i get my back into my living

A huge thanks for all of the comments and support, in my last post, for my new book. I am very touched. It'll be a whole load of new excitement, as will going to France to publicise it. In all honesty, I'm totally exhausted just thinking about it. But in a good way.

 I seem to be working non stop these days. Burning myself out, not getting enough sleep. But, I don't think there's any other way if I want to make a living and career out of this illustration lark. And, I do. I do everything I do for the love of illustration.

 And, here's another of those things I am doing for the love of it. I've recently taken over the running of Dr Sketchy Sheffield - along with my business partner Hell's Belle (yes, just having a business partner called Hell's Belle is a dream come true). I became a Dr Sketchy addict from the first event I attended, so when the opportunity came up to co-run the gig I couldn't say no.

Again though it's turned out to be more work than I'd anticipated because as soon as one event is over we're planning and promoting the next.

So, that said, if you are in the Sheffield area why not come along to our next event (above) and draw with us? It really is a lot of fun. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't.

Or check out our Facebook page, to see what we get up to, HERE. You see, never stop working.

well, we slept underneath all the stars and we talked about girls seen from afar

You might have seen both of these before in photos, on my blog, but I'm very happy with them and so I thought I'd post the scans. They are both from February's Dr Sketchy's circus evening in Sheffield. I still feel I'm a beginner when it comes to life drawing so when it goes well I feel particularly chuffed with myself. We have another event happening next week, so if you are in the area and would like to come along details can be found HERE. It's great fun.

PEN QUESTION: Right, folks, it's that time when I ask you for some help again. I'm looking for brown pens - just like the colours I've used in these drawings. Brown fine liners. Preferably with a variety of nib sizes. They need to be water and light resistant. And I need to buy them soon. Very soon! I would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks in advance, penpals.

out of the sinking

Here's a piece that I have made for an upcoming exhibition organised by Cardboard Shelter (a charity that raises money and awareness about homelessness). They can explain, what they do, better than I can, so, if you are interested, check out their website HERE. Plus, there's some lovely artwork to look at.

But, the gist of it is that a bunch of artists contribute a piece of work, to be sold at the exhibition. No themes and just one rule; the artwork must be on cardboard. 'The idea of the cardboard canvas is a nod towards the material which provides shelter to many homeless'. I pinched that quote from their site. See, I told you they could explain it better.

For this piece, I reworked one of the sketches I'd made at a Dr. Sketchy event, of the lovely Hell's Belle, on a piece of cardboard from an old, used, sketchbook (what else?). I knew that I kept those old pieces of cardboard for a reason.

Making this got me thinking; I hardly ever draw on coloured paper. I don't know why. I must do it more often. I like the effect and the tones I got from blending the graphite pencil into the grey board. But, don't hold your breath, I was saying something similar when I contributed to this good cause some time ago. Check THIS out.

songs are like tattoos

I think this was my favourite sketch from last Friday night's Dr. Sketchy. The scaling is all wrong; the hands, for one, are way too small but I don't really care. I'm a little bit obsessed with tattoos at the moment. I'm loving drawing people too. So what could be better than drawings on people? Not much.

c'est si bon

I love Dr. Sketchy. I really do. Last night was another great session at The Greystones in Sheffield. We got to draw some stunning models to an Eartha Kitt soundtrack. What could be better than that? I was right in the zone too and produced a load of sketches. Sketches I'm pretty chuffed with. Here's one. It's my (ahem) prize winning drawing of the fabulous Miss Hells Belle. I'll post the rest soon. Cheers!

you laid it down for all to see

I'm off to another Dr. Sketchy Sheffield tonight, to draw some Burlesque lovelies. Gathering all my pens and sketchbooks together for that made me realise that, as yet, I haven't even posted the drawings from the last Dr.Sketchy evening here on my blog. The last event was a little different as, instead of the Burlesque girls, we had the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls posing for us. And they were great.

It seemed like they'd put a whole lot of thought into those poses too. How they stayed in the one above for fifteen minutes I don't know. Especially the girls at the bottom of the pile. But they are no wimps.

I'm still not as confident in my life drawing as I am in other areas so I always start off with some blind contour sketches as below. Life drawing is still so new to me. I love that though; I love having so much to learn.

something for the weekend

I dug this out the other day. It's a roll of paper that I took to the very first Dr. Sketchy event I attended. Unfortunately, because it's a roll, it's really difficult to both scan and photograph which is a shame as there are some quite nice moments on it. I like this one which I made as the stunning Scarlett Daggers performed her routine. It was more than the guys at the front had bargained for on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Sheffield. Dr. Sketchy really is life drawing with a difference.

Now, everyone, join in.....

Da na na na, da na na na...

da na na na na naaaaaa......

Da Na da NA DA na da NA........

....doodoodoodoooo doodoodoodooooooooo.

nothing without a woman or a girl

Last night saw the second Dr Sketchy Sheffield event and, again, we were treated to some fabulous models and performances. For those not in the know Dr. Sketchy is an alternative life drawing class using Burlesque lovelies as models.

After rushing to get there I was thrown straight into a few poses before I had time to get my breath back. I always find it takes time to get settled in so I start with some warm up sketches and lots of blind contour drawings, like the ones below.

These are great events and I do hope that the Sheffield one will flourish. I'd recommend it to anyone in the city who loves drawing. Come along! Not only to you get to draw these gorgeous girlies whilst listening to scratchy old vintage 1920s gramophone classics, but there are prizes to be won too.

I won one for my drawing of the divine Fanny Divine at the top of this post. Bonus!

bathtub gin and irving berlin

Saturday saw December's outing for our Sketchcrawl North group. This time we did something a little different by attending a Dr. Sketchy event. Dr. Sketchy is an alternative life drawing class with gorgeous burlesque girlies, in all sorts of cheeky poses, as our models. It was Sheffield's debut Dr. Sketchy event and I think I can speak for most of our group when I say we hope it's not the last! It was nothing but fabulous.

When we go on out on our sketchcrawling get-togethers I like to try to work in a different way. To play a little, if you will. And, Saturday was the perfect opportunity to do that. This is the only sketchbook drawing I made. I also took a roll of wallpaper (well, poster paper but you get the picture) and some thicker marker pens. I'm wondering quite how I'll upload that? Maybe a little video is called for.

I don't want to bang on about this too much but necessity dictates; if you are in the UK you can now get your hands on my new zine 'How t Draw like a Loon' HERE. I'll list it for the 'rest of the world' after Christmas.

Cheers, my dears!