how green is my valley

Okay, I'll stop with this soon, but I'm really enjoying this work right now. All of these recent landscape drawings were meant to include a signal box (you can see it in my last post). The white space, on the right hand side of this one, was left so that I could squeeze it in. Now I'm not even sure if I'll put it in at all. It's been a bit of an obsession for me that signal box. I think if anything could become my Monte Sainte-Victore (for those not in the know, Cezanne painted it over and over again, in every season) it would be that signal box. I love it and have done since I moved here. I've wanted to draw it for the longest time, but never got around to it. But the other day it was just calling me. I've been back each day since. So far, it's only made it into one drawing.

that's where you'll find me

 I have this thirst for landscapes at the moment. I don't know where it has come from, I try not to question it.

 I adore the British landscape. It's so beautiful and green and lush.

 I've done quite a bit of travelling in the past, and been to some stunning places, but I think that the colours of the UK are my favourite. There has to be some pay off for all that rain. I always knew what an inspiration it was to me, even though I was drawing lots of man made stuff. I'd drive through these hills and imagine I was breathing in the beauty and that somehow, even though it wasn't obvious, it would come out in my work.

 I've a long way to go before I produce anything I'm really happy with as I'm playing around with a whole new medium in watercolour. My attempts are a bit dull and dirty looking, but that's because I'm a messy worker.

Anyway, I am just enjoying playing in the fields right now.

just a little green

These are my Day Three sketches of the Post Three Sketches in Five Days challenge.

Today I chatted with Koosje Koene, one of the founder members of Sketchbook Skool, on Skype, and we caught up on all sorts of things that had been happening, for both of us, since I went to Amsterdam last year to film my classes for Sketchbook Skool with her. It was good to talk. You know when just chatting with another person who has the same interests and passions as yourself can give you a boost? It can be uplifting and, well, the conversation left me feeling all inspired. So, it felt fitting to post these three sketches, that I made whilst I was there, in Amsterdam with Koosje, today.

If you are unaware of Sketchbook Skool (is there anyone who hasn't heard about it yet?), well, it's this online school where all the tutors are sketchbook artists from around the world. An eclectic mix of tutors who are pretty much obsessed with creating sketchbooks. In fact, there's no pretty much about it, they're totally obsessed with creating sketchbooks. And, that includes me! Yes, I'm one of the tutors on the 'Seeing' course which starts on Friday. Still time to sign up. You can do that, and find out more, HERE.

get out of town, think i'll get out of town

 Here are the two sketchbook spreads that I mentioned in my last post. Both were made whilst in Amsterdam filming for Sketchbook Skool and both were finished when I got back home.

The top drawing is a drawing that I wanted to make when I went to Amsterdam. I guess I wanted to make it before I went out there. I knew that I wanted to get at least one drawing of those old Dutch tall, thin houses along the canal banks. But, that's not all. When I saw this drawing in my mind, this is the style and these are the lines I wanted to achieve. And, that doesn't always happen. Sometimes, I have no idea where the pen will take me.

The second is a sketch I made at Erasmuspark in Amsterdam. I just added colour pencil at home. I shouldn't have bothered with the lettering though.

sitting here resting my bones

To say the last few days have been stressful would be an understatement. I've had no internet, at home, for ten days now. I've spent hours on the phone to my internet provider getting technical 'help', had one massive sweary rant at an obnoxious member of their 'customer care' team and then broke down tears to an overly nice lady in their Essex office (I've spoken to every office they have). It sounds pathetic, I know. But when your business and livelihood relies on you being online it's more than just missing messing around on Facebook or Twitter. Although, I've missed that too.

And things just seemed to get worse and worse. Mostly brought on by myself and my inability to function as an actual human being in the real world. By Saturday, and after a series of unbelievably embarrassing Larry David moments (I'll tell you about it another time, it's still raw), I just never wanted to leave the house ever again. But I did, and on Sunday I had a lovely afternoon, chilling and watching (well, drawing) some cricket with my sketching friends. So, everything feels better now. And, suddenly I have internet. It just started working. I have no idea how long I'll have it for but as soon as I noticed it was working I rugby tackled the laptop and started typing this.

These are all drawings I've made, out and about, over the last few days. I found some old calligraphy pens that I haven't used for years and have been getting hooked on the gorgeous unpredictable flow of a fountain pen nib. Below are some piss poor figure drawings from the cricket match. There are some moments and lines I like though. Specifically the ones that I picked out with that thick nib.

there'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow

Finally, an update. Actually, it is more of a teaser as it seems I have lost the ability to take a decent photograph. And, it's still very dark in my house and this part of the world.

About three years ago I embarked on a Moleskine Exchange project, with a bunch of amazing artists, by waving goodbye to my little Japanese Moleskine 'Green'. Since then he has been backpacking around the world until a couple of weeks ago when he returned home.

If you've don't know about this project head on over to the blog and check out the stunning artwork that has been produced so far. If you do know about this project then still head on over for a teaser of the new drawing added to my little Moley. It's so nice to have him home.

Click HERE to visit the Moleskine Exchange blog.

between the lines

I seem to have been waffling on, in my posts, quite a lot recently. So, in this one I'll just let the drawing do the talking.

You know the drill; click on the drawing for a better view.

i heard it in the wind last night

Oh well, I didn't get around to a new Christmas drawing this year, so the sprouts are getting another airing. For those of you from outside of the UK who might be wondering why sprouts, well, I'll tell you why. In the UK it is the law that on Christmas day you must have Brussel sprouts. Honestly. You can be locked up unless you have at least one on your plate. And nobody wants that.

Hope you all a have a wonderful Christmas (assuming you celebrate it). Thanks for all the visits, follows and comments. They are much appreciated. I'll be back with loads more drawings very soon.

And, once again, a big thanks to those of you who have bought my drawings, zines and prints. You keep the wolf from my door.

Merry Christmas everybody.

all the weaving of my dreams

Finally a new post on my children's book blog. If you want to know more about this mad drawing (and, quite frankly, why wouldn't you?) then head on over HERE.

even after all this time

I remember at the beginning of the year, making a whole load of New Years drawing resolutions. I then proceeded to draw loads of shoes. Even though that hadn't been one of the resolutions. I had a big old shoe binge (or should that be purge?), for about a month and half. It seems that I have one of those every six months.

It's totally unintentional. I'm not that obsessed with shoes. I like them, yes, but I don't spend most of my day thinking about them. Despite what you may see on this blog. It's made me think about it. Why? Why shoes? Why do so many people like shoes so much?

Anyway, here's another drawing of a Stan Smith. It belongs to Josh, who has a thing for Adidas trainers. So it's not just a girl thing.

bright in my northern sky

I wish that I was better at scanning things. Because, I think, this drawing contains some of the most complex cross hatching I've ever done.

I often get asked about my cross hatching. How I do it. How I found this style of cross hatching. Truth is I could never answer those questions. Not very well, anyway. It would be like me trying to explain eating, or something. How do you eat? Well I put food in my mouth and chew. That's it. I couldn't give much more of an explanation. Cross hatching? I put the pen on the paper and draw lines. Lots of lines.

Seriously. I don't know how else to put it.

grey to green

Once again I need to say a great big thank you to you all - for your response to my last post and to the great feedback. It's all much appreciated, and I still have many of you to get back to. I'll get around to it ASAP.

As I said then, I have been meaning to start this new 'book blog' for a long time, but I continued to procrastinate and over think things and then procrastinate some more. Well, not anymore. So, if you are wondering exactly what this is a drawing of, then pop over to my new blog (yikes! I'm nervous) and find out.

While you are there you might, perhaps, who knows, I dunno, if you fell like, maybe, want to start following that blog?

Anyway, I'd love it if you would join me. You can take a look at my new blog HERE.

all the weaving of my dreams

Well, sorry to leave you hanging like that. I've been a little busy. And, I've been struggling with this drawing. It's been a love hate relationship. I've given up on it a couple of times, then I've given in and worked on it some more, then finally, after a couple of weeks, I finished it. It's another drawing from, erm, 'my book' (!). Which is another reason I've been away for so long - getting ready for Bologna. Yikes, folks, it's getting close.

So, click on the drawing to get a better view. Go on, stick your beaks in.

a little green...

...some turquoise and a teeny-weeny touch of red.

Everyday Matters challenge 116, draw something green.

ey up chuck

I've been drawing against the clock. Trying to get this finished before midnight. I had a request for a green Converse. This is the third attempt, and it still isn't right. There are definitely some perspective issues. Still, I'm calling it done. I did try. I gave it my best shot. What more do you want? A unicorn?

Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

same but different

Purse #6 above. A little friend for purse #4 below. As Bob Ross says 'everybody needs a friend'.

See my purse collection, so far, HERE.

born to potter

I pottered around the house all day today - like I had nothing else to do! I would actually love to spend all my time pottering. I can't think of anything better. Apart from draw, that is. Drawing and pottering. A good day. Anyway, one of these drawings took around 15 minutes the other took considerably longer. Take a guess which is which.

Part of the pottering plan was I to have a clear out in the kitchen. Go through the cupboards. Throw out some of the herbs and stuff that were out of date. I found that that was about 95% of them. I reconsidered and decided that actually most of them may 'come in useful in the future'. Take these porcini, for example, I'll get at least one more drawing out of them.

Dill

This is Dill.

going green

I've decided to invest in some new pencils. They are expensive, and I am poor, so I'll get them colour by colour. I started with the greens because, at the time, I was drawing Brussel sprouts! This is the reason why most of my recent posts have been green lately. I've had enough green for now though. This is the last one for a while.

EDM#30 Draw a chair (two)

I have already completed this challenge once before. However, I think this drawing is probably more appropriate for this particular theme. As this is the chair is where I do most of my drawing. And, anyway, I don't suppose I'll get thrown out of the group for completing the challenge twice.

I drew this, in one hour, last night while watching (well, listening to) a documentary on Edith Piaf. From now on, every time I see this drawing, I will think of Edith Piaf. There is something that really intrigues me about those random associations.