Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2009 to everyone, especially Gray and my family who give me loads of support and encouragement in everything I do.

© 2008 nicky linzey

Rambunctious

The only time My Jack Russell is not rambunctious is when he's asleep.

(I had to look this word up!!)

© 2008 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Silent Night

It was a silent night . . My Jack Russell was sleeping!

And the winner is . . .

I drew this name from my hat and am delighted to send the print to Nancy. Thanks to all who left comments on my 'similar' post.

Similar

These 2 illustrations may look very similar! However the one on the right has some extra holly leaves. If you can tell me how many extra leaves there are (on my comments) then I will put all winners names in a hat and whoever I pick out on Friday 12th will receive a signed print of this drawing (without the extra leaves!). You may need to click on the image to see it more clearly.

Good Luck

© 2008 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Balloon

Didn't think I would get it done this week but while waiting for some work to be sent I managed to do 'Hot air balloons' for Illustration Friday. In the summer evenings you can see these balloons taking flight over the south downs, it's a surreal sight as they hardly look as if they are moving. Of course they don't have my patterns on them - I wish . . .

© 2008 nicky linzey

Bead Strings

Exciting news . . . Wallblank, a website producing signed limited edition silkscreen prints are selling my illustration of Bead Strings for one week only. Ends Sunday!

Winter sun

Beautiful sunshine on a late afternoon walk to the harbour.

Went to Brighton last night to see Randy Crawford, she has the most beautiful voice I think I've ever heard (apart from JoJo that is!). We took my Mum and Dad, as we first listened to Randy while on holiday with them in the South of France many years ago - the evening brought back lovely memories. This second blog of the day is for my Dad as he was complaining that I hadn't done one for December yet and I've missed Illustration Friday this week too!!

olive and blue

I'm amazed that I've got olives on my tree this year. They're a bit wrinkly though so I don't know if I'll pick them.

Friendship

I've been submitting an illustration every week to Illustration Friday for nearly a year now and it has made me become much more productive with my drawing. I've also felt part of a creative and inspiring community which is great, as I work from home and sometimes don't go out for days (apart from walking My Jack Russell that is!).

I've recently been given 2 awards from Yoon See for 'I love your blog' & 'Artistic blog award' which is a great honour. I love the the way she generously extends her friendship to everyone.

I'm really into the 'ripple effect' of how reading one blog leads on to another and another . . . it's a great way of finding new friends and other artists that inspire me so here's the links to some of the great blogs that I've discovered through Illustration Friday.

Aimee - for inspiring words - in more ways than one!

Bella Sinclair - for exquisite illustrations

Cecilia Levy - for beautiful line work

Flying Colors - for richness and amazingly colourful and varied work

Shugar - for sweet illustrations

Nicola - for stunning woodcuts

Marina Tsu-mina - for vibrant colours and especially dog illustrations.

Thank you Yoon See

Sunlight

It's been a cold but sunny day here today in a wintry kind of way. I'm always fascinated by the patterns the sun makes on my walls especially when it is reflected through glass vases or creates weird shadows of objects in its path. Couldn't resist including My Jack Russell who found a lovely warm and sunny spot - he was actually quiet for a few minutes.

Opinion

Hmm.. in my opinion that old wicker chair looks good painted pink.

© 2008 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Pretend

I sometimes lie down in my garden and pretend I'm in the jungle.

For Illustration Friday © 2008 nicky linzey

Stop and stare 6

While walking, we came across these gunera plants - their leaves were massive - if you think the fence posts were over 3 feet in height - it was impossible not to stop and stare. Apparently they grow above the cess pit of the house! Say no more . . .

Autumn woods

There was something about the colours, shapes and sunlight in this view that simply took my breath away.

Wise

Obvious I know - but I'm on the last lap with Illustration Friday this week. Despite lots of thought I couldn't get wise old owl out of my head. I wondered why an owl is considered wise in folklore and I think it's because they operate at night and so are linked with magic.

This is my drawing put through lots of filters in photopaint.

© Nicky Linzey 2008

Patterns

Patterns from my sitting room.

Vacant

A while ago we visited the Gironde area of France and I drew this house that was for sale and vacant at the time. I'd like to have put in an offer!

Copyright 2008 Nicky Linzey for Illustration Friday

Late

Late at night the moths come out!

For Illustration Friday ©2008 Nicky Linzey

Strings

Strings of beads, line drawing for Illustration Friday. These are beads that I've collected over the years from broken necklaces - some silver, some glass, I keep thinking I'll re-string them one day but I never do . . . Click on image for a better view.

© 2008 Nicky Linzey

Sugary

My drawing of petit fours for the theme of sugary on Illustration Friday this week. I love the colours and shapes of these little cakes when they are made well, the're like individual works of art.

© 2008 Nicky Linzey

More squash

This is the first drawing of the squash I did that led on to the 'packed' illustration.

I've now found out more about growing these from seed - they are known for being promiscuous! Apparently I should pollinate them by hand if I want to retain the variety as they can cross-pollinate, then I would need to put an elastic band on the top of the flower to stop any insects crawling inside. Sounds like a bit of a palaver to me. I haven't had any problems before and I rather liked the shock of all the strange shapes growing. We tried some for lunch yesterday, they were yummy and, as we're still here, not poisonous!

© 2008 nicky linzey

Packed

My allotment is packed with all these different squash this year which is very strange. For the past 2 years I've grown butternut squash which I love, I've collected the seeds from them and grown them from these seeds, which is what I did this year. So I was more than surprised when no butternut squash grew - only all these weird and wonderful varieties. Apparently, as I've now found out, if you keep using the collected seed, they revert back to their source as they are a hybrid. So I'm laden down with all these fascinating shapes and colours but not sure if they're edible!

© 2008 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Another map!

I drew this a while ago and it was my inspiration for Illustration Friday's subject of Island last week. We had a wonderful family holiday here last month and it's a place that is really close to my heart. I've started drawing these maps now when we go away - I enjoy doing them and they remind me of good times. Maybe I need to get out more!!

© 2008 nicky linzey

Clique

Birds of a feather - flock together

© 2008 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

It's here

Although I dread Autumn coming because it means the end of Summer and the dreadful countdown to Christmas, I actually love it when we get beautiful sunny days like the past few have been. There's nothing nicer than walking on a crisp Autumn morning looking at all the beautiful colours and there is definitely a different smell in the air - with the added bonus of finding mushrooms and collecting damsons and blackberries too.

Eau de fox

No need for words here - it's his favourite pastime and I have to let him have a bit of fun sometimes!

Island

This would be my perfect island! It would consist of the following: fast flowing river for riverside walks, waterfalls, deciduous woodland for walks and picnics, surfing beaches, nature reserve where I can pick samphire and watch the birds, mushroom fields, blackberry patches, sand dunes and coves, a 5 minute passenger ferry to the mainland, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, grocers, hardware store, stationers, deli, boutique, beaches for stone collecting, rock pools, good food pub, fish restaurant, hills, cliff top walks with My Jack Russell, places to collect cockles and mussels, fishing, pub for pints of magners, stone cottage with outdoor baking oven, separate art studio, veg garden and orchard with cherries, plums, apples and pears, walnut trees, sandy beaches for swimming and lying in the sun, 3 months Spring, 4 months Summer, 3 months Autumn, 2 months Winter, dolphins, whales, butterflies, flowers - I don't want much do I?!
PS Click image for a better view.
© 2008 Nicky Linzey for Illustration Friday

Tommy says:

I can't believe some of the weird shapes that my tomatoes have grown into this year and no I didn't eat Tommy!

Clutter

I bought some patterned boxes and baskets - that's where all my 'clutter' now goes!

Click on picture to get a better view.

© 2008 Nicky Linzey for Illustration Friday

Sail 2

While we were away we saw these beautiful sail boats. This picture does not do them justice, the vibrant colours, the vast expanse of sky and ocean which made the boats look so vulnerable. The sight filled me with joy.

Memories

I have wonderful memories of travelling in France.
© 2008 Nicky Linzey for Illustration Friday

Detach

It will soon be time for the leaves to detach themselves from the trees.

Though not yet I hope as I have partying & holidaying to do!

© Nicky Linzey 2008 for Illustration Friday

Sail

I was inspired by the photo of the sky that I took yesterday for the subject of sail on Illustration Friday this week.

© 2008 Nicky Linzey

Sky blue

My favourite colour has to be sky blue. What's yours?

Canned

Ages ago I needed some smoked paprika for a recipe but I could not find it anywhere, then I spotted some in Pigfinca in these lovely cans. So now I'm hooked on collecting them.

For Illustration Friday © 2008 Nicky Linzey

Slow Sunday

A couple of years ago I bought the book 'In Praise of Slow' by Carl Honoré which had a real impact on me. It's all about slowing down in our hectic world and savouring the moment rather than thinking about what you are going to do next. Making time for each other - slow food, slow cities, slow sex.

July 27th celebrates the first Slow Sunday in Britain where we are urged to bake bread and help save the planet, to garden, to walk, to paint, to read ... whatever.

Today we're going for a swim, Gray's made the bread and later I will lay the table in the garden and we'll sit and sloooowly eat a leisurely meal of home grown vegetables and enjoy a cold bottle of rosé. Who knows what will happen then! What are you doing today?

No hope!

Last weekend we cleared the bottom of our garden to create a shady area to sit in. As it has a few trees we decided to grass it over and keep it fairly wild rather than pave it. We levelled it all out and sowed the grass seed. That is where the problems began.

..

No matter how many barricades we put up, My Jack Russell can still find a way in. He hops over the wire netting or squeezes through a tiny gap, scampers over to the tree, cocks his leg & scampers back.

Then there's the blackbird - he's working so hard to feed his young that I cannot shoo him away from the seed, infact I often find him fat juicy slugs from my veg garden and leave them on the lawn where he can find them.

And yesterday I saw this little wood mouse, munching away. He always used to be eating our vegetable left-overs in the composter which we've moved to another part of the garden so I didn't have the heart to frighten him off.

Will our lawn ever grow? I don't think it stands much of a chance with this lot!

Early morning

At last some lovely warm weather - got up early to do this walk I hadn't been on for ages. It was wonderful.

Enough

Gray makes the most delicious home-made pizzas - I just can't get enough of them.

3 of my favourites here: chorizo, basil, tomato, & olive; anchovy, tomato, chilli & olive; and rocket, tomato & olive with a free range egg on top! Mmmm...

If you click on the illustration it will appear more clearly on your screen.

© 2008 Nicky Linzey. For Illustration Friday

Summer's evening walk

I love the summer, mostly because of the light evenings which give me a chance to go for a walk and see this beauty after sitting infront of my computer all day! The harbour when the tide is out.

Foggy

Even in the middle of Summer, a sea mist can roll in over the harbour and completely change the temperature to freezing cold - when only a few miles inland it's still hot and sunny.

For Illustration Friday - 'Foggy'

© Nicky Linzey 2008

Sour

I used to love buying all these sweets - sherbet fountains, love hearts, swizzle lollies, refresher chews, sour worms. I'd stand in the sweet shop clutching my pocket money savouring the moment. It took me ages to make a decision. Now I don't eat sweets, apart from Haribo star mix that is, oh and I've just had the lemon refresher chew and most of the love hearts . . . .

For Illustration Friday

© 2008 Nicky Linzey

Midsummer madness

It was a lovely day yesterday so we made a rash decision to shut down our computers and head to the beach with a picnic. It always seems more enjoyable doing something like this when you really should be working! I won't tell if you don't.

Fierce thistle

Can plants be fierce? Maybe the thistle is. For Illustration Friday

© 2008 Nicky Linzey

Healthy chocolate

I decided to have a healthy salad last night - cut fresh from the garden - it tasted great - I was very pleased with myself. And then I remembered something . . .

...

. . . needless to say, it didn't last long!

Dying beauty

I've had these peonies for three weeks and to me they as beautiful now they're dying as they were alive, the petals have turned to thin tissue paper and the colours faded to dusky pink. These pictures are an experiment with my new camera settings although I've no idea how I would replicate the one above!