Had a lovely day yesterday, drawing for the love of drawing rather than for work. I always love catching up with
Urban Sketchers Yorkshire, my sketchcrawling buddies, too. We spent the day at the
National Emergency Vehicles Museum in Sheffield. It was right up my tree. Loved the subject matter. I could spend another day, or ten, there. And, maybe even a night; apparently there are many ghosts in this former police and fire station. If you believe in that sort of thing, of course. I don't but I'm willing to have my mind changed.
There was a very specific colour scheme too. Reds, blacks and a little yellow were the colours of the day. I managed to not take seventeen pencils cases, which is an achievement for me, and narrowed it down to just the three sketchbooks. I always try to take some tools that I wouldn't normally draw with at home. I try and play a bit more on sketchcrawls. It feels like the right place to do that as you often encounter subject matter you wouldn't normally choose to draw. The red Bingo dabber was an inspired choice of pens.
Here's something I've noticed during October, as I'm participating in
Go Sober For October, I do a lot more with my weekends. It's much easier when you're not factoring in a 'big night' or a hangover. That's just another benefit to being sober; doing more stuff with your time. Just look at how my blogging has increased in the last month!
The museum holds a vast range of fire service related memorabilia that had previously been sitting in attics and local fire stations all over the county and amongst the exhibits were prisoner files from the last century. I found these the most fascinating of all, and below are my drawings of some of the mugshots from around the 1940s. It's funny how just by drawing somebody, spending that time studying someone, you can feel a real connection with them. I don't just want to now more about the faces I drew, I feel an empathy, sympathy, for them. Protective towards them even, like I knew them. I guess what I'm trying to say was that I was touched by them. Maybe I do believe in ghosts.
I was looking through some old stuff yesterday. Throughout my life I've always made books. Books of stuff. Books about nothing much. Just about life, I guess. I found this one which is about 15 years old. It's jam packed with drawings, photos, thoughts and ideas. I hadn't looked through it for years.
This page, particularly, made me smile. Not just because it looks like one of my drawings. And not just because Weller and Young can all be found amongst the stamps and other bits and pieces from places I've visited. But mostly because this is, without a doubt, my favourite photo of my mam and dad. Looking fabulous. Looking like a couple of young Mods.
I'm getting this urge. A feeling that I might just draw this entire page in one of my Moleskines.
Just some pebbles on a beach. Kicked around displaced by feet.
Just some broken stones. Trying to get home.
I'm calling this one done. When I started this drawing, and posting it step by step, I said that I had no idea where it was going. I must admit that was not completely true. I actually believed that what I was doing was taking THIS 'air mail' drawing out of my sketchbook and reworking it onto paper. So throughout, as I was laying down the layers of blue ballpoint, in the back of my mind I was expecting to make the final post the one where I'd change the whole mood of the drawing by adding the red. However, the drawing had a mind of it's own and took me somewhere else completely.
I can't tell you how much I love that. How a drawing, or creative practice in general, makes you the passenger on a journey. I've been wondering at what point this one changed direction, from the original idea. Where it turned down a side street. It could have been the slight turquoise-y colour of one of the ballpoints that changed things. It could have been the mood I was in or the music I was listening to. It could have been the calling card that came through the door or the hair band I found. Of course, it was all those things.
I don't know how I feel about the finished piece. I think it's over worked. I'm really annoyed about the shade of blue that I made the shadow in the bottom right hand corner. But hell, right now I want to post it and move on to the next one. 'Cause right now it's telling me it's done. Finished. Finito.
(I also promise I've finished with the Paul Weller references. Now where's that Joni lyric book....)
Phew. Perhaps my longest drawing ever. I got lost in this baby for days. And so, when I look at it, how do I feel? A sense of pride, accomplishment, achievement? Well, no actually. All I see is that little bit of map that I well and truly messed up on - just above the Chopper drawing, behind the Passing Time card. Can't keep my eyes off it. Damn.
Anyway there is a theme going on amongst all the stuff and nonsense. I won't say anymore I think all the clues are on the board. I think. Do you know what it maybe?
(Click on image to view)
The New York Times Great Children's Read Presented by Target (got that memorized?) is next Sunday, October 14th at Columbia University in ol' New York City. And guess who's going to be there reading on the Target stage... well, Julie Andrews Edwards (Mary Poppins) and Cheech Marin (nevermind, kids). But I'll be in there somewhere (4:45 actually) reading The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Best Buds and Superheroes. Afterwards I'll be signing books until 6:00 when a driver will grab me, throw me in a big black Lincoln and bring me to the airport where he'll then shove me into any plane headed north. The event will be fun and free. Fun and fancy free in fact!
Hope to see you there!
Your bud,
Maxwell
PS- The geese are heading south. Hope your skis are all waxed up.
I'm just back from a run; it was hot and my legs felt like they were encased in molasses. But about halfway through I came upon a great scene: a family of geese crossing the Jamaica Way. I hate geese, but this gaggle of two adults and seven young ones was inspiring. The grownups led the way, pausing at the curb to let a few fast-moving cars by, then sauntering, leisurely but with a definite aim, across the street while each of the four lanes of cars stopped in turn. (This is Boston, where nobody is sentimental about geese, and in no way was the entire flow of traffic going to stop for them.) If you know that street, you'll know how dangerous it can be to drive, much less cross. My hat's off to the Sunday drivers!
I have a story about Boston ducklings, too, and I'll put up the link to that tomorrow.
It does look like one of your drawings and you should draw it in your Moleskine.
yes. it would be nice to see it in drawing.
i can't wait to see it. :)
Amazing... I too thought it a page from one of you sketchbook...Sweet memories...Lovely photo of your parents! :)
What Tim and Lene and Margaret said -I say ditto.
Please? Pretty please. with sugar?
If anyone can do it, you can.
What a cool photo to have of your Mom and Dad. I think sketching this page is a great idea!!
That looks great! Such a cool layout (and Stephen is there too) but your folks steal the page, although I can't think when I last read 'Surathani' - what a place!
Print and publish!
i love an old photo and this one is wonderful especially sitting among all those bits and pieces. a little scrapbook.
oh i cannot wait to see your drawing.
Do it! Do it! Do it!
Love the rat-tail comb in your Mom's hand! brings back the days....
Hello, Im trying to have a daily sketchbook ,organizer ,journal,all in one book. Im just starting to learn all this scrapbooking and journaling daily. can you please show some of your pages and explain how to do these books.It would mean alot.
Thank you,
Linda
Beautiful combination, especially photo looks so emotional. Drawing would be amazing in your style.
Thanks, folks.
It's a lovely photo isn't it? It's a lovely spread actually. I think I'm going to attempt drawing this, but I don't know how I'll tackle the photo. Hmmmmm.
Did you spot the monkey (my mother is holding it)? It seemed that throughout my childhood if you were having a photo taken you had a monkey thrust in your hands? That doesn't seem to happen anymore. Which can only be a good thing.
Linda, I don't really do any scrapbooking. Or journalling. For me it's all drawing - there are the odd exceptions, but they are few and far between. I'd say the best thing is to join the Everyday Matters group (if you haven't already). You'll find a lot of help there.
Cheers, my dears.
You have such cool parents! I hope my children can think something similar of me in the years to come! :)
Great photo! :)