I saw a friend recently, who said "what have you been up to? Just going from café to café?" And, you know, from my drawings, it could look like that is all I do.
I do enjoy drawings in cafes though. They seem to combine all my favourite things; people, food and stuff, whilst being (mostly) warm and dry.
It's particularly useful, too, should you have forgotten to take your sketchbook out with you, if the café has paper place mats. I commend Tampopo for this. I managed to dig out an orange felt tip pen from the bottom of my bag for this one. I believe all cafés should use paper placemats. When I'm Prime Minister I will make it law.
One of my all time favourite cafes is the Plaza in Stockport. This place is an absolute hidden gem in a grey concrete city.
It was built in 1932 and the café has pretty much stayed unchanged since then. It's like being on set of a Poirot film. Really very beautiful.
Plus, whoever was in charge of casting, has done a great job with the staff. Perfectly drawable café in every way.
Then, the other day, we found a new café. I love it when that happens - when you find a new good café. Because, yes, I like a drawable café but the food is just as important.
And this one in
Eyam 'plague village' ticked both boxes. I'll be returning. Next time, I'll sit in a different place, for a different view to draw.
And so to today. The last café before Christmas.
But just to prove that I'm not always just sat around a table eating and drawing here's a something I did at work...
Oh.
Merry Christmas folks.
This was made for the brilliant STEW magazine recently.
Filed under:
children's illustration,
poetry,
songs,
summer 
So here's another thing I have on this month; I am exhibiting, as part of the
Derbyshire Open Arts weekend, on the 24th-26th, at
Pear Tree Café in Whaley Bridge. That's if I have anything to put on the walls. I've never had so much work on. I'm not complaining. I just can't quite keep up.
I'm off to Amsterdam shortly to film my classes for next semester's
Sketchbook Skool. And then there's the little issue of the
MASSIVE book/bench, in my living room, that I have to start, I mean finish, by the end of this month. That'll then be making it's way down to the streets of London ready for the
Books About Town trail which begins in July.
I'm exhausted just thinking about it all. Coffee! Please!! Make mine a quadruple espresso.
Recent sketching in various cafes.
Paper 53 on iPad. Click to enlarge.
In demonstrating the
Paper 53 app to Paul, I ended up drawing him.
Paper53 on iPad. Click to enlarge.
Sometimes I have characters in mind before they have a story. This weekend, I decided to send two such characters to a cafe in France so they would have the opportunity to meet. I figured they could get to know each other and decide whether or not there was more to their story. (As a side note, “le Lapin Sauté” is an actual cafe, but not in France–in Quebec City.)
I had a good time with all the various characters at the cafe. I suppose they all have their own story. Here’s a closeup, since it’s hard to see the detail sometimes on a screen.
Finally, I have understood the prune.
Pen and ink 7cm x 8cm. Click to enlarge.
The Frog about 12 years ago at the Delizioso cafe on Cleveland St. He called the cafe "Frecobaldock" for some unknown reason.
Watercolour 16cm x 20cm. Click to enlarge.
A sexy woman in the cafe inspired me to whip out the sepia.
Watercolour 19cm x 14cm. Click to enlarge.
The Frog ranting at Sharon's and at Frescobaldi's. Water-soluble pencil diluted with coffee, hence the brownish tint.
Pencil,coffee. Each page 20cm x 15cm. Click to enlarge.
I saw this long white galgo in the park the other day. It resembled a sketch I drew earlier.
Pencil and brushpen on newsprint with collage. Click to enlarge.
I used to know a girl called Spodd. I certify that this is a true likeness.
Pencil 8cm x 7cm. Click to enlarge.
I went to Modern British Sculpture at the Royal Academy with the redoubtable Terry Ryan. We found the fire escapes in the gallery to be more interesting than most of the works on show. My photo shows Terry creating an instant living sculpture entitled The Burning Man in Room 7. We did enjoy Damien Hirst's dead flies, but I think Terry's idea for a piece entitled Damien's Hearse needs to be built.
The final piece in the show is by one of our favourite artists, John Latham and features seriously mangled copies of the Quran and Bible. Luckily Latham is in no danger of reprisals because he's been dead for some time.
Over coffee Terry relived his famous impersonation of Kurt Schwitters impersonating a dog. I mentioned his book
Lucky Hans but absent-mindedly wrote it as "Dirty Hans".
Pen and wash 14cm x 10cm. Click to enlarge.
Two watercolours of the Frog painting at a cafe in Fitzrovia we named "Sharon & Tate" (because the owner resembled Charles Manson).
Watercolour 18cm x 25cm and 25cm x 18cm. Click to enlarge.
The League of Gentlemen Draughtsmen invited me to The Natural History Museum to do some drawing in public (without a safety net). I do enjoy drawing wildlife, but stuffed animals are so much more obliging. I got cramp drawing this African Openbill because I had to stand: the museum no longer provides folding chairs for artists. I blame the cuts.
But the best exhibits are the human specimens...there were hundreds to chose from in the Museum cafe.
Pen and ink with brushpen. A4 size. Click to enlarge.
A biddy in a London cafe.
Watercolour 16cm x 14cm. Click to enlarge.
El Frog in subdued mood.
Watercolour 17cm x 15cm. Click to enlarge.
Two swift watercolour sketches in London cafés.
Watercolour. 19cm x 14cm each. Click to enlarge.
A bearded guy in a London cafe.
Sepia watercolour 13cm x 14cm. Click to enlarge.
Another couple painted in a London cafe.
Watercolour 19cm x 14cm. Click to enlarge.
Two downcast people sketched in cafés.
Watercolour 12cm x 9cm and brushpens 8cm x 6cm. Click to enlarge.
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I am just wondering if you use a fingertip or pogo pen....