Here is another attempt at a portrait – this time of Maria Machado (from an image on the BBC website). I struggled with the eyes in this one …but I am learning. Although she was barred from the Venezuelan presidential elections in 2024 the candidate she backed won easily…until Maduro was declared the winner. Now she has been able to return to Venezuela after secretly leaving to accept the Nobel Peace prize…and quite rightly has criticised the Trump-Rodriguez oil deal and called for new elections.

Fri-30-Oct-2026

Here is another attempt at a portrait sketch – this time of Ilhan Omar who is being persecuted by Trump because of her vocal opposition and progressive views. Even Obama said it’s a transparent effort to intimidate a law abiding political opponent. The day I sketched this I read that she was even afraid to stay in her home because of death threats.

Fri-23-Oct-2026

Here is a little practice at portraits – done from a photograph I found on LinkedIn. This is Navi Pillay who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work to promote peace and international law. She chaired a UN commission which concluded that Israel was responsible for Genocide in Gaza.

Tue-13-Oct-2026

After having been banned from sketching my wife for quite some time (due to some quite uncomplimentary efforts) – and after a little cajoling and practice sketching my mum – I was finally allowed to try again. We sat down to sketch each other across the table…and my sketch was approved!

Sat-16-May-2026