so you know it's got soul

I was really touched by the generosity of the Herranz family on my recent trip to Bologna. One of their acts of generosity was to find me a lovely place to stay, in Theresa's apartment. An apartment filled with all sorts of interesting stuff. All sorts of curiosities. Just the right place for somebody whose imagination is fired up by such things.

I haven't drawn a thing for about a month. This is just a little something to ease me back into it.

I'm also going to use this as Everyday Matters challenge 21. Draw something old, antique or vintage. You can see the rest of my Everyday Matters set HERE.

in a foreign land

Hey, folkies. Back from my trip. It's late and I'm very very tired. I just wanted to say Hi. I'll wade through all the photos I've taken (lots of photos) and fill you in on all the news over the next couple of days. And, I shall endeavour to reply to all the comments and emails. Thanks for all the encouraging words.

As I, myself, have not got around to any drawing, I thought I'd post this piece of gorgeousness. (I'm talking about the drawing not the model!). It's me, by the way. Me, by the amazingly talented illustrator, and friend of mine, Miguel Herranz.

like some kind of magic

Well, guys, I'm going to shut up shop for a week. I had been hoping to squeeze a cheeky one in(drawing, that is) before leaving for the Bologna Chilren's Book Fair, but that isn't going to happen. In fact I don't think I've drawn since finding out I'd been selected! I'm so excited about this trip. In fact, I feel really excited about things in general right now. It feels like something is happening, I don't know what. Some kind of shift.

My very favourite illustrated children's book is called The Red Tree by Shaun Tan. I've bought so many copies of this book for people (never for a child, though!) over the years. There cannot be another person on this planet who has bought as many copies of this book than me. It's beautiful and perfect. I can't recommend it enough.

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this because when I was perusing the list of selected illustrators for Bologna 2009, for the millionth time, whose name do you think I found? Yeah. Shaun Tan. Only Shaun Tan. Me and Shaun Tan on the same list. My life is complete.

Some years ago, before I began blogging and drawing daily, I entered a drawing into a competition at the Sheffield Book Festival. You had to draw a character from a children's book. I won the competition, and amongst the prizes was a signed Quentin Blake book. The book is called Angel Pavement and is about a drawing competition! The book ends with this line, that never ever fails to make me feel totally utterly warm and fuzzy inside;

You can't though, can you?

Bye, folks. I'll try and post some photos from Bologna over the next week. And, maybe, I'll draw soon, too. Cheerio, my ducks.

all the weaving of my dreams

Well, sorry to leave you hanging like that. I've been a little busy. And, I've been struggling with this drawing. It's been a love hate relationship. I've given up on it a couple of times, then I've given in and worked on it some more, then finally, after a couple of weeks, I finished it. It's another drawing from, erm, 'my book' (!). Which is another reason I've been away for so long - getting ready for Bologna. Yikes, folks, it's getting close.

So, click on the drawing to get a better view. Go on, stick your beaks in.

a song for you

I've always thought that this drawing would make a good Father's Day card. Or, a card, in general, for dads. Doesn't have to be a specific occasion. I just think it's an appropriate image. Which I'm sure many of us can relate to.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

climb onto your seahorse

Click on image to view.

The obsessional part of me knows no bounds. I first did a drawing like this for the MoleyX project. Those little Japanese Moleskines are so tiny, I knew I wanted to revisit this subject because I needed more room to put the notes in. I felt I needed to explain where granny had gotten her jewellery from. So, revisit I did, both in a brand new Moley and on an A4 sketchbook. I abandoned the sketchbook halfway through and kept going with this. I now realise what this drawing actually needs. And, that's an A3 page. So, yeah, one day, in the future, I'll be revisiting it again. On A3!

I hope you can read the notes, they are very tiny. It's almost like a mouse has written them.

dawn gives me a shadow i know to be taller

Well, folks. Sorry there's no new drawing this week (I've got one on the go) but I wanted to re post these and to share something with you, too. Yesterday I found out that I have been selected to exhibit at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Anyone who's involved in children's books will know that Bologna is THE event of the calender. I am so excited, I still can't believe it. I keep checking the website to see if that really is my name. This has been a dream of mine for at least a decade. These are two of the drawings that I submitted.

Also, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who visits my blog. I wouldn't have realised this dream if it hadn't been for all the support and encouragement you give me on a daily basis.

Just one more thing, my email has been acting really screwy recently. For anyone who has tried to contact me and hasn't received a reply 'sorry'. I try to get back to everyone within a week, so if I haven't done it's my stupid email account not getting messages through to me. Either, leave a comment here or send me a Flickr mail and I will try and get back to you via my new account.

don't let it bring you down

A friend once told me that good wine, good olive oil and good bread are not luxuries. I think a good bra needs to be added to that list.

come on let's go

A few people have enquired recently about our MoleyX project, as things have been rather quiet for a little while. I, myself, have been really slack. I now have two little Moleys here, on the kitchen table (don't worry, I don't eat or drink at the kitchen table, there's no room to do anything like that). I'm embarrassed to say that I've had Gabi's Moley since I made this drawing back in November. That's it, there on the top of the pile. I am going to get down to some work on it. I am. Really, I am.

I'll also be posting some photos from France's Moley, which arrived at my house this morning. It is both beautiful and intimidating at the same time.

So check out the MoleyX12 blog over the next few days to see some fabulous new work. I just can't tell you how gorgeous these books are.

perfect weather to fly

I've been meaning to draw this view for so long. Well, ever since I saw that there was an Everyday Matters challenge called 'draw the view from a window of your house'. It seems an appropriate time to finally get around to it. Before the reassuring view of Jo and Nick's house is no longer part of my everyday life.

Everyday Matters #18, the view from my window. See the rest of my Everyday Matters set HERE.

tell me why

The leaning tower of cat bowls.

How can a cat have so many possessions? Twelve cat bowls. Twelve. Seriously.

trying to find my way home

Six pairs of socks on a radiator.

Soon I will be leaving my home of eight years. I've been trying to get stuff sorted out. Washing and packing things that I won't need or use until I find my new home. This kind of readjustment is difficult for everyone to deal with, I know. For a sensitive artistic type it's nervous breakdown material. I'm hoping that the turmoil will provide fuel for drawing. Instead of being a distraction.

Yesterday I washed all my socks. Turns out I have over thirty pairs. How? Why? Because, I only ever where the stripey blue, the plain brown or the stripey brown ones. I don't think I've ever worn one of these six. Ever. Now that's obscene.

at the top is...

'Exercise Book' print available HERE.

So, in my last post I said that I was going to draw, but unfortunately that has not happened. Life has got a little crazy and got in the way of art. I suppose it gives me another chance to plug my wares. Sorry.

I also wanted to say a big THANKS for the response to my giveaway (see last post). I've never been so popular! And, of course, to announce the winner. Drum roll please; the winner is Karen Blados. I can't tell you how excited I am about sending this to Karen. She was one of the first drawing bloggers that I came across and is a real inspiration. I'm sure that most of you know her work, but in case you don't pop on over to her blog. You'll be impressed.

Also, I was so overwhelmed by the response that I decided to give one of my prints, above, as a second place prize. That went to Jeanne Grant. Thanks, folks.

in my mind i still need a place to go

I've been doing a bit of enforced decluttering recently. I was throwing out my 2008 Moleskine diary when I remembered the drawing (above) was in the back. So I thought I'd do a little giveaway thingamajig, as I haven't done one for ages. So, if you'd like to get your hands on this unusual piece (basically, an empty Moleskine with nothing but this drawing inside) just leave a comment and, in a few days, I'll do that Randomiser thing to choose a winner - that's if I can work out how to do it. Failing that, I'll put all your names in a hat and pick one out. Much more my style.

Happy 2009, lovely peeps.

could be in a dream

OK, here is one of those examples of taking a drawing too far. I think. I really should have left it as it was. And, now, I'm even contemplating laying down the shadows, in the version below, on each and every one of the woodland hair accessories. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Bit annoying, though.

And if you still don't know; click on the drawings for a better view. Go on, stick your beak in.