I still feel slightly odd to have been invited to give a lecture at an actual university: I mean, that’s for legitimate artists, surely? Aha! Get thee behind me, imposter syndrome! In fact, this was pretty much the subject of my talk. That is to say, at what point in a non-traditional route to aContinue reading “Talking to students at Leeds Arts University”
Category Archives: Sketch diary
Feminist Comics Residence in Helsinki
I mentioned in my last blog post that I’d had the improbable but wonderful experience of attending a feminist comic artists’ residence on Helsinki, organised by the formidable FEMSKT, Femicomics Finland. The few days gave me a so much: the visual stimulation of a completely new landscape; new friends and contacts; and a window intoContinue reading “Feminist Comics Residence in Helsinki”
2017 – a year in drawing
No matter how much time and energy I put in, I never feel like I’m doing quite enough drawing, so it’s always good to look back over the year and realise quite how much paper (and pixels) I’ve stacked up! Here’s a quick run-through of how 2017 looked. February On the 1st, I took theContinue reading “2017 – a year in drawing”
Florence sketch diary: last day in Florence, and thoughts about sketch diaries
This is the last part of the series. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. That’s it! I hope you enjoyed accompanying me on my trip to Florence. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be my last sketch diary for a while. While I love to make them, and amContinue reading “Florence sketch diary: last day in Florence, and thoughts about sketch diaries”
Florence sketch diary, days 8 & 9: busy busy conference
Here’s day 8 of the trip. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. Come back tomorrow for the very last day (and some thoughts about drawing this kind of sketch diary).
Florence sketch diary, day 7: you will not believe what we can do with balloons
Here’s day 7 of our trip. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. Come back tomorrow when the conference begins.
Florence sketch diary, day 6: switching to work mode
Here’s day 6 of our trip. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. (Apologies for the wavy text, here and elsewhere: it’s because these pages are photographed rather than scanned, and not always perfectly flat) (The usual apologies to my colleagues – and any other *real people* I might representContinue reading “Florence sketch diary, day 6: switching to work mode”
Florence sketch diary, day 5: the holy grail
Here’s day 5 of our trip. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. Read on to Day 6, when I switch over into ‘work trip’ mode.
Florence sketch diary, day 4: deluxe cakes, gardens and posh frocks
Here’s day 4 of our trip. If you want to start from the beginning, page 1 is here. Read the next entry for a big discovery, plus the only cat in Florence.
Florence sketch diary, day 3: the suburban manga shop
This is day 3 – if you missed the beginning, start at day 1. Read on for a stroll around the bobbly Boboli Gardens.
Florence sketch diary, day 2: a run with a view
Here’s day 2 of our trip. If you missed day 1, you can see it here. Now go to day 3 for stuffed courgette flowers and a long trudge to the suburbs.
Florence sketch diary, part 1: the one-trouser strategy
In April 2016, I took a trip to Florence, Italy. This is my sketch diary. I hope you enjoy it. Intro page. In case you don’t recognise it(!), the dark lumpy thing that one of the cherubs is holding is supposed to be a truffle. Joe’s concern is very British: Now read part 2: aContinue reading “Florence sketch diary, part 1: the one-trouser strategy”
Ladies of the Lakes, the end
Here is the final part:
Ladies of the Lakes, part 7
In which we are on the last leg of our trip home, and continue to hit problems. … and that was the end of our trip, but there’s an epilogue, so please do come back one more time tomorrow.
Ladies of the Lakes, part 4
In which I have a mini comics epiphany. Here’s part 5
Ladies of the Lakes, part 2
If you haven’t already read Part 1, start here. And here’s part 2: Here’s part 3
Ladies of the Lakes, part 1
As long-time readers will know, I often record holidays in the form of a sketch diary. Now, my trip up to the town of Kendal in the Lake District last October wasn’t exactly a holiday; I was there for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, selling comics. Nonetheless, so much happened in the 4 daysContinue reading “Ladies of the Lakes, part 1”
My #HourlyComicDay 2017 in full
I’ve been absolutely up to my neck in the Draw The Line project (comic artists drawing positive political actions that anyone can take), but when Hourly Comic Day rolled around, I couldn’t bear the thought of not taking part. I’ve participated for the past three years, and the concept chimes very well with my tendencyContinue reading “My #HourlyComicDay 2017 in full”
Totnes & Lyme Regis holiday diary, part 6: in which we break everything and go home
This is the very final episode in our Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday. If this is the first page you’ve seen, you probably want to start at part 1, actually. Ha! I only wrote that page (above) out a few days ago, and several new things have happened in politics. It’s as if someoneContinue reading “Totnes & Lyme Regis holiday diary, part 6: in which we break everything and go home”
Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 5: Beatrix Potter’s windswept hair
This is part 5 of our holiday in Totnes and Lyme Regis. If you haven’t seen prior episodes, you’ll want to begin from the beginning, so start here. We’re nearly at the end of the holiday now: just one more installment after this. As before, click on any image and then click again to seeContinue reading “Totnes and Lyme Regis holiday sketch diary, part 5: Beatrix Potter’s windswept hair”