The social distancing restrictions enforced on cafes by the Welsh government will be lifted in two weeks. Meanwhile, I, who miss the closeness of watching, drawing and listening to my fellow coffee shop customers, have to bide my time. ‘They […]
The restrictions in Wales limiting the interaction in ‘our’ coffee shop seem set to continue. So I make do. I drew both Saturday and Sunday and focussed on trying to capture a sense of place, and whatever stillness there was. […]
I’ve been writing and my drawing practice has inevitably been left to slide. And I’ve felt it. Stripped bare of all its usual jostle, noise and I must say amiability, the coffee shop where I practice has not been as […]
It was all change when we returned to our coffee shop after Christmas. Stripped of tables and with a one way system marked out on the floor, I panicked. How or whom am I going to draw? Don’t indulge it, […]
The coffee shop was initially quiet on the two mornings that we managed to visit it. We thought it might be the case after the Welsh government have imposed new restrictions due to come into force after Boxing Day. For […]
In an attempt to side-step a mind that is bent on destabilising my confidence, I often speed draw. Tea helps, as does the arrival of a motley of coffee shop frequenters in marvellous winter garb (and/or with fantastic haircuts to […]
The wind still raging post storm Arwen, the coffee shop was as cold and inhospitable as the week before. But, draw I must, and I did. With the door either propped open or left ajar for it to bash and […]
When I’m stuck inside writing, I spend what is left of my afternoons drawing things. It isn’t the same as drawing living, moving beings and I struggle to animate myself and the marks I make paper. The last two days […]
I’d had my booster jab the day before and I still felt a little crap but I went drawing anyway. I need to. The coffee shop has begun interspersing Christmas songs into their usual muzak. I don’t mind. It was […]
It was another cold morning in the coffee shop yesterday, with the door open to the elements. People didn’t stay, or if they did (mostly the stalwart regulars) it wasn’t for long. I struggled to motivate myself. I never work […]
I’d gone to the coffee shop intending to spend the three hours focussing on drawing with my collection of dip pen nibs but was stymied by the cold. I mean I did draw but I was torpid and slow to […]
I spent the weekend drawing. Writing had absorbed me all week and I needed to throw myself back into it. And, I had the delivery of some new dip pen holders and nibs and a lovely fat bamboo pen. It […]
I had remembered what day it was but hadn’t expected to see evidence of it in the coffee shop at 9.00 am that morning. I noticed the ex-paratrooper first. He wasn’t in uniform but wore a black suit. A funeral […]
I looked through my sketchbooks from Saturday and remembered the people I drew. I leave it a day to revisit my work. Paul Hogarth wouldn’t look at his drawings for three days after making them. A good practice, I think. […]
I made a long journey over these last few days and my drawing was, inevitably, restricted to the faces and bodies that shared those brief pitstops at motorways services with me. They are bleak places, particularly in the early mornings. […]
Having spent the morning writing I drew in my studio yesterday. It isn’t the same. I need the vitality of a moving object – be it person, machine or animal. I need that element of risk, of potential flitting to […]
Are you drawing me? asked a woman whom I was drawing in a Costa Coffee shop yesterday. She didn’t seem too perturbed when I admitted that I was, merely shrugging her shoulders and suggesting that there might be more attractive […]
I’m still experimenting with materials and mark-making on paper, though mostly line wins out. Line drawings are faster, and for me, more immediately responsive. I draw with all kinds of pens – fine and thick. Currently I’m favouring ink, and […]
I’m trying to build up my confidence, not only in drawing again but drawing in public. It’s funny, drawing is, for me at least, essentially a private occupation and yet I feel I need to do it in public. And […]
A journal about the daily practice of drawing.
the film made during the residency trees can hear you is a winner at the beyond the curve international film festival in the best experimental film category. it’s also received an outstanding achievement award.
it’s come to my attention that in order to hold my nerve and progress i need to alter up some of things i do. hence i’ve decided to end this blog today, to give me the time, space and motivation […]
Where to start? There are some many threads (wisps) blowing around and I find it hard to weave them into any sort of order. Some things though are making themselves clear … and these things are the result of […]
we’ve had another support session today. i feel giddy after the session, i love the manner in which matt has conducted the session and the resources used within it. –skips off to eat lunch–
feeling calm. i’m recently out of the planning session for the support phase (phase 2) of the residency. already i feel a benefit – i’ve been able to share and talk about things to do with my practice i’ve not […]
