This sketch is of our nice old Christmas tree – well the bottom of two thirds of it. Last year we only managed to stand 1/3 of it on top of the shelf, this year we hit upon the idea of strapping it to the side, stuffing the tubular trunk into a bit of old plastic piping (which is screwed to the shelf). It worked perfectly and is only slightly drunken, instead of almost toppling over like it was last year.
Tue-14-Dec-2021
We put our Christmas tree and decorations up today, so I thought I would sketch some of the homemade decorations we have. This one was made when we lived in Syria (about 12 years ago) out of an old light bulb, some paper-mache, a bit of red shiny paper and some pieces of scrap foam rubber. Rudolph has been a bit bashed over the years and is held together with sticky tape, but we still hang him up on our tree every year.
Mon-13-Dec-2021
Here is another sketch of one of our Christmas presents – my sister-in-law bought us lots of goodies including this massive jar of crunch peanut butter. We usually buy peanut butter in comparatively weeny jars…I’m not even sure they sell one kilo jars here in the Philippines. This one is going to last us for months and months!
Mon-22-Feb-2021
As I am sketching I always have to tell myself to stop fiddling and adding more colour or detail – that seems particularly crucial with this new paper I am using. This sketch is of another Christmas present that we never realised we wanted – the white thing is a mister or a humidifier. With some water and a few drops of essential oil it makes the room smell less musty!
Mon-8-Feb-2021
Here is another Christmas present sketch – a clever little fold up leather coin purse.
Thu-21-Jan-2021
Here is another sketch of one of my Christmas presents. This is a little elasticated sports bag for carrying your phone when you are running or cycling – I have already used it going for a run.
Tue-29-Dec-2020
My favourite time of the year is any time I get to use some new paints. These were bought for me for Christmas by my daughters – Holbein Artists Watercolors. I got Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Green, Lemon Yellow and Paynes Grey. This year I am hoping to sketch all the Christmas presents I was given (to say thank you to each person) – this is my first.
Sun-27-Dec-2020
Here is sketch from a few days before Christmas – and we ate this yesterday, roasted along with coriander seeds, garlic and cauliflower. Frankly I don’t know why some people hate broccoli – I love it….but then I also like brussel-sprouts.
Wed-23-Dec-2020
I’ve been a bit lax with posting my sketches recently – but I am still doing them each day. This is another of our odd Christmas decorations – this is actually a souvenir I was given when I finished work in Syria, but we hang it up every Christmas as it looks kind of festive (to me).
Sat-19-Dec-2020