It's been a bit mad - so I haven't updated for a while....

Work at the University has been very busy this academic year. With my usual lectures for Media Studies, I had the opportunity along with fellow artist Chris Wood to teach some life drawing to Computer Games and Games Enterprise students in their first undergraduate year. They were a great bunch and really got to grips with image making! I also got to grips with my drumming as well - I see the act of drumming as very similar to the act of hitting the canvas with a paint brush. I use the Cajon and the Djembe - and even had one or two proper drumming lessons from Kevin at the wonderful  Garden Music School. So hopefully it might inspire some more artwork for me too.

I always ask to have a go on the drums at any live gig I can get to... here's a chance at

The Golden Eagle pub where I do my Drink and Draw evenings!

Drink and Draw.

I am happy to say that Drink and Draw on Tuesday evenings is going well. After a short break for the holiday season we are back drawing in front of a log fire with a pint or two. We have a great group who display some strong talent and a joy for creating things! Many thanks to Lou and Cliff, the Landlords at the pub, who provide a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and lots of objects to draw!!

Sketching

Have started to do a lot more sketching as well, when I have the chance - (the lovely) Ed - my partner  - must be sick to death of me drawing him all the time! I have been inspired by meeting with artist Colin Merrin who does fantastic landscapes. He does at least one drawing a day - so that's what I am going to try and do. So here's some more recent attempts...

The lovely Ed putting up with my staring at him all the time!

Wood Engraving

As my Christmas present to myself, I booked up to go on a one day wood engraving course in January with David Peduzzi - which was an amazing experience! The technique is fascinating, and you get a great sense of satisfaction when you see your work printed at the end of the session! Highly recommend it!! Here are my feeble first attempts!! 

Drumming and sausage rolls..

So - at the moment I am drumming with (the lovely) Ed who plays guitar and fiddle (amongst other things!) in a new band called 'Earspoon', along with Meg ( on bass), Jay (guitar and vocals) and Phil (ukelele). I have found that being in a band does mean that I make sausage rolls for band practice!!! Look out for us at Open Mic nights in and around Portsmouth ...

Sausage, sage and onion... and a veggie one!!

Sky Arts and the BBC

It's rather amusing to know that I have been repeated yet again on Sky telly for the Portrait Artist of the year  2013 - I did watch some of the 2014 sessions, and am highly amused with the BBC 'British Bake Off /Sky Portrait arts format for their Amateur Artist of the year show. I love Una Stubbs who is one of the presenters, she always comes across as very sincere... but I am intrigued by all this interest in the arts, when arts and culture is being all but eradicated from the UK education curriculum.

Finally in this update...

 I have currently just set up my page on the Saatchi web site with some of my drawings available for purchase, and I am considering new projects for the spring and summer... watch this space!! 

Drawing bands and DRINK and DRAW....

Have been having a great time doing the DRINK and DRAW sessions at the Golden Eagle Pub on the corner of Delawere Road in Southsea on Tuesday evenings. Every week is a different theme, and anyone can come along - even if they have no experience of drawing whatsoever - and join in from any time after 7pm. I charge a nominal fee, and we have drawing materials too if needed.

Drawing spaces 'in between'.

Faces and proportion.

.. and I have continued to draw the bands who play in the pub during the weekends too - as seen in my last post. Last weekend I sketched the band 'Hazzard County' - great riffs and rythms. If you like good old solid Rock, then vist their Facebook site for further info  HERE.

I am really enjoying drawing musicians - I think this may well be something I will develop further with paintings in the future.... I like the spontaneity of mark making whilst they are moving around and focussing on their music, the pencil strokes echo the rhythm of the music (like when I am playing drums) and the movement of the band. I feel the intensity and immediacy of drawing like listening to music.

But...  Still waiting to get my other paintings into the Hospital in Gosport - I will be talking to them again next week - so lets hope we can move forward and get them into the ward asap! (apparently they have a conservatory that has just been completed) In the meantime, I am making preparations for teaching in the coming academic year at my University - which starts VERY soon!!! 

Even more busy times ahead!!! 

Been busy...

... adding the final tweaks to the Gosport War Memorial paintings... adding the words and signing the work...

It will be good to get the paintings in place.. and I do hope that they become a distraction for staff and patients alike... Some of the words have been suggested by staff and patients on the ward.. and all four paintings of the apple tree will have various words on them.

So have been thinking about what to do next... would like to explore representation and dementia a bit more in the future... but have also decided to do a drawing a day if I can...  I have also started drawing sessions at one of my local pubs - The Golden Eagle on the corner of Delamere Road in Southsea. Tuesday evening from 7ish onwards - Drink and Draw! For a small fee we supply the art materials, and I give tuition - it's great fun! I have also started an Etsy page for my work too...

Have also been playing my djembe drum a lot recently at gigs - and will be going for another full drum kit lesson next week at the Drum Garden just outside Portsmouth. 

Here's some of my 'drawing a day' drawings.. I have been giving some of the work away to the people that I draw...  am also seriously thinking about getting a small studio shed built in my little courtyard garden.... so that may well be my next project... watch this space!!

Preparing the work for the Ward

Have had great news - the ward at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital has been re-decorated - so my work can now be put up. Hopefully I will pop in to see the Ward Manager and organise hanging. I was thinking of perhaps exhibiting the work before it goes on the ward - but that may not be possible now - unless anyone reading this has any ideas!! Hopefully I will be able to organise some crowd-source funding to get a book published about the project that can be sold in order to raise funds for creative activities for patients on the ward.

So I need to make sure the works are signed, dated and tidied up - checking the edges are clean and the final finishing touches completed. I just have to write the text onto the tree branches in the composition, and write up the rationale and artist statement about the work.

Here I am in the picture above checking the work - you can get an idea of how big the canvases are.. (or how short I am!) It will be great to finally see this project come to completion! Then I can start on another!! 

 In the meantime, I am also giving a couple of drawing workshops at All About Tea  https://www.facebook.com/allabouttea

in Southsea Portsmouth -