This is one of five big drawings, each about A1, that I’m doing on stage 1 and 2. Stage 3 is to try and get it right. If you’ve not tried drawing with chalk pastels then give it a go: very therapeutic, until it all goes wrong then you need a therapist to calm you down. There are parts of drawings that one thinks that “this is ok as it is”, and there’s a temptation to stop there. Perhaps you should, or in this case, perhaps I should. The answer is to do several versions of the same picture, and … Continue reading So far, so what?

Taken a couple of years ago, as you can see from the little movie below there was plenty of water around then. They have probably put a plug in it since then to save a bit of water. No sign of rain yet in our area. This is a photo taken from Google maps taken more recently, same spot, less water. Continue reading Plug?

I’ve had all sorts of tries to get all sorts of landscapes on paper and they go back a few years. I’m aiming for a new approach now. They will probably the same images as I’ve used in the past as I attempt to do the scenes some sort of justice. I work from my own photographs ( occasionally borrowing from my friend and fellow walker: Robin, but I don’t want to encourage him as he is prone to speaking ‘art bollox’ about his creations in the middle of a walk ) Where to start? My grandsons from the States … Continue reading Dipping into landscapes…again.

Drawn over 20 years ago and one of a series on ecological matters. Rather apt these days. Continue reading Oily Fish

Oddly, one of my most looked at pages on this site was entitled ” Cows sleep standing up” I’m not sure why. I’m also not sure why, or for who, I did this little drawing but seems like a good idea and I couldn’t come up with an udder. Boom, Boom! Continue reading Footie fan in the field.

I’ll be watching the Women’s Final v Germany from my very supportive old chair. I did this drawing many years ago. It was done with men in mind at the time, so perhaps it should be amended and parts of it might not be deemed politically correct these days, but what the heck! The women, as usual, have shown the way to compete. They have been brilliant throughout this competition and it’s been a joy to watch. Who says women can’t play football? Not me. Continue reading It’s much more supportive…

Continue reading Warmish

I recently bought a book of Punch cartoons, a collection from over the years. Bill Tidy’s cartoon with this punchline was in there. I’m not going to put in here the actual cartoon as I don’t have the rights, but it’s simple to describe. A crowd gathers outside the White Star line offices after the Titanic disaster. One man has a worried polar bear with him and asks the question. In a way it is a typical “scouser” joke. Indeed Tidy is from Liverpool. He and his work were everywhere in the 1970s and he had fantastic draughtsmanship skill. He … Continue reading “Any news about the iceberg?”

Back on the plot and it’s baking hot. First of all spent the early morning on a tree plot where my wife and I help out for a charity that grows trees, can you get any more worthy? An early start to try to avoid the intense heat and then some weeding of the rows of young trees. A short break mid weeding for a herbal infusion and some home made flapjack, can you get any more middle class? It’s amazing how much you can get done on a large plot with loads of people to help, after a couple … Continue reading Plotting trees and vegetables, bees and borage.

when it’s baking hot Keep your bubble in the middle or you’ll be really shot. Call your hammer “Claude” even if it’s not Give me that Screwy driver I’ ll show you what’s what. Continue reading How to keep your spirit level