Have you been out today?

A6 sketchbook number 4, S.O.B., '94.





Nothing much to say about these except that I think the "high time" watch was a sort of note to myself that I really ought to get on with things and get going with my illustration "career". And here I am 13 years later and very busy. So it worked eventually.

For dull reasons involving stupendous incompetence at Virgin Media (dedicated to upholding the same risible level of service established by NTL before them) my landline number is currently in a state of flux.

I may expand upon this, in the form of a tediously detailed rant, at some later date but for the time being suffice to say: anyone wishing to speak to me in the next few days would be best advised to try my mobile.

A6 sketchbook number 4, S.O.B., '94.



Amanda the model on the right there once again. Nothing of interest on the left hand page.



Nerdy fact: the head at top right was based upon either a Dave McKean cover for a Sandman comic or directly upon the Lucian Freud portrait of John Minton that that particular cover (couldn't tell you which issue, I am many flavours of nerd but not a Sandman one) apparently took as inspiration. It's a poor copy either way.

I think the lass in very big shades on the left hand page might be Janis Joplin but couldn't say for sure. Note also a rare appearance by an automobile.

Lest you start poking me with a stick to make sure I haven't actually died...

I am unaccustomed to being as busy as I currently am professionally and, as such, am taking a while to adjust to the unfamiliar circumstances of needing to Get Stuff Done. Quite a lot of Stuff. Really quite quickly. I am thus working a lot of the time, eating and sleeping some of the rest of the time and, um, that's mostly it. Given that I'm not meant to make details of The Work public just yet, and that I'm not leaving the house a great deal, this leaves me with even less than normal to write about here.

I did get out for a spell yesterday though for the first game to be played by the newly formed Maypole indoor cricket team (very much a variant on The Rounders Team and The Duffers' Cricket Practice Group and, occasionally, one of the Pub Quiz Teams I sometimes turn out for). For those that understand such matters: in a ten over game we lost by a margin of about 70 runs. I personally was run out without facing a ball, dropped two of three chances when fielding and did not bowl due to an iffy shoulder (upon which miraculous (I hope) physiotherapy commences tomorrow morning). We were trounced and fully expect to repeat the experience throughout the duration of the league - with the possible exception of our games against the Team That Never Wins. Essentially every other game will be meaningless and our two games against them will constitute a desperate fight for the coveted last but one place. So we're a bit rubbish and probably won't improve all that much through experience. And we'll enjoy every game as much as anyone else in the league.

For now, though, I have work to do.

Spreads 5 and 6 from A6 sketchbook number 4,Spring '94.

Just not very good life drawings this week I'm afraid (Amanda if memory serves). Curiously when I draw from the imagination I most often draw heads and little else and yet when drawing from life I often don't get around to the head at all (or misjudge the placement on the page and run out of room for it). Odd.

Oops, scanned the pages yesterday and forgot to post them. Here they are a day late. Apologies. A6 sketchbook number 4,Spring '94.

Something secret, exciting and ever so slightly scary may be about to happen in/to my "career". If it does it will involve this pair...





Update: Just had a phone call confirming that, yes, the secret, exciting and scary thing is indeed happening. You'll know about it soon enough. In the meantime, wish me luck.

Look at the doggies...

And so we move on to A6 sketchbook number 4, another Seawhite of Brighton number, beginning in April '94. Whereas with the previous books I've chosen the bits I'm least embarrassed by and left the remainder unbroadcast, this time I'm going to post up every spread. But to get through it a bit quicker I'll take it two spreads at a time.

Do please note, though, that that address and phone number are long out of date.

Right, off we go...