Lilly's Birthday-Sketches at Bradford Ice Rink

These are sketches that I did at Bradford Ice Rink whilst watching Lilly and her friends. Whilst I drew it struck me that the ice rink seemed to be a metaphor for life. There were people who desperately hung onto the side of the rink lacking the confidence to chance the open ice. Then there were children who teetered and wobbled and burst into fits of laughter, taking their first fledgling steps into the world. They coped with a little help from their friends. Darting in and about them were the exhibitionists who swooped and glided, turned and came to dramatic stops in front of the less confident skaters. They looked around them for affirmation of their amazing ability. Finally, there were those who just got on in a workaday way, skating with no great brovado, but just enjoying being there. Then there was me at the side, drawing and observing. What does that say about my connection with the world? Hope you like the sketches.

March 25th Life Drawing

Unusual for me not to be flinging paint around, but sometimes you just want to get back to basics.

Sketches from Venice

Sketches from Callela

Drawings done at Red Brick Mill

Red Brick Mill is a really good space and a really relaxed atmosphere is created by Tom and Tony who both do their own drawings in the life drawing sessions. There's a massive range of styles and it's really interesting to see people trying to struggle for their own solutions. Here are two I did when it was really cold and chilly outside- December 09/January 10.

His first blog words

Hi folks.
This is amazing. Another step into the confusing world of technology. Thank goodness for talented daughters who help bewildered fathers.
This is a drawing I did on Thursday night. Steve's a great model and suits my kind of choppy, blobby, smudgy kind of painting. I hope to post some drawings and musings over te following days and weeks. I would love you all to post comments and feedback to make a middle aged man feel needed and wanted and connected to the world.