IF: Fail (or...'If at first you don't succeed...')

A few failed attempts usually come before success, as is the case for the character above.
Another sketch and just in time this week as I've been away, back to colour next week! This is a study of a rather cute dinosaur toy, I think he makes for quite a nice character so might revisit him again.

IF: Save (save the birds!)

A very quick sketch today, and the link to this weeks IF topic 'Save' isn't wonderfully expressed.

Basically I was going for a continuation of my cat theme from the 'Leap' and 'Heavy' topics, where the cat saves, rather than eats the cute birdies. Unfortunately I don't have time to develop this idea this week, hence the sketchy sketch!

IF: Homage to Pooh

A double homage, to the wonderful characters of A.A.Milne and inspiring illustrations of E.H. Shepard from Winnie-the-Pooh.

I wanted to interpret the characters and stories into my own style, but have found myself needing to study them a bit first, so for now I've included essentially a copy of one of Shepard's illustrations (above) and a couple of sketch studies (left). The wonderful thing about Shepard's simple, effective drawings is that you just can't capture the Pooh character making it even more special.
This weeks IF has inspired me to revisit these lovely stories and images, not least because they are loaded with lots of philosophical and zen thoughts too! (see 'Pooh and the Philosophers' by John Tyerman Williams and 'The Tao of Pooh & The Te of Piglet' by Benjamin Hoff).

Happy Easter!

Spare a thought for the Easter Bunny..

The washing line pencil sketch...

IF: Pet Peeves

I imagine a pet peeve of many children may be to have their favourite toy hung out to dry and worse still, when all their favourites get strung up at once!

As for my own pet peeves (and pet related ones at that...)

Why don't our cats realise from our reaction to mouse body parts in the house that we don't view these as 'presents'?

And will Claude please use the proper cat door instead of expecting us to let him in (and why do we keep letting him in!?)

Flying Hippo!

An older drawing but wanted to include this as it ties in nicely with last weeks IF theme of heavy. This character is certainly heavy but manages to fly pretty well (reminds me of bees and how unlikely their flight is)