London Fashion Weekend

Went with B. Quite wonderful. Lots of pretty things and lovely frocks too. Learnt lots at the Elizabeth Arden Masterclass.

Bees Buzzin round Charlotte's Shop

Made a quick dash down to Kelvedon in Essex. Stopped off at clever Charlotte's wonderful food and flower shop.

Out side and spilling onto the street were wonderful flowers complete with bees buzzing around - it was still February.

Link to Deli @56

Weight Watching

Other night, arrive home open fridge door for wine bottle, see photo of girl appended to fridge door. Go to crockery cupboard for wine glass, see photo of girl stuck to cupboard door. It must be down to Bron.

"Bron, what are the pictures" "They are fit birds Dad" "Yes Bron, OK, but why are they here" "So that when you go to food or drink you will think "is this going to make me fit"" "Oh I get it; Thanks Bron"

Frost Report

Rose early,
Sunny and clear,

Cold,

Wonderful.

At the Christine Lock Press again

Yesturday afternoon, another session with Christine Lock at her Press in Marlow.

I go there with it all worked out and she presents me with a new host of ideas which I had not considered! And we spend time talking and discussing possibilities rather than 'doing'.

Result? Interesting work around an a drawing I made three years back of Djemaa el Fna the main square in Marrakesh. Throughout I am making mistakes, and putting them right, under Christine's direction.

Trying this, trying that. A journey with a wise companion-tutor.

Warsaw: Room 1504

Ah yes, the pictures. Three views from 1504 and the excellent Friday crew, the finest media sales team in Poland. Yes, I am biased

Welcome from Warsaw

Landing late in the evening, a taxi ride through wet streets, expecting Jason Bourne to run out of a side street any moment. Snow on the side walks starting to melt. Room upgrade at the Westin, it has a view they say. The next morning up early and draw the view from room 1504.
I love Polish architecture, Soviet 'block' style with its rhythm and repetitions.
Run the workshop from 9 - 2, a great group of sales people.
Back to the airport. Bye Bye Poland.

Face Book Moments

It was Bron’s 18th birthday party earlier in the week. Madness at Vodka Revolutions, before I left I managed to complete a couple of drawings: Later tagged in Face Book .

AND ANOTHER THING
Face Book photo shoots: Random, their colour, composition and quality all out of kilter, yet they work. The main theme, to my mind, is happiness. Sad pictures need not apply. Sweeping generalisation. Memo to self: manipulate colour balance or don't post your picture .

What is in a name?

Juliet, super friend, inspiration and boss (1998 - 2003) let me know that 'Gag ga' was really 'Ga Ga'. (See last night's post)

Got it.

Anyways, seemed like a good oppportunity to call out Juliet, inspiration and Sian, inspiration - I collect inspirational people.

Featured here in the photo's are Sian and Juliet, at my exhibition seven years back, May 2003.

Yep, I am blessed again.

Brit Awards - Yeah, topical

Lady Gagga: 1,000,000

Cheryl Cole: 0

And Bron found another international winner earlier today in a local charity shop

Leeds 2 A rare glimpse of student life

8 Welton Grove, Megan's house, nestles between the mosque and an old cinema. The interior decorated with the usual essentials of student life completed by interesting view from the kitchen.

Leeds A stroll through the campus

Up to Leeds to see Megan who is in her second year, reading sociology. We walked through the campus towards the city centre: the reward is an impressive mix of architecture, Victorian through to post-modern. Yummy. Traffic cone on the statue (rh picture a late addition)

Coffee Society

Earlier this week discovered Lantana, Charlotte Place, just off Googe Street.

Exceptional Espresso. Time Out Favourite Cafe of the Year 2009. Run by Australian Shelagh Ryan who is determined to make London a better place by serving quality, no-nonsense food (I had the banana bread) and proper coffee to the people. We are blessed!

Drawing features Shelagh in action 9/2/2010

Faure - the work begins

We began work in this evening's rehearsal on Gabriel Faure's Requiem. Performance 16th May - Ascension Sunday a gorgeous and complex piece of music totally uplifting to sing. Many weeks of enjoyment lie ahead.

At the printers again

Second session with print maker Christine Lock at her Press in Marlow. Healthy tension now in play: She thinks my approach is too pedestrian and I am too focused on the result not the journey - all work an no play makes me a dull boy. So I am being PUSHED - Yay! And the early results are wonderful. . .

Pictured: Hong Kong across towards Kowloon

Lyric of the week

"Dance wiv Me" Dizzee Rascal, featuring Calvin Harris


I know you didn't come out to stand and stare
You bought new shoes and you did up your hair
You made a real effort tonight and it shows
I can tell by your face you don't wanna be alone'Cause the mood is right and the time is now
And if you can't do it I'll show you how
All you gotta do is get loose, let go
Just throw a couple shapes
Put your skills on show, oh

Photo: São Paulo February 2006

Breakfast in America

Two nights two days. Working breakfast across the street from the office. Heading out, will I beat the snow storm. Bye Bye Grand Canyons, bye bye familiar and exciting city.

New York Underground

Subway riding: Line 6 downtown and the exhortation as the doors close at everystation - "stand clear of the closing doors please" the voice male, radio announcer. Recorded it and now the ring tone on my BB (quite a surprise on the first incoming call)

Back in New York

Here for a whole two days. Snow likely, 31 degrees feels like 20F. Becoming re-acquainted with the city's grumpy energy. Nothing is like that ride through Queens and that first view of Manhattan.

Life Underground

Travelling on London Underground everyday presents some great opportunities to draw. I hunker down in a corner of carriage and capture what's going on.