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Sexy

But what's the point...

Mine's a 6B these days

mind the nib!

Beautiful! Hope they don't draw a baby...unless they have an eraser.

...and I hope her you-know-what isn't a sharpener.

That's a 2B and an HB.

Is that a pencil in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me.

Answer: It's my cock. It's very small. Pencil-like.

They look like they're inexplicably drawn together.

This picture looks like it might be an illustration of an adult Roald Dahl story.

REALLY GREAT FACE...Like the horns too
NICE TEETH...

P

Once again, you've made the mundane into the magical!

I totally agre with wolf! :):):)

But your washing machine is totally unlike Susan's, which makes it your own.

I'm not convinced those clothes are really dirty, though. More sepia next time! ;)

Love it, thanks for reminding me, I have a load of whites in the machine...

Hey Andrea, you go Girl! This is very cool, I LOVE the water & bubbles.

Absolutely too good - and I'm glad!

Great job! You could probably sell that as an icon for a computer application for the Mac. I can see that popping up in my Mac OS doc bouncing away trying to open some program... what kind of program would require a washing machine icon? I wonder...

Congratulations!
Great Jobs!

WOW! Absolutely amazing! But you've deleted the star of buttons - what happened?? Were you THAT unhapppy with it? You're crazy! But amazingly talented.

Too funny Andrea! I love the drawing but the commentary is hilarious.

Fun! love it.

Poo! ^~^

This is great fun and so darned perfect too! Love those suds!

You make the mundane majestic!

oh man... I'm crazy for your drawings!!! they're AMAZING... truly jealous over here :)

This is fun! I wonder if you sat in front of the washing machine or took a photo or have a very good memory?!? I love the pile of clothes too, they look wonderfully soft and comfy!

Thanks, everyone.

Yeah, Pip, couldn't stand looking at it anymore.

Kazumiwannabe, I did some very quick sketchs, sat in front of the washing machine, waiting for it to stop inbetween spins. The rest is from imagination really.

Cheers y'all (that's American).

It's so much fun to visit your blog, and your art is fantastic!

Your drawings are absolutely amazing. However did you make a pile of dirty clothes so beautiful?! and with a ballpoint pen of all things. Here I spend all this money on art supplies and you do the seemingly impossible with a ballpoint pen! AMAZING! That's talent!

My first time here. Your work in very nice. I was sent here by Rick at Organizeddoodles.blogspot.com

What a great drawing, I second what Ryan said! That's very neat pile of dirty washing I have to say, if I drew mine I'd need an A3 sheet of paper! Btw, I got the Kate Bush CD when I was in London but sadly I'm not mad about it! Sorry! Maybe I have to give it time - Joni was always like that, getting better the more I listened.

Love your art.

I haven't done ballpoint myself since I was a kid, but I can see I have to at some point!

Eolake

stobblehouse.com

You are way to good to us and hopefully you will continue to be so!

Hi Andrea, Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog!
Your washing machine, dirty clothing, buttons, shoes, etc, etc.. Is AWESOME is Beautiful is MAgIC!!!!!!!!! I would give my left leg to draw like you!

I posted a link on my blog to yours. I wanted people to admire your work, as I do. (Just thought you'd like to know.)

http://www.organizeddoodles.blogspot.com/

oh my GAWD! You are so amazingly talented!!! What wonderful work. I never am disappointed when I stop in to look at your blog. I am always wowed by your work.

ok this is sick!!! my newest fav!!!!
would yu make it a moo??

This is beautiful...makes washing machine look like a lovely piece of delft (spelling) china!

Thank you all guys. I do like the washing machine one, actually. It's not often I can say that about a drawing. When you are so involved it's almost impossible to be objective about it. But I do like this one. And, I reccommend you check out Susan Rudat's fabulous blog.

Cheers, everyone, you make my day.

Now I don't feel so bad about stealing other ideas!

Seriously, great work Andrea. I always look forward to new posts. Keep them coming. You are truly an inspiration!!

wow, i love your style of drawing, intricate detail bonanza! i've added you to my blogroll on my sketchbookblog.

this drawing reminded me of a list of advices a teatcher of mine gave me when i was in college.. on of them went like this:

"imitate. Don't be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You'll never get all the way, and the seperation might be truly remarkable. We only have to look to richard hamilton and his version of marcel duchamp's large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique"

;)

I am so in love with your work! You could draw pretty much anything in the world and make it so very cool!

Absolutely incredible work, Andrea. I so wish I could draw like that!

Oh, how lovely! Yours IS very different from Susan's, and definitely your style. Love the bonus pile of clothes. : )

Just found you. Great work!

(I love Kate Bush)

Thanks, everyone.

I don't really have a problem with using somebody elses idea now and again. I do agree, Eva, it's probably best not to shy about it. That's why I made sure to credit Susan. And, after all there are no original ideas anyway. Everyhting has been drawn before. It's just about doing it in our own way. And, yes, there is something remarkable about the seperation.

I LOVE Susan's washing machine and I'm pretty damn happy with mine too.

Thank you ALL for the kind words. Cheers folks.

No way! Washers?! Great stuff. These are wonderfully juicy and delightful!

WOW WOW WOW I am impressed with all the obsessive little details in this drawing. And to think that some might look down their noses at the fact that you use a (sniff) ballpoint pen.

Heh heh, this is quite beautiful Andrea. Keep up the awesome work

What you do create is always so magical - it's hard for ordinary mortals to believe that it isn't done with some incredible material. This is an exceptionally good one, too.

You're incredible, Andrea. How do you keep such a sense of balance between text and images on a page like this? You are the queen of composition. And by the way, I for one couldn't tell the tissue was an afterthought ...

You even drew the book and lines! I hadn't noticed at first... What a fantastic page, funny and wonderfully done! Love your pen philosophy!

I found the tiny stick man!!
This is awesome. I love all the tangents!

Brilliant again, Andrea. I presumed you used more than one ballpoint but... four!!! You're unique.

well Bugger!!! why won't my pens do this for me? Your work is absolutely amazing - I could spend hours looking but I need to go tame my pens -- I hope to train some of them to do just a little of what yours do - thanks for the eye candy -

The transparent ruler ROCKS! So do you! :)

I think this is a total masterpiece!! I love the detail work!!!!!

"Any old crap." In your hands magic is worked. In my hands - old crap!
I don't know who makes it, but I like the Pilot ballpoint which is waterproof cos I often slosh watercolour on my doodles. (And one day, when I grow up, I'm going to be a famous artist, like Andrea Joseph.)

Wow! What a surprise. I wasn't expecting this response. Thank you, all. Gosh, I feel all funny...

Cheers, guys.

LOL, I often think that the secret behind fabulous drawings is the superior materials other artists use. So much for that fairy tale!

Amazing. Aside from the incredible drawing, I love all the "fonts," especially the cursive.

Unglaublich!!!
Es ist eine super Idee.
Es grüßt freundlich,

UnterBruecken

I had an aunt who received the newspaper that we had to look for the little man in the cartoons, it must have been 30 years since I have given that another thought. Thank You. I have been following your blog since I ordered some of your cards from Moo. Amazing Talent.

I absolutely LOVE your style.
It's truly amazing how you bring magic to everyday "things". Look forward to following you on a regular basis. I'm also sending my son a link to your blog. He's recently asked me for a sketch book (I have several) for his own illustrations & I think he would find your blog interesting.

My kind of friend...I have a pen fetish also!

Love this drawing!! Love it!

Brilliant.

DANG that's one of your really good ones.

In answer to the question at the top: it probably means you wish you were eating cereal.

is it difficult to draw faces? i mean realistic faces - like the rennaissance type of drawings. i see less and less of those types of art.
most artist try to hide the faces of people in their drawings.

wow wow!!, wonderful as everyone of your sketch, love each one!!

Absolutely incredible.
I go through so many microns and copics and all that, for those types of sketches i like doing, but in truth I actually draw most comfortably with a regular bic biro, ten for a quid. I scribble (messy cartoons mostly) all day and all night while at the computer desk in various biros, it feels like there's subtlety you can get with a regular old ball-point you just can't get elsewhere. And you are the absolute magician with the ball-point.
Maradona used to show just as many amazing football skills with a ping-pong ball as with a football; I guess this means you're the maradona of drawing!

Wonderful, Andrea! It took ages to look at all the details so I can't imagine how long it must have taken, but I bet it was fun to do! (Pens from Tesco Direct, that's great!) Ha, I noticed that cheesy advert too! What are his daughters trying to say?!! And bingo, he got the girl straight away!! That Lynx ad with the swivelling eyeballs is my current 'heave-ho'!
Oh, and I totally agree, it's not the materials but what you do with them that matters - and they don't behave like that for me! ;)

You are unbelievably talented and gifted. What a treasure your art is! Thanks for sharing so freely with us!

Thanks for the info. I had wondered. Just this week I looked at a ballpoint pen sitting on my desk and I thought, "I'll give it a try." I didn't get very far - the ink was getting smugged very easily. Then I thought, "I wonder what kind of pen Andrea uses." Now I wonder what you do to keep your work so clean and neat?

U are Talent.

Hi Andrea!

Excellent work and pretty blog.

I was drawing for a while with ballpens too, I couldn't use another "tool"...

Greetings from Spain.

Well said, it isn't about the tools, it is about how well you use the tools.

Wow, everybody. I feel totally overwhelmed today. not only by the fantastic response to this drawing but also I have had 5000 visitors to my humble ole blog in the last 24 hours! Unreal.

Thanks so much to everyone that has visited left comments, emailed me. Everything. Everyone.

Ann, I'm glad i wasn't making it up. Do you remember which paper it was?

James, drawing faces is difficult for me. If you want to see an expert at work check out Wagonized. And Felicity.

Pete, I absolutely agree. There is a subtlety you get with ballpoint that I've never achieved with other pens.
Rick, I don't know why my work is so neat. I often wish it was much more messy, but alas...

Hope I've answered all the questions. Again, THANK YOU ALL. You've made my day week year.....

this drawing took me back in time. when i was growing up, converse were the sneakers to have. however, my friends and i had an agreement: if any of us get a pair of converse, we were supposed to roll them on the dirt. we simply did not like to see brand-new and clean converse. it was not 'cool'. anyway...thank you for taking me back in time with your fenomenal drawing

Andrea, your work is absolutely fabulous! It is inspirational to me beyond words. How remarkable you are.

I just had to drop you a note to let you know how awesome I think your artwork is, and how inspiring. I love the fact that you draw any mundane thing lying around and turn it into an object of beauty and interest. It is very inspiring.

Love the trope l'oeil style, and I particularly like this one. Good job!

you are fucking awesome! i admired any kind of drawers, any style, but you are great :) your concept really really nice
afültequiere.blogspot.com

hoy he conocido tu trabajo, y la verdad estoy alucinado con el manejo de los bolis.
enhorabuena

It's simply amazing Andrea ! Wow !
Kisses from Paris.

James

Thank you all folks. Again, I am totally overwhelmed by all the lovely comments. Really, I am.

Edgar, of course, you just couldn't be seen in them when they were bright white. They look better a bit battered, don't they? Hey, I'll be thinking of you ans Suzanne all day tomorrow.

To everyone who's visited and commented THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Cheers.

A late comment. This is great. you can write really small!

You are amazing...!

Oh wow, Andrea, this is definitely a fav. I am just back from a week at sea and was checking out what was going on while I was unplugged and I find this simply amazing drawing!

Utterly brilliant. I'm going to have to try drawing with ballpoints. x

Awesome! This is wonderful! It's amazing what you can do with a ballpoint pen! Love your work!

Thanks y'all.

Andrea, I have to say that I need to adopt your view of drawing with discarded pens. I spend way too much time shopping for pens instead of drawing with them. I made a comment regarding this at my blog and sent my readers over here to a real artist.
...dave

Every time I click on your blog, my mouth drops open in awe. Really. Such wonderful drawings!

This is GORGEOUS! Wowee!

You are incredible. Can I be you?

Oh, and can I borrow your shoes while I'm at it?

The quick and simple ones will get you every time! That said, I LOVE this. Really. You could have positioned all the shoes around the center, but you didn't. That-and all the crazy detail-is what I love.

How many pieces of yours have I seen? And STILL you can blow me away with a black bloody ballpoint!

You necessitate the creation of new superlatives.

i´m so envious of your skills (and shoes) ;)

Very tight; I can almost smell the leather! :D (that is.. if they're a new pair of shoes.. otherwise, I'm glad I can't smell them!)

Fantastic! I wonder how much time it took you to manage this. It's amazing - love the way you positioned them too. Now I want to be in winter and go buy shoes!

I'm astonished!

You draw better than almost anyone and you have good shoes, too. Love the composition, the repetition and variation, and the way you manage to get an even tone. Sigh.

Fantastic textures! Your sketches take my breath away and I wait for every last one of them!

I will never fail to be amazed with what you can do with a ballpoint pen. Mine are always the kind that are blotty when used :/
That being said, I see that you and I would definitely have similar taste in shoes ;) Only I am a summer sandal woman... :D

I hadn't been to your blog in a few days, but I'm glad I'm came to see this one. You have great dexterity and apparently infinite patience as well. This is amazing!

Your talent is mind boggling. How do you get everything to be so incredibly precise? I would love to be a fly on the wall and just watch you draw... it's completely fascinating to me to look at your drawings up close and try to figure out your technique. Well done!

I think this is more shoes than I have ever owned, LOL! I really dislike shopping for them.

You have made ballpoint look like something completely other than ballpoint - quite brilliant. And it's the little details that make the magic, like the slight fraying at the toe of the shoe in the upper right corner.

Hummpf! I'm obviously using the wrong brand of ballpoint pen when I try something like this! *lol*

Your patience and attention to detail is as amazing as your art.

Your drawings continually amaze me! and you have great shoes!

Wow! You are the Queen of Ballpoint! I just came over to see these for the first time I think. Really really nice. I'd hate for you to see what I've done with ballpoint ink drawing.

To change the number of blogposts showing on blogger: go to customize (upper left of your blog, I believe), and go to settings. Then click on the tab "formatting" and set your blogpost number. Save it and you are set to go. I don't care much for only one post to show as like you, I want to see more than one picture. I've got mine set at 15 but you can choose whatever. Good luck.

wonderous as always! I want to learn the tchnique you are using to get the continuous tones. Hum...and hints as to what yo are doing??

Thanks folks.

Kazumiwannabe,this one took a long time. Perhaps about 15 hours.

Spineretta, I know what you mean some ballpoints can be really blotty. I give up on them if they are too bad, because it's so frustrating. I always have a piece of tissue and wipe the point from time to time.

Lynne and Stephanie, it's all about practice. I know it's a boring answer but it really is just practice, practice, practice. You'll be surprised how quickly your techniques improve if you draw often.

E-J, glad you noticed that little scuff. I got the shoes in France and scuffed them the first time I wore them. SO annoying.

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm glad you like it, I feel really happy about this one. Cheers.

I want to have feet which will allow me to wear these shoes! Another wonderful drawing, Andrea!

Oh, and I totally agree with Mr. R.E. Wolf, there should be some special category for you!

Oh Andrea, I'm so glad you say that practice is all it takes. Now how many years will that be??? :-)
Your work is just so lovely, it really gladdens my heart.

Wow.

Wow! Fantastic! Very photo realistic.

"You necessitate the creation of new superlatives" -- that's it, Ryan summed it up for me.
You use such clever compositions -- they wow me every time. But this one makes me feel like "oh darn, why didn't I think of this?!". Oh, let me see, because you are fricken awesome, Andrea.
This is stunning and i would like to buy a print on Etsy. Let me know when it's available! :-)

Absolutely awesome! How in the world did you do these? What kind of pen are you using?

This is amazing! I just bought a bunch of blue ball point pens for a change, hmmm, maybe it was your blue envelopes. :) Marva

Andrea: go to Customize on your blogger site. Then go to formatting: First Line :
show ____ posts on main page

Choose _8___ posts on main page.

Do not choose Days
Sherrie Roberts

I am really amazed (and humbled!) by your work. I'd have never believed this wasn't done with a ballpoint if I hadn't read it from you.

(heading back to practice practice practice)... Awesome work!

Very, very good. I even love the detail of the bit of thread showing on the front of the open toed shoe on the right.

That previous comment was from me (Rick). I failed to notice that I was signed in on my wife's account.

Amazing composition and the usual brilliant use of ballpoint pen. I don't know why I'm always so surprised by what you do because it is consistently mind-boggling.

As this page loaded I said something similar to r.e.w. Only I was less polite!
Please continue to make me feel inadequte - I love it!

Just a wonderful drawing. You have inspired me to set down, pull out the shoes I am never going to wear and draw them and give them away.
Just beautiful!
Sherrie Roberts

Great work as always!!!

Wow... Awesome!

What's your process or technique? It's perfect every time!
Also, what are your most favorite tools?

Thanks everybody, for the wonderful response to this drawing.

The question I keep being asked is what kind of ballpoint I use. I might just do a post about this in the near future - when i've got a drawing to go with it. The answer is really simple; I use ANY pen that I have to hand. Any. Sometimes a cheap on from a pack of 6 or even the free ones that you get with junk mail. I don't happen to think that the tools you use are that important. Just drawing, that's all that matters.

Cheers folks.
Thank you all.

Isn't it amazing how many black shoes one can own! As always, I look at your beautiful drawings and then I have to click to enlarge. There in front of me is all the delicate and purposeful line work you do to create these amazing pieces and as always, your work blows me away again and again.

Oh my goodness Andrea, I just got back to town and my computer and are you kidding me!!!!!! This is amazing!! My new Fav.
Funny this wekend I was looking to buy a pair just like the ones with the scuff!!

I'm amazed by the depth of value you manage with these. Quite a project - it's fabulous!

Utterly amazing, Biro shares will go through the roof if you keep this up, I'm off to buy some now, great drawing.

Good lord woman. Your skill is a heavenly gift. I could almost feel the leather on the ballet slipper. I'm in awe everytime I visit your blog.

Wow, Andrea this is one of your best (which means one of the best drawings around)

what goreous work you do!! Just fabulous. Your work and commitment to drawing are an inspiration to me.

Ummmm;....wanna switch closets? I love this. You are awesome!

Thank you, folks. I feel really touched by the response to this drawing. I can't tell you how good it makes me feel when people respond to my work in such away. It's overwhelming. Thank you all.

This is just gorgeous. I love the fact that you use ballpoint pens as well, because that proves that we all should not give excuses not to draw. There's always a simple ballpoint pen and some paper around, so we should be able to draw at any time.

Didn't I already say how much I LOVE this drawing??????????????

Oh, Andrea!!! Your bum doesn't look big in this at all!
But the drawing itself is great fun! And I think you should do figures more often!!!

I love it when things turn into a finished piece when you least expect them too. Makes them more special.
Love this!!

This is awesome!

This is one of my favs!!Love the umbrella.
And no. it doesn't look big at all.

Andrea, NOTHING you do is bad! I just love ALL your drawings..no, it doesn't look big (were you joking??)

You are a master with the ballpoint pen! I just posted an OLD drawing on my blog that I did in ballpoint (and I never work with that tool).

You also never seem to have a bad idea! Do you plan much? Or, does it just unfold as you go? AND, is tea still the national beverage over there or does coffee (ala Starbucks, etc) impose much of a threat? :)

Blessings

I hate you for the fact that your bum doesn't look big in this!
Beautiful drawing - I like to see text too - and hey - it didn't rain here yesterday! x

Great stuff. Reminds me of comix I used to make. Your drawing is on the way

I LOVE it! I think that's the closest we've ever been to seeing what you look like, too. I'm sure that you could sell your Moleskines for millions (although, I know you never would). *sigh* Your drawings please my brain and my being.

I always love stopping by your blog because you just keep them coming. Another great drawing! You are so talented. I love that you added a figure and that it is you—very cool!

It's absolutely "chucking it down" here (been non-stop since yesterday afternoon)but I'll face the day with a smile now. Could I borrow your spotty umbrella?

Thanks, guys.

Lexy, you are right. I always feel pleased when I make something out of nothing.

Sosser, no planning. I just let them unfold. This was a few doodles on a page. It just grew.

I think that tea is definately still the natianol bevarege. It is in my house anyway! I guess, in reality, just as many people drink coffee, and on times I myself can swing either way (does that make me bi?). Tea is steeped in tradition though, unlike that new-fangled coffee.

Thank you, Pip, that is so cute.

Cheers everyone. And I was only joking...kind of.

Hee,hee...if your bum looks big in this...I'd hate for you to see a drawing of mine!

Love this composition. All of it.

This is so cool! It's awesome, can't believe it started out as "crappy doodles"!?! Your bum looks perfect to me (like Georgieliz, I thought maybe you were kidding?)
Love the comic book style of the page, a lot!

awesome drawing; my favourite bits i think are the rough top edges of the newspaper and the tiny details of the earphone piece, such incredible attention. Sorry about the rain; I am actually a little jealous. Cheers for the plug!

Another realy good one Andrea, and I agree, you should do more figures. You did an excellent job on this one. You make me want to pick up my ball point pen and try a doodle myself.

Dunno about your bum, but you SURE have a svelte tummy! Wish I had your figure ...

Your spare Moly is a visual treat. As is your not-at-all-fat bum! LOL

Does your bum look big? I would say not! You look pretty thin to me (not skinny, don't look down that road either).

Great collage of pictures I think.

Thank you all, folks.

Mithi, it's not that svelte. That's why the scarf is strategically placed there. To disguise any over-spills!!

Cheers, peeps.

very nicely done as always. What types of headphones are those?

P.K.

Es increible lo bello que puede resultar una ilustracion
slds

i love that journey, too. thanks for taking us along on yours. the drawings are beautiful!

oh wow, there's so much work in this!!
I love how you can keep spotting an extra little detail in there, and I loved seeing the progression. You've got me motivated!!
How's your hand?!

Thanks for posting this in all its stages! Wonderful to see the progression and to read how you allow for the drawing to happen. Beautiful drawing!

I think you did pretty good, Andrea. Like the composition and the colored pencil. Thanks for the step by step along the way.

I love step by steps and it is even more fun when there is a surprise ending-the mood and the texture of this piece is wonderful

Andrea, our go-to girl for the details. You are unBEATable!

this is very cool, NO wait its fascinating...all the plethora of details...so very well done too...bytw whats a biro? ball point pen...anyway cant wait to see what ou do next i know it will be spectacular

I love this! It has such depth, I could just reach into the picture and pick up one of the pieces! I love the different shades of blue, and I think you did an awesome job! Marva

WOW, I love coming back to see the progress. I tip my pens and bow down to you.

It looks awesome. The ruler with its transparency looks incredibly real. I'm floored each time I see your work!

Not for the first time, I'm amazed by your skill with a ballpoint pen. Mr Biro himself could never have envisaged such artwork from his invention!
Beautiful work, Andrea. Thanks for answering my previous question. x

This is just wonderful! The right hand corner is too blue, too much shadow? I just thought you had it in shadow from the lamp overhead. You use only ball point pens? Is this work in your Moleskine or art paper? I wanted to know the brand of paper you used.
Some Rubbish, you had to finish.
Just a delight for eyes.

Sherrie Roberts

Thank you all, guys.

Lexy it's itching to get started on the next - butI'm definatley taking a couple of days off!

Margaret, a Biro is, indeed, a ballpoint pen. It's the brand name.

Sherrie, well I'm glad you think it looks like the shadow and light of an over head lamp, because that's exactly what I was going for. It's just the colour of the blue in the right hand corner is wrong. It's very subtle and probably only I'd notice, but that's what happens when you're obsessive!

This piece is on paper. It is a Windsor and Newton heavy weight cartridge. It has to be heavyweight, to take of all that cross hatching.

Cheers, everyone. I'm glad you've enjoyed the process. I've enjoyed your company.

I absolutely adore it. Thank you for showing us a work-in-progress. The finished piece is wonderful. I love it.

As much as I enjoy this drawing (and I really do!) I also like what you've written to accompany it. Your reflecting back on the process and the final outcome is really interesting, and probably mirrors what many of us feel about our work as well. Although I think you've said it more eloquently than I might have!

Well done!

Thanks for taking the time to share the process. Truly fascinating! Your patience and talent amazes me!

I deeply admire what you do! Such talent and patience! It is always a joy to see what you have done next. You shared the process with us this time!! What a journey! Thanks so much! :)

I so enjoyed seeing your work in progress, Andrea! An amazing finish, as always....and your attention to detail always blows me away.

Wow, wow, wow! I just love everything you do! Thanks for sharing the progress. It was so cool to watch!

Gosh how i love the allegory you used about being the passenger. I happen to LOVE the dark area starting in the bottom right corner. It adds depth to the whole piece. I love it. I LOVE it.

it never stops suprising me what you can do with a piece of paper and ball point pen...
thank you for sharing your amazing journey:)

Hi, it's me again... Just to say I sent you an award on my blog, and you're free to participate or ignore it! I just had to do it, your desk drawing,a few posts ago, really was a revelation for me! thanks again!

I love seeing the creative process to this piece and like all the contrast/shadow that you have created using a very limited palette. It's always interesting seeing the progression of a piece, but I also understand the need to finally hold it up and say "DONE!"
Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for your comments on my blog. :) Marva

My favorite part is the translucent ruler with the page underneath showing through. And if it was a hairband from around our house there would still be a number of my daughter's hair hanging on.

Brilliant. Am awestruck once again. Bl***y brilliant. Thank you for the step-by-step, I may never draw again ...

Thank you all so much, guys.
I probably won't be doing one of these again in a hurry.

The strange thing is, for me, my favourite bit is the very corner that I started off with. The little blue pen (actually it's all blue!), the Featherpost envelope and the hairband. I never saw that coming.

And, Rick, that is one of the little details I meant to put in but forgot - the hairs on the hairband. I also forgot the star in the window of the envelope. I could add them. Hmmmmm.

Thanks everyone, for joining me on this little journey. Ta.

Your description of the process reminds me of a passage in "Art & Fear" about the work itself dictating what is needed ... I would go merrily insane making something as detailed as one of your drawings. What a labour of love! I haven't viewed the stages yet so will rush off to look at those now.

Got a little something for you. Just a teeny weeny something - or rather, 3 teeny weeny somethings - so don't get too excited.

This has been great to follow (especially I since I've been away and have managed to see all your last blog posts all at one go!) Looking forward to the next one! (and thanks again for all the flickr comments!)

Love the complexity, and that you shared the process. Really great stuff.

I gave you an award on my blog. You are a sensational artist. In accepting the award, you are not obligated to continue with the nomination of others, but it is fun and encouraging all at the same time!

Andrea, thanks for the peak into your creative process- the visuals & text. Splendid results

Love your work. The darker shadow gives the image a feeling of depth, I think it's great.

i'm glad to have seen the process. It turned out incredible! I think the choices you make in a drawing are spot on.
I've given you another of those awards that are doing the rounds, cheers for the inspiration!

i enjoy the final result. well worth the torture i would say. great job!

How can you be annoyed with perfection?????? I don't know how you do it, but you consistantly turn out beautiful, pristine, exact, detailed, interesting, exciting work. I love what you do.

It just keeps getting better and better, and I am so fascinated by watching your process. There are so many drawings you've done that I wish I'd seen over your shoulder like this. That hair band is divine, and I love the addition of the third pen. Andrea, you ROCK.

The cat went to the pub? ;)

I'll be back. I love seeing your working process.

This is fantastic, really. Your pictures born out of desperation and lack of ideas are better than most people's planned work.

Very interesting to see how this piece evolves.

I like the hair scrunchie the most. I know exactly what kind of hair scrunchie it is. You are true to drawing what you see (and even if you did make some things up we would never know!).

I'm really digging this exploration...I feel like I'm there with you. By the way, the closer I examine your drawings, the more certain I am that you are a genius. All the clippings and notes remind me of Russell Crowe's portrayal of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind...though I'm not sure this is the type of genius one necessarily wants to be. Anyway, this is all to say "job well done!"

Thank you all, guys.

I don't think I'll be doing one of these step by step things again, in a hurry. I'm so nervous about finishing the thing now.

Ryan, thank you for pointing that out. Actually, how cute would that be?

Suzanne, thank you for comparing me to somebody with a severe menatl illness. That's very kind! (Hehe, only joking!)

Cheers folks.

I nominated you for an award! check out my blog to get the particulars! I love your blog and your amazing style!

I can see the difference in the values, and quite a bit more detail as well. As for it being rubbish...no, not at all. I would be interested to see how you work-I see (and enjoy) the finished results, but I can't exactly picture how you do all the layering, detail, and value range.

Perhaps you could lead a workshop? I'll start checking ticket prices!

Oh, but it's very interesting to follow your process! Anyway, a drawing needn't be perfect to be worth looking at - I'm glad you chose to share the birth of this one. :)

Rubbish drawing? You draw incredibly well but you have the strangest ideas! (in this post, at least) I wonder how much time you spend on each layer of the drawing. Everything is so precise, it's amazing. Like No Way said, I too would like to see you working!

Not rubbish at ALL!

What they said!

I've loved seeing your process too :) And I love your subject matter - completely intriguing. My favourite bit is the window in the top envelope

(It all looks SO much better than the pile of envelopes all over my kitchen bench right now though!)

It really is putting yourself out there - doing the step by step thing. I'm in the process of doing it now, with my latest drawing - and it does feel odd! But I love seeing other people's works in progress, so thought I'd have a go too.

I think this is my first comment on your blog too. I should have commented earlier!!

[www.lexy.typepad.com]

You know, i love its dreamy quality right here. I am sure though that whatever you add will kick major ass, so i'm not worried. But i love it as is.

I love this! I don't think it's rubbish at all! It's wonderful to see all the different steps..... Marva

You couldn't do a rubbish drawing if you tried, so stop beating yourself up. I'm enjoying seeing your work-process, and as always, I'm in awe of your exquisite art.

I don't know how you get everything so precise - do you draw by eye always? Any rulers involved? I'd love to know. x

I know what you mean. Sometimes I get to the end and liked a certain "stage" prior to the finale. When that happens, I know that art is really all about the process and not the destination.

I really appreciate watching the transition of this drawing, thank you.

It's wonderful! I love it! And I'm looking forward to the detail. I love seeing how you work.

Aj, this is aweseome. I love seeing your progression.

Aw I really like what Nova said:
"When that happens, I know that art is really all about the process and not the destination"... a nice thought for me the way I feel these days.. :)

I am a renowned expert on "rubbish" (I have so much) and I can state that this does not fall in the same category.
And you used a *&#!!ballpoint, too!

Thanks everyone.

The step by step thing does put the pressure on, but I'm kinda glad I did it as this drawing is taking FOREVER. Once I've started a drawing like this I let the drawing dictate where it goes. And this is taking me on a very long walk.

Gillian, I do use rulers, yes. You should see the evidnec of that in the next step.

No Way, I don't think I could do a workshop. I don't know how to put into words how I draw. I just draw!

Thank you all for taking such interest in this process, guys. Cheers.

Nice works !!!
Greetings !!! :-)

OMG....are you kidding me?? This is fantastic! Really wonderful rendering. I understand the joy of just allowing the drawing to lead you. Just very nice....process and result.
BTW, found you through Jenifer Laswon's blog.

This drawing was beautiful at every stage, I'll be checking back to see if it ever ends. As a fellow Brit, I salute you.

So, did you remember to buy the tea?

You are SO amazing Andrea. I'm sitting here just shaking my head over your creativity...and giggling.

Ha! I love it Andrea. An amazingly fun and wonderful drawing.

love it =)

Again...a superbly brilliant composition...and remarkable detail. Your handwriting is itself an artform. Art really unites all of us through our good, bad and "blah" days...thanks for keeping us all "in touch"!

Aw, thank you all folks. I think I quite like this page. I think. Hmmm.

Jason, I forgot the bloody tea! Really. I finished and posted this quickly before I went out and forgot the green tea. After writing such an elaborate shopping list.

Cheers guys.

'No Shit Sherlock'...
Love it!...... This page is delicious!!! Hehehehe. I hope you realise you are responsible for fuelling another addiction of mine? it's,
YOUR BLOG! Thanks. ;0)
Oh, Thank you for the link to kathrin jebson-marwedel , more yummyliscous stuff.

I'd never been able to draw messy pages like yours, and I love them. And imagine read it again like in ten years. What a beautiful think to keep.

Ah-ha! I see you also hold Clarkson and co. to account!
Lovely doodle-y blahs. Thanks.

I like it! Now if you could just combine this with the underwear drawer!!!

Hee, hee...truer words were never spoken. When you've shown your panties...well, I think you've gone about as personal as you can go!!!

Once again - you rock! I love the detail you get and the collage of text. I envy the time you must have to put something like this together!!

This is great! I do end up doing something similar when my head either goes blank for illustration ideas (when I will just get some paper then doodle and write down the stuff that IS in my head) or when my head just feels so full and I do it as an outlet for my random thoughts!

Really nice for you to share it, I know sometimes it's quite hard to share personal thoughts and feelings and leave yourself somewhat 'exposed' :)

Great stuff

WOW, so fabulous and creative. Great drawing and a wonderful peek in to a day in your life.

Louis has never had a creme egg?? I LOVE this drawing. So free. Love it. Saw my name in there too :o)

I haven't realized it was such a long time since I've stopped by! I love this sketch and glad to see a bit of the inside of your head, looks like mine actually, only difference is, yours looks interesting and very creative!
ronell

Thank you all folks.

Dinahmow, I hold those guys responsible for many a lost hour.

Pippa, it's true. Louis has never had a creme egg!

Cheers, I appreciate each and everyone of your comments. They've cheered up a stressful day.

This is so awesome. I saw this on Kayork's favorites. Wow, I love how the realism of this comes alive amidst all the other sketches. Karen

This drawing/journaling/doodling is so, so cool, I can't even tell you how much I love it. Fantastic!

It's amazing what you've managed to create with a simple ball-point pen! I really enjoyed zooming in and reading your thoughts!

this is realy great Andrea, keep on with this, I love it!

Nice one, Sam! Welcome to AJ.

Tangrams gone wild! What lovely use of whitespace. Welcome!

I like it. I just painted a dragon painting so this coincides...mine is chasing the crystal. Lovely now color it.

Is that slate? Gawsh, I always wanted to make art on rocks. This is deliciously textured.

The updated image is looking great - would like to see the whole thing someday...

Really like the green and blue tones. He seems like a humble dragon. Nice work!

That's gorgeous! I love the style!

i absolutely love it! i hope you plan to post more :D you have an amazing style. i really like your colors and the fact that its a dragon and looks more like a dinosaur.

pete! you're amazing! You gotta teach me some of your painting techniques.
-Bink

nice work man, very nice indeed.

I can hear him grunting!

Nice angle and concept! It'll look awesome when colored.

wow nice!

watch out brood!

I love this!! Woot Excalibur!

I love the old Shadowcat stories, this is awesome man!

The color and textures on this are great!

Cool work! Nice textures, I like where your signature is placed too.

Oh this is so yummy, and your signature is perfect. Line quality, delicious.

Nice work! Very interesting visually.

I love your four winds. I'm going to look Orobouros up now...

Hey welcome Vinay! its smokin'start..
keep 'em coming.

Rekha

haha nice sketch...and welcome

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I don't recall seeing it before, but it is super nice!

nice work! cool character, love the background too!! kinda has a Hell Boy feel to it....

this is rad!

very cool style....nice choices..Jordan

How does he wipe?

that's a hell of a handshake.

Love the colors, great job. It does seem kinda familiar, but I cant put my "hand" on it.

thanks everyone, I might have to go back to this guy, I really like it.

Sweet design Ryan!

Outstanding style. Never saw before, really great.

A beautiful creature. :-)

awwe cutest dragon smile ever hahah i love it

he's groovy! great smile!

Hey Josh! Great seeing you here! Love your miniacle antlered dragon building his castle.

cool, i like it. good job

woooo thanks!
lotta fun doing this little guy.
hope to be around for everyone of these.

to cute for it's own good.

awesome work!! nice colors and shapes! very nice!