Wednesday, September 17, 2008

i got the cat spit blues

A little while ago I asked you where you may find all the items in THIS picture. The answer is, of course, they are all things that you would find in a pixies hat. Obviously. Fortunately, I mean unfortunately, nobody won the million pound prize I was offering.

This a drawing from the children's book that has being living in my sketchbook, and my head, for the past decade. It took me five days to draw. When I'd finished it, yesterday, I put it down on the floor and went into the other room (I know, I know). When I returned the cat was sat on top of the drawing taking a wash. She looked up at me, shook her head and a globule of saliva plopped right onto the drawing. It is not waterproof ink. So I had an orange stain that I had to try to hide. I think I've managed it. It was the pencil in the jar - which had a fine wood grain before the spittle incident.

This drawing is on A3 paper. I usually work on paper half this size. I've just been to the print shop to get it scanned. I was going to take some photos and post them, but it needed scanning. I want you to stick your beaks into every nook and cranny. So click on the image to view.

38 comments:

Anita Davies said...

LOVE IT...Spit and all! LOL!

joseph's art and stuff said...

only five days? WOW, this is amazing, the detail, texture, and the cat trying to help, great story, you are more tolerant than i may have been. pets are great (when they know their space)

Anonymous said...

You are now really starting to outdo yourself Andrea. just as I think this is it, officialy you can't do better, you show up and you post another breathtaking piece of work! I've missed a lot, but I've also saw a lot on the moley project a while back and you and your group are just wonderful!
Ronell

E-J said...

Holy heck, Andrea. Can I pre-order this book, like, RIGHT NOW please? What do you mean, I have to wait?

kathy hare said...

another brilliant drawing, your work is lovely...
I too suffer with cat attacks on my artwork, a couple of years ago when I was at uni one of my cats walked across one of my final pieces leaving splodgy pawmarks in the centre of the drawing, like you I just had to work it into the drawing.. love em.. :)

Teri said...

HOLY HATS!!! i AM SPEECHLESS AND MY SOCKS ARE ON THE FLOOR. OH.MY.GOSH. THIS IS BEYOND OUTSTANDING. GET THIS IN THAT BOOK AND PUBLISHED. KIDS WILL GO CRAZY OVER IT!!!!

Cynthia's Botanical Arts said...

Your blog just makes me happy, Your work is so amazing!! " Thank you " to you and the cat (couldn't even tell....). You made my day!

Alex Louisa said...

kids would totally lap this up - it's awesome! I used to love detailed drawings like these in my storybooks, where you could search and search and keep finding new things in the pictures, as opposed to that over-the-top simple, cartoony style.

And oh yeah, animals + art just don't mix. My german shepherd hasn't done anything major to mine yet, but the latest is moths bomb-diving into wet paint (when I'm not there to see so then they dry in it), or a gecko that crapped over the finished face in a drawing that I'd been working on for a week.

So I totally understand, and nice job hiding the cat spit ;)

Robertson Studios said...

Oh wow. I LOVE this!! My favourite books when I was a kid were all about Gnomes (by Poortvliet and Huygen) and their secret lives. This drawing so much reminds me of those books...made me feel all nostalgic. :)

Anonymous said...

Fan-pixie-tastic!

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

Some children would certainly love to explore a drawing like this. Hey, you could have some fun with the xrays of people's bags and luggage at airports! They pinched our jar of peanut butter at Melbourne airport a few weeks ago. I said to the guy, 'I suppose you will eat that for your breakfast!'
Now, what kind of bomb could you make with peanut butter?
w.

Edgar Cabrera said...

you are definitely making architects look bad! this is the most beautiful cross section ever! your attention to detail is unbelievable. oh andrea and by the way THANK YOU for the best present ever! you are one of a kind!

Stephen Gardner said...

Truly brilliant. What a great concept and the execution is flawless, as far as the spittle goes, a little DNA never hurt anyone.

Jennifer Phillips said...

YOU are fantastic!
I can't wait to see a book from you! You could publish a mini version at www.blurb.com to satisfy all your fans in the meantime????

Anonymous said...

I love this drawing! Your work is truly amazing!
I found your blog from Danny Gregory's post today and am so glad that I did. I will be spending some time perusing your wonderful art.

Anonymous said...

You're not human.

I love the idea of a pixie with loads of trinkets stuffed in his hat. I think the best part of this drawing (as in the bit of all the best parts that I really love) is the guide up the side (unsquashable things, stuff food etc).

You have to get your backside in gear and get those books published Andrea. I have two god-daughters who would love them.

BARBARA WEEKS said...

I with e-j! This is absolutely fabulous. I'll never get my work done because I just want to keep exploring!

melissa said...

Spiderwick who? You're next. Go for it lady!!

wagonized said...

This just takes me somewhere else, Andrea. Bravo.

suzanne cabrera said...

When are you going to stop teasing us and start selling your work...at least prints. I wanna get my hands on this.

You are so special.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you all SO much.

I am happy witht his one. It's the first of five I am trying to get together before the end of the month. There will be two black and white (well, sepia and white) and three colour (well, sepia and blue). This one was going to be one of the quicker ones - it took five days! I'd better pull my socks up.

Anyway, it'll just be children's drawings - or drawings for children - up till the end of the month guys.

Thanks everyone for the really fantastic comments. You just don't know how much they mean. Cheers.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

The cat says thanks for all the kind comments too.

Pippa said...

WOWZA!

This is absolutely amazing! the arrangement of all of the objects, the skill - I'm flabbergasted!

Get this book of yours finished - I want 3 copies!

Rick said...

A Pixie's Hat! Obviously. Why didn't I think of that. Man, oh man, I was so close to making my millions.

I love the piece - as always.

Slobbery cat eh? I use ink that not water proof too. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that does that. It does make for some creative challenges.

Timaree said...

I agree, kids will love searching this picture. Really nice job.

kazumiwannabe said...

It's so fun! And wonderfully drawn, of course :) ! This book is going to be fantastic!

Jennifer Lawson said...

Wow, Andrea, this is so amazing. The detail and the line work—How do you do it? Just incredible.

Anonymous said...

way way WAY too cute!

suzanne cabrera said...

Yay...so excited to read that there are more in the making... I wish I had your ability to concentrate on a drawing longer than 30 minutes...what I'd give...

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you all, folks. There is more on the way.

Suzanne, what I'd give to do a drawing in less than thirty minutes. Seriously. I'm way too obsessive. You, er, may have noticed!

Cheers, everyone.

Anonymous said...

Super duper incredible. Obviously I couldn't guess what they all had in common because I'm quite illiterate about Fairies! Thanks for the education!

Anonymous said...

totally gobsmacked, and totally want the book when it's done!
just amazing...

Anonymous said...

Great picture and I now have the answer to what does a pixie wear under his hat. Perhaps cat spittle should become the new medium, I usually am forced to use dog drool.

Genine said...

this is the coolest freakin drawing EVER!!!!

Anita Van Hal said...

This is just amazing. Best wishes on the competition for the children's book! I've enjoyed viewing this drawing! So many layers and interesing bits...just the kind of thing I like.

Anonymous said...

wow blimey, i love this one. And that all fits into a hat? Incredible detail.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you all, guys. I gotta say, and I rarely say this, but I do love this drawing. Glad you liked it too. Cheers.

Kathleen said...

Another test from Kathleen!