there's a cat in the kitchen

I spent Easter Sunday drawing my kitchen shelves. But then didn't we all? Didn't we? Oh. OH, right.

I'm really happy with this drawing. Really very happy. There's a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, because this page in my sketchbook had been annoying, frustrating, depressing me for probably six months. I'd committed to drawing the shelves by putting an outline of them, and their contents, down on the page in back ink. You probably can't even see it now but it is there. And, that's as far as I got. But it was a horrible drawing; bland and contrived. I didn't know where to go with it.

So, I'd just let it sit on the back burner ever since. Sometimes that's all you can do with a drawing. There are times, actually, when this approach, of just leaving a drawing brew and going back to it some time later, has produced some of my favourite sketchbook spreads. That's what happened here.

Sunday I decided to tackle the shelves. I used blind contour technique to put the details in with coloured fine liners. Then I added some colour pencil  for the background and chilli lights. Then I put in some shadows with a green brush pen. Then I put in some other thicker lines with other pens (which it really didn't need, but then I never know when to stop). Finally, and for no apparent reason, I blind contoured the cat and added the phrase 'le chat est dans la cuisine'.

So, there we go. The story of a drawing.

Oh, and the other reason I really like it is, well, just 'cos I find it aesthetically pleasing. That's okay, isn't it?

everyday i get in the queue

So, if you caught the last post you might just have spotted this drawing. I have drawn this little tin bus in the past. Twice, in fact. In some ways I think it might have been more successful back then. The colours worked better, I think. But, I wanted to draw it in my Moleskine. My travel Moleskine. So I drew it all over again.

Crazy. I know.

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?

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.

i cannot put my finger on it

Feeling pretty empty, creatively speaking, right now. Don't know why.

all that you touch

A bit of kitchen kitsch. I've just noticed that this is my 250th post. That seems amazing to me. All those drawings I've drawn, all that rubbish I've written and all the fine folk I've met. Thanks for all the visits and encouragement.

They've been revamping the site over at Moo. I don't like to blow my own trumpet, but when I saw my work on there, looking so good, I felt quite proud. It's mad to think of how this adventure all started, all those posts ago. I'm excited to see where else it'll take me.

Check out Moos revamp HERE (the stickers are cute TOO).

this woman's work

As you might imagine, it is a rather sophisticated and professional setup here at AJ head-quarters. Recently, I have relocated my studio - from the armchair to the kitchen table.

Also, recently, I have been rediscovering the work of a childhood hero of mine Ronald Searle. His work had such an effect on me when I was a kid. It was around that time I fell in love with illustration - the magic of illustration. I was thinking about all of that when I did the bottom of the two drawings.

Anyway, you know the drill; click on image to view.