Every time I cut my children’s hair, I swear I’ll never do it again. Hairdressers are there for a reason, I tell myself. Then a couple of months and two shaggy boys down the track, those scissors start whispering to me again, and my fingers start twitching….
Sometimes waiting requires more than a touch of divine virtue.
Our photographer friend, Kate and her partner Bryn let us stay with them a couple of weeks ago while our housebus was getting repaired. I enjoyed sneaking peeks over her shoulder while she was editing photos. Hopefully we can collaborate on something together again soon.
Sometimes parents need a pick me up too.
I drew this after my wonderful friend Bonnie from Rusty Skillet taught me to make Sauerkraut. We ate the stuff heaps while living in Germany, and I’m loving how cheap it is to DIY.
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.
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.
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.
The world just wears me down sometimes. Do you get that too?
I’ll call this a learning drawing. There is no life in his face, his pose is cliched and stiff, his hair is weird, and his legs are shaped like a woman’s, not like a young boy. On a positive note, I like the leaves and the lettering. Maybe I’ll do a redraw sometime.
Suddenly, almost out of nowhere, after two years of nothing but exhausting, rough, aggressive, tear-inducing love, I looked up to see this moment between these two on the couch. My heart almost floated right out of my skin.
I’m working on a logo and website for an organic dairy farm in Palmerston North and have cows on the brain.