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.

you are the only thing

I thought I'd take a moment to bang on about the Moleskine sketchbook. Actually why stop there? I might as well take this opportunity to bang on about the Moleskine in general; sketchbook, notebook, diary, etc.

Obviously, there hasn't been too much in the way of drawing getting done, around here, recently as I've been going doodlealley trying to finish off hand decorating these million and one envelopes. And, talking of envelopes (it seems to be the only subject of conversation I have these days) while I was out the other day, desperately trying to source more, I popped into my favourite shop and only local Moleskine seller in the area.

I was going to treat myself to a new Moleskine sketchbook and diary. Perusing the lovely shelves of Moleskines it struck me that it really is the perfect product. It's a product that is so beautifully designed (like a Clark's desert boot, the Eames chair or a Swiss Army knife) that it doesn't need advertising as the customer does all the advertising. Just like I am. Here. Now.

Anyway, I was most disappointed to find that the shop didn't have any Moleskine diaries left. That's what you get for buying a diary on January the 12th. How would I live without my page-a-day diary? Not only do I fill my diaries full of all the extremely important dates for all the extremely important things I'm going to do (don't laugh) but I also fill them with stuff like this;

But, mainly I fill them with stuff like this; lists, references, lists, quotes, lists, lyrics and more lists. This one I made whilst watching the History Boys. I loved the big pin board they had at the back of the classroom (I will have one of those myself one day) that was filled with portraits of icons and idols. I listed some of the people I could spot of the board in the film and added some of my own. For future reference.

I also use my diary to plan drawings and blog posts (NO, don't laugh. I actually plan this stuff). And how would I possibly do without the detachable address book that fits so perfectly into the back pocket of the diary? One less thing for me to doodle on.

Anyway, after perhaps an hour of deliberation (can I do without a page-a-day diary? am I really a weekly planner type of gal?) I settled for the planner. I'm sure I will come to terms with it.

Then I had to choose a new sketchbook. Damn I love new sketchbooks more than I can say (I live alone). That anticipation of the clean pages. That inner cover waiting. Just waiting. What will it look like in a years time? Which direction will it take? I love that space.

Will it be another place to through down ideas like my 'spare' Moleskine, above? A place to work through all those lists and pull a drawing out of the hat? Or will it take on a colour theme like the Sepia one? Still the only Moleskine I've ever completed from inner cover to back pocket.

Or perhaps it'll become the second volume of my travel Moleskine. I'm so close to finishing the first volume. There's definitely a possibility of that. I loved this theme and am not quite done with it yet. Although of course it could be something completely different. I quite like the idea of combining my love of food and drawing and making a kind of foodie-skine. Who knows?

One thing it won't become is a ballpoint Moley. For me, these two mediums didn't quite go together. I don't know why. It's just a personal thing. So the ballpoint Moley that I started, below, doesn't actually exist anymore. I pulled it to pieces.

Anyway, sometimes you need one that is no longer in sketch book form, cos sometimes you need the paper for those little odds and sods that you might want to draw that are not part of any theme.

And, one thing is for sure, to celebrate my love for the Moleskine this year will see more of my little Molezines. I already know the theme for the next one of those. I've been obsessing over that for the last couple of months.

Finally, they threw me out of the shop. I purchased my new books and went. Dreaming of all the possibilities. All the possibilities that a new book and a new year can bring.

it's written in the stars

This is an oldie, yes. But it's not on my blog, no. Until now.

I did post it, for about five minutes, about a year back, when I'd drawn it. But I couldn't bear looking at it. I don't why I disliked it so much back then. Well, apart from the composition - which I still feel is a bit contrived. I remember posting it and then deleting it later the same day.

Today, while I was looking through the Moleskine drawings that I'd saved to a pen drive, I came across it again. And, with a year or so between us I feel that maybe I was being a bit harsh back then. It's not too bad. It's not great. Not my best. But it ain't awful or owt.

So, especially as I have nothing else to post, I thought I'd give it another outing. Better owt than nowt. As they say up North.

it's a joy to know

I love that time when you are just about to fall asleep. That moment in between awake and asleep. It's such an creative space. For example, last night at that very moment, I just knew that I had to, that I really really must, add a wood grain to the background of this ole drawing. Why? Who can say. I could analyse it, but I think it's best not to.

And, what can I say about my last post? Just that I am completely blown away by the response. I'm still speechless (not that you'd notice), and will be sure to keep you posted on the building of the AJ empire. Thank you, all, so very much.

One more thing, you can now follow A Heavy Soul on Twitter. That's me by the way. Andrea Joseph was already taken. The swines!

Cheers, my dears.

i've been waiting for you

So the final final page of my Moley. The Sepia One. That's it.
And, here's some stats;

53 drawings.
1 drawing I have never (and will never) show.
1 drawing I showed and the deleted.
1 ripped out page (at the very beginning, before I considered collage)
3 drawings with a little added collage.
13 sepia drawing with a little added colour.
30 I like.
13 I don't like.
5 I despise.
12 sepia pens (ish).
1 year and 8 months.
More than 300 hours drawing. Way more.
16 shoes or boots.
1001 Faves on Flickr.
Loads of gorgeous comments (thank you).

My own personal favourite is THIS ONE.
Or maybe THIS ONE.
The most popular drawing was THIS.

And, if this all sounds like I'm blowing my own trumpet, well, I'd just like to draw your attention back to the amount of hours put into this bloody book. Well over 300 hours. So yes, I'll milk it. And now I'll close the book and put it away until I can bear to look at it again. I'll give it at least six months.

View the whole book HERE.
More works from the Andrea Joseph collection can be viewed HERE.

who do you love

This is the final page of my first ever Moleskine (the sepia one) finished. This drawing felt like going over old ground and was a real struggle. But, no surprises there. I'd put a few circles on the page a long time ago, and then left it at that. So, I was forced into continuing the badge theme. I always knew that the final page was going to be a real battle. I have issues with ending things.

Only one of these badges is a real actual badge from my actual badge collection. The rest are from my imaginary badge collection.

I have one more page of this Moleskine to share with you, and then I'm hoping to do a little something to celebrate fnishing it. More on that in the not too distant future.

don't look at my shadow

Now be honest, are you laughing at the cat paw? It's a bit rubbish, isn't it? Did you even know it was a cat paw? I actually drew around the actual paw. Which, as you can imagine, the cat was thrilled about. I nearly lost an eye for this drawing. And you're laughing. Thanks a lot.

Illustration Friday; Strings.