the supermarket. They had all sorts of lumps and bumps which made them much more interesting for drawing.

I think I over did it a bit with the dark green on the left of the lemon. 'Over egged the pudding' as the saying goes. Apart from that I'm pleased with the texture I achieved on the peel.

(Oh, and I've just remembered there's an EDM challenge 'draw some fruit'. So this is my attempt.)

EDM#43 draw something china or ceramic

Everyday Matters challenge #43 draw something ceramic; kitchen ornaments. In an earlier post (perfume bottle) I experimented in using both ballpoint and pencil together in the same drawing. This picture takes that idea one step further. In the bottom of the two ornaments I have blended both graphite and ballpoint. I quite like it.

time to think

Time To Think.

Think about Things.

Think some Thoughts.

EDM#22 draw an item of clothing

Phew! I'm so pleased to have made a drawing like this. For a couple of weeks I've been struggling with my creativity. Thinking about making the next drawing better than the last. Feeling the pressure to post something that is 'good enough'. Trying to show more technical ability. Searching for the perfect image.

My blog is now four months old and it is the first time I have felt like this. The honeymoon period is over and now it's beginning to feel like more of an effort than it did before. Before I was just so in love with drawing that it was never an issue. I guess it's just time to readjust and find the best way of working for me.

So I'm so pleased to have made a drawing like this because there wasn't any thought put into it. I didn't worry about the outcome, how much skill it displayed or didn't - I just drew. And the bonus was it fitted into one of the EDM challenges!

playing with packhams

Click on image to view.

I've noticed that pears seem to be quite a popular subject matter for some of the illustrators from these drawing blogs. I know exactly why; I love them too. They have a great figure for drawing. I enjoy playing around with their shapes. My favourites are the short stubby varieties like Packhams or Williams.

EDM#2 Draw a lamp

I haven't completed a drawing challenge for some time. I am having trouble finding inspiration at the moment. So many things to draw and yet I don't want to draw any of them. So I went back to the challenge list and Number 2 was 'draw a lamp'. All the lamps in my house are pretty uninspiring. Functional lighting, not very interesting. So I went for this old thing. Not quite a whole lamp, but still...

catch a flame

This is a little handmade ceramic tealight holder. I have two of them. They are both different in shape. They are both lopsided and quite quirky in shape. I like that about them. I don't like the fact that my drawing is lopsided though. Bugger.

sunset over Saudi

I've never really been into collage - as a medium to work in. I like to look at it; my favourite artist, Peter Blake, and one of my favourite children's illustrator, Lauren Child, both use collage brilliantly. But I find it difficult and, anyway, I just love drawing. I found these two pictures when looking, through my old sketchbooks, for something to post. They are kind of memory collages. About 15 years ago I went on a working holiday to Israel. While I was there I took a trip to the Sinai, Egypt. It was a magical time. From the beach, where I was staying, you could see across the sea to Saudi Arabia. In the evenings, as the sun went down, the mountains of Saudi seemed to soak up the sunset. The colours were just amazing, all purples, pinks and oranges. Magical. I made these collages when I returned home; trying to capture some of those colours and memories.

a couple of oldies

I have done some work on a couple of different alphabet projects in the past. One was an ABCD project from which I have already posted two pictures - they can be found in November's archives. The two letters you see here are from a different project. With this one I completed the whole alphabet. These are a couple of my favourites from it.
These are small drawings in fact the originals are not much bigger than as you see them here. Therefore I'm not sure whether enlarging them will do them any favours.

i've thrown the towel in

I didn't think that I'd get anytime to draw this week. I had too much other stuff to do. So I'd resigned myself to being creatively unfulfilled this week. Then I walked into the bathroom and this towel begged me to draw it. I just couldn't say no.

have you seen this house?

This, actually, is not a house but a trinket box. I bought it in a charity (thrift?) shop some years ago. You remove the roof to put things inside. I've always had a thing for these kind of North American houses. We do not have anything like them here in the UK. I believe they are Victorian houses - and I've seen the iconic images of the streets of San Fransisco (hee hee!). I don't know why I like them so much, I guess I saw them on tv and films as a kid.

This trinket box has a price sticker on the underneath which reads 'Seal Rock Gifts $12.99'. I know that there is a Seal Rock in Oregon. What I wonder is does this house exist? I mean this EXACT house. Imagine it does. Now it's that kind of thought that sets my imagination racing.

hung up

Whenever I draw in this colour pen it always reminds me of my old friend, and automaton maker, Toby Downing. Don't know why.

catching rain

This is a memory drawing. I believe that I saw this sculpture about 20 something years ago. I believe that it's called 'Rain-catcher' but can't be sure. I don't know whether I got that from my memory or imagination. Sometimes they get muddled up...


I've had no time to draw over the last few days - that's why I've posted this doodley-thing. Some good news though; my 'Princess and the Pea' picture that was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art Wales has sold. I found out today, the cheque is in the post, and I feel really chuffed!

gwen

(Click on image to view)
Another of my drawings for children. Well, girls actually. And yes, I hate drawing hands.

following orders

It's funny how sometimes an object can dictate how, and what you will use, to draw it. For example, this perfume bottle was never going to look like this. I was never going to use pencil and ballpoint. I don't believe I have ever used pencil with ballpoint in a picture before. It had never occurred to me to put them together. But the combination of the metal and glass of this perfume bottle just seemed to cry out for these two mediums. I'm still not even sure that it works but I just did what I was told.

(Just a thought; I do have a set of drawings on Flickr that are just ballpoint and pencil and I think they look pretty good together - as a set. Take a look by clicking here.)

kitchen door and Jamie Oliver apron

There was a time, not so long ago, when I would do anything to avoid drawing. I would cook, clean, iron and EVEN do the dishes. Today I have been avoiding doing my college assignment by drawing this door. How times have changed.

clockwatching

Aaaargh! No time for drawing. Well, time for a quick one. Quickish.

butterfly purse

Gold butterfly wallet with chain. A gift from a friend.

Dill

This is Dill.

an artistic new year!

With the New Year beginning it's time to make some resolutions or goals. Apart from the obligatory join a gym; become a yoga goddess; meditate daily; stop eating so much chocolate; become a balanced human being (nah, that would be boring) etc, I've been thinking about what I'd like to achieve artistically.

My main ambition, which I've mentioned on this blog before, is to get my children's book published. So perhaps before everything else this is what I should commit myself to. Starting this blog has really inspired me to continue with this drawing thing. It has also made me believe that I can do things. So I'm going to put my energies into getting my children's book out into the world (I am kind of making up this plan as I go along - can you tell?).

I've wondered whether I should start another blog for this work? It could keep all this kid's stuff together or at least put it in some kind of context. It could also chart the journey of my characters out of my sketchbook and into the world.

Thanks for all the support since beginning this blog. Happy New Year to you all. I hope you achieve what you set out to do in 2007.