there ain't nothing in this world I can do about it

This one really messed with my eyes, as I drew late into the night, last night. So much so, I couldn't bear the thought of putting them through all that concentrating again tonight - to finish the other half of the drawing. Another time, baby. Another time.

Click on drawing to view.

something for the weekend

There's not much drawing going on around here this weekend. I want to start my new biggy drawing but I just can't find the energy(=euphemism for hungover). It was one of those Friday nights. A little too much vino. And, suddenly these two little drawings, that I made during the week, seem very appropriate.

You know, sometimes I think my humour is too dark. I deleted the original text to this post because I was getting lots of messages from people concerned about my mental health! Thank you, and don't worry. Really, I was joking!!

sittin' around waiting for my life to begin

Lunch for one. Sad, innit?

I've become a little bit obsessed with this little book over the last few days. When I get into an idea, like this, I just cannot let go. It keeps me awake at night. The theme of the book, originally, was 'around the house'. It still is, but now I've developed the idea further. I've given it an added twist. And, quite frankly, if you can guess what that twist might be I'd be truly astonished. The two versions of this drawing are a clue, but I ain't going to reveal it. It's for me to know and you to find out.

I'm just loving the word 'astonish' these days. Isn't it a great word?

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.

come out to play

Look, I know these drawings ain't going to set the world alight but I'm short of drawing time so I had to dig out some old stuff that I hadn't posted before. Also, finding these really reminded me of that artistic struggle that plagues my life from time to time. I have wanted to draw a bicycle for ages, well, certainly, since seeing this challenge on the EDM list. So, I started with the top one.

But, it wasn't quite right. It was OK for a little sketch, but I wanted to make a proper drawing. So, I kept on trying. And trying. And trying. Never quite getting it right. Sometimes pushing it way too far (above). Sometimes going off on a tangent (above). And, sometimes finding myself in the summer of 1976 (above). But, still I'm trying. I'll never rest until I make a bicycle drawing that I am happy with. I won't stop. No bicycle drawing is going to get the better of me. No way, Jose.

Oh, and Miss Musa, that was what was on the previous page to THIS drawing.

Stay posted for a MEGA bicycle drawing. Coming to a screen near you, very soon.

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.

on the beach

So as the rain continues to fall, and fall, and fall, and fall here in the UK look what's turned up in my inbox. Yes, that's only my little Moos sunning themselves on a beach in Hawaii. The swines!!

They don't 'alf get around, you know. See them in other lovely locations HERE. Thanks to my friend Joanie for these lovely pics.

with my small axe

Here's yet another little themed book I have on the go. It's a book I turn to when I don't want to do one of those big mad drawings, but just a small (ish) sketch. It's a little book of travels around my house. Around my life.

It's been cold here in the UK. Non stop rain. Absolutely chucking it down. I was looking at these logs that live in a box in the wall of my living room. It's been so chilly I was even considering burning them. I didn't, a) because it's July and therefore supposed to be summer and b) because I thought I'd draw them instead and c) because they look too good to burn. They are a box of good looking logs. Yes, I'm shallow.

i'll be back again and again and again and again and again...

....with a little help from my friends (you know, I only ever speak in song lyrics these days). So, a little while back I asked if anybody fancied colouring in my black and white drawings of this girl. And to my amazement some of you did! And, with the most fabulous results, too. Way better than my attempt. So without further ado...

Kathleen (age; post adolescent):

Hannah (age; 10 years):

Beth (age; 9):

Jeanne (age; 60):

Laurel (age; 7):

Grace (age; 13):

Gianluca (age; 29):

Andrea Joseph (age; no spring chicken):

And, finally...

Lara the cat. Age; what's it got to do with you?

Thank you all so much for taking part, guys.

Psssst, also check out Pippa's gorgeous blog for her versions and a bonus story about my girl and her mess; HERE.

don't be light

I've been piling on the pounds recently, so I dug out all my old wholefood cookbooks in an attempt to get healthy. I have an extensive collection of cookery books from the 1960's and 70's. I found them all in charity shops and bought them all for the illustration. I just love those drawings. I believe that this illo was heavily influenced by that whole vibe.

This one started life as a 'simple line drawing', as many of my drawings do. Five days later I'm still undecided about it, but after all that time it's being posted. Undecided or not.

born to (not) run

Another drawing from my travel themed Moleskine. And some more nonsense that, no doubt, I'll regret sharing.

every day, once a day, give yourself a present

Bowl of chips and malt vinegar, Vanilla Kitchen, Tideswell.

I love Tideswell village. Recently I've been making the trip at least once a week to do some drawing. I love drawing so much. I want to keep learning. I want to learn how to draw buildings and landscapes. And, for me, there's no better place than Tideswell. It's a gorgeous village. Hopefully, one day soon, I'll show you some of the drawings I have made there. Drawings, that is, of the views, rather than the things I am comfortable drawing. Like chips.

Wooden Owl, charity shop, Tideswell.

My buddy Tim and I spent the most perfect day there recently. Apart from a gorgeous meal at Vanilla Kitchen (which is one of the best places to eat in the whole of the Peaks) the whole town was gearing up for Wakes week so there was all sorts of stuff going on. And, my favourite little charity shop was open. It's very rare to find it open. I've blogged about it before, and if you don't have much of a life you might want to read about it HERE.

I got this little wooden owl, a tiny padlock and 6 used German stamps for just 50p. Bargain. Actually, Tim treated me to them, as a birthday gift.

To be fair, he did also treat me to Neil Young tickets, a bed settee in a Travelodge and dinner at Ikea. He sure knows how to treat a lady. Thanks, chuck. This note's for you.

the way we were

These two drawings are a kind of memory drawings. Well, the idea is from a memory. I've just used a bit of creative license. I remember as a kid being told to go and tidy the living room which would have been full of toys and books and stuff. I would pull the settee out and pile absolutely everything in the room behind the settee then push it back into place. You see, creative even back then.

So, this girl has been told to tidy up, and that's what she's done. In her way.

These drawings are crying out for some colour. I really love monochromatic drawings. I am never that happy when I add colour, but with these I really feel the urge. So you might just be seeing them again, sometime in the near future.

Kids, (big and small) you have my permission to print these off and colour them in yourselves. You have to let me see the results, though. And, I might just post them.

take a pinch of keyhole

(Click on drawing to view)

This drawing had all the ingredients to be great. A beautiful subject matter courtesy of my friend Annette. Stunning colours. Heaps of nostalgia. And hours of time to simmer. Somehow, for me, it falls short of being an extremely tasty dish.

Everyday Matters #37, draw some keys.

all i wanna do

The Travel Moleskine

Click HERE to see my Travel Moleskine, so far.

I thought I'd condense this travel themed Moleskine down to one post, so that it's not dominating the main page of my blog. Instead of cutting it down, however, I've just ended up doing a big huge Moley post. But, what's wrong with a bit of Moleskine love between consenting adults, eh?

The most frequently asked question from visitors to my blog, who are not part of the drawing community, is what is a Moleskine? Well, Moleskines are sketchbooks. Great ones! I think the mark of a really great product is when you don't have to advertise, your customers do the advertising for you. HERE is a link to my first ever Moleskine post, from my first ever Moleskine. I was smitten straight away.

The Ballpoint Moleskine

HERE you can see the beginnings of my Ballpoint Moleskine. It's a bit rubbish, so far, but it's just the start.

The Spare Moley

And, HERE you'll find the drawings from my Spare Moleskine. A kind of back up Moley. It's the substitute I call off the bench when the others are worn out from too much cross hatching.

The Sepia One

Finally, you'll see the entire set of drawings from my Sepia Moleskine HERE. It's the only one, to date, that I've finished.

But mostly, I'm the most excited about my New Moley. Which'll be coming to your screen some time soon.

And, if you are not convinced about how great the Moleskine is yet, check out Moleskinerie for all things Moley.

(Surely, I've broken some kind of record for the use the word Moleskine in one blog post? Somebody call Norris McWhirter.)