still a wild seed

I first made this post over five years ago. I felt that I was just finding myself as an artist (apologies for that HORRIBLE cliche) in these early Moleskine sketchbook pages.

10th April 2007
"In my quest to draw everything in my house I stopped by the spice rack. I'm quite happy with this. It reminds me of the illustrations you'd find in recipe books from the 70's. Books that were usually called something like 'The Whole Food Kitchen'. The kind of book that gave you interesting ideas for things to do with lentils and chick peas. The type of book where you can still smell the patchouli wafting through the pages. I dream of illustrating one of those books. One day. One day...."

Well, I'm not done with the cliches. You know, if you work hard and really really dig what you do, it seems, you can make your dreams come true. Right, I'm not allowed to say anything more. For now.

late at night, when the world is dreaming

The entire contents of a jar of Star Anise (15g).
EDM challenge 143; draw a herb or spice. Illustration Friday; multiple.
(Click on image to view)

old spice

Click on image to view.

Yes, this probably does look familiar. One of my favourite drawings that I did in my Moleskine, way back whenever, was this spice rack drawing. I've wanted to rework it onto paper and frame it for some time and so Tim's birthday (see last post) gave me a good excuse to do just that. Something to spice up his life - his forty year old life! I like it, although it just lacks some of the spontaneity of the original and, of course, that gorgeous cream colour Moleskine paper.

View my sepia set on Flickr 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 Throw out some of the herbs and stuff that were out of date.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.