the dancer...

Here's an illustration I was recently asked to create by .Cent magazine. Although my drawing style lends itself to the medium of illustration I've actually never done any before so it was quite a strange experience having to think about drawing things I would not normally draw eg. a record player!? Thankfully the brief was specific: to draw a person dancing on the arm of a record player whilst it was playing a record - and here she is. 

I know its been all around the blogs but I really liked the selection of creative minds involved in Baker's Dozen - check it out if you haven't already!

a little more than I had bargained for...

sketch 18th March: a little more than I had bargained for...

pencil and gouache on reverse of an old photograph

to the core...

sketch 10th march: to the core...

Pencil and gouache on found paper

Normal service has been resumed... 

I think I've almost certainly decided to give up using flickr and will start updating sketches and bigger pieces here more frequently. Someone recently added me as a contact on there. They only had one or two images uploaded but one of them included a figure clipped from one of my drawings. The cheek of it! I'm sure not using flickr won't stop things like that from happening - there are so many sites around now where you can just clip stuff from the web and make it your 'own' but I've been thinking about limiting the venues where my images are available and maybe stop that kind of theft from happening so often.

Alas...

...my computer bit the dust this morning and has had to go for a once over so no proper posts for the next week most likely. Ugh.

I just wanted to say a big 'thanks' to Jan at Poppytalk and Alice at forest bound for mentioning my drawings and prints this week on their blogs - thanks a million ladies!

Now, what does one actually do when one's computer stops functioning?

shop update...

Just a quick post to let you know I've updated the Restless Things shop with four new, very limited edition prints of some of my sketches...

A set of two prints - prologue/epilogue...

A simple hand gesture about feeling lost...

gray...



to the core...

All are printed on lightly textured Hahnemuhle paper which really captures the delicate intricacies of each sketch.

Now, back to work with me...

it's on the tip of my tongue...

sketch 6th march: it's on the tip of my tongue...
pencil and gouache on an old book cover with stains

take it with you...

Sketch 26th february: take it with you...
Pencil and gouache on found paper

the gift of music...

sketch 12th march: forming...

 gouache on book pages (available in the Restless Things shop)

I always listen to music when I'm drawing and I always keep what I call a musical diary. Each month I create a new folder on itunes and fill it with my favorite songs throughout the month. It's great to look back through the folders and be reminded of places I've been to or drawings I made during that time.

I recently discovered a site called 8tracks which lets you create and share an 8 track mix so I thought it would be nice to post a monthly mix of tunes that I'm enjoying in the studio here on the blog.



Here's a little mix of february's tunes - slightly messed up by having the same song twice on it, but it is the BEST song from february - featuring tracks from arve henriksen, blk jks and air france amongst others. Enjoy!

week of found, part five...

To Pam, The little girl who used to come upstairs to visit me. I think she has forgotton me now.

2 weeks, 2 WEEKS

This book belongs to Robert Simpson. Robert Simpson. but is defineitly loaned to his daughter. Sheena Simpson. Sheena Simpson. This book is not to be taken away from Sheena's desk if it is a fine of £20,00,00 is liable to the taker. SS

Day five of the week of found things...better late than never due to a technical hitch! Some found things tell you the whole story, others leave you wondering about the stories behind them. That's the beauty of found...

week of found, part four...

Lots of lovely stains and tears marking the passage of time...I'd better get to work and start using some of these beauties...

week of found, part three...

Pulmonary artery

Perhaps you will be saying to yourself 'How I wish Tommy was in bed beside me to embrace me and keep me warm and to cause Victor to tease me until I was carried away by a pleasant feeling'. When I get between the blankets I often wonder what Lily is doing...Do you see the bungalow or at least the reflection through a mirror very often?

Today some 'grown-up' doodles...working on book covers and pages is not essential to my work but they harbor the best secrets...

week of found, part two...

One of my favorite things to come across is drawing and writing by children. There's something really special to me in these almost subconscious doodlings that touches on what it is I'm trying to get at in my work! I love to include a found scribble or doodle in my work if I can.

week of found, part one...

As I've been a little absent of late I thought I'd have a week of pictures and share some of my recent treasures...welcome to the week of found...

Just call me Forgetful Jones...

Totally forgot to big up this print show at Headquarters Galerie & Boutique I'm taking part in this month along with lots of other fabulous etsy peeps! Here's their blurb...

Sometimes print artwork gets a bad rap, but down here at HQ we think it's a great way for up-and-coming artists to get their work out there at an affordable price. Which is great for those of us who love great art by new artists, but don't have bottomless pit style wallets. We've rounded up some of our favorite Etsy artists from around the world who make really great prints, and are bringing them together for one awesome show!

The show runs for the entire month of March, prints are sold both framed and unframed, there are a MAXIMUM of 5 copies of each print, so get them while they're hot!

Opening Party Saturday March 7th, 2009
7pm-11pm
music by DJ Garry Vickers
drinks and snacks

That's at: Headquarters Galerie & Boutique
(514).678.2923
1649 rue Amherst
Montreal, Quebec
H2L 3L4
CANADA

So if you're in the locale be sure to get down to the opening party this saturday!

anywhere in the world...

New in the Restless Things shop...Mini Print Set - Sketches.

Don't forget there is free shipping anywhere in the world on all items!