venta

So... this year I'm supposed to be acquiring approximately one new skill per month.

February has been the month for drawing. Ably aided and abetted by

bateleur (in his secret art-teacher alter-ego) I have been propelled through basic exercises, and made to draw (variously) tankards, trains, beach huts and a little old granny digging the garden.

Drawing is, it turns out, very hard. And takes a very long time. And I can only do it if I have Bateleur leaning over my shoulder saying "No! Don't put that line there!" However, I've learned quite a lot about what sort of pictures I might like to - and be able to - draw, if only I can manage to be sufficiently patient and practise. And about how to go about executing them.

The stated goal for drawing was "produce a recognisable drawing which I need not be ashamed to display in public!"

Bateleur's final task for me was to draw a cover for an album. As I headed off to bed one evening I had a nice idea for a cover, but wasn't really sure what album to tie it to.

Leaving my bedroom the following morning, the shelf at eye-height contained the obvious album for my idea. And, in my defence, the existing cover-art for the CD is pretty awful.)

(Disclaimers for pedants: yes, the faces are based on a real photo of the band but the only decent photo of them we could find online was about ten years later, and with a different drummer.)

Many, many thanks to Bateleur for his time, patience, advice and ability to know where lines ought to go. And to

lathany for yummy pasta, general hospitality and letting me borrow Bateleur :)

March is now underway, in both senses.