ChasingtheCrayon

Drawing slump?

2012-02-09T18:59:00.000Z

Thank goodness! I think I'm shrugging off the 'black dog drawing slump' malady that has been blighting my days lately (bit of a mouthful!) Cheering my self up with cakes

some books

some more books (presents from husband)

And spending hours looking at the brilliant work of other illustrators, so inspiring! So I dragged out the sketchbook and did this bad boy (I squashed him on photoshop, he looks better fatter) Thanks to everyone who left a thoughtful comment.

Missing Motivation

2012-02-01T19:13:00.002Z

Motivation really is at rock bottom...honestly, I am getting a tad worried...I start something, get fed-up with it, ruin it, fling it in the bin, decide I don't even like drawing, flounce off to the settee and stick the telly on....Hope it's a passing phase, winter blues, can't be arsed sort of thing and I'm back to normal soon!
One thing I am still doing is reading, so I will bore you to death with a list of 'Books read in Jan' (they do this kind of thing on book blogs so bear with) The stars are an indication of how good a read I thought it was....

The House of Silk Anthony Horowitz ✸✸✸✸
His Dark Materials Philip Pullman   ✸✸✸✸✸
Mr Norris Changes Trains Christopher Isherwood   ✸✸✸
The Disappeared M.R Hall   ✸✸✸
The Quest for Anna Klein Thomas H Cook   ✸✸✸
We had it so Good Linda Grant   ✸✸✸✸✸
Valley of Grace Marion Halligan ✸✸✸✸
Blood Count Robert Goddard   ✸✸✸✸

Right, I'm off to put the kettle on...keep warm!

New Work...Little Fish Knave

2012-01-26T18:56:00.000Z

Had a go at cross country mountain biking (otherwise known as riding my bike up a hill and through a wood) Phew!.... my legs still ache! I thought walking 8 miles three times a week was enough to keep me fit....god no!

Quick collage 1

2012-01-19T18:50:00.003Z

Bird Jig

Hedgehog Lore

2012-01-11T19:29:00.002Z

A really good way of attracting hedgehogs is to leave a hot cup of tea, in a blue and white china tea cup on the door step..never fails..they love tea.

Quick Sketches 5 and 6

2012-01-06T19:40:00.000Z

Party dog and snoozy dog

Quick Drawing 4...Happy 2012

2012-01-03T15:42:00.001Z

Wishing you a very Happy 2012!

Quick Drawing 3 (Father Christmas Chicken)

2011-12-21T19:28:00.002Z

Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful yuletide and a peaceful New Year.

Quick drawing 2

2011-12-15T15:38:00.002Z

Quick drawing

2011-12-07T18:54:00.001Z

2011-12-06T16:12:00.001Z

Christmas is fast approaching and at this time of year I really want to read seasonal books, perhaps it's the long winter evenings, crap on telly, or I'm just soft in the head..who knows. I've just picked up a copy of Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and The Box of Delights by John Masefield, so thats sorted then.....

Weasels tempt Badger with tart

2011-11-23T07:54:00.001Z

Dull, dull, dull

2011-11-14T15:24:00.001Z

Oh dear, at the moment I feel very dull! I think it's the time of year...yesterday was lovely but there has been a series of dank and drizzly days, today being another...you know how it is, you have to put the light on at half past two! Good excuse for curling up on the sofa with a good book. At the moment I am reading the wonderful 'Fair stood the Wind for France' and the marvellous diaries of Sofia Tolstoy (which is due to become a film...I do hope Sofia is not played by Keira Knightly!)

Featured in Handmade Magazine

2011-11-01T13:42:00.003Z

My Reindeer Running in Woods has been featured in the winter edition of Handmade magazine. Get your copy here

IF Scary

2011-11-01T11:56:00.004Z

Arggggghh!

Owl Calendar

2011-10-25T09:23:00.002+01:00

I am featured on this lovely Owl calendar again, it's free to download and you can pick whichever illustration grabs your fancy..grab one Here

IF Contraptions

2011-10-07T20:30:00.002+01:00

An old illustration that sort of fits the bill...?

2011-10-05T15:07:00.000+01:00

Quack!

Some more new stuff to look at

2011-09-23T14:26:00.003+01:00

A winter walk between good friends.

Well my thoughts do seem to have turned towards wintery things already....although I am off to the seaside this weekend so I hope the weather warm and sunny! Have a great weekendx

New work

2011-09-15T16:50:00.004+01:00

Some new work.

Kim's Triple Tuesday

2011-09-13T10:21:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite book bloggers Kim of the wonderful 'readingmatters' invited me to partake in her regular Tuesday feature Triple Tuesday. So if you want to read my witterings about my favourite books head on over and take a peek here

swallowed a cat

2011-08-30T08:41:00.001+01:00

It's been a funny old summer all told. Rain, more rain, disruption on the streets, rain, tightening of belts, cuts, more rain.......other than that it was dandy!

I really haven't been doing much lately due to a huge lack of motivation coupled with feeling a bit crap most days. But I do love Autumn, the crisp cold mornings, the colours in the hedgerows and woodlands, digging out my favourite scarf.....so heres to better days!

Beast

2011-08-09T11:17:00.000+01:00

Beast from Beauty and the Beast

Something for Illustration Friday

2011-07-29T15:22:00.000+01:00

Hey, enjoy the weekend

2011-07-22T14:01:00.000+01:00

I've made a Zine... kinda

2011-07-20T19:13:00.001+01:00

I finally got round to making my first zine/booklet (not sure what to call it) It has some of the pencil sketchbook drawings I've posted lately plus a couple others. I've only printed 10 (and that took nearly all day!) so a very limited run. If you like the look of it you can get it in my shop

Sketchbook drawing 7&8

2011-07-15T18:35:00.000+01:00

Sketchbook drawing 6

2011-07-13T19:52:00.002+01:00

Sketchbook drawings 4 & 5

2011-07-07T20:28:00.000+01:00

Sketchbook drawings 1, 2 & 3

2011-07-05T18:22:00.000+01:00

OK so I was bored, minding the stall....

2011-06-27T13:29:00.000+01:00

Camping this weekend!

2011-06-22T19:05:00.001+01:00

Oh dear...its that time of year again...blooming camping at a jazz music festival so husband can sell records. The weather forecast is not great...rain for three of the four days! Memories of last year, the nights being cold enough to freeze yer nuts off ( I do not have any nuts, but if I did they would have froze off ) Ah well, hopefully the music will be good (probably not!) Enjoy your weekend, whatever you are doing.

Jammy Dodger anyone?

2011-06-09T19:49:00.000+01:00

Asleep

2011-05-27T20:20:00.000+01:00

An unfinished image for The Outsider by Camus

IF Soaked

2011-05-20T19:49:00.001+01:00

This intrepid exploring type fellow never goes anywhere without his brolly..just in case....

If (very loosely) Safari

2011-05-13T18:41:00.000+01:00

Something you might see (if you were very lucky) on safari.....?

Sale on Etsy

2011-05-10T15:50:00.000+01:00

I'm having an Etsy sale, cos I've had my shop for one whole year now, so go take a little gander if you're so inclined..Here

Went to the London Transport private view last night at Covent Garden Transport Museum. Some really wonderful work on show, so please do visit the exhibition if you can...

New Work

2011-05-03T15:36:00.000+01:00

Featured in Design Week

2011-04-30T12:41:00.001+01:00

My entry for the Serco and London Transport Illustration Award has been featured in Design Week along side five other entries. The exhibition runs at The London Transport Museum, Covent Garden from 10 May to 3 June

Illustration Friday, (not technically a) Bicycle

2011-04-22T18:28:00.001+01:00

Bottled

2011-04-09T15:01:00.000+01:00

Spoonful of honey from a bottle (sort of)

Hey the suns out!

2011-04-07T18:09:00.002+01:00

look it's sunny!

Glorious weather today, did a 8 mile cycle ride and got hot! Nothing much doing this weekend except house maintenance, garden tiding etc (lucky me) Watched The Crimson Petal and the White last night, really good, once it got going...I've read the novel twice, a favourite read, so high expectations. (Some good news this week, I've been selected for the AOI and London Transport River Thames competition)

Have a fabulous weekend ...hope this weather holds!

Running Fox

2011-04-01T10:47:00.000+01:00

Have a good weekend what ever you are doing....I will be in Wales, doing another record fair (really I'll be shopping, visiting galleries, drinking tea/eating cakes, while husband minds the stall)

Illustration Friday...Toy

2011-03-25T18:53:00.000Z

Little toy Doll.

Pencil sketch

2011-03-25T16:06:00.000Z

messing about drawing faces until the glorious spring weather forced me outside, sat reading until a poor little rabbit, suffering from that awful myxomatosis staggered into the garden (this happens a lot round these parts, really upsetting) forcing me back indoors.

Enjoy the weekend, I'm off to the coast on Sunday..hope the weather holds!

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2011-03-22T17:51:00.000Z

Spot the wolf.......

The sun is out!

2011-03-17T11:01:00.000Z

Today the sun is shining and things are stirring in the hedge rows! me thinks spring is nearly here (probably snow next week)
I've decided to produce my own booklet and have invested in beautiful thick paper and a long arm stapler, I've quite a few ideas so it may be booklets (steady on...) so watch this space.

Clown trousers

2011-03-04T11:53:00.000Z

Jam on it?

2011-02-25T14:49:00.000Z

Kick back and enjoy the weekend...hope the weather gets 'spring like'...go for walks...read a good book (diary of George Orwell..brilliant!)...drink lots of tea...eat nice cakes...have a good one!

More ideas...

2011-02-21T13:46:00.000Z

Some times ideas come thick and fast...other times the mind feels like sludge...Welcome to the new week!

Spring is on it's way..

2011-02-17T11:23:00.000Z

Isn't it nice to see the snowdrops out and the promise of Daffodils poking up out the ground? Been quite good with the walking this week, managing about 5 miles a day so I'm noticing the progress of the season, keep forgetting my camera (on purpose cos it's heavy and my arms ache!)

Got a Bamboo Pen Tablet as a pressie, still mucking about with it and getting to grips with using it proper..not just playing games you understand...Haven't done much drawing this week, so nothing new to post, just more messing about with old stuff

bit bored!

2011-02-10T14:02:00.000Z

Bit bored...so messing about with old stuff...and I could do with improving my Photoshop skills..and it's raining...and I could do with a biscuit...

mid-week blues

2011-02-09T15:43:00.000Z

Week has flown by

2011-02-04T20:24:00.000Z

Week has flown by and I haven't got much done in the way of drawing...always seems to be something pressing that needs to be done....... Yesterday evening we had a four hour power cut, sitting in the dark and cold with no chance of a cup of tea!... all due to the wind blowing a branch on the power line.

Enough witterings...have a good weekend

drawing from sketchbook

2011-01-29T17:03:00.000Z

Walking's good for you....

2011-01-28T11:32:00.000Z

I've been attempting to get out side and do more walking, I mean it's not difficult right?..one foot in front of t'other..left right left right..no wait, that's marching..Only managed to do it twice, always some excuse..it's raining/windy/cold/can't be bothered/nice comfy sofa/tea and biscuits...must do better!

Another portrait from sketchbook

2011-01-21T15:50:00.000Z

Another drawing from my sketchbook....really enjoying drawing people. Have a good weekendx

Girl with Feather in her Hair

2011-01-19T17:47:00.000Z

Decided to draw more people for my portfolio. Did this one this afternoon...a girl wearing a feather in her hair.

Hare

2011-01-17T14:42:00.000Z

New drawing of galloping 'Brown Hare'..soon available as a print in my Etsy shop. Oh what a Boring Weekend! rain poured, sky was dark and full of menacing clouds...Husband did a Record Fair, he only took a handful of sales...Did manage to read a wonderful book called The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale, if you enjoy a well written story about (among other things) WW1, have a look at this one...as good as Birdsong.

IF Chicken

2011-01-14T18:40:00.002Z

Slow days indeed

2011-01-06T11:16:00.001Z

Things are a bit slow here...I've just about got over the bout of Flu I had over Christmas (Christmas Day was a total wash out!) Never had Flu before...never want it again! I think next year I will be getting a Flu jab...I do find this time of year bleak.. cold, short, dark days, and tend to get down in the dumps...I need a holiday!

Illustration is a bit of silliness I did yesterday.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T14:48:00.001Z

Wishing you a wonderful 2011

Santa Claus is coming to town!

2010-12-22T09:15:00.000Z

It has been snowing for three days! White Christmas! I'm off to build a snowman on the front lawn.

'Merry Christmas and a peaceful 2011'

Ice Age?

2010-12-19T18:39:00.001Z

Went for a walk this afternoon, well I say walk, after about ten minutes I turned around and headed home before frostbite set in.....my advice..stay indoors with plenty of hot chocolate and a good book (I recommend 'And the Land Lay Still' by James Robertson)

Mail IF

2010-12-17T18:13:00.000Z

Some silly creatures running through the snow with last minute mail.

Feeling Christmasy?

2010-12-12T10:27:00.000Z

Are you feeling Christmasy yet? I went looking for a tree yesterday, I wanted a pot grown Norwegian Blue..£35! only about a metre high as well...they do look beautiful, but that is a lot of money for a tiny tree.

Still Freezing!

2010-12-06T15:07:00.001Z

It's still freezing cold outside, the snow has gone but everything is covered in a layer of ice! I am staying indoors, painting bears or reading 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett (not quite as gripping as Pillars of the Earth, but entertaining enough) Keep warmx

Good Grief it's cold!

2010-11-29T20:11:00.000Z

It's freezing cold here in shivery blighty! Not much snow outside here in the west, but some forecast for tonight...keep warm and cosy!

If... Savour

2010-11-27T10:53:00.000Z

A bunch of chums savour the moment before digging in to that over-iced cake

Another bunny!

2010-11-23T19:32:00.001Z

I've been reading Susan Hill's 'Howards End is on the Landing' At one point she makes the observation that, perhaps, boys like lists more than girls do......This got me thinking about lists, lists in novels (for example, I love reading Iris Murdoch and her lists of food, furnishings etc) Lists that people make of favourite books, songs, films etc...I love reading lists...sad!

And the winner is..

2010-11-16T08:06:00.001Z

Stephanie Hess! (picked out of the hat by my husband) let me know your address and I'll get the badges sent to you! Thanks to everyone who entered.

Whale dreams

2010-11-14T09:53:00.000Z

This time of year all I want to do is curl up and go to sleep! P.S don't forget to leave a comment on my giveaway post (below) to win a 4 pack of pin badges!

Yeah a 'give away!'

2010-11-12T10:40:00.000Z

I am doing a 'Giveaway' today! To win a packet of my pin badges just leave a comment below by 15th November and I will pick the winner out of a hat. Please leave contact details in your comment. Thanks and have a good weekend!

Happy weekend

2010-11-05T18:23:00.000Z

I really do not like these dark evenings! Today was so dreary and dank it hardly got light at all; except very early this morning when the light was a beautiful pale orange. Have a good weekend.

Spent

2010-11-01T15:40:00.001Z

Mimi spent all day chasing butterflies.

Waiting...

2010-10-28T18:51:00.000+01:00

Late start to the week!

2010-10-27T14:30:00.000+01:00

Got back yesterday afternoon from long weekend spent with my sister Stephanie and her partner Stu. I've had a nice break away, blown away a few dusty cobwebs and feel a little more motivated. On Saturday we went to the theatre to see a production of Agatha Christie's 'Witness for the Prosecution' Wonderful stuff! I've read and watched quite a lot of Christie's work, but this was one I hadn't seen. The action takes place in a solicitors office and a court room. The stage was designed very cleverly so the plot could switch between the two. A young man, Leonard Vole, is accused of the murder of an elderly woman (she is 57!) He stand to inherit her considerable estate, he is the only suspect and his alibi depends on the word of his older wife. The plot kept me guessing till the end, and there is a twist in the tale.

Lot's of walks, the sun shone (for most of the time) and Steph's two daft dogs (Bella and Nelly) kept me entertained!

TGIF!

2010-10-22T12:39:00.001+01:00

Off for a few days visiting sister, plenty of country walks on the horizon, hope the weather stays nice! Have a good weekendx

Feeling low

2010-10-19T15:04:00.001+01:00

Ever had one of those days when motivation is at rock bottom? That's me today...I'm mooching about the house unable to start or finish anything! I feel really fed up What I really need is a break, I realized yesterday I haven't had a proper holiday for five years! (all together, arrr, poor me) And things have really been stressful in the past few years...Anyway, enough whinging I shall go and make a hot cup of tea and curl up on the sofa with a spot of comfort reading until I cheer up!

New Week

2010-10-18T13:51:00.001+01:00

Another week, (it will soon be Christmas) oh no, I was quite content until that thought popped up! Went to a local auction on Saturday, just for a bit of a nose at the lots (husband had put a couple of items in the sale) Didn't bid for anything as I know I would get carried away and go over my limit!

Spooky, Illustration Friday

2010-10-15T15:03:00.000+01:00

This was done as a college project for the cover of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.

Anyone seen my bagpipes?

2010-10-13T15:04:00.000+01:00

Cheltenham Illustration Awards

2010-10-10T10:24:00.000+01:00

I have entered the Cheltenham Illustration Awards three times now, and have been fortunate enough to be selected each time, once in the student category and twice in the emerging talent category ( my husband kindly pointed out I really should have emerged by now) The theme this year was The Traveller. My entry is travelling by piggy back, the only way to travel.

On Friday we went along to the exhibition and symposium held at the Summerfield Gallery, Pittville Studios. There was some pretty amazing work on show, and three speakers including illustrator and fine artist Craig Atkinson who runs Cafe Royal Books and Sam Arthur of Nobrow Press. The exhibition which is open now is well worth a visit.

On the way back to the car we popped into the Cheltenham Literature Festival, there was a very long queue outside the Waterstone's tent, this proved to be for AS Byatt who was doing a book signing ( I felt sorry for the writer sitting on the next table, who was being ignored)

Owl Lovers free Calendar!

2010-10-07T09:55:00.000+01:00

I was very happy to be part of this 30 artists have contributed an Owl Illustration for a free down-loadable 2011 calendar. My Owl Barn is a lovely blog run by Shivani for all things owl and owl related. Shivani posts some pretty good stuff by various artists that should appeal to everyone, owl fans or not.
So pop along here and download a wonderful free calendar or two!

Hello New Week!

2010-10-04T12:00:00.000+01:00

Another Monday morning, glorious sun shining on the Autumnal trees from a pale blue sky. Things are a bit slow round here at the moment, time to take long walks and read long books (not at the same time)

Too early for xmas?

2010-10-02T16:07:00.000+01:00

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? I've listed a print of this illustration, T'was the nite before Christmas' in my etsy store what do yer think?

Also I am repeating my buy two prints get one free as it went so well last time.

Have a good weekend!

Old Fashioned

2010-09-28T13:30:00.000+01:00

Freezing!

2010-09-26T09:39:00.000+01:00

It was brass monkeys last night...freezing! time for switching on the heating and getting the winter duvet out......(note to self, stop talking about the weather, no one is interested)

The little drawing is the Pussycat with his one shilling, (is the pussycat male and the owl female, or t'other way round?...)

Time Flies

2010-09-22T09:32:00.000+01:00

Wednesday already! Time flies by so quickly. We, in the south west of England, are enjoying what is colloquially known as an Indian Summer, beautiful warm days, chilly nights...sadly forecast to end soon.

I am busy painting more Owl and the Pussycat, just for fun, although I am looking into doing some self publishing..I did some bookbinding at college so who knows...?

sketch of Venice

2010-09-14T19:07:00.000+01:00

I've decided to draw more buildings. I shy away cos I think drawing buildings is difficult.... all that perspective! It's a 'get out your comfort zone' thing.

Illustration Friday Proverb

2010-09-10T13:56:00.000+01:00

A bird in the hand.......

Still messing...

2010-09-10T11:31:00.000+01:00

about in my sketchbook, drawing people, this one is a girl with a Husky and a pinky sky. Off doing record fair in Wales tomorrow with husband, well he runs the stall while I go shopping!

Have a great weekend x

More sketchbook stuff

2010-09-06T18:42:00.000+01:00

I wish I was more proficient at photo shop! Must get more practise. Not really concentrating on writing this as I am listening to 'Just a minute' on Radio 4 at the same time!

Illustration Friday Dessert

2010-09-03T18:30:00.000+01:00

I wouldn't eat that tart for dessert...it's got a fly on it!

Print Offer in my Etsy Shop

2010-09-02T15:37:00.000+01:00

As of now I am running an offer on prints in my Etsy shop, a buy two get one free sort of offer! The free print will be a surprise, but will be one I carry in my shop. This offer lasts until 20th September.

Some work from my sketchbook

2010-08-30T16:04:00.001+01:00

Illustration friday...Immovable

2010-08-29T09:31:00.000+01:00

Who will move first?

New badges

2010-08-26T07:56:00.000+01:00

I have listed some new stuff on etsy....lovely badges! I am really pleased with the quality of these lovelies, they look great!

Crazy kind of tea party

2010-08-20T11:01:00.000+01:00

More on Books

2010-08-18T19:03:00.000+01:00

A few thoughts on books read recently........

The Passage

One thing you won’t be reading this is bored. The plot is so thick, fast and furious you are carried along, reading till your eyes ache (well that was my experience) I got through this doorstopper of a book quite quickly as I just wanted to know what happens next, and next...well worth a read.

The Swan Thieves

I really loved ‘The Historian’ Elizabeth Kostova first book, so opened this one with very high expectations.....ah well. The plot, which concerns a painter and a historic mystery (so has all the right ingredients for me) was slow and parts (I found) a bit boring. The chapters with the historic letters I found particularly hard going, it took a while to get through as I kept putting it down and leaving it there.

I was glad I finished it as it did pick up towards the end when strands started to come together.

Her Fearful Symmetry

I loved this one, it was the book version of a bag of malteasers...really more-ish, you know can’t stop at one, scoff the whole bag! I couldn’t stop reading, just another chapter, just another, another...oh I’ve finished the book!