The Summer Fair

I should have posted this a while ago, but here it is now anyway, for those of you around on Saturday, it's a must, look forward to seeing you there!

Mrs Thatcher's hanky

After the recent death of Mrs Thatcher, I remembered a very direct link to her. It was in the days of the rather lovely illustrated BA tail fins as orchestrated by Newell and Sorrel. They had proved very controversial and they were looking to rationalize the fleet, maybe to go to a simpler set of continents rather than one for each country. I got the nod for trying out some designs for each continent. I was pretty excited. I loved the idea of seeing my artwork flying overhead. However, before they got anywhere, on the news popped up Mrs Thatcher at an exhibition with Lord King, head honcho at BA at the time. With a simple gesture of holding her nose at something stinky and dropping a hanky over the tailfins, the whole thing was effectively history. Tailfins left on the drawing board. Here are the drawings rescued from historical irrelevance.

sneaky preview

Here are some of the rough preliminary working out drawings for the novel I've been doing. Just for a bit, and now, mysteriously gone....!

new update

I have updated my website to make it easier to navigate and stuck a lot of new stuff at the same time. Here's a little snippet.

Well it's frreeezing cold outside and not that warm in here either. My one and only post this year must be feeling very chilly too so here's another to keep it company. I have just updated my website and I think I will choose a new pic from there, so here, for your Easter delectation:

Well, hello little blog, you have been left out in the snow, all cold and alone haven't you? So sad. I blame the hacker who deleted half of you and led to tears of unrest in the kingdom. But how could he just abandon you? Oh,cruel and heartless monster! Never mind, lets be friends again? Let's get to know each other again. It might be fun. Slowly but surely. A picture? Well ok then, try this one and let me know what you think? It's about who you might least like to sit next to on a plane...

Fairy alphabet

Here is a little taster of fairyland alphabets, this is the start of some sort of crazy book idea, it will probably change radically!

e-missing....

Been a bit slow on the blog after half of it went on to the virtual 'missing file. No idea what happened and haven't worked our how to back it up. I'm sure there is a way and having discovered it again, having had google try and divert me off somewhere who knows where, I had better go get the kids. So there it is. News for all. There will be a picture post at some stage very soon though..................

hacked!

Apologies to anyone following my blog, it seems to have been hacked, some posts deleted and people redirected. Can't quite see the point , but there you are. Hopefully this won't happen anymore, but if it does please let me know!

self portraits

I have to do a little self portrait for my etsy shop, (wossat? - more of that later) so here are the first wee sketches. The good looking ones with lots of hair are particularly accurate.

Alphabetty International!

Well here's the first name to go abroad, to Brazil!

how very exciting! I hope you enjoy it Laura!

summer fair

If you're around for the summer fair, come along, it'll be a blast!

Faded

I saw a girl today as I was cycling along so I have done a drawing of her. She has a very faded top.

clowning

As a follow-up, to the dinner pic, I thought I'd just spell it all out! I'm sure it matches what you thought. As a bed-time story I had to tell the story of Horace who was eaten by the tiny lion. Can't quite remember that one!

dinner drawing

Here's a drawing done to amuse the kids over dinner. They suggested things and we took it from there. There's a good story to it as well, revolving round the very fierce tiny lion which is in the cage who ate a small baby called Horace and the elephant, who, crucially had to have dark glasses otherwise he would have seen the mouse and ... well i'm sure you can work out the rest....!

Tightrope walking

Here's a lovely drawing by my son, called tightrope walking. Which is what he wants to do after motorbike jumping probably...

Alphabeting

I'm quite relieved that there has been a great response from people who have seen the alphabets. I took them to a Mum's group and there was a lot of interest, and importantly, the children seem to love them. Apparently I now have got enough fairies in them and they enjoy trying to spot things starting with that letter. Some are obvious and some pretty obscure, which makes for good fun. They've just gone into their first shop and into their first gallery, so here's looking at you bluetwoeyes!

Jump!

A little thing for IF. It's part of 12!

Fairy alphabet

And to go with the Alien alphabet, the fairy alphabet:

Alien alphabet

Here is the final version of the Alien alphabet.

Alphabets on the go!

Just completed my two new alphabets! You can have a look on my website to see how they look! Phew! Will put some news of it on here soon

alphabetting

I have been pretty blog free recently, apologies for that. On reading the Sleeping Beauty story I realized there was good reason not to write a story from random words! Since then I have been re-writing the story to actually make at least some sort of sense! But more of that later...
I have been concentrating on alphabets - I am creating two entire alphabets, illustrated with hundreds of characters for boys and girls. It's a long and complex process and they're not quite ready yet, but here is a quick snifter just to get taste buds going!

stripes

Al ittle light relief. Good old Al

scary

the next installment in 'Sleeping Beauty'......

fuel

Eco-rough to do with fuel and how mice will rule the world with their cunning new cheese fuel

sleeping Beauty-The story continues...scattered, the artwork

Here is the finished picture. The text changes, the layout changes, for the better one always hopes! I have included the text in the picture, which changes the way that you look at it. Don't want to be repeating yourself. I say 'you don't want to be ...'
Anyway, the story...

The ferocious creature split into bits and scattered!
Beauty smiled and put the contraption away.
In the distance they could see the land of the ever sweeping broom.

The story is compiled from random words given to me every week by strangers. Then it is up to me to weave the strange, complex and compelling tale of....

SLEEPING BEAUTY - The true story..

so far....

Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought. The sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied, nervously
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children, 
Beauty sighed.
'it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it! Every day it's the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, wazzoom! -more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........
They thought and thought and then finally the girl said 'We have two choices. We can either go across the pond to the forest of never-falling-leaves, or I have heard about a broom that does all it's own sweeping. Lets get in the boat and we can decide.'
Beauty settled down in the boat and thought, while they sailed through the day and the midsummer night and sang to the stars and the moon.
'Ahhh! Sweet music!' swooned the moon, who had been feeling a little off-colour. Recently there had been far too many cows jumping, and she had a headache. The music soon made her feel better though and she cast her light on them. She wondered how she might help them....
STAY.
'Why not stay and have some of my lovely cheese? I have plenty..' asked the moon, 'it will give you strength for your journey' The children were a little hungry and Beauty hadn't eaten for a long time.
'But how would we get your cheese?' asked the boy.The moon smiled, 'just leave that to me,' she said and lo and behold a dish and a spoon came laden with lovely pale green moon cheese. Beauty had two plates full on his own, and when they had eaten their fill they thanked the moon and continued on their journey.
GESTURE
They had decided to go get the broom that does its own sweeping, and the moon laid down moonbeams to light their way.
'This way!' gestured the boy, and they flew into the air!
PERENNIAL
They passed through the cloud gardens, and sang to the plants.

OBSESSION
All Beauty could think of though, was the ever sweeping broom..

IMPERFECT, SWELL, MYSTERIOUS, INFLUENCE, DISGUISE
....but Beauty's thoughts began to run away with themselves. The ever sweeping broom took a rest, and then finally a snooze. Somewhat unusually for an ever sweeping broom, it snored all sorts of letters not just zzzzz's. Nobody knew that, because a never sweeping broom had never been to sleep before. The letters formed themselves into words, -words that Beauty knew not: imperfect, swell, influence, disguise. Beauty was pretty sure that influence must be like sneezing, but she didn't know the others.

It was most mysterious. She hoped that the broom would wake and sweep them all away.
MESMERIZING, FEROCIOUS, BOUNDARIES.

But as Beauty dreamt, she was awoken with a jolt. A fearsome creature barred their path, with eight heads and an enormous amount of ferocious teeth. It stood on the border between them and the ever sweeping brooms.
HIBERNATE
'You shall not pass!' the creature said fiercely. 'Well, not unless you know the magic password.'
The children hadn't a clue.
'Erm, abracadabra?' tried the girl
The FEROCIOUS creature made a face.
'Pah!' it said
'Erm, HIBERNATE!' tried the boy. The creature just rolled its eyes,
and showed even more teeth.
'Ha! Too late for that!' it hissed.
Beauty sighed and pulled out a CONTRAPTION from an unseen pocket and pulled the trigger.
There was a hiss and an explosion of light...
The ferocious creature split into bits and scattered!
Beauty smiled and put the contraption away.
In the distance they could see the land of the ever sweeping broom.

sleeping Beauty-The story continues...scattered

This shows the process of 'Beauty' works, so roughs for Friday, artwork later!
See the previous posts to catch up on the story so far, as.....

The story continues.....


'Eeeek!' said the ferocious creature, split into bits and scattered!
Beauty smiled, put the contraption away, they lifted the barrier and went on their way.
Down below, in the distance they thought they could see the land of the ever sweeping broom.

Sleeping Beauty-The story continues...contraption

But as Beauty dreamt, she was awoken with a jolt. A fearsome creature barred their path, with eight heads and an enormous amount of ferocious teeth. It stood on the border between them and the ever sweeping brooms.

'You shall not pass!' the creature said fiercely. 'Well, not unless you know the magic password.'
The children hadn't a clue.
'Erm, abracadabra?' tried the girl
The FEROCIOUS creature made a face.
'Pah!' it said
'Erm, HIBERNATE!' tried the boy. The creature just rolled its eyes,
and showed even more teeth.
'Ha! Too late for that!' it hissed.
Beauty sighed and pulled out a CONTRAPTION from an unseen pocket and pulled the trigger.
There was a hiss and an explosion of light...

Sleeping Beauty-The story continues...ferocious!

To recap; the story so far....

Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought. The sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied, nervously
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children, 
Beauty sighed.
'it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it! Every day it's the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, wazzoom! -more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........
They thought and thought and then finally the girl said 'We have two choices. We can either go across the pond to the forest of never-falling-leaves, or I have heard about a broom that does all it's own sweeping. Lets get in the boat and we can decide.'
Beauty settled down in the boat and thought, while they sailed through the day and the midsummer night and sang to the stars and the moon.
'Ahhh! Sweet music!' swooned the moon, who had been feeling a little off-colour. Recently there had been far too many cows jumping, and she had a headache. The music soon made her feel better though and she cast her light on them. She wondered how she might help them....
'Why not stay and have some of my lovely cheese? I have plenty..' asked the moon, 'it will give you strength for your journey' The children were a little hungry and Beauty hadn't eaten for a long time.
'But how would we get your cheese?' asked the boy.The moon smiled, 'just leave that to me,' she said and lo and behold a dish and a spoon came laden with lovely pale green moon cheese. Beauty had two plates full on his own, and when they had eaten their fill they thanked the moon and continued on their journey.
They had decided to go get the broom that does its own sweeping, and the moon laid down moonbeams to light their way.
'This way!' gestured the boy, and they flew into the air!
They passed through the cloud gardens, and sang to the plants.
All Beauty could think of though, was the ever sweeping broom..
....but Beauty's thoughts began to run away with themselves. The ever sweeping broom took a rest, and then finally a snooze. Somewhat unusually for an ever sweeping broom, it snored all sorts of letters not just zzzzz's. Nobody knew that, because a never sweeping broom had never been to sleep before. The letters formed themselves into words, -words that Beauty knew not: imperfect, swell, influence, disguise. Beauty was pretty sure that influence must be like sneezing, but she didn't know the others.

It was most mysterious. She hoped that the broom would wake and sweep them all away.



But as Beauty dreamt, she was awoken with a jolt. A fearsome creature barred their path, with eight heads and an enormous amount of ferocious teeth. It stood on the border between them and the ever sweeping brooms.

Mysterious, Sleeping Beauty, the saga!

After a bit of a break, due to small children insisting on having a long summer holiday, it's back! I didn't want to miss anything so all the last words are in there. Cunning. Mysterious even!
So:

Sleeping Beauty: Mysterious.

....but Beauty's thoughts began to run away with themselves. The ever sweeping broom took a rest, and then finally a snooze. Somewhat unusually for an ever sweeping broom, it snored all sorts of letters not just zzzzz's. Nobody knew that, because a never sweeping broom had never been to sleep before. The letters formed themselves into words, -words that Beauty knew not: imperfect, swell, influence, disguise. Beauty was pretty sure that influence must be like sneezing, but she didn't know the others.

It was most mysterious. She hoped that the broom would wake and sweep them all away.

sleeping Beauty-The story continues...Obsession

All Beauty could think of though was the ever sweeping broom..

Sleeping Beauty-The story continues...PERENNIAL

They passed through the cloud gardens, and sang to the plants.

The continuing story of Sleeping Beauty, the alternative version..

Gesture: Sleeping Beauty, the story continues..

GESTURE
They had decided to go get the broom that does its own sweeping, and the moon laid down moonbeams to light their way.
'This way!' gestured the boy, and they flew into the air!

Stay- Sleeping Beauty

STAY.

....'Why not stay and have some of my lovely cheese? I have plenty..' asked the moon, 'it will give you strength for your journey'
The children were a little hungry and Beauty hadn't eaten for a long time.
'But how would we get your cheese?' asked the boy.
The moon smiled, 'just leave that to me,' she said and lo and behold a dish and a spoon came laden with lovely pale green moon cheese.
Beauty had two plates full on his own, and when they had eaten their fill they thanked the moon and continued on their journey.

See previous blogs for the story up till now...!

Remedy -The story of Sleeping Beauty

Continuing the story of 'Sleeping Beauty'

The Story so far...
Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought. The sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied, nervously
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children, 
Beauty sighed.
'it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it! Every day it's the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, wazzoom! -more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........
They thought and thought and then finally the girl said 'We have two choices. We can either go across the pond to the forest of never-falling-leaves, or I have heard about a broom that does all it's own sweeping. Lets get in the boat and we can decide.'
Beauty settled down in the boat and thought, while they sailed through the day and the midsummer night and sang to the stars and the moon.

'Ahhh! Sweet music!' swooned the moon, who had been feeling a little off-colour. Recently there had been far too many cows jumping, and she had a headache. The music soon made her feel better though and she cast her light on them. She wondered how she might help them....

Sleeping beauty....midsummer night

...so they sailed through the day and the midsummer night and sang to the stars and the moon....

Sleeping Beauty-The story so far...Launch

The Story so far...

Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought. The sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied, nervously
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children,
Beauty sighed.
'it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it! Every day it's the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, wazzoom! -more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........
They thought and thought and then finally the girl said "We have two choices. We can either go across the pond to the forest of never-falling-leaves, or I have heard about a broom that does all it's own sweeping. Lets get in the boat and we can decide "
Beauty settled down in the boat happily to think....
Here is the final piece for the 'launch' - it's interesting to see how far it has come from the original ideas, well, interesting for me anyway!

Story-launch

This weeks adventure 'IF' is just at the rough stage so far, so here is a glimpse into what happens in the illustrator's mind before the final artwork is done. The next word for 'IF' is tomorrow, so this may be reworked! I've got to give myself a fighting chance of this all making sense after all!

The Story so far...

Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought. The sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied, nervously
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children,
Beauty sighed.
'it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it! Every day it's the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, wazzoom! -more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........
They thought and thought and then finally the girl said "We have two choices. We can either go across the pond to the forest of never-falling-leaves, or I have heard about a broom that does all it's own sweeping. Lets get in the boat and we can decide "
Beauty settled down in the boat happily to think....

The summer fair

If you happen to be around Earlsfield at the weekend, it's the summer fair. Excitement for all the family...!

story- swept

the story so far:
Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought.......

...they stood transfixed, staring at the wonderous creature until the sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children were a little surprised....!..

they had never been asked for a ticket in the middle of a forest before.
'Er, not on us,' they replied.
Sleeping beauty stood up.
'Oh,' he said, 'oh well, never mind then. You can give it to me later..'
He looked a little sad though.
'What's the matter?' asked the children, 'we could see if we can find a ticket?'
'No , no, it's not that, it's just I swept the forest last night and now look at it!' said Beauty, 'every day the same, sweep the forest and then, when i'm asleep, more leaves. My broom is nearly worn out.'
The children looked at the broom. It was very tired looking. They wondered how they could help him.........

story: shadows

the story so far:
Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought.......

...they stood transfixed, staring at the wonderous creature until the sun started to show its golden rays and shadows crept across the forest floor. 'Should we take it home?' they wondered, 'it might be hungry...'
As the sun warmed the creature's back, it yawned and opened its eye.
"What are you doing in my forest?' it demanded, 'have you got a ticket?'
The children were a little surprised....!

Random word story

I liked the drawing I did last week, I thought it had 'something' - then I had a bit of a brainstorm. Maybe it would be interesting to carry on with the character and attempt to use words given from 'Illustration Friday' to weave a story from it. So, I will have no idea where it will go and it all may just crumble if some bizarre subject crops up, I just wait to see the next word and try to work it all in somehow ...! I may well need help!

Asleep

Whilst wandering through the forest one dark night the children discovered a sort of sleeping beauty. Well, not very beautiful, but definitely sleeping. Or so they thought.......

Brasil

A few sketches from a recent trip to Brazil. Funny how you don't quite seem to get the same amount done when the kids are there! Bless. These are done in Belo Horizonte and Jacaraipe.

More tragedy.....A journey in small pictures

Another tragedy in small pictures...bottled

duet

here's my pic for IF