feelin' alright

A few posts ago I introduced you to the Swish hairbrush. Well, it turns out I've actually drawn it before. It's on this table. Can you spot it? The answer is on my book blog HERE.

Also, talking about the book blog, it has been voted as a Froudian website of the month. That makes me happy because Brain Froud is one of my illustration heroes. Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee is most probably my favourite illustrated book of all time. For those of you who've never seen it, you really really should. It is a thing of absolute beauty.

some might say

Right guys, I promise, I PROMISE, this is the last you'll see of this drawing. I have no choice in the matter anyway, the the doodles are the only thing holding the paper together.

To anyone who fancies completing one of these step by step drawings, before the eyes of the world, it's really simple. Just follow these twelve easy steps;

Step one. I think I'll start a step by step drawing.
Step Two. Yeah, that's a good idea.
Step Three. Yes, I'm loving this.

Step four. I knew it was a good idea.

Step Five. Of course, now I'm committed to this.

Step Six. I couldn't just give it up now.

Step Seven. How long exactly have I been doing this?

Step Eight. Seriously.

Step Nine. I AM getting rather irritable now.

Step Ten. I'm losing the will to live.

Step Eleven. I'm considering murder.

Step Twelve. Finished. Thank f**k for that.

I have noticed that Illustration Friday's theme this week is 'Opinion'. So, as I finished this yesterday, I'm calling this my contribution. Some might say I should have given up on this drawing a long time ago. But as you can see I'm of the opinion - I mean the naughty kid who drew on desk is of the opinion -that it's better to burn out than fade away. Me and this drawing. Totally burnt out. Never again.

out of the blue

From this;

To this;

For this;

You are probably sick to the back teeth of me drawing school desks, I know I am. But, I thought I'd share this with you. I was invited to contribute to this Urban Art exhibition by creating a piece of work on a piece of cardboard. It's all in aid of Cardboardshelter, a charity that raises funds for The Big Issue.

Drawing on cardboard was something of a revelation to me. I have only ever drawn on white or cream paper before. I loved using the brownish background, it has opened up host of possibilities, and is something I will do more of.

Oh, this is my 300th post! Surely, that can't be right?

hanging out my old love letters

(Click on drawing to view)

This was an interesting drawing to do. It stirred up so much stuff, about school and what it was like being that age. I hated school. I know that's a strong emotion but it's how I felt about it. What I didn't know then was that such strong emotions would make good material further down the line.

I can't remember doing much graffiti on my desk at school. But that's one of the great things about drawing. Now I can live out all that stuff on paper. My teenage rebel can have the space to run wild (with her pen) and do all those things I was to scared to do.

Another thing this drawing brought back was how many crushes I had back in the day. Lots. And lots. Even though they've now all drifted off into my long term memory they, too, make good material. There's one still continues. Decades later and I'm still worshipping at the altar of Paul Weller.

'Exercise Book' print available HERE.