Charles Darwin - Natural History Museum London

Hi All, or should I say Mum, as my wife tells me she's the only person that looks at the blog.

This is my sketch of Mr Darwin as he surveys the entrance hall to the Natural History Museum, London.  Do go there - I only managed to get around the dinosaurs but it's well worth the visit.

Darwin made a lot of his discoveries on is travels in the ship the Beagle 1831-1836.

http://www.hmsbeagleproject.org/second-voyage/

Before I forget there is an incredible book call 'this thing of Darkness' which is a piece of historical fiction which tracks his life and that of Captain Fitzroy. First 2 pages are a bit peculiar, but a great read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Thing-Darkness-Harry-Thompson/dp/0755302818

Je Suis Charlie - Marianne

This is Marianne, one of the symbols of the French Republic.  Marianne is a national symbol of the French Republic, an allegory of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. and this sketch is taken from the statue in the Place de la Republique in Paris where many of the gatherings are currently taking place

This my expression of solidarity with those that believe in freedom of speech.

There's further to go with this, but time is of the essence.

King Amenemhat III

King Amenemhat III, also spelled Amenemhet III was a pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from c.1860 BC to c.1814 BC One odd feature about his rule was that he had a 20 year co-regency with his father.  The other nugget I unearthed was that he had 2 pyramids built for him.  Presumably the first wasn't pointy enough.

This statue sits next to the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum, London.  Although the latter is historically very significant it's hard to see with all the crowds around it and wouldn't sketch particularly well.  I managed to sneak this sketch out whilst the family were having a wander at the other end of the section.

Found a photo of the bust here:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/8141183803/

Lauren Platt X Factor - save me song

This is Lauren Platt in the UK X-Factor sing-off week 9.  I think they call it the semi-finals, but it's not exactly Wimbledon is it?  

I did the sketch some time ago and every time I looked at it really fancied going in with a bit of colour to see what would happen. I think that the sketch was always intended to have colour in.

Pretty please with the background and this time I used a combination of raw sienna and ultramarine blue which somehow got the skin colour I was after.  I did add a smidge of red to warm it up too.

Combustion Engine Construction

This is my Dad making an attempt to convert my son into loving engines just as much as he does.  He did a really great job in fact and Michael, still wearing his Man U kit, kept going the whole time.

Well done Dad, but I'm not sure if you've converted him just yet!

This is a cut down version of a larger picture doesn't seem to work.  It's just about ok in this form but the original I really don't like and I'm not entirely sure what went wrong.  

The sketch was pretty well executed and the characters seem well connected, which was important in this piece.  

Coventry Cathedral Carol Service 2014

This is my effort down at the BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Carol Service Saturday 20th December 2014.  Live sketch during the preparations for the service.  The Jaguar Landrover brass band were spectacular.  I'm used to sketching to acoustic/rock music so this was quite a bit different.  I wasn't going to colour it, but did so in the end although the photo looks a bit washed out.  Key features in the pic are the guys on the trombones, the chap on the drums quite often wasn't playing.  The girl in the middle was from the Coventry choir and the lady above the trombone players was from the cathedral.  Oh, and the lectern had an golden eagle on top of it.  A great service - definitely worth the trip up to see the folks! 

A Dynamos Christmas - Poem

One thing you don't know about me

Is that into the future I can see
When you're tucked in and they turned out the lights
This is the tale of one Christmas night

It was late at night on the eve of Noel
That coach Ben heard the sound of his doorbell
A neighbour called by and said that he saw
a mysterious shape by the pavilion front door

Lucy said 'Ben you must get down there fast
there's no way we're letting a robber get past'
Ben said 'I'll go there

without a delay'
'I'll not let some villain
ruin my Christmas day'

Before he left he rang a number
it was Jon who got woken from his drunken slumber
Jon called Steve and he called Ben
till everyone knew, even Coach Glen

5 minutes later the team were in place
they were all ready to see what they faced
they crept over to the pavillion grounds
and stealthily treading didn't make any sounds

'What’s that?' said Richard and there they could see
someone was moving over by the trees
'I'll sort this out'

Tom said 'This looks wrong'
'No way' said the others 'we'll all come along'

And so it was that the Dynamos team
some on all fours

they approached unseen

When Lloyd said 'go' they all did charge
and into the figure they all did barge

'Ow' said the victim, and then with a shout
'I've slipped a disc and my back's been put out'
One coach looked closer, I think it was Steve'
'It is father Christmas,
he was gathering leaves'
'I cannot believe it,
enough of this banter
I'm afraid to inform you
that we've just mugged Santa'

'That's right' we we're stopping to get reindeer fuel
'But I can't continue
and now feel a fool'
'I think that because
my back has just popped
Christmas this year
will have to be stopped'

Ben rubbed his chin in a thoughtful way
he opened his mouth and was heard to say
'We'll sort it Santa
never mind your back
just show us where you keep
your Christmas present sack'

He pointed to the side of the Pavillion
The sleigh was right by where the story had begun
'I'm really not sure, but go if you must
but first you'll need some of my magic dust'

So the coaches were sprinkled and started to glow
and their coats did sparkle a green dynamo
The reindeers seemed friendly and ate up their leaves
and after seemed ready to fly through the trees

Glen grabbed the reins as he knew what to do
The night would be long, but they would all pull through
Ben was on Rudolph and Jon was on cupid
Tom said 'I must say we look a bit stupid'

'Heya' Glen cried and rattled the reins
'To win through the night you'll need all my brains'

But Rudolph wasn't ready

and just as they started
The red nosed reindeer
unfortunately farted

The sleigh started moving faster and faster
With Glen at the helm like a chariot master
And before they reached the dynamos drive
The sleigh lifted off
And flew into the sky

'Whoopsy' shouted Jon as he didn't like heights
but the rest were enjoying the bright christmas lights
so their journey had started
and though coach Ben shivered
a world full of presents
had to be delivered

First they did France and then Japan

Glen was the driver but was lacking a plan
and slowly by slowly countries were ticked off
by China coach Jon

had developed a cough

In New York Ben MH cut the top of his knee
This happened as he was shot

out top of the chimney
But this was by no means a delivery disaster
As Stupples had a green dynamos plaster

The night was long and to keep spirits alive
Jon started singing some subrosa 5

And as they were passing Miami Beach

Ben gave them all a motivational speech

Glen thought it handy
That there was so much brandy
But by-the-time that they

got the sleigh to Brazil
Some of the coaches were feeling quite ill

although to be fair there was a valid suggestion

that the mince pies they’d eaten had caused indigestion

By now there was chatter and some conversation

about Glen and his skills in world navigation

They'd been to Egypt, Hawaii and Finland

But weren't too sure 

if they'd ever find England

But all was well as where drinking's concerned

back home is the place that we've all returned

So they finally saw England

the last on the list
Steve said 'tomorrow I'm definitely getting a nice cup of cocoa'

But the police pulled them over 

as they flew in to Dover
Glen said 'it's ok my flying is fine'
But he failed to walk in a very straight line
In the end it turned out that the cops let them off
As Jon was not well with a worsening cough

So They covered Great Britain East South and West

Nat was quite worried and was feeling distressed

But they landed back down at the pedestal pitch

All presents delivered with hardly a hitch

Santa was happy and his back was now sorted

Fortunately Christmas had not been aborted

He got on his sleigh

giving all a high five

and 10 seconds later was off in the sky

So kids when you see your friends in 20 15

and tell them about what you've done and you've seen
you can tell them all

with dramatic pause
that you've kindof seen Mummy kissing Santa Claus

So this is the end of the Dynamos story
Next time one of you'd better call Rory

Sepp Blatter Ethics Poem

I'm wondering about
Mr Blatter
and why ethics to him
don't seem to matter

I'm confused about
the cup in Qatar
and changing the dates
not before but after
It would appear that
the country's too hot
to allow the players
to hit the right spot

The review by
Mr Michael Garcia
may hide a side
to his career
for it is a choice
of a strange sort
not to release
his lengthy report

So Sepp when you go
to bed tonight
wake in the morning
and set things right
for it's never been
anyone's intention
to waste time on
a 'legally appropriate version'

Ballerina by Emily

This isn't by me but by my neice Emily - it was taken from a bronze of a ballerina.  I think it's fantastic!  I bask in the reflected glory of this pic :D

Dave Bellevue acoustic open mic 14/12/14

This is Dave getting into things at the Bellevue