Above you, below me ...

It's wet and rainy here, the ponds in Sudbrooke woods are filling with water.

The paths are all boggy and suck your wellingtons off your feet. Fudge the dog doesn't seem to mind though, nor the aroma she gives off as she dries out in front of the fire. Yuk!

Just making memories ...

I'm still working on this series of paintings of Sudbrooke woods, I walk through them with Fudge the dog and the children so often it has left an imprint. Its in my skin. It changes daily depending on the weather, the light, the time of year. Moving to rural Lincolnshire from urban Manchester was the biggest change I ever faced. Not as dramatic in the old city centre, although in Manchester they liked to change the direction of the one way system, always good for a laugh!

When these memories fade, in my ripe old age ...

Having one of those pottering around days today, with a mooch thrown in when i fancy a change. The weather is doing the same, a bit of rain, some sun, nothing too challenging... I'd take the dog for a walk but shes asleep in her basket. A perfect Sunday.

Pull me through ...

I've not had chance to draw recently but have been tidying up my art studio in readiness (honest!) I've also let my journal lapse a little too, and dug it out ready to begin again in earnest. On the very first page I did this sketch from the opposite bank on Derwentwater in the Lake District. I felt it was appropriate to post it, in view of torrential rainfall in Cumbria and the many roads and houses flooded out. I love the place, especially in the rain but Lordy! not that much!!! Ironically, this is the very same journal that suffered rain damage at the bottom of my back during a storm whilst in London. Bit of a water theme going on here...

never go west when you know you should be headin' south ...

Another lovely VW... meet Flo! I dropped William off at school the other week and saw this wonderful piece of culture in the car park, hope Ms Toyne likes it :-)

All will be revealed ...

Here is the second ink drawing I did of Sudbrooke woods, this one was on handmade A1 size watercolour paper so I had to photograph it and didn't quite get the light right. I took a second photo of the detail underneath

In my dreams, I'm always strong.

I was listening to Mercury Rev and still get blown away by 'The Dark is Rising' It made me paint for the first time in ages. I've been down to the woods, just a few yards from the front door. There are some wonderful places in there with fantastic light and shade - I may stay with some woodland paintings for a little while, what do you think?

The sun is high up in the sky and I'm in my car ...

I was having a coffee in the sunshine outside Alexanders when this beauty pulled up, I took some photos to work from - not enough time to sketch it there and then! I want it!!!!

Back in the land of ink ...

I've not posted anything for ages! The warm weather has made me do all those garden and outdoor jobs I've put off for sooo long! Been out and about too... took William to a cafe for breakfast and he chose croissants with lots of jam! I had eggs, bacon, the whole nine yards! Didn't eat again all day! My favourite weekend food, yum!

Bless His ever-loving heart ...

I think I have finished Jesee's painting of his mum. He took some photos of her on his phone last time he went home to show friends where he used to live and how his mum cooked. It was too good an opportunity to miss so I asked if he would let me do a painting of her - he can take all the credit for the composition. Not only a good photographer, he also built her a new house! (I hope my mother doesn't read this and get big ideas). The house looks fantastic! He tells me his mum is reluctant to move into it, being set in her ways, what a gifted and truly wonderful person he is!!!

31/31 - This is the end, my friend ...

A day later, but I did (almost) post 31 days in May. It was the best of times! The work I posted out there, everything and anything (some of it was truly pants!) I would do it again. It stopped me getting all 'arty' and posting just the good stuff, it made me stick to involving art into every day of my life instead of when I have time -I made time, I stole it, I pinched it off the kids and my wife. The feedback you gave was inspirational, the feedback you didn't give was developmental, my thanks to you all. I'll keep posting as often as I can and a big thank you to my family for being patient, especially Sarah - driven nuts by my constant blogging - I am not a computer nerd!!! A means to an end , thats all!

30/31 - A quick sketch # 2 ...

I've been looking at a way of incorporating the detail of ink pen with something a bit more sketchy, I've tried marker pens but it doesn't work for me. I found a really nice soft black pencil that smudges nicely without going haywire like charcoal does! I love playing with pens and stuff :-)

29/31 - We've laid the cables and the wires ...

I used to have a phone like this on my desk at work - seriously! It only had one ring tone, it couldn't take photographs, you couldn't surf the net, or download music nor text or play games on it. Useless bloody thing!

28/31 - Green Eyes 2 ...

A glorious sunny day here in Lincoln! The light is fantastic.

27/31 - Just like a bird that sings up the sun ...

Beth is off school this week, she has done two birthday parties and will be off camping with Brownies tomorrow until Sunday, then back to school on Monday - I need a social life!!!!