Illustration Friday - Clumsy

'Clumsy' watercolour

A little watercolour and pencil piece this week for the IF theme, Clumsy! Click to enlarge.

Illustration Friday - Idle

I've not been idle this week so didn't manage to find the time to create something new for this week's theme. However, I picked up an old sketchbook this afternoon and came across these drawings I made years ago of our little Omani cat, Tigger (yes, I know, very original!). He looks very relaxed - cats are such experts idlers!

Illustration Friday - Fleeting

This week's IF theme is 'fleeting'. I've posted a page from my sketchbook with a couple of illustrations of dragonflies. I'm a big fan of these creatures - so beautiful, but for such a fleeting time. Their adult life lasts around two months only.



Now, here's one that's lasted a while longer! This is a favourite dragonfly image of mine. A fabulous art nouveau, plique a jour brooch created for the actress Sarah Bernhardt by Renee Lalique. Lalique designed many pieces for her during the period 1891-94 .


Finally, here's a photo of a fabulous Hibiscus flower in my garden. This dramatic bloom is also very fleeting - it lasts only 24 hours!

Illustration Friday - Talisman

Posting this at the 11th hour for this week's IF! The theme is Talisman. This is a pencil (with a touch of colour) drawing of an silver Omani necklace called a kirsh kitab (coin or disc with writing) which was worn by women throughout Northern Oman. Such necklaces were worn not only to offer protection, but also to bring gladness and cheerfulness to life. This necklace is part of a small collection of Omani silver I gathered whilst living in Muscat in the 1980's. I'm going to make a post about that soon!

Illustration Friday - Flawed

Here's a portrait of my Ted, now in his 50's! I hesitate to call him flawed.. well loved and worn, more like! Perhaps even Wabi Sabi? If you've never heard of Wabi Sabi do take a look at my previous post for an explanation of this Japanese aesthetic.