I know, I know...

It's not technically colour, and I am cheating even before I have got started. It's one last scan from that sketch book with the colourful pages. And bright red is a colour. A very good christmassy colour to boot.

Just have no time to play with my paints or anything over the last few Family filled days.

And that is a good thing !

And... not a sketch, but 'tis the season...

Hood

Now this was an amazing hood. You could have got three people underneath it. It had to be drawn.

It gave the guy almost comic book proportions, bulking him out way beyond normal shoulders. He must have been sweating underneath it all. 

Pens - lost and found

Found 2 pens yesterday. A red one outside the British Library. And a black one on the Tube on the way to Shepherds Bush.

Later, when I was trying them out, to see it they still worked, and were truly lost, as opposed to just thrown away, a girl stopped in front of me wearing a red and black shawl. The perfect opportunity.

She was with a gang of friends, who were all larking about, but she remained aloof from their foolery.

The Universe wanted me to draw this one.

Here we go, number 1 ( part two )

Winter solstice, shortest day, first post of next run.

And I decided, after very little deliberation, and an absolute lack of ideas...

Colour. This time it's colourful. 365 sketches with colour. People, images, buildings, things seen, anything that turns me on colourwise. But mostly I suspect, people.

And to start, a wedding. All good stories start with a wedding. Or end with one.

Was drawing a doorway to a church, and watching suited and hatted guests hurry inside. Then the bride turned up and waited, a moment to herself before the rest of her life. Had to add her. Only right.

List

Just read a challenge to list 15 artists who inspire you and keep you moving towards that goal.

I didn't need any time at all to come up with my list. Putting it here for want of anything else to do with it. Sorry, had to be done.

Always top of any list like this -

John Singer Sargent

then...

Van Dyke
Paul Nash
Holbein
Raoul Dufy
J.C. Leyendecker
Heinrich Kley
Eric Ravilious
Eric Gill
Francois Boucher
George Seurat
John Sell Cotman
Richard Parkes Bonington
George Baselitz ( recent addition )
Who ever I see next.

Anyone else ?

...and... wait a minute !

Lookee here. Some more that I never posted.

People on benches, could be a theme,

And both drawn in Soho square as well, though not at the same time.

...who only stand...

Not sure if this one made it or not, but clearing the decks for next week, so up it goes.

Apologies if this is it's second outing. 'Girl with a discman'. You don't see so many of them these days do you ?

They also serve...

A few of the sketches that didn't make it. Sort of like the X factor also-rans. The ones who only appear on the clip show after it's all done and dusted ( with a glitter cannon ! ).

Am going to start a new challenge on the 21st December. I like the idea of starting on midwinter's day, but not at all sure what it will be yet.  

Still open to suggestions.

He says...

...optimistically.

What next ???

Was on a train the other day, and looking at people and thinking, should sketch them for the blog. But didn't have a book with me !!!!

Missing doing this, so need to work out what the next stage will be soon.

In meantime, here is another bird !!!

So...

Back home now, and repungent, as my Mum would say.

So... what will round two be ? Want to carry on, but with a new twist, something to make the challenge a bit tougher second time around. All suggestions considered.

365 - well there you are then

So, here I am. The last sketch of the challenge. Strange. Didn't think I would be posting from an (almost) snowed in art dept in Luxembourg when I started it. In truth I thought it would get abandoned half way through.

But I have enjoyed this so much, and met some great people in the process. Big thanks to everyone who has been by, and everyone who commented, and, absolutely, everyone who 'sat' for me, however unwittingly. Not done with this, but for the moment...


... one last sketch. Number 365

A girl, in the park on that brilliant summer sunday. Took a long time to choose. But, from the current cold grip to the lazy warmth of that day...

...there you go. 

365. 

Done.

2 quick ones.

The last day, and 3 to post.

First off, 2 quick sketches that I think, catch something without being over worked.

362 - looking

And thinking.

Solid - 361

No arguing with this guy.

360 - nearly there.

Snowy here ( and everywhere ) at the moment. So a sketch from the summer, and a day people watching in the park.

I don't know what she was saying, but loved her knees.

Is that so wrong ?

Rough double sketch

Just found this one. Had ignored it. And suddenly I really like it and want it to be included.

Some guy, don't remember anything about the moment, but have drawn him twice, getting my eye in. And love the shapes, the shaky chobbyness.

Anyone else out there use the word chobby ?

The sandwich lads 356 - 358

Watched some students on their lunch break. The lads sat in one group, and ate their sandwiches and burgers, the girls sat a little further apart, and picked at cakes.

Then one girl crossed the divide, joined the boys, to show them some poster she had. A pioneer.

One boy looked at what she was showing them. The rest just wolfed their sandwiches.

And so it will always be.

355 - kitchen foil

This guy was half sitting in the same Oberweis cafe, trying to eat a sandwich, whilst also gainfully keeping his baby entertained with a roll of kitchen foil.

He would get two hurried bites, and a slurp of coffee, and the baby would hurl the kitchen foil out onto the floor. He would stoop to reach it, wave it at the baby until the baby reached for it. Then grab another bite. It was the fastest sandwich ever eaten.

Cake adoration

This woman sat, almost guarding an Oberweis box. Now Oberweis is an amazing cake shop in Luxembourg. I can personally vouch for their eclairs.

Her friend joined her and she opened the box and lovingly displayed the cakes. They both gazed at them with utter reverence, then started to take photos of them, from many angles, before finally closing the lid and carrying them away.

I saw them again later, still cradling the box. I hope the pleasure they got from eating was equal to the moment.

Check out girl

Was in the huge supermarket on Kirchberg, Auchan, in Luxembourg, and took the chance to catch a few people, want to finish this blog on new people, and not have to fall back on the older sketches I have stored.

This is one of the check out girls, with her colourful obligatory scarf and name badge.

I love AUCHAN 

352

Hmmm. What is in the papers today ?

one line profile

Another where the profile is almost one line.

Aside from the glasses you should be able to follow where the pen went from the top of the forehead done to under the chin.

Like a singleminded dot-to-dot.

350 ! Pascal !

Got to mark this number as I am sitting here with a little time, before I have to go down to the studio and do some work.

Who will get this number ? Let's have a rummage.

Ah, I am going to break my rule. This is Pascal

We were shooting really late in a hotel in the town centre, I mean really late, 3.00 / 4.00 in the morning late. And people were taking advantage of the comfy sofas we had dressed in the foyer to grab a few moments between needing to leap up and work. And I sketched a few people, and really like this one.

Pascal has the original, this is a scan from the photocopy I took, to keep in the book.

I am sure he won't mind. I really like this one.

More airport people.

From earlier this month, back at the airport, waiting again. But not so many people there, so less raw material.

Drew this guy...

...... who has gone very cartoonish.

But this guy was waiting with his daughters, who wandered around, making him move position all the time, so only got this one that I liked.

And scanned the whole note book. Something about the colours and the grey made me think it was a good composition.

Can't be arsed. 347

Sometimes you just have to sit back and let it all go by.

Olive green - grey green - calm

Two more on coloured paper. A lovely olive greeny textured Ingres I have had for ages.

Long gotten over the fear of precious paper. Now I will happily scribble on newsprint or 100g HP, and not fret the difference.

Really love this last one, the angle on his head, and the roll-neck sweater.

Numbers

Not sure what they were for, but my notebooks are full of numbers and notes made for a certain short purpose, and then swiftly forgotten.

Not sure what 0753 was about, or 54 54. Made sense at the time. Brain erased all purpose since.

And he approves of that.

343

And well you may scowl Sir.

Better get my act together

I refuse to have this scuppered at the last minute by work. So have to establish some kind of regime to make sure I post, and keep on target.

Very pleased with his arm, with the swift line of it. Face less so, but arm... ha !

Smusshy face

We shoot next week so manic. So much to do...

Have some more sketches but not the time to sit and scan and sort, so they will have to wait till later.

For now, two from an old sketch book...

Love the way I have smushed her face around. Not very flattering, but this is the kind of stuff that gets me excited about drawing, when you push yourself and the subject as far as you can and still be pleased with the image.

Big fan of Peter Howson.

Bonfire night

Missing the fireworks. They have their's in March or something here, in Luxembourg, when they burn witches, so I've just been told.

Anyway.

Sketched this guy ages ago, am kind of posting all the sketches that have been waiting for their place. It's another one where the back of the head isn't really drawn, but still kind of makes sense.

So...

Light a roman candle for me, someone. ( Showing my age, they are all called sky blaster or torpedo these days, and you need a degree in explosives to even buy them, that or a Tesco's clubcard )

Where does the week go ?

I swear, at the moment, there is a time eating succubus sitting on my shoulder and as soon as I wake up on Monday it inhales the week, and it's over before I've even rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

So...

Everyone has their winter coats back on, so soon, so soon.

Collars up, eyes down, plough through another winter.

This guy's coat was bright red, so at least he was making the effort.

After a long day's art appreciation

It's nice to get off your feet for a bit.

2 profiles. 334 - 335

This woman knew I was drawing her and gave me a suspicious look which I had to include. Only the English can look at you like that.

And every time I look at this one she has demanded to be posted, but there never seemed the right time, until today.

And this guy just looks to intense for words. I would either love to have a conversation with him, or be looking for an excuse to leave almost immediately.

And that brings me to 335. So, now the last month, the last 30 sketches.

Airport people - for a change 329 - 333

Went to pick up my (current) boss from Luxembourg Airport, and her flight was delayed, and I had my note book with me, hurrah !!!

So caught some fresh fish.

This woman's track suit top was lime green, a brilliant colour. She knew someone else who was waiting to meet a flight, and they chatted as they stood together, until their 'people' came in.

Then one of the guys from the other film turned up to pick someone up too, so I had someone to talk with, and, if only for a moment, looked like I belonged there, like the lime green lady.

Then there was this bloke.

Who had a bunch of flowers wrapped in orange cellophane. He paced around a while, then sat and sent SMS's. Meeting a lover perhaps ? Was intrigued.  He decided to take the cellophane off, and shoved it, crunching, in a bin, then stood watching the doors. And there was a small toy Witch nestled in amongst the blood orange gerberas and palm leaves.

A woman came through, steering a trolley solid with suitcases, and a little blonde girl perched atop. He met them quietly, a kiss and the girl, clearly his daughter, added the flowers to the pile. A man who brings flowers to meet his wife and daughter at the airport. There is a whole world in that.

Give him his dues.

There is a brilliant temporary anxiety both sides of doors like these, for the passengers, that doubt that, having left the earth's security, you might never be relocated back on it. Will there be someone to meet me ? Will my spot of gravity still be there ?

For the waiters, the worry of missing the person you have come for, the worry of who they will be ? If it is a stranger, will they see your company board, will they want to ride upfront and chatty, or in the back, and sullen ? 

If it is family, or friends, or significant others, how will this time away have changed them ? Time spent without you ?

Airports are where you can see the gaps the world opens in us.