a new affair

Recently I've had this urge. An itch to scratch. I just cannot get enough of colour. Specifically watercolour. It coincided with the landscape stuff I've been doing (in my last couple of posts), and has pretty much taken over all of my work.

 I've always known that urge would come knocking on my door one day. My watercolour set has been patiently sat there, like a book that you're really excited to read, that's been in the pile of books by the side of your bed, just waiting for it's time to come.

 I'm not impatient about stuff like that. I totally believe that you shouldn't try something because it's the thing to do, or cos everyone else is doing it or because it's there. I wait.

 Until I really really want to do it. Until I have no choice in the matter.

 Now, you see, I LOVE ink. I am head over heels with it, but lets face it, ink is a pain in the ass. It's a pain to take out. It's high maintenance. I'm not talking about just taking out one colour, that's fine, but if you want a full palette it's just an impractical pain in the butt. And, believe me I tried to make it work.

 So, after a year of juggling dip pens and three or four bottles of ink on a street corner, or scrubbing the table at your regular café because you'd spilled the bulletproof black ink, again, the watercolour set caught my eye.

 Sure it isn't quite as dramatic as Mr Ink, he's more subtle, but, you know, more reliable. True, he's not as intense either, but, you get twelve colours in one set and he doesn't leak all over your bag. And, anyway, I'm kinda enjoying his subtle flatter tones. Plus, it doesn't show you up in your local café.

Yes, I have started falling for watercolours.

 I haven't got a clue what I'm doing yet, but I don't care. The fun bit is finding out where this new affair will go. And, if that turns out to be nowhere that's okay too. I'll have new stuff in my locker.

I've always loved monochrome drawings but it feels liberating to not be tied to that black line.

Prints of my new landscapes now in my Etsy shop

(sorry to be peddling my wares but I have bills to pay. Lots of bills).

playing on my mind

So, Tim here, Andrea's friend, stepping in as her technology has failed her yet again.

Obviously there must be a reason for the need to post something, anything, this thing.  The reason is that Andrea is about to release a, wait for it, brand NEW zine!  Hooray!, I hear you cry.  So here is a first glimpse of 'An Idle Daydream Based On Colour' a pen review (of sorts); as it is titled.

This Daydream is all about pens used in making some of Andrea's iconic images. So if you like pens, or like the work of Andrea, or both, or are just interested in the tools of an artist then read on.

The zine is A5 size, professionally printed on a lovely 170gsm silk paper, 12 pages and includes not only images from this very worldwide blog, not only a story about the pictures' creation but also a new illustrated pen on most of the pages, representing the pen used (sometimes) in that pictures', er, creation.

I have one of the 'Daydream's here and it is smoothly gorgeous. They will available worldwide from the Etsy shop SOON. Possibly by the time this is read by you, you lovely followers of the wonderful work of Miss J.

Thank you letting me bother you, and do check out the new zine, I think you will like it.

Bye.

you know that we belong in the presidential suite

I'm so close to finishing this travel Moleskine sketchbook I can almost touch the finishing line. There's just two pages left to finish. It was started almost three years ago and I dread to think how much time has gone into it. Not that I mind though. 'Cos I just love drawing.

The pencil case, above, was a Christmas pressie from my best mate. It came filled with all sorts of bits and bobs. From sugar sachets, badges and labels, all of which had designs that were right up my street and that could have only been collected by somebody that knows me so well, to old notes, letters and things from way back in our past; from times, places and people I'd forgotten all about.

I think this is such a fabulous idea for a gift. Why not do something like it for somebody you know? I think I will. Because what could possibly be better than receiving a Colman's mustard pencil case full of inspiration and love?


You can see the whole of the travel moleskine sketchbook HERE. And, buy the little travel Molezine HERE.

my deep shade

So, when I made the colour ballpoint pen drawing for the Pen Addicts pen review, a few days ago, I knew I hadn't finished with them. I made my first drawing of colour pens 4 and a half years ago. I'm surprised that I haven't revisited this subject since then. Yeah, I've drawn loads of pens but not the colour ballpoints. Yet, they are the most delectable of subject matter. And, I am still not finished. In this drawing, I really like the parts where two pens, and two colours, meet. I want to continue playing with that and pushing to see where it can take me. And my pens.

This drawing is for sale HERE.

trying to remember just what for

Although everything has been quiet around here lately I'm still busily beavering away at this one. So, I thought I'd share another stage of this mammoth drawing with you. So far I've been drawing all the bits and bobs in with colour ballpoints and fine liners. I still don't know how, or if, it'll come together as I rarely do a full-on colour drawing like this. I'm thinking it's nearly there. The final stages will be to get the whole drawing down in pen and then I'll add the final details and, hopefully, a little more 'atmosphere' (is that the right word?) with some soft pencils. That's the plan anyway.

Then what I'd most like to do is get back to blogging. It's just that these days I have lots of things coming at me from every direction. Again, I'm not complaining. Exciting things are happening. It's just that I'm not getting the time to spend with you guys. And, I miss that.

where sleeplessness awaits

So I started this drawing about two or three weeks ago but unfortunately it's going to have to be put on the back burner for the next few days as a new, more pressing deadline has emerged from nowhere.

This is one of the most ambitious drawings that I've undertaken yet. It's on A3 paper which is double the size I normally use. Plus it's full colour. Thus far it has taken approximately 20 hours.

Anyway, I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you how I make these big mad drawings as it is a question I'm asked often. In the past I've been asked if I set up the compositions or whether I draw from a photo. The answer to both of those questions is no. I almost always draw from life.

What I do do is start with a couple objects (in this case the tram ticket, the Mary and baby Jesus and the seahorse) and then add the rest around them. I place the other objects on the paper, mapping it out piece by piece. It's almost as though the composition works itself out. I love drawings like this. I love the way they reveal themselves to me, the way they unfold in front of my eyes.

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.

butterfly purse

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

coin purse at funny angle

This is rubbish. This is a coin purse and it's rubbish. The cross-hatching is a mess. The perspective is all wrong, which is why I rotated it to this funny angle. You weren't fooled though were you? It's still rubbish. It's only redeeming feature is the zip and it's the only reason I'm posting it. Well, that and it took AGES.

oh no...

Oh no I feel a series coming on....wallets, purses and bags OH MY!

EDM#51 Draw your TV and a show playing

I'm coming out! I am a 'Strictly Come Dancing' fan. I believe this is what Saturday night TV is made - sequins and sparkles. And, I love it!

If I thought that the picture of the ballpoints took a long time, well, that was nothing compared to this one. The perspective is all over the place and I'm not sure what has happened with the orange in the scanning process - I can assure you it is blended perfectly on the original. But balls to that, it took so long it is being posted.

EDM#16. Draw a tool

Bloody hell. This took some work. Over the past couple of weeks these colour ballpoints have become my favourite tools. I seem to have been using them for most of my drawings. After drawing this though I have a feeling I might just be using them less. In fact, I don't want to see them ever again! Bring back the colour pencils...

EDM#1 Draw your shoe.

Here's my shoe. Well, it's part of my shoe. In fact, it's part of my boot. My walking boot.
Green ballpoint.

EDM#26 Draw a vegetable

Aubergine in coloured ballpoint.

happy accidents

Mostly I get really frustrated with scanning work. You can labour over a piece for ages; choosing the right shades and colours for your subject to find once scanned it has somehow changed.
With this picture, though, I am quite pleased with whatever happened during the whole scanning process. It was painted on a plain white board but hey! A 'happy accident' as dear old Bob Ross would have said.

incensed

These are the best incense that money can buy - from Onevillage.
I love it when you find a product that you really like, and these are just SO good. They are also a Fairtrade product (you can get them from Oxfam in this country) so you can feel good about yourself when you purchase them. What's even better about finding a great product is when the packaging is so good you feel the need to draw it!

(If I did this drawing again I would put the price sticker a little higher up - somewhere near the A or T)

kitchen table

Another one from the archives. I just needed a bit of colour.

a couple of quickies.

Just a couple of quick sketchbook page drawings. They haven't scanned very well - a little washed out. Still I've finally managed to get two pictures in one post. Of course, they are not quite where I wanted them to be, but still, one step at a time....

Onions in pen and watercolour.

a melody in your name

Today I decided to draw something completely different. Something that I'd never attempted to draw before. I have taken some creative license with these. I found some insect shapes, played around with them and added some bright colours with ink. I think they look quite jewel-like. The names were also made up. Actually, they were not so much made up but totally robbed from, erm, Joni Mitchell. Don't tell her though. I hear she has quite a temper.