Cats, happy Halloween!

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's and yesterday's are cats, black cats. My two year old drew on one of them but I don't think it spoils it.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Tiger and bird in water soluble media.

I'm creating a drawing a day, just for the art of it.
Today's and yesterday's are a tiger and a bird.
I like to get thick paper and get it wet, I mean wet, I run it under the tap and then work fast in inktense pencils before it dries.
I'm pleased with my bird, I'm delighted with my tiger!
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Fluffy male lion

What should I do with my drawings? Would anyone like to do something with them?

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, to get practice, to share something with friends, to make sure I do something worthwhile each day, to become more versatile and more disciplined as an artist, to have fun.

On occasion I've also used it as a vehicle to share art tips and perhaps promote human rights.

With 66 days left the project is drawing to a close, any last requests as to what I should draw or what I should use the artwork for? I've given most of the originals to my friends and family (as I am shortly going traveling for anything up to two years) but I have high quality photos and I still own the rights (as is usual when you sell artwork). I'm a textile designer and mum of two so I don't have much extra time to promote a project. My excellent textile design studio allow me to sell artwork in any form other than on furnishing fabrics and wallpaper (there they require exclusively) that is a very loose contact for the industry and I love my studio so furnishing fabrics is out. A book? Art book? How to book? Sketch book you add to? Something else?

Today's is a fluffy lion.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Facepaint design - cat

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, this is the day before yesterday's, I forgot to share it!
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Pumpkin

I'm creating an artwork a day for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's is a pumpkin carving.
#drawingadayclub #kirsteenlyons

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

What are you doing still here? Europe in a campervan.

I'm taking my family to France, Spain and Portugal this winter in a classic Chevy van. For adventure, to break out of suburban middle class thinking, to learn languages, to experience culture, and to escape the rain - mostly the last bit!

I'm still here, however, getting rained on! We are becoming professional at waiting for garages to do work! All British people are already professional at getting rained on! We finally got a service and an oil change but the breaks need work, I'm thinking we might need them! We might leave on the the 1st or we might not!

I keep meeting friends who greet me with “What are you still doing here?” “I thought you had gone?” And even “I can't wait for you to go!” Then they realise what they have said and frantically try to dig themselves back out, “Oh! I do like you of course…” it's ok, I understand.

The people who bought our previous camper and then said it's not their van, when it broke down, have reached an all time high on their reaction, they actually lied to the DVLA and forged my signature on a government document!! Fortunately the DVLA were on the ball and sent me a form asking if I really did want to transfer ownership back to me! They (the DVLA) won't discuss if they are taking action but they will keep all evidence. The police gave me a leaflet to report fraud. Tim also got a nasty letter from the buyers, and some calls to go on a lurid TV program and fight about it in public! We said no!!! If they do anything else I'm going to open a fraud investigation and perhaps even press charges! I'm not a vindictive person, but the threats have been horrible, so It's quite comforting to know I now have them by the private parts if they give us more abuse! I wonder if they will Google me and read my blog!!? It sort of cramps my writing style so I try to assume they won't.

I've discovered that the little Chevy cars you see everywhere are called a Chevrolet Spark!! Can you believe my daughter called our big Chevy Van “Sparkle” without knowing that? It all makes sense to me now. I've been showing her the A team van and theme on u tube, hopefully she won't now think I can jump six police cars at a time in our van!

We have got rid of all our stuff except a plastic set of drawers each. Each of my kids has two drawers of clothes and two of toys. Three pairs of shoes each…

Today I put everything in the van and it does fit, just!!! It's going to be like living in one of my daughter's dolls houses (now given to friends) without being doll sized! However if we can cope with so little space, we gain all the space, if we can cope with owning so little, we can “own” Europe...  We have been getting rid of stuff for weeks then sudden shopping spree; all week I've been getting boxes, they contain things like the extra car battery (now fitted and ready to run all our devices without flattening the main battery), a cool box, a roof bag and a potty. For the first time in my life I have a pot to piss in!

We are really, really, really, nearly ready. If you see me you can say “I know why you are still here!” I think it sounds sinister, perfect for Halloween!!!

The pictures are us “test camping” at a Brit stop; a campervan only free stopover that you can sign up for and get a book of. It's about £35 for the book, which is your membership, then you can park safely and free all over the country in pub car parks, vineyards, Mannie houses… it's a brilliant idea. You can't bring caravans, or tents and you can't set up furniture or awnings, just sleep and perhaps have wifi, fresh water or some facilities.

On our test camping we learned; don't set off when it's already dark and be looking for turn offs to some tiny country manor house in pitch black except for the angry local driver up your bum because he knows all the bends and wants to go fast!! But on the upside the view was a complete morning surprise!

Also a picture of our “Pot to piss in!” and trying to fit everything in! Heaven help me on that!

My perfect children.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's is my beautiful, perfect, gorgeous blonde boy and dark haired girl.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Architectural detail, boat and a leaf.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's, yesterday's and the day before are architectural detail, boat and a leaf on brown paper.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Day 658 of drawing. Geckos.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's is geckos.
#drawingadayclub

https://feelcreaterepeat.blogspot.co.uk
#kirsteenlyons #artistmummy #textiledesigner

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Three really bad portraits!

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, 74 days left.
Today's, yesterday's and the day before are portraits of my son, my daughter and I all unsuccessful. So if you were wondering if I had off days, yes!
It's my time to design now so hopefully that goes better!

It's one of my rules that, while work does follow inspiration, inspiration also follows work. So the trick now is not to stop in disgust, but chuck the family out the house and design the sh#t out of the day!

#textiledesigner #artistmum #kirsteenlyons

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Flower pattern and I sewed my son a cosy-toe

I'm creating a drawing a day, just for the art of it.
Somtimes I include other creative projects like sewing.
Today's and yesterday's are, a flower pattern and a cosy-toe I sewed my son.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Acorn cups and flowers

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
My daughter collected acorn cups from the place we camped a few days ago. They make a lovely group. That is also where we found out sheep LOVE acorns, much more than grass and will get a bit pushy with eachother to get to them if you throw acorns into the sheep field!

The flowers are from my stepdad's garden, which has stuff in bloom at almost every time of year - truly a wonderful work of art!
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Little red fish and campervans

I'm creating a drawing a day, just for the art of it.
Today's, yesterday's and the day before.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Plants in water soluble pencil.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's and yesterday's are plants in water soluble pencils. More work from life.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Drawing from life. My kids.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Today's and yesterday's are my kids from life.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Autumn Plants.

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Yesterday's and the two previous day's, I have been drawing but I couldn't get my tablet out in front of the kids to share them! My two year old has taken to begging to watch stuff when he sees it!
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org

Heavy Chevy, Europe in a campervan!

Heavy Chevy. Europe by campervan.

I think everyday society might have a short of magical inertia, like the heavy Chevy I now drive, once it's chugging you need to work hard to stop. I'm sure it's a good thing for us all to travel and change our lifestyle too, but I'm struggling with the last of the “break out” we have got rid of almost enough stuff, the van is almost ready, I've almost worked out the taxes and insurances… almost, almost, almost...more bits of everyday society keep coming up… “Oh! We will need to do something about that too!”

I'm calling this Heavy Chevy because I seem to have spent all week driving around garages being told my van is too heavy for their ramps! Luckily the Chevy (Chevrolet G20 Day Van) is in good condition, but it's stalling in reverse sometimes and needs a service and oil change. I booked her into a garage, when I turned up they went “How heavy is that? It won't go on our ramp!” So I drove around looking at the ramps! The next garage was doubtful “I better not put it on my ramp” they recommended a garage “We have a four ton ramp but we can't get parts for that! What is it?”

So I called the campervan garage, “Sure we can service it, sure we can get parts, oh! The ramp is no problem, we don't have one, we will just jack it up! What is it seven tonnes? Only one and a half, no problem!” Just goes to show it's attitude and experience not tools that count!

On the people who bought my previous van, the police advised us that they have no legal leg to stand on and we can ignore it unless they threaten violence, in which case it becomes a police matter.

Hopefully they realise their only options are to fix the van and sell it, to one of the many people who want old motorhomes, and are prepared to do work on them, or fix it and keep it. I made her so nice, sweeping her out and checking everything was spotless the night before she went, even though I already had the money, it is crazy to be accused of some sort of fault.

Anyway my husband has started telling people we are leaving before Halloween! So I guess we are. We can't really do a leaving party, (shame on you if you didn't come to my 40th while I still had the big house for parties!) it's getting on for winter and I don't want to drive right across France in snow so it's going to be like the end of “Good Will Hunting” one day you will call round for us and find us gone! When you do, make sure you do that huge Ben Affleck smile! They made it!

The pictures are the “All the aires” books. Aires are little parking spots for campervans only (no tents or caravans) that cost nothing or only a few euros. Tim’s mum got us the books - thank you. Whenever I am feeling like I'm never getting out of here I play “Who can find the prettiest Aire?” With Tim! These are Aires for campervans, don't mix them up with truck stops which are also called Aire - something or other and are not always safe.

Garages may quail when they see her but I'm getting to love my Chevy, “Sparkle” as my daughter named her. She's built for big American rednecks, or A team members, and I sit on, not one, but two cushions so I can see out to drive. All old vehicles have eccentricities, when you dove my last van over 40 MPH the wing mirror went flat against the side!!! It was open the window and hold it out to change lane (I super glued it!) With Sparkle, the driver side window packs in if it rains! You have to leave it down till it dries out, think before you wind it down? Will it rain? Do I need my van secure?

Road and sea with boats

I'm creating a drawing a day, for two years, just for the art of it.
Yesterday's is the road.
Today's is the sea with boats.
#drawingadayclub

#createadrawingadayforhumanrights
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org