Hello, everybody, and sorry for our absence in the last couple of months. We’re catching up quickly, but here’s a little retrospective first. Nearly half a year ago now, our camera had fallen out of the top shelf, while driving through a curve and it has been broken ever since. Last week we finally replaced it … Continue reading Fantastic Mr Fox River
Last weekend we were down in Christchurch for a wonderful family party to celebrate my Grandpa’s 90th birthday. With his five children, their 13 children and their 15 or so more all (except one) managing to make it, it was a huge gathering. Grandpa was an Anglican minister, but also worked for a time as … Continue reading Day 75: Grandpa
I’m doing some design work for a nature reserve, so get to spend time drawing native New Zealand flora and fauna and get paid for it. This little guy is a Piwakawaka, or New Zealand fantail. They’re super curious, and will accompany you on your walk through the bush, ostensibly because of the flying goodies … Continue reading Day 73: Fantail
There’s a stream running through the campground here in Paekakariki, and before the crazy torrential rain of the past few days, there were a bunch of eels who would just hang out at a curve, waiting for leftovers, or a small child to come down for a chat. I wonder where they are now.
An inquisitive bird, the Kea is known for stealing and dismantling anything it can get it’s cheeky beak on, including the rubber from around windscreens and the lining from running shoes. Note to the wise: for your own safety, don’t leave your luggage unattended.
Life whizzes by, and babies who needed sleep every couple of hours but never would turn into boys who only need a Mittagsschlaf (thankyouthankyouthankyou), and then into bigger boys who don’t nap at all, but can be found, every now and then, zonked out on the couch when you thought they were just reading.
Around Christmas time I said to Thomas that if my work could be drawing I’d be happy. Since then the balance of client work on my plate has gradually tipped to about 50/50 handdrawn/digital. Mindblowing. All that to say, contrary to appearances, I’m actually drawing heaps at the moment, it’s just I can’t share the … Continue reading Day 69: Yay!
Ugh, I really really don’t like trains with faces. I don’t know why I drew this – it’s kitschy, and cheesey… wait, yes I do know why. Elliott loves trains. And it turns out my brain can’t bear to draw just a normal train, it has to draw a ridiculous one with curtains. Oh well, … Continue reading Day 68: Train of thought
10 minutes before leaving the house for a 1 year old birthday party I ask, “Do you guys want to put some nice clothes on for the party?” I depart with two cowboys, but draw the line at weapons.
I’ve got a big exciting project coming up soon, but it’s kinda daunting and every day I think I’ll start working on it tomorrow. So, Note To Self: Motivation follows Action!
Elliott is all about banging things at the moment – everything he hits is either a bell or a drum, so he was stoked to find a xylophone when we visited friends the other day. I’m not sure how stoked everyone else was – man those things can be loud!
I was feeling really grouchy after my two year-old was given pretty much his weight in chocolates the other day. It would help a lot if, before dolling out sweets, people could check (out of sight/earshot of children in question) with the parents first! Rant over.
This drawing was inspired by a conversation with Otis, who was telling me that cyclopses and pirates are really similar, given that they both only have one eye.
I love witnessing perseverance in my boys – it’s such an important attribute. Otis generally is pretty disinterested in colouring-in, but he was given a book of masks which involve cutting out, sicking stickers and colouring. At first he was happy with white patches all over them, but upon studying the instructions he realised that … Continue reading Day 62: Maskmaking
The world just wears me down sometimes. Do you get that too?
Her hand was just terrible. The elbow was pointing towards me, and her hand was on her hip, and as I got to working out that tricky part she went and moved, so here she is with a black spot instead of a hand.
Sitting with Otis as he practiced writing numbers, I got to doodling. Usually he’s pretty dismissive of my stuff, but apparently this “looks like on castles”. Drawing with crappy felt pens was really liberating and spontaneous. I like that the shapes were not planned at all and just evolved this way.
Sneak preview of a job I’m working on. I love my work at the moment!
I’ve realised that I can draw my own boys from memory pretty well, but upon challenging myself to do the same with a small friend, I couldn’t for the life of me even really remember what she looked like. I sort of gave up and elaborated instead.
My boys have spent most of the summer mostly naked on the beach. Even yesterday, although it’s definitely autumn, they couldn’t help stripping off and running in and out of a chilly stream for an hour.