TIME IS OF THE VANILLA ESSENCE

3 MINUTE SKETCHES USING  

MY FAVOURITE  

MOST BELOVED COMBO: 

THE SLICCI AND WATERPEN.

I WANTED TO STEER CLEAR OF MY USUAL  

INTENSE FOCUS TO DETAIL AND JUST ENJOY  

THE MOVEMENT OF MY PEN AND THE  

FAST-PACED CAPTURING OF EXPRESSION.

A SOMEWHAT THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE  
COMPARED TO MY USUAL BUMP AND GRIND. 

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COMIC BOOK NUT AND  

AM FEELING MORE AND MORE INCLINED TO  
START WORKING ON SOMETHING OF MY OWN.           

   

WE ALL HAVE OUR FAT DAYS

FIORENTINA PIZZA WITH EXTRA SALAMI,  

CHICKEN BIRYANI, 

GARLIC NAAN BREAD,  

MUSHROOM BAAJI, 

 POPPADOMS WITH MANGO CHUTNEY,  

CHICKEN IN BLACKBEAN SAUCE, 

SPECIAL FRIED RICE,  

CHICKEN CURRY,  

CHICKEN FRIED NOODLES,  

SAUSAGE AND MASH,  

PRAWN COCKTAIL,  

SMOKED SALMON WITH CREAM CHEESE,  

EGGS, BACON, SAUSAGES, MUSHROOMS AND TOMATOES,  

CARAMEL SHORTBREAD,  

CHEESE CAKE,  

FUDGE CAKE,

CARROT CAKE,

LEMON CAKE,

COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE,

BIRTHDAY CAKE (HAPPY BIRTHDAY)

CHICKEN KEBAB, 

CHIPS AND DIPS,

BATTERED SAUSAGE AND CHIPS,

SAUSAGE ROLLS,  

CHICKEN SUPER NOODLES,

CHIPS AND GRAVY,

TOASTED EVERYTHING, LOTS OF SALT,  

I JUST REALLY REALLY ENJOY EATING. 

 

I DIDN'T EAT ALL THAT IN A DAY BY THE WAY,  

THAT WOULD BE FILTH.

I DIDN'T EAT ANY OF IT AT ALL (LIAR)

NOTE, THIS ISN'T A SELF PORTRAIT  

ALTHOUGH IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW...

FULL OF REMORSE, I AM A NEGLECTFUL BLOG OWNER.

THINGS HAVE BEEN WILD IN CRUNCHVILLE  
RECENTLY JUGGLING JOBS AND LIFESTYLES 

(MOSTLY JUST PLAYING XBOX  

AND READING COMICS.)

HERE IS A MOLESKINE PORTRAIT I FELT INSPIRED  
TO PEN WHILST LOOKING THROUGH A BOX OF OLD  
PHOTOS IN MY GRANDADS EMPTY HOUSE. 

AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE IT HAS BECOME APPARENT  
TO ME JUST HOW MUCH PHOTOGRAPHS  
FREAK ME OUT. 

ESPECIALLY OLD PHOTOGRAPHS OF MYSELF,

(THIS BEING ONE OF THEM.)

FOR ME IT IS LIKE LOOKING AT ANOTHER LIFE, 

ONE TAINTED WITH REJECTION AND  
DISAPPOINTMENT IN MYSELF
(OH HOW WE ONLY REMEMBER THE BAD!)
I WASN'T PRETTY ENOUGH OR  
MASSIVELY OUTSPOKEN OR CONFIDENT.

I WANTED TO BE  

JUDY GARLAND.

BALLET WAS MY THING.

MOST NIGHTS I WOULD TRAIN TO COMPETE,  
TO BE THE BEST I COULD BE. 

I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER LOVE SOMETHING  
AS MUCH AS I LOVED TO DANCE.

ANYWAY TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT,  
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THESE THINGS RESULT IN: 

FOR THE LUCKY FEW A ROMANTIC CAREER,  

FOR ME A HANGOVER  

AND A TAKEAWAY.

I'M NOT BITTER, I LOVE MY LIFE.

IT JUST MAKES ME SAD ON  

OCCASSION WHEN I STUMBLE  

ACROSS THAT LITTLE GIRL  

IN THE RED SHOES  

WITH SO MUCH PROMISE.

HOW MUCH I'D LOVE TO TELL A 2-18 YEAR OLD ME  

"DON'T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU  

THAT YOU AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH" (CLICHE) 

      

I WANT THIS ON A T-SHIRT, I AM GOING TO GET THIS ON A T-SHIRT!

THIS GIRL IS DEFINATELY ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR.

HER CRAFTY PEN AND INK WORK TRULY BLOWS MY MIND.

CHECK OUT CHARLIE'S FANTASTIC WORK AT:

http://monochromebib.blogspot.com

HERE ARE SOME PORTRAITS

FROM MY DEGREE SHOW.

ALL DRAWN WITH THE USUAL WEAPON OF CHOICE  

MY SLICCI PEN BUT FOR THE  

SOLID BLACK SECTIONS THIS TIME  

I USED BLACK PAPER.

I MADE PHOTOCOPIES OF A RETRO  

PATTERNED PILLOWCASE  

AND USED THIS AS A BACKGROUND

FOR THE FINAL PIECES.

I ALSO USED PHOTOCOPIES OF FRAMES  

TO FRAME MY PIECES. 

SOME MORE PORTRAITS IN THIS SERIES 

CAN BE SEEN UP THERE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  

AS MY BLOG HEADER.    

GAGA #3

GAGA #2

GAGA #1

HALF AND HALF

I LOVE OCCASIONALLY DABBLING IN THIS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS PHOTO....

 FROM THE RECENT COLLATE PRESENTS  

   "MULL IT OVER" EXHIBITION,BRIGHTON.

CREDIT TO JAMIE O'MARA.

CHEERS M'DEARS!

I DON'T LIKE MOLESKINES. TELL ME WHY !

I KNOW I SHOULD / FEEL LIKE I MUST.

SO MUCH PRESSURE LOOMS OVER ME TO FILL  

THEM TO THE BRIM WITH GLORIOUS THINGS.

I DON'T REALLY "DO" SKETCHBOOKS BUT WHEN I DO  

I NEED TO SCRAWL ALL OVER THEM,  

LITTER THEM WITH MIND GUNK AND NOT  

HYPERVENTILATE IF THE WORK CARESSING THOSE  

PAGES ISN'T MY VERY BEST.

WHY DO I PUT THE MOLESKINE ON SUCH A PEDESTAL?

I DON'T REALLY KNOW, I THINK IT HAS GOT  

SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PAPER  

(SO HEAVENLY.)

NOTHING BEATS THE SMELL OF A FRESHLY  

UNWRAPPED MOLESKINE.  

I THINK PERHAPS I SEE THE MOLESKINE AS A 

SERIOUS SKETCHBOOK, ONE THAT WOULDN'T  

CARE TO STAND FOR MY CREATIVE NONSENSE.  

OR MAYBE I PERCIEVE IT TO BE SOMETHING MORE  

ALONG THE LINES OF A FINISHED ARTICLE RATHER  

THAN A BOOK I CAN TOTALLY AND UTTERLY ABUSE.      

I'D FEEL GUILTY ABUSING A MOLESKINE.

I THINK THAT IN MY MIND I HAVE A BIT OF AN  

OBSESSION WITH THE NOTION OF THEMES AND  

EVERYTHING HAVING CONTINUITY.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS  

WHY I RARELY WORK IN SKETCH BOOKS.  

ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT BELONGS  

(EVEN IF I QUITE LIKE THE IMAGE)  

MAKES ME DISCONTENT 

(WHICH I SUPPOSE IS A BIT THICK REALLY.....

GET A GRIP IT IS JUST A SKETCH BOOK!!!!!) 

WITH THROW-AWAY SHEETS I GUESS  

THE PRESSURE  IS OFF.  

NOTHING NEEDS TO FIT,  

EVERYTHING I PRODUCE CAN FIND IT'S WAY TO  

THE BIN IF I SO WISH.

I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS PROBABLY THAT  

I DON'T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE  

HOLY GRAIL OF SKETCHBOOKS  

WHICH IS A SHAME CONSIDERING THE  

GINORMOUS  

PILE I HAVE BY MY BED  

(ALL WITH LESS THAN A DOUBLE PAGE  

OF WORK IN THEM)

ANYWAY, HERE WE ARE.....SOME WORK FROM  

SAID PEDESTALLED PAGES. 

MAYBE ONE DAY I'LL FEEL GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEE!

 

BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY #4

BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY #3

BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY #2

BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY #1

AN ELDERLY ILLUSTRATION THAT I FOUND UNDER MY BED

A REAL ONE OFF FOR THE COLOURPHOBIC  

(IS THAT A WORD?) LIKES OF ME.

NEVER EXPLORED THIS STYLE BEFORE  

OR ACTUALLY SINCE.

I KEEP LOOKING AT IT UNCOMFORTABLY  

AND WONDERING  

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.  

WHERE DID IT COME FROM? 

WHAT POSSESSED ME TO DO SUCH A  

VASTLY DIFFERENT  

PIECE AND WHY IS IT SO ALONE AMONGST  

MY STACK OF UNSEEN CHILDREN.

I THINK I QUITE LIKE IT......  

FOR SOME REASON I CAN INVISION A  

SERIES OF GREETINGS CARDS  

IN THIS STYLE.

MAYBE I SHOULD BRAVE THE FELT TIPS AGAIN ONE  

DAY SOON.......WHAT DO YOU RECON?

CHRIS WARE COPY CAT, MEOW.

CHRIS WARE IS A SKETCHBOOK GOD.

THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST FAVOURITE BOOKS EVER.

HERE IS SOME OF MY GENUINE CHRIS WARE  

COPY CAT WORK. 

(WORK IN THE STYLE OF THE GENIUS HIMSELF.) 

THANK YOU SIR,  

YOU ROCK MY WORLD. 

PLEASE NOTE I'D NEVER DREAM OF RECREATING  

ANOTHER ARTISTS WORK FOR ANY 

OTHER REASON THAN FOR MY OWN PERSONAL  

SKETCHBOOK KICKS. 

I'D NEVER SELL IT OR TAKE CREDIT FOR IT. 

THIS IS JUST ME BEING INSPIRED TO DRAW FROM  

A FANTASTIC BOOK,  

THAT IS ALL.................

(I THINK I'M GLAD WE CLEARED THAT UP?)

PHEW! 

NOW, ENJOY!

I NEVVVVVVVVVVVER DO COLLAGE....

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK?

I QUITE ENJOYED DOING THIS, MIGHT DO SOME MORE...

MAYBE...

PERHAPS......COULD DO...?

THAT DEGREE I ONCE DID....

MY MAIN INSPIRATION FOR THE WORK  

THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS:

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, (THE DAY OF THE DEAD.)

THIS IS A SHRINE MADE BY A TRAGIC  

CELEBRITY FANATIC.

ALSO FEATURED IN THIS SPACE IS MY JUNKIE BUNTING : 

"THE FIRST STEP IS ACCEPTANCE,  

THE SECOND STEP IS CELEBRATION."

AND MY KATIE PRICE FEATURE COMPLETE  

WITH GENUINE FAKE BOOBS.

THANKYOU OXFAM FOR THE DELICIOUSLY TACKY VASE!

THIS SHELF WAS ORIGINALLY IN MY STUDIO.

KATIE'S BOOBS ACTUALLY BELONG TO MY BOYFRIEND (DON'T ASK!!)

PORTRAITS OF SOME OF MY PEERS.

THE FINAL SPACE.

I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY 

MY WORK IN THIS WAY AND WOULD LOVE TO GET  

MY TEETH STUCK INTO SOMETHING  
SIMILAR IN THE  

NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE.

MY space

I MISS HAVING MY OWN LITTLE LOFT HIDEAWAY.  
AT THE TIME I DON'T THINK I FULLY APPRECIATED JUST  
HOW LUCKY I WAS TO HAVE IT.  
SINCE LEAVING UNIVERSITY THE BUILDING THAT MY  

STUDIO WAS IN HAS BECOME DERELICT  

AND A NEW MUCH MORE SCHOOL-LIKE  

BUILD HAS REPLACED IT.  
IN A WAY I THINK IT IS SORT OF COOL THAT I WAS  

THE LAST PERSON TO INHABIT IT.  

I CREATIVELY GREW SO MUCH IN THIS  

BUILDING. SOMETHING THAT I TRULY 

MISS ABOUT WORKING IN THIS  

ENVIRONMENT IS THE CONSTANT BUZZ OF  
CREATIVE MINDS LURKING AROUND THE  

PLACE. I MISS HAVING PEOPLE AROUND ME WILLING TO  
FEED OFF OF MY MADNESS  
AND FOR THAT MATTER NOT  

CALL IT MADNESS!   

OUT OF THE BOOKS AND ON TO THE WALLS.

MY DESK.

I AM AN OBSESSIVE COLLECTOR AND  

PROBABLY VERGING ON CRAZY HOARDER  

BUT SOMETIMES I USE THIS TO MY  

ADVANTAGE. AS PART OF MY DEGREE  

PROJECT I GAVE MYSELF THE TASK OF  

TAKING ON THE PERSONA OF A CRAZED  

CELEBRITY STALKER. MY OBJECT OF  

LUST WAS LADY GAGA.

I LOVE DRAWING HALF A FACE. 

"JUNKIE BUNTING"

MY BUSY WALLS.

I'D MUCH RATHER WORK THIS WAY THAN  

CONFINING MYSELF TO A SKETCHBOOK.