Exciting times

Here are some of my 'Twist and Sprout' Christmas cards before they danced into the post last week.

Wedding illustrations

I had the great pleasure of being asked to do a couple of drawings for my brother's wedding last month. The first was a picture of the church, for the front of the Order of Service...

The second was an illustration of my brother and his wonderful wife for the back of the Order of Service. They have a splendid hammock they frequently rig up between trees and relax in (often by a river with a fabulous picnic!). They are also fans of a good G&T and so here they are toasting each other. The quote is one they chose, and one I think is just lovely, and particularly fitting for them.

Drawing at the Good Life Experience

I'm slowly getting braver at drawing in public. This weekend was the perfect type of set up for this, relaxed crowds, places to sit and sketch, out of the way or sitting in a talk, in lovely company at The Good Life Experience. 

The picture on the left was done quickly of another member of the large crowd that were listening to Ben Fogle talk. On the right I had to draw Charlie Gladstone (one of the founders of the Good Life Experience) super quickly as he introduced Tristan Gooley and his talk on Natural Navigation as he was only there for a matter of seconds. I rushed to paint Tristan and so the ink ran a bit but learnt my lesson and managed to let the ink dry before painting next time...

It then seemed only right that I should try and draw Jennie Maizels as she did her talk about sketching and her sketchbook club.

Such a fun weekend.

Ideas are sprouting!

Some work in progress for the festive season!

Phone sketch

It very rarely happens but I recently found myself out and about without my sketchbook! A band were playing and I wanted to sketch them and so had a go at drawing on my phone. They were done very quickly but I quite liked the effect and decided it wasn't a bad backup should I find myself sans-sketchbook again.

An old friend

I drew this dear old Hedgehog years ago (probably about 10 years ago), but he still appears now and then if there is a special message to be delivered like this one.

Did you know that we have just finished Hedgehog Awareness Week 2015? 

Playing with Pattern...

2015

This year I've decided to change the rules a bit and allow myself to make things up! Last year it all had to be directly observed. I plan to try and include different drawing styles a bit more and to use different means of creating pictures - collage, printing, painting (perhaps even away from the book) and also using words / story more. An illustration a day perhaps. Oddly I've already found I'm missing the direct observation sketches so have allowed those to appear whenever I fancy.

I did it!

Happy New Year!

Well, I'm thrilled to be able to say that last year, 2014 I did a Drawing A Day, every single day! There are four books in total, each a different size and shape (which added to the fun I think). Some entries were very poor indeed - short of time and inspiration but many others I'm really pleased with.

My favourite thing about the books is that I can (for the vast majority) remember where I was, who I was with (if anyone), the time of day and sometimes even what I was listening to, what the weather was like or what it smelt like where I was sketching. Occasionally there is a feeling with a picture too - excitement or happiness for example. The picture sometimes represents the occasion for me, particularly if someone has shared some special news. Other times it might work the other way, and the wave of worry that I felt when I was drawing something sweeps back over me... but then I just have to turn to a happy page and smile again. It's just a different type of diary.

Here is a quick flick through book 3.