wish i knew you well

I was going to say that this is the finished version of the drawing I posted part of a little while back. But now looking at it on the screen I think it could do with more shading; a little sepia to give it an antique feel. That's how I had seen it in my head before I began. Also, I always intended adding a handle because it is supposed to be a drawer full of souvenirs. Or, the handle could have made it look like a suitcase. And, I love that ambiguity.

I'm often asked how long my drawings take. Well, at a guess, this one took a mere fifty hours. To appreciate the obsessive attention to detail click on the drawing and stick your conk in. Please do; FIFTY chuffing hours.

Oh dear, it seems that some of you have having trouble enlarging this image. I'll try to fix it, until then you can see the bigger version HERE.

the light nights are here

I find having to post photos of my work really frustrating. I want you all to be able to get a proper look, stick your beaks in and all that, and I don't feel that you can do that with photos. I mean, seriously, how does one photograph a trompe l'oeil? The angle, the light, the colour, the detail - especially the detail - it just doesn't work. In my opinion. Oh well, until I can afford an A3 scanner that's just the way it is.

The question I get asked the most is about the pens that I use. I always find it astonishing that people would want to know but, if you are interested, you can find a photo, and some notes, of every pen used in this drawing HERE.

the keeper of the key to the locks

This drawing is on an A3 paper and, as I've said before, I do not own a big enough scanner, so excuse the photos.

This drawing has taken my obsessiveness to new levels. I'm not sure whether you get that from the photos but, really, it really has.

I found this old book on Ebay and I just had to have it. I expected everybody in the world to bid for it, and I would have paid over the odds. However, my predictions were wrong and I ended up getting it for just £4.

I, religiously, meticulously, tried to recreate every crease, stain and colour on the white blank page before me. All the lettering too. I think I managed it more or less. I did make a couple of little additions of my own, though. I'll let you work out what they were.

It's also the very first page of my book. The story of my life.