After riding through town on a sunny day, I remember these things.
Miniature golf for fun and profit…
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The Wreck of the Old G4…
After 15 years of loyal service, this laptop is now a titanium memory. I spent a few moments admiring the design of it (one reason I bought it in the first place), then I opened it up with a can opener. It was sent on its way with full honours: five coconut milk tins, fifteen beer bottles and a broken plastic plate.
Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless. Thomas Edison
Happy World Dracula Day…
Today is World Dracula Day. BOO! Bram Stoker's book was published in 1897. One of my favourite books to read with its unique and terrifying mood. The description of the Count's physical appearance always reassures me and blows the dust off the nineteen-fifties' Hollywood imagery. Incisors: not canines. Balding: not widow's peaks. And the most impressive real estate portfolio by Victorian standards. I used to walk past Bram Stoker's house off the King's Road every day. It was a pretty house, with dog roses and other flowers in full bloom in summer. I find it hard to believe he once lived there.
Book jacket designs for Alma Books' edition of Dracula by Bram Stoker (unpublished).
From a notebook.
They can't all be Singers…
I have been drawing one hundred sewing machines. Sewing machines are extremely interesting to me and although I don't know how to operate them, they're intriguing. I've tried to understand the different kinds of stitches, but it's very complex and I really only imagine that a lock stitch will do me any good. I am an expert at a running stitch (hand sewing) and have used this stitch forever. Usually my patience runs out if I have to sew something eg. a button on a shirt, and I create my own technique which on close inspection looks like a mess. Even at distant inspection it looks a mess. Sewing machines have parts with names such as: spool pins, loop-takers, feed dogs, presser feet, needle bars, bed shafts. I hope I haven't overlocked anything.
The finest clothing made is a person's own skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this. Mark Twain.
Drawing with due care and attention…
William has done a good job of colouring the drawing we did of his police car. I drew the outline, and he coloured it in. He wasn't satisfied with the way he drew the driver, and he liked the idea I had of drawing a new driver and pasting it over the bad one. So we did that. I like it so much, I asked if I could keep it and he didn't like that idea much at all.
Possession is nine tenths of the law.
NEW Penguin English Library titles…
Recent covers I've contributed to the Penguin English Library for Coralie Bickford-Smith at Penguin Press. These ones have a machine varnish on them, no plastic laminate. They've reproduced the original title page where available which I really like. The new titles in the series are now out. Coralie's grid works like a charm – even through a Fresnel lens.
At the sound of my voice, commence drawing…NOT YET!…
Profuse thanks to the children – and parents – who came to the Barnes Nursery this morning to do some drawing and talking. I don't remember all your names, but I do remember how good you are at drawing and coming up with picture ideas from just a few words from me. I have never seen so much charcoal being put to such good use. By the way, you nearly all had charcoal on your noses, but I didn't want to say. Thanks again to Candi, Aurora, the Barnes Festival - and to Abi and Phil, of course.
In case you were interested in the view from the other side.
Speaking of ducks…
If you have a ticket to the Barnes Children's Literature Festival tomorrow at 10am, I look forward to meeting you and drawing a thing or two. It's near the pond. The one with birds floating on it.
Paperview: Anatidae.
On hold town planning…
On hold with my bank, I designed an entire city on the back of an envelope. I did this with a biro, one-handed. The average wait time was 30 minutes.
Your custom is important to us.
Thank you for your patience.