Here is a pencil sketch of my friend Maura’s hands. I may start on another part of the anatomy after this, since I have done rather a lot of hands just lately. I fancy doing some ears, but I’ll have to see if people are happy to let me photograph them.
Maura's hands
So far, the NYRs (New Year’s Resolutions) are going well, but I suppose it is only the second day of the year. Anyway, speaking of which, I am going to practice a few scales on the piano now. Talk to you later, my dear blogophiles.
We had a visit from our friends Ali and Maura yesterday and they very kindly allowed me to take a few reference photos of their hands. Here is the pencil sketch that I have done of Ali’s hands. She was sitting on our settee and I decided to include some drapery to provide context. Her dress pattern I devised from some random scumbling and filling with a 6B.
Ali's hands
Turning now to music, I played show #799 at Ragged Edge in Second Life on Thursday. Tomorrow, New Year’s day, should see me playing show #800 at Minstrel’s Point. I played my very first gig in Second Life at this venue, when it was called Rocky Shores. That was four years ago, almost exactly, on January 3rd. So, my average is 4 shows per week and that sounds about right. I don’t want to play every day and I don’t like playing more than one gig per day.
I like to make some musical New Year’s resolutions, and usually I more or less stick to them. I shall think about this later today. I shall make some for my drawing and sketching, too. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
I seem to be surviving the festive season, and hope you are too. Here is Christmas lunch – not too many mishaps this year.
Parsnip and chestnut soup for starters - Xmas lunch 2011
Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
Christmas is rapidly approaching and, instead of getting on with wrapping presents and making my lists, I find myself drawing hands again. In this instance, a fist. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
Anonymous female fist
I don’t really have much to say here. These hands belong to my friend Costello. I am pleased to report that I have now recovered from my hangover. I need to think about what songs I shall play tonight at Terra Fyrmusica in SL. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
Costello's hands
Having drawn Tom’s hand for the previous blog, I now present my friend Tony’s hand. I realise that this might get a bit boring after a while, but for the time being I shall carry on. I am nursing a bad hangover today, and I found doing the pencil sketch to be rather soothing. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
Tony's hand
Today I had the full English breakfast with my friend Tom and he very obligingly allowed me to sketch his hand, albeit from a reference photo. Here it is. I might add that this is his fretting hand, so given his guitar playing, I have to say it is a mighty fine hand.
Tom's hand
Sorry this blog went quiet for so long. I have been very busy. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
I have been very busy with all the technical stuff. I’m sorry that I have not been blogging much, but the guitar sounds have taken over. My SL audience will be aware of my progress. Unfortunately, the problems with my computer fan have re-surfaced (tyvm Hewlet Packard).
I am going through a very busy period. I will try to get another post done sometime soon. Bye for now, my dear blogophiles.
Today, I decided that I would make a blog post, come what may. Emma, the art teacher at the Lit & Phil class I attend on Wednesdays, mentioned as a possible project or theme that we might draw something related to the newspaper. It so happens that I have been looking at an album of drawings originally published in The New Yorker magazine (covering the period 1925-1975). At the back of my mind has been the idea of doing some cartoon sketches, for some time now. My first attempt was back in 2009 with a cartoon of David Cameron around the time the topic of hedge funds was in the news rather a lot. I made a drawing which integrated a hedge trimmer into his portrait. Here it is, in case you want to see it:
Hedge fund trimmer
Today, however, I come bang up-to-date and present to you my cartoon of the Greek prime minister, Georges Papandreou.
George Papandreou
I seem to be somewhat behind with all things at present. I need to get my giglist updated on this website and sort out my gigs in Second Life for the coming week. I have loads of piano I want to practice, including ‘Ne me quitte pas‘. I think me singing that in French will be even stranger than me singing ‘Ohne dich‘ in German! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the Papandreou cartoon. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
I tested my new wellies today around the rock pools on Whitburn beach. There were some excellent skies, with the sun piercing through largely cumulus cloud formations. I got a very nice cheese and pesto panini with a cup of coffee from the cafe by one of the small car parks near the rocks.
Cumulus Whitburnus
I’m reading a rather depressing novel by Stanley Middleton called ‘Holiday’ and it is set in a seaside town on the East coast of England. Maybe I needed to go to the coast today to cheer myself up. I shall take it back to the Lit & Phil on Wednesday whether or not I have finished it.
My acrylic of The Lions Head on Cauldwellhall Road in Ipswich is going very slowly. I realised this morning that I had made a mistake with the perspective for the pub. At least you can keep working acrylics over. I suppose they are like oils in that regard. Anyway, time for a short nap. Speak to you later, my dear blogophiles.
John's Quavering Pencil 