"think i'll pack it in...

....and buy a pick-up, take it down to LA".

OK, so I know it's not a pick-up but there's a few of reasons why I had to use this title. I've been listening to Harvest by Neil Young all week. A classic album to go with this classic camper van. This is one of my all time favourite openings to a song. Actually, not only is it the opening to the song but to the whole album. I hear those words and get tingles. In my life I've always felt this way. Like packing it all in, buying a pick-up and heading for the refuge of the roads. I've never been able to shake that feeling off.

I'm going away for a few days too, so actually I am taking to the road (I'm not going to LA though). Don't know if' I'll get a chance to post much this week but hopefully I'll get some drawing done.

Finally, a few weeks ago an old friend found me through the powers of the internet. We'd lost touch and not seen each other for about 10 years. I told her that I wasn't the old hippy she known back then, I'd really changed. Hmmm. She didn't believe a word of it and after this post I think she may be right.

Ooops, I haven't quite finished yet! It's a bit of a rubbishy drawing but it's my first vehicle. Inspired by France Belleville (I wasn't brave enough to do a side view - it's the wheels that scare me off drawing cars) who coincidentally made this post yesterday; Neil.
Cheers everyone, see you when I get back to town.

pinboard wizard

(Click on image to view) I was absolutely convinced that I had already drawn a pinboard. I'm still surprised that I haven't - I mean, it's so me! This, once again, was going to be a little 'light relief' in between drawing buttons. It's taken me about a week! ALL week. I really don't want to draw those buttons it seems.

It doesn't look like I'd pictured it in my head and the sizes of the objects are all out of proportion. But none of that matters because I really really loved drawing this subject. I'm going to give it another go too (I know) maybe with a little colour.

Lots of notes about this drawing on Flickr. Check it out HERE.

past midnight's hold

A quickie here. I've got a screw loose; I'm starting another buttons drawing. So I may be getting lost in that over the next few days...well nights...late nights....late late nights. See you on the other side.

everything comes and goes

I was cleaning out the car the other day - well, I say 'cleaning out' actually all I did was gather these tapes together - which got me reminiscing. I think I probably spent the entire of my teenage years compiling play lists on cassettes. I loved making compilations, always trying to get all of my very favourite tracks onto one tape. But favourites come and go just like lovers and styles of clothes (sorry, I had to do it. I had been working up to that line) and, of course, the way we listen to our music. I am sad to let go of some of these old friends but we've come to the end of the road. It's over.

(Actually I may just keep them for a little longer, could probably get at least one more drawing from them!)

I'm using this one for Everyday Matters challenge #61, draw a grouping of similar objects.

something for the weekend

Have another banana. A few people commented on how my last drawing bore a resemblance to Warhol's iconic artwork for the cover of the Velvet Underground's brilliant album. I had to agree. It was not intentional, I didn't even notice the resemblance until I'd uploaded it. This, however, was intentional. It is also the same banana as in the last post, just a couple of days older.
For those who are not familiar with that album check it out HERE.

have a banana!

i want to go home, don't want to stay

Back in the Moleskine sketchbook, I haven't used it for a long time. I'd forgotten how good the paper is. This drawing is my response to Everyday Matters Challenge #130 'draw some school supplies'. Oh, and don't tell the teacher but I carved my initials in the desk with the compass.

For those who don't know (and who have asked me recently) Everyday Matters is an online drawing group. They set weekly challenges and you can see that list HERE.

You can see the Everyday Matters challenges that I have completed HERE.

i've got the blues inside and outside my head

This was one of the drawings that I got really frustrated with last weekend. It was originally meant to be three pencils, and was going to be for Illustration Friday's 'the Blues' theme. Anyway one of the pencils went wrong which explains the pretty bad crop.

I haven't really got the blues inside my head (today), it's just a great line. And, I'm trying to see how many times I can quote Joni on this blog. I'm averaging about once every other post.

well i wonder

Tubes of stuff (click on image to enlarge).

It's when you find yourself drawing hemorrhoid cream that you know that you need to ask yourself some questions. What am I doing with my life? Is this normal behaviour? How did it come to this?

sad eyes

This is the mother of the Russian doll family that my late grandpa bought for me, from a trip to Moscow, many years ago. Unfortunately the rest of her family is a little fractured. Some are half the people they used to be while others have completely lost their heads. Families, eh?

I really didn't want to post this as it's a bit rubbish. I'm in a right old drawing funk at the moment. I've had a very frustrating weekend. Even though I've been drawing and drawing I'm just not happy with any of it. She's the best of a bad bunch.

you've got the moon on your pyjamas...

...and the stars in your eyes.

(Everyday matters challenge #138, draw something soft.)

already one

1 year, 186 posts, 40,000(ish) visits, 7 sketchbooks, 2 Moleskines, 7 Pilot G-tec pens, 40 Everyday Matters challenges, 15 shoes, 12 purses, a squillion buttons and lots and lots of lovely friends. Thanks everyone for making this first year of blogging so amazing. I appreciate each and every visit and comment.

I know this sounds really dramatic but starting this blog, and drawing daily, has changed my life. It's made me focus on what I really want to do with my life and has been the best journey. Sometime ago I won a drawing competition and part of the prize was a signed Quentin Blake book. The final sentence of that book is "But then, when you start drawing you can never be quite sure what is going to happen next, can you?" I love that.

Cheers everyone!

the green green grass of home

Well, finally something to post! Phew, it's been a while. I've had a week of driving, hotels and trains. Yesterday, I had to go to Wales to pick up a picture. Thought I'd get some time to draw on the train. However, I found that I'd picked up my Moleskine diary instead of sketchbook, so I had to use the little paper that was strong enough to take all the hatching I would throw at it. So above is a drawing from the pocket at the back of the book.

Then just a quickie inspired by the views out of the window. The journey seemed to take forever and wasn't helped by me getting on the wrong train - which messed all my connections up. Still, I love this train journey, it cuts right through mid Wales and all the mountains. The colours are just so gorgeous at the moment. A drawing opportunity out of every window.

labelled with love

Oh well, I haven't gone any drawing done over the last few days. I had lots of good intentions but you know how it goes sometimes. Also I'm away for the next few days. So I thought I'd bore you with a couple more of my Moo cards until I get back.

This cat toy card is probably my favourite of all the Moos I've had printed, although my model for the photo was very temperamental! You can see the rest of the set HERE.

nothing's right when you're not here

Bear with me guys while I get these buttons out of my system. I wanted to rework them for an idea I have - tell you more about that some other time.

As well as being a piece of sewing equipment, in the north of England the word 'bobbins' is also used for something that's a bit rubbish. So you could say "that's bobbins, that is" about something you don't like. I hope you don't say it about my drawing though!! Ha!