Another one of Hugo

Flo’s birthday today

Flo really enjoyed this nonsensical film when it came out, so for her birthday card, Flo’s lovely long dark hair has been bleached and she’s accompanied by a teeny weeny Rufus. It seems like yesterday that we brought our gorgeous baby daughter home.

They’re not couch potatoes!

You would think that my children spend most of their time watching TV, but you try drawing them as they cycle, swim, roller blade, kick box, sail! I’m the only bona fide couch potato around here.

Illustration Friday - MONSTER

I had four hours to draw Gerald in the same pose in life drawing. However the end result was lifeless – my two minute sketches turn out much better. However, all was not lost as I decided not to waste all that time-consuming shading and used some Photoshop trickery to turn the drawing into my Illustration Friday Monster.

Last drawing of the evening

Those feet again!

One of the many ways Hugo prefers to sprawl over the furniture – all bony elbows and knees.

Flo’s concert

A packed church to listen to this concert.

Eating humble pie

I’ve always been a bit disdainful of seeing performances by local theatrical groups – I mean we have the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company virtually on our doorstep! However I have to admit that the performance of The Winter’s Tale by St Albans company OVO was marvellous and (whispers) far more enjoyable than the production of the same play I saw at the Globe a couple of years ago!

So if you live in the area, I’d really recommend that you check out our own home grown talent.

Illustration Friday - FEET

When my son Hugo was born, I was in hospital enjoying that lovely time of just me and the baby for what I thought was the last time. And as you do, I was looking at each little finger and toe on this wondrous tiny little person, when I discovered that his second and third toe on one foot were webbed. It was delightful – a tiny little flaw that only served to emphasise the beauty of this baby. Twelve years on Hugo is a very confident swimmer and sailor.
You can see his blog here.

Self portrait

This was drawn trying to ignore my glasses because we all know that men don’t make... well you know the rest!

Recycling old phone directories

A very old piece. The brief was ‘do something with a phone directory’.

Gerald - two minute poses

Thursday, life drawing class. One of my fellow students was drawing Gerald's back beautifully. I commented on it and she really made me laugh when she said that her husband hates her bringing home pictures with male genitals showing, so most of her life drawing is backs or sides – anything to keep the peace.

The bear who changed sex

Poor little Xavier, he’s been sick and so spent most of today curled up on the settee under his new blanket with his favourite cuddly toy, Mummy bear, to hug. Mummy bear was Flo’s bear when she was Xavier’s age, but thirteen years ago she was a he and was called Snowy.

Illustration Friday - TATTOO

EDM - Toothbrush challenge

For those of you who have one of these toothbrushes, you'll know that the proportions are all wrong, but then that's drawing for you. If you prefer black and white mouse over.

Flo trying to complete coursework

Robin the miner

Life drawing, three twenty minute poses

I still prefer the shorter poses below, even though I tried some photoshop trickery to combine all three pictures in the hope that the sum would be an improvement on the parts.

Drawing - how to make waiting time enjoyable

As a young art student, I was hopeless at keeping up a sketchbook. The cost of the book intimidated me – I felt as though every page had to be perfect. Also when I did try, it was complicated because I felt as though I had to carry around all sorts of bulky media for every eventuality. But at last I’ve cracked the problem. I just keep a tiny book in my handbag at all times, together with a pen, brush pen or pencil. I accept that many pages won’t be perfect and that the available subject matter – as in this case – might not be all that preposessing, but it’s so fulfilling to have something to absorb you so completely at these times. I have a friend that carries her knitting with her everywhere and I’m sure it must be the same for her.

Steiner playgroup sketches

This doesn’t do justice to Sheryll in the centre, but she did look so lovely with her arms around Max and Theo, I had to have a go.

Gerald – four minute poses

Gerald our model is following the grand tradition of eccentric models that have posed at the college I attend for life classes. An ex-army single parent of six children and grandparent of more, he arrived at the college in a fantastical vehicle – a 2CV painted in desert camouflage – and emerged from his car in a black lacy skirt (his preference for bottom half clothing) and matching top. His fitness and imagination meant that when given free reign to hold a few short poses, we were all delighted with what he came up with. I really admired his commitment to this job he has been doing for the last thirty years – in the break, he confided that he thought that the pay was very good and that he had a duty to keep fit and make a real effort – and what a great job he did.
There were some longer poses, but these quick drawings turned out better.

Xavier before playgroup

The lousy mother’s baby sitter, C-beebies. But we all need to resort to it, for our sanity, don’t we?

Working-from-home-wednesday

Illustration Friday - INSECT

No time for anything time-consuming, so a quickie in my sketchbook for my three-year old Xavier, who loves this song.

Tom with a big head

You might think it was my lack of drawing skills which has given Tom such a big head in this picture. However this was drawn just after he’d won the expedition trophy and jointly won the best sailor of the year trophy. Flo couldn’t get through the door because she won the trophy for the best cadet of the year.

Dismal Hatfield car park

The act of drawing makes so many experiences surprisingly bearable.

Last view of the February masthead

I was getting a bit tired of this one. The new one isn’t particularly seasonal but it makes a change.

Lahmacun lunch

Delicious quick Turkish lunch at one of my old haunts in Green Lanes, North London before going to the dinghy exhibition at Ally Pally.

Life-drawing

Martin isn’t really as angry as he looks here.

EDM - Draw something you collect

I don’t collect anything — I desperately try to declutter. However in this corner of the sitting room there are a few things that resemble collections. The pictures on the wall are a series of watercolours I painted of architectural details in a Victorian pumping station. At the bottom of the shelves there are a few pewter tankards that came with Robin when I married him and also as part of his dowry there are various jugs and bits of Staffordshire pottery at the top of the shelves. There’s also a stack of scented candles that I designed the packaging for.

Mouse over to see the picture before the colour was added.

BCFF- HOT!

Blind contour drawing of some of the ingredients I am using to cook a lovely warming HOT lentil and vegetable curry for the family before the three eldest children go away for a fun weekend with the sea cadets.
To see the other participants in Blind Contour First Friday of the month go over to Inkfinger.

Movement

We get to draw a lady at last – but would she stay still?

Illustration Friday - TEA

Another joint project – spots created by three year old Xavier – the rest created by me.
Please look at ArtBlog Tom and Hugo’s Art to see drawings of more mugs by my other boys.

Joint mother son artwork

Xavier did the red at playgroup, I did the black just before bed.