nicky linzey

Alfie

2012-01-21T16:13:00.000Z

We have a new member of the family this week! My mum and dad have just got Alfie, a rescue dog found as a stray. Not sure what breeds are in him but mostly terrier! He is the sweetest natured dog and already will not leave my mum's side - he knows he's found a good home. My Jack Russell is not impressed but he will get used to him after a while!
Welcome Alfie.

Nature's decoration

2012-01-18T19:36:00.000Z

I meant to post this at Christmas as it looked just like this tree had been decorated amongst the bare woodland.

Grounded

2012-01-11T10:57:00.002Z

An old illustration today showing my interpretation of one of the 4 elements - EARTH - you can read about the classical elements here. I always feel connected to earth as an element although my astrological sign would be associated with fire. I like to feel solidity and strength, a link with Mother Earth. I love the soil and growing things and feel happiest when my feet are planted firmly on the ground walking through beautiful woodland!
© 2007 nicky linzey
For illustration friday

Highlight

2012-01-01T16:30:00.000Z

We celebrated the new year by going on a night-time walk in the woods - with some friends and 4 dogs! I thought it would be scary but it was one of the highlights of my year. We heard a lot of rustling in the undergrowth and some hooting owls but didn't actually see any wildlife - I think they were all watching us. Can't wait to do it again.
© nicky linzey 2012
For illustration friday

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T12:59:00.000Z

Merry Christmas to everyone who visits here and to all the friends I have made through my blog. Working from home is quite a lonely existence and so contact with other artists and designers is very important to me. My posts have been little sporadic lately I'm afraid, I've been busy with a few new projects and am now on the freelance team of gibsonholt to sell my card and pattern designs, which I'm very excited about.
Here's to a happy, healthy and creative 2012!
© 2011 nicky linzey - design available from http://www.gibsonholt.co.uk/

Viewing platform

2011-12-06T16:30:00.001Z

My Jack Russell likes to be in the studio with us - he also likes to look out of the window, so we build a little platform for him ... There are some days when I'd like to be him.

Round

2011-11-26T14:54:00.001Z

Different views of this round stone found on Dungeness beach in the Summer. Artistic license for the colouring of course.
© 2011 nicky linzey
For Illustration Friday

Rubbish

2011-11-22T08:47:00.001Z

I cannot help but pick up stuff when I see it in the road. Our garden is beginning to look like a scrap yard!

Stripes

2011-11-08T13:20:00.000Z

Stripes is the theme for illustration friday this week so I've drawn a bit of 'bling'!!

© nicky linzey 2011

Hiding from the fireworks

2011-11-02T11:12:00.001Z

Yes - it's My Jack Russell's least favourite time of the year again! He is a little deaf now that he's an old boy and he's not quite as frightened but it's horrible to see him upset. We put the ipod on loud so he can chill out to his favourite tunes!

Fuel

2011-10-24T16:56:00.000+01:00

scattered

2011-10-17T09:47:00.004+01:00

I would love to have the kind of garden that looked as if I'd just 'scattered' a packet of seeds around but I think this is harder to achieve than it seems!

This illustration was inspired by the planting at Arundel Castle.

stop and stare 12

2011-10-10T15:27:00.001+01:00

I was sitting on some steps outside a gallery waiting for Gra when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Couldn't help but 'stop and stare' when I saw what it was. I want to do this now somewhere ....

Inspiration

2011-10-04T17:34:00.001+01:00

I've been thinking about this subject for a while as I've been devoid of any! I thought it might be interesting to show where I get my inspiration from (when it comes), and how I use ideas to create designs. This pattern was inspired a photo of knitted materials found when flicking through old magazines.

tout quarry

2011-09-21T13:35:00.000+01:00

I was in Dorset last week and visited the Island of Portland. Walked around the wonderful Tout Quarry and took some shots.

Windswept

2011-09-13T15:09:00.000+01:00

Brightness

2011-09-12T17:31:00.000+01:00

My inspiration for drawing has deserted me lately so I'm making do with taking pictures of everything I see. It's strange how I go through phases, only noticing textures or patterns - at the moment it's colours - everything I look at seems so bright and colourful - unreal almost. You will need to click on the pic to get the full effect.

Mystery

2011-09-05T09:03:00.000+01:00

I came across this field of beautiful colours on a walk the other day and couldn't decide what the crop was. I thought it may be millet but I'm not sure. Does anyone know?

Arundel Castle Gardens

2011-08-30T13:13:00.000+01:00

We visited these gardens a while ago on a hot and sunny day. They are very rich and sumptuous - designed 3 years ago in the Jacobean style, well worth a visit.

Swell

2011-08-17T09:01:00.000+01:00

The 'swell' of the ocean for illustration friday this week. This is an old illustration and I'm late putting it up too - but I thought - 'better late than never'!
© 2011 nicky linzey

Dungeness

2011-08-09T17:28:00.001+01:00

I've been wanting to go to Dungeness for ages and we eventually made it last week. It didn't dissapoint me - it was as strange and eerie as I'd expected but fascinating too.

stop and stare 11

2011-07-18T10:39:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I had a stop and stare moment. I saw this in the distance at West Dean College and had to go and explore. A tree had been partly wrapped in magenta fabric by one of the students.

weeds and wildflowers

2011-07-04T10:23:00.000+01:00

At the weekend we went to the weed and wildflower festival. It was a gorgeous midsummer evening and the 13th century church at Bignor had been totally transformed - my pictures do not come close to portraying the magical atmosphere but if you click on the picture it will enlarge slightly.

midsummer night

2011-06-29T14:32:00.000+01:00

This is an old illustration I've reworked for the Illustration Friday theme this week of Midsummer Night
© 2011 nicky linzey

Launch

2011-06-22T11:04:00.000+01:00

It's the time of year when all the babies launch themselves into mid air - scary!
I couldn't decide upon the background - which one do you prefer?

swept

2011-06-12T10:02:00.000+01:00

The river bed fascinates me and it was hard to photograph as it's constantly moving - the water swept leaves and debris along ... so I drew the image instead for illustration friday this week.
© 2011 nicky linzey

Soaked

2011-05-25T15:47:00.001+01:00

I've actually managed an illustration for Illustration Friday this week. Hoping for some rain for my garden but not over the Bank Holiday weekend!
© 2011 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Secret Garden

2011-05-16T09:27:00.001+01:00

I was invited to see Julie's garden last week. It was wild and beautiful - one of those gardens that look effortlessly natural but you know it's all down to hard work! Click on the picture for a better view.

Rare

2011-05-10T15:35:00.000+01:00

A beautiful walk, a beer with friends and a rare find - what could be better. I came across this plant on a walk last week and had never seen it before - I usually record anything unusual. I rushed home, looked it up and was so excited to see that it should only grow in one secret place in the Cotswolds, I thought I had discovered a second secret place! Unfortunately in my haste I misread it and it's not rare after all - a white helliborine - member of the orchid family.

Journey

2011-04-21T19:28:00.000+01:00

They've arrived! It's always a special moment when we see the first house martins. And unbelievable to think they've travelled from Africa on those tiny wings.
I'm really on the last lap for Illustration Friday this week.
© 2011 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Illicit days

2011-04-14T18:13:00.000+01:00

Isn't an illicit day off in the week so much more pleasurable than a weekend? I had such a lovely time yesterday walking along the South Downs Way with My Jack Russell. Trouble is he'll expect this every day now and I'd be quite happy to oblige.

Cultivate

2011-03-22T14:18:00.000Z

Sadly I've given up my allotment as I was not getting enough time to devote to it. I actually feel a great sense of relief rather than sadness and I'm ploughing all my energies this year into cultivating fruit and vegetables in my garden instead. I'll let you know how I get on.
© 2011 nicky linzey for illustration friday.

winter flight

2011-03-02T09:59:00.001Z

As you can see I'm still in winter mode. It's ffffreezing here despite being the 2nd March. Swarm is the theme for Illustration Friday this week and I always thought it was only used for insects, however looking it up on wikipedia - it says 'collective behaviour exhibited by animals of similar size which aggregate together, perhaps milling about the same spot or perhaps moving en masse or migrating in some direction'.
I took a photo on a frosty Boxing day morning of geese flying through the early morning sky which inspired this illustration.
© 2011 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Layer

2011-02-24T17:24:00.000Z

At last a bit of time to myself and a subject from Illustration Friday that immediately inspired me - as I've been using layers in my illustrations lately.

This shows how I work from my initial pen and ink drawing in my sketch book. I scan in my illustration and turn it into a graphic which I colour in and then maybe add some more decoration as I did here by drawing the green shapes. Finally I found a photo of some cracked mud, turned it into a line artwork, coloured it brown and clipped it into the shapes of my bag to show the effect of old leather.

This bag is very old and battered now but it's still my favourite.

© 2011 nicky linzey for illustration friday.

sleeping beauty

2011-02-10T20:07:00.001Z

It's his birthday on Monday, he will be 12. A valentine's boy!

Dusk

2011-02-02T16:14:00.000Z

The evenings are definitely getting lighter now - Spring is just around the corner. I was hoping to get to Brighton this week, where the starlings put on a display at dusk but time is running out ... it's Wednesday already.

art

2011-01-20T11:07:00.001Z

Paintings in a gallery? No just more boat bottoms in Chichester Marina. You have to know I risked life and limb to photograph these. Scurrying around under boats weighing tons, which are propped up on stilts - health & safety would be apalled. Shh... don't tell them!

Charity Shop Challenge

2011-01-19T11:22:00.000Z

I know it's late to talk about Christmas in mid January but I'm behind with my posts and hadn't mentioned this years Charity Shop Challenge. Again it went well and you can see the presents I received and some great finds I kept for myself.
However the earrings, bottom right, were a wonderful surprise from Gra who designed them and had them made. I think it was a traumatic time for him wondering if I'd like them - luckily I LOVE them. I wore them on Boxing Day to visit friends and promptly lost one. After spending a sleepless night imagining it gone forever, it was found the next morning in My Jack Russell's toy basket. A mystery!

A spot of sunshine

2011-01-16T13:15:00.000Z

I've been waiting for a sunny day to photograph these gifts from Malaysia, received in the post over Christmas. It hasn't materialised and I realised I might be waiting forever at this rate. Above are beautifully wrapped presents from Caroline - a stunning book of Malaysian birds illustrated by her and a patterned fan which looks fabulous on my mantlepiece.

Fun presents - handmade and chosen with great thought from Yoon See.

If you don't know their work then visit their blogs, they will definitely bring you a lot of sunshine from Malaysia too!

starlings in flight

2011-01-06T17:30:00.000Z

I'm experimenting with my textured photo backgrounds behind these illustrations.

Have spent the morning in A&E - can't believe I've just kicked a wall and broken my toe. Accidentally not intentionally!

Obsession

2011-01-05T17:16:00.001Z

My obsession with trees seems to be continuing into 2011.

Happy New Year

seasons greetings

2010-12-21T13:44:00.000Z

A very Merry Christmas to everyone - thanks for visiting throughout the year and for taking time to leave comments. Your friendship is much appreciated. Here's to a wonderful 2011.

The picture below just about sums up how cold it is in this part of the world at the moment, but very beautiful too. The illustration above was inspired by this.

Prehistoric

2010-12-08T16:40:00.001Z

One of my old illustrations just seemed to fit the bill!
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Hello

2010-11-26T17:28:00.000Z

I'm a terrible blogger at the moment. Work is so busy which is great financially but I'm missing my blog - I don't have enough time to visit everyone as much as I'd like either.
So I just popped in to say hello....

Boat bottoms

2010-11-10T08:31:00.002Z

Paint finish

2010-11-05T15:59:00.001Z

From a weekend walk - not nature this time but shapes, patterns and reflections on cars and rubbish bins. Amazing what you can find.

Spent

2010-11-01T11:50:00.001Z

I went walking at the weekend and spent a lot of time watching the trees. I had the feeling they were watching me too.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

list it tuesday

2010-10-26T18:01:00.000+01:00

My list is 'random things I've drawn today'.
Visit Aimee (who started this whole thing) to see more.

Spooky

2010-10-18T19:17:00.000+01:00

I was wrong ...

2010-10-18T11:15:00.001+01:00

. . . Summer's not really over

Thank you all for your get well wishes to Bill (MJR). Glad to report he's back to his old self now and has ripped up his T Shirt.
Good news too, we got the work we pitched for! Children's fun/educational packs for an airline company.

Grumpy

2010-10-11T10:21:00.000+01:00

My Jack Russell has recently been through a terrible trauma. He had a operation a couple of weeks ago to remove 6 lumps and at the age of 11 it was a worry for me. The good news is that the operation went well, he is much better now and the lumps were all benign.
The trauma was that he's had to wear a medical body suit to keep all the dressings in place and to stop him scratching his wounds. The suit has a velcro fastening around his tail and he kept becoming 'velcroed' to the sofa. It was a pitiful sight but one that had us in hysterics although we've tried not to let him see us laughing - we've now found a T shirt to replace his suit but he doesn't seem any happier.

Autumn . . .

2010-10-07T10:53:00.002+01:00

... came early this year.

Beneath

2010-10-03T18:00:00.000+01:00

I love to stand beneath the trees and gaze at the sky.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday.

Old-fashioned

2010-09-29T15:48:00.002+01:00

This vase - inherited from my Mother-in-law, is one of my favourite possessions - it looks so old-fashioned. Is it the colour, pattern or shape that makes it seem from another era?
© nicky linzey 2010 for illustration friday

Acrobat

2010-09-19T22:11:00.001+01:00

Inspired by one of my favourite artists ever.
© nicky linzey for illustration friday

Proverb

2010-09-16T15:01:00.001+01:00

How true!
© nicky linzey for illustration friday

Harvest

2010-09-08T16:31:00.000+01:00

It makes him all itchy but I can't stop him. In fact it looks like a nice thing to do - I may give it a try. I'm still neglecting my blog at the moment - sorry - lots of work and the invalid is still needing help, although I'm glad to say he can get his socks on by himself now and he is improving!
I find it very hard to be creative for myself when I have a lot of work on, in the evenings I just crash out with a large glass of wine.
PS. The presentation went well - it just has to be passed by one more person now - so fingers crossed.

Thanks

2010-09-02T10:17:00.001+01:00

At the beginning of the Summer I participated in Kelly Light's great idea to raise money to help creatures affected by the Gulf oil spill. Kelly has now raised over $10,000 with the help of hundreds of artists. These are the wonderful artworks that I received in the post over the past few weeks. If you haven't done so already, please visit their websites: jackie, harsha and howard.
Also the Ripple website is still going strong!

Deluge

2010-08-25T14:55:00.002+01:00

It never rains but it pours doesn't it. Apologies for neglecting my blog but I have been busy getting together a presentation for an exciting work project over the past few weeks. The deadline is this Friday and as Gra has slipped a disc in his back he's finding it hard to sit at the computer for too long. So I'm trying to get the work done and generally fetch and carry for the invalid!
Plus of course My Jack Russell needs walking twice a day (now I couldn't neglect him now could I? Well he certainly wouldn't let me!)
Summer seems to have come to an end here too and I must admit that today I feel like these two little birds sitting on my fence in the rain!

Artificial

2010-08-02T11:16:00.000+01:00

I love watermelon and probably buy it for how it looks, more than for the taste. The colours are so bright they actually look artificial.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

July in the garden

2010-07-22T17:23:00.000+01:00

Diary

2010-07-15T14:57:00.002+01:00

A week ago today on July 8th my Mum and Dad's dog Ellie had to be put to sleep. She was the sweetest dog and My Jack Russell's best friend.

Ellie was found by a lorry driver, wandering on a motorway in Liverpool, never claimed, she was eventually shipped down to Brighton RSPCA where they thought she would stand more chance of getting a home.

We went there looking for a dog and she chose my Mum as her new owner. It took her a long time to settle in, she didn't bark for over a year - in fact we thought she couldn't. (She made up for this later in life though!) She sat on her bed in the kitchen huddled in the corner, scared of her own shadow, eventually realising what a lovely, safe, new home she had - filled with love and she responded accordingly. She was nearly 14 when she died and we all miss her so much.
© 2010 nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

I'm surrounded

2010-07-08T10:58:00.002+01:00

It seems I'm surrounded by giants this week. I went for an evening walk up to Goodwood and came across this amazing sculpture by Nic Fiddian-Green. My photos don't do this justice as it was a murky evening, but the colours and textures and pure size of this piece were astounding.

More giants

2010-07-07T09:05:00.001+01:00

Had a lovely afternoon on Sunday walking around this dreamy garden, amongst these giant wire animals by Julian Broad. (I can't find a link to him unfortunately).

Giant

2010-07-06T15:57:00.001+01:00

I picked over 12 lbs of gooseberries from just one bush on my allotment - some of them were giants!
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Structure

2010-07-01T11:34:00.002+01:00

Visually I tend to look for natural organic structures but the other day I noticed these.
Are my patterns changing?

Greed

2010-06-22T15:07:00.001+01:00

Finished off all the chocolate biscuits left over from camping.
© nicky linzey

Paisley

2010-06-19T21:36:00.001+01:00

I apologise if you've seen this before but I've just spent the weekend in a tent - in the cold and rain and realistically I don't have time to do something new. I did have fun though!
Paisley for Illustration Friday
© 2008 nicky linzey. Inspired by Gaudi.

Ripple

2010-06-12T08:32:00.004+01:00

The Illustration Friday theme 'Ripple' has been suggested by Kelly Light who has the great idea of raising money for creatures affected by the oil spill. You can buy artist's cards for a donation of $10 to charitable causes - see her website for details.
I've chosen to draw the Great American Egret one of the beautiful birds that may be affected.
When I last looked she had raised over $1000 - see what a ripple can do.
KELLY HAS NOW HELPED RAISE OVER ~~$3000~~ ~~$4000~~ $7,400

Summer

2010-06-08T14:39:00.000+01:00

Rain, tea and cake, steamy car, the archers, wet dog, smelly ....

We'd planned a walk on the South Downs last night with a picnic. The english summer had other ideas.

Trail

2010-06-05T13:17:00.001+01:00

Watching the bees trail around my garden on a hot summers day ...

I cannot make up my mind. Do I prefer the one with the line drawing or the one without? What do you think?

Slither

2010-06-01T12:08:00.000+01:00

Celebrations

2010-05-25T19:49:00.002+01:00

It was my Mum's birthday at the weekend and as a family we always make a big deal of these days. After all, they are kind of special. It was the first truly hot day of the year and so we were able to be outside for the evening - a real treat.
My sister made her 'speciality pudding/cake' which is simple and delicious - I am going to have to share it here:
She buys a ready-made large sponge flan base which she cuts into 3 - horizontally - you are left with 3 thin layers. Don't worry if you muck this up - it is very hard to do - you can easily patch it up later!
If it is an adult dinner, douse the sponge with peach liquer (Archers). If not just layer it with sliced strawberries and softly whipped double cream. When the final top of sponge goes on, cover with more cream and decorate with strawberries. Leave for a while before serving to go all gooey.
As you can see - 3 of us contributed to this and we had drunk too many glasses of the pink liquid on the left! Plus my nieces were throwing strawberries at it from all angles. Rather artistic I think, and my Mum loved it!

Equipment

2010-05-15T22:21:00.000+01:00

I think this speaks for itself. I've added the recipe as Gra makes the very best bread, so this is worth a try!

Recipe by Graham Wilkins

Stop & stare 10

2010-05-11T10:43:00.002+01:00

Couldn't resist a picture of this!

Cocoon

2010-05-01T06:51:00.004+01:00

Did you know:
Silk thread is the hardened silk worm saliva which they use to form their cocoon
The single strand of the silk when unravelled is over a mile long
3,000 cocoons are needed to make 1 pound of raw silk.
I didn't until I researched it for Illustration Friday. You learn something every day!

© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Ahead

2010-04-25T07:57:00.000+01:00

None of us knows what is ahead of us. I find it's best to stay in the present, although that can be easier said than done. So for the Illustration Friday theme this week I've drawn the view ahead of me at this very moment. Statue I've had for ages, plants from friends, jug from Greece and stones from Cornwall.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Wood blocks

2010-04-19T15:12:00.002+01:00

Found these in a boatyard, they are used to prop up the boats while they're being worked on. I wanted to take them home.

I spy with my little eye . . .

2010-04-19T08:39:00.002+01:00

I always quite fancied being a private detective. It's the nosiness in me I think!
© nicky linzey for illustration friday

Osmosis of colour

2010-04-13T09:07:00.001+01:00

People often comment on my use of colours and ask me how I decide upon them. I have been thinking about this and I've realised it is by 'osmosis of colour'. I don't actually make any decisions and I don't have a plan, they just sort of seep into my mind.
For example in this picture SIESTA, which is a drawing of a spanish villa we stayed in, I wanted to use my wire pattern to create the feeling of mediterranean light in the heat of early afternoon. So I sort of went there in my body - how it felt to have a siesta in this villa and the colours of the light just came to me.
© nicky linzey 2010

How I spend my evenings . . .

2010-04-08T10:52:00.001+01:00

He's eleven now and still no signs of slowing down. Oh well, that's a jack russell for you!

Easter Walk

2010-04-06T08:36:00.001+01:00

Wow - 4 days away from my computer has been just what I needed.
These pictures are from exactly the same walk as this one but what a difference in atmosphere between spring and summer. I find it strange that I can take the same route many times but notice totally different things.

Also thanks to Shirley for sending me the Sunshine Award. Check out her blog - her illustrations are just wonderful.

Rescue

2010-03-31T10:22:00.001+01:00

Thanks to all your suggestions and support, together with a bit of drawing around my wire photographs, I've been rescued from my creative block!

Friendship

2010-03-26T22:56:00.002Z

Your help in overcoming my 'stuckness' has been just what I needed. Even just the thought of a cycle ride in the countryside sent me into raptures - playing with and walking my dog is the best thing I can ever do, I'm investigating spoonflower and definitely switching off my computer more.
Again & again I come back to Keri Smith for inspiration - I just love her rebel's manifesto.
Thank you all for your friendship - it means a lot.
Image is of photographed wire with coloured in sections

Stuck

2010-03-19T08:32:00.001Z

I'm loath to use the word 'stuck', however this is how I feel at the moment. I'm inundated with work, pitching for new contracts which is great for my bank balance - although it completely empties my head of all creative ideas for my own projects and this blog.

Visiting other blogs - seeing everyone writing wittily and creating fantastically - the more I do this the worse the 'stuckness' becomes.

I probably need to get away from this computer and go and play! Any ideas....?

I drew this alphabet a while ago and filled it with my patterns

I'm seeing eyes everywhere

2010-03-14T15:18:00.000Z

I looked round and found these trees watching me....

Scary!

At last . . .

2010-03-05T16:49:00.001Z

At last some sunshine after months of greyness. It's still cold but for the last few days the sun has been shining and the sky is blue. This winter will certainly make me appreciate Spring (my favourite season) even more than usual.

Perspective

2010-03-01T16:12:00.001Z

Sometimes it's good to look at things with a new perspective. For this illustration and for propagate I've used textural photos as a background for my drawings.

Print & Pattern

2010-02-25T14:12:00.000Z

It's been a long time from my designs being selected to feature in the fantastic Print & Pattern book to actually having the published book in my hot little hand but well worth the wait! If you love pattern you'll love this book.

Propagate

2010-02-22T14:02:00.001Z

The strange but beautiful Tulipa acuminata is no longer found in its natural habitat (Turkey). It has been propagated and kept going as a species since the early 1700s - quite amazing
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Bad hair day

2010-02-16T14:49:00.000Z

My Dad sent me some old family photos the other day.
I laughed when I saw this - me a few months old!
I still have trouble with my hair sometimes.

'chattering birds' giveaway

2010-02-08T13:38:00.006Z

And the winner is..... Bella! (Can you email me your address please Bella) Thanks to everyone for entering.
I can't wait for some warmer weather. The winter has been cold and long this year and it looks like we are due some more snow. On the up side the landscapes have been stunning and I've been inspired by trees and hedgerows against pale grey skies. I'm giving away a print of my 'chattering birds' image so if you want to enter the draw please leave a comment here. The closing date is next Monday 15th ~~January~~ February (thanks justdoodleit - I'm obviously living a month behind reality!) 9.30am - UK time and I will announce the winner that day.
To create this illustration I used a photo of the hedge - top left (below) and turned it into a black and white image which I then coloured and I gave it an outline too. I used my wren drawings in some summery colours and placed them in the hedgerow.
© 2010 nicky linzey

Focused

2010-01-31T16:45:00.000Z

I find it hard to keep focused on what I really want - after all - what do I really want? This piece was inspired by the renovation of the eye ceiling at Blenheim Palace which I think is stunning.

Do you know what you want?

Winter colour

2010-01-27T21:16:00.002Z

Clumsy

2010-01-25T17:12:00.000Z

I'm not a particularly clumsy person unless I've got a glass of red wine in my hand. I've been known to throw an entire glass all over myself by catching my sleeve on something as I went to drink it, knocked a full one over on our brand new carpet and am often seen missing my mouth entirely and pouring it down my chin. Not a pretty sight! Some may say I've inherited this trait from my mum but as she reads this blog I'm keeping quiet.
© nicky linzey for Illustration Friday

Wilderness

2010-01-19T21:21:00.002Z

One of the places I love to walk is the cemetery near to my house. It is a wilderness of old graves, foxes, wrens, woodpeckers, sparrowhawks, owls, squirrels, brambles, beech trees - at least it was. It's being tidied now, smartened up, cut back, regimented. We used to pick pounds of blackberries here, now they've gone, complaints are being made about the foxes, squirrels - will they soon go too? I'm sad.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

Confined

2010-01-12T11:56:00.002Z

I cannot believe this snow and ice has confined us to the house for nearly a week. The house is gleaming, ironing all done, cakes baked, soup made and in the freezer but ... if I don't go out soon I may go mad! On the upside My Jack Russell's been having a great time.
© 2010 nicky linzey for illustration friday

More Trees

2010-01-07T10:43:00.000Z

Renewal

2010-01-04T13:17:00.001Z

I think that David Hockney says it all in an interview on Radio 4's Today programme early last week. He's talking about what inspires him and you can listen to it here. Just scroll down the page to 0822.

Thanks Yoon See

2010-01-04T11:46:00.000Z

Just after Christmas I received some lovely and very thoughtful presents from my blogger friend Yoon See - well she is that kind of person, lovely and thoughtful. She sent me some furry friends, a handmade bookmark, a watermelon pencil case and a lovely snowman card. My favourite was a print of her virtual dog - 'Dommy' - she knows I love dogs! Thank you Yoon See.