More coffee. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Holland Village, Singapore.

I was on holiday this past week and I haven't got anything new to post, so here is one from Christmas. Aside from one awkward table, I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

Starbucks @ Wisma Atria

A little sketching at Wisma Atria on Orchard Road, Singapore. It was a great day for sketching because it was so crowded but I didn't have much time. I was trying out a new pen from Muji, very happy with it. I usually use pencil but I think pen is better sometimes, you have to be more decisive.

Sleeping man

I love drawing sleeping people, they fidget less and probably aren't going to mind you staring at them. This victim of mine was on a train back from London.

Rachel at Starbucks

More coffee shop sketching, I love it!

So serious.

Old habits die hard... coffee shops are still my favourite place for people watching. I recently met Angie Lewin, an illustrator/ printmaker whom I hugely admire, and she told me that when she was little she drew ducks, JUST ducks, for over a year. It made me feel better about my sketching habits!

Zoo

I love a day at the zoo. My favourite animals in London zoo are probably the penguins, although I also have a soft spot for the hippo and the owl.

Portfolio overhaul

I have finished my MA and am now embarking on a massive overhaul of my illustration portfolio, which hopefully will involve lots of drawing, painting, and creating new characters. Today I have been painting Fashion Grandma.

Linocut Print

Lino, lino, lino! I love it! This print was a rejected idea for my MA Printmaking show.

Coffee Bean @ Holland Village

I have been coffee shop drawing again! This is something I used to do all the time - at least 2 or 3 times a week, but I haven't done it in months because I don't have so much free time anymore. I was a bit rusty but I had a lot of fun.

How to Make a Heron Happy

'Hamish is worried about the heron in the park. It always looks sad and grumpy, with its hunched-up shoulders and long frowning eyebrows. So Hamish decides to cheer it up: first he brings bread crusts and biscuit crumbs to the park. But the heron still looks grumpy. Next he brings his family to tidy up the heron's polluted pond. But the heron still looks grumpy. Then he brings his class to plant flowers around the pond. But the heron still looks grumpy. Finally he brings everyone he knows to have a party for the heron. But the heron still looks grumpy. Hamish looks at the heron and wonders: maybe the heron isn't unhappy after all? Each page of this delightful story from popular children's author and storyteller, Lari Don, is brought to life with vibrant illustrations. Colour and activity build up as the book progresses and the drab inner-city park is brought to life.'

- as you can see, just sent off the final artwork for How To Make A Heron Happy! For more information visit www.florisbooks.co.uk

Sketchbook

A couple more of my favourite subject matter. :)

sketchbook

I spent the last two weeks working almost non stop on my dissertation, so afterwards I went out for a little R&R. I really empathized with the guy asleep in the chair.

Edinburgh Sketchbook

We are currently doing an Edinburgh City drawing project, the edinburgh castle image I posted earlier this month is also part of this project, but I thought I would post up some stuff from my sketchbook so you can have an idea of what I work from before I go and make final screen prints. I'm not sure when I'll be finishing these but hopefully within the next 2 weeks.