university challenge 1718 – magdalen oxford

The Magdalen Oxford team from a few weeks ago. Gibson has the potential to become the new star of the show...

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink on A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series paper. Digital colour.

a better orchid

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink and watercolours in A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series sketchbook.

james carr

Portrait of James Carr for Soul Sunday.

Carr recorded a number of superb singles on the Goldwax label in the mid to late 60s including 'The Dark End of The Street', 'Life Turned Her That Way' and the definitive version of the Bee Gee's 'To Love Somebody'. 'The Complete Goldwax Singles' on Kent is a good place to start.

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink on A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series paper. Digital colour.

university challenge 1718 – warwick

Portrait of the Warwick University team – winners in episode five of the current University Challenge series.

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink on A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series paper. Digital colour.

ophelia (desolation row)

Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid

To her, death is quite romantic
She wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion
Her sin is her lifelessness

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink on A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series paper. Digital colour

flowers from the garden

Houseplants and flowers from the sprawling grounds here at TPS HQ. The flower on the left is, apparently, a Mexican Snowball (Echevaria Elegans for all you Latin speakers out there) and next to that is some Rosemary. I have no idea what the flower on the right is called as it was a label-less gift. If any eagle-eyed horticulturalist can identify this, do get in touch and let me know. The person supplying the correct answer will receive a lifetime's supply of fresh air...

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink and watercolours in A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series sketchbook.

aoc conference attendees

House painting and a few days rest – Hah! – in Paris have taken me away from drawing and blogging duties. So here's a double spread from a few weeks ago. On the left hand page are some abortive attempts at contestants from the new series of University Challenge. The page on the right has some drawings of people at the recent AoC conference in Birmingham. My abiding memory of the conference will undoubtedly be that of the hotel I stayed in. Winos outside the reception, a drug dealer immediately below my bedroom window and a man vomiting onto the pavement at 8.30 in the morning. Ahh, Birmingham...

TWSBI Diamond 580 with Platinum Carbon ink and Faber Castell PITT artist pen in A4 Stillman and Birn Alpha Series sketchbook.