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Hahaha...I know I will not have the time (or money) to go to all the places I want to see so I thought I'd make a fake travel diary while I'm in UK.

But will you make it to sheffield?

Lovely pages and a lovely idea.

Have you ever seen this site of real places, ignored by traditional guidebooks, that seem imaginary?
http://atlasobscura.com/

Brilliant idea. And a real inspiration for me to try visiting the places I can only see with my imagination.

Oh I got your Molezines in the mail!!! Thank you thank you thank you! I love them all! Had to blog about you ;)

last year, for Roz Stendahl's International Fake Journal Month, i travelled to Ireland (i live in the US). it had to be "real time" as it were, so i had to do a lot of research on the places i visited, and then create journal pages. it was all great fun! i can't wait to see what you come up with, Andrea ... i have no doubt that it will be enchanting as always :D

ps: i hope hope hope it becomes a molezine!!

Thank you, guys.

Michael, I tried to look on that site but my old laptop doesnt seem to like it. I'll try again. But who knew that there were all these people making imaginary journals?

Mo, I'd not heard of this 'Fake journal'. I guess you can never have an original idea.

Cheers, guys.

Beautiful work and great idea! I've been collecting "natural" things from around the world (sent to me by pen pals and far off friends) like rocks, leaves, etc. that has been fun. *bookmarks your site

You are so incredibly talented, I just love all your work..inspirational,poetic....a journey worth taking.

Thanks, guys.

I'm getting right into this. If there's anyone from Scandinavia who'd like to contribute by writing to me then get in touch.

Cheers, my dears!

Your "rubbish" still blows away the best efforts I could make. Very nice.

I guess for most of us your insecurity about your drawing seems absolutely ridiculous, since you are so good at what you do. If I could draw like you I'd be jumping around happy and showing my work off at everybody like some proud 5 year old going 'look look LOOK, look what I made!' and just knowing that they would ooh and aah over everything.
I guess everything is relative ;-)

Really gorgeous pages, as a viewer I can't see the flaws just enjoy them. Thanks for posting these x

I love that you drew the Moley book mark in the second one!

You just get better and better. I too am diving into my moleskin with same goal-learn to draw-love following you on twitter now.

We all have a comfort zone, and you seem to be more comfortable than most with a pen. These are wonderful.

As long as you're learning and it's effecting the direction of your work it doesn't matter what you sketch. What things do you have in mind? Where do you want your drawing to improve or grow?

Yeah, this is so hard. I have been trying it for all of 2011. It's so hard to break tried and true patterns. I so easily slip back into the same things that are comfortable for me. Bravo!

These are fantastic! and I like the idea of drawing what we would rather avoid. It can be very freeing.

I agree with Caatje and Bryan. I would be absolutely thrilled if I could draw such "rubbish"! ;-) Your drawings are wonderful. I think I've got all your zines.

Cool, you are actually scared of drawing some things!? I agree with everything Caatje has said. Your drawing 'ROCKS'

Lovely work Andrea, and very inspired. I too love sketchbooks and moleskins (and have recently bought one of your zines). I have been inspired to create a zine of some of my sketched from the last couple of years, so thank you for that.

This latest work of yours shows consistent quality. I love the attention to detail. Your eye for perspective and tone is so very good. Keep it up.

Lorrie x

The sketches all look perfect and neat to me...you've a unique talent

As artists we are always learning, and developing our drawing skills, so it is always worthwhile spending time honing these skills. I never feel my drawing is good enough, except for some odd days where the sun is shinning and I feel in tune with the universe so I know exactly what you mean.

You're teaching yourself to draw?! What?!? You mean you don't know how!

Love seeing your work and being inspired. But more than anything I love how you continue to be so down to earth and approachable. (heart) Love from Mona in Vermont

Wow! Thanks, guys.

I didnt expect such a great response to these drawings and this post. I never know whether I should post this stuff, but your kind words make me think I was right to! I'm also, really not fishing for compliments. I have a LOT to learn; the human body and architectural drawings are top of my list.

Thank you ALL. You make my day.

Following your last comment, interestingly...despite as a student having done enough life drawing to last a lifetime, nearly 30 years later, I am in fact undertaking some life drawing workshops, as I feel I have forgotten so much. So, yes...you never stop learning, and relearning.

p.s. if you ever feel like posting a tutorial on creating an artist's zine, I for one would find it very useful indeed.

Lorrie x

Thanks, Lorrie.

Because I am self taught I've never learnt those things, but I am starting some life drawing sessions next week (eeeek! ssshhhh! don't tell anyone).

As for the artist's zine thing, I think this is a really good idea. I am in fact hoping to have another zine made in the next couple of months so that could fit in very nicely. I was actually thinking on making one page (of the new zine) about zines and making zines as my frineds, who are not neccessarily familiar with the zine concept, keep asking me 'what are zine?'. So thanks for that. I will definitely do it.

Cheers, everyone.

I think you are doing great. It is good to push forward but that doesn't mean you can't add a button, snap, stamp or other familiar item to a page if you need that little bit of comfort. I'm always surprised when a subject I thought was too difficult turns out pretty well but really, your past experience with seeing objects and drawing them will translate forward into your more difficult items. Keep up the good work.

'concept'

;)

It is a glorious window!! Nobody does it like you (even after reading your zine.) :)

WoW!!!! I have a moleskin, but I don't have anything as gorgeous as this in it!!! Beacutiful....

Thanks, folks!
Did you spot the cats?

Every time I place my footprint on you blog, you always amaze me :)

The car through the keyhole looks a bit sinister to me.

It looks great, what sort of Novel are you doing? I couldn't help but think along the lines of Alice when I saw this, only Alice through the keyhole as opposed to through the looking glass. hehe. I know what you mean about the feeling, it does make sense, loving the passion!!

That is fantastic! I love all of the details - including the screws that aren't all going in the same direction.

This is great, especially the little dog sitting on the balcony!

I Love it!! and I know exactly what you mean. sometimes i get an idea late at night and have a nice ebb and flow of how it should come out... I wait til morning and still have the idea but the wonderful feel of story of it just isn't there. We have to run with inspiration as soon as it grabs our hands and starts moving!

What a great perspective! Super.

Wow, it would be so great to have an Andrea Joseph graphic novel in the world!

How intriguing!

Ahhh, just LOVE the detail! It may drive you bonkers to do it but us, your loyal followers, sure love it. And most of us "get" the feeling you talk about. Common affliction. Keep it up.

Yes, I totally understand that "gotta get it down while it's here" feeling. My life, with three kids, etc. does not always allow for it though. Can't wait to see what comes pouring through you!

It makes me curious, can't wait for your graphic novel

A graphic novel would be fab, you make me want to sketch and draw and I sit there looking at scary white paper wishing I had your talent!!!

The tiny one with the 'AJ' next to it is so misterious....

Fabulous Andrea!

LOVE IT!

Love it! you did a great job :) I love the "Girl's keys" keyholder :))

I love the little pink flower head in Minnie Mouse's hand - you do detail so well! I look at the big spaces out there and lack inspiration, you find it in everything, I am so in awe!!!

As always I'm amazed at the complexity of your drawings - all those tiny links and jumble of chains - how how how do you do it???

I never cease to be flabergasted at your detgails!!! I would go barmy trying to do even a quarter of this!!! Beautiful!

That's wonderful!

Oooh, what a big honking keyring!! It's been one of my aims to build up my own key chain. Nothing so massive as your drawing yet, but I'm up to 6, it's the most I've had yet! :-)

Awesome work. You must be listening to music or talk radio while you work. This has got to take lots of time.

wicked!! that eiffel tower keyring, my wife has the same one and i drew it myself last week. I'm discovering keys are fun to draw, and this is like an explosion of great keys.

your detailing is incredible! I love all the different bits on it!

Great stuff!

A Fiat! An Eiffel tower! I just got lost in this fab drawing, Andrea! Just as I wonder what you will come up with next, you blow me away again.

Amazing!
I love to collect keys:)

I love it.... So great ilo...!

Definitely not a set of "boy's keys." I'm not sure that it could even fit in my pocket. It would probably wear a hole in my pants.

I like it - enjoy it - wish I could draw like that.

Thanks for sharing.

Wow! Superb!

Mesmerizing - I could stare into these intricacies for hours!

Such intricate and distinctive work. I love the way you make very ordinary things seem somehow alive, as if each item has a story it's itching to tell. Thanks for answering my question (last posting) - 20 hours is a big investment.

HI Andrea! I've just recently stumbled upon your site and what a delight! You have exceptional art and great humour, what a lovely combo. Wishing you much success and happiness! Aliaena

For more than a minute I lost myself, too!! :):)

I love this one, I use to collect keys:)

A wonderful drawing with the perfect title!

Your "madness" is a delight for our eyes! What a fabulous drawing!

That is awesome. I want it. Not the keys, but the sketch for my office. Very cool Andrea.

Oh, and I can't begin to tell you how much this resonates with me on discussions I've had with Ruth about her key-ball-and-chain. Ha.

...dave

Mesmerizing! :)

I'm always terribly impressed with your pen drawings. Can I ask a bit more about your process? Do you do any pencil underdrawing at all, or do you just start straight in with a pen?

Thank you all, folks.

This drawing was never meant to be quite so big. I was drawing with a damp plaster on my little finger (I didn't realise it was damp, it's not a new technique, or anything) and it smudged the whole page. So to cover the smudges I drew more and more and more keys.

TLC Illustration, I didn't use any pencil here. I do use pencil, to map out the composition, usually. But with a big drawing like this I will just dive straight in with ink. If you make a mistake, on a drawing like this, it doesn't matter too much. It can be hidden!

Cheers, everyone, you make my day.

That is simply amazing!